Cherubin [DVD] - Very Good

Very Good - USED - Very Good: A well-maintained video game, CD, or DVD that has been played but remains in excellent condition. The disc is fully functional, plays without interruptions, and does not skip. The box or jewel case, along with the cover art, liner notes, and other inclusions, may show only minor signs of wear. Please note that any included digital codes (if applicable) are not guaranteed to work. USED BOOK: This book is in very good condition, showing only minimal signs of wear. The pages are clean with no markings, and the cover may have slight shelf wear. The spine remains uncreased, and the book appears well cared for. It is a solid copy that presents well and is enjoyable to read. Please note that any included access codes (if applicable) are not guaranteed to work.

Massenet's operas, long unfashionable and neglected save for MANON, WERTHER, and the occasional THAIS mounted for a particularly sexy diva, are ripe for rediscovery by modern audiences; they still hold much charm and many melodic pleasures. This production of CHERUBIN, hardly seen since Mary Garden's success in the Monte Carlo premiere, is a good place to start exploring. Another Amazon reviewer here has objected to the staging and design, finding them too chilly to complement the material. To my eye, while they're rather the usual contemporary European one-from-column-A-one-from-column-B approach to opera visuals (the costumes range from exaggerated period to Folies Bergere, with a stop in the 1920s and the odd 1960's neon set element), they're colorful, witty and fun, and don't hinder enjoyment a jot. The chocolate-box side of Massenet's usual flood of lush melody's strong enough to survive this approach; his high romanticism's still front and center. Indeed, a conventional period design approach might make this material seem altogether too dated. The cast is fine, visually and aurally, with the exception of Surian, who's a bit on the wobbly side. Altogether, great fun, and highly recommended.

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