On 2009-08-17 J Scott Morrison, Middlebury VT, USA wrote: There are a number of really fine DVDs of Fidelio available these days. Among those are the Met´s version with Mattila and Heppner Beethoven - Fidelio / Levine, Mattila, Heppner, Pape, Lloyd, Polenzani, Metropolitan Opera and one with Popp and Kollo Beethoven - Fidelio. This 1991 production from Covent Garden has been available before and has had mostly positive reviews. It is a traditional staging with era-appropriate and lifelike mise en scéne and costumes. Further, it has some of the finest voices of the time. I was especially pleased with the Rocco of Robert Lloyd, whose ´Hat man nicht auch Gold beineiben´ is a delight. The first act foursome leads give us a marvelous ´Mir is so wunderbar.´ As the second couple, Marie McLaughlin (Marzelline) and Neill Archer (Jaquino) are excellent. Monte Pedersen makes a suitably evil Don Pizarro. The important choral parts are movingly sung. In the pit is the young Christoph von Dohnyani who has the proceedings firmly in his grasp. The two main leads, sung by Gabriela Benacková and Josef Protschka, are certainly acceptable and in the case of Benacková, outstanding. Benacková´s warm, soaring voice is perfect for the rôle. Her ´Abscheulicher, wo eilst du hin´ is superb. The couple´s acting is somewhat generic.
This would not be my first choice if you are going to have just one DVD of this great opera. I would give the palm to the Met/Levine/Mattila/Heppner/Pape version. But it would not be bad for a second version.
TT: 125mins; Sound: PCM stereo; Subtitles: German, French, English,T Italian, Dutch, Spanish; Format 4:3; Region Code: 0 (worldwide); NTSC.
Scott Morrison
. And summed up by saying A 1991 Covent Garden ´Fidelio´. Currently Beethoven - Fidelio / Dohnanyi, Benackova, Protschka, Royal Opera House Covent Garden has an overall rating of 8 over 10.
Beethoven - Fidelio / Dohnanyi, Benackova, Protschka, Royal Opera House Covent Garden can also be found in the following searches:
Jane Seymour claimed Composed during the Napoleonic era, Ludwig Van Beethoven´s only opera is an inspired testament to humanity´s constant quest for freedom. This critically praised Covent Garden production by Adolf Dresen is powerfully cast and moves at a compelling pace to convey the emotionally charged theme of love and liberty over the forces of evil and oppression. Directed by Christoph von Dohnanyi. 124 minutes. Jaquino: Neill Archer Marzelline: Marie McLaughlin Rocco: Robert Lloyd Leonore: Gabriela Benackova Don Pizzaro: Monte Pederson Florestan: Josef Protschka
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