Donizetti: L'elisir D'amore
by Nicola Rescigno
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Luciano PavarottiDirector: Nicola Rescigno
Brand: Universal Studios
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); German (Subtitled); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Italian (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); Italian (Original Language); English (Published)
Format: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 132 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-04-08
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Decca
Movie Reviews of Donizetti: L'elisir D'amore
Movie Review: Lovely performance of this ageless charmer
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm young enough not to have seen Pavarotti anywhere near his peak, but just old enough to have seen him, in his farewell to the Met, in 2004. He was singing Tosca. By then he could barely move, and the voice was a shadow of its former self. The Tosca (Carol Vaness) canceled after the second act. It was truth be told not a very good performance. But then in the middle of the third act, something miraculous happened. During "E lucevan" the old man's voice warmed up, and there was a moment when he floated a note, messa voce, and it carried all the way to the back of the Family Circle, and it was so pure and so beautiful that in one moment I could finally understand what Pavarotti sounded like in his prime.
Thankfully, there are plenty of videos and recordings of Pavarotti that give a good picture of his voice in its prime. This video of Elisir d'Amore, filmed in 1981, is probably all in all my favorite Pavarotti video. The role of Nemorino, the lovable gullible country bumpkin, has been a favorite of many legendary tenors, from Caruso to Gigli to Bergonzi. For one, it demands no glamor on the part of the tenor -- being portly and homely is actually a plus, as it fits the role. The role also lies beautifully for the voice of a lyric tenor. No highwire moments, lots of opportunity to show off vocal beauty. Finally, the opera is a surefire hit. Its full of charm and fun and audiences just can't help but fall in love.
Pavarotti in 1981 was at the height of his vocal powers. The voice is breathtakingly beautiful and pure, with an enchanting Mediterranean warmth. "Una furtiva lagrima" is predictably a huge hit, but his whole portrayal of Nemorino is endearing. He was never the best actor but what he does convey is a joy of singing that's infectious. His Nemorino is bubbly, romantic, a bit dim. Perfect. His diction is also perhaps unrivaled by any tenor -- I swore I could notate everything he sang.
As Adina, the underrated Judith Blegen has a pleasingly tart voice that fits well with the role of the snooty town beauty. Unfortunately she's dressed up in a somewhat dowdy wig and dress that makes her look more matronly than necessary. I think vocally her voice isn't as beautiful as Kathleen Battle's (in the later 1991 video from the Met) and she also doesn't have the musical instincts of Renata Scotto (in a delightful 1967 video with Carlo Bergonzi). Sesto Bruscantini is hilarious (if vocally past his best) as the quack Dulcamara.
The sets are nice and old-fashioned. They depict a 19th century Italian village pretty well, even if the stage of the Met is too big to be ideal to create the "little town" feel.
Fortunately Elisir is well-served on video. Besides this one, there's a delightfully old-fashioned 1967 video with Carlo Bergonzi and Renata Scotto, a charming video from Lyon with Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu, a video with Rolando Villazon and Anna Netrebko, and finally, another video with Pavarotti and Kathleen Battle, videotaped 10 years later.
Summary of Donizetti: L'elisir D'amore
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