Genre:

Opera

Release Date:

Jan 2003

Recorded:

2001

Number of Discs:

1

Sound:

Dolby Surround; Dolby Stereo

Subtitles:

FR, DE, ES

Territory Exclusions:

USA & Canada

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 Anamorphic

Display:

NTSC

Catalog Number:

OA0838D

Bernstein: Trouble in Tahiti (BBC Wales)

Stephanie Novacek (Dinah); Karl Daymond (Sam);

Tom Cairns cinematic film features a young and vibrant cast in Bernstein's chamber opera. This biting satire on American suburban married life stars Stephanie Novacek as Dinah and Karl Daymond as Sam, facing a serious communication breakdown - he is obsessed with his work, she seeks escapism via the magical world of the latest movie release, Trouble in Tahiti. The score is a path-breaking fusion of lyric art with popular entertainment.

Cast
Stephanie Novacek (Dinah)
Karl Daymond (Sam)
City of London Sinfonia; Paul Daniel

Reviews

"Directed for video by Tom Cairns this DVD offers a lively revival of Bernstein's brilliant one-acter of 1952, a work that neatly spans the gap between opera and Broadway musical." (The Penguin Guide)

"The music is in Bernstein’'s richest vein: jazzy, melancholic and heart-warming all at once. Paul Daniel leads a lively performance..." (BBC Music Magazine)

"Wonderfully observed acting and singing performances by Karl Daymond and Stephanie Novacek in the leads. A gem." (The Sunday Times)

"Absolutely brilliant." (Opera)

"... miniature masterpiece ... Tom Cairn’s new film version brilliantly recreates an idealised post-war American suburbia." (The Independent)

Extra features

Introduction to Trouble in Tahiti. 'Not Particularly Romantic' - Humphrey Burton, Leonard Bernstein’s biographer, comments on the composer’s life and the significance of Trouble in Tahiti.'A Very Testing Piece' - Conductor Paul Daniel on the performance and background of the opera. Illustrated booklet with biographies in English, French and German.