BaL 10.05.14 - Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro on DVD

[Flosshilde]

What next, a radio play on TV?

Plenty of non-visual material on YouTube.

[Thropplenoggin]

I enjoyed it but then I was at Monday's ROH performance of Le Nozze di Figaro, and so had the laurel-winning McVicar production fresh in my mind. On that night, the youthful Figaro and Suzanna were upstaged by the more experienced Count (Finley) and Countess (Evans).

[Bert Coules]

Sorry to be so late answering this, but the ENO production of a few years back did call the piece Figaro's Wedding, which is not only a more accurate translation (though perhaps Figaro's Nuptials would be closer still, if somewhat outdated) it's also rather more reflective of what the work is actually about.

On the subject of the final resolution I once wrote a programme synopsis for a semi-pro staging. The final line was:

And everything ends happily - for now.

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

Sadly, I was uncomfortable with several aspects of this BaL. A 'DVD-only' edition for the radio? Without so much as a few stills from the relevant productions? It was entirely within their powers to publish a few accredited production shots on the website to give the listener *some* help to visualize the stagings.

The 'winner' is a wonderful production, but no mention was made (it is set 'in a stately home' is all we were told) of the updating to the 1830s which, as Rupert Christiansen noted at its September 2013 revival, 'I still feel that its 1830 setting neuters the libretto’s political dimensions and implicit critique of the ancien regime'. But then, I had an inkling that the ROH production was always going to do rather well... Sarah Lenton is an engaging presenter, knowledgeable and able to introduce humour well... but she is also regularly employed by the ROH to lecture in their 'Insight' programmes and I wonder if some sort of disclaimer shouldn't have been made.

And finally (and it may be petty) but her pronunciation of certain singers isn't what I'd expect from someone so immersed in the world of opera: Nebtrebko (several times), Ildeebrando D'Arcangelo, Elena Contrubas particularly stood out.

[Thropplenoggin]

Sadly, I was uncomfortable with several aspects of this BaL. A 'DVD-only' edition for the radio? Without so much as a few stills from the relevant productions?

And yet radio shows containing film, DVD and theatre reviews are plentiful on R4 (and on R3's Free Thinking (formerly Nightwaves)). They seem to manage just fine without recourse to visuals.

I applaud this first attempt at venturing into the DVD/Blu-Ray field for operas.

[Nick Armstrong]

Incidentally, I did think this was a silly idea to do a DVD BaL

That was my first thought on seeing it announced, but thought I'd suspend comment till I'd heard it, which I now have. I still think so and agree that

Overall I found it disappointing. A walk-through of the opera with musical illustrations.

I didn't even agree much with the reviewer's musical views - the 'Cherubino' which she picked out as the best sounded pretty second rate to me... and could people who know the piece tell me: is "Deh, vieni" supposed to be one long rallentando? The reviewer raved about Netrebko's performance being worth the price of the entire Harnoncourt DVD, but it sounded to me that she was singing behind the orchestra the whole time and determined to slow NH's initial tempo... which she successfully did so that by the end it sounded to be in slow motion. Maybe it's my operatic ignorance, and that's supposed to happen. Sounded bizarre and annoying to me...

To finish my grump, the 'Countess' of Roeschmann on the winning set sounded rather boring to me from the extracts, although the other singers sounded terrific.

But do I recall aright - this is the one where 'Cherubino' is dressed like Donny Osmond?

Back to the Currentzis audio-only recording.....

[Flosshilde]

Incidentally, I did think this was a silly idea to do a DVD BaL

Underlined by the fact that this morning on EC Rob chose to play, not an extract from the selected DVD, but one from a DVD that was rejected on the grounds of its production (I think). He introduced it by saying something along the lines of 'as we can't see the production he'd play something from a recording that was praised for the performance'.

(The EC schedule simply says "The Marriage of Figaro (Act 2, finale). ", & doesn't say anything about the BaL recommendation, as it usually does)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Underlined by the fact that this morning on EC Rob chose to play, not an extract from the selected DVD, but one from a DVD that was rejected on the grounds of its production (I think). He introduced it by saying something along the lines of 'as we can't see the production he'd play something from a recording that was praised for the performance'.

That seems rather ridiculous.

[Nick Armstrong]

Underlined by the fact that this morning on EC Rob chose to play, not an extract from the selected DVD, but one from a DVD that was rejected on the grounds of its production (I think). He introduced it by saying something along the lines of 'as we can't see the production he'd play something from a recording that was praised for the performance'.

(The EC schedule simply says "The Marriage of Figaro (Act 2, finale). ", & doesn't say anything about the BaL recommendation, as it usually does)

AMcG did explain on Saturday that they couldn't play the DVD soundtrack as the rights position is different, so they had to choose one that had also been released as a CD (which would come under their blanket licence).

But yes, it underlines the daftness...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

But they did still manage to play bits in the BaL itself.

[Nick Armstrong]

But they did still manage to play bits in the BaL itself.

That's "fair dealing for criticism and review" under copyright law - different from playing a long chunk as part of your playlist....

[Pulcinella]

The new edition of BBC Music Magazine (June 2014) which has just arrived has a letter (not from me, though I would agree with the idea!) suggesting a DVD Review on BBC Four to complement CD Review on R3.
We can only hope.