Richard Wagner - Lohengrin (2008) [DVD9 NTSC]


Int. Release 01 Feb. 2008
2 DVD-Videos
2 DVD-VIDEO NTSC 0440 073 4404 0 GH 2
STEREO: PCM / SURROUND: DTS 5.1 ∑ Picture Format: 4:3
Subtitles: German/English/French/Spanish/Chinese
A production of UNITEL, Munich

Paul Frey ∑ Cheryl Studer ∑ Gabriele Schnaut
Manfred Schenk ∑ Ekkehard Wlaschiha
Chor der Bayreuther Festspiele
Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele
Peter Schneider
Staged by Werner Herzog / Directed by Brian Large
Recorded at the Bayreuth Festival 24 June ñ 1 July 1990

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I must confess: This is a very beautiful Lohengrin. The sets by Henning von Gierke were obviously made to please the eye. So if beautiful sets are what you are looking for in Lohengrin, this is the DVD you should buy. The beauty on stage is matched by an equally beautiful filming. Especially the video editing with wonderful dissolves between clips enhances the aesthetics on the stage.

And yet, this is not enough.

Although this is an old-fashioned and very anti-intellectual production in the post war Bayreuth style, Richard Wagner's stage directions and other directions are just as ignored as in the modern productions. Lohengrin is dressed in a silly smock (like a woman or a rich gay guy with extremely bad taste) instead of gl‰nzender Silberr¸stung, den Helm auf dem Haupte, den Schild im R¸cken, ein kleines goldnes Horn zur Seite, as Wagner ordered.

And Lohengrin's sword has the form of a snake. It may be symbolizing the female anxiety for the fallos, but is nonetheless not a satisfactory visual solution.

Cheryl Studer as Elsa is the only person in this production showing signs of human emotions. She is really wonderful. Paul Frey sings well and suits this production perfectly. His voice is firm and powerful, but without warmth and elasticity; "perfect", but without colour and nuances. He sings the part in the same emotionally neutral way the whole opera through. Frey is not allowed much acting in this semi oratorio style production.


PLEASE GIVE AT LEAST WHAT YOU HAVE TAKEN
STAY IN SEED PLEASE

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