[.ca] Wagner/Levine: Tannhauser

From Amazon.com:
This Tannhäuser is a fine example of something that unfortunately has become rare: a modern Wagner opera performance that Wagner would certainly have applauded. Under the artistic leadership of conductor James Levine, the production team of director Otto Schenk and designer Günther Schneider-Siemssen has adhered strictly to the composer's wishes. These are not hard to fathom; they were clearly articulated in his lifetime and rigorously enforced at Bayreuth long after his death. But in the last half-century they have been frequently violated by his descendants and heirs, among others. The temptation to plumb these music dramas for symbols and allegories is almost irresistible. In this production, like the later Met edition of the Ring cycle, the artists sensibly allow each audience member to develop a personal interpretation without undue interference. The singers--Richard Cassilly, Eva Marton, Tatiana Troyanos, Bernd Weikl, and John Macurdy--are superbly matched to their roles. --Joe McLellan

Additional Features:
Cast list: Venus: Tatiana Troyanos Tannhäuser: Richard Cassilly A young shepherd: Bill Blaber Hermann, Landgrave of Thuringia: John Macurdy Walther von der Vogelweide: Robert Nagy Biterolf: Richard J. Clark Wolfram von Eschenbach: Bernd Weikl Heinrich der Schreiber: Charles Anthony Reinmar von Zweter: Richard Vernon Elisabeth: Eva Marton Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus, and Ballet conducted by James Levine

Performance riddled by poor singing:
This isn't a good performance. Cassily just copes with the difficult title part. Marton doesn't really have the purity of voice for Elisabeth. Troyanos is over-streched as Venus and Weikl past his prime as Wolfram. With such poor singing, this dvd cannot be recommended.

The Most Important Thing You Need To Know About This DVD...:
...is that there are voices heard mumbling throughout the second half...as if the sound engineers accidentally put a live microphone next to the snack bar in the lobby. I'm not kidding. The first few times you hear it, you'll think "Hmmm...that's strange." But after it's been going on for 20 minutes, then 30, you'll realize that you wasted your money. I've noticed that, in general, sound engineers in orchestral music are SADLY lacking in comparision to pop music producers. I've become inured with these ridiculous flaws in my own Wagner collection, what with the frequent mysterious noises and sloppy edits in even the best renditions of his operas. Where's George Martin when we need him?!? It's an incredible shame too, because the performances in this particular version are great.

Outstanding Visual Design:
This is not my favorite Wagnerian opera by a long shot. But it is a must own, for the simple reason that these are absolutely the best set designs ever done. The Venusberg scene is dazzlingly Bosch-ish, the entry into Wartburg looks like it stepped out of an Italian Early Renaissance fresco. A must own.

Outstanding Visual Design:
This is not my favorite Wagnerian opera by a long shot. But it is a must own, for the simple reason that these are absolutely the best set designs ever done. The Venusberg scene is dazzlingly Bosch-ish, the entry into Wartburg looks like it stepped out of an Italian Early Renaissance fresco. A must own.

From a Wagnerite:
This was the most passionate opera I've ever seen. Also, it was my first. I wrote a thesis on Richard Wagner and studied the synopsis of the opera. It was up to the tee. Marton does and excellent job playing Elizabeth that the tears in her eyes led me to tear up also. The guy who played Wolfram looked as though he didn't fully study out his lines, because of the bewildering look on his face when the camera did a close up. Cassily was wonderful despite in Act I his hair was sticking out. The most famous Pilgrims' Chorus was good, but I would have wanted it to be slowed down and appreciated...maybe it was a difficult piece to sing that is why the orhcestra sped it up so they could get it done and over with. The Entry of the Guest scene was great. Overall, I strongly recommend this. Enjoy!