Luca PisaroniCavalli: Ercole Amante [Blu-ray]

I have previously given negative reviews here of the Les Arts Florissants DVDs/BDs of Lully's Armide and Atys. I found both of them totally uninteresting as far as what was happening on stage, visual bores. The Armide was a modern updating while Atys was set in in Louis XIV's court but neither made any attempt to be a spectacle, which is how they were presented in Lully's day. The Dutch production of Ercole Amante (Hercules in Love), written with the collaboration of Lully on the ballets, is another matter. There is a continual feast of arresting images. In Acts 4 and 5 there is a riot of color. I enjoyed the many sight gags, many anachronistic - for example oversized cans of Heineken.I would advise viewers to start with the Extras on Disc 1, especially the synopsis which you should go through twice before watching Disc 1 and once between Discs 1 and 2 in order to review. I don't have much to add to what other reviewers said the music except that the orchestra had 42 musicians playing which I think is much more than usual for operas of this period. I doubt that I would simply listen to a CD of Ercole Amante but the combination of music and stage action makes for a very rewarding experience.

A tremendous production of a somewhat tuneful opera with a so-so plot.

interesting in and of itself and even more so because of its history

Outstanding performance. All of Mr. Phichon's performances are excellent.

Nothing short of excellent! Costumes, set design, lighting, staging, music, and naturally singer performance were all marvelous from start to finish. So much care went into this production...even the intro credit was set to an animation, something unexpected. There were surprises throughout the show.

The sets and costumes are suggestive of those that would be used in the Baroque period and makes for a satisfying and interesting staging. The opera is well recorded bringing out the beautiful music and the excellent singers show very good acting skills which give their characters life. They are well filmed to show themselves off to maximum effect. There is the usual contrast between the serious arias and those of the sprinkling of lighter sections, which are sung and acted brilliantly. This is an enjoyable baroque opera of Cavalli that I have never seen performed so that I grateful for it being on Blu-Ray in such a good production.

Anna BONIFADIBUS MASSIMO. TUTTI.OTTIMO.REGIA DIR. ORCHESTRA OVVIO ORCHESTRA OTTIMO .E UNA MERAVOGLIA COME DEVE ESSERE BAROQ .REGIA ,CANTANT ,BALLETTO.ZTUPENDO COME PIACE A ME FELICE DI AVERE QEST DVD. MARTA BEATRICE. DARDAY

Une mise en scène époustouflante, débridée, un émerveillement de chaque instant. Pour tous les publics!

I cannot play this at home until I get Blu-ray equipment. It arrived on time.

歌手ではプロローグで登場したソプラノのジュリア・セメンタートと小姓役のドミニク・ヴィスが一級の出来で二人とも演技力も優れている。全体としてシリアスな場面とコミカルな場面の均衡が取れておりファッションのセンスも良い。最近イチオシの作品です。