Puccini: La Fanciulla del West (Rizzi)

9 / 10
6 votes cast
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Certificate: N/A
Running Time: 159 mins
Retail Price: £24.99
Release Date: 01/10/2010
Content Type: Musical Recording

Synopsis:
Nikolaus Lehnhoff's Hollywood-style production updates Belasco's Wild West story to the capitalist culture of Wall Street, perfectly reflecting Puccini's innovatory spirit.

In a new angle on the age-old love triangle theme, corrupt Sheriff Jack Rance (Lucio Gallo) and charismatic criminal Dick Johnson (Zoran Todorovich) vie for the love of glamorous blonde and devout Christian, Minnie (Eva-Maria Westbroek), finding her way in a man's world.

Carlo Rizzi's idiomatic conducting draws excellent singing from the large cast and fine playing from the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra.

Special Features:
Backstage Insights
Cast Gallery

Video Tracks:
16:9 Anamorphic (NTSC)

Audio Tracks:
DTS
LPCM Stereo

Subtitle Tracks:
English
French
German
Spanish
Italian
Dutch

Your Opinions and Comments

Dear My reviewer,

I am nor American nor a conductor.
I'm Dutch (from Polish/Israeli origin) and a professional opera reviewer.
And yes - I love opera very dearly.
But I really do appreciate somebody found out I'm on th dvd too .. :-)
How did you find my name?

with very kind regards,
Basia Jaworski
Amsterdam

posted by Basia on 8/3/2011 00:44

posted by Basia on 8/3/2011 00:49

9 / 10

Hi Basia,

Well, it would seem that the American conductor Basia Jaworski shares your name.

Here she is! :-)

http://www.theconcertchoraleofnewjersey.org/about_us.html

I have to admit that it's quite a coincidence that you also review opera! Feel free to comment on anything you may see here as I love a second opinion :-)
regards,
Alan Titherington

ps. it seems we have a couple of mutual friends too!

posted by Alan Titherington on 8/3/2011 10:17

I know Alan!
I've seen her name many times but I don't know her. And I'd never think someone could abuse us :-))
You are the first one to notice my name, how did you find it out?
I write reviews for many magazines, (German "Orpheus" among them), you can find me also at Dutch Opera website:
http://www.operamagazine.nl/
I'm afraid my English is not good enough, but once I found you I will keep erad you, that's for sure!
Do you have mailinglinst?

with vetu kind regards,
Basia
p.s. I'm so glad you liked the production. I loved it!
And when I was interviewed I didn't know the production yet, so it was a bit shocking to find out Lehnhoff had almost the same thoughts abot the opera!
Eva Is quiet someone, don't you agree?
Where are you, Alan?
US?
Are you on FB?

posted by Basia on 8/3/2011 10:49

9 / 10

Hi again,
No, I'm in London, and yes, I'm on Facebook, (which is how I found out about the mutual friends :-) )

'Your' name appeared as a subtitle on the DVD (when the 'other' Basia was being interviewed) so I just copied it down and mentioned her.

I don;t remember Ms.Westbroek being particularly quiet..perhaps I should revisit the DVD again to check!

posted by Alan Titherington on 8/3/2011 11:12

hahahahaha!
What I wanted to say: she is quiet SOMETHING!
Did you see Anna Nicole?
How did you like it?

posted by Basia on 8/3/2011 11:31

9 / 10

No...I couldn't get a ticket! it was one of the most popular things in London. I'm hoping that Opus Arte has recorded it though, as if they have then I should get the DVD sometime next year :p

posted by Alan Titherington on 8/3/2011 11:46

9 / 10

and I've altered the review..I'm very sorry to have got you both mixed up! :-)

posted by Alan Titherington on 8/3/2011 11:51

I'm sure they will.
It was such a success!
My friends in London (and I do have a lot of friends in London!) told me how difficult it was to get a ticket.

posted by Basia on 8/3/2011 11:53

9 / 10

A friend of mine was Eva's understudy and that didn't even get me a chance of one :-)

posted by Alan Titherington on 8/3/2011 12:05

Hopeless!
One of my friends (he works for BBC 3 and The Proms) woke up at 6 at the morning to be at the queue on time.
He had number 10, but he did have luck.

Place de L'Opera was there (not me!):
http://www.operamagazine.nl/featured/10624/westbroek-schittert-in-vlakke-anna-nicole/

posted by Basia on 8/3/2011 12:41

9 / 10

I think I need to practise my Dutch! :-)

posted by Alan Titherington on 8/3/2011 13:01

:-))
Google helps .....

posted by Basia on 8/3/2011 13:08