Cheap Wagner - Gotterdammerung / Levine, Behrens, Jerusalem, Metropolitan Opera (Levine Ring Cycle Part 4) (DVD) (Brian Large) Price
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| CATEGORY: | DVD |
| DIRECTOR: | Brian Large |
| MANUFACTURER: | Universal Music & VI |
| MPAA RATING: | NR (Not Rated) |
| FEATURES: | Color, Dolby |
| TYPE: | Performing Arts - Opera |
| MEDIA: | DVD |
| # OF MEDIA: | 2 |
| UPC: | 044007304099 |
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Customer Reviews of Wagner - Gotterdammerung / Levine, Behrens, Jerusalem, Metropolitan Opera (Levine Ring Cycle Part 4)
A lame effort The opera is supposed to be the climax of Wagner's Ring cycle. Unfortunately, the performance here is rather inadequate, which detracts from the majesty of the opera.
The production is traditional (which is good) but badly directed. The singers are either left with no direction to hang onto, or they are merely able to fill the acting requirements with half-hearted stock gestures. Their singing is unremarkable, in particular Hildegard Behrens's strained Brunnhilde.
Levine and his orchestra are quite admirable, although I've heard them on better forms. All in all, it's quite a lame effort.
And the best supporting players are...
Matti Salminen & Christa Ludwig. Maybe this opera is about Brunnhilde & Siegfried, but you'd never know from the riveting supporting performances by the above-mentioned bass & mezzo. They're really the reason to check out this pretty straight forward* version of "Gotterdammerung." They and Levine's superb conducting of the magnificent Metropolitan Opera orchestra. And have I mentioned one of Wagner's masterpieces? If you're a Wagner fan, what are you waiting for? If not, nothing I say will change your mind. On the other hand, maybe Matti & Christa will. (*Not necessarily a bad thing.)
Salminen!!!
I don't know about the rest, but man was Matti Salminen something else! He absolutely dominated, looming over (especially) Gunther and the rest. And when he called the vassals together to greet Gunther and Brunhilde, I worried that he would falter because I didn't think that kind of output was humanly possible.
I do have to mention that Jerusalem wasn't bad, although the acting seemed exaggerated and forced, much like Behrens' acting. Behrens was okay but she did falter a bit here and there and I am willing to concede that (listening to Karajan's Ring as well) Wagner places a lot of demands on the singers and only Salminen was really up for the challenge, with the rest being adequate. I think I may have to go for Solti where Birgit Nilsson sings Brunhilde. Lastly, Gutrune was okay because her role is not to be a force like Hagen and Brunhilde, but more subtle.