Product Overview
Puccini: La Fanciulla del West / Opera in Three Acts / Libretto by Civinini and Zangarini / First performance of this opera in Japan / The NHK Symphony Orchestra Nikikai Chorus Group Fujiwara Opera Chorus Group / Oliver De Fabritiis, conductor / DVD
Format: NTSC
Run time: 131 Minutes
UPC: 089948443995
- Aspect Ratio : 1.33:1
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : Yes
- MPAA rating : NR (Not Rated)
- Product Dimensions : 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches; 3.2 Ounces
- Media Format : Multiple Formats, Black & White, Subtitled, Classical, NTSC
- Run time : 2 hours and 11 minutes
- Release date : September 9, 2008
- Actors : Antonietta Stella, Gastone Limarilli, Anselmo Colzani, NHK Symphony Orchestra
- Subtitles: : French, Spanish, English, Italian, German
- Studio : Video Artists Int'L
- Number of discs : 1
THE GIRL OF THE WEST
For his next opera after Madama Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) sought a play that was "absolutely American in scene, character, and subject." He found what he was looking for in The Girl of the Golden West, another New York theatrical hit by David Belasco (author of the original stage version of Madame Butterfly). La Fanciulla del West, which had its premiere at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York in December 1910, is perhaps Puccini's most adventurous score, full of intensity, yet rich in detail. His mastery of conversational duets (such as those in Tosca and Butterfly) reaches its peak in the passionate and emotionally complex scenes between Minnie (the Girl) and Dick Johnson (the stranger to the miners' camp, who is really the bandit Ramerrez). This 1963 performance from Japan boasts a magnificent cast of singing actors, led by Antonietta Stella, whose fearless approach to the vocally and dramatically demanding title role is a model of Puccini style.
DVD Bonus:
Interview with Antonietta Stella (24 minutes) Giampaolo Lomi, host Rome, 2008
Note: The original video master for this performance contains embedded Japanese
subtitles that remain on screen throughout. To these, VAI has added optional sub-
titles in other languages.
1963 NHK (Nippon Hoso Kyokai), Japan
Packaging, design and DVD authoring
©2008 Video Artists International, Inc. (All Rights Reserved)
Produced for DVD by Allan Altman Design: Raymond Edwards
Executive producer for DVD: Ernest Gilbert
Special thanks to Giampaolo Lomi, George Dansker,
Toshi Aoyagi and Marty Gross
VIDEO ARTISTS INTERNATIONAL
Opera in Three Acts
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Civinini and Zangarini,
after the play by David Belasco
Minnie: Antonietta Stella Dick Johnson: Gastone Limarilli Jack Rance: Anselmo Colzani Nick: Mario Guggia Jake Wallace/Ashby: Bruno Marangoni
Sonora: Arturo La Porta Wowkle: Anna Di Stasio
The NHK Symphony Orchestra Nikikai Chorus Group Fujiwara Opera Chorus Group Oliver De Fabritiis, conductor
First performance of this opera in Japan
November 2, 1963 Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
