Product Details

• Directors: Jon Else
• Producers: Richard Berge
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: New Video Group
• DVD Release Date: June 29, 2004
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00022FW90
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,330 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Sing Faster - The Stagehands' Ring Cycle" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

SING FASTER:STAGEHANDS' RING CYCLE - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious even if you don't know Wagner, June 12, 2006

By 

Bruce Hodges (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sing Faster - The Stagehands' Ring Cycle (DVD)

Watching this 1999 documentary over the weekend, I hadn't laughed so hard in months. Filmed during the San Francisco Opera's 1995 production of Wagner's Ring Cycle, "Sing Faster" offers a rare glimpse into the complexities, banalities, and realities of making an operatic extravaganza. The narration includes running commentary by the stagehands, who passionately summarize the plots, comment on the action and crack jokes about the length of the piece.

Meanwhile, as the show goes on upstairs, downstairs the technical crew are playing poker, or reading, or are engaged in any number of non-operatic pursuits while waiting for their cues. Marvelous camera-work often shows the production in full swing, but from the point of view of those backstage and engaged in tense problem-solving, such as figuring out how much fog to use, or how to choreograph a fight with a dragon for maximum impact.

But the offhand comments running through the hour-long piece are probably the most enjoyable. This is Wagner from the point of view of those who make the magic happen every night, but who remain virtually invisible while the show is going on. As hundreds of carpenters, electricians and others sweat to make each scene come to life, they offer terse, laconic analyses of the plot, plus an occasional bit of physical comedy.

The film ends with a romp through all four operas, filmed at hyper-speed, cleverly summing up the singing, conducting and visual effects in roughly two minutes. If anything, as the credits were rolling, I felt it was over too soon.

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wagner From The Nibelung's Point Of View, February 12, 2005

By 

Joseph Kimsey "Fareastnibelung" (Pac NW) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sing Faster - The Stagehands' Ring Cycle (DVD)

Like the Nibelungs in Wagner's drama, the stagehands at the San Fran opera are mercilessly whipped by an obnoxious troll (in this case, it's some dumpy loudmouth with glasses). Despite the lack of respect that they receive, the stagehands are absolutely essential in bringing these masterpieces to the stage, and this ultra-cool film is a visual document of them in action.

The film has endearing footage of the stagehand's own interpretations of the drama, as well as behind the scenes looks at the performers. Watching the dragon from behind the curtain, as well as Brunnhilde doing some Spanish dancing to Wagnerian music are particularly cool and funny.

If you're into Wagner, or interested in the world of theater, then this film is an absolute delight!

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Runs Rings Around Other Documentaries, June 27, 2005

By 

Linda Yoder (Morton, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sing Faster - The Stagehands' Ring Cycle (DVD)

This gem is not just for opera nuts or Wagner lovers. In fact, even if you don't have special fondness for the Ring Cycle, you'll be enchanted by how it's told by the stage crew. This is not pure tech theater, either. It's a distillation of a monument in the making, complete with brilliantly photographed footage artfully placed over opera passages, including an extraordinary scene inside the dragon as it is being slain. Don't miss this one.