Lehar - The Merry Widow / Bonynge, Sutherland, Stevens, Opera Australia Virginia Lumsden Digital Life VHS

Lehar - The Merry Widow / Bonynge, Sutherland, Stevens, Opera Australia
starring: Joan Sutherland, Ron Stevens, Anne Maree McDonald, Anson Austin, Gordon Wilcock
directed by: Virginia Lumsden

Used Price: $8.48
Collectible Price: $32.00

Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786304469583
Format: Classical, Color, NTSC
ISBN: 6304469586
Label: Kultur Video
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Kultur Video
Release Date: April 29, 1997
Running Time: 155 minutes
Sales Rank: 31855
Studio: Kultur Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1988

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Editorial Review:

Amazon.com:
This production of Lehar's The Merry Widow is a mixed bag, appropriate, perhaps, for a work of art that is both sublime and ridiculous. Its weakest element is the presence of Joan Sutherland, which will undoubtedly attract the most buyers. Still, viewers will replay it often (perhaps bypassing some of Sutherland's numbers) for the sake of its lavish production, particularly for the abundant, polished, and colorful dance numbers.

The 1988 performance, by the Australian Opera in the elegant Sydney Opera House, dates from the end of Sutherland's career, and it leaves one wondering whether she should have retired a bit sooner, while at the same time treasuring every moment in the presence of one of the unique voices of the 20th century. There are moments of beauty in her singing, but intonation and support are both variable. The supporting cast, including Ronald Stevens, Anne-Maree McDonald, and Anson Austin, is generally adept, though some gags (especially the Pontevedran accents) may seem overworked. --Joe McLellan

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating:

- Nonsense
I didn't like it, but the audience in Australia certainly did. Sutherland sang only one thing (in my opinion) poorly, and that was I think the last number in the show, what is commonly called The Merry Widow Waltz. She sang it in her "low voice" (to take an expression from Kiri Te Kanawa) and I didn't like it. The rest of it (what there WAS of it!) was wonderful. Too much dialogue. Too much farce (it was stupid). I've heard several different versions of this score, and except a few tunes, they all seem to have different songs in them. Which reminds me, my preference (even over Sutherland) is Studer's CD of this show. Glorious! I may be mistaken, but I think, in fact am almost positive, that some of the songs were cut (to make room for that boring, idiotic dialogue? And what was the point of all the dancing, the choreography of which was NOT particularly enthralling?). Finally, it was a pleasure, a treasure ... Read More

Rating:

- A GREAT SHOW
This is a great DVD ifi you want to see the heroine, getting the man, and staying alive to enjoy it. The ballet is great, the costumes are amazing, and the prince is....Ron Stevens!!!,
Joan is clearly having a blast; dancing jumping singing talking and being herself.

Rating:

- Direct from Australian TV
This performance was not made just for, or even with DVD in mind, it is simply a transfer from a standard TV production, and as such is flawed, the michrophones are of poor quality, making Joan Southerland sound rather off, they can't properly record her extreme dynamic range (a real shame, because people are mistaking what was recorded with the way she really sounds)the video is poor, and looks really bad on a large screen, although not that bad on a regular tv, the performances are as good as any you are likely to find on record, although different from the San Francisco Opera production,, which is every bit as good in the performances, but superior in Video, Audio, Stageing, Costumes, and lighting, for Southerland fans this will be the one, for everyone else the San Francisco Opera DVD is the one to get, unless or until a new Widow is released

Rating:

- Ugh!!!
I don't have much to say but that Sutherland sounds abominable in this performance. She is just too old! Acting is terrible, voice is terrible....that's 0 out of 2, and sutherland is in the title role! Skip this one, it's not worth it one bit.

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