Scarlatti: Dove è Amore è Gelosia Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Scarlatti: Dove è Amore è Gelosia Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman July 18, 2013

The next time you’re in a multiplex with over aggressive air conditioning and less than comfy seating, consider yourself lucky. If you’ve ever visited the reconstructed Globe Theater in London, you know how relatively primitive older theaters could be. Somewhat more opulent surroundings are on display at the recently renovated Baroque Theatre in Krumlov Castle in the Czech Republic. That said, things aren’t exactly luxurious, as evidenced by the candlelit stage and rudimentary set dressings that augment this lovely production of the largely unknown opera buffa Dove è Amore è Gelosia by Giuseppe Scarlatti, a composer whom musicologists have never been able to determine was the nephew of either Alessandro or Domenico.

This small scale (four cast members) piece is a kind of low rent sibling to some of Mozart’s comic operas, with a farcical approach bringing together would be lovers and scheming servants. Mixed up identities and quasi-door slamming ensue, all set to charming if frankly unremarkable music. The real drawing power here is seeing a production in such an historic setting. The opera is rarely if ever performed nowadays and it has an historical connection to this very theater, so seeing it mounted again in such a beautifully restored environment is a thrilling experience. Plus, you can watch it in the comfort of your own home at the temperature of your choice and with adequate lighting.

Scarlatti: Dove è Amore è Gelosia Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Dove è Amore è Gelosia is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Opus Arte with an AVC encoded 1080i transfer in 1.78:1. The dim lighting of this "accurate" Baroque mounting presents some problems for this high definition presentation. Shadow detail is often minimal, but more troubling is the rampant digital noise that crops up, especially in the lower third of the frame. Otherwise, things look at least acceptable, with decent (if somewhat pallid) color and, in close-ups, good fine detail.

Scarlatti: Dove è Amore è Gelosia Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Dove è Amore è Gelosia features both a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and an LPCM 2.0 track which offer the charming if lightweight music to good effect. The smallish Baroque orchestra never overpowers the singers. Fidelity is excellent and the 5.1 track features some really nice hall ambience.

Scarlatti: Dove è Amore è Gelosia Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Jewel of the Baroque: The Story of the Castle Theatre in Cesky Krumlov (1080i; 52:32) is a really fascinating featurette detailing the history and restoration of this magnificent building.


• Cast Gallery (1080i; 00:42)

Scarlatti: Dove è Amore è Gelosia Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Dove è Amore è Gelosia is frankly no great shakes as an opera, and there's probably a reason this particular Scarlatti was designated the "third most important member of his clan" (out of three, in case anyone was counting). But in this case, the mounting is just as important, if not more so, than the actual piece being presented, and that's what makes this release so interesting. The accompanying documentary is also excellent. Recommended.