Product Details

• Actors: Hildegard Behrens, Siegfried Jerusalem, Matti Salminen, Christa Ludwig, Anthony Raffell
• Directors: Brian Large
• Writers: Richard Wagner
• Format: Classical, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Language: German (PCM)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Deutsche Grammophon
• DVD Release Date: November 12, 2002
• Run Time: 281 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00006L9ZY
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,210 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Wagner - Gotterdammerung / Levine, Behrens, Jerusalem, Metropolitan Opera (Levine Ring Cycle Part 4)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best available, July 28, 2007

By 

Maurice D'Archonnoir "Narcisse" (Istanbul) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wagner - Gotterdammerung / Levine, Behrens, Jerusalem, Metropolitan Opera (Levine Ring Cycle Part 4) (DVD)

I have watched the three major options of the ring on dvd (kupfer,schenk,chéreau). Chéreau's gotterdammerung is very good with its beautiful staging and imaginative approach supported by fine singers save for hagen! I didn't like Hubner's presence nor his rendition was impressive.. As for Kupfer's gotterdammerung all works nicely even if the very end destroys the whole magic imho. I have nothing to say about the acting and vocal renditions of the singers, but a modern setting is never my first choice. Now, gotterdammerung of the met.. is certainly the best production with heavily realistic sets and lavish traditional staging. Salminen and Ludwig are simply magnificent. As for the "problematic" couple (jerusalem and behrens), it's true that this is not their finest moment on stage (they have both sang these parts in bayreuth in a much better form) but I have to admit that the most beautiful (technically flawed maybe, especially for the chest register) voice of these three brunnhildes on dvd belongs to behrens. her elegant phrasing and ringing top notes are simply electrfying! one can say that she is not very wagnerian yes I agree, but she is not unsuccesful. Actually I've cried at the immolation scene she had such a strong presence on stage.. Jerusalem is a good actor (for an opera singer anyway) and even if he has some problems with high notes, the phrases made with his middle tones are very sophisticated and musical.. I mean they may not be compared to the great wagner singers like nilsson, varnay, flagstad or, windgassen, melchior, kollo... but they are not bad enough to ruin this magnificent production. You will never find a most thrilling immolation scene anywhere else! Everything written on the libretto can be seen on stage: the gibichung castle falling in ruins, river rhein covering all things, walhalla in flames!...
Levine and met orch & choir are no match to the bayreuth team, however they are very good indeed, considering the length and high demands of this great work, especially the dts sound is simply brilliant!
In short, this is not a perfect production (none of the others is), but is the strongest gotterdammerung production considering that it's the only one which is the closest to fulfill wagner's visions and dreams with a very fine cast for its time (today you can't even dream a cast like that!)and with a technically well presentation on dvd (masterful video direction by brian large and superior sound transfer)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sterling Conclusion to a Marathon, May 15, 2010

By 

drkhimxz (Freehold, NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wagner - Gotterdammerung / Levine, Behrens, Jerusalem, Metropolitan Opera (Levine Ring Cycle Part 4) (DVD)

I am considering this only in the context of the Met 1980's production of The Ring and without considering the contribution of Wagner, save to assume the music to be at the highest level and the libretto of less quality. Clearly, of a cast which maintained a very fine level of singing/acting, Behrens and and Salminen, take top honors carrying off their central roles with controlled dynamism and considerable impact. Salminen is well-nigh perfect with an immense voice and commanding stature, Behrens, freed of the armor of a Valkyrie, emotes passionately in body and song. Jerusalem handles well the conception of Siegfried that permeates the Met's approach, a child of nature who never quite catches on to what is going on about him, and the others do what is expected of them in irreproachable manner.
The production values are first rate, with the whole team wringing every ounce of impact from the array of technological tools at their disposal two decades ago. Levine and his wonderful orchestra create a foundation of Wagnerian music which is rock solid and allows every element to make its fair contribution.
All-in-all, for the viewer not grounded in Wagnerian lore nor musical technicalities, this is a lustrous version of a classic, with sight and sound of the highest quality for the average television monitor today.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you got this far, you can't stop now......, October 28, 2009

By 

Samantha, Chico Opera Fans "Samantha Hillaire" (Chico, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Wagner - Gotterdammerung / Levine, Behrens, Jerusalem, Metropolitan Opera (Levine Ring Cycle Part 4) (DVD)

The final chapter in the Ring Cycle, as done by the Metropolitan Opera conducted by James Levine. This is a fine offering. Of particular highlight is Hildegard Behrens portrayal as the spurned Brunehilde. A surprise was Christa Ludwig's fine performance, not as Fricka, but as a Valkyrie (a role I enjoyed very much). The story itself ties up a lot of loose ends....Also great performance of Siegfried's death march. Definitely worth watching if you've gotten this far.