Description:
Richard Strauss - Arabella (200 [DVD9 NTSC] Actors: Georg Solti, Wiener Philharmoniker Format: Classica, Schermo pieno, NTSC, Import Audio: Tedesco Language: Tedesco Subtitles: Cinese, Inglese, Francese, Tedesco, Spagnolo Format immage: 1.33:1 Numebro di disc: 2 Studio: Decca Unitel Date DVD: 14 mar. 2008 Lenght: 150 minuts .: Tracklist :. Richard Strauss, like Igor Stravinsky with The Rite of Spring, seemed frightened by what he had composed with the dissonant modern operas Elektra and Salome, retreating, as did Stravinsky, into a more conventional music of the past. It remained for Arnold Schoenberg to take the plunge and remove the trappings of tonality. Strauss, with his librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal, composed a series of lyrical dramas that are quite conventional but often feature music of great beauty. Their last collaboration was Arabella, begun in 1927 but not completed until October 1932 and first performed in Dresden 1 July 1933. Composition was slowed when Hofmannsthal died in early July 1929, having completed his revision of the first act. Strauss was forced to tackle the libretto on his own, a difficult task since he was not happy with the plot, considering it uninteresting and lacking any true conflict. He made some changes and, although uninspired by the libretto, finally finished the opera. His criticism of the libretto is valid: the plot has precious little forward thrust, the character of Arabella is somewhat tame, the others more or less bland, as well. Nevertheless, the opera contains much music of sumptuous beauty as only Strauss could write, creating in Arabella a symphonic portrait of an ideal woman, a three hour long stage tone poem. Strauss' writing for string quintet and woodwinds is especially masterful. Passages containing music for bass clarinet and horns that are passed to pizzicato strings reveal Strauss the orchestral wizard, his mastery of instrumental dynamics is stunning. Gundula Janowiz is a fine Arabella in this beautifully filmed version of the opera, directed in 1977 by Otto Schenk. Costumes and sets are gorgeous, wonderfully evoking the slightly decadent Vienna of the 1860s. Bernd Weikl is a strong Mandryka, Arabella's husband to be. Matteo is Rene Kollo, a singer whose slightly reedy voice has never been a favorite of mine but who seemed to be ubiquitous in the 1970s. He is less of a vocal nuisance here, perhaps because he wanders through the opera constantly threatening suicide. Sona Ghazarian is an adorable Zdenka. Edita Gruberova is the Fiakermilli in an early appearance. Georg Solti directs the Vienna Philharmoniker, who are absolutely nonpareil in this music. Their sound is lucious, rich and beautifully burnished with a magnificent grasp of Strauss' often difficult writing for the winds and brasses. It is hard to imagine this music played any better than this. The two DVDs last 189 minutes with a crisp remastered picture and clear sound in both PCM stereo and DTS 5.1. The discs are worldwide code 0. The usual Decca menus are here as well as an informative booklet. Late Strauss that is stunningly filmed, nicely sung, well acted and masterfully performed by Georg Solti and the Vienna Philharmoniker, make Arabella strongly recommended. .: Other Files :. log+cue+m3u+cover |
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