Rating  - Barber of Seville
A very imaginative version of the opera. It is well done and the contrast between the black and white scenes and the use of color towards the end were remarkable. It holds the viewers attention with singers who can also act. I viewed it with my 11 year old granddaughter and she was never bored and asked questions which made it evident she was captivated by the story. I recommend it for all ages.
Rating  - Excellent but too much Mack Sennett
This is an excellent Barber, good orchestra and singing, but I gave it only four stars because I thought it strained too much for laughs and reminded me of the slapstick in the old silent films. OK this is a comic opera but that doesn't mean it can't be overdone. For the perfect mix of characters, singing and comedy, I still think the Rawnsley, Ewing one on Kultur can't be beat.
Rating - Buy it! I'll tell you why . . .
I almost didn't buy it because of the STUPID COSTUMES. But the DVD I had bought featured a homely guy with a great voice. He just wasn't convincing as a "love interest." This tenor JUAN, on the other hand, is the handsomest opera singer I've ever seen, and my girlfriend went NUTS over him as well as the audience. The enunciation of the singers was superb, and the whole cast was hilariouly funny. So much more enjoyable than the other DVD with the American singer from Detroit. I would just love to slap the costumer because the polka dots didn't work, and made the leading lady look like a matron instead of a young girl. The sets were terrific though. This is an opera you can see over and over again for the acting and the laughs.
Rating - If you buy only one "Barber of Seville"...this is the one!
Teatro Real of Madrid has done it again. Any of you who are fond of gorgeously staged productions, surely have noticed how high the bar has been set by Madrid. The Gran Teatre Del Liceu is another one you can put real faith in. I am becoming fond of comparing productions, buying one then another. This one trumps all the others I have seen.
I recall Il Viaggio A Reims and the stunning array of staggering talent. Maria Bayo was in Viaggio, but I didn't notice her so much-owing to all the melodic melee and endless parade of stellar vocals. So I was very pleased and stunned by Maria Bayo this time! I think my mouth was agape, and eyebrows raised. She received a very long and enthusiastic ovation near the denouement; that would bring tears to your eyes-and why should she not? She had finished yet another in an interminable series of tour de force arias, and this one the best, saved for last! What nabobs of negativism whose reviews I read at times on these pages. They bring new meaning to the phrase, 'finding flaws in Paradise'. Disregard any review that does not recognise how extraordinarily difficult these shifting tempi and syncopated melodic reparte are... to sing, act and move about, in choreographic harmony all at once! I bet some of these reviewers have difficulty setting up their dang DVD! You will adore Maria Bayo and if you have a heart at all, will find yourself wishing to God you could sing that purely, and sonorously, strongly, and indefatigeuably! Belle, belle!
I have not begun to praise this production enough-space does not permit. But you will come to greatly admire Pietro Spagnoli, as THE perfect Figaro-what a voice, what stage presence, what great acting. Move over Placido (whom I adore, don't get me wrong). Juan Diego Florez..a more believable Almaviva, a more tender and enviable light tenor you will not find today;..except for Roberto Alagna, and his knockout wife and unsurpassable soprano, Angela Giorghiu.
Now I am keen not to overlook a smaller part, after my mistake with Maria Bayo...I must give Ruggero Raimondi a huge, vigorous shout of hurrah...as does the whole audience! Absolutely a flawless , but somehow, affable, bad guy! and man what a thrilling baritone to hear.If an audio cd of a good baritone is missing in your collection, here is one! It's small wonder he is so beloved. I keep hearing reviewers point out where an aging performer is losing it. How...simon cowell like. It's haughty. Paula Abdul pointed out to the audience, after a particularly snide comment by Simon, that Simon has NEVER appeared on stage. You see what I mean by a degrading haughtiness? Perfection of interpretation does indeed come with age.American Idol is more about worshipping youth.( and fame and wealth). Older performers could easily blow those kids off the stage.
Ruggero's interpretation and performance of this role practically steals the show - eats the scenery as it is often said. How is the arch nemesis, the do anything for money bad guy - make us smile - and just be utterly delighted! This is perfection!
I tell you even the cast in the background is flawless. Everything works in this production. And I must again compliment the costume crew. Wow! Forgive my wordiness, but I must point out what is genius about the costumes. It relates to the beloved opera "Pagliacci". Before the industrial age, when everyone toiled in the fields without relief, the traveling minstrels would blow into town with great fanfare. And what was the attraction? Typically, great fun would be had with the power elite. It was the saturday night live of its day. What makes the SNL sketches work, is whoever is being made fun of, will be wearing the clothes Bush, or Hillary, .. or what Babwa Wawters is wearing; her mawking obsequiousness portrayed in charicature. The costumery really does not have to be so baloony or absurd.
In this production of the barber, the costumes are perfect. They bring to mind the people, choreography, and culture of southern Spain of that era. The clothes are still , somewhat normal looking, yet frightfully close to clown oufits. The delicate balance is acheived consummately. It is all brilliant.
I do hope to see more of all of these performers...and sets and staging by all involved in this production. A shimmering, scintillating,sparkling performance by every player, seen and unseen. Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!
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