Amadeus is a DVD sampler put together by Deutsche Grammophon to mark Mozart's anniversary year. It's almost entirely opera, and begins with Furtwangler conducting the Don Giovanni overture back in 1955 — all you see is the conductor from front and back, with no orchestra close-ups, though surprisingly it is in color. The best tracks follow immediately -- Bryn Terfel as the Don in the Metropolitan Opera version of 2000 conducted by Levine.
This column has sometimes been unfair to Terfel, usually on account of his antics in concert performances. There's no risk of such things here, and he delivers an absolutely stunning portrayal of Giovanni as a gross seducer whose lasciviousness pours off him like fat off a joint of meat. Hei-kyung Hong makes a perfect foil as Zerlina, as does Rene Fleming as Donna Anna.
There's much else to enjoy, notably excerpts from the wonderful Ponnelle film of Figaro [reviewed in Taipei Times August 4, 2005], an aria by Kurt Moll as Sarastro from the Metropolitan's 1991 Zauberflote designed by David Hockney, and another from their 1982 Idomeneo featuring Luciano Pavarotti — both of these last items with Levine in charge. Where would we be without him?
Very moving too is a sonorous and heart-felt extract from Bernstein conducting the Requiem. All in all, this excellent, cheaply priced DVD is a real bargain.
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