Richard Strauss - Ariadne auf Naxos / Levine, Norman, Battle, Troyanos, Metropolitan Opera
by Brian Large
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Franz Ferdinand Netwig, James King, Jessye Norman, Kathleen Battle, Tatiana TroyanosDirector: Brian Large
Producer: Samuel Paul
Writer: Hugo von Hofmannsthal
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); German (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Classical, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 146 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-09-24
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Deutsche Grammophon
Movie Reviews of Richard Strauss - Ariadne auf Naxos / Levine, Norman, Battle, Troyanos, Metropolitan Opera
Movie Review: Ariadne Suprimo
Summary: 5 Stars
Richard Strauss' operas are not as easy to stage as the conventional opera, and finding a cast to sing them equally as difficult.(A bit like Wagner). However, this production from the Metropolitan Opera has not only managed to pull it off, but have done so with a win, win formular. The cast is as powerful as the music itself, then there are the sets, costumes and direction, all equally mastered like a master craftsman working on a prized sculpture.This production has an extremely strong female cast headed off by Tatiana Troyanos who gives the performance of her life as the Composer. Almost bringing the house down in her final statement in the prologue not to mention her skill as an actor. Her singing of "Seien wir wieder gut.....Musik ist eine kunst" blew me away. What a pitty that's all she has to do. One would like to hear her glorious tones again.Then we have Kathleen Batttle as Zerbinetta. Ah! what warm tones and brilliance of voice and character that Kathleen brings to her role. When I heard Kathleen sing "Großmächtige Prinzessin, wer verstünde nicht" I thought that I had died and gone to heaven, what control. Jessye Norman! what can one say of this veteran performer in the title role. The power, the sheer beauty and elegance of her vocal powers. This woman can not only handle the high notes that Strauss demands but those low chest notes roll off her tongue like wine from a bottle. I have never heard Ariadne sung with such conviction, strength and passion. These three singers aptly cast certainly drive this opera home. Barbara Bonney, Gweneth Bean and Dawn Upshaw as Najade, Dryade and Echo respectfully hold their own exceedingly well and balance off the female ensembles with such precission like a well run military machine and enjoying every minutes of it. Then there are the men. I must say that I have never been a great fan of James King as I have only heard him singing Wagner, and I found his voice not quite up to the challange of all that power. But! having seen his performance here I must say he seems much more capable although I would have prefered a much stronger voice, eg Ben Hamper. However his performance and presence are passable. The rest of the men are excellent in their respective rolls especially Stephen Dickson as Harlekin. The Metropolitan Opera Production team are to be congratulated on such a marvelous production. The sound and vision are not only clear and undistorted but also well balanced.
This would have to be my favourite Opera DVD to date. I look forward to viewing more operas from the Metropolitam Opera in the future.
It is so nice to see an opera production staged as the composer intended and NOT as a contempary nightmare. (I am not a fan of contempory productions and make no apology for it). Which seems to be the way some opera houses are heading these days. What a pitty, it's hard enough getting people into an opera house because the operas are sung in a different language, let alone scaring the pants off them with a wayout production that no one, but the prodction team seems to understand.
Thank you Metropolitan Opera for this wonderful production of Richard Strauss' "Ariadne auf Naxos."
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