Metropolitan Opera Gala - James Levine's 25th Anniversary

[[ASIN:B0009DBXX6 Metropolitan Opera Gala - James Levine's 25th Anniversary]]After I bought "Vienna State Opera Gala Concert" and the "Opera Gala: Live from Baden-Baden which I enjoyed very much, I was very excited to buy :The Metropolitan Opera Gala- James Levine's 25th Anniversary". This concert was very good. I could see the performances of very good singers for three different generations who had sang at the Metropolitan, I enjoyed a lot the selections of different operas by some of the best opera composers.I have one complaint: one of the DVD (#1) has a defect in Die Fiedermaus: "Dieser Anstand, so manierlich" by Johann Strauss II sing by Karita Matila and Hakan Hagegard which I had to skip to continue watching the DVD, I asked for a change and it had the same problem, I think this defect is in the confection of the DVD. Even though I kept one of the products and didn't ask for a refund because for a 5 hour program with such good performers, 5 minutes of music that I couldn't enjoy was a minor problem.

I first watched this gala a decade ago when it first aired on PBS. I was smart enough to tape the whole thing then, and those tapes got watched many many times over the next few years. I was in highschool then, and, after leaving home for college, have not had many chances to rewatch it, not the least due to the fact that VCRs no longer exist. I wanted a replacement for those much-loved and much-worn tapes, but was uncertain if I should get this DVD, because I had watched the DVD of the older gala celebrating the Met Centennial (?) from the 80s, and was disgusted at the exceedingly poor video and audio quality, though it may have been more than reasonable for the 80s. I was afraid that the recording of this gala would also seem pitiful in comparison to the much more advanced technology of today. However, the video looks great on my 40" LCD TV, and the sound is every bit as glorious as it is in my fond, nostalgic memories.Now on to the actual performances. Obviously not every selection is going to be the best performance ever, but there are many performances here that I think are notable moments in opera history. My favorite are probably Waltraud Meier's performance of Isolde's Narrative and Curse and Aprile Millo's performance of "Morro, ma prima in grazia." There's also a very charming performance of the Watch Duet from Die Fledermaus by Hakan Hagegard and Karita Mattila. Jane Eaglen pulls off a very enjoyable performance of one of my favorite Wagner pieces, the Immolation Scene from Gotterdammerung. My least-favorite performance, though, is hands-down the slaughtering of "Depuis le jour" by Renee Fleming, with her trademark The Beautiful Voice self-indulgence and over-sentimentality. But, thankfully, most selections on these discs are more examples of artistry than commercial hype.One other note: This DVD set does not include the complete gala. I think I taped about 7 hours off PBS, and the DVDs only comprise about 5 hours total. I can't remember exactly which selections are missing, but, off the top of my head, I know it's missing:Gwyneth Jones singing "In questa reggia" from Turandot,Maria Ewing singing "My Man's Gone Now" from Porgy and Bess,June Anderson singing some aria I can't rememberFrederica von Stade singing... I think "Non so piu" from Marriage of Figaro, but I'm not sure.While I wish the whole gala could have been included here, I'm not totally heart-broken about anything that did get excluded, so I'm happy.Anyway, long story short, the top-notch technical quality of the recording and the stellar artistic quality of the performances here makes this a pretty essential part of any opera-phile's collection. I think it also makes a good introduction for beginners, because the music performed here are fairly popular highlights from a diverse range of repetoire. It also represents a wide range of voices, from the ultra-light lirico of Dawn Upshaw to the booming power of Debby Voigt's heldensopran.So, what are you waiting for? Buy it now! :)

I am awaiting delivery of this DVD from Amazon, but I happened to see it on a PAL version a friend of mine bought in London a month ago (where it's been available for a few months). Trying to remember every opera star appearing on this gala would be like trying to remember how many famous faces you see being panned by TV cameras at the Academy Awards. Suffice to say, anyone who was affiliated with the Metropolitan Opera in 1996 and before (except for Pavarotti, who cancelled at the last minute) can be seen here. Some of the stars were in their early vocal primes (Alagna, Gheorghiu, Zajick, Hadley, Ti Kanawa, Fleming, Voight, Terfel); others were in the middle of their greatest periods (Ramey, Domingo, Van Ness, Von Stade); and a few whose best singing days were behind them. All of them provide magical and even poignant moments. Whether or not it was wise for Carlo Bergonzi to sing at all is a matter of opinion, but at an occasion like this, it really doesn't matter. There are a lot of Italian and French items sung by all of the above, but, for me, anyway, the standouts included the Wotan's Farewell and conclusion of Act III of "Die Walkure", with James Morris singing a truly monumental Wotan, as well as Waltraute Meier's scorching rendition of Isolde's Narrative and Curse from "Tristan Und Isolde". James Levine, the "raison t'etre" for this bash, certainly deserves the tribute. He made the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra one of the greatest in the world, and his work here fully substantiates that claim. Finally ---- a really big and wonderful surprise comes near the end as the legendary Birgit Nilsson comes out and makes a speech in tribute to Levine. It's all wonderful and certainly welcome. The only problem is that it's so incredibly long - six hours! It's very hard to do this gala in one sitting, though I remember that when it was televised in April of 1996, it started at 6:00 and didn't end until midnight. I happened to have recorded it on VHS (and it has held up beautifully), but I found that the DVD, at least the PAL version I saw, is much clearer and the sound is somewhat better.You can't go wrong with this one. It's one of a kind.

Yet another Met Gala, but one well worth having. It was over-shadowed at the time by extensive reports in the NY press that Pavarotti had phoned-in-sick at the twelfth hour and refused to appear on stage; even in a non-singing capcity. Anyway, no matter, but it's a shame that when Volpe retired a few years later, he really was too sick to appear at that gala.With only a little dip into the Met History's past ( Carlo Bergonzi, Te Kanawa, Bumbry and Nilsson) this is jam packed with all the young singers that, in many ways, Levine has been responsible for nurturing. Some are worth mentioning for being a cut-above the others in performing their pieces:Dolora Zajick reminds us why she has made Eboli very much her own at the Met. Waltraud Meier gives a stirling performance of Isolde's Narrative and Curse, while Renee Fleming demonstrates that she is well on the way to becoming one of the greatest Marschalin's of all time.Alagna and Terfel are electrifing in the duet from the Pearl Fishers and Mozart is well served by Te Kanawa, Terfel and Vaness. Birgit Nilsson gives a touching tribute to Levine and wisely opts not to sing; other than a few seconds of the Walkure's battle cry - what a character she was; and very sadly missed by us all.Unfortunately, I think Bergonzi might have been wise to take a leaf out of Birgit's book and leave us with the memory of a great voice, rather than singing the aria from Luisa Miller - and it pains me to say that (as in the 25th Anniversary at Lincoln Center) Sherill Milnes is not in best of voice.Jane Eaglen, on the other hand, I have never heard in good voice! She was cut from the video release and I always programme the DVD player to skip her quite dreadful Immolation scene. In a collection of great singers under Levine's tenure at the Met, there was no room for Ms Eaglen in this gala. I remember seeing her in London as Ariadne and as we left the theatre I heard someone say, 'I don't suppose we'll be seeing her at the ENO for some time' and I thought, 'well, I hope not, I think she's awful!' I'm afraid that having sat through this, her Isolde on DVD and Saturday matinees of the Ring Cycle, I haven't changed my mind.In his typical, generous style, Jimmy rightfully gives the final encore to the Met Orchestra and Chorus - they close with the finale of Die Meistersinger - it's great and so is this recording.One other thing worth mentioning, Raymond Gniewek waited 25 years to realise his dream and play the violin solo in Verdi's 'I Lombardi' at the Met. He finally did it during complete performances of the opera during January 1994, with Pavarotti as Oronte. He was due to repeat it here, 27th April 1996, but Pavarotti called in sick and Bergonzi (who had never sung it before) stepped in at the last minute, so Gniewek got to play it again. Now, there's professionalism for you!

As a child I would visit my local sweet shop and not know what to choose or to try next. Chocolate, brandy snaps, liquorice, sugard almonds, midget gems, lemon sherberts how can you take it all in?This Metroploita Opera Gala to celebrate James Levine's 25 years with the company is my operatic sweety shop. I skipped arround from one aria to the next then back again to listen to something which I just couldn't bear not to hear before the day was out. This is a total joy for any opera lover.highlights abound, far too many to mention. But I will just tell you about a few.Cotrubas singing "meine Lippen" - a lesson in style and charm.Carlo Bergonzi singing Rodolfo's aria from Luisa Miller - a true operatic historical moment.The Rosenkavalier Trio. Alfredo Kraus as Hoffman. Renee Fleming singing Depuis le Jour.The list is too long. Just buy it and enjoy

As an opera lover have a wide collection - this gala is fabulous - can highly recommend it

godd material

Dieses Jubiläum von James Levine hat es in sich: ein Superkonzert mit einem riesigen Staraufgebot und wunderbaren Stimmen! Hervorzuheben das Duett aus den Perlenfischern mit Alagna und Terfel, ebenso das Duett Posa/Philipp aus Don Carlo mit Hampson und Scandiuzzi. Sehr gut hat mir auch gefallen das Duett Faust/Mephisto aus Margarethe mit Domingo und Ramey. Allerdings habe ich James Levine bedauert - er steht persönlich über Stunden am Pult! und daszu seinem eigenen Jubiläum!!Ein langer Abend, aber schön. Sehr zu empfehlen.