Franz
Schubert: Winterreise
(C Major)/Lincoln
Center Movies Presents Ballet Hispanico
(C Major)/Schonberg:
Gurre-Lieder
(Opus Arte)/Wagner:
Das Liebesverbot
(Opus Arte/all Naxos 2017 Blu-ray releases)
Picture:
B/B/B-/B- Sound: B/B/B-/B- Extras: B/C/B/D Main Programs:
B/B/B/B-
Now
for more fine, classy releases from the Naxos family of Classical
Music Blu-ray releases...
Franz
Schubert: Winterreise
This
Opera is interesting as it combines 24 stop-motion animated action
films made up of made up of animated ink drawings and collages fused
together with haunting music by Franz Schubert, entitled Winterreise,
features Matthias Goerne, pianist Markus Hinterhauser and South
African director, set designer and theatrical artist William
Kentridge delivering some of his best work to date. The piece
primarily serves as a thought-provoking commentary on Schubert's own
work as well as showcase the range that a Baritone voice can offer.
This 85 minute concert was quite entertaining from start to finish.
The
film is presented in 1080i with a PCM 2.0 Stereo track and Subtitles
in German (original language), English, French, Spanish, Chinese,
Korean, and Japanese. The lot of the show is on a dark stage with a
animation video projected behind the singer, which looks pretty good
throughout with even skin tones and interesting production design.
Special
Features
Documentary
A Trio For Schubert, which features Interviews with W. Kentridge, M.
Goerne, and M. Hinterhauser
Collectible
DigiPak book
Lincoln
Center Movies Presents Ballet Hispanico
There
is a lot of talent on display in Ballet
Hispanico,
a beautiful Blu-ray that showcases the art of ballet like you've
never seen before, electrifying the screen with grace. Two audience
favorites are showcased here CARMEN.maquia - which is a modern take
on Bizet's passionate opera choreographed by Spaniard Gustavo Ramírez
Sansano.
And
Pedro Ruiz's Club Havana, a virtuosic re-imagining of a bustling
nightclub that perfectly capture the style of Havana's golden era
that has spanned for over forty five years. Hailed as a new
expression of American contemporary dance, this is a piece that
lovers of ballet won't want to pass up!
Presented
in 1080i with sound formats in PCM 2.0 Stereo and lossless DTS-HD MA
(Master Audio) 5.0 track, the presentation here is similar to other
such releases with high contrast blacks and beautiful-looking set
design.
Special
Features include...
Beyond
The Curtain
Insert
booklet
Schonberg:
Gurre-Lieder
For
fans of opera, you won't want to miss this fine release from the Opus
Arte label highlighting the works of Schonberg in his opera
Gurre-Lieder.
I enjoyed the costumes and set design that went into this one,
namely a spiraled staircase and a set that looks like a dark alley.
The
cast includes Burkhard Fritz (Waldemar), Emily Magee (Tove), Anna
Larsson (Waldtaube), Markus Marquard (Bauer), Wolfgang
Ablinger-Sperrhacke (Klaus-Narr), Sunnyi Melles (Narrator). Music is
by the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Chorus of the Dutch
National Opera, Marc Albrecht (conductor) & Pierre Audi
(director).
Begun
in the year 1900, amidst the art nouveau curlicues of Klimt and the
Jugendstil, Schonberg's grand cantata is written in a lush,
late-romantic style indebted to Wagner and Mahler and pre-dating his
pioneering atonal works. The setting for the opera is that of
mediaeval Danish legend of Gurre Castle and a love triangle between
King Waldemar, his mistress Tove, and a jealous Queen in a tale of
passion.
Presented
in 1080i high definition with a 2.0 LPCM Stereo track and lossless
DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 track, looking and sounding crisp and
clear and making you feel as if you are in the front row. The blacks
are pure blacks with a yellow tint on the set during other scenes.
The songs are sung in German with English, French, German, Dutch,
Japanese, and Korean Subs and sound beautiful. This disc is all
region and can be played back in any territory.
Special
Features include...
Documentary
Cast
Gallery
Wagner:
Das Liebesverbot
Based
on Shakespeare's Measure
for Measure,
Das
Liebesverbot
enjoys its Spanish debut in a new production by director Kasper
Holten. The lively score boasts clear Italian, French and Weberian
influences that pre-date the composer's mature voice, yet the music
fits in nicely with other compositions by Wagner that fans have come
to know and love.
The
cast and crew consists of Manuela Uhl (Isabella), Christopher Maltman
(Friedrich), Peter Lodahl (Lucio), Ilker Arcayurek (Claudio), Ante
Jerkunica (Brighella). As for the music, the beautiful sounds of the
Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro Real, Madrid, conducted by Ivor Bolton
and the opera directed by Kasper Holten.
Ivor
Bolton conducts a vibrant cast featuring English baritone and Cardiff
Singer of the World Lieder Prize-winner Christopher Maltman,
Turkish-Viennese tenor and BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist Ilker
Arcayürek and Germany's hottest Wagnerian leading lady, Manuela Uhl.
The
disc is presented in 1080p high definition with a great sounding LPCM
2.0 Stereo and DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio tracks to accompany. There
are many colorful costumes including blue police uniforms, yellow
shirts, and pink top hats. The songs are sung in German with
English, French, German, Dutch, Japanese, and Korean Subs and sound
clear.
No
extras but there is a nice booklet included.
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
