Cult Opera Of The 1970s (Arthuas/11 DVD set)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Operas:

 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro (1967) B

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Die Zauberflöte (1971) B

Ludwig van Beethoven: Fidelio (1968) B-

Carl Maria Von Weber: Der Freischütz (1968) B-

Albert Lortzing: Zar und Zimmermann (1969) B

Jacques Offenbach: Orpheus in der Unterwelt (1971) B

Richard Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (1970) B

Alban Berg: Wozzeck (1970) B-

Gian Carlo Menotti: Help, Help, the Globolinks! (1969) B-

Krzysztof Penderecki: Die Teufel von Loudun (1969) B-

 

 

Under the Naxos label comes this terrific set featuring 10 operas on 11 discs, which are the historical studio productions from the Hamburg State Opera in the late 60’s and early 70’s.  Not sure why they chose to call it “from the 70’s”, when this is clearly not 100% true.  Each opera runs nearly 2 hours in length making this entire set come to about 22 hours worth of Technicolor Opera at its best.  The transfers are all full-frame 4X3 and demonstrate just how good some TV broadcasts can look when shot this way.  The transfers seem to hold up well and while they do have a certain softness to them, overall they are artifact free and render some good color, depth, and overall fidelity that rival some of the more recent television work.  The sound is presented in PCM 1.0 mono, which is sufficient as it’s the original format, but it would have been great to have a 2.0 option in order to balance out the sound a bit more.  Most receivers will set the audio to a Pro Logic mix, which will make the mix feel more like a surround chamber, but unfortunately the sound here a bit too thin to properly do that, especially since we are talking about a mix that is full of orchestral movements and full-scale singing, which can easily clutter one channel of sound.  A proper 2-channel mix would have alleviated that, a 5.1 mix would have spread the mix far too thin and so a compromise needed to be made. 

 

This set is likely to capture some serious attention just by getting this many titles together and the consistency of the work, plus the production value makes this a great addition to any opera lovers’ collection.  One other note is that this set is Region Zero/0 and can be played anywhere, plus there are multiple subtitle tracks as well. 

 

 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro (1967)

 

A rather traditional version of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro with a strong cast and decent production value, plus it is sung in German and directed by Joachim Hess and commissioned by Rolf Liebermann for its original television broadcast.

 

Cast:

 

Countess Almaviva – Arlene Saunders

Figaro – Heinz Blankenburg

Susanna – Edith Mathis

Cherubino – Elisabeth Steiner

Marcellina – Maria Von Ilosvay

Don Basilio – Kurt Marschner

Corps de Ballet of the Hamburg State Opera

Joachim Hess, director

 

 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Die Zauberflöte (1971)

 

The real winner here in terms of it’s quality with a great cast and strong vocal abilities to truly capture The Magic Flute, in also serves as a great companion piece to Ingmar Bergman’s 1972 television version of the opera, which has been released by Criterion on DVD.  Note that Sir Peter Ustinov is the director here! 

 

Cast:

 

Sarastro – Hans Sotin

Tamino – Nicolai Gedda

Speaker – Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

Queen of the Night – Christina Deutekom

Pamina – Edith Mathis

Papageno – William Workman

Papagena – Carol Malone

Monostatos – Franz Grundheber

Two Men In Armour – Kurt Moll / Bernd Rüter

Sir Peter Ustinov, director

 

 

Ludwig van Beethoven: Fidelio (1968)

 

A solid adaptation, but really reeks of the 1960’s and is semi-cheesy at times.  Although it is directed by Hess again, which is a plus and makes this one work, even with the shortcomings here and there with the cast.  Lucia Popp is again the standout, which is likewise the case in Zar and Zimmermann.

 

Cast

 

Florestan - Richard Cassilly

Leonore - Anja Silja

Rocco - Ernst Wiemann

Marzelline - Lucia Popp

Jaquino - Erwin Wohlfahrt

Don Pizarro - Theo Adam

Don Fernando - Hans Sotin

Joachim Hess, director

 

 

Carl Maria Von Weber: Der Freischütz (1968)

 

Edith Mathis is the real deal here and perhaps the best reason to see this particular performance as she completely nails the performance and is the true highlight.  The other performances are strong, but cannot match Edith’s depth of character and flat out intensity from scene to scene. 

 

Cast:

 

Max – Ernst Kozub

Kaspar – Gottlob Frick

Kilian – Franz Grundheber

Cuno – Toni Blankenheim

Agathe – Arlene Saunders

Annchen – Edith Mathis

Prince Ottokar – Tom Krause

A Hermit – Hans Sotin

Samiel – Bernhard Minetti

Hamburg State Opera Ballet

Gyula Trebitsch, director

 

 

Albert Lortzing: Zar und Zimmermann (1969)

 

Not one of my favorite Operas necessarily, but the performances here are particularly strong, in particular that of Lucia Popp in the role of Maria, plus the supporting cast really delivers memorable performances that make this opera work.  Trebitsch’s direction also helps make the production a fine one and is a great addition to this set for that fact alone. 

 

Cast:

 

Peter the Great – Raymond Wolansky

Peter Ivanov – Peter Haage

Van Bett – Hans Sotin

Marie – Lucia Popp

Admiral Lefort – Herbert Fliether

Lord Syndham – Noël Mangin

Marquis de Châteauneuf – Horst Wilhelm

Widow Browe – Ursula Boese

Officer – Franz Grundheber

Gyula Trebitsch, director

 

 

Jacques Offenbach: Orpheus in der Unterwelt (1971)

 

Perhaps one of my favorite operas in general and a real gem within this set, even with all the wacky 70’s looking sets and costumes, the production still works and again this can be attributed to Hess’ directing. 

 

Cast:

 

Pluto/Aristeus - William Workman

Euridyce - Elisabeth Steiner

Jupiter - Toni Blankenheim

Public Opinion - Liselotte Pulver

Orpheus - Kurt Marschner

Juno - Inge Meysel

Styx - Theo Lingen

Venus - Urszula Koszut

Minerva - Cvetka Ahlin

Mars - Franz Grundheber

Joachim Hess, director

 

 

Richard Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (1970)

 

Here we are treated to the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra with Hess directing again and making for a great performance that captures the operatic vision of Wagner’s masterpiece.  The production on this particular opera is a notch above some of the rest feeling and looking more realistic and less 70’s. 

 

Cast:

 

Hans Sachs – Giorgio Tozzi

Veit Pogner –Ernst Wiemann

Fritz Kothner – Hans-Otto Kloose

Sixtus Beckmesser – Toni Blankenheim

Walther von Stolzing – Richard Cassilly

David – Gerhard Unger

Eva –Arlene Saunders

Magdalene – Ursula Boese

Joachim Hess, director

 

 

Alban Berg: Wozzeck (1970)

 

I was the least familiar with this particular piece and found it one of the weaker in the set, despite Hess directing again the material never really seems to get the chemistry right and despite strong performances by Toni Blankeneheim and crew, it just falls short more often than not. 

 

Cast:

 

Wozzeck - Toni Blankenheim

Drum Major - Richard Cassilly

Andres - Peter Haage

Captain - Gerhard Unger

Doctor - Hans Sotin

Workman I - Kurt Moll

Workman II - Franz Grundheber

The Fool - Kurt Marschner

Marie - Sena Jurinac

Margret - Elizabeth Steiner

Joachim Hess, director

 

 

Gian Carlo Menotti: Help, Help, the Globolinks! (1969)

 

Edith Mathis re-appears in the role of Emily here and makes a highly memorable and unforgettable production of Menotti’s work.  The supporting cast is fine as well and Hess’ TV adaptation is executed with a great sensitivity to the material, since this version is meant to be less of a production and more of an operatic film. 

 

Cast:

 

Emily – Edith Mathis

Madame Euterpova – Arlene Saunders

Dr. Stone – Raymond Wolansky

Tony – William Workman

Timothy – Kurt Marschner

Miss Newkirk – Ursula Boese

Mr. Lavander-Gas – Franz Grundheber

Dr. Turtlespit – Noël Mangin

Hamburg State Opera Ballet

Gian Carlo Menotti, director

Joachim Hess, TV adaptation

 

 

Krzysztof Penderecki: Die Teufel von Loudun (1969)

 

Hess is at it again in the directing and the character of Mannoury are the real standouts on this particular production, it too was a less familiar work for me, but this production seems to get it right more often than not. 

 

Cast:

 

Jeanne - Tatiana Troyanos

Urbain Grandier - Andrzej Hiolski

Father Barré - Bernhard Ladysz

Father Rangier - Hans Sotin

Jean d'Armagnac - Karl-Heinz Gerdesmann

Guilleaume de Cerisay - Rolf Mamero

Adam - Kurt Marschner

Mannoury - Heinz Blankenburg

Baron de Laubardement - Helmut Melchert

Prince Henri de Condé - William Workman

Asmodeus - Arnold van Mill

Joachim Hess, TV director

 

No extras here, but just getting all of these rare treats together in one terrific set is extra enough!

 

 

-   Nate Goss