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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:24 am Posts: 13136 Location: London, England
I thought we should have a topic DVDs that we are watching, considering I have quite a few of these myself!
Please ad here, preferably with a few critical comments...
Tonight Beethoven's Fidelio at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Conducted by Christoph von Dohnanyi with the in-house band. Leonore is Gabriela Benackova who does a convincing job. Florestan is Joseph Protschka, a little portly for someone who has spent two years in a dungeon on starvation rations, but in opera one has to turn a blind eye to these things! The production is an austere one, not a grand scale production with costly sets, but the drama flows and the musical momentum is good (an important element with this opera). The best version currently on DVD (though I'd sell my daughter for a good period instrument production). Superb sound quality. Should bring a tear or two to the eye of all but the hardest of souls...
I thought we should have a topic for opera and other secular vocal pieces on DVD that we are watching, considering I have quite a few of these myself!
Please ad here, preferably with a few critical comments...
Although I'm not a fan of "What you're listening/watching" stickies (see the most excessive one at the General discussion and musicology forum), I'm a fan of a particular Zauberflöte DVD (as shown below). I love this DVD not only because of its great singers – above all Kurt Moll as Sarastro and Kathleen Battle as Pamina (both to be seen on the DVD's front page) – but also for its exceptional stage design by David Hockney ("British painter, draughtsman, printmaker, photographer, designer, and the best-known British artist of his generation" – as told on his web site). Hockney really brings the "Old Egyptian Mysteries" to the stage set as intended by Mozart and Schikaneder.
BTW, Mozart seems to have been undecided about the title of this opera until his entry into the Verzeichnüß aller meiner Werke shortly before its première on 30 September 1791 – either "Die Egyptischen Geheimnisse" ("The Egyptian Mysteries") or "Die Zauberflöte" ("The Magic Flute").
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:24 am Posts: 13136 Location: London, England
Last night act 1 from Handel's Tamerlano. Jonathan Miller's production is rather static and the staging minimalistic, but this is made up for to some degree by the magnificent oriental costumes. The performances are pleasing if not particularly outstanding. Thomas Randle gives probably the most impressive performance, as Bajazet but Monica Bacelli is not really convincing in her portrayal of Tamerlano.
Other plus points are that the two DVD contain a feast of archive Handel performance footage and a number of interviews. Also the score can be superimposed opaquely over the screen so you can follow it and the action at the same time, which may be useful for students.
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:24 am Posts: 13136 Location: London, England
Last night Bohm's Fidelio recording from 1969, adapted for German TV the following year. I had this years ago on Video Tape but my VCR destroyed it. A good effort from Bohm for the most part, Gwyneth Jones is a capable Leonore if a bit too loud in the mix at times. James King as Florestan is good too, though seems not quite as involving at Jones. Just re-released on DVD, definitely worth considering if you like this opera. In all music nothing effects me on the emotional level quite like Fidelio...
I don't know if I should mention this one here because it ain't opera, but this is the DVD thread, so...
Looked at this one yesterday...
The great Martha Argerich plays Schumann's piano concerto, Liszt's "Funérailles" and Ravel's "Jeux D'eau." This lady never fails to blow me away. Here are a few youtube bits from that DVD..
And after posting a few links to youtubes at the Mozart forum I couldn't resist to look at the DVD again - A great "Le Nozze di Figaro" with among others a Kiri Te Kanawa and Frederica Von Stade at the peak of their powers. A glyndebourne performance from 1973. John Pritchard conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
And after posting a few links to youtubes at the Mozart forum I couldn't resist to look at the DVD again - A great "Le Nozze di Figaro" with among others a Kiri Te Kanawa and Frederica Von Stade at the peak of their powers. A glyndebourne performance from 1973. John Pritchard conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
I said recently I don't "get" Mozart. This I get!
Saturday I saw Figaro for the first time on a tepid performance on DVD and was about to put it in my "never again" pile. Is the rest of this DVD this good? If so, I need to hunt it down!
Saturday I saw Figaro for the first time on a tepid performance on DVD and was about to put it in my "never again" pile. Is the rest of this DVD this good? If so, I need to hunt it down!
I can obviously only tell what I like myself, but yes, in my opinion it is terrific. Especially the females (Kiri Te Kanawa, Ileana Cotrubas, Frederica Von Stade) are very good, but the males are ok also. And good traditional (thank God) production.
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:24 am Posts: 13136 Location: London, England
jhar26 wrote:
Brian wrote:
I said recently I don't "get" Mozart. This I get!
Saturday I saw Figaro for the first time on a tepid performance on DVD and was about to put it in my "never again" pile. Is the rest of this DVD this good? If so, I need to hunt it down!
I can obviously only tell what I like myself, but yes, in my opinion it is terrific. Especially the females (Kiri Te Kanawa, Ileana Cotrubas, Frederica Von Stade) are very good, but the males are ok also. And good traditional (thank God) production.
I've seen Don Goivanni and Cosi fan Tutti live and I didn't 'get' those either! What makes for a good Mozart opera production I wonder?
_________________ "If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin
Joined: Sun May 04, 2008 5:44 pm Posts: 2169 Location: Old Blighty
jhar26 wrote:
The great Martha Argerich plays Schumann's piano concerto, Liszt's "Funérailles" and Ravel's "Jeux D'eau." This lady never fails to blow me away. Here are a few youtube bits from that DVD..
Lovely, an especially good version of the Ravel. That profile can't hurt either.
_________________ "To burn always with this hard, gem-like flame, to maintain this ecstasy, is success in life. " - Walter Pater
I've seen Don Goivanni and Cosi fan Tutti live and I didn't 'get' those either! What makes for a good Mozart opera production I wonder?
Well, that Figaro is very good IMO. But of course it all starts with the music. If you don't like it the best production in history won't convince you.
The great Martha Argerich plays Schumann's piano concerto, Liszt's "Funérailles" and Ravel's "Jeux D'eau." This lady never fails to blow me away. Here are a few youtube bits from that DVD..
Lovely, an especially good version of the Ravel. That profile can't hurt either.
I adore her. She's sorta to me what Jacky is to you. I guess we've just got a great taste in women.
Joined: Sun May 04, 2008 5:44 pm Posts: 2169 Location: Old Blighty
jhar26 wrote:
Melmoth wrote:
jhar26 wrote:
The great Martha Argerich plays Schumann's piano concerto, Liszt's "Funérailles" and Ravel's "Jeux D'eau." This lady never fails to blow me away. Here are a few youtube bits from that DVD..
Lovely, an especially good version of the Ravel. That profile can't hurt either.
I adore her. She's sorta to me what Jacky is to you. I guess we've just got a great taste in women.
Why stop there- let's just concede we have great taste in everything!
_________________ "To burn always with this hard, gem-like flame, to maintain this ecstasy, is success in life. " - Walter Pater
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Especially the females (Kiri Te Kanawa, Ileana Cotrubas, Frederica Von Stade) are very good, but the males are ok also. And good traditional (thank God) production.
She's sorta to me what Jacky is to you. 
I guess we've just got a great taste in women.