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The director may be trying to say too many things at once. The profusion of visual symbols shows a rich imagination, but a more clearly defined focus would have been helpful. That kind of focus is found in the acting, partly because Alden is a good director but also because he is working with seasoned performers. René Kollo as Tannhäuser and Bernd Weikl as Wolfram von Eschenbach have made specialties of these roles, and even when the story strains credibility or when the music strains their voices, they give convincing portrayals, as do Waltraud Meier and Nadine Secunde and the supporting cast. Zubin Mehta's conducting is opulent if not subtle. This is an intriguing though sometimes disturbing production. But on the whole, those who want a straightforward, well-sung, visually superb, and problem-free Tannhäuser would prefer the DVD edition of the superb Metropolitan Opera production. --Joe McLellan
| CATEGORY: | DVD |
| DIRECTOR: | Brian Large |
| THEATRICAL RELEASE DATE: | 01 January, 1994 |
| MANUFACTURER: | Image Entertainment |
| MPAA RATING: | NR (Not Rated) |
| FEATURES: | Color, Widescreen, Dolby |
| TYPE: | Performing Arts - Opera |
| MEDIA: | DVD |
| # OF MEDIA: | 1 |
| UPC: | 014381579123 |
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Customer Reviews of Wagner - Tannhauser / Mehta, Kollo, National Theatre of Munich
Music is good - everything else is ugly It's bizarre to watch this version. The music is there in its classical essence, but the costumes and scenery are set in a modern time period and are ugly and weird-looking.
The overture doesn't play to its end, but is melded into the first act. Tannhauser is on stage during the overture, to which has been added a sort of "dream-ballet" as in Oklahoma, during he wanders around,lost, and is tempted by Venus and her nymphs, who are partly nude, depicting the decadent atmosphere of Venusberg. OK so far.
But when he returns to the real (?) world, the castle in Thuringia is the same ugly setting, and the minstrel knights are a bunch of thugs in dingy gray.
The pilgrim's chorus is done by a bunch of people in dark gray work clothes. Again, the music sounds great, but the odd setting is a distraction.
Waltraud Meier makes a good Venus, and Jan Hendrik Rootering is a great Landgrave. Rene Kollo as Tannhauser sings well, but he looks too much like a bum to be a minstrel knight.
All in all, the visual distractions make this rendition not very entertaining.
Stars & Composer Transcend Concept
Full of visually obvious but emotionally uncompelling symbols. Act I works, as it is a kind of fantasy to begin with. Act II is almost ruined, but (in the end) the torment of Tannhauser and Elizabeth still can move one. Act III succeeds very well, as the power of the singing and the music is finally allowed to transcend the silliness
Music- great, Production - odd
The music is wonderful. Singers range from exceptional, Meier and Weikl, to very good, Kollo and Secunde. That part of the opera is fine. The production suffers from an acute outbreak of obscure meaningful symbolism. There is a guy in a wolf suit, a woman dressed as the Bride of Frankenstein, a [body part] here and there, lots of film noir camerawork with big shadows, and some things that look left over from Evita.
The visual impact is powerful, but to what end? Meier's Venus is worth the purchase of the DVD.