Product Details

• Actors: Kiri Te Kanawa, Håkan Hagegård, Tatiana Troyanos, Victor Braun, David Kuebler
• Directors: Peter Maniura
• Writers: Clemens Krauss, Richard Strauss
• Producers: Jane Seymour, Judy Flannery
• Format: Classical, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Polygram Video
• VHS Release Date: June 14, 1994
• Run Time: 144 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303117708
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #337,249 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The last and most subtle of Richard Strauss's operas gets a finely nuanced interpretation in this San Francisco Opera production. A generally excellent cast is highlighted not only by the radiant presence of Kiri Te Kanawa but by the deceptively robust performance of Tatiana Troyanos in her last operatic appearance before her untimely death from cancer.

The composer described Capriccio as a "conversation piece for music in one act," and he put a lot of effort into it, not only the music but the words, on which he collaborated with conductor Clemens Krauss. His verbal input was particularly appropriate in this work, because the real subject (symbolized by a conventional love triangle) is the competition (and alliance) between words and music in opera, a subject naturally close to the composer-librettist's heart. The conversation runs through the whole opera in various forms. It begins immediately after the curtain goes up, with a quarrel between the poet Olivier (Simon Keenlyside) and the composer Flamand (David Kuebler) over the respective merits of their arts. They are rivals for the hand of the widowed Countess Madeleine (Te Kanawa); she is to choose between them (i.e., between poetry and music) but she is still undecided as the final curtain descends. The intervening two hours are rich in artistic shop talk and backstage situations that will enchant sophisticated opera-lovers, as well as the love interest for the rest of us.

David Runnicles conducts with a sure sense of Straussian style; and Mauro Pagano's 18th-century set creates the right atmosphere. Keenlyside and Kuebler are eloquent and believable, Te Kanawa sweet, regal and ambiguous. Håkan Hagegård and Victor Braun give particularly vivid performances in supporting roles. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Capriccio's beauty and subtle music in a masterful performance!, February 26, 2006

By 

D. J. Edwards "donaldjedwards" (Cheshire, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Richard Strauss - Capriccio / Runnicles, Te Kanawa, Hagegard, Troyanos, San Francisco Opera (DVD)

Capriccio is a difficult nut to crack as some critic commented somewhere but in a performance like this, the opera becomes a delight and worthy of all our attention. Te Kanawa is in radiant voice becoming Madeleine in voice, drama and acting. Troyanos, already seriously ill at the time, is a masterpiece of vocal wit and charm as the actress Clairon. Kuebler and (Flamand) Keenlyside (Olivier) bring purpose to their endless discussion about music vs. words and their importance in opera with their faithful and engaging voices and acting. Hagegard is an excellent La Roche bringing life and passion to his looooong monologue. All the beautiful singing and living characterizations almost prepare us for the orchestral intermezzo and radiant final scene. The music is wrapped in moonlight and velvet violins as Madeleine appears gowned regally for the evening supper. Accompanying herself on the harp she sings of her dilemma with an unwitting charm and love of words and music. Strauss waited a long time for the performance of his dreams

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Divine Richard Strauss :), January 7, 2000

By 

Stacey Martin (New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Richard Strauss - Capriccio / Directed by Stephen Lawless, Conducted by Donald Runnicles - Te Kanawa, Hagegård, Keenlyside, Toroyanos - San Francisco Opera [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This production is absolutely fabulous. The cast, headed by the incredible Kiri Te Kanawa as the Countess, is as follows:

Hakan Hagegard - Count

David Kuebler - Composer

Simon Keenlyside - Poet

Tatiyana Troyanos - Clarion

Victor Braun - La Roche

I can't imagine a production being more perfect - the chemistry between the Countess and both the poet and composer keep you really guessing as to which one she'll chose, in Richard Strauss' greatest masterpiece. Keenlyside is a stand-out performer, singing beautifully.

As for Te Kanawa - she IS the ONLY Countess! She sings beautifully, and her acting talent is supreme. She masters the tricky final scene amazingly well. Te Kanawa is the human Countess, she's not untouchable, she's on your level, and makes you feel truly sympathetic towards this beautiful woman.

A performance Richard Strauss himself would be proud of.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional!, January 24, 2007

By 

Ben Brouwer (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Richard Strauss - Capriccio / Runnicles, Te Kanawa, Hagegard, Troyanos, San Francisco Opera (DVD)

This an impressive performance of an opera that can be hard to get right. The ensemble cast is extraordinary, with nary a weak link. As expected, Te Kanawa (as the Countess) is radiant and beautiful in voice and appearance. Keenlyside (as Olivier) has a handsome baritone voice and it's unfortunate that he hasn't made more recordings. Braun (as La Roche) is exceptional too, with a stage presence that is properly suggestive of his character's vast experience. I've never been a fan of Troyanos's voice and I'd prefer von Otter in this role (whose diction is remarkable; see the Opera Paris production on TDK DVD) but she has the technique and the dramatic presence to pull it off.

The sound is excellent overall but there are a couple audio issues that are minor annoyances. When Kiri hits her high notes, there is some distortion as if the levels were set a bit high (I've played it on a couple systems just to be sure it wasn't my own hardware). And because it is a live performance and people are scattered all over the stage, some voices are too far back in the mix in the large ensemble pieces.

The staging is traditional and in line with Strauss's wishes. All things considered, this is one of the best opera DVDs I have and it remains to be one of my favorite.