Two Verdi Film Classics Released On DVD Enhance V.I.E.W. Video Opera Collection

21-May-03

V.I.E.W. Video, a leading home video label and producer of opera, performing arts, and special interest programs, announced the expansion of the Opera DVD Collection with the May release of Verdi: King of Melody, a dramatic biography of the life and loves of Guiseppe Verdi and Rigoletto, a feature film adaptation of one of his most famous operas. ""When I discovered these historic Italian film classics in an archive in Rome,"" said Bob Karcy, President and Founder of V.I.E.W., ""I knew we had something special for opera aficionados."" Karcy's discovery refers to a trip he made to Rome, Italy in 1985, where he found these opera gems, two of an acquisition of 90 archival films acquired by V.I.E.W.Verdi: The King of Melody is a colorfully filmed drama about the life and loves of the great composer played against the background of the historic operas of the 19th Century. Sung by international opera stars Tito Gobbi and Mario del Monaco, we hear more than 20 excerpts from Rigoletto, La Traviata, Otello, Il Trovatore, Nabucco, and many other great operas. This nostalgic look at Guiseppe Verdi paints a romantic picture of the composer's struggle for success, his loves and his musical triumph over the forces of political domination. Poignant and tender, filled with pathos, it is heart-rending in both its sad moments and times of joy. The digitally mastered DVD release of Verdi: The King of Melody is enhanced with Special Bonus Features such as unique and captivating trivia, an extensive Verdi biography and list of works, bonus selections of Verdi arias sung by Enrico Caruso, instant access to arias, and over 45 scene selections.Rigoletto, Verdi's first opera of the trilogy that includes Il Trovatore and LaTraviata, is without a doubt one of the most popular operas of all time. Based on Victor Hugo's play Le Roi s'amuse and a perennial favorite, this drama of intrigue, tragedy, and revenge has been a spectacular success from its first performance. The film retains the famous arias and duets in the original Italian, with the dialogue painstakingly dubbed into English. The unforgettable vocal performances of the legendary Tito Gobbi and Mario del Monaco highlight this Verdi masterpiece. The digitally mastered enhanced DVD of Rigoletto includes Special Bonus Features such as a Verdi biography, Rigoletto story synopsis, fun and informative trivia, bonus music - three arias sung by Enrico Caruso, instant access to arias, and over 35 scene selections.