Wagner - Gotterdammerung / Levine, Behrens, Jerusalem, Metropolitan Opera (Levine Ring Cycle Part 4)

Starring:Hildegard Behrens, Siegfried Jerusalem, Matti Salminen, Christa Ludwig, Anthony Raffell (II), Hanna Liskowska, Ekkehard Wlaschiha, Gweniet Bean, Joyce Castle, Andrea Gruber, Kaaren Erickson, Diane Kesling, Meredith Parsons
Director: Brian Large
Studio: Deutsche Grammophon
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

"Not Up ToThe Task"
A lame effort
Salminen!!!
Matti Salminen, super-human giant.
Almost a musical disaster

Wagner - Gotterdammerung / Levine, Behrens, Jerusalem, Metropolitan Opera (Levine Ring Cycle Part 4)
Starring: Hildegard Behrens , Siegfried Jerusalem , Matti Salminen , Christa Ludwig , and Anthony Raffell (II)
Director: Brian Large
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Wagner - Siegfried / Levine, Jerusalem, Behrens, Morris, Metropolitan Opera (Levine Ring Cycle Part 3)
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Wagner - Lohengrin / Peter Hofmann, Eva Marton, Leonie Rysanek, Leif Roar, John Macurdy, Anthony Raffell, James Levine, Metropolitan Opera
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ASIN: B00006L9ZY
Release Date: 2002-11-12

Customer Reviews:

"Not Up ToThe Task".......2005-01-31

The Met Opera orchestra is phenomenal as always.Gotterdammerung calls for a vocal powerhouse in its Brunnhilde. It is the pivotal role for the success of this opera. Ms. Behrens was not that Brunnhilde.You've read the other reviewers assessments of her deficiencies. Was there something political involved in her getting the role? Waltraud Meier would have been a better choice.I was particularly impressed with the vocal dynamics of 1St Norn Gweneth Bean. I also enjoyed her as Dryade in the Met production of Strauss' Ariadne Auf Naxos.I'd like to see what she could do with bigger roles.Behrens truly was the weakest link.Bye-Bye.

A lame effort.......2004-07-09

The opera is supposed to be the climax of Wagner's Ring cycle. Unfortunately, the performance here is rather inadequate, which detracts from the majesty of the opera.

The production is traditional (which is good) but badly directed. The singers are either left with no direction to hang onto, or they are merely able to fill the acting requirements with half-hearted stock gestures. Their singing is unremarkable, in particular Hildegard Behrens's strained Brunnhilde.

Levine and his orchestra are quite admirable, although I've heard them on better forms. All in all, it's quite a lame effort.

Salminen!!!.......2004-04-26

I don't know about the rest, but man was Matti Salminen something else! He absolutely dominated, looming over (especially) Gunther and the rest. And when he called the vassals together to greet Gunther and Brunhilde, I worried that he would falter because I didn't think that kind of output was humanly possible.

I do have to mention that Jerusalem wasn't bad, although the acting seemed exaggerated and forced, much like Behrens' acting. Behrens was okay but she did falter a bit here and there and I am willing to concede that (listening to Karajan's Ring as well) Wagner places a lot of demands on the singers and only Salminen was really up for the challenge, with the rest being adequate. I think I may have to go for Solti where Birgit Nilsson sings Brunhilde. Lastly, Gutrune was okay because her role is not to be a force like Hagen and Brunhilde, but more subtle.

Matti Salminen, super-human giant........2004-04-10

The biggest, darkest, most savage bass in his biggest, darkest, most savage role. Who cares about the other singers?

Almost a musical disaster.......2002-12-15

Unfortunally,beautiful set and costumes in a
satisfactory DVD transfer can`t save this production
from musical mediocrity.Levine,Behrens and Jerusalem
seems like to play the opera without any rehersal,
the scene four on act two is a real disaster.Of course
some singers are in excellent shape:Salminen,Ludwig
and Wlaschiha just are doing their best,but who can
ignore Behrens`scenic weakness and Jerusalem`s dirty
vocal tone?She acts sometimes like if she was drunk
but not under any poisons.Her immolation(Levine guilty?)
is so fast that I can imagine so many jokes why Grane,
the Brunhilde`s horse isn`t on the stage.I will give
3 stars just there are a lot of very good professionals
behind the Met`s curtains.

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