Search - Wiener Blut (Viennese Blood) on DVD

A cautionary note

J. Campbell | LaGrange, GA USA | 11/13/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Just be advised: regardless of claims in the description information - this DVD does NOT have subtitles."

Delectable Viennese Pastry--but. . .

A. Pfeffer | San Marcos, CA USA | 06/06/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First off, this otherwise gorgeous and hilarious operetta production has no subtitles or other aid for the linguistically-challenged. So if you don't understand German--particularly the dense and humorous Vienna dialect also heard in the movie "The Third Man"--think twice. By the way, the title "Viennes Blood" is not only a misspelling but is also not the usual translation, "Vienna Blood," meaning roughly "the Viennese character."

Luckily, the plot is easy to follow even without a translation, a standard marital farce much like "The Marriage of Figaro," with wayward counts, jilted countesses, and saucy servants chasing spouses and mistresses whose identities are constantly being mistaken, and all forgive each other in the end. The outdoor production is magnificent and inventive, using water, foliage, boats, costumes, lights, and horses to create a fantasy Vienna circa 1815. This is a traditional-style, not a Euro-trendy designer, production.

Singing and acting are superb, as is the video quality, and a meaty Strauss family biography (in English) provides a very worthwhile extra. The audio quality is vivid on the individually-miked voices, a little distant for the pit orchestra which looks as if it is almost under water. A huge bargain at the price, and operetta-lovers can hardly go wrong."

Wiener blut

Basil Filonowich | herbster wi usa | 07/19/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

"the overall production was very poor---sound,acting,scenery,effects, all too "jazedup" unnecessary.The jacked lacked a libretto.
the disc is either defective or dirty???First time play???
sorry, but never again"