Tchaikovsky - Pique Dame
by Lev Dodin
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Hasmik Papian, Irina Bogatcheva, Ludovic Tezier, Nikolai Putilin, Vladimir GalouzineDirector: Lev Dodin
Brand: Naxos OF America INC
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Italian (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); German (Subtitled); Russian (Original Language)
Format: Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 178 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-09-25
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: TDK
Movie Reviews of Tchaikovsky - Pique Dame
Movie Review: A well-acted, well-sung visual equivalent of a gulag
Summary: 4 Stars
Tchaikovsky wrote this masterful setting of Pushkin's eerie blend of the supernatural and overweening human obsession while living in Florence during 44 days of frenzied creation early in 1890. The libretto was written by his brother Modest. Although Tchaikovsky was originally reluctant to write this opera, upon its completion he was convinced it was his masterpiece. It is certainly a splendid match of beautiful music and inspired story telling.
But you lose much of that superb fit in this puzzling production. Director Lev Dodin has "reimagined" the story, which now takes place entirely in the protagonist's mentally unbalanced mind as he is confined to a psychiatric hospital in St. Petersburg. As Hermann lies in a grungy, bare hospital bed in an otherwise empty ward, the stage is horizontally split into a second level, where much of the action of the opera now takes place. Since the "reimagined" opera occurs in Hermann's maddened brain, characters are paraded along the (metaphorical) split level in their very own grungy dressing gowns as if they, too, are psychiatric inmates. This is, quite simply, not what Tchaikovsky wrote.
Also, this production is essentially monochromatic. There are no real, substantive changes of sets or scenery. Whatever small changes do occur keep the same visual line, are devoid of color and are essentially an abstraction. The scenery is predominantly that single hospital bed and one long institutional wall with a catwalk attached. For what it's worth, the loss of color and beauty doesn't work for me in this case (it has in abstract productions of different operas). After all, this is Pique Dame by Tchaikovsky and not Wozzeck by Alban Berg.
Of course, if this opera were poorly sung or conducted it wouldn't matter all that much. But it isn't. All of the singers are splendid. Conductor Gennadi Rozhdestvensky does an exemplary job with the Opera national de Paris. Vladimir Galouzine sings a splendid Hermann. Irina Bogatcheva is an excellent Countess. Hasmik Papian is a good Lisa. The entire musical production is excellent. The video production is equally good. Sound in DD 5.1, DTS 5.1 and PCM stereo is clear and well recorded. It is the director's vision that I find lacking. And this is endemic to modern European productions generally. To quote Tolstoy: "What is to be done?"
If you think you can deal with this dreary setting, you will gain a well sung, beautifully played Pique Dame. Though you might be more forgiving than I, nevertheless, caveat emptor. Be aware of what has been done to this beautiful opera. If you're in doubt, you probably should pass it by.
Mike Birman
Summary of Tchaikovsky - Pique Dame
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