Comments on: I Heart Ruggero Raimondi

By: Bonnie Beduhn

Bonnie Beduhn — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:33:57 +0000

I am a devoted, almost obssevive fan of Raimondi. I love viewing the Scarpia clips. I has to be his greatest role. I loved the Don Giovanni film. Some of those images will be with me forever. After spening lots of time on computer looking at videos and interviews, I can see why the women of the operatic workd love him.
Truely awesome!

By: Cecily

Cecily — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:56:25 +0000

Coming to opera as a teenager is the best thing, I think. Things that would seem weird to a grown-up often become wonderful to a teenager. The Losey Giovanni is one of those things.

By: Gianna

Gianna — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:51:16 +0000

Losey’s Don Giovanni blew my mind when I was in my early teens and was a great part of how I came to opera! You have great taste.

By: Gale

Gale — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 22:13:24 +0000

I didn’t really like any of the taped or filmed versions. Too conventional. Glyndebourne Opera’s was a snooze festival. However, I did see Don G. at NYC Opera this past fall and loved that version–edgy, post-modern, well sung and acted. A great theatrical experience.

By: Cecily

Cecily — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 20:11:47 +0000

I love Mozart in general and Don Giovanni in particular, but I think Don Ottavio’s arias (especially Il Mio Tesoro) can be pretty boring. That whole field sequence made it even worse! Sigh. Such a flawed movie but I hold some affection for it all the same.

I’m sure you’ve seen a bunch of DVD Giovannis as book research – are there any you like in particular?

By: Gale

Gale — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:48:37 +0000

I forgot to mention. He was stunning in the Carmen clip.

By: Gale

Gale — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:45:26 +0000

I really liked Ruggiero in the Tosca clip–great sound quality, too. I saw that version of Don Giovanni. I too thought it was strange and strained–not to mention Zerlina is middle-aged and Ruggiero kind of looks like a vampire. Then Don Ottavio’s weird, surrealistic aria in the fields, walking over people, that goes on forever and ever. But the other clips were great. Thank you for putting them together.