Cheap Wagner: The Complete Epic (Video) (Tony Palmer) Price

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Customer Reviews of Wagner: The Complete Epic

A film no less a Wagnerian opera
What I enjoyed about this epic series on the life of Richard Wagner was the composer's music performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Budapest Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Sir Georg Solti. The backdrop of political and social intrigue in the Prussian and Bavarian states of the 19th century piqued my curiosity for the history of this period as well. No less fascinating were the characterisations of the people who played significant roles in his life, including Franz Liszt, Frederick Nietzsche, Hans and Cosima von Buelow, Minna Planer, Mathilde Wesendonck and King Ludwig II. <
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>Equally memorable were the excellent performances of Richard Burton as Wagner, Gemma Craven as Minna (his first wife) Vanessa Redgrave as Cosima (his friend's wife and second wife), Laszlo Galffi as King Ludvig II of Bavaria, Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir Ralph Richardson and Sir John Gielgud. Richard Burton's performance is indeed superb in so far as depicting the arrogance, megalomania, amorality and musical genius of Richard Wagner. <
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>While "Wagner" depicts a vile and self-centred man, especially with regard to the callous disregard he had for friends, wives, benefactors and peers, the film projects a balanced assessment of his contribution to the world of music and influence on German politics. On viewing "Wagner", one might actually have more sympathy for the people he used, particularly the romantic and generous benefactor King Ludwig II. <
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>With regard to Kultur's pan and scan presentation of this acclaimed series, I concur with the previous reviewers. I wish Kulture had made a genuine effort to digitise and include some historical write-up on Wagner and the film's making. Nevertheless, this 4-DVD set is testimony to Burton's talent, the lavish sets, the detailed costumes and marvellous scenery shot in more than 200 locations around Europe. <
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>Whether the scenes purportedly snipped from the original series make a difference is a matter of personal preference. I for one found the footage viewed on this DVD set did not disturb the overall story. Regardless, "Wagner" is a film worth watching, if not owning. <
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complete but...
This is a marvelous look into the life of Wagner, one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time who was an absolute monster of a person, but none the less brilliant. Although I believe this an acting tour de force for Burton and the other fine actors, it unfortunately falls short in several ways. The transfer is awful. If they did anything to enhance it, it certainly doesn't show. The sound is lousy as well. With the amazing panoramic views and beautiful settings, there really should have been more care and time spent cleaning up the original recordings. Oh well...still worth seeing and the musical overlay are brilliant. 3 stars for poor transfer, 5 for the scenery, settings, music and acting

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The Complete 9 Hours Available Only On VHS Not DVD
The Wagner miniseries runs for 9 hours and it is available in its entirety only on VHS and unfortunately not on DVD, which is what most of the reviewers complain about on here. Everything is superior on DVD and with such a great series as this one, it is indeed a crying shame it's not available on DVD. This was Richard Burton's penultimate performance before he died and this lush, epic series was filmed on location in authentic spots in Europe (Italy, France, Germany/Bavaria. Released in 1983, the long series is quite a lot to take in for a single evening, and ends up imitating Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung opera cycle which were meant to be seen on seperate nights. The series follows the life and musical career of Richard Wagner. His first wife, Mina, endures a scandalous love affair with his Muse Matilde Wessendock (whom he wrote the opera Tristan and Isolde for) and Wagner is actively involved in the uprisings and revolutions of 1848. Eventually he acquires the patronage of the infamous King Ludwig of Bavaria. The ups and downs of this relationship is accurately portrayed. The building of Bayreuth, his marriage to Cosima, daughter of his friend and supporter the pianist/composer Franz Liszt are all dramatized as well. The look of the film is sensational, meant to resemble Wagnerian spectacles themselves. Especially striking is the symbolic dream-like moments and the repetitive use of a swan boat burning, perhaps meant to prophetize doom and the death of a legend. Like in the 1983 Boorman film Excalibur, Siegfried's Funeral March is used effectively. This is highly romanticized but remains fairly accurate to the real story. The music is conducted by Sir George Solti.