| Gilbert & Sullivan - The Gondoliers / David Hobson, Roger Lemke, Australian Opera | 
| Actors: Gilbert & Sullivan, Hobson, Lemke, Johnston
Studio: Kultur Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.99
Buy New: $14.91
You Save: $15.08 (50%)
Buy New/Used from $14.91
Avg. Customer Rating:   (8 reviews)
Sales Rank: 70130
Format: Classical, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 152 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
UPC: 032031412699
EAN: 0032031412699
ASIN: B000HDRAP8
Release Date: September 26, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Similar Items:
| • | Gilbert & Sullivan - H.M.S. Pinafore / Trial By Jury - David Hobson, Anthony Warlow, Colette Mann, Tiffany Speight, John Bolton Wood, Richard Alexander, Opera Australia, State Theatre, The Arts Centre Melbourne | | • | Gilbert & Sullivan - The Mikado / Eric Idle, Lesley Garrett, Richard Van Allan, Felicity Palmer, Richard Angas, Bonaventura Bottone, Susan Bullock, English National Opera | | • | Gilbert & Sullivan - The Pirates of Penzance / Kline, Ronstadt, Smith, Routledge, Delacorte Theater (Broadway Theatre Archive) | | • | Gilbert & Sullivan - Pirates of Penzance / Anthony Warlow, David Hobson, Australian Opera | | • | Gilbert & Sullivan - Patience |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Description
The impoverished Duke and Duchess of Plaza-Toro come to Venice in search of the heir to the throne of Barataria, inconveniently mislaid at birth and betrothed to their daughter. The most likely candidates are two handsome gondoliers, far more interested in parties than politics and, what's more, just married! It takes the help of the nursemaid to unravel the knots in this particularly twisty tale.David Hobson: Marco Palmieri, a Gondolier
Roger Lemke: Giuseppe Palmieri, a Gondolier
Suzanne Johnston: Tessa, a Peasant Girl
Christine Douglas: Gianetta, a Peasant Girl
Robert Gard: Duke of Plaza-Toro
Graeme Ewer: Duchess of Plaza-Toro
Fiona Maconaghie: Casilda, their daughter
Martin Croft: Luiz, their attendant
Dennis Olsen: Don Alhambra, The Grand Inquisitor
Jennifer Bermingham: Inez, the Kings Foster Mother Opera Australia. Conductor: Dobbs Franks Director/Choreographer: Brian MacDonald. With The Australian Opera Chorus, The Elizabethan Philharmonic Orchestra "The Australian Opera has prepared a stylish and exhilarating Gondoliers; it also offers many opportunities for biting humor and the release of unbridled energy" The Australian "Costumes are dazzling; the choreography is exuberant; and every member of the cast gives the impression of enjoying their roles." The Sydney Morning Herald
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
Energetic and entertaining August 25, 2008
This is a fine production, as one expects from Opera Australia Those that are familiar with Canada's Stratford Festival version of The Gondoliers will instantly recognise this production, as it is virtually identical. It is, in my opinion however, better performed than it's Canadian counterpart. It is highly energetic and entertaining from start to finish.
The cast is brilliant and includes a "young" David Hobson (Australian audiences will be familiar with David's contributions in more recent years) and the great Dennis Olsen. Unfortunately, Dennis does not play the more traditional comic role of the Duke of Plaza-Toro, but is relegated to the smaller part of Don Alhambra. Both these players, along with the rest of the cast, put in great performances.
One of the many highlights is the choreography (again replicated from the Stratford Festival version). In particular, "Dance a cachuca" in act 2 deserves mention, however to say anything further would spoil it for you.
Another "replication" from the the Stratford Festival is the casting of a male in the role of the Duchess of Plaza-Toro, a move that probably has Gilbert turning in his grave. While I generally "shudder at the thought" of such a casting, in this instance it is done quite well by Graeme Ewer. Graeme has demonstrated great talent in performing comic roles for Opera Australia for many years. Whether this works for you or not will be a matter of personal taste.
The biggest disappointment I have with this production is the omission of "I am a courtier" from act 2. This was also omitted from the Stratford Festival version.
Overall, while this may not be the absolute best offering by Opera Australia, it is a very good and enjoyable production and holds up very well against other versions of the show.
 Very good! June 22, 2008
Excellent actors/vocal talent, choreography, costumes, and set. Our family really enjoyed this production with the exception of a crude reference added to the second act. We especially like comedic abilities of each of the actors/actresses, and the very fun dance scenes. We'd love to see more Opera Australia Gilbert and Sullivans available for purchase on DVD.
 Good, but disappointing March 5, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am very happy to have the Gondoliers in a video format, as I only had my LP D'Oyly Carte version previously. I keep hoping for a DVD G&S production like this to be in HD, but still must wait.
Although the singing and dancing are OUTSTANDING, I could only give this a three star review for the following reasons:
1. The "clown/mime/dancers," although the live audience seemed to enjoy them, were a distraction to me. Kind of like watching a fly performing as an "extra" in a movie. Adding nothing but distraction.
2. The very generous re-writing of the lyrics in so many places. A bit of that is OK, in my opinion, but I often felt like this was no longer a Gilbert and Sullivan work, but "based on a Light Opera by Gilbert and Sullivan." The extensive re-writing of the lyrics with so much "current history" (which is now less current, anyhow) was disappointing. This may have been done to make it more funny and topical, but the original was also funny and still seems relevant and topical to me! Promoting Plaza-Toro condoms seemed out of "character" in a G&S production.
3. The Grand Inquisitor had such a poor "accent" added to his "persona." And him adding in a few "Madre de Dios" to his dialogue made it even worse. Just like the clown/mimes, it was very distracting to me.
4. Cutting "I am a Courtier, Grave and Serious" to make room for the mimes and added material was unfortunate.
All together, three stars is not "bad." But it could have been better!
WONDERFUL!!!! January 30, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This production, from start to finish-is excellent. The principals are all uniformly terrific and seem to be having a lot of fun. What I love especially about this production is the smooth transitioning between musical numbers. There's never a static moment. I thought the addition of the dancers (the "Zanies") was a great idea, using them in the overture was a stroke of genius. It immediately involved the audience in the world of the play. It is also amazing how well the entire cast can dance in addition to singing so well. If I'm not mistaken, these were opera singers-no? Quite astonishing-in a good way. The choreography struck just the right balance-not too difficult, but perfectly executed to create a great illusion. The Cachuca number with the life-sized dolls was a stroke of genius and really funny.
This is an exhilarating production.
 The mad Canuck beast rises again January 9, 2007
6 out of 10 found this review helpful
This is a revival of the Stratford, Ontario, production of "The Gondoliers." It is, therefore, putrid at second hand. (I hastily add that this is not the fault of the talented Australian performers; they were victims of the unspeakable director and original producers who were fully given over to the demented theory that the roots of the G&S comic operas lay in the English music hall and panto.)
Previous reviewers have specified some of the horrors of this production. I shall not repeat them here. I merely point out that a male performer who was very good in Australian Opera's "Patience," which was based on the excellent English National Opera production, is here thrust into the wigs and gowns of the Duchess of Plaza-Toro. In the words of the Bard of Avon, "Oh, horrible, horrible, most horrible."
The only positive thing that can be said of this train wreck is that the AO people, by and large, can sing--a talent wholly absent in the DVD of the original, Canadian version of this piteous, misadventured, overthrown production.
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