Halevy - La Juive

Esta es una de las mejores grabaciones de una ópera, tanto en la calidad de los cantantes como del maravilloso sonido, especialmente en DTS. El escenario quizás es un poco parco, pero no importa, la grandiosidad de la obra y la excelencia de los intérpretes supera cualquier carencia, que en mi opinión no la hay ya que la escenografía es moderna y adecuada; en cuanto a la época en que transcurre la acción no tiene la menor importancia porque al fin y al cabo la música es lo importante. El gran bajo austriaco Walter Fink nos ofrece una impresionante voz y presencia escénica; me recuerda en su primera aria una grabación de hace muchos años del gran Ezio Pinza. Recomiendo de todo corazón esta ópera a los verdaderos amantes de la música operística. No quedarán defraudados. En cuanto a Neil Shicoff sólo tengo palabras de admiración y encanto sobre su voz y actuación. Sigue siendo uno de los grandes tenores de nuestros tiempos.

The staging was very poor and minimalist, performances were good and the rabbi was superb.

I liked everything about it. It's music, what did I use it for, could the question be sillier???

this is marvelous opera which i have never seen performed. i have no idea why since the music is superb and the plot is dramatic The performance is excellent. i have cd s and am delighted this DVD has been made available

Although the staging is at times awkward and distracting, there is very fine singing and musicianship in this production of "La Juive". It's certainly worthwhile.

This is the second time I watched this opera. I originally saw it at the Metropolitan Opera. The theme still exists today. The Jews continue to be discriminated against throughout the world. Neil Shicoff, as the father and a jew (in real life too), truly sings from his heart.

This is one I kind of picked on a whim, as it were. It was the rare instance where the librettist's name was more familiar to me than the composer's. Eugine Scribe is also well-known as a playwright of his time, and a librettist for other French grand opera composers (if memory serves, he provided libretti for Verdi, Donizetti, and Meyerbeer).Jacques Fromental-Halevy (1799-1848) is not remembered today, other than as the teacher of Saint-Saens, and the composer of this opera. To give an idea of what his music sounds like, bear in mind that he is a half-generation older than Wagner, Verdi, and Schumann, and younger than Rossini by about the same distance. The famous composer he is closest to in terms of age is Bellini -- but this is merely a coincidence. Halevy's orchestration is heavier, more fully worked-out than Bellini's, but his melodic gift is not on par with the Sicilian's.In any event, the overture, with its busy strings and full-bodied brass choir, is reminiscent of late Rossini (the rich, brassy orchestration of the overtures to "La Gazza Ladra" and "William Tell" spring to mind). Although not as fully developed as Rossini's pieces, there is one moment toward the overture's end that is particularly effective. The entire orchestra, having just finished a long crescendo capped off by strong accents, rests for a measure -- the tension is enormous. On my listen, I figured Halevy would recapitulate the opening tune, quietly, perhaps in the winds, and then build back to a large coda. Instead, the orchestra jumps out of the silence right into the coda, which features massed brass and strings playing a new theme (a reharmonized, extended version of the opening). Highly effective.On to the performances themselves. This is not a "pretty" production -- that is, it seems that the players were selected for their acting ability and suitability for the roles. That is to say, Neil Shicoff absolutely becomes (or is) Eleazar. It's hard to imagine someone more physically suited for the role. However, his voice is not the best -- it is, at least, good enough.The same goes for Walter Fink, as Brogni -- although here, the suitability to the role is more questionable than Shicoff (although, it should be noted, no one has ever been more perfectly cast). Fink does not project enough personality in the role; his Brogni is too anguished, too full of self-doubt. To the credit side of the ledger, this teases out the question of the legitimacy of the daughter (that is, whether Eleazar is lying to Brogni about the girl's identity). Fink's voice, too, I found unappealing. It is awfully buzzy. Again, though, the same could be said of Shicoff's voice, so perhaps the voices were well-matched. Nonetheless, Fink has the best piece in the opera, his Act I Cavatine ("If they ignore your sacred law").After having watched it several times, the thing that really stands out is Scribe's libretto. The "doubling" of scenes (Christians having a procession on one part of the stage, while Jews pray on the other) is particularly effective. In all, the libretto manages to cover quite a bit of ground without losing its dramatic "snap."Strongly recommended for fans of grand opera of the Verdian stamp.

For Opera lovers this is a must

I borrowed this a few years ago from Lovefilm and was determined that it should be in my opera collection as one that will be repeatedly played. This is due to the powerful drama of this opera which is brought out by fantastic singing by everyone in the cast, first class acting skills especially by Neil Shicoff, Krassimira Stoyanova and Walter Fink. The production is brilliantly done and cannot be faulted and the filming heightens the intensity of the drama. This is a grand opera that was suppressed by the Nazis and was never revived until the late 20th century. it deserves more performances in opera houses worldwide because of its relevance.

The climax in this opera is so powerfully overwhelming, it makes your heart pound as you gasp in disbelief. The acting is excellent, and the singing superb. I was especially impressed with the stage set - the two layers and the slant constantly spoke aloud the hardships of antisemitism. A timeless message.

I can't call this a first-rate performance only because staging of it borders on the absurd so I'll leave the presentation of it there.The performances of all the singers are above reproach especially Shicoff's Eleazar and Stoyanova's Rachel.

I had never seen or heard this opera before but it is an outstanding work of great drama and music. The production works well with two levels of stage, a low front and a raised platform behind. This is used effectively in a variety of ways. Orchestra and Chorus are superb as you would expect from Vienna. There are no weak links in the cast with Krassimira Stoyanova in excellent voice in the title role. However, the star is Neil Shicoff in the role of the Jewish father. It would be fair to describe him as a method opera performer. He lives every moment with the greatest intensity and sings wonderfully. If you don't know this but it immediately.

Tremendous performances, staging unorthodox but by no means disagreeable, good sound and picture quality. Buy this DVD!