SmugKitZine Tied for the best movie I have ever seen

GazerRise Fantastic!

Nicole I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

TheLittleSongbird La Rondine is not one of my favourite Puccini operas, it does have beautiful music but also a story that does come across as unbelievable. This Teatro La Fenice production is not a terrible production, but it feels dull a lot of the time. For better productions the 2009 Met production and the 1972 television film with Teresa Stratas are your best bets. I even preferred the 1998 Washington production despite the tacky ending. I will start with the good things. The sets are quite nice, and the ladies' costumes are lovely. The video directing and picture quality are good. The dancing in Act 2 is enjoyable. The orchestral playing is lush and nuanced, and there is a lot of refinement in the conducting of Carlo Rizzi. The most consistent principal performance is the Rambaldo of Stefano Antonucci, he has a lovely voice and acts with authority. It is such a shame though that his part is short. Sadly, the dramatic elements and staging never come to life, I was even left cold by the ending which I am usually moved by. The performances apart from Antonucci are uneven. Fiorenza Cedolins improves later on vocally but is squally and un-supported in the first act. She is also very unmotivated as an actress. Not much better is Fernando Portari's Ruggero, who is strained and awkward, and not helped by the embarrassing movements on the floor stage director Graham Vick makes them do. Sandra Pastrana is a decent singer but her Lisette is more stiff than saucy. Emanuelle Giannino is the best actor of the four, but his voice lacks power. Overall, underwhelming but redeemable. 5/10 Bethany Cox