La Gioconda (TV Movie 1979)

As a big opera fan, and I like Renata Scotto and Luciano Pavarotti a great deal, I was blown away by this television film of La Gioconda. Kirk Browning video directs wonderfully, while the costumes, photography and sets are wonderful to watch. The story while sometimes hard to follow is compelling and the music is masterpiece status, Cielo E Mar, the duet between Enzo and Barnaba, Dance of the Hours and the ending are for me the highlights of the score. The music is impeccably performed and conducted with style and panache. The Dance of the Hours ballet is filled also with colour and nifty choreography. The performances are wonderful, while Luciano Pavarotti is convincing and in soaring voice as Enzo and Norman Mittleman an effective Barnaba it is Renata Scotto who carries it, she is in wonderful voice and as an actress she is equally gifted. Overall, this La Gioconda is just brilliant. 10/10 Bethany Cox