| Rossini - L'Italiana in Algeri | 
| Director: Jean-pierre Ponnelle
Actors: Marilyn Horne, Paolo Montarsolo, Allan Monk, Douglas Ahlstedt, James Levine
Studio: Deutsche Grammophon
Category: DVD
List Price: $39.98
Buy New: $27.96
You Save: $12.02 (30%)
Buy New/Used from $27.29
Avg. Customer Rating:   (10 reviews)
Sales Rank: 42790
Format: Classical, Dolby, Dts Surround Sound, Ntsc, Subtitled
Languages: Italian (Original Language), Chinese (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), German (Subtitled), Italian (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Italian (Published)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 157 minutes
Number Of Items: 2
Discs: 2
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 000657909
UPC: 044007342619
EAN: 0044007342619
ASIN: B000JJSRN4
Release Date: March 13, 2007
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 Oh Shame! Such Scurrilous Stereotyping! July 14, 2008
8 out of 12 found this review helpful
Rossini's "Italian Girl in Algeria," which premiered in Venice in 1813, is simply a shocking vestige of unenlightended ethno-religio-political denigration of our fellow monotheists, the Mahometans of the 'corsair' states of North Africa, the descendents of highly cultured and scientifically advanced preservers of ancient Greek wisdom and true founders of everything worth smelling in Europe after its looong Dark Ages, ahem! The Turkish Bey of Algiers, a distinguished civil leader of the Ottoman Empire, is portrayed first as a rapacious tyrant and then shown degenerating into a hapless simpleton, slave to his passion for a captive Italian feminist. The fact that basso Paolo Montarsolo sings and acts this egregious role with utterly dazzling vocal technique and side-splitting comic art must not cancel our recognition of the slander and libel it represents. The chorus of eunuchs, guards of the Bey's harem, are shown as degraded fatties with bare bellies and jowls, for which there is clearly no historical excuse! Then they re-appear as a chorus of Italian slaves of the Bey, singing lustily about the unification of Italy, then far in the future, which would painfully diminish the political influence of the Holy See by incorporating the Vatican States into a (gasp!) secular republic. I'm sure the good-hearted Venetians of 1813 were suitably shocked by this rude political diatribe disguised as a comic opera.
Nor should we be forestalled in our discernment by the fact that every member of the cast sings splendidly, with the great contralto Marilyn Horne at the peak of her vocal prowess, and all recorded with nearly perfect acoustic fidelity. Oh no, and the facts that the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra plays splendidly and that the sets and costumes are of such opulence and glamour as we can scarcely afford in more recent productions should certainly not intrude upon our righteous rejection of such bamboozling mockery of what others hold sacred. And forget the elegant camera work, and the tight ensemble acting of the cast, and above all forget the splendid overtures and the dazzling vocal quintets and all those artful contrivances that made Rossini the greatest opera composer of his era! Just think how you would feel if you attended an opera in Algeria today and beheld the President of the United States portrayed as a lecherous buffoon whose extra-marital escapades diminished the respect of the world for his country!
 The creme de la creme January 8, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
The brilliant performance by Marilyn Horne in L'Italiana in Algeri proves the worthiness of the assessment by those opera critics who deemed her the best female operatic diva of her time.
Ms. Horne displays her magnificent vocal talents at the peak of her career. As if to say that pure mezzo tones are not enough, Ms. Horne delivers the comedic lyrics with convincing ease, and firmly fixes our
admiration for her abilities.
No opera fan or Marilyn Horne devotee should be without this DVD.
"Din-din, bum-bum, cra-cra..." bling-bling! December 30, 2007
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Rossini was only twenty-one years old when he composed "L'Italiana in Algeri," and this production captures all of his youthful exuberance. Marilyn Horne is a brilliant Isabella (a role she first sang in 1964), who livens up the ensembles with her own comic touches (`al dente!'). The only "L'Italiana" I like better is her 1984 Venetian performance, where she partners with Samuel Ramey as her Mustafa. A match made in coloratura heaven!
In this 1986 Metropolitan Opera version, Paolo Montarsolo is the overbearing Bey of Algiers. He sings it as a buffo role, and tends to mug and gesticulate his way through his solos (it's actually a rather difficult coloratura part if sung correctly). However, this bass comes through in the ensembles, most especially in the septet that fires off at the end of Act I. Jimmy Levine leads the orchestra, chorus, and principals in a scintillating, clockwork finale ("Din-din, bum-bum, cra-cra, tac-tac!") where Rossini takes us right to the edge of musical chaos. Fortunately, the conductor keeps his musicians in laser focus. If you were bouncing up and down in time with Jimmy throughout the lively overture, take a moment after this first act finale to pay homage to this remarkable musician.
According to Ms. Horne, in her autobiography, "The Song Continues," "...the reviews [for this production] weren't totally laudatory: for my singing, yes; for my acting, no. The `Times' said the production was `vulgar.'"
I think the `Times' was way too harsh. This Italian girl has lots of sass, bling and zip. Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's costumes and sets are gorgeous (if a bit well-travelled). Ms. Horne sings of love, patriotism, and the way to manage men, at the peak of her glorious form. I was so pleased that she sang Isabella's cavatina "Per lui chi adoro," with the cello obbligato. She doesn't just sing over the accompaniment, which she could easily do with her imposing voice. No, Ms. Horne's Isabella somehow makes love with the cello. I don't know how else to explain that beautiful sound.
The other singers were quite in spirit with this production, although I found Douglas Ahlstedt's tenor a bit dry. Allan Monk gave a finely-tuned performance in the very thankless role of Isabella's elderly suitor.
If you can only afford one DVD of Rossini's great comic opera, it has to be this one.
Some of this DVD's extras:
Interview with Marilyn Horne on Rossini
Ms. Horne sings:
"Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix" from "Samson & Deliliah"
Samira's scene from "The Ghosts of Versailles"
The Best Production of the Opera You will Ever see August 17, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Without doubt this is a great production of this opera. There will never be a better one done. Just the singing of Marilyn Horne alone is worth it. And Paolo Montarsolo is another great reason to get this. This is a traditional production ( none of this stark modern nonsense) and is true to the libretto. It is a magnificent production and a feast for both the eyes and the ears.
 DECEPTION August 3, 2007
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Unfortunatelly this DVD is not as expected. Singing is only correct (Horne included) and no more than that, as it should have been with this cast. L'Italiana is a comic opera. This production is not comic at all. In few passages you can have some little fun and a light smile. The stage is poor and the costumes awful, the chorus using masks that makes them look stupid instead funny. The Orchestra sounds heavy, again directed by mr. Levine (he directs from Rossini to Wagner and none of them good). Rossini must be directed hopefully by an Italian director and if possible, specialized in Rossini. Someone who makes the music flow and shine at the same time, as Bruno Campanella, to name one.
I have watched many Italianas' DVD at the moment but non of them is as good as it should be. Larmore (Paris Opera), Soffel (Schwetzingen), D'Intino (Italy, with Juan Diego Florez). The last one is more complete. Good singing. The music directed as it should be. but the sets and costumes are the same as this DVD. Anyway, worth it because D'Intino and Florez.
It it is a pity that we do not have the oportunity to see a 1984's production at the Teatro Municipal de Santiago, Chile, sung by Lucia Valentini-Terrani, Enzo Dara, Domenico Trimarchi and the orchestra directed by Bruno Campanella. Even the stage design and costumes are better and more colourfull than this production. The singing and specially the acting, far far better than this, and provoked loud laughs to the audience during the whole opera. Hope that some label could contact Teatro Municipal and bring us the oportunity to listen and see this wonderful and unforgetable production that I was lucky to see live. Is one of those productions that makes you wish that does not end. Really great.
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