James Levine, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Siegfried Jerusalem, James Morris - Wagner: Siegfried (2002/1990)
James Levine, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Siegfried Jerusalem, James Morris - Wagner: Siegfried (2002/1990)
NTSC 4:3 (720x480) VBR | Deutsch (LinearPCM, 2 ch) | (DTS, 5 ch) | (Dolby AC3, 6 ch) | 7.79 Gb+4.32 Gb (DVD9+DVD5) | 253 min
Classical | Deutsche Grammophon | Sub: Deutsch, English, Francais, Espanol, Italiano, Chinese
NTSC 4:3 (720x480) VBR | Deutsch (LinearPCM, 2 ch) | (DTS, 5 ch) | (Dolby AC3, 6 ch) | 7.79 Gb+4.32 Gb (DVD9+DVD5) | 253 min
Classical | Deutsche Grammophon | Sub: Deutsch, English, Francais, Espanol, Italiano, Chinese
James Levine makes Siegfried, sometimes the problem child among the four operas of Wagner's Ring cycle, attractive and interesting. He is aware of the darker side of some of the comic scenes–the seemingly benevolent dwarf Mime carries the weight of Wagner's many prejudices–but manages to keep them uneasy rather than positively sinister thanks to the finally judged performance of Heinz Zednik. Siegfried Jerusalem is admirable as Siegfried, full of boyish enthusiasm during the reforging of the sword, and of authority in his confrontations with the dragon and with Wotan. (The dragon itself is, as so often, an unfortunate compromise between realism and stylisation.) James Morris is extraordinary in Wotan's scenes here, his combination of injured pride and relieved joy when Siegfried demonstrates, by shattering his spear, that Wotan has entirely lost control of events is exemplary.
This is an opera whose many and various scenes are all preludes to its emotional core: the love duet which comes when Siegfried awakens Brunnhilde. Jerusalem and Hildegard Behrens convey both the innocence and the ardor of this duet; while Levine gets extraordinary playing from the Metropolitan Opera orchestra throughout, but especially here, where a chamber-like delicacy applies to much of the music.(Roz Kaveney)
Cast:
Siegfried - Siegfried Jerusalem
Mime - Heinz Zednik
Der Wanderer - James Morris
Alberich - Ekkehard Wlaschiha
Fafner - Matti Salminen
Erda - Birgitta Svendén
Brünnhilde - Hildegard Behrens
Stimme des Waldvogels - Dawn Upshaw
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Conductor - James Levine
James Levine, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Siegfried Jerusalem, James Morris - Wagner: Siegfried (2002/1990)
James Levine, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Siegfried Jerusalem, James Morris - Wagner: Siegfried (2002/1990)
James Levine, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Siegfried Jerusalem, James Morris - Wagner: Siegfried (2002/1990)
James Levine, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Siegfried Jerusalem, James Morris - Wagner: Siegfried (2002/1990)
