Domingo/Netrebko/Villazon: The Berlin Concert [DVD] [2006]

This has become one of my favourite live performance Opera Blu-Ray DVD's. If you're thinking of buying this DVD then purchase it now, you will be glad you did.Too many times the picture quality and the sound seem to be the only things people on Amazon (and elsewhere) care about, rarely is the performance or the actual cinematography taken into account. However, whilst the former are important to your overall enjoyment, the performance itself is still paramount in my opinion, especially of older recordings where techniques were often poor (especially the visuals), but that, in no way belittle's the performances.For the record though the picture, the sound and the performances here, as well as the direction are all excellent.The Blu-Ray DVD was not shot in 1080p (just 1080i) and this is disappointing, as I feel BD should only be available in 1080p 24 frames a second, with accompanying HD Audio, otherwise what's the point in having HD at all?The sound on this BD though, is still a vast improvement over the standard DVD and takes you closer to the performances (which is what it's all about), so even if you've got the standard DVD version, I would still urge you to purchase this BD version as, it's better quality in every respect.However, it's the overall quality that needs to be taken into consideration here and this BD gets played regularly as, the overall quality is very high indeed, unlike the Rolling Stones BD...great sound and picture, but someone should have told Mick and co to rehearse a little more...and don't get me started on the 'direction'.I have always enjoyed listening to Placido Domingo, but on the strength of this BD, I have also purchased a great deal of Anna Netrebko's and Rolando Villazon's recorded output - and enjoyed them all!The venue was also a 'STAR' of this production and the contrast between this BD and the aforementioned Stones BD couldn't be more marked.Very highly recommended then and I've purchased several copies of this now, as gifts for friends of mine, who enjoyed it when I let them see it and made 'Opera' converts of them!For the purists amongst you (And I know there's one or two out there!), I viewed this BD on my Sony BDP S350 through a 1080p HD Projector (80" screen) and also on a 50" Samsung 1080p plasma. The sound is listened to mainly through my Arcam 7.1 Amp (For movies)and also on my Lumley Valve amps (120 valve watts per channel), through the Anthony Gallo Reference 3's speakers and surrounds.

I have owned this concert for several years now, first as a DVD then as a Blu-ray. Every time I watch it I find it to be utterly uplifting, so good that it is almost impossible to comment about it without seeming to be wildly extreme!The content of the concert is ideal with a perfect blend of variety, in mood and in pace and where the orchestral items form ideal bridging moments and are also excellent in themselves.In a concert of superlatives one can only really pick out the most memorable moments. The first memorable moment for me is Netrebko's dark and creamy `O mio babbino caro' but not for long! The very next number is Villazon's `Ah! Parais! Parais, aster de mon ciel' from Massenet's Le Mage and arguably the finest single track I have ever heard him sing.Domingo is not to be outdone as he raises the crowd to their collective feet in `No puede ser' from La tabernera del Puerto. Netrebko entrances everyone with Lehar's `My lips' and amazingly fills the stadium when she leaves the microphones at the end of Musetta's `Quando men vo' and the crowd clap enthusiastically through Rossini's `La Danza', once the preserve of Pavarotti.The orchestra is not to be outdone with a fine performance of Rossini's Semiramide Overture conducted by Marco Armiliato.Finally all three singers combine to enormous applause as they share Verdi's `Libiamo ne lieti calici' and Lehar's `Dein ist meinganzes Herz' and the camera, scanning across the packed audience at the end, even manages to pick out Gustavo Dudamel on his feet and cheering fit to burst like so many others.This entirely wonderful experience is captured in spectacular HD imaging and equally wide ranging sound presented in DTS-HD 5.1, DD 5.1 and stereo. The bonus is your own guaranteed pleasure! This has to be a 5 star issue and is truly phenomenal.

Perhaps the best put-together opera show of all time - the tunes are familiar yet profound, the guys responsible for the sequence of arias deserve any possible accolades, the singing performances are rising to the occasion.Continuing the tradition of three tenors concerts before the climax of FIFA World Cup, the tournament in Germany 2006 was marked by a novelty - a soprano joined two tenors. And not just anyone - the glamorous, beautiful Anna Netrebko, at the time the leading young diva of Deutsche Grammophon label. Her charm, although considerable, never outshines her singing. Her regular partner in the studio at the time, Mexican tenor Rolando Villazón, often steals the show and more than holds his own against the veteran - in still a top form, though - Placido Domingo.The orchestra of German State Opera under Marco Armiliato is also excellent. What more can be said - just enjoy this fantastic summer night at the spectacular Waldbuhne amphitheatre. Why, even the weather was in favour of this event. Most of the audience – and also in the countries where the concert was televised – probably regretted the magical evening was over.A DVD for the ages.

excellent concert........formidable.....enjoué.....joyeux....puissant.....avec un Domingo égal à lui même,une magnifique Netrebko et un surprenant et entrainant Villazon....Je recommande.....

Concierto espectacular

Wunderbar

El blue ray es excelente, podría decir que es el mejor un tengo...

Concerto splendido, le 2 voci Netrebko e Villazon insieme a Domingo sono indimenticabili.Vale 5 stelle.Invece 0 stelle perché il venditore mi ha mandato il DVD anziché il blu ray come indicato nell'annuncio di vendita.