One star for Falk Struckman, one of the best Wotan I ever heard , and one star for Graham Clark, one first class Mime . The others singers are very problematic. Andrea Bönig as Erda has nothing to do with the role . But the big problem here is John Trevealan (Siegfried). There are moments that it is very painful to listen to him. The last phrase he sings before the Orchestral Intermezzo for the closing scene ( Jetzt lock'ich ein liebes Gesell ) is shameful. The beginning of the closing scene , when he arrives at Brünhilde's rock is the worst moment of this DVD.
Deborah Polaski hasn't the resources for Brünhilde. And Günter von Kannen as Alberich is dramatically a disaster. Fafner (Eric Halfvarson ) and The Bird ( Cristina Obregón) are vocally very good. But no one buy one expensive DVD like this because of the Wood Bird.
I really think the Kupfer's direction old fashioned . This post nuclear universe......This is so old now...The set of the first act is awful , and I can't understand costumes like that of Wotan and Brunhilde.And the idea of Wotan answering Siegfried's horn in a second horn is ridiculous
As in Die Walküre , Bertrand de Billy , the conductor, is very irregular. The first act is superb. But the last part of the third act is so slow...and the tenor is so tired...a disaster. The solo violins at the beginning of this last scene is very problematic too.
In DVD the best solution for Siegfried is Boulez /Cheareau . And the best tenor as Siegfried in DVD is Siegfried Jerusalem. And if you want to listen without sufering this magnificent score listen to Nilsson/Windgassen/Böhm- Bayreuth 1966.
