Charles Gounod's epic opera, Romeo and Juliet, was premiered in 1867. It was rapturously received and became one of his most popular stage works. For an updated, filmed version, director Barbara Willis Sweete opened up the stage version and decided to film at a picturesque royal castle in the Czech Republic. In the lead roles, .. Read more
| Starring | Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orch |
|---|---|
| Director | Barbara Willis Sweete |
| Genres | Music/Musical |
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Charles Gounod's epic opera, Romeo and Juliet, was premiered in 1867. It was rapturously received and became one of his most popular stage works. For an updated, filmed version, director Barbara Willis Sweete opened up the stage version and decided to film at a picturesque royal castle in the Czech Republic. In the lead roles, Sweete cast the opera world's most famous husband-and-wife team Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna, who triumphed in the roles at the New York Met when they were newlyweds.
| Starring | Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orch |
|---|---|
| Director | Barbara Willis Sweete |
| Studio | ARTHAUS MUSIK |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 30 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Music/Musical |
| Language | DVD: French |
| Subtitles | DVD: English, French, German, Spanish |
| Released | DVD: 03 Mar 2003 Production year: 2002 |
| Format | DVD |
This is very faithful to Shakespeare but though there is some enjoyable music, especially the first solo by Juliet, somehow this opera doesn't really grab me and I am fairly easily grabbed by opera. One wonders why Verdi never had a go at Romeo and Juliet, I'd have thought it would have brought out his best, but maybe it's just too difficult a story for really moving music. This actual version is wonderful to look at, I tend to enjoy cinema versions of opera, and the two lead singers are terrific so it is a shame that the music doesn't manage to reach the peaks. But still worth watching.
What a shame? I know this opera so well, but this version is horrible. The cuts are swingeing - especially both weddings, the first of which is one of the most beautiful parts of the opera. The cutting of the section in which le Duc exiles Roméo not only makes the story incomprehensible, but cuts the second most beautiful part of the opera. I cannot believe this vandalism. Even if none of that applied, Gheorghiu is the wrong soprano, her voice is heavy and not suited to the piece. Neither Alagna or Gheorghiu looks the part they are both much too grown up to be Shakespeares ingénues. Miserable stuff.