As a fan of Verdi and also someone interested in Herzog's style, I found this Giovanna D'Arco quite interesting. The opera is not the best of Verdi, there's nothing wrong with the characters or the music, the music is brilliant especially, it's just that apart from an excellent final scene there are moments when the libretto is static.
Herzog's direction is ambitious and really quite exemplary, as are the orchestra and conducting. I for one loved the visuals, while it is a very Germanic style perhaps more reminiscent of Wagner rather than Verdi, they did look great. The cinematography is excellent throughout, and the settings and costumes exquisite.
The acting and singing are fine in general. Susan Dunn is captivating in the title role, her superb singing is better than her acting, though I personally do think her acting is more than stand-and-deliver. The final scene is absolutely thrilling and Dunn gives her all in that scene. Renato Bruson is a superb singing-actor, and with his velvety voice and sincere acting he is a perfect Giacomo. If there was anybody I wasn't entirely impressed with, it was Vincenzo La Scola as Carlo, he is a wonderful singer but I do agree he is not much of an actor.
All in all, interesting and definitely worth watching, not just from an opera-fan point of view, but also from a movie-fan point of view. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Herzog's direction is ambitious and really quite exemplary, as are the orchestra and conducting. I for one loved the visuals, while it is a very Germanic style perhaps more reminiscent of Wagner rather than Verdi, they did look great. The cinematography is excellent throughout, and the settings and costumes exquisite.
The acting and singing are fine in general. Susan Dunn is captivating in the title role, her superb singing is better than her acting, though I personally do think her acting is more than stand-and-deliver. The final scene is absolutely thrilling and Dunn gives her all in that scene. Renato Bruson is a superb singing-actor, and with his velvety voice and sincere acting he is a perfect Giacomo. If there was anybody I wasn't entirely impressed with, it was Vincenzo La Scola as Carlo, he is a wonderful singer but I do agree he is not much of an actor.
All in all, interesting and definitely worth watching, not just from an opera-fan point of view, but also from a movie-fan point of view. 8/10 Bethany Cox