Various new things
Mike Scott Rohan
review, in the BBC's January issue we hope. By modern standards I'm
very reasonably impressed with it, but with reservations -- mostly in
Gotterdammerung. Hope to report in a week or two.
Among other news, Opera mag reports that Gergiev has recorded a new
Parsifal, with Gary Lehmann, Violeta Urmana and Rene Pape, for release
on the Maryinsky's house label next autumn -- on CD, I presume.
Still no sign of the Valencia Ring, though lots of people claim to
know about it, and I've seen the sleeves -- anyone else?
Cheers,
Mike
Bert Coules
> know about it, and I've seen the sleeves -- anyone else?
I saw, or think I saw, the Rheingold and the Walk�re (as separate sets) in
the shop next to the Coliseum last week. But I was in a big rush and not
feeling too well, so it might have been something else entirely...
Bert
David Waters
http://www.mdt.co.uk/MDTSite/pages/search/searchresults.asp?sGeneralSearch=valenciana+wagner&sGeneralSearchSection=DVD&startfrom=1&sCatalogueNumber=&submitflag=true&sMSLSort=Filter2Date+DESC%2C+ProductView+DESC%2C+SaleView+DESC&bSortBy=DESC&serial=09111685784477351&x=5&y=12
"Bert Coules" <ma...@bertcoules.co.uk> wrote in message
news:k-ydnSJItO2hB5zW...@brightview.co.uk...
Bert Coules
> They were not apparitions...
Thank you!
Bert
Mike Scott Rohan
And thanks to you both, from me. From this information I was able to
track down the label and distributors, so we are going to be covering
this Ring shortly. In fact, I have the Rheingold and Walkure in hand,
and will of course say something about them here. What I've seen of
Walkure was only at 11:30 last night after driving down from Scotland,
but I was impressed -- not as striking as Rheingold, but still good,
with more direct human interaction. The Brunnhilde looms even larger
than she does on stage, Eaglen style, but she's a better actor than
Eaglen and has a seriously impressive voice. Uusitalo has filled out a
bit since I used to see him in Helsinki, but this is still a powerful
Wotan. And Seiffert and Schnitzer are not the very best Volsungs I've
seen, but they're pretty good -- and very originally presented. Plus,
of course, their special rapport, which really does add something.
Mehta is the biggest handicap -- he turns in a powerful enough
performance which might impress in the theatre, but on disc one
notices the lack of detail and nuance, the tremulous excitement which
should go with Sieglinde's re-entrance, for example. Still, I think
this bids fair to be something special, and will keep you posted.
More on the Thielmann Ring shortly, when my review goes in -- but on
the whole I rather like it.
Cheers and best wishes,
Mike
Incidentally, have seen the frightful Weimar Ring in HD Blu-Ray --
doesn't salvage it, but looks so amazing I can't wait to see the
Valencia one in HD.
ls111553
> Valencia one in HD.
I got the Valencia Rheingold and Walküre on BluRay from Amazon UK at
£15.30 each after VAT discount (shipping to the U.S). The price has
increased to £23.98 after my order shipped (Nov.28).
I saw this fabulous Ring live in Valencia this summer. Looking forward
to relieving the experience on BluRay! Looks like the next two operas
will be available in January, with February / April release dates in
the US. Still, I doubt I could get a better price..
Mike Scott Rohan
I now have both DVDs and Blu-Ray for review -- the high-def is an
absolute knockout. If only someone better than Mehta were
conducting... Will report on them fairly soon.
I also have the second half of the Weimar Ring, on Arthaus Musik, and
it is every bit as monumentally lousy as the first. The appalling
Alberich now sings (too strong a word, really) an even less adequate
Wanderer (with the Rheingold Wotan as Alberich!) before reverting to
Alberich in Gotterdammerung (in which the Walkure Wotan sings Hagen!).
Everything else operates at about this level. I'd avoid this like the
plague.
Cheers,
Mike