User Reviews

La Juive is one of those operas that was a hit when first performed, but is hardly ever performed now. One fails to see why, the plot may have moments where it is rather staid and may confuse people but for me it doesn't really matter when the music especially Rachel Quand Du Seigneur, considered one of the great tenor arias and for good reason. This is a very interesting and worthwhile production. I admit that I wasn't too fond of the visuals. Actually it is filmed wonderfully and the costumes are chillingly real, it's just that I did find the sets rather bare-looking and more could have been done with the ramp, always present yet not much is done with it. Musically however, it is outstanding with very emotive orchestral playing, beautifully blended chorus work and authoritative conducting. The performances equally so. Krassimira Stoyanova's Rachel is splendidly sung and affecting, while Walter Fink is a resonant and sometimes menacing Cardinal Brogni. But it is the performance of Neil Shicoff that makes the production work, perhaps he has been in fresher voice before, though he sounds great still, but not once did I question his total commitment as Eleazar. It is quite possibly the best performance of any tenor I've seen or heard in the past three or so months and I'd say one of his personal best too. All in all, for the only production of the opera on DVD this may have its problems but especially for Shicoff's superb performance it is recommended strongly. 8/10 Bethany Cox