Don Giovanni

I was pleasantly surprised by the set’s book-style packaging, as it’s both sturdy and attractive, with a beautiful color booklet summarizing each performance included. It is a great deal at the $35 or so I paid, getting three world-class BBC productions of the famed Mozart operas for about the price of one. Regarding the quality of the performances, it is a matter of personal preference of course, but for those who love the music, the set is worth owning. I only wish the music quality is as crisp and rich as the video quality, but otherwise no complaints.

I write this review as both an opera lover, especially of these three Mozart operas, and as a techie/audiophile. I'd highly recommend this 3-opera package, with a few caveats (I'd give it 4 1/2 stars if I could). All three operas are wonderful productions, as one might expect from The Royal Opera. The music, singing, acting, etc. are first rate. (Note that I purchased the Blu Ray version(s).)Why the half-star deduction?Visual Quality: The visual quality is very good, if not quite excellent, for both Figaro and Giovanni. The visual quality of Die Zauberflote, however, is very disappointing. In scenes where there is shadow or other dark areas, it looks like the "snow" that people of my age remember when one's TV antenna was too far from the station. In bright well-lit scenes, the visual quality rises to good, but definitely not full 1080p quality. I wondered if they had mistakenly put a DVD of DZ into the package (no, it was a BR disk). Perhaps I received a bad copy.Audio quality: (I should note that I use a relatively high-end 5.1 surround sound audio system; what I describe here may perhaps be too subtle for the average listener.) The audio quality is excellent, with one BIG caveat. When I first watched/listened to each of the operas, I was quite disappointed with the sound. In particular, in all three, the orchestra was a bit too loud in relation to the vocals and the vocals sounded as if the singer was quite removed from the microphone, as if they were at the back of the stage, a bit muddled. Noting that the default audio on the disks (in the Set-Up menu) was "Surround," I changed the setting to "Stereo" and was delighted with the result, which is very clear, with good "presence," and excellent mix with the orchestra. Also interestingly, even set to Stereo, there was still some "surround" quality to the sound. I have no idea why the Surround setting produces poorer sound, but guess that the audio engineers may have tried to enhance the surround effect or something similar. At any rate, if you buy this package (you should), I'd highly suggest that the first thing you do after inserting the disk and seeing the disk's menu is to go to Set-Up and change the sound to "Stereo."

My interests in opera are primarily in the Italian repertory; Mozart has not been on my list of favorite operatic composers, although his symphonic, chamber and instrumental works are enjoyed a lot here. But when I saw this set come up for pre order, I was tempted. So I checked the reviews here of the individual performances and saw that there were mostly five star reviews from reviewer colleagues whose opinions I respect.I am delighted with the set; at the price, we have the three DaPonte operas from the ROH, all with excellent casts and all recorded in Blu ray, with its attendant picture and sound qualities. Although the performances are not new, the Magic Flute dating from 2003, the quality of the singing and acting is first rate. These are performers who are still much in demand today and to catch them in younger days is kind of neat. But be sure that these are not juveniles.For reviews of individual opera, I refer you to the listings for the operas for some very fine evaluations. I have watched the Marriage of Figaro and the Magic Flute since the set arrived here and found both to be well performed, with great singing and traditional staging. The technical qualities of the discs is as good as it gets.Buy with confidence, gentle reader.

What a tremendous bargain. Mozart's greatest operas in one box set , all with top notch productions by The Royal Opera. The delightful comic complexity of Le nozze di Figaro, and it's lovely costumes and fine performances. The shocking and lively artistic production of Don Giovanni superbly brings out the charm of the vicious, lecherous scoundrel, a brilliant opera filled with darkness and even terror. Finally, Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) my favourite opera of all. This production is completely fantastic, it's excellent costumes and sets and remarkable performances of some of the most memorable characters in opera (The Queen of the Night and Papageno are showstoppers), this makes for great comedic and intelligent entertainment. This entire box set is hours of pure entertainment. This is best of the Opus Arte opera box sets in my opinion, but each composer's style is different, and the Verdi and Puccini boxes are also fully recommended and all offer multiple viewings. Blu ray makes this like being in the theater and adds to the grand experience.

First thing that caught my eye was how nicely these Blu-rays are packaged; the five discs are placed securely in individual plastic holders, and the box includes a booklet containing introductions and overviews of the three operas. The operas themselves are absolutely gorgeous. Sir David McVicar's name on any opera is a mark of quality, in my opinion, and he's produced two out of the three in this collection. Sound quality on these Blu-rays is fantastic, and the crisp, high-definition cinematography does a nice job of keeping us focused on the action and engaged with the stories. Definitely a great addition to any opera lover's collection!

Great 3-in-1 set. Really like the Magic Flute production - classic. Really good performances.

You can buy all three opera separately right here on Amazon.com. Read the review for them before you buy. The main plus of this box-set is a price. I got 3 Mozart opera on Blu-ray disks for the price of 2! The packaging is excellent. it could be wonderful gift.BTW the pre-order price was even better - $39...

Most people know of Mozart but never sample his wares, to use an inappropriate phrase. This presentation from the Royal Opera House of, using the English title, contains "The marriage of Figaro" which is wonderful, "Don Giovanni", simply awesome and "The Magic Flute", also of the highest musical standard. I found myself transported back to a period in Europe that was both cultured but dangerous. I would have willingly stayed but my blu-ray player came to the end. On arrival "BACK" in the Real World (That's the place Donald Trump the Chump can't be found) I was much satisfied by the experience and wanting to repeat it tomorrow with Don Giovanni.This is wonderful and I urge anyone who is under stress from COVID-19 to loosen up under its delightful effect.

Good value on blu ray. I already had Figaro in this format (Glyndebourne/Haitink) so really bought this for the other two operas. Interestingly, of those it is the newer Figaro which stands out - very beautiful in all respects and interesting to see Finley moved on from Figaro to Almaviva. The Magic Flute is also as satisfying as this strange pantomime can be and with a superb realisation of Papageno by Simon Keenlyside. The same singer as Don Giovanni is also very satisfying (brave even) but I found the production somewhat static and depressing, perhaps because it is based around a huge rotating wall. Here it is Leporello who gets the most applause. I don't mind the blackness being emphasised - Giovanni is a pretty bad character - but the sight of Vargas blundering on yet again in his ineffectual role to threaten doom on Giovanni was frankly laughable (not in a good way) but then I found him a fairly laughable Rodolfo in Boheme - I just close my eyes and listen to his voice, as I did with Pavarotti. I would like to see another production of Giovanni, in case i have missed something. In all 3 operas the music is superbly done, but I still think Figaro is by far the best of the mature Mozart operas.

I need to know what Biue-Ray player to get for this type ofdisc

Like it very much, especially the magic flute and Don Giovanni! Recommend to all opera lovers!

wonderful