Mozart - Die Zauberfloe (Wolfgang Sawallisch, Edita Gruberova, Lucia Popp, Francisco Araiza)
Mozart - Die Zauberfloe (Wolfgang Sawallisch, Edita Gruberova, Lucia Popp, Francisco Araiza) [2005/1983]
NTSC 4:3 (720x480) VBR | Deutsch (LinearPCM, 2 ch) Deutsch (DTS, 6 ch) | 7,88 Gb (DVD9)
Classical | Deutsche Grammophon | Sub: Deutsch, English, Francais, Espanol, Chinese | 160 min | +3% Recovery
NTSC 4:3 (720x480) VBR | Deutsch (LinearPCM, 2 ch) Deutsch (DTS, 6 ch) | 7,88 Gb (DVD9)
Classical | Deutsche Grammophon | Sub: Deutsch, English, Francais, Espanol, Chinese | 160 min | +3% Recovery
This is a live performance from the Bavarian State Opera of Mozart's last great singspiel, DIE ZAUBERFLOTE (THE MAGIC FLUTE) conducted by Wolfgang Sawallisch. It is my first video of this opera, dating from 1990, and after 15 years of off/on viewing/listening, I am still most impressed with Sawallisch, the Bavarian State Opera Orchestra, singers Araiza, Popp, Brendel, Gruberova, Moll, etc. The sound, even for VHS, is very good, and I've had much pleasure from this video.
The good news is: according to Deutsche Grammophon's website, Universal will be releasing this video on DVD in October, 2005. I highly recommend this for the following reasons: great singing by the solo singers and chorus, sensible tempos set by conductor Sawallisch, acting which is appropriate but not "over the top", beautiful props and scenery, all combine together to make this a feast for the eyes AND the ears. Sawallisch (born 1923) and forces serve Mozart well, and the message of ZAUBERFLOTE with great dignity and class. Tempos are never too fast, and if there are a few minor precision problems between singers and orchestra (they are VERY FEW) they are rare.
I recently acquired James Levine/Metropolitan Opera (1991, the bicentenniel of Mozart's death - available on DG DVD) with singers Araiza and Moll from this cast in their respective roles. I also like Levine, but think his overture is too fast and reckless; his chorus is too recessed in "O Isis und Osiris", and Kurt Moll (Sarastro) sounds fresher for Sawallisch. Araiza sounds better for Sawallisch, too, and I like Tamino's clothing better in Munich than New York. I also like the 3 Ladies better in the opening number, their costumes, method of shooting the monster with pistols chasing Tamino than the MET staging of this scene. By Alan Majeska
Mozart - Die Zauberfloe (Wolfgang Sawallisch, Edita Gruberova, Lucia Popp, Francisco Araiza)
Performer:
Sarastro - Kurt Moll
Konigin der Nacht - Edita Gruberova
Pamina - Lucia Popp
Tamino - Francisco Araiza
Papageno - Wolfgang Brendel
Papagena – Gudrun Sieber
Sprecher – Jan-Hendrik Rootering
Monostatos - Norbert Orth
Drei Damen der Konigin - Pamela Coburn, Daphne Evangelatos, Cornelia Wulkopf
Drei Knaben – Cedric Rossdeutscher, Christian Immler, Stefan Bandemehr
Zwei Geharnischte – Hermann Winkler, Karl Helm
Der Chor der Bayerische Staatsoper
Das Bayerisches Staatsorchester
Conductor - Wolfgang Sawallisch
MWDZWS