Vedio Reviews.(The Full Monteverdi, Maskarade, La cambiale di matrimonio, La pietra del paragone)(Video recording review)

This semiannual column presents reviews of significant video releases of interest to the field of music and to music libraries, as well as occasionally briefly noting other interesting titles. All genres of music in all video formats will be covered, with a preference given to those in DVD. All Web sites accessed 19 November 2008.

The Full Monteverdi. DVD. Directed by John La Bouchardiere. Featuring I Fagiolini. [UK]: Polyphonic Films Limited, 2007. 2110224. $19.99.

In this film, noted opera director John La Bouchardiere, visually captures his interactive experiment in musical theater from 2004 in which the viewer witnesses the dramatic emotional experience of six couples simultaneously dealing with various issues of infidelity while communicating not in dialog, but in sung verse. In the live performance, the "audience" members are seated amongst the performers and are not given program notes. The proximity of the performers in a commonly understood environment (seated at a restaurant, for example) provides a physical and genuine experience perhaps greater than that of a standard performance space where the division between performer and listener is marked.

The film version captures this performance objective masterfully. The depiction of time is expanded over one night and into the next morning. As in the live version, there is absolutely no dialogue in the film, the narrative is entirely created in images and song through a complete performance of Monteverdi's Il quarto libro de madrigali (1603) sung and acted by the vocal ensemble I Fagiolini. Of the couples dealing with the events, only one of each pair is a member of I Fagiolini; the other is absolutely silent.

Through scenes revealing the history of the couples, including a series of flashbacks, we come to know more about how each pair has arrived at the point of emotional despair. Accompanied by the music of Monteverdi, the viewer witnesses images of events that have ultimately led to this night. Adding to the passionate display, it is not entirely clear in every instance which of the lovers in each pair is actually the guilty party.

Throughout the film, La Bouchardiere shows no consistent desire to portray the more subtle double meanings of the original texts, but focuses instead on the basic emotions involved in betrayal: disbelief, sadness, anger, regret, desperation, passion and rejection.

Some of the more blatant imagery is set purposefully. For example, in "Si ch'io vorrei morire," particular phrases including "Now as I kiss, love, the beautiful mouth of my beloved heart," and "Ah, dear, sweet tongue," Monteverdi's setting of Maurizio Moro's poetry is accompanied by images of two of the couples kissing. Poignantly, the line "Yes, I want to die" in the same madrigal is accompanied by what appears to be a momentary reconciliation at several of the lovers' homes.