Rating: - Manon by Jules Massenet
It is an excellent presentation of Massenet's opera Manon. Of course, the dream cast of Natalie Dessay and Rolando Villazon contributes enormously to the enjoyment of this DVD. The production is first-class and depicts the life of these women, who are paid for by wealthy suiters, more realistically than in any other production.
Highly recommended.
Rating: - Manon to a new level
One can always look forward to the music of a Massenet opera, but when you add the voices and acting abilities of Dessay and Villazon you are in for a real treat. Dessay can demonstrate such a range of emotion from naivete to femme fatale. Villazon has performed many times with Dessay and their comfort with each other is apparent. I remember many operas where the soprano and the tenor sang directly to the audience; today great acting is also a part of the opera. The stage directing is the only thing that could use some improvement. The placement of the chorus often seems confusing and of no particular value to the story.
Rating: - Massenet&Manon
very nice & perfect performance. Villazon have high wide tenor voice. Dessay too very well played & very well sing at this product.
Rating: - A very moving production of Manon
David McVicar is one of my most favorite opera directors. For my taste, this is one of his most successful creations. Stage design is quite simple but very effective. Costumes are colorful. Dessay is a wonderful Manon. Her rendition of the `table aria' is maybe the most beautiful I have heard. Villazon sounds a bit strained in places (like his act III aria `Ah! fuyez, douce image' - this was the last production he participated before his half year break) but in general his singing is beautiful, like the outstanding rendering of his act II aria `En fermant les yeux'. They are both excellent actors. All the other singers are very good, with the exception of Sam Ramey whose vibrato is quite painful to my ears (but luckily his role is short).
Highly recommended!!
Rating: - Massenet/Manon --- Liceu --- Dessay, Villazon
This DVD was a great disappointment! I only rated it as "one star" because there was no lower option.
The principals sang reasonably well, but the setting was terrible (background looked like a bull ring), camera work and staging were poor, and it was much too long ... requiring two discs because of the overly long "bonus".. There are better Manons available so dont waste your money on this one!
- Manon by Jules Massenet
- Massenet&Manon
- Massenet/Manon --- Liceu --- Dessay, Villazon