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Bizet - Carmen | 
 enlarge | Director: Francesca Zambello
Actors: Anna Caterina Antonacci, Jonas Kaufmann, Ildebrando D'arcangelo, Norah Amsellem, Antonio Pappano
Studio: Decca
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.98
Buy New: $19.00
You Save: $10.98 (37%)
New (9) Used (1) from $17.98
Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 14148
Format: Ac-3, Classical, Color, Dolby, Dts Surround Sound, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), Chinese (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), German (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: Unrated
Number Of Items: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.7
UPC: 044007433126
EAN: 0044007433126
ASIN: B001BWQVW2
Theatrical Release Date: 2008
Release Date: October 28, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Description
Jonas Kaufmann and Anna Caterina Antonacci bring rare erotic intensity to the drama of Don Jose and Carmen in this darkly passionate reading of one of the most popular operas. Kaufmann uses his burnished tenor and smouldering good looks to portray the man undone by Carmen's love. As the object of his desire, Antonacci gives a physical and compelling performance.
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| Customer Reviews:
 A ONE STAR PERFORMANCE November 10, 2008
0 out of 6 found this review helpful
What a budget production! I've seen better scenery at high school musicals. Anna Antonacci brings nothing new or exciting to the roll of Carmen. Idebrando d'Arcagnelo as Escamillo has no business singing this roll in a major house like the Royal Opera. Norah Amsellem is very good as Michaela but try counting the number of times conductor Antonio Pappano can't keep his orchestra in sync with the singers on the stage. If you're going to buy this DVD it will have to be for the great singing and acting of Jonas Kaufmann. What an operatic future this young man has!
 This Carmen Trumps All October 30, 2008
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
I had great expectations for this DVD. First reviews were very good; secondly the cast promised great things on paper. For once it isn't necessary to hedge, qualify or equivocate in reviewing a DVD. I know the opera is called Carmen and Antonacci is wonderful, sexy vital and sings quite beautifully. My greatest enthusiasm. however, must go to Jonas Kaufmann's Don Jose. Quite simply it is the best sung and acted Jose I have ever seen or heard. Kaufmann clearly has thought about the character and the music as so much intelligence has gone into the creation we see on stage that I simply can't see it being bettered. Here is a tenor with brains, imagination and the intelligence to see light and shade in Jose's music. Most tenors go at full throttle, screaming out high notes and generally think that Jose is a verismo tenor. Well, he isn't; he is a complex conflicted man and Kaufmann brings this all to the character. The imagination he brings to the Flower Song is even better than Gedda's first go around with the role with Beecham conducting; by the time he recorded it a second time he was content to play the "tenor" to his Carmencita, Maria, content with going for volumn alone.
The remainder of the cast is more than first rate, with a fine Michaela from Norah Ansellem and Ildebrando D'arcangelo a properly arrogant Escamillo. Pappano provided wonderful support with the ROH playing beautifully.
The edition used was Oeser which has been savaged by music scholars and critics. I am not a scholar and will make no pretense at being one. But I was thrilled that much of the dialogue was returned and the dreadful recits which are dull musically discarded. And even though the cast had only one native French speaker (I have been told that Ansellelm is French) great effort has been made on the part of the artists to speak the language as very recognizable French. The old French Columbia set which appeared around 1950 established a document that showed how the French would perform Carmen. It wasn't just that the singing was good, but authentic, a groups of singers of a school of singing and acting that no longer exists today. This performance comes closer to that ideal than any I have heard or seen.
My Favorite CARMEN! October 29, 2008
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Anna Caterina Antonacci is my favorite "Carmen" yet! She is a fabulous
singer and a an excellent actress as well. She also has the looks for
a truly believable Carmen. Jonas Kaufman, as Don Jose, is excellent.
This is my first introduction to his work, and he has a wonderful rich
voice. I never thought anyone could equal Samuel Ramey as the matador
Escamillo, but Ildebrando D'Arcangelo does! He plays the part with relish,
and I love his strong beautiful voice. I like the matador moves he displays in the choreography for his introductory "Toreador" song. This
opera is great fun. I own two other very good "Carmen" dvd's. One is the
Agnes Baltsa, Carreras and Ramey version and the other is the relatively
recent Carmen that was filmed in Verona with Marina Domashenko and Marco
Berti. This new one, starring Antonacci and Kaufman, is my favorite of the
three. Everything is perfect! It is so much fun to watch and listen to!
Highly recommended!
Fantastic Carmen October 13, 2008
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
I am pleased that I could have seen this superb production. Chemistry between Carmen and Don Jose works at 100 %. And especially I must compliment performance of Jonas Kaufmann as Don Jose. He to perfection included the whole psychology of Don Jose - from amorousness and apprehension to jealousy and madness. I recommend this great DVD.
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