Neil Shicoff Movies
- 2004
In 1835, French composer Jacques Fromental Halevy created a sensation with his opera La Juive, which told the story of Eléazar, a Jewish merchant who rescues and adopts a Gentile daughter, but is later forced to choose between his child and his religion. The show was widely acclaimed, and the legendary tenor Enrico Caruso once declared Eléazar his favorite role. But after La Juive was banned in Europe during the Nazi occupation of World War II for its condemnation of anti-Semitism and intolerance, the opera fell out of favor until celebrated classical vocalist Neil Shicoff took it upon himself to bring the work back into circulation. After spearheading a production of La Juive at the Vienna State Opera, Shicoff was cast as Eléazar in a production at New York's famous Metropolitan Opera House, with filmmaker Sidney Lumet agreeing to make a music video based on one of the show's arias. Finding Eléazar: Portrait of a Tenor and a Role offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Met's production of La Juive, as well as Shicoff's often temperamental relationship with his collaborators and his own convictions about the opera as the son of a cantor. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 2002
- Add Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Opéra National de Paris) to QueueAdd Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Opéra National de Paris) to top of Queue
This performance of Jacques Offenbach's opera Contes d'Hoffmann was recorded at the Opera National de Paris in 2002, and features Neil Shicoff in the title role, with vocalists such as Bryn Terfel, Susanne Mentzer, Desiree Rancatore, and Ruth Ann Swenson in the supporting cast. ~ Cammila Albertson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Neil Shicoff, Bryn Terfel, (more)
Featuring opera legends Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras, this production includes selections from La Boheme, Carmen, La Traviata, Madam Butterfly, The Barber of Seville, and Turandot, among others. Noted sopranos Raina Kabaivanska and Janet Baker also make appearances, as well as Cecilia Gasdia, Nicola Martinucci, Eva Marton, and Neil Shicoff.
~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi
This performance of Verdi's opera La Traviata was recorded in Venice's 18th century opera house, La Fenice before it was destroyed in a fire in 1996. The lead role of Violetta in this performance is played by Edita Gruberova. ~ Cammila Albertson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Edita Gruberova, Neil Shicoff, (more)
Puccini's opera as staged in a 1982 production. ~ Rovi
