Verdi: I Masnadieri Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Verdi: I Masnadieri Blu-ray Movie Review

With family members like these, who needs enemies?

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman January 29, 2013

The Tutto Verdi project has been an exciting opportunity for Verdi lovers to finally have high definition versions of all of Verdi’s many operas, including many pieces that even ardent Verdi-philes may not be that familiar with. I Masnadieri hold a special place in Verdi’s oeuvre, for it was the first time that a Verdi opera was premiered outside of his native Italy, in this case in London at Her Majesty’s Theater, with non other but the composer himself conducting. Based on a play by Friedrich von Schiller, I Masnadieri has never really risen to the front rank of Verdi’s operas and it is relatively infrequently performed, making this production of perhaps more than usual interest.

Part of the reason that the opera may not have become a part of the standard repertoire is a somewhat problematic libretto by Andrea Maffei which really leaves very few people for the audience to really root for. The story is one of extreme family dysfunction, with an estranged brother and son named Carlo (Aquiles Machado) trying to reconnect with his wicked brother Francesco (Artur Rucinski) and his father Massimiliano (Giacomo Prestia), but being undone by both Francesco’s machinations as well as Carlo’s own decision to become part of a criminal gang. The story is frankly ludicrous, with an ending that even those who revel in typical operatic star-crossed tragic love may find hard to take. Still, the work offers some of Verdi’s most gorgeous writing, and this production, which literally has Death looming over it courtesy of an effective production design, offers some beautiful singing (Lucrecia Garcia's Amalia is amazing) and playing.

Verdi: I Masnadieri Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

I Masnadieri is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of C Major and Unitel Classica with an AVC encoded 1080i transfer in 1.78:1. This 2012 production is oddly both spare and sumptuous, and this high definition presentation pops quite nicely, revealing the grotesque skull that overlooks the first scene and, later, the pebble strewn retreat where Massimiliano lives. Close-ups reveal very nice fine detail, and colors and contrast are strong throughout this presentation.

Verdi: I Masnadieri Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

I Masnadieri features both a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround mix as well as an LPCM 2.0 stereo fold down. Both of these tracks offer superior fidelity, with really gorgeously nuanced reproduction from the outstanding highs of Garcia's Amalia to the commanding lows of Prestia's Massimiliano. The orchestra plays magnificently and the balance between it and the singers is very good throughout the opera.

Verdi: I Masnadieri Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Introduction to I Masnadieri (1080i; 10:31). C Major and Unitel Classica have been standardizing most of their Tutto Verdi releases with these informative little introductions to the various operas. This is another quite interesting featurette that puts the opera in historical context, including Verdi's less than thrilled experience with London, where the opera was premiered.

Verdi: I Masnadieri Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's a point in I Masnadieri where the opera really should have ended, and if Maffei and Verdi had chosen to wrap up the story at this moment (which will be obvious to most once they see it), my hunch is critical reaction, which has always been at the very least mixed, may have been somewhat kinder to this often quite beautifully composed piece. But the final few moments, which act kind of like a dramatic coda, push an already kind of ridiculous plot into pure absurdity, making much of what has gone before seem even sillier in retrospect. This is still an incredibly handsome and wonderfully sung production, and for those curious about this rarely scene piece of Verdiana, I Masnadieri comes Recommended.