Name Discs
Gotterdammerung
Ex Feature

DVD Information

Run time: 4 hours 41 minutes
Rental release: Currently unavailable
Main languages: German
Write your own review

Most helpful review Gotterdammerung

  • Mixed Quality!

    Rated - 3.0 stars  
    By a customer from England , 26 Nov 2007

    [Highly rated reviewer]

    I don't understand how the other reviews can rate this so highly, as the performances are not top notch!

    Matti Salminen as Hagan is great; Siegfried Jerusalem is okay, although perhaps not on his best form; but unfortunately Hildegard Behrens gives a wildly erratic vocal performance.

    At times she's okay, if not great - but at other times she struggles - some of her singing is way off key and harsh. You would have to be cloth-eared not to notice!

    The colours on the disc are also far too muted, almost monochromatic. I thought at first it was the sets, but checking out the trailers of other operas etc from around the world shows a distinct lack of colour. This is also a problem with some of the other DG DVDs - I don't know what's gone wrong, but they need to start employing somebody who isn't colour blind!
    • Was this review helpful to you?
    • (4) Yes |
    •  No (0)

All reviews

(4)
  • Great Wagner

    Rated - 3.0 stars  
    By McMath (3 reviews) from Diss, Norfolk , 06 Dec 2010
    This is Gotterdammerung as it should be; traditional scenes and sets, and great music

    A tribute is due to the stage manager. Scene changes were perfomed smoothly and faultlessly; even the final transfromation of the Gibichung castle to the bottom of the Rhine went (in full view!) smoothly.

    The technical standard of the DVD was very high. With good stereo equipment, I felt I was sitting at the conductor's podium, the orchestra was either side, and the stage in front, so good was the balance.

    The orchestra fully deserved its ovation, and Levine is one of the great Wagner conductors. The star of the show was Hildegarde Behrens as Brunhilde. All other singers were lightweight in comparison (which is why I have given only 3 stars). Even Jeruselem's Siefried seems more fitted for the younger hero of the previous opera, not the more mature adult now before us.

    Behrens was not only vocally great, but attractive. At times she seemed erotically fired (did she know how prominent her nipples were!) was the tension of the drama. The greatest since Flagstad!
    • Was this review helpful to you?
    • (1) Yes |
    •  No (0)
  • Mixed Quality!

    Rated - 3.0 stars  
    By a customer from England , 26 Nov 2007
    I don't understand how the other reviews can rate this so highly, as the performances are not top notch!

    Matti Salminen as Hagan is great; Siegfried Jerusalem is okay, although perhaps not on his best form; but unfortunately Hildegard Behrens gives a wildly erratic vocal performance.

    At times she's okay, if not great - but at other times she struggles - some of her singing is way off key and harsh. You would have to be cloth-eared not to notice!

    The colours on the disc are also far too muted, almost monochromatic. I thought at first it was the sets, but checking out the trailers of other operas etc from around the world shows a distinct lack of colour. This is also a problem with some of the other DG DVDs - I don't know what's gone wrong, but they need to start employing somebody who isn't colour blind!
    • Was this review helpful to you?
    • (4) Yes |
    •  No (0)
  • Brilliant

    Rated - 5.0 stars  
    By gf (181 reviews) from Cullompton , 16 May 2006
    I'd choose more than 5 stars if I could. This was a brilliant traditional performance with wonderful singing and music. I thought the Brunnhilde and Hagen particularly outstanding. Getting to appreciate Wagner does take an initial investment of effort but once you've got it a great performance like this is out of this world. But if you are unfamiliar with Wagner it is probably better to start with the first opera in the Ring cycle, Das Rheingold. P.S. go for the Dolby option if your equipment can take it, it makes a very big improvement.
    • Was this review helpful to you?
    • (3) Yes |
    •  No (0)
  • This is Wagner - as Wagner intended

    Rated - 5.0 stars  
    By John Shepherd from Manchester, England , 01 Apr 2006
    No 'modernisation' here! Trust the 'Met' to do it right. Huge stage. Great costumes. 1st class orchestra and conductor. And top-notch singers to boot!
    • Was this review helpful to you?
    • (1) Yes |
    •  No (0)
 

Agree or disagree? Write your own review

Please sign in to LOVEFiLM to write your review

Sign in to LOVEFiLM

Not a member yet?

Sign up to start your 30-day FREE trial