Les Troyens (1983)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Written and Composed by Hector Berlioz
Directed by Brian Large
Performed by Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Ballet
Starring Placido Domingo, Jessy Norman, James Levine, Tatiana Troyanos

Features:

• Subtitled in English
  

Rating:

Anamorphic: No.

My Advice: Rent it even if you aren't an opera fan. Or if you are.

The story of Les Troyens is well-known--taken from the Aeneid, Les Troyens covers the fall of Troy in a mere four hours. If opera was solely an auditory medium, this production would be splendid. As it is, however, the film quality and the four hours of uninspired staging issues conspire to create a mediocre effort out of what could have been great. The problem is that the music of this version is top-notch; the staging, however, is such another matter, that rating this DVD as a whole is phenomenally difficult.

The ballet portion is enjoyable if not spectacular, though the costuming really could have been much stronger and more appropriate, as with the rest of the opera.

The picture quality is unfortunately rather mediocre. In places, the view is rather grainy, even streaky. Given that opera is, of course, best enjoyed in person at the staging, a fine picture quality could have gone a way toward redressing the problems of a filmed version; it is too bad that this version disappoints here, even if mildly.

The sound quality is perhaps the most important aspect of an opera, of course, and this DVD version is rather good. The singers themselves turn out splendid performances, naturally, particularly Troyanos as Dido and Norman as Cassandra. The music comes out clear and perfect.

The costuming is, alas, rather poor. The wigs and costumes are more amusing than either frightening or affecting; needless to say, the costumer threw historical accuracy and taste both rather to the winds, unless of course, they were going for a surreal, campy, or just alien affect.

The real problem, though, is the choreography and the staging choices. The aesthetics of the visual, while presented adequately enough by the DVD, don't quite match the richness and dignified elegance of the opera's music. The early scene of the destruction of Troy is nearly devoid of emotion and tension. The singers are marooned on the stage, even when they are supposed to be interacting musically, though the performers are talented enough to wring effective emotion out of this bizarre arrangement. If this version were a CD, it would be nearly perfect, but given that this film is intended as a visual medium, it does not do the opera or the performers justice. For example, during the "Royal Hunt and Storm" interlude, Berlioz' directions and intentions are simply ignored, and the result is heinous, confusing, and emotionally void--a serious crime for an opera. I rather dislike saying nasty things about someone's artistic vision, but I simply cannot imagine what they were thinking, breaking the flow of the music, the story, and the myth as they did. It wasn't a change that made something more effective or expressed something unique...it was just poorly done. The result is more like the Rocky Horror Opera--Trojan Style.

People new to opera or curious about this art form should not see this disk as representative of the best of opera. If you simply want to enjoy the music of Les Troyens or are addicted to all things related to Greek myth, this version is a good buy. If, however, you wanted to attempt to immerse yourself into the entire opera experience with pageantry, pathos, ethos, and dazzling visual components, then you're better off hoping your local opera theatre puts this one on. Watch out particularly for the Domingo-Troyano duet, "Nuit d'amour et d'extase infinies," and "Ritual for the Dead," which are stunning and beautiful.