Although we always think that L'Elisir D'amor is regarded as Donizetti's masterpiece in buffas, surprisingly we found that Don Pasquale is not less than the first mentioned opera.
This Don Pasquale, rarely performed as it was rather unknown is proven to be not less enchanting thanks to the performance by the Italian Opera Group Teatro Communal - Bologna in such a way and by such perfect singers, although the names we have not yet heard of, that we are really enjoying the entire performance and begin to love the music itself.
As Don Paquale is the main performer in this opera, Corbelli was giving the perfect image of the old foolish man. Corbelli's singing in his deep bass baritone voice and performance is so magnificently and perfect. In addition supported by De Candia in his clear baritone voice, as the mischievous doctor Malatesta, Eva Mei in her crisp soft soprano voice, as the cunning girl Norina and Siragusa in his specific light tenor voice, it became a special spectacularly comedy performance, not less than L'Elisir d'Amor. We feel that the whole presentation is as beautiful and magnificent and surprisingly so enchanting that we begin to appreciate this opera as much as we appreciate L'Elisir d'Amor.

Although this opera of Mozart is not on the same popularity as Don Giovanni and Le Nozze de Figaro, however it is still Mozart's enchanting melodious,cheerful and spirited music. It is also enhanced by the divine singing of Edita Gruberova as Constanze with her clear coloratura voice performing with mafnificent passion in this opera. Regretfully the tenor Francisco Araiza as Belmonte, although his singing is quite good apparently has no matching voice to Gruberova. His solo singing is as superb as ever, but all duets with Gruberova sounds rather unharmonized.However, by adding Reri Grist as Blonde and Norbert Orth as Pedrillo, together made all the unharominized sounds better in the next following quartets, which is really beautiful and overlay any imperfections. The entire performance itself is presented magnificently due to the background sets and the costumes which are so splendid and give the right imagination of the place of the story itself.
Last but not least, the performance in its entirety is enjoyable, especially the divine solo arias sung by Edita Gruberova, which can be regarded as one in the height of her successful performances.

I have seen other version of performances of this masterpiece opera by Puccini. I was not so impressed before and has been thinking that Puccini is not my appetite therefore not so enjoyable as other composers like Mozart or Verdi or Rossini. However, after having seen this version performed by the Met with such superb and wellknown singers, I realized that this music is as beautiful and enjoyable as other operas and shall be regarded as one of the masterpieces of operas.
Placido Domingo as Calaf and Eva Marton as Turandot are such super stars in singing as well in acting to be able to present the music into a divine and enchanting entirety. Also other singers like Mitchel as Liu matched the beautiful singing of the two above. The costumes and background sets was arranged in such elegant and rich designs which is as perfect and harmoniously matching to the place and contents of the story itself which make the entire opera a complete magnificent performance.
I enjoy the whole performance immensely and thereafter realize that opera performances not only depend on the music itself but mainly on the immensity and magnitude of the performance and singers.

I have seen other performances of this La Cenerentola, but this performance is the best.
The cheerful and melodious music of Rossini, although not as wellknown as Barbiere de Sevilla, is still so enchanting and beautiful, and comes out as magnificent by the excellent performance and singing of Cecilia Bartoli in her specific deep rich soprano voice which is matched by the clear soft tenor voice of Raul Gimenez and clear baritone Enzo Dara. The combination of singers made this opera buffa so magnificent and enchanting while the costume and background decor represent the comical and funny situation.
We are so enthralled watching and listening to this performance from the beginning to the end of the opera.

I have seen other versions of L'elisir d'amore performances in DVD and find this particular version the most beautiful, perfect and magnificent performance of Donizetti.
The singers, soprano Esposito as the proud and indifferent but beautiful Adina, with her clear and sweet soprano voice is so enchanting and excellent, that we want to hear more of her. In this performance she is matched by tenor Machado, whose appearance is just the exact Nemorino and with his rich tenor voice make us enjoying more of the performance. There is also a most distinctive beautiful deep nuance baritone voice of Schrott performing perfectly as Doctor Dulcamara, all the combination of voices together adds to the perfection of the opera itself. This performance made Donizetti's beautiful vivacious and melodious music much more significant and enjoyable while the background and costumes represents the natural environment of a village.
I really enjoy this version compared to other versions of performances, eventhough all the performers are less wellknown.

Nobody will deny that this opera is the masterpiece of Rossini. Everything in this opera reflects his genius talent and is so enjoyable from the beautiful melodious music with so many belcanto techniques to the comical story itself. I have seen this opera performed in three versions and performances, and this DVD performance is the best of all the three.
In this performance we will be enchanted by the naughty acting and delicate singing of wellknown Teresa Berganza as the mutinous Rosina, in her rich soprano voice singing perfect belcanto techniques. She is matched by the comical performance of Luigi Alva as Count Almaviva alias Lindoro in his soft light tenor voice, his belcanto singing adding to the magnificence and beauty of the music. Herman Prey in his clear baritone voice as the mischievous Figaro and wellknown Bass Baritone singer Enzo Dara contributed to the excellent performance, so that the whole opera become a continuous joy to be watched and listened to.
We also liked the beautiful and matching background scenery and the harmonious choirs.
In short there is no such performance is as magnificent and excellent in singing or acting as this DVD version.

Although this title is less wellknown than Mozart's La Nozze de Figaro and Don Giovanni, it is not less melodious and beautiful than the other two operas.
The beauty of the music is emphasized by excellent performance of the singers, especially Cecilia Bartoli with her soft soprano voice as the firm Fiordiligi, the matter of fact and simple maid Despina, performed by Agnes Baltsa with her clear soprano voice and also the clear light tenor voice of Roberto Sacca. The others also contributed much to the performance which made the music so beautiful and enjoyable to watch and listen.
Like all Mozart's music we are enchanted to the really melodious nuance and the excellent singing add to the beauty of it.
We love the divine duets of two sopranos, tenor and baritone which were so harmoniously sang to reflect the magnificent music of Mozart.
One small flaw is only the background scenery which was a bit too constant and simple although it changes now and then.
Nevertheless this performance is really enchanting and made us want to watch and listen until the end.

This opera although less popular than Le Nozze de Figaro or Don Giovanni is not less beautiful, melodiuos and charming than the two others.
The performance by excellent singers in this DVD add to the splendor and magnificence of the melodious music, which is so enjoyable to listen. We also become interested in watching how the story ends, as it proceeds. Agnes Baltsa, in her indifferent act and her clear soprano voice is incomparable as the matter-of-fact and mischievous maid who assist Don Alfonso to proof his stance to the end. Cecilia Bartoli and Liliana Nikiteanu, has their own nuance of soprano voices, however their duets are so harmonious together. We also adored the light tenor voice of singe Roberto Sacca who sings beautiful duets with baritone singer Oliver Widmore. Furthermore their acting are so charmingly funny that we really enjoy the fresh comedy of Mozart.It is only felt that the background scene was too simple and rather unattractive. It only stays in one or other place without much changes.
Nevertheless this performance is never boring and is so enjoyable and relaxing to listen as well as to watch all the comical situation to the end.

This video which is a movie, sung and performed by wellknown opera singers taken at luxurious homes and country side scenery as background is really a marvellous combination of the usual opera performance and natural movie shooting.
Placido Domingo as the young and romantic Alfredo sung so perfectly, so that he enlivened the tragic story of the young man falling in love to the wayward lady, Violetta. While Teresa Stratas, with her clear full voice, matching Domingo in her superb singing and performance, emphasized the tragic nuance of the music itself. Also Cornell MacNeil as Alfredo's father, Giorgio sung as beautifully as the others in his deep bass baritone voice and made the whole performance more than perfect.
We are especially moved by the magnificent romantic duets of Alfredo and Violetta and also the tragic duets of Violetta and Alfredo's father, Giorgio. Meanwhile we also adore the beautiful scenery in the luxurious rooms and country side, which cannot be viewed if perform on stage.
In overall this video is totally so enchanting with magnificent music and singing with excellent and beautiful background scenery from beginning to the end.

Although this operetta is not so wellknown as The Merry Widow or the opera by the composer itself, Le Contes D'Hoffmann, it is not less magnificent and enchanting and we are amazed of the lively and sparkling music that is so beautiful and melodious from beginning to the end. It contains the exotic and specific French accent in the music,and give this operetta an extra-ordinary nuance. It is also sung and performed with such care and excellence, although the singers are not so wellknown outside Europe.
The disappointment only lies in the contemporary costumes which leave us no imagination of the crude and rough gang of bandits, as in here they just look like a bunch of office executives and employees on a union strike rather than a gang of robbers. They were dressed in ties and jacket or pullovers,while the daughter Fiorella and the other ladies were dressed in the contemporary Parisienne's way. Furthermore, the background set consisting of a glass building, fails to describe the sinister hills and woods in which robbers usually live in the old days. When the Duke of Mantua was lost and came crashing down the hill into the valley, he actually came crashing down the ceiling like an ordinary workman, while he misplaced Fiorella as a shepherdess dressed in an elegant formal suitdress. It may be the newest trend to modernized the performance this way, however for this kind of story it would be more fascinating if presented in the original form.
Nevertheless, forget inappropriate costumes or background set, the singing and the music is so delightful and excellent that we enjoy it so much.