Ten of the world’s most prominent directors have put their stamps on 10 operatic highlights with varying results. But if your video store caters to an upscale audience, college students or any type of intellectual audience, Aria should be a smashing success.

In specialized theatrical release across the country, Aria will actually play very well on video. Each of the ten segments are highly stylized, as in opera goes-MTV. Because the music is 50% of this film’s appeal, the HI-FI sound on Academy’s cassettes will make this very collectible once the company reduces the $89.95 price tag for sell-through.

In the meantime, two of the 10 segments are among the most erotic pieces of film released this year, and this review will concentrate on those. Jean-Luc Godard (King Lear, Weekend, etc.) sets Lully’s Armide against the backdrop of a French gym. Two beautiful, nude blondes contemplate their own sexuality while contemplating murder, as well. Godard’s sizzling visual style is fully suited for this ten-minute foray into the extreme.

Equally as hot, but very disturbing, is Franc Roddam’s rendering of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolade, where a pretty young couple (Bridget Fonda, Peter’s daughter and James Mathers) marry in Las Vegas, make passionate love and commit suicide.

Another wonderful segment, Julien Temple’s (Absolute Beginners) hilarious satire of Verdi’s Rigoletto, stars Beverly D’Angelo and Buck Henry and alone is worth the price of a rental for curious customers. Although all the segments do not work as well (in fact, Altman’s and Russell’s both seemed to be a waste of time), this experiment is at once adventurous, funny and erotic. Aria should do very well in comparison with other specialized video releases.