LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST Stella, Limarilli, Colzani (DVD)

The historic 1963 Japanese premiere of this rarely-performed masterpiece, featuring a magnificent cast led by the great singing actress Antonietta Stella, whose fearless approach to the vocally and dramatically demanding title role is a model of Puccini style. Also starring tenor Gastone Limarilli as Dick Johnson and Anselmo Colzani as Jack Rance. Embedded Japanese subtitles remain on screen throughout, with additional options to view subtitles in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. DVD Bonus: An exclusive interview with Antonietta Stella (Rome, 2008).
B&W, 131 minutes (Bonus: 24 minutes), 4:3, All regions

LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST
Opera in Three Acts
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Guelfo Civinini and Carlo Zangarini, after the play by David Belasco
Stage Director: Bruno Nofri

Cast:
Minnie: Antonietta Stella
Dick Johnson: Gastone Limarilli
Jack Rance: Anselmo Colzani
Nick: Mario Guggia
Ashby/Jake Wallace: Bruno Marangoni
Sonora: Arturo La Porta
Wowkle: Anna Di Stasio
Sid/Billy Jackrabbit/Jose Castro: Giorgio Onesti
Trin: Antonio Saba
Bello: Marco Scotti
Harry: Augusto Pedroni
Joe: Antonio Pirino
Happy: Paolo Mazzotta
Larkens: Mario Rinaudo
Postman: Takeshi Nakamura

NHK Symphony Orchestra
Nikikai Chorus Group and the Fujiwara Opera Chorus Group
Oliviero De Fabritiis, conductor
(November 2, 1963, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)