Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Having read the rave reviews at Amazon, I spent much more money to purchase this DVD than I normally spend on DVDs. Disappointed and even angered by this DVD, I have given it a one-star rating primarily to tip the balance against a great number of reviews that, I now realize, were not from an especially demanding and/or musically trained audience. I did not expect when buying the DVD that the orchestral performance would rival that of Klemperer. And so I was pleasantly surprised by Levine's spirited and tempo-appropriate--i.e., not in the current, anachronistic style of slow, overtly "romantic" Mozart conducting--if safe, conducting. The single star is not for Levine. The sung performances and filming--the raison d'etre for a DVD recording, after all--are unacceptable for a DVD of this price and are what merit the low rating. No personal offense, but Ariaza's Tamino is utterly uncharismatic, and his weak projection and faulty German diction never help. He is outshone by Papageno time and time again, and so the story becomes one in which Papageno is the protagonist, Tamino a relatively uninteresting subplot. Serra's Queen is uninspired, forced, and occasionally awkward. While the role is incredibly difficult, half of the battle for the singer must be not to let that difficulty color the performance and acting. Finally, Kurt Moll is sadly off-key and uncomfortable-looking in his roll as Sarastro. He comes across as being far-past prime. As disappointing as the singing is, the filming is absolutely horrible. We are repeatedly and unfathomably given far-away shots that leave the singers looking like tiny, lifeless dolls. Never, ever do we feel that we are front and center. I felt like I had been given the worst tickets in the house, and I felt cheated. I am a classically trained musician who has spent years studying Mozart and who holds a high place in the heavens for this opera, and I am a father of a two-year old who wishes to raise his child with a similar appreciation; I bought this DVD for both of us. If you, too, care deeply for this opera, and/or if you want to inspire your children with Mozart, I recommend that you look elsewhere. As I have not viewed any other Magic Flute DVDs, I regret that I cannot provide any recommendations. If you can recommend a better performance, I would be thankful to read your review here. In the meantime, back to reading reviews!