This DVD is essential, though flawed. The whole performance is more than the sum of its parts, excellent as most of them are. First in line for praise must be the ensemble: soloists, conductor and orchestra completely in service to the composer and librettist. The opera sings, dances, frolics and yet achieves the godlike in the finale. In fairness, the flaws must be cited: neither sound nor (monochrome) picture is easy to accept for over two hours; Hillebrecht is somewhat out of her element. In the home, one has the freedom to refresh ones eyes and ears between the Prologue and the Opera itself. While our Prima Donna makes no overt errors, neither does she transcend the notes - some of which are imperfectly approached.

Yet those limitations seem to be carping when experiencing Grist's facility in service of a three-dimensional character, Jurinac's peerless Komponist, and Thomas's vocal and physical realization. Casting Schoeffler as the Musiklehrer and van Kesteren as the Tanzmeister are not luxuries; they fuse the Prologue into a glorious whole. Similarly, the excellence of the Najade (Lotte Schädle), Dryade (Claudia Hellmann) and Echo (Lisa Otto) provides a basis of sonority in the Opera lacking from Hillebrecht.

To the extent that they are visible on the underlighted stage, sets and costumes are simple and effective. The sound is not only limited in range but also somewhat distorted; the two in combination can lead to listener fatigue, prompting the suggestion that viewing be interrupted for refreshment. Let there be no misunderstanding, though: this DVD is an essential in any library of opera videos.

Related website: TDK Mediactive www.tdk-music.com

Michael Richter, 30 May 2005
mrichter@cpl.net

See also Michael Richter's Introduction to the DVD, for a list of other reviews see the DVD Project page.