|
|
![The Gershwins' Porgy & Bess / Rattle, White, Haymon, Glyndebourne Opera [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VVEPTCVML._SL160_.jpg)
Prodcut Description: [More Information ...]
This powerful production originated on the stage of the Glyndebourne Festival. It was restaged and filmed on location for the BBC telecast preserved in this video recording. Director Trevor Nunn takes full advantage of the realism, fluidity of movement, and precision of small details that are difficult to achieve when televising a staged performance but easy and natural in a movie treatment. Nunn's vision, conveyed by an unusually talented cast, is constantly touching and rises to overwhelming intensity at climactic points. For example: the crap game and fight that end in Robbins's death, the hurricane scene, Crown's capture and abuse of Bess on Kittiwah Island, Porgy's fight with Crown, the comically sinister antics of Sportin' Life, the double-edged pathos and absurdity of the scene in which Bess gets "divorced," and the electrifying conclusion, when Porgy throws away his crutches and sets out, naively, to find Bess in New York. Musically, Simon Rattle and all the performers find the exact style for Gershwin's marvelous score--not only such big numbers as "Summertime," "Bess, You Is My Woman Now," "I Loves You, Porgy," "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'," "It Ain't Necessarily So," "I Hates Your Struttin' Style," and "O Lawd, I'm on My Way," but such smaller items as the exquisite cries of the street vendors of honey, strawberries, and crabs. There are no weaknesses in the cast. Willard White and Cynthia Haymon are ideal in the title roles, Gregg Baker is a terrifying, larger-than-life Crown, and Damon Evans is a properly slimy Sportin' Life. The white police officers are splendidly repulsive. --Joe McLellan
Similar Products : [More Information ...]
Reviews:
Very nice audio and video
I received in hoped time even so far to be sent from the origin. The quality of audio and video are so fine. I really didn't have any problem with postal or quality. I just reclaim about the subtitles. Doesn't have subtitles in Portuguese. Not what I expected
I was mistaken. I was expecting a live production but everything was dubbed. It was distracting. One (technical) reservation
Although this was filmed for Television in 1993, when wide-screen TV wasn't available yet, there's no excuse for filming this Opera using a narrow (3/4) aspect ratio. Wide screen as such has been with us since the 1920s, and a production of this magnitude near the turn of the century should have had some better vision (in both meanings of the word). a 5-star masterpiece except for this rather disturbing aspect. Porgy and Bess
I read about this performance in Alex Ross's "The Rest Is Noise - Listening to the 20th Century" - a wonderful book, by the way.
I live in Australia where, because of the copyright conditions of the Gershwin estate, "Porgy and Bess" is rarely performed. I'm a classical musician (singer, conductor) with a low-level professional career behind me. I have yet to see "Porgy and Bess" live.
It is hard to imagine a better staged performance than this one. The singing, acting and orchestral playing are wonderful.
Having recently read Barack Obama's "Dreams From My Father", I wonder what a contemporary African-American makes of "Porgy and Bess" these days. Do they wince at the lyrics? ("Hebben" for "Heaven", etc.) Is there a feeling that it is (or purports to be) an African-American story told by non-African-Americans? And if so, how do they feel about that?
Like any work of art, "Porgy and Bess" is of its own time. I found it harrowing and, eventually, possibly-a-bit-hopeful. Or is Porgy just deluded?
I thought it well worth watching (and listening to).
Highly recommended.
Porgy & Bess Video
It was a fun and lively show. Music performances were excellent. I found myself being pulled into the story, feeling the passions of the characters, and when it was over I was on my way to New York with Porgy! |
Keyword: Video,
Description: The Gershwins' Porgy & Bess / Rattle, White, Haymon, Glyndebourne Opera [VHS]
|
|
