Search - Wagner - Siegfried / Treleaven, Struckmann, Halfvarson, Polaski, Clark, von Kannen, Bonig, Obregon, de Billy, Barcelona Opera on DVD

Deceiving

Osvaldo Colarusso | Curitiba, Paraná Brazil | 01/12/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"One star for Falk Struckman, one of the best Wotan I ever heard , and one star for Graham Clark, one first class Mime . The others singers are very problematic. Andrea Bönig as Erda has nothing to do with the role . But the big problem here is John Trevealan (Siegfried). There are moments that it is very painful to listen to him. The last phrase he sings before the Orchestral Intermezzo for the closing scene ( Jetzt lock'ich ein liebes Gesell ) is shameful. The beginning of the closing scene , when he arrives at Brünhilde's rock is the worst moment of this DVD.
Deborah Polaski hasn't the resources for Brünhilde. And Günter von Kannen as Alberich is dramatically a disaster. Fafner (Eric Halfvarson ) and The Bird ( Cristina Obregón) are vocally very good. But no one buy one expensive DVD like this because of the Wood Bird.
I really think the Kupfer's direction old fashioned . This post nuclear universe......This is so old now...The set of the first act is awful , and I can't understand costumes like that of Wotan and Brunhilde.And the idea of Wotan answering Siegfried's horn in a second horn is ridiculous
As in Die Walküre , Bertrand de Billy , the conductor, is very irregular. The first act is superb. But the last part of the third act is so slow...and the tenor is so tired...a disaster. The solo violins at the beginning of this last scene is very problematic too.
In DVD the best solution for Siegfried is Boulez /Cheareau . And the best tenor as Siegfried in DVD is Siegfried Jerusalem. And if you want to listen without sufering this magnificent score listen to Nilsson/Windgassen/Böhm- Bayreuth 1966.
"

A decent Siegfried - no more

Richard | Minneapolis, Mongolia | 12/30/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The first and most important question is how good is Siegfried? Trevealan has a sweet voice but when it is pushed (and it is pushed a lot) it gets steely. It is also rather colorless. He is a decent actor - which is a lot for a Siegfried. Clark''s Mime is wonderfully acted but shrilly shouted - does this man have any voice left? Struckman is again fairly good as Wotan. Polkaski is again the best voice in the production. The other characters are pretty good.
The production takes place on the same basic set with variations for the cave and Erda. The dragon is a disappointment. It seems to be a bunch of logs from the World Ash. Kupher sticks with his concept that Wotan is still pulling the strings - literally in terms of the woodbird. I don't know how I stand on this idea. He says he has let go. But if he really has why does he fight Siegfried.
The scene with Erda is well done. And the final duet finds both principals in fine form. The orchestra is adequate and de Billy gives a decent account of the score. Nothing more. Better than this company''s Walkure - but not up to other video Siegfrieds."