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Rating: 
Summary: Fluent production that is quite brilliant
Review: The staging is amusing. In fact, I was slightly shocked at the beginning where the depths of the Rhine is represented by a hydro-electric dam and those Rhine-maidens become "call-girls". Yet, in some strange way, the production works. And it grows on you with each successive viewing. The direction of Patrice Chereau is fluent. Indeed, it's so fluent that one feels that the 2.5 hour work lasts only for slightly more than an hour. Maybe it's because Chereau's clever direction (and Brian Large's wonderful video direction) made viewers focus on the dramatic strengths of this opera. Or maybe the staging is so full of interesting (and dramatically valid) strokes that one is totally engrossed by the viewing experience. The performances of the singers are fine, too. Despite initial reservations, I must say I like it a lot now.
Rating:
Summary: Fluent production that is quite brilliant
Review: The staging is amusing. In fact, I was slightly shocked at the beginning where the depths of the Rhine is represented by a hydro-electric dam and those Rhine-maidens become "call-girls". Yet, in some strange way, the production works. And it grows on you with each successive viewing. The direction of Patrice Chereau is fluent. Indeed, it's so fluent that one feels that the 2.5 hour work lasts only for slightly more than an hour. Maybe it's because Chereau's clever direction (and Brian Large's wonderful video direction) made viewers focus on the dramatic strengths of this opera. Or maybe the staging is so full of interesting (and dramatically valid) strokes that one is totally engrossed by the viewing experience. The performances of the singers are fine, too. Despite initial reservations, I must say I like it a lot now.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting production
Review: This is an interesting production in many ways. Much of the sets will give the audience a surprise. The only disappointing part is the dragon, which is under-whelming. The Siegfried is performed by Mandred Jung, who is quite an active stage performer even though his voice is not of the first class. Heinz Zednik is an excellent Mime. The Brunnhilde is sung by Gwyneth Jones, who produces a few squally notes but the part is passionately sung nevertheless.
Rating: 
Summary: Well you know, you get used to it
Review: This is the famous production of the ring cycle that was first produced in the 1970's and booed of stage. The reason was that instead of it being set in around 400AD as intended by Wager it is played in 19th Century gear with Industrial age sets. The production was performed again in 1980 and filmed without an audience. This is the production that we see on this DVD. The first thing which must be said is that the sound quality is excellent. The film production is also good and does not have the problem that some opera DVD's have of being transferred from VHS to DVD. The general critical response to this version of the ring cycle has been posative with most of the barbs going to the singing of the role of Siegfried, something of no relevance to this DVD. The fist DVD of this production I saw was that of Gotterdammerung which was a bit of a shock. Brunnhilde was played by someone far to old (although it was the first woman Siegried saw, he probably wasn't that choosy) and the chorus dressed in French working men's costumes was a shock. However by this DVD somehow you forget it and if the opening scene is a large hydro dam instead of the Rhine and the Rhinemadens are dressed as prostitutes you don't seem to notice as much. the Gotterdammerung is a reasonably static opera. Probably as the first hour drags into the fourth you have a lot of time to look at people dressed as bank clerks and you have problems suspending disbelief. With this production, its all happeing with Gods and Giants striding the stage and people descending into the underworld the action keeps up. For that reason one forgets that Wotan is wearing a smoking jacket and that the trick about the Rhinemaidens was that they were maidens.
Anyway this retailed where I come from cheaply and it was great value. The quality and timber of the orchestral playing is superb. The signing good and the, I suppose you call it acting okay.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Production!
Review: When I think about what the best classical music's production is, I surely choose this one. I mean, of course, all of the four titles in "Der Ring Des Nibelungen." A few years ago, I got them packaged into one box. Why can't we get it now? This "Ring" should be sold as a box set because this is truly "Art" production which is created by the great artists, Boulez, Chereau, and Orchester Der Bayreuther Festspiele. What a crystal clear sound and what an intellectual direction it is! Although Manfred Jung(Siegfried) is miscast, in this great production, this mistake becomes a considerable concept. A great art is always like that. I highly recommend this one as one of the "set."
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