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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD EAN: 9780769722528 Format: Classical, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC ISBN: 0769722520 Label: Kultur Video Languages: Manufacturer: Kultur Video MPN: 2252 Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Kultur Video Region Code: 1 Release Date: June 29, 2004 Running Time: 139 minutes Studio: Kultur Video Theatrical Release Date: 1989 Editorial Review: Amazon.com: Vocally, it would be hard to find a better Flying Dutchman. Hildegard Behrens, Matti Salminen, and (most important in this 1988 production's title role) Franz Grundheber were among the finest Wagnerian singers of the late 20th century, and all were in top vocal form on this occasion. They have an excellent supporting cast, and a chorus that sings with musical vitality and acts with theatrical vividness under Illka Backman's expert direction. And Leif Segerstam's conducting is superb, keeping the performance unified and propelling it forward with dramatic urgency. Wagner's drama of a sea captain, cursed to wander the ocean forever until he can be redeemed by the love and self-sacrifice of a good woman, is a relatively early work, still in touch with traditional operatic procedures and accessible to people who are not hard-core Wagnerians. In this production, it comes across with strong impact. The performance is staged outdoors in the courtyard of a 500-year-old Finnish castle, which contributes to its atmosphere but sometimes makes the lighting less than ideal. Lacking the scenic effects of a staged, indoor production, the video uses rather generic projections quite frequently, including the climactic last scene when the Dutchman's ship goes down. The sound is good but not outstanding by 21st-cenury standards, and (as happens in live recordings) there are a few glitches in the orchestra and lapses in sound-picture synchronization. These are minor considering the disc's positive values, but must be mentioned. In sum, not a perfect Dutchman but, musically and dramatically, a very satisfactory one. --Joe McLellan Description: Ilkka Bäckman's acclaimed production of Wagner's classic opera takes place outdoors in the huge courtyard of Finland's 500-year-old Olavinlinna Castle - a majestic and impressive setting, which gives the production an atmosphere and realism almost impossible to create in a conventional theatre. Hildegard Behrens, at the height of her career, is the tragic Senta, whose destiny is to redeem the Dutchman from his fate. The German bass-baritone, Franz Grundheber, sings the title role, and Finland's own Matti Salminen is the Norwegian sea captain, Daland. From the Savonlinna Opera Festival. Average Rating:
 Rating:  - Turn Off The TVWhat is the point of buying a DVD if you can't enjoy what you SEE as well as hear? I liked what I heard well enough, but visually, the production is stupid. The costuming is simply awful! Senta, for example, wears a silk and velvet dress (for spinning?!?) As has been mentioned in other reviews, the constant scenes of a pen and ink drawing of the Dutchman's ship superimposed over waves every time nobody is singing are more than annoying. The scenes of the (Finland's Olavinlinna)castle grounds ... Read More Rating:  - Not Perfect, But Definitely Worth ItI first purchased this DVD for two reasons. First, I was about to be in a production of Der Fliegende Hollander (in the chorus) and I wanted to get a feel for the story. Second, I wanted to hear Matti Salminen, the Finish Bass whose deep, sonorous voice is so compelling. Overall, I was not disappointed. This is a good production of one of Wagner's more accessible operas. The staging is different. Filmed inside of a Finish castle, it looks a bit odd at times. I would have preferred a more traditional ... Read More Rating:  - A superb cast brings this "Dutchman" to llife!The best sung "Flying Dutchman" available in any format. Every CD set has a serious flaw with at least one singer in the cast and that usually being a squally Senta. The Dorati set on London has a wonderful cast but nothing comes to life. On Myto the same Senta and Dutchman are superb but the sound is poor. Some Reviewers have criticized this Savonlinna production and some rather scathingly but we are in debt to Kultur for making this production available. Behrens, Salminen and Grundheber produce beautiful ... Read More Rating: - Vocally enthralling, visually atmospheric DutchmanWagner's Der Flieglande Hollander is probably his single most effective piece of theater. It's relatively short, and the opera moves along at an astonishingly fast clip. At this stage Wagner was not fond of sprinkling his works with long, "profound" monologues (think of Wotan's 40 minute narration in Act 2 of Die Walkure). This performance took place at an ancient Finnish castle, and the directors obviously love the atmospheric setting as there are many shots of the outside waters and the craggly staircases ... Read More Rating:  - All the problems of outdoor production plus a TV videoFrom Savonlinna. It's an outdoor performance and re-inforces my prejudice against them. Minimal scenery. Not even an attempt to play out the last scene. Plus the whole thing is lip sinc and although the soloists manage all right the chorus doesn't even make the attempt. Musically, the orchestra is a little raw. They play the first act and pause but then run acts 2 and 3 together. Grundheber, Behrens and Salminen and very good. On the whole I would hold out for Kupfer or some other indoor production. |
