Customer Reviews

Richard Strauss - Arabella / Thielemann, Te Kanawa, Brendel, Metropolitan Opera [VHS]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
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How lucky we are to have this gorgeous Metropolitan Opera production on such a high-quality DVD! If you missed the original 1995 telecast of this opera, you have yet to discover the joys of this production. Arabella is a comedy of manners set in 1860s Vienna. Arabella's parents have a fading fortune, so they can afford to marry off only one of their two daughters; the other, Zdenka, they dress as a boy and refer to as Zdenke. I won't give away the rest of the story; it's really worth it to let this magnificent performance unfold and find out what happens that way. The cast was the best that could possibly be assembled at the time, with Wolfgang Brendel, quite convincing as the young, hot-blooded Mandryka, in his debut of the role. Kiri Te Kanawa is a legendary Strauss singer, and though she is often criticized for poor interpretation, in this opera her subtle acting shines. For example, look at her reaction when she meets Mandryka, the man she had been crushing on witho!ut knowing who he was. Her singing is consistently beautiful and soft, and her stage presence is radiant, in spite of her fifty years at the time of this taping. Arabella is supposed to be about twenty years old, and Kiri truly exudes the youth of the character, yet manages to convey the maturity that colors her almost maternal relationship with her younger sister Zdenka. Helga Dernesch and Donald McIntyre are animated as Arabella's parents. Marie McLaughlin is a passionate Zdenka. We really feel for her throughout the opera, as she longs for femininity and love. A special bonus in this production is the now-stellar Nathalie Dessay as Die Fiakermilli. She flaunts her coloratura in Act II. Christinan Thielemann is a sensitive conductor, and the MET orchestra plays flawlessly. The DVD transfer is superb. Subtitles available in German (original language), French, English, and Chinese. (Special note: Renée Fleming will perform in this same production at the MET in November 2001. G!et your tickets!)

This is a very well sculpted performance of this opera. Thielmann and the MET Orchestra give a great reading of the score. All aspects of this densely orchestrated piece are defined and carefully articulated. Wonderful character is maintained throughout the body of work by Thielmann's vision. I think that a problem most conductors have with Richard Strauss (Not to Mention Mahler as well) is that they take the music too seriously! Strauss is very passionate and beautiful... But he has a very characteristic light and comical side as well. Arabella is a perfect example of this... It's a beautiful love story and plays out with a lot of humor. Not just in the story, but in the music as well. Thielmann does a great job in finding that balance of emotion and being consistent with it throughout the opera. Kiri Te Kanawa gives a fantastic performance as Arabella and the supporting cast is divine. Marie McGlaughlin gives a slightly forced but, gorgeous Zdenka. Donald McIntyre, who I know from his role as Wotan in Wagner's Ring Cycle, conducted by Piere Boulez, is a great Graf Waldner. Natalie Dessay is so cute and so amazingly talented that she almost steals the show in the second act! Wolfgang Brendel and David Kuebler play the two strong male roles of Mandryka and Matteo respectively. Their vocal and acting performances are powerful and fun. The costumes are convincing and the sets are very detailed which helps establish the stage action perfectly. I can't say anything bad about it... Strongly recommended.

Great to read Amazon's own review of this dvd Arabella! When you join melodious Strauss with Kiri Te Kanawa and the Met orchestra you have vintage vocal and instrumental tone along with a timber of sheer beauty. Granted Strauss may not everybody's forte but this performance deserves at least a hearing. The only objection I have is that Arabella refers to herself as waiting for the right man; I like to think that she's looking for the right person not waiting for that white horse and dowdy prince. Add the rest of this wonderful cast and Thielemann in the pit and you have wondrous music making. Fiakermilli is a silly role but Dessay makes it thrilling. At least she doesn't come running on the stage in disheveled clothing looking for an ax or wearing almost nothing demanding somebody's head. Putting silly aside this is a great Met release. The Arabella-Zdenka duet in Act one is beautifully sung; the Mandryka - Arabella duet in Act three is extremely beautiful and the closing monologue is deeply moving. Don't pass it up. It forms a great trio with Ariadne and Rosenkavalier, if not totally in their class.

This is a wonderful production, superbly directed, sung, acted and filmed. One might nit pick here and there but I'm not a nit picker. Everyone is so perfect in their individual roles, so rightly cast.The acting all around is terrific and just as rich in close ups as from a distance. This is very demanding vocal music that requires extraodinary abilities of the supporting players and they all deliver no matter how small the role. Gorgeously costumed and set in the 1860's, the ladies gowns can be somewhat cumbersome. A rare opera where no one dies although a duel is barely avoided a happy ending ensues joyfully expressed by Mandryka's ecstatic skips as the final curtain descends. Only the very difficult will be disappointed but for those of us who don't know too much, it's a pleasure. Very highly recommended.

i've never seen so many big names in one opera before ; also, nathalie dessay has a little role in act II, but that's not really highlighted ; it's definitely a must-have for anyone who wants 2 hours of not stop beautiful music

I was never a big fan of "Arabella" until I saw and heard this DVD. It is now one of my favorites. The work itself has its share of padding and over orchestration at times (as with so much of Strauss) but,oh,the high points are

absolutely incredible. Listen to the Duet between Arabella and her sister in Act I, the duet with Mandryka at the beginning of Act II and the breathtaking end of Act III. Short of the heavenly choirs you are not going to hear such singing.

Dame Kiri is wonderful! She looks great and really gets into this role. She was born to do this. The fact that she was 50 when this was made makes this all the more astonishing. All the parts are filled to perfection. It is hard to believe this was Wolfgang Brendel's first outing in this part. He enjoys himself immensely, sounds wonderful and also looks exactly right. The obvious affinity these two have for each others artistry makes for a wonderful chemistry in their scenes together right down to the endearing buss on both cheeks Brendel gives her spontaneously

during the thunderous ovation for their first curtain call.

All the other singers are great, inhabit their parts wonderfully and are fully at home in the Strauss idiom.

The production is gorgeous down to the last detail. To top it all off the Met Orchestra play their hearts out for

Maestro Thielemann who has a way with this music and (as much as is humanly possible) keeps a wonderful balance

between pit and stage. I wholeheartedly recommend this DVD.

I thought the production beautiful and the singing excellent. Kiri is a bit aloof as she is always but Wolfgang makes up for it. He is just scrumptous and the perfect leading man with some chemistry between them. All the parts have excellent casting and performances are very good to excellent. The conducting kept the pace very interesting. This is a keeper and I'm not a big Strauss fan! I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good love story!

I was unfamiliar with the story of this opera until I saw it awhile back. It's quite an amusing little story. Te Kanawa looks the part of Arabella (even though she is over 50 in this performance), and she sings it with proper emotion. I don't understand people who say she sings without feeling. The rest of the cast is top notch. One of the perks of this recording is debut role of Natalie Dessay as the Fiakermilli.

The strikingly beautiful daughter of a count, Arabella finds herself under immediate pressure to marry one of her three ardent admirers. Or, will she marry a young officer that her younger sister loves, or the extremely wealthy new stranger in town?

Not only does this performance bring you the typical heart-wrenching emotion of a Strauss opera, but also a story line that keeps you wanting to see what will happen next.

It seems everyone raves about Kiri Te Kanawa's affinity for Strauss. But it's true. I think Strauss would be pleased with the singing, personality, and presence that Kiri gives his leading lady.

The rest of the cast is equally well-suited. Wolfgang Brendel is an energetic prince as Mandryka. Donald McIntyre gives depth to Arabella's conniving, gambling-addicted father. Marie McLaughlin turns in an exemplary trouser-role, as Arabella's brother, and where but in opera could we mistake her for a man?

If you can let yourself go in a romantic vein, you will enjoy Arabella for its beautiful singing and acting, as it tells a Cinderella story.

First rate cast, all singing supurbly. Beautiful production. Kiri is spectacular, Brendel is fine as a romantic lead. McIntyre is particularly fine as the father.