Movie Reviews for Halevy - La Juive

Halevy - La Juive

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Movie Reviews of Halevy - La Juive

Movie Review: A huge drama with a giant in the center
Summary: 5 Stars

The costuming of this opera, presumably set in 1414, reminds me more of the early 1930s than the turn of the last century. It is chillingly real, especially by acts IV and V. The DVD is, I believe, a record of a 1999 performance in Vienna. I saw Shicoff perform in this same production in New York in 2003--and he was devastating. I don't know if a different tenor would have had the same effect. There were rumors that Domingo was contracted by Vienna long ago to do this, but somehow never got to it. I have no doubt he would have been superb: this is not a case of "you have to be Jewish." After all, Caruso wrapped Eleazar around himself and is still the shadow against whom all tenors measure themselves. For whatever reason, Domingo withdrew and I can guess that Shicoff took up the cause to get this thing mounted. He is a natural. As he explains his working methods on the supplemental "Finding Eleazar," he is a high-strung nervous person (no kidding) who has to use those qualities to deliver his dramatic impact. Use it he does. "Rachel quand du Seigneur" knocks the wind out of you; he is caressing and snarling and vindictive; there is no point when he's onstage that you can't sense his total commitment to the role and the story. Nobody else is bad...Stoyanova is excellent...but I miss the incomparable Ferruccio Furlanetto, who was a tremendous Cardinal Brogni in New Yori

Movie Review: Impresionante Judía
Summary: 5 Stars

Esta es una de las mejores grabaciones de una ópera, tanto en la calidad de los cantantes como del maravilloso sonido, especialmente en DTS. El escenario quizás es un poco parco, pero no importa, la grandiosidad de la obra y la excelencia de los intérpretes supera cualquier carencia, que en mi opinión no la hay ya que la escenografía es moderna y adecuada; en cuanto a la época en que transcurre la acción no tiene la menor importancia porque al fin y al cabo la música es lo importante. El gran bajo austriaco Walter Fink nos ofrece una impresionante voz y presencia escénica; me recuerda en su primera aria una grabación de hace muchos años del gran Ezio Pinza. Recomiendo de todo corazón esta ópera a los verdaderos amantes de la música operística. No quedarán defraudados. En cuanto a Neil Shicoff sólo tengo palabras de admiración y encanto sobre su voz y actuación. Sigue siendo uno de los grandes tenores de nuestros tiempos.

Movie Review: This Opera Needs a US Revival....
Summary: 5 Stars

One of the most invigorating, challenging operas I've seen in a long time. Neil Shicoff's performance is so musically and dramatically memorable, along with a superb cast, I found myself for long periods of time meditating on the concepts presented for contemplation. To say nothing of the underlining score.

Movie Review: SHICOFF WAS BORN FOR THIS ROLE
Summary: 5 Stars

I WAS REALLY SURPRISED THAT THIS OPERA, RARELY PERFORMED, WAS SO WONDERFUL. SHICOFF WAS BORN FOR THIS ROLE. HIS VIDEO OF RACHEL, AN EXTRA INCLUDED IN THIS DVD, IS EXCELLENT. AN UNFORGETABLE OPERA BY AN UNFORGETABLE TENOR.