Giordano - Andrea Chenier / Jose Carreras, Eva Marton, Piero Cappuccilli, Silvana Mazzieri, Riccardo Chailly, La Scala Opera

My only disappointment with this production is that the production values seem a little undercooked (the sets for Acts II through IV are virtually the same, admirable economy of design but a bit boring to look at for two hours) and some of the smaller supporting roles are blandly sung (with the exception of Cynthia Buchan who gives one of the most spirited Bersi arias I've heard). Giorgio Zancanaro makes a strong case for this opera being renamed "Carlo Gerard," as Gerard (one of opera's few bad-guys-turned-good) is simply a more interesting character than either of the two leads and Zancanaro's brilliant performance pushes it over the top. I also share the disapproval and disappointment that his final bow was omitted from the DVD - what was Kultur thinking?? Domingo and Tomowa-Sintow are fine, although she doesn't really make an impression until Act III "La mamma morta."

I'm a huge Domingo fan, and own both his "Chenier" DVDs: the Covent Garden production with Tomowa-Sintov and the Vienna Opera production with Benackova. Neither is ideal, with Domingo not at his best in one and the soprano a bust in the other. I was beginning to think that a truly great "Chenier" might not exist -- until now. This LaScala performance is nothing short of electryifying. Most of the credit has to go to Carreras, who gives one of the finest performances I have ever seen, either in or out of an opera house. Carreras' work has never really been on my radar (I know him mostly from The Three Tenors and his later career), so this interpretation was a surprise -- and a revelation. Not only is the sound incredible, but his passion and commitment to every moment are simply extraordinary. For his performance alone you should snatch up this DVD. Luckily, there are other major compensations. Marton, although a bit more Amazon than delicate young French girl, sings with equal passion and beauty, and her acting is superb. (When was the last time you saw an opera singer shed actual tears?) Cappuccilli, who gives a stunning performance on the Vienna DVD, is not quite as wonderful here. This was a few years later, and the sound was a little drier, a little more patchy. But he warms up considerably in Act 3, giving a solid, old-fashioned, powerhouse performance. The crowd goes wild, with good reason. (I do abhor his tendency, however, prevalent in the Vienna DVD as well, to milk the applause, smile at the audience and wink at the conductor. Talk about old school!) The production itself is lavish and very attractive, and it's all masterfully conducted by Riccardo Chailly. Bottom line: If you can only afford one "Chenier" on DVD, this is the one to get, no ifs, ands or buts. Sorry, Placido.

Umberto Giordano's most famous opera "Andrea Chénier" portrays the tragic fate of poet Andrea Chénier in the French Revolution. Setting the real-life figure as the lead character and with the poet singing his own verses, this verismo opera embraces the realism enthusiastically. Character Andrea Chénier is a romantic and idealistic poet, who loved his country ardently and faced his death heroically. It's a tenor's opera. You would think a lyric tenor would be most suitable for the character's poetry, if he could also bring off some great heroic moments in the big orchestration. In this 1985 production, Domingo rendered Andrea Chénier with a well-balanced poetry and heroism. He filled poet's big arias with rich lyricism, at times, intimate feelings, and yet, the big outbursts were all there. Domingo was well matched by the powerful-voiced Anna Tomawa-Sintov as Maddalena. In her dark and rounded voice, Anna Tomowa-Sintov sang the character strongly, although some delicacy and variety might make the role more interesting. Her "La mamma morta" was in no short of dramatic expressions in both the recitative-like passages and the emotional outbursts followed. Giorgio Zancanaro, who approached the revolutionary Gérard humanly, sang a wonderful "Nemico della patria", which won him a storm of applause from the audience.The stage design of this Covent Garden production is conventional, straightforward, with a few moments quite affecting, one of them would be the haunting picture at the end of Act I, in which the shadows of the poor and the angry gradually appeared above the aristocrats who were in the center stage, singing and dancing, without the faintest idea of what was awaiting.

Until recently (November 2003) the only DVD edition of Andrea Chenier was a 1975 film version with Franco Corelli in the title role. This one is much better. It is an excellent live production filmed at Covent Garden in 1985. It illustrates why the Royal Opera is one of the world's leading companies.The three principals -- Placido Domingo as Chenier, Anna Tomowa-Sintow as Maddalena de Coigny, and Giorgio Zancanaro as Carlo Gerard -- are all in the prime of their careers at the time of this filming, and handle their roles superbly. They are backed up by a solid group of supporting singers. The orchestra does justice to Giordano's rich score without ever drowning out the singers. The sets and costumes are appropriate and never distracting. In short, this is exactly what one would expect to see in a first-rate production at a first-rate opera house.

It is going to be a long, a very long time indeed, before we see another Chenier to rival this fabulous 1985 Covent Garden performance. Domingo was in excellent voice, and he meets every vocal challenge with virile, golden tone. Even if he lacks that brilliant spinto of Corelli, he has what it takes for this formidable role. Of recent tenors none comes near. The rest of the cast is if anything, better. Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Karajan's favourite soprano is a glorious Maddalena: full voiced, warm, compelling, she is quite simply extraordinary. Baritone Giorgio Zancanaro gives a master class on how to mould a phrase in the old Italian style. His big aria is delivered with the kind of musicianship not heard since the days of Amato and Battistini.Sound and picture are good and you would be completely insane to pass this dvd.

It is rare to find three singers of this calibre in the opera house today and the 1985 ROH production is a reminder of how fortunate we once were. Domingo, thrillingly heroic as the idealistic poet Chenier, the voice and virile presence unmistakable; Anna Tomowa-Sintow (perhaps not quite the girlish Maddalena one might expect) adding to the frisson with some lovely singing; and last, but not least, Giorgio Zancanaro as Gerard, the revolutionary with a conscience, sings with great conviction, especially in his big Act III aria.The production is traditional, the stage business none too fussy and the conducting (Julius Rudel) is more than adequate, with plenty of passion and sweep when called for. Humphrey Burton's video direction is not too obtrusive (thank goodness) and technically the sound and picture are fine, if not quite up to the very best of modern recordings.All in all a thrilling couple of hours of wonderful singing and a worthy addition to anyone's opera collection.

OK

good quality

Excellent

From the onset the recording is immediately captivating. The sound and picture quality is still excellent after all these years. The rendition by all artists is beautful, including that of the orchestra and conducting.