Doctor Atomic

2007

Drama / Music / Thriller

IMDb Rating 6.4/10 10 42 42

opera musical

Plot summary

The European premiere of the opera by the contemporary American composer John Adams, with libretto by Peter Sellars, in a co-production of the San Francisco Opera (where the work premiered), the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and De Nederlandse Opera. The plot focuses on the great stress and anxiety experienced by those at Los Alamos while the test of the first atomic bomb (the "Trinity" test) was being prepared.

Director

Peter Sellars Photo
Peter Sellars

Top cast

Ellen Rabiner Photo
Ellen Rabiner as Pasqualita
Gerald Finley Photo
Gerald Finley as J. Robert Oppenheimer
Jessica Rivera Photo
Jessica Rivera as Kitty Oppenheimer
Eric Owens Photo
Eric Owens as General Leslie Grove
720p.BluRay 1080p.BluRay
1.53 GB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
29.97 fps
2 hr 50 min
Seeds ...
3.14 GB
1920*1080
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles us  
29.97 fps
2 hr 50 min
Seeds 2

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by Dr_Coulardeau

No hope possible in this world

Reviewed by TheLittleSongbird 9 / 10

A wonderful production of a fascinating opera

I have not been acquainted with Doctor Atomic very long, in fact my first hearing of it was only a couple of weeks ago. It is very fascinating particularly in the story, though John Adams's music is every bit as good if not more so as Nixon in China.This production is wonderful. I have very few complaints actually, just that I personally would have loved to seen the curtain calls and the audience reactions so that we could fully share our appreciation of how much went into performing this difficult opera, and while the choreography is very effective on the most part with the angular movements, there is the odd place where a piece of choreography is going on and it feels like it came from a different production altogether.On the other hand, the costumes, lighting and sets have great atmosphere to them, and the filming doesn't fall into the trap of being too static. Picture and sound quality are very good. As is the staging, the end of act 1 in particular is very beautiful and powerful at the same time, and some of the best of any opera production I've seen of late.Musically, this production of Doctor Atomic also excels. The orchestral playing is excellent, and the conducting and chorus singing also. It is a difficult score, but they make it seem easy. The story is still interesting, and I loved along with the interviews and so that there were some well-written libretto notes, which I always read with enthusiasm when available.The principal singing is superb. I have always found Gerald Finley a reliable performer, and his Oppenheimer is no exception. His voice is as appealing and as handsome as ever, it is very mellow and bright with a slight boyishness to it, and his acting is suitably athletic. He sings Batter My Heart brilliantly, one of the best parts of the opera and one of the best renditions of the production.Jessica Rivera is also wonderful, prior to this I saw the Met production with the same cast albeit with Sasha Cooke as Kitty. I have to say while I loved that production too I much prefer Rivera's Kitty. Her solos are long but very beautiful. I simply loved her singing of Am I in Your Light, and the staging of it is appropriately quiet and intimate.Richard Paul Fink sings with a beautiful basso sound, his diction is excellent and acts with finesse. Once again, Eric Downes' sonorous voice is in full flight and his amusing and moving portrayal as Groves remains characterful as it should be.The more minor roles compliment the central roles wonderfully, with special mention going to Ellen Rabiner.All in all, wonderful. 9/10 Bethany Cox
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