Renata Scotto Movies

Five of the world's most beloved opera stars step onstage to perform a variety of Broadway hits from some of the biggest name in show-business with the backing of conductor Erich Binder and the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra in this release designed to drive theater fans wild. Melanie Holliday, Ramon Vargas, Renata Scotto, Paolo Coni, and Gail Gilmore come together to perform works by Andrew Lloyd Weber, George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, and more as an appreciative audience experiences music from Cats, Porgy and Bess, and My Fair Lady as never before. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Christened by many as "the last of the divas," operatic vocalist Renata Scotto stunned many by fully rebounding from a serious vocal setback at an early age and then dramatically expanding the possibilities of the coloratura form. The classical music performance film Renata Scotto: Live in Budapest finds the Italian soprano headlining a concert in Hungary's capital city, in which she interprets works by Berliosz, Handel and Mozart. The Budapest Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Ervin Lukács, provides musical accompaniment. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Legendary tenor Placido Domingo delivers an exceptional performance in this video, which records a 1984 performance by New York's Metropolitan Opera of Riccardo Zandonai's lush romantic story. Renata Scotto also stars in this production, which was praised for its elaborate sets and costumes, as well as the superb performances (and vocals) of Domingo and Scotto and James Levine's outstanding musical direction. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Puccini's Manon Lescaut opens at an inn in Amiens, where a group of poor students are reveling. One of these, Des Grieux, tells another, Edmondo, that he is impervious to the temptation of love. Soon after, a beautiful young girl, Manon, arrives with her brother, Lescaut and an older tax collector, Geronte, all of whom have been traveling by coach. At her father's insistence, Manon is on her way to a convent; however, Geronte is planning to steal her away and force her to be his mistress. Des Grieux and Manon meet and fall in love with each other. Learning of Geronte's plans, Des Grieux convinces Manon to elope with him. Geronte and Lescaut hatch a plot to steal Manon away from Des Grieux, which succeeds. After some time, however, Manon grows discontented with being Geronte's mistress. Des Grieux makes a surprise visit and wins Manon back. To get revenge, Geronte has the police deport Manon, who attempted to leave with some of the old man's jewels. She is jailed, awaiting deportation to Louisiana, and a plan to help her escape fails. Des Grieux begs to be allowed to join her on board the ship bound for America, even if he must serve as a cabin boy. In New Orleans, the poor lovers cannot find a means of supporting themselves. They wander aimlessly, until Manon, exhausted and broken, dies in Des Grieux's embrace. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

Giacomo Puccini's La Bohéme comes to life at the Metropolitan Opera in this performance captured live in March of 1977 and featuring The Metropolitan Opera and Chorus under the conduction of James Levine. Renata Scotto and Maralin Niska star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

This video documents a 1967 production of L'Elisir D'Amore features Renata Scotto, Carlo Bergonzi, Giuseppe Taddei, and Carlo Cava in major roles. Gianandrea Gavazzeni conducts the orchestra while Adolfo Fanfani leads the choir. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi