Richard Wagner - LohengrinLehnhoff's complete re-interpretation of Wagner's legend opera into a modern psychological drama is a magnificent success, and for the first time I have been able to appreciate the wondeful score.
The settings are of the sparse architectural type with high banks of steps rearranged as the drama proceeds, against this plain background the emotions and conflicts are sharply etched.
All four principals are simply superb, Vogt with his light voiced tenor giving an ideal otherworldly sense of the mystery of Lohengrin, and Kringelborn embodies Elsa, both singers being sufficiently mature vocally but still young enough to be visually ideal, they are totally believable in their relationship.
Although the drama revolves around Elsa who is on stage for virtually the entire opera, in this production one is equally fascinated with the manipulation by Ortrud (a role made for Meier) of Telramund sung by Tom Fox (a highly intelligent singer who features prominently in the Documentary).
A major feature of the production is the sheer quality of the acting, one almost asks are these "actors singing" or "singers acting", it is that good.
The all important orchestral score is beautifully rendered by Kent Nagano and the sound and photographic quality are excellent.
This is an all time classic performance.
