Jean-Pierre Ponnelle Movies

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's three-act opera comes to life at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in this release featuring libretto by Vittorio Amadeo Cigna-Santi and starring Jacquelyn Fugelle, Ann Murray, and Luba Orgonasova. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Cosi fan tutte, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's bawdy 1790 dramma giocoso, recounts the randy tale of Ferrando and Guglielmo, two officers, stationed in Naples, who attempt to exchange fiancées in a wager. Fairly conventional for its time, Cosi failed to raise any eighteenth century eyebrows but (with its lasciviousness) became something of an ire-engendering piece in the more-conservative centuries to come. Jean-Pierre Ponnelle staged a production of Cosi at a Palladian villa in 1988, featuring musical accompaniment by the Nikolaus Harnoncourt-conducted Wiener Philharmoniker and the Wiener Staatsopernchor; a film of that production is now available in the home release, Cosi fan tutte. Luis Lima appears as Ferrando, Ferruccio Furlanetto as Guglielmo, Delores Ziegler as Dorabella and Edita Gruberova as Fiordiligi. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Famed conductor James Levine leads the Ensemble Wien-Berlin in interpretations of several key works by grand masters Mozart and Beethoven in this classical performance release. Selections include: Mozart's Quintet for Piano and Wind Instruments in E Flat Major, K. 452, Beethoven's Quintet für Klavier mit Blasinstrumenten Es-Dur, and Beethoven's Quintet for Piano and Wind Instruments in E Flat Major, op. 16. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

The complications and excesses in the highly melodramatic story of Rigoletto almost define the word "opera" for many people, and the name of this opera's composer, Giuseppi Verdi, is one to conjure with. Many cinematically inclined opera fans had high hopes for this 1983 production directed by the scenarist Jean-Pierre Ponelle and featuring the incomparable vocal gifts of Luciano Pavarotti. However, even in opera, and particularly when it is filmed, a minimum of believability and acting ability are desirable commodities. By all reports, this production failed on those two counts, though musically it is first-rate. Hard-core opera enthusiasts will still find much to enjoy, though the movie is not accessible to general audiences. The tragic story begins with Rigoletto (Ingvar Wixell), the hunchbacked court jester for the amorously inclined young Duke of Mantua (Pavrotti), showing callous disregard for a father's sensibilities when the Duke ruins the reputation of one of his courtier's daughters. When the girl's angry father is led away in chains, he curses the jester to suffer as he has suffered. Since Rigoletto has hidden away his beautiful daughter from the court, and the Duke has somehow managed to see her anyway, this curse soon becomes a reality. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

The complications and excesses in the highly melodramatic story of Rigoletto almost define the word "opera" for many people, and the name of this opera's composer, Giuseppi Verdi, is one to conjure with. Many cinematically inclined opera fans had high hopes for this 1983 production directed by the scenarist Jean-Pierre Ponelle and featuring the incomparable vocal gifts of Luciano Pavarotti. However, even in opera, and particularly when it is filmed, a minimum of believability and acting ability are desirable commodities. By all reports, this production failed on those two counts, though musically it is first-rate. Hard-core opera enthusiasts will still find much to enjoy, though the movie is not accessible to general audiences. The tragic story begins with Rigoletto (Ingvar Wixell), the hunchbacked court jester for the amorously inclined young Duke of Mantua (Pavrotti), showing callous disregard for a father's sensibilities when the Duke ruins the reputation of one of his courtier's daughters. When the girl's angry father is led away in chains, he curses the jester to suffer as he has suffered. Since Rigoletto has hidden away his beautiful daughter from the court, and the Duke has somehow managed to see her anyway, this curse soon becomes a reality. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

This performance of Mozart's opera Zauberflote was recorded at the Salzburger Festpiele in 1982 with accompaniment from the Wiener Philharmoniker, and featuring vocalists like Martti Talvela and Peter Schreier in the leading roles. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi

This performance of Mozart's opera Die Zauberflote features the vocal talents of Martti Talvela and Peter Schreier and was recorded in August of 1982 at the Feisenreitschule Salzburg. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi

Known for his stunning originality and innovation in mounting Mozart opera, legendary stage director Jean-Pierre Ponnelle staged and produced the composer's 1791 opera seria La Clemenza di Tito in 1980 amid the ancient Roman ruins - appropriately so, given the opera's setting. Unfolding in antiquity, it tells the story of Vitellia's attempts to enact vengeance against Titus (or Tito) for deposing her father, the Roman emperor Vitellius. In Ponnelle's production, Eric Tappy portrays Titus, Carol Neblett plays Vitellia, and Tatiana Troyanos appears as Sesto. The Wiener Philharmoniker, provides accompaniment, as conducted by James Levine. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Based on the character of Sir John Falstaff from Shakespeare's Henry IV, the opera Falstaff was composed by the inimitable Giuseppe Verdi. From the Glyndenbourne Festival Opera, this 1976 production of the work comes from Arthaus Musik and features Donald Gramm in the title role. The renowned London Philharmonic Orchestra provides music along with the Glyndenbourne Chorus. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

The Italian opera of love and disaster between an Oriental woman and the Westerner who takes advantage of her. Produced by J. P. Ponnelle and directed by Karajan. Featuring the music of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the vocal talents of Freni and Domingo. ~ Rovi

Rossini's frothy comic opera The Barber of Seville is superbly realized in this French-German co-production. The hectic life of Figaro the barber is proffered full-force, with precious few cuts in the original score. But this is no mere filmed stage play: director Ernst Wild brings a fine, fluid cinematic sense to the proceedings. The principal characters are acted and sung by Terese Berganza, Hermann Prey, Luigi Alva, Enzo Dara and Polo Montarsolo. One wishes that all filmed operas were as delightful--and visually stimulating--as the 1973 Barber of Seville. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi