Richard Strauss - Arabella / Thielemann, Te Kanawa, Brendel, Metropolitan Opera

Starring:Kiri Te Kanawa, Wolfgang Brendel, Marie McLaughlin (II), David Kuebler, Helga Dernesch, Donald McIntyre, Charles Workman (II), Kim Josephson, Julien Robbins, Natalie Dessay, Jane Shaulis
Director: Brian Large
Studio: Deutsche Grammophon
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Criticizing Richard Strauss for composing melodically enduring operas is as pointless as lambasting Vermeer for painting only exquisite interior scenes. Those who say Strauss never improved on Rosenkavalier may be right, but when such beguiling sounds kept coming from his music for the next 30 years of his life, there shouldn't be any quibbles.

Arabella follows a woman who cannot make up her mind on a suitor and, like most Strauss operas, ends with a meltingly lovely duet. Taped at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1994 under the baton of conductor Christian Thielemann, this production features Kiri Te Kanawa in the title role; her acting is mediocre, but vocally she never forces anything and at least sounds like the perfect Arabella. Wolfgang Brendel does well with Mandryka, who finally ends up with Arabella, and Marie McLaughlin as Zdenka makes a sympathetic younger sister to the heroine. Otto Schenk's production is sturdily conservative, the video transfer is acceptable if unspectacular, and the sound mix is CD-quality. --Kevin Filipski
Description
Cast list

Kiri Te Kanawa: Arabella
Wolfgang Brendel: Mandryka
Marie McLaughlin: Zdenka
David Kuebler: Matteo
Helga Dernesch: Adelaide
Donald McIntyre: Count Waldner
Charles Workman: Count Elemer
Kim Josephson: Count Dominik
Julien Robbins: Cound Lamoral
Natalie Dessay: The Fiakermilli
Jane Shaulis: A fortuneteller

Amazon.com

Criticizing Richard Strauss for composing melodically enduring operas is as pointless as lambasting Vermeer for painting only exquisite interior scenes. Those who say Strauss never improved on Rosenkavalier may be right, but when such beguiling sounds kept coming from his music for the next 30 years of his life, there shouldn't be any quibbles.

Arabella follows a woman who cannot make up her mind on a suitor and, like most Strauss operas, ends with a meltingly lovely duet. Taped at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1994 under the baton of conductor Christian Thielemann, this production features Kiri Te Kanawa in the title role; her acting is mediocre, but vocally she never forces anything and at least sounds like the perfect Arabella. Wolfgang Brendel does well with Mandryka, who finally ends up with Arabella, and Marie McLaughlin as Zdenka makes a sympathetic younger sister to the heroine. Otto Schenk's production is sturdily conservative, the video transfer is acceptable if unspectacular, and the sound mix is CD-quality. --Kevin Filipski

Description

Cast list

Metropolitan Opera and Chorus, Christian Thielemann, conductor

Customer Reviews:

Gorgeous performance by Kiri Te Kanawa.......2007-01-04

This is a lovely production. Kiri Te Kanawa is absolutely gorgeous in the title role. Nice support from the cast especially coloratura Natalie Dessay.

A Great Production of a Great Opera.......2006-12-05

This is a very well sculpted performance of this opera. Thielmann and the MET Orchestra give a great reading of the score. All aspects of this densely orchestrated piece are defined and carefully articulated. Wonderful character is maintained throughout the body of work by Thielmann's vision. I think that a problem most conductors have with Richard Strauss (Not to Mention Mahler as well) is that they take the music too seriously! Strauss is very passionate and beautiful... But he has a very characteristic light and comical side as well. Arabella is a perfect example of this... It's a beautiful love story and plays out with a lot of humor. Not just in the story, but in the music as well. Thielmann does a great job in finding that balance of emotion and being consistent with it throughout the opera. Kiri Te Kanawa gives a fantastic performance as Arabella and the supporting cast is divine. Marie McGlaughlin gives a slightly forced but, gorgeous Zdenka. Donald McIntyre, who I know from his role as Wotan in Wagner's Ring Cycle, conducted by Piere Boulez, is a great Graf Waldner. Natalie Dessay is so cute and so amazingly talented that she almost steals the show in the second act! Wolfgang Brendel and David Kuebler play the two strong male roles of Mandryka and Matteo respectively. Their vocal and acting performances are powerful and fun. The costumes are convincing and the sets are very detailed which helps establish the stage action perfectly. I can't say anything bad about it... Strongly recommended.

Rich, beautiful and gentile Strauss!.......2006-02-24

Great to read Amazon's own review of this dvd Arabella! When you join melodious Strauss with Kiri Te Kanawa and the Met orchestra you have vintage vocal and instrumental tone along with a timber of sheer beauty. Granted Strauss may not everybody's forte but this performance deserves at least a hearing. The only objection I have is that Arabella refers to herself as waiting for the right man; I like to think that she's looking for the right person not waiting for that white horse and dowdy prince. Add the rest of this wonderful cast and Thielemann in the pit and you have wondrous music making. Fiakermilli is a silly role but Dessay makes it thrilling. At least she doesn't come running on the stage in disheveled clothing looking for an ax or wearing almost nothing demanding somebody's head. Putting silly aside this is a great Met release. The Arabella-Zdenka duet in Act one is beautifully sung; the Mandryka - Arabella duet in Act three is extremely beautiful and the closing monologue is deeply moving. Don't pass it up. It forms a great trio with Ariadne and Rosenkavalier, if not totally in their class.

Especially if you're a romantic.......2005-05-07

The strikingly beautiful daughter of a count, Arabella finds herself under immediate pressure to marry one of her three ardent admirers. Or, will she marry a young officer that her younger sister loves, or the extremely wealthy new stranger in town?

Not only does this performance bring you the typical heart-wrenching emotion of a Strauss opera, but also a story line that keeps you wanting to see what will happen next.

It seems everyone raves about Kiri Te Kanawa's affinity for Strauss. But it's true. I think Strauss would be pleased with the singing, personality, and presence that Kiri gives his leading lady.

The rest of the cast is equally well-suited. Wolfgang Brendel is an energetic prince as Mandryka. Donald McIntyre gives depth to Arabella's conniving, gambling-addicted father. Marie McLaughlin turns in an exemplary trouser-role, as Arabella's brother, and where but in opera could we mistake her for a man?

If you can let yourself go in a romantic vein, you will enjoy Arabella for its beautiful singing and acting, as it tells a Cinderella story.

I loved it!.......2004-05-15

I thought the production beautiful and the singing excellent. Kiri is a bit aloof as she is always but Wolfgang makes up for it. He is just scrumptous and the perfect leading man with some chemistry between them. All the parts have excellent casting and performances are very good to excellent. The conducting kept the pace very interesting. This is a keeper and I'm not a big Strauss fan! I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good love story!

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