The Berlin Concert: Live from the Waldbühne

All the singers were in beautiful and strong voice, one aria after the other. The audience could not applaud enough for this thrilling concert. I found it thrilling also, on DVD.

I got this DVD from the mail last month and view it once with enjoyment, to see the current golden couple of the opera world in action, and ,of course, the enduring placido Domingo in his midsixties and still doing magic; this I can't help thinking about Jerry Hadly who at 55 lost his voice and in debt and in a depression killed himself and is brain dead in a hospital at this moment. I can't help also thinking about people who know how to manage their lives and those who don't, in this case you do know who does and who doesn't. This is no place to discuss other people's personal lives. So, I'll leave it right here. Certainly, I watched the DVD in its entirety before I write this review, I enjoyed it more the second time because I was wide awake. However, at my age, I can't open my eyes all the time; actually, I have to close them most of the time so I missed the commotion created by Netrebko while she sang Musetta's Waltz, If you add ten years to Domingo's that would be about my age. I have a feeling that you can't put up with my rambling anymore, I'm sorry, I'll stop right here.Domingo starts his program with a difficult to sing famous aria from L'Alessiana that only he can deliver at 65. It's amazing that at his age he still can sing like this, of course, Roberto Alagna does a much better job in his debut album. Netrebko, then sings beautifully 'O mio babbino caro' from 'Gianni Schicchi' although the aria doesn't exactly fit her vocal cord. Villazon then displays his singing skill the aria 'Ah! Parais' from his famous GOUNOD/MASSENET album. Next on, the caressing duet from Verdi's Otello. Here, I would like very much to introduce a DVD of the Met's production of Otello with Renee Flaming, Domingo, and James Morris. Flaming is simply divine in the role of Desdemona. She sings and act beautifully and naturally. I don't have to say anything about Domingo, Otello is his most prominent signature role. And James Morris gives me goose bumps in his evil invoking soliloquy, I don't know the name of the piece, you'll know when you watch the DVD anyway. I simply can't help letting other people know about good stuff. Then the Carmen moutain Entr'acte. The famous tenor/baritone duet from the Pearl Fisher. Here, again, I would like to introduce a beautiful complete opera set CD from EMI with Barbara Hendricks, John Aler, and Gino Quilico. Though, Domingo and Villazon sing well, but they are both tenors the voices don't blend as well as tenor/baritone. You can get carried away by John Aler's 'Je crois entendre encore' even if he doesn't end the aria in the high region. And Hendricks happens to be very good too. And Michell Plasson, a Frenchman conducts a French opera there should't be any problem. There you go, another good thing for you.Good and exciting numbers continue till the end. Things get more exciting as the concert proceeds. The three of them sure know how to generate reciprocation with the audience. And the audience, according to the disc box cover there were 20,000 of them and I believe it, view from the TV screen it's huge. I would like to mention one more number on the program, it's from Lehar's operetta 'Giuditta'. Netrebko does a very good job of course, but I would still love to introduce Elisabeth Schwarzkopf's OPERETTA ARIAS album. 13 songs altogether, everyone of them is a gem, and she is of course the genuine article. This album has been with me for over three decades and yet my fondness for it never fades.Here you go, a five-star DVD for you and at discount price too. I have to pay expensive shipping cost but you don't.

Once in a while, everything works. This is a magnificent success, for all three artists. My thought when it began was that this event would be the passing of the torch from Domingo to Villazon, the best of the the recent tenors to today's best, with today's best soprano thrown in for good measure. In part,it is that. But in the whole, it is much more. Domingo started slowly, but by the end of things, he had shed 3 decades and a little coarseness- everybody on the stage was in their 30's and madly in love with life. These are three colleagues, consumed with music and the need to share it, and brought to new heights by each other's art and spirit. It was thrilling to see the audience brought deeper into the magic of the moment with each new aria, duet, and,finally, with the two encore trios- they were swaying, dreaming, and realizing that they were now part of this magic, and part of a night that they would always remember.At the end, the two tenors were playfully vying for the beautiful soprano, but it never seemed cliched or sexist, even when Placido went so far as to pinch her chin. The feminist wars of the proceeding generations are over. Anna Netrebko had nothing to prove. There was no question, in her mind or in ours, that she was sharing the stage with her equals, effortlessly and joyfully, displaying a power and confidence the match of any I have seen before, male or female.However, to me, the revelation of the night was Rolando Villazon. I saw him for the first time live in the Los Angeles production of La Traviata last September, where he stole the show from Rene Fleming, and convinced me that he is the best tenor around. But he is more than that. He has the potential to be, if he isn't already, the best tenor since Edison's invention of the phonograph. Just as Callas melded music and drama last century, the public will be not be able to accept a singer who is careless or incomplete in his art, or lacking in passion, after they have experienced this young tenor.I could go on, but I will close by commenting on only one number that he sang so successfully that it was brought it to a new level: Rosini's "La Danza". He sang it with the exuberance and abandon of the young Mario Lanza, the intelligence and finesse of the great Jussi Bjoerling, and a musicality and personality so complete- so much his own in style and intensity, that he left all of the dozens of past performances I have heard of this old warhorse trailing in his dust. I feel as if I have never really heard "La Danza" before this incredible performance, done with a naturalness that both enchants and draws you in. From the sound of the audience, I am not the only one who was enchanted.

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.

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.

There is so much to commend in this disc. Two of the most exciting young opera stars complemented by an amazing performance by Placido Domingo. The latter just goes on and on delighting audiences all over the world. Despite his age (65 when the concert was recorded) he sounds as good as ever. Netrebko is simply stunning. Gorgeous voice and looks and oozing charm - she had the audience at her finger tips. Villazon is such a vibrant artist and provides the perfect complement to Netrebko. To my surprise the showstopper was Villazon singing Rossini's La Danza. What an exciting, dynamic performer!The sound and picture quality of the Blu-ray disc is generally top notch. Many cameras are used to view the concert, audience and arena from various perspectives. One of these cameras appears not to be in high definition but the drop in quality is so brief that it does not unduly effect the production. The close ups of the artists provide wonderful detail that is denied to the audience, even to those in the most expensive seats.If you are hesitating whether or not to buy this disc I would urge you to give it a go. I don't think you will be disappointed. Similarities can be drawn between this concert and those with the 3 Tenors. In my view this concert has a more balanced structure and is much less contrived. There is so much to enjoy.

The legend joins the rising young superstars - and it’s a fusion made in heaven! Placido Domingo combines with Rolando Villazon and Ana Netrebko to create a magical experience for an entranced Berlin audience. Such emotion and energy; the arias performed with such passion! The personal chemistry and interplay between them shows clearly the joy and delight they themselves enjoyed in the occasion : memorably, returning for her encore, Ana can barely control herself, jumping up and down, pirouetting with arms above her head! Not what you might imagine in this genre! And the music? Ecstatic! Brilliant singing enhanced by a superb orchestra. But most of all, this will impress as a very personal, passionate experience - not to be forgotten. And the dvd allows you to experience that over and over again!

The spectacular 'Waldbuhne' arena is the setting for a wonderful concert of music and song from the ever brilliant Placido Domingo, the beautiful Anna Netrebko and the sultry Rolando Villazon with spirited conducting by Marco Armiliato and the Berlin Opera Orchestra. As darkness slowly falls we are treated to a series of solos, duets and trios. A varied programme with opera,show tunes and latin songs leaves you completely elated.Particular stand outs include the orchestra's 'overture to Rossini's 'Semiramide', Domingo's spine tingling 'No puede ser', Netrebko and Villazon's exceptional 'o soave fanciulla' and Villazon's electrifying rendition of Rossini's 'La Danza'. Along with this there is Domingo and Netrebko duetting 'Gia nella notte densa' from 'Otello' with Placido in incredible voice for his 65 years, close your eyes and he could have been singing this at the height of his stage fame as the 'Moor'. Exilerating encores include 'Brindisi' from La Traviata-always a crowd pleaser, and a great '....ganzes hertz' with smoothie Placido and firebrand Rolando both trying for the attentions of the coquettish Netrebko-lovely stuff!!. All in all a great joy that sees all three at the top of their game.