Simon Keenlyside, Royal Opera, Covent Garden

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18719 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-04-20
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Box set, Classical, Colour, PAL, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Original language: Italian
• Subtitled in: Dutch, French, Italian, Spanish
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 202 minutes

Synopsis
This 2008 performance of one of Mozart's best known operas, DON GIOVANNI, stars Simon Keenlyside in the title role. With backing from the Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, conducted by renowned Mozart expert Charles Mackerras.

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Customer Reviews

There's more to opera than HD video.
All the directors (including the choreographer)of this fiasco should find another line of work.

Don Giovanni has just leapt from Donna Anna's window trying to escape and is confronted by the Commendatore who tells Giovanni to" leave her alone". No wonder the old man lost the fight, he must have been blind, as Giovanni is nowhere near Donna Anna who is still in the upstairs bedroom.

Goivanni wears a mask but Leporello doesn't. So how hard would it have been to identify him through his manservant?

Donna Elvira looks as if she wandered onto the wrong opera. A gun-toting wench who has no idea how to use the weapon she is carrying. Having been wronged by Giovanni I would have thought she'd have shot him on sight. To bring guns into the story is about as absurd as it can be, especially towards the end of Act 1 when Don Ottavio, Donna Anna, Donna Elvira and Zerlina all take turns to hold a pistol to the Don's head but nobody shoots.

Giovanni looks more like a bum than a gentleman and knight. As a matter of fact he looks so sweaty and repulsive that I fail to see how he managed to bed any woman at all.

The sets and costumes were all done on the cheap. Even the Catalogue Aria uses such small books to record Giovanni's conquests; they must have been the forerunners of Reader's Digest condensed books.

The dance sequence towards the end of act 1 is pathetic.

I didn't bother with most of Act 2, by the end of Act 1 I had enough. And I don't think I was the only one, there seemed to be more people in the audience at the end of Act 1 than at the beginning of Act 2.
Some may find this Blu-ray appealing but there is more to opera than a high-definition picture. Turn off the video and enjoy the music and singing, which is the only redeeming feature of this production.

Joseph Losey's film of Don Giovanni should have been transferred to Blu-ray instead of this rubbish (Now there is a production of Don Giovanni that will never be equaled). Wonderful performances from an excellent cast and stunning cinematography. The latest release DELUX EDITION (£6 less than the price of this Blu-ray) is a newly restored version with DTS 5.1 audio mix. If you are looking for a Don Giovanni to treasure then that's the one to buy.

This version does not work
I own a truly woderful version of Don Giovanni with Samuel Ramey as a disturbing lead with a cast of truly great singers Gosta Winburg being one of them buy it when it comes back in printKarahan conducts.
This version doesnt make sense Keenlyside as Don Giovanni is not threatening at all nor imposing,the best singer Joyce DiDonato is in no way a Donna Elvira,no man could take advantage of this lady or convey an unconditional forgiving love for Don Giovanni,the part of Dona Anna is sung by Marina Poplavskaya whose pitch and intonation is poor.
The whole cast apart from DiDonato is not dramatic enough,nor is the conducting.
The bottom line is this version does not work.
Jason Escott

Another masterpiece on Blu Ray!
Everyone with a Blu Ray player is strongly recommended to buy this outstanding version of Don Giovanni. Particularly Persson and Keenlyside deserve praise. Blu Ray brings this wonderful production right into your home, no wonder ordinary DVD is being gradually phased out this year.