The Peoples Passion

Starring: Jessye Norman, Thomas Allen Director: Tony Cash Original UK Premiere: 1999 Dvd Release: 10th April, 2000 Number Of Discs: 1 Format: Full Screen, PAL, Widescreen, Region 2 Encoding Subtitled In: French, German, Spanish

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DVD Extras: The picture is presented at approximately 1.7:1 ratio, but lacking anamorphic enhancement for widescreen televisions. The sound, disappointingly for a 1999 production, is PCM stereo. The booklet offers biographies of only Jessye Norman & Jonathan Cope, but does not include the libretto, which can be printed out via a DVD-ROM. The programme can be viewed with or without English subtitles.

The Peoples Passion is a BBC/NVC Arts co-production, originally shown on BBC in short instalments, but presented here as a single 50-minute programme. This is a musical version of the story of Holy Week, the narrator sung by the leading American opera star Jessye Norman, commenting on the action played-out by a very familiar British television cast. The use of modern dress & readily identifiable faces such as Robert Hardy , Patricia Hodge , Ron Moody & Kevin Whatley is an excellent device to stress the contemporary relevance of the story. Though if this is the aim, it is a brave move to refuse to dumb down musically, Donald Frasers score being more in the English classical tradition of Vaughan-Williams Pilgrims Progress, than a populist Jesus Christ, Superstar musical. Rather old-fashioned, too, is the portrayal of Jesus, who does not speak but is danced in Spirit by Jonathan Cope, & given voice by the boys of St Pauls Cathedral Choir. With Thomas Allen also appearing as The Centurion, in rather more dignified style than John Wayne in The Greatest Story Ever Told, this is a direct, uncluttered & highly effective version of The Passion.

The American soprano Jessye Norman is one of the most admired contemporary opera singers & recitalists. A true dramatic soprano with a majestic stage presence, Norman is associated in particular with the roles of Aïda, Cassandra, Alceste & Leonora in Fidelio. Norman was born in Augusta, Georgia in a family of amateur musicians; her mother a pianist, her father a singer in a local choir. Norman received a scholarship to Howard University, graduating in 1967 with a degree in music. The following year, she won an international music competition in Munich. She made her operatic debut in 1969 as Elisabeth in Richard Wagner s Tannhäuser at the Berlin State Opera & in subsequent years performed with various German & Italian opera companies. She returned to the US to make her professional concert debut at Lincoln Center in 1973. Norman made her debut in 1983 at the Metropolitan Opera in Berlioz s Les Troyens in a production which marked the company?s 100th anniversary season. In addition to her operatic performances, Norman gives regular recitals, singing arias, Lieder & spirituals.

Editors Choice: The Peoples Passion, Ariadne Auf Naxos, View DVDology

Sir Thomas Allen is a British opera singer. In 2006 Allen will have performed with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, for thirty-five years. He has sung over forty roles with the company. The twenty-fifth anniversary of his debut at the Metropolitan Opera, New York will also be celebrated in 2006. Allen has performed as Billy Budd, Pelléas, Eugene Onegin, Ulisse & Beckmesser. Additionally he has been praised for his execution of the Mozart roles of Count Almaviva, Don Alfonso, Papageno, Guglielmo and, of course, Don Giovanni. Recently he has appeared as Eisenstein, Don Alfonso, Ulisse & Don Giovanni at the Bayerische Staatsoper, Yeletsky Sharpless & the title role in Sweeney Todd at the Royal Opera House, Eisenstein at the Glyndebourne Festival, Don Alfonso at the Salzburg Easter & Summer Festivals, Forester at the San Francisco Opera & Beckmesser at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Allen also appears in recital in the United Kingdom, throughout Europe, in Australia & America. Posters Of Don Giovanni

Editors Choice: The Peoples Passion, The Cunning Little Vixen, Janacek, Don Giovanni, Mozart, Billy Budd, Die Fledermaus, Glyndebourne, View DVDology

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