DVDs:

	Richard Strauss - Arabella / Thielemann, Te Kanawa, Brendel, Metropolitan Opera Kiri Te Kanawa, Wolfgang Brendel Deutsche Grammophon, 2001 average customer review:based on 11 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Kiri Te Kanawa: Arabella
Wolfgang Brendel: Mandryka
Marie McLaughlin: Zdenka
David Kuebler: Matteo
Helga Dernesch: Adelaide
Donald McIntyre: Count Waldner
Charles Workman: Count Elemer
Kim Josephson: Count Dominik
Julien Robbins: Cound Lamoral
Natalie Dessay: The Fiakermilli
Jane Shaulis: A fortuneteller

Metropolitan Opera and Chorus, Christian Thielemann, conductor


Gorgeous performance by Kiri Te Kanawa

This is a lovely production. Kiri Te Kanawa is absolutely gorgeous in the title role. Nice support from the cast especially coloratura Natalie Dessay.

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star-studded

i've never seen so many big names in one opera before ; also, nathalie dessay has a little role in act II, but that's not really highlighted ; it's definitely a must-have for anyone who wants 2 hours of not stop beautiful music


I love this opera!

I was unfamiliar with the story of this opera until I saw it awhile back. It's quite an amusing little story. Te Kanawa looks the part of Arabella (even though she is over 50 in this performance), and she sings it with proper emotion. I don't understand people who say she sings without feeling. The rest of the cast is top notch. One of the perks of this recording is debut role of Natalie Dessay as the Fiakermilli.

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A Wonderful Performance

Earlier criticism of Strauss was that he was washed up after his earlier operatic successes. Fortunately all post WWII performances of the later works have proved this silly generalization wrong. Arabella is a case in point. I suppose for non-German speaking auditors the arioso/recitative style that is common to much the later Strauss is perhaps the greatest hurtle to overcome. And the rewards are many for those that stick with this score.

This performance is superb. Te Kanawa is in lustrous voice and Brendel is excellent, but then I find no weak link in the cast. Many have criticized Kiri's German and I understand that she has admitted to finding the text of German operas somewhat daunting. (A pity that she didn't spend a year or two in a German house.) I have not seen/heard the Janowitz version and am reluctant because it is a film and lipsynching alienating. Additionally the German diva has been guilty of being more interested in the tone and textually she has received some low marks, notably for her Elsa. So for me there is no choice. A great live performance conducted by one of the best German conductors or Solti whose recording of the opera is brutal.

Incidentally one of the previous reviewer states that there are no subtitles. This is not true. He needs to look at the back page of the notes provided. It is necessary to "hit" menu and the data is provided. Newer DGG releases have formatted their DVD's.

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Warning: no subtitles

If you love opera DVDs bez you can learn the opera -- music and words -- this DVD may not be for you.


reviews: page 1, 2, 3

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