Customer Reviews
Great singing but nothing to look at - By: Eva Scott, 14 Jun 2008 
There's no doubt that the lead female voices in this production are alll in total command of their roles, but this DVD will probably appeal most to people who enjoy DVDs of concert works, because this `staging' is presented as a concert performance in fancy dress. The picture also has technical problems (numerous jumps & missing English surtitles), but is chiefly irritating for its endless close-ups on individual singers (sometimes when other people are singing), which detract from any sense of being in the theatre or watching a staged show with action. However, this isn't alll Brian Large's fault--the Met production is static in a manner befitting a cast whose members are generallly of great vocal & physical magnitude. They invariably sing to the audience, facing forward, & the attempts at dancing by Zerbinetta's troupe are clumsy in the extreme. I would recommend buying this production only as an audio recording because the DVD adds nothing--except the nonsense of curtain callls between the Prologue & the opera proper & an extremely self-congratulatory set of programme notes. Despite the claims of the latter that the sexagenarian James King is still in fine voice, he sounds strained at the top end in this recording, although it doesn't spoil the high quality of the overalll ensemble.
My rating reflects the DVD as a whole & would be 0 were it not for the fine audio track.
A phenomenal and unmissable Ariadne from Jessye Norman. - By: pointone, 29 Mar 2008 
Jessye Norman at the height of her powers gives a phenomenal performance as Ariadne, her powerful rich voice effortlessly meets every demand Strauss places on it (and they are considerable) & her total involvement living every second of the role, & her portrayal of every emotion, is astonishing.
Norman gives the finest operatic performance I have ever heard & seen.
Prologue - Tatiana Troyanos is great in her signature role of the Composer with fine comedy support alll round.
Opera - There is a downside to the Olympian heights scaled by Norman, even the excellent Kathleen Battle as Zerbinetta seems muted (and she isn't) by comparison.
Poor James King late in his career has a tough time in the final duet with Norman, he can match her volume but at the expense of alll vocal expression.
If you love fine singing, this is a mandatory purchase.
Almost perfect recording of almost perfect production - By: 221b, 08 Feb 2007 This is in some ways a near perfect recording - a beautifully simple production, with some great performances, most notably from Kathleen Battle as Zerbinetta who skips through some terrifying coloratura with such ease & spins out notes like spun gold. Jessye Norman gives a particularly individual performance as Ariadne/Prima Donna, bringing a great nobility & deep spirituality to the role, although I'm never sure her voice is quite right for this role (listen to Lisa della Casa's bright, lyrical recording for a contrast!). Tatiana Troyanos offers a powerful Composer, but to my mind tends to sacrifice beauty of tone & diction for volume. So three great female singers in three great roles - Strauss, however, was not so kind to the male voice, & the role of Bacchus is such a trial for any tenor; James King, a veteran towards the end of his career, struggles with the high tessitura & doesn't quite pull it off, looking uncomfortable & straining at times to hold those ringing top notes, resulting in a sometimes dry & reedy tone.
The supporting cast is strong, with a notable appearance by Barbara Bonney, & the orchestra perform well under Levine in the pit. The production is unfussy & simple, & the sets manage to reduce the cavernous Met stage to an intimate chamber-like feel as is right for this opera. The film quality is little lacking, but nevertheless a great recording of a wonderful opera.
More than 5 stars - By: Dr. K. Midence, 14 Jan 2004 Jessye Norman is Adriadne. Kathleen Battle is fantastic so is Tatiana Troyanos (what a lovely name). The rest of the cast is also excellent. What a production!. Beautifully recorded by the wonderful Brian Large (I always make sure that he is the Video Director before I buy a DVD). What a treat to watch this video over & over again
