Tosca - Arena Di Verona (DVD)

Advantages: Kabaivanska at her (hardly recorded) best, Domingo is stunning
Disadvantages: none

...Beautifully filmed in the Roman Locations specified by Puccini this is a complete success. Kabaivanska was said to be the greatest Tosca of her generation and this film catches her in her absolute prime. Although there are several recordings of her performing Tosca, the live performances with Carreras (1976) and Pavarotti (1990), Kabaivanska is even finer on DVD. Her interacting with Domingo is great. Plácido Domingo is magnificent; he looks and sings in such a way that he really 'becomes' Cavaradossi (This probably sounds clichéd but I do not know a better way of describing how perfectly he gets into character). Sherrill Milnes is a superb Scarpia. This film conveys his virile voice and distinctive acting skills that made him so loved at the Met. Finally, the Orchestra with Bartoletti is very fine, especially when heard in such clear... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Beautiful City, lots to see & do
Disadvantages: None

...mosaics, and general debris from Roman Verona, in the grounds of this museum, there is a large area with fantastic views over the whole of Verona. Castlevecchio Is a great museum, (Museo Civico) containing a lot of religious artefacts, the best feature about this museum, is being able to go inside the 14th Centaury castle, a fantastic structure, which was severely damaged during WW2, and has subsequently been rebuilt. The castle itself is located on a bend in the river, guarding a fantastic bridge called Ponte Scarligero (pedestrian & cycle only) The Centro Internazionale di Fotografia SCAVI SCALIGERI di Verona is underneath the Palazzo Della Ragione and shows excavations from various ages in the history of Verona. This museum also contains a photographic gallery, when I visited, the space was full of photos of the industrial heritage... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: A beautiful city with lots to offer
Disadvantages: Italy itself can be a little expensive

...During my recent holiday to Italy Verona was one of the cities that I visited. Verona is a city in Northern Italy not far from Lake Garda. Due to its geographical position the city has frequently flooded in the past and as you travel round the city this can be noted by water markings on bridges and walls. Verona was also the town that Julius Caesar visited for his relaxing stays and features strongly in the travel diaries of Goethe. Furthermore Verona is also the town were Dante wrote the second part of his 'Divine Comedy'. Despite all of this however Verona is probably most famous for being the setting for William Shakespeare's most famous tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. So what can you do in Verona? Verona due to its historical heritage has a great many tourist attractions that draw in the crowds. These attractions include The Arena... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful