VHS : Gounod - Romeo et Juliette / Mackerras, Alagna, Vaduva, Royal Opera Covent Garden
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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com:
Gounod's version of Shakespeare's tragedy about two 'star-crossed lovers' has never been considered a first-class opera, but as this 1994 Royal Opera production movingly shows, with the right singers and conductor it can be a quite emotional experience. Tenor Roberto Alagna is all youthful ardor and aching romance as Romeo, while soprano Leontina Vaduva plays Juliet as a lover frightfully aware of the doom the pair is moving toward. Among an able supporting cast, Francois Le Roux stands out as Mercutio. Nicolas Joel's staging rarely strays from its focus on the lovers, and it even finds room for moments of true invention and wit. Conducting the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Charles Mackerras again proves his worth as an estimable interpreter of this kind of traditional French opera. --Kevin Filipski
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Beautifully sung production
Romeo et Juliette has always been one of my favorite operas. The leads are both perfect in their interpretation of youthful love. Roberto Alagna is in superb form and a terrific Romeo. It is a joy to behold his perfect French diction. His voice is sweet, lyrical and clear cut like most French tenors. Vaduva is an excellent Juliette. She can act, is young and beautiful, and has a wonderful coloratura. Her opening aria "Je veux Vivre..." is simply incredible! I thought her voice was perfect and her ... Read More
Rating:  - You can have my copy for free!
Never have much cared for Alagna and in this production he really disappoints - vocally and visually. Just saw him in the MET simulcast which will soon be released on DVD and can't believe how much better the Met's production brings some 'life' to this less than 'grand' opera. This DVD should be relegated to the garbage can and I advise all to pick up the Met's production when it is available.
Rating: - Outstanding performance
Everything - singing, acting, conducting, staging, costumes - were excellent.Conventional staging & costumes, singers who actually looked their parts, and an outsanding peformance by Alagna make this a memorable opera.
Rating: - A second-tier opera gets a first class performance
This is a superb production, sumptuously staged and sung with passion throughout. The young Alagna sings beautifully with an exquisite sense of lyricism and dynamics. He won an Olivier award for his performance and it was well-deserved. Vaduva is a memorable Juliette: she captures the awkwardness and coltishness of an adolescent girl overcome with passion and not quite knowing how to handle it until it's too late. Their emotions are almost palpable and the final scene is truly heartwrenching. Both ... Read More
Rating: - Wonderful!
This is one of my favorites. The sets are a bit drab (I don't understand the constant blue lighting), but the performances from the singers make up for it. All of the supporting roles are well sung, but it is Romeo and Juliet that make this a production to remember.
Alagna is in fine voice -- his "Ah! leve-toi, soleil!" is magnificent. As the opera goes on, his voice can be unsteady and a bit out of tune at times, but overall this is a very good performance. His acting is also very believable, ... Read More
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