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Amazon.co.uk Review
Like most of his later operas, Richard Strauss' Arabella ends with a meltingly lovely duet. But then criticising Strauss for composing melodically enduring operas is as pointless as lambasting Vermeer for painting only exquisite interior scenes. Those who say Strauss never improved on Rosenkavalier may be right but when such beguiling sounds kept coming from his music for the next 30 years of his life, there shouldn't be any quibbles. Arabella is, in a nutshell, the story of a woman who cannot make up her mind about a suitor. Taped at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1994 under the baton of conductor Christian Thielemann, this production features Kiri Te Kanawa in the title role; her acting is mediocre but vocally she never forces anything and at least sounds like the perfect Arabella. Wolfgang Brendel does well with Mandryka, who finally ends up with Arabella and Marie McLaughlin makes a sympathetic younger sister to the heroine as Zdenka. Otto Schenk's production is sturdily conservative, the video transfer is acceptable if unspectacular and the sound mix is CD-quality. --Kevin Filipski, Amazon.com
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a 1994 production of the "lyric comedy" made at The Metropolitan Opera House. The stage direction is by Otto Schenk. It is a sumptuous production in traditional settings and costumes.
Kiri Te Kanawa sings the title role in a ravishing voice. Her portrayal of the title role brings out the serene and loving character of Arabella very well indeed. Wolfgang Brendel - in an honourable but vulnerable role of Mandryka - is convincing as a rich provincial land owner and sings with a firm voice. Marie McLaughlin (Zdenka) is excellent in singing as well as acting as Arabella's younger sister who loves Matteo who in turn is in love with Arabella.
The role of the parents are taken by Donald McIntyre and Helga Dernesch: they are both very good in characterisation. In the ball scene in Act 2, the young Nathalie Dessay (Fiakermilli) is full of character and sings brilliantly.
Christian Thielemann draws a beautiful sound from the orchestra and his direction is exemplary. The recorded sound is rich and clear.
Kiri Te Kanawa sings the title role in a ravishing voice. Her portrayal of the title role brings out the serene and loving character of Arabella very well indeed. Wolfgang Brendel - in an honourable but vulnerable role of Mandryka - is convincing as a rich provincial land owner and sings with a firm voice. Marie McLaughlin (Zdenka) is excellent in singing as well as acting as Arabella's younger sister who loves Matteo who in turn is in love with Arabella.
The role of the parents are taken by Donald McIntyre and Helga Dernesch: they are both very good in characterisation. In the ball scene in Act 2, the young Nathalie Dessay (Fiakermilli) is full of character and sings brilliantly.
Christian Thielemann draws a beautiful sound from the orchestra and his direction is exemplary. The recorded sound is rich and clear.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is sung with great beauty by the entire cast - there is not a weak link anywhere. Strauss's music is gorgeous, and the whole production is wonderful - playing, singing, and visually. It doesn't obliterate in my memory the Peter Rice designed production at Covent Garden back in the 60s, when Fischer-Dieskau was an incomperable Mandryka - but what could? Five stars - enjoy it.
Format:DVD
It is good to have a reminder of Kiri Te Kanawa's beautiful and serene performance as Arabella in the 1980's, one of her signature roles in the latter part of her career.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Wunderbar
I read some of the reviews before ordering this DVD
and yes, I must agree with some of them. ANY soprano singing the title-role will probably be older than Arabella should be... Read more
and yes, I must agree with some of them. ANY soprano singing the title-role will probably be older than Arabella should be... Read more
Published 15 months ago by kettlecharlie
Gloriously sung but, as a DVD, not value for money
With an all star cast this is a justly famous version, dating from 1994 at the Met, NY. Dame Kiri's voice is glorious and full of feeling, belying critics who suggest she... Read more
Published on 29 April 2001
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