Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
The composer described Capriccio as a "conversation piece for music in one act", and he put much effort into not only the music but the words, on which he collaborated with conductor Clemens Krauss. Krauss's verbal input was particularly appropriate in this work, because the real subject (symbolised by a conventional love triangle) is the competition (and alliance) between words and music in opera, a subject naturally close to the composer-librettist's heart. The conversation runs through the whole opera in various forms. It begins immediately after the curtain goes up, with a quarrel between the poet Olivier (Simon Keenlyside) and the composer Flamand (David Kuebler) over the respective merits of their arts. They are rivals for the hand of the widowed Countess Madeleine (Te Kanawa); she is to choose between them (i.e., between poetry and music) but she is still undecided as the final curtain descends. The intervening two hours are rich in artistic shop talk and backstage situations that will enchant sophisticated opera-lovers, as well as the love interest for the rest of us.
David Runnicles conducts with a sure sense of Straussian style; and Mauro Pagano's 18th-century set creates the right atmosphere. Keenlyside and Kuebler are eloquent and believable, Te Kanawa sweet, regal and ambiguous. Hakan Hagegard and Victor Braun give particularly vivid performances in supporting roles. --Joe McLellan
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A German Conversation,
By
This review is from: R. Strauss: Capriccio -- San Francisco Opera [DVD] (DVD)
This production has to compare with earlier performances with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Elisabeth Soderstrom. The basic requirement is a Countess who is European in style and mannerisms and who doesn't allow the sheer beauty of the music to make her less of an Austro-German. This production may well be the best we are going to get for a long time. The men are outstanding with clear diction and lively acting. Kiri's singing is as always beautifully poised and graceful and the final scene when she is alone on the stage is excellent. My beef is with her words - even a German speaker new to Capriccio is unlikely to follow the Countess's role without the subtitles. Words are lost in music. This is a bit ironic for a piece all about the competing or differing values of words (le parole) and music (la musica). I felt also that some of her mannerisms didn't look quite right in an Austro-German francophile context. But these are quibbles - hear this magnificaent piece and enjoy!
4.0 out of 5 stars
A charming version of a rarely-performed opera,
By bonnieprob (London UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: R. Strauss: Capriccio -- San Francisco Opera [DVD] (DVD)
A lovely performance by a stellar cast led by Kiri Te Kanawa of this too-rarely performed chamber opera by Richard Strauss.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Film & TV > English Subtitles
- Film & TV > Musicals & Classical > Classical Music > Composers > Strauss
- Film & TV > Musicals & Classical > Musicals & Stage Performances > Classic
- Film & TV > Musicals & Classical > Musicals & Stage Performances > Film Musicals
- Film & TV > Musicals & Classical > Opera
- Film & TV > World Cinema
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
