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Rating: 
Summary: The Most Important Thing You Need To Know About This DVD...
Review: ...is that there are voices heard mumbling throughout the second half...as if the sound engineers accidentally put a live microphone next to the snack bar in the lobby. I'm not kidding. The first few times you hear it, you'll think "Hmmm...that's strange." But after it's been going on for 20 minutes, then 30, you'll realize that you wasted your money.I've noticed that, in general, sound engineers in orchestral music are SADLY lacking in comparision to pop music producers. I've become inured with these ridiculous flaws in my own Wagner collection, what with the frequent mysterious noises and sloppy edits in even the best renditions of his operas. Where's George Martin when we need him?!?
It's an incredible shame too, because the performances in this particular version are great.
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding Visual Design
Review: This is not my favorite Wagnerian opera by a long shot. But it is a must own, for the simple reason that these are absolutely the best set designs ever done. The Benusberg scene is dazzlingly Bosch-ish, the entry into Wartburg looks like it stepped out of an Italian Early Renaissance fresco. A must own.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Visual Design
Review: This is not my favorite Wagnerian opera by a long shot. But it is a must own, for the simple reason that these are absolutely the best set designs ever done. The Venusberg scene is dazzlingly Bosch-ish, the entry into Wartburg looks like it stepped out of an Italian Early Renaissance fresco. A must own.
Rating: 
Summary: Performance riddled by poor singing
Review: This isn't a good performance. Cassily just copes with the difficult title part. Marton doesn't really have the purity of voice for Elisabeth. Troyanos is over-streched as Venus and Weikl past his prime as Wolfram. With such poor singing, this dvd cannot be recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: very enjoyable production
Review: This recording of the Paris version of Tannhauser was made from performances at the Met on November 22 and December 20, 1982. It features Richard Cassilly in the title role, Eva Marton as Elizabeth, Bernd Weikl as Wolfram von Eschenbach, John Macurdy as Hermann, Landgrave of Thringia, and Tatiana Troyanos as Venus, among many other performers. The sets are designed by Gunther Schneider-Siemssen. James Levine conducts. Taken as a whole, this is a successful performance, done in a very traditional manner. The costuming is outstanding, and the choral work deserves special recognition. Levine's tempi are brisk but not pushed hard and the whole opera runs for 185 minutes. The sound quality is excellent considering the medium and age of the recording itself. A brief synopsis but no libretto is submitted, which is reasonable considering the opera is also subtitled in English. In comparison to Solti's studio recording, the orchestral balance is not as forward or aggressive, and the singing is as fine. At medium price, this is definitely worth seeking out. Elegant packaging and presentation. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: The Most Important Thing You Need To Know About This DVD...
Review: This was the most passionate opera I've ever seen. Also, it was my first. I wrote a thesis on Richard Wagner and studied the synopsis of the opera. It was up to the tee. Marton does and excellent job playing Elizabeth that the tears in her eyes led me to tear up also. The guy who played Wolfram looked as though he didn't fully study out his lines, because of the bewildering look on his face when the camera did a close up. Cassily was wonderful despite in Act I his hair was sticking out. The most famous Pilgrims' Chorus was good, but I would have wanted it to be slowed down and appreciated...maybe it was a difficult piece to sing that is why the orhcestra sped it up so they could get it done and over with. The Entry of the Guest scene was great. Overall, I strongly recommend this. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: From a Wagnerite
Review: This was the most passionate opera I've ever seen. Also, it was my first. I wrote a thesis on Richard Wagner and studied the synopsis of the opera. It was up to the tee. Marton does and excellent job playing Elizabeth that the tears in her eyes led me to tear up also. The guy who played Wolfram looked as though he didn't fully study out his lines, because of the bewildering look on his face when the camera did a close up. Cassily was wonderful despite in Act I his hair was sticking out. The most famous Pilgrims' Chorus was good, but I would have wanted it to be slowed down and appreciated...maybe it was a difficult piece to sing that is why the orhcestra sped it up so they could get it done and over with. The Entry of the Guest scene was great. Overall, I strongly recommend this. Enjoy!
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