Customer Reviews

Strauss - Ariadne auf Naxos / Beverly Sills, Claire Watson, Robert Nagy, John Reardon, Erich Leinsdorf, Boston Symphony Orchestra

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I remember seeing this on Public Television when regular telecasts of opera and concerts really meant something to the public, and the Boston Symphony's concerts were regularly telecast. Strauss' original Ariadne (minus the Prologue, with many musical changes and a longer and more difficult version of the Zerbinetta aria) had rarely been heard, and it was fortunate that it was recorded for posterity. For years pirate videos and audio tapes and records in adequate to horrible quality have been circulating. There was even an abortive attempt to include the Zerbinetta aria in a recent compilation of Beverly Sills' recordings. One can only hope the VAI DVD will be of improved video quality and sound.

Suffice it to say that this is a remarkable performance. The very distinctive American cast represents some of the best singing of that time. Sadly Claire Watson, John Reardon and Maestro Leinsdorf are no longer with us - their work is distinctive and remarkable. The supporting cast includes Carole Bogard and Benita Valente, singers who would become important soloists. As for Beverly Sills' Zerbinetta, it is in a class of its own, capturing the singer at her prime and vocally flawless. True this is a concert performance without the trappings of sets and costumes, but with such astonishing music-making, the need for them is hardly noticeable. I can't wait to see this again!

This is the original version of the Strauss-Hofmannsthal combination of a 2 act Moliere play: Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (translated by Hofmannsthal with incidental music by Strauss) and a miniature 1 act opera seria, as it was first performed in Stuttgart 25 October 1912. It is only the opera that is performed here. Because it was poorly received, it was recast as a prologue followed by a revamped opera. The changes included reducing Zerbinetta's fiendishly difficult coloratura fireworks (which included a number of high F's) and a strategic key change from E to a slightly easier D. The original role of Zerbinetta was considered well-nigh unsingable and the entire evening with its play-opera configuration much too long. It is the revised Ariadne that has entered the repertory.

The entire cast is excellent, especially Claire Watson as Ariadne. But this performance unquestionably belongs to Beverly Sills who offers a stunning performance as Zerbinetta. This is a youthful, effervescent Sills with an utterly amazing coloratura captured at it's very peak. She attacks those high F's with confidence and ease (only pushing her voice to a slight shrillness one time, that I could hear). Her voice is lovely, girlishly lyrical, buttery soft yet sharply penetrating in it's power when necessary. Frankly, I'd forgotten how magnificent a coloratura Sills once was. This DVD is a revelation. The 1950's and 60's truly were a Bel Canto golden age.

Erich Leinsdorf does a good job conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra in this staged performance originally telecast on Boston's WGBH on January 7, 1969. The DVD is filmed in color with a digitally remastered picture. The picture is clear with barely any evidence of age. It is shot full screen with a 4:3 format. The region code is 0 all regions. The sound is Dolby Digital 2.0 mono. It sounds splendid; the voices are immediate and clear with a nice presence. If your A-V receiver allows you the option of widening the sound stage, do so and you will be amply rewarded. Subtitles are available in English, French, German, and Italian. There are no extras. A small booklet provides background information. The DVD runs 93 minutes.

This is a remarkable DVD that records a superb performance, especially by Beverly Sills. Whatever age related limitations in sound and picture there are in evidence are transcended by the greatness that is recorded. An important video is at long last available to be savored anew. Most highly recommended.

Mike Birman

A terrific DVD of a 1969 TV WGBH broadcast which features a nearly unsurpassable cast, led by two sopranos who, at the time, apparently hadn't survived Rudolf Bing's test for admission to the Met. Claire Watson's singing is radiant; the tones soar into and benefit from the glorious acoustics of Symphony Hall in Boston - what a sadly underrecorded artist (and under-appreciated in her own country) who died, tragically young. Sills as Zerbinetta not only satisfies every technical requirement with ease, but also clearly enjoys what she's doing and almost makes it sound easy. The relatively staid BSO audience's applause following her big scene would be an ovation, were the performance given today. The rest of the cast (Robert Nagy, John Reardon, Benita Valente, Carole Bogard, etc) sound great and show themselves as committed artists in the best sense of the phrase. The BSO and Leinsdorf follow suit. There are those who try to put down Leinsdorf's work- I'd like to see them better it themselves. Picture quality and sound are just fine. a tremendous document of an historic achievement.

This is a recording of a studio performance of Ariadne auf Naxos in concert - not a fully staged opera. This format worked fine for me because this 40 year old version boasts a superb cast that would be hard to equal today. Beverly Sills' spectacular coloratura singing the role of Zerbinetta represents the great American diva at her peak and a performance that should prove a real peak to any opera fan who hears it.

First, I should remind you that this is a concert performance from almost 40 years ago, rather than a fully staged opera.

The singing here is remarkable. Claire Watson gives Ariadne a strong, confident voice. Beverly Sills sings Zerbinetta with an easy, ebullient grace that teaches us why she acquired the nickname, "Bubbles."

If you're already familiar with Ariadne, this "Original 1912 Version" provides dialog that was left out (especially for Zerbinetta) in later versions.

If you are looking for a staged opera performance, you would do better to start with Jessye Norman and Kathleen Battle and the Met, or Susan Anthony and the Dresden State Opera--both of these are excellent staged performances.

If you're already hooked on Strauss, and are just looking to see how Beverly Sills sings Zerbinetta, then this will be exciting for you. I just didn't want anyone to be disappointed if they were expecting the staged version.

I have nothing to add to the reviews which have already appeared. However, I cannot forgo the opportunity to give the most rousing Bravo in my repertoire and my especially resonant applause developed in the opera house.
Yes, this is the Beverly Sills one wants people to remember long after the impact of her personality fades from historic memory. One can be sure she was stimulated to give her best by the accompanying soloists as they were by her scintillating "breakout" appearance. As pointed out in the commentary, this was the period when she was finally being recognized for the great star that she was.
Leinsdorf does a fine job in seeing that it all jelled and his orchestra was at its sterling best.
Don't miss this one and, if you want to see how it plays as an opera there are some good ones becoming available to give you a choice.

An absolutely stunning performance. Sills stops the show and rightly so. A treasure, and we miss her.

A stellar cast and brilliant playing by the Boston Symphony more than makes up for the lack of staging in this DVD. Leinsdorf's pacing is right on the mark and the sonics for 1969 are first class. A must have for any Strauss or Sills lover.

There is so little of Beverly Sills on DVD, that we can have a live 1969 performance is very fortunate indeed. That it is Ariadne is beyond fortunate .. to be able to watch her go zinging through those high F's with that joyous look on her face .. that's breathtaking! No one else has ever done it like this, no one at all. And if the aria were not included at all, this performance would still be so very worthwhile, this is Sills in 1969, and I think there has never been better. That Claire Watson sings Ariadne is perhaps to gild the lily, but here is certainly the greatest pairing of my lifetime.