Gounod - Roméo et Juliette / Alagna · Gheorghiu · Anton Guadagno
by Barbara Willis Sweete
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Angela Gheorghiu, Jan Sváb, Pavel Novak, Roberto Alagna, Tito BeltránDirector: Barbara Willis Sweete
Producer: Alan Sievewright
Producer: Chris Hunt
Producer: David Horn
Producer: Helen Asquith
Producer: Jac Venza
Writer: Jules Barbier
Writer: Michel Carré
Writer: William Shakespeare
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); French (Original Language)
Format: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
Running Time: 80 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-04-15
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Arthaus Musik
Movie Reviews of Gounod - Roméo et Juliette / Alagna · Gheorghiu · Anton Guadagno
Movie Review: The Sparknotes version of Romeo et Juliette!
Summary: 5 Stars
My introduction to Roberto Alagna was through the Covent Garden vhs version of this opera. I was totally won over by Roberto, who is one of the most convincing actors in the opera world today. His portrayal of Romeo is second to none. I was very excited when I found out that he and his wife had filmed a new version of Romeo et Juliette. I was not disappointed in the least.
This is the most beautiful film adaptation of an opera that I have ever seen. Yes, they cut a three hour opera down to a little over 70 minutes. Yes, the supporting cast doesn't have much to do and they walk around in drab gray costumes.
But frankly, I couldn't care less about those things.
Calling the sets amateurish is rather ridiculous, considering that this was filmed in an incredible 13th century castle in the Czech Republic and the location is gorgeous.
Some of the most beautiful love duets in the whole of the genre are in this opera and most of them made the cut in this shortened version. Yes, a lot of the well known arias from secondary characters were left out, but does anyone watch/listen to R&J just to hear Mercutio's Queen Mab speech?
Roberto and Angela give stunning performances as the doomed couple and vocally, they have never sounded better. He definitely has the edge over her in the acting department, but they do work well together.
This version and the Covent Garden version are wonderful and I enjoy them both. Watching 70 minutes of Romeo and Juliet play out their tale in an authentic castle is just as satisfying as the three hour full production from Covent Garden. It just depends on your mood.
Yes, it would have been great if they had been given the budget to film the entire opera. However, I give this a 5 star rating on the basis of what it IS, rather than on the basis of what it IS NOT.
This is a beautiful and emotional production, albeit a shortened one, that manages to tell a much loved and frequently adapted tale that has captured the human imagination for centuries. Considering that Gounod based his opera on Shakespeare's play, I think old Will would be proud of this production.
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