This May 2010 production of Massenet's 1910 opera "Don Quichotte" marked the opera's centenary and also Jose Van Dam's operatic farewell at the Theatre de la Monnaie, Brussels. It is beautiful in every way--vocally, scenically, sonically, and visually--and a worthy record of Van Dam's farewell. Van Dam is just shy of 70 in this production, but you would never guess it from his singing or stage movements--a consummate artist. His is a noble portrayal and deeply moving. The Act V death scene is a model of beautiful singing and acting.
Ghiaurov, Freni, and Bumbry were great voices in their time, and they are still effective here -- good enough musicians to put over the quite heavy vocal and expressive demands of their roles.
It truly is an historic performance. Domingo looking and singing like a god pouring out golden tones; Renato Bruson sounds, like the sublime Verdian Baritone that he was at that time; Nicolai Ghiaurov proves again that he was one of the greatest "Verdi Basses"; Mirella Freni shows that there was more to her than just being Mimi and Susannah-in fact I can remember reading that at the time of the premiere of this production that there were fist fights (not unusual in La Scala's gallery) between Mirella's many fans--between those fans that just wanting her to continue singing the light lyric repertoire that they were use to her singing and those that felt she should and could sing the lyric-spinto repertoire which, of course, she proved that,indeed, she could (She's still singing more than twenty years later).
The season kicks off with Boitos resplendent retelling of Goethes Faust, a monumental work of 'choral grandeur and melodic richness' (The New York Times) in one of the most impressive productions ever seen at the War Memorial Opera House.
For those with any interest in Vivaldi's operas Orlando Furioso is essential viewing, being a 1989 San Francisco Opera revival by Pier Luigi Pizzi of his own 1979 production which was largely responsible for beginning modern interest in Vivaldi's stage work.
A Scottish lighthouse goes dark. A visiting supply ship finds the building in order. But the keepers have vanished without trace.
Alternative movies trailers for Don Quichotte
More movie trailers, teasers, and clips from Don Quichotte:
(K)ein Tag wie jeder andere - Don Quichotte feiert Geburtstag - Trailer
Es ist der 70. Geburtstag des Don Quichotte. Sancho Panza hat ein großes Fest organisiert. Die letzten Vorbereitungen werden getroffen. Dann kommen die ...
DON QUICHOTTE - Le Bolchoï au cinéma (Bande-annonce)
Partez à l'aventure avec DON QUICHOTTE en direct du Ballet du Bolchoï dans les cinémas dimanche 10 avril à 17h ! *Infos et réservations ...
Popular movie trailers from 2010
These some of the most viewed trailers for movies released in 2010:
Harry, Ron and Hermione walk away from their last year at Hogwarts to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes, putting an end to Voldemort's bid for immortality.
This feature-length documentary follows a group of people whose lives are dramatically transformed by a virtual world -- reshaping relationships, identities, and ultimately the very notion of reality.
With whimsical trills and unexpected intonations, the Canadian stand-up's precision high-low comedy captivates but never coddles in this 2010 special recorded at the Ram Jam in London.
The film follows five senior athletes along their biggest challenge - maturity. As all of them are between 80 and 100 years old it is a race against time and personal degeneration.
Jean and Kelly are two young lovers who are living through difficult times in their relationship. The trouble begins when, against her wishes, an old friend of Kelly's named Lawson joins them in house-sitting for Jean's mother.
Another edition to Kuchars weather diary series, this particular one has more social intercourse occurring in the prairie hovel which houses the hidden longings of he who seeks sustenance from the void.
A small farm town in Kentucky bands together to prevent the evil mayor and his capitalist cronies from taking over and turning their town into a shopping mall.
"Pim is more consummate," actress Willeke van Ammelrooy concluded upon seeing Pim de la Parra again in Suriname, at the presentation of the restored version of his film Wan Pipel.
Comments
Have you watched Don Quichotte yet? What did you think about it?
