Fascinating from start to finish this recording should be essential viewing for anyone interested in German romantic opera. The singing is good and the acting very believable. The gnomes, whilst at times faintly amusing, are deliciously and unnervingly spooky. All this is done on a simple but clever set. Marschner really should be better known in British opera circles.
Quest'opera è per veri appassionati del genere...peccato per l'audio pessimo e per la mancanza di sottotitoli nel secondo dvd! Nulla da dire sulla consegna in tempi da record!!!
The Teatro Lirico di Cagliari staged this romantic German opera. Since this once immensely popular opera is now rarely performed, a comparison to other stage performances is almost impossible. I watched this DVD performance twice before "I got into it." The performers sing [in German] and act at their best; the orchestra plays very competently [during the overture, which is lengthy but never boring, the camera sweeps continuously across the conductor and players]; the stage setting shows the present tendency of producing an opera with a basic floor arrangement usable for all acts and this is acceptable.
The DVD [video and audio] supplies a good viewing experience--almost like sitting in the opera house in Cagliari.
The booklet [coming with the DVD] contains excellent essays--in English, German, and Italian--about the composer [Marschner], the librettist [Devrient], and the period between Weber's death and the rise of Wagner. It also offers the opera's plot and the opening lines [in German] to all scenes.
For opera lovers this DVD should be a must in any collection.
If you ever wondered what opera was like before Wagner and wanted to move a little away from Weber check out Marshner. He would probably be more popular today if Wagner hadn't completely overshadowed most of what preceded him in German opera. Hans Heiling is as romantic as it gets. He is the king of the elves and falls in love with a mortal. Marshner portrays the mortals using Singspiel and he uses a more romantic thru composed style for the other world. The singers are all up to their roles. And the production does not betray the romantic spirit. It is simply gorgeous - and how often can you say that about a modern European opera production? One quibble - the subtitles are too small and therefore difficult to read. The other problem is that it is difficult to believe the heroine would prefer the stocky stodgy tenor to the dashing Hans. What's wrong with her? Oh, right, this is opera. If you've ever wondered what lies beyond Weber check out this delightful DVD.