Ambroise Thomas - Hamlet - Barcelona Opera
by Patrice Caurier, Moshe Leiser, Toni Bargalló
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Actor: Alain Vernhes, Beatrice Uria-Monzon, Bertrand de Billy, Natalie Dessay, Simon KeenlysideDirector: Moshe Leiser, Patrice Caurier, Toni Bargalló
Brand: EMD
Producer: Gran Teatre del Liceu
Writer: Ambroise Thomas
Writer: Jules Barbier
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); German (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Italian (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); Catalan (Subtitled); French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0
Format: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 176 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-10-05
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: EMI Classics
DVD Reviews of Ambroise Thomas - Hamlet - Barcelona Opera
DVD Review: two for one
Summary: 5 Stars
In addition to viewing the present disc several times, I have also had the oppotunity to view the Live from the Met Simulcast of Hamlet from the stage of the Metropolitan Opera of New York on March 27, 2010. This allowed us to see the Met's staging in 2010 of the same production of the opera as presented at the Gran Theatre del Liceu Barcelona in October 2003 and recorded on this DVD disc. Much of the feeling for the drama was the same as was the Hamlet of Simon Keenlyside. Several of the other cast members were different and often changed the impact of the presentation.
Simon Keenlyside is a Shakespearian Hamlet. The intensity of his acting together with his superb French diction and singing carry this opera to heights only a few dramatic actors can achieve for the play. Everything moves as he moves and you know as Shakespear knew that the end was inevitable. This is why in the Met broadcast he had to die before the curtain fell as occurs in the play rather than the composers' ending of the crowd hailing Hamlet as now king. (In the Liceu presentation on this disc it is unclear what will happen but he seems alive as the curtain falls).
The Ophelie was different in the two presentations and made a great difference. In the Met Simulcast Natalie Dessay was scheduled to play opposite Keenlyside, but became indisposed shortly before opening night. In her place was Marlis Petersen who was to appear later in the season as the Met's Lulu. Ms Petersen certainly had no time to develope the role (although she had sung it before)so she didn't quite fit in with the rest of the cast. She did a commendable job and certainly has the technique and art the role requires. She has a somewhat knifelike edge to her voice betraying an inner strength that will better suit Lulu than Ophelie. But to really appreciate the drama and pathos of this innocent maiden shattered completely by the fortunes of life listen to Ms Dessay in this recroding. Her redition would bring tears to stone. It is truly one of the great moments in Opera, it is so utterly beautiful.
On the plus side for the Met presentation was the Gertrude of Jennifer Larmore. It is the mother-son interaction of the "closet" scene that is pivotal to the drama. Her second act arioso "Dans son regard plus sombre" proved what a great singing actress she is. That face can convey terror, fear and malice in equal measure as her voice projects it. The Gertrude of Uria-Monzon in this recording is adequate but restrained.
Both the Met and the Liceu were excellent presentations of this excellent production. It shows, as in Tales of Hoffmann, that a less than stellar opera can shine if great talent is combined with inspired production and direction.
Description of Ambroise Thomas - Hamlet - Barcelona Opera
DESSAY, N/DE BILLY, B - THOMAS: HAMLETClassical Music CDs
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