Paolo Olmi, Orchestra of the Opera National de Lyon, Giovanni Furlanetto, Elzbieta Szmytka, Ludovic Tézier - Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro (2003/1994)
PAL 4:3 (720x576) VBR | Italiano (LinearPCM, 2 ch) | 7.48 Gb (DVD9) | 190 min
Classical | Arthaus Musik | Sub: Italiano, English, Francais, Deutsch, Espanol
PAL 4:3 (720x576) VBR | Italiano (LinearPCM, 2 ch) | 7.48 Gb (DVD9) | 190 min
Classical | Arthaus Musik | Sub: Italiano, English, Francais, Deutsch, Espanol
The Marriage of Figaro, as this elegant 1994 production brilliantly reminds us, was a French bedroom comedy before it became a Mozart opera. It is a classic of French literature, and it is still enjoyable as a spoken play after more than two centuries of existence. Its literary quality gives this production a special flavor. The music–some of Mozart's finest–is beautifully presented by a carefully chosen international cast (including Giovanni Furlanetto, Elzbieta Szymtka, Janice Watson, and Ludovic Tezier), but what sets this production apart is its theatrical flavor, cultivated by a director who is an expert on classic French theater. The standards of spoken theater are upheld in timing, body language, the inflection of punch lines. These qualities are more important here than in most operas; style is both crucial and elusive. Fortunately, the Opera de Lyon, one of most imaginative companies in Europe, shows an impressive sense of style. (Joe McLellan)