Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful event
Review: This is a live performance recorded in Vienna. It is nothing short of a special event, as musically many of the singers are at high level.But first, a minor caveat. This DVD does not feature subtitles, so you'll need to get your hands on a libretto to follow along (something rather easy for Wagner opera lovers). Now back to the review. I thoroughly enjoyed Placido Domingo as Lohengrin: His voice is superb, and as another reviewer noted, he can also act. Cheryl Studer is a fine Elsa, and sings with great warmth. Hartmut Welker is a surprising Frederick: He sings with power and a sense of nobility. Of all the characters, the weakest singing is provided by Robert Lloyd as the king. Nonetheless, for a live performance, this is actually an appealing DVD. The Vienna State Opera does a fine job. However, I am not necessarily an avid admirer of Claudio Abbado's conducting. Still, the music is so beautiful and the performance so captivating that this DVD deserves the highest rating.
Rating:
Summary: Abbado's conducting is wonderful
Review: Unlike some of the other reviewers, I thoroughly enjoyed this performance. Abbado was wonderful in his conducting. The cast was solid and the singing quite good, even Placido Domingo who is not one of my favoite tenors. Judging from the applause at this live performance, the audience loved what they saw. Given the reasonable price, I wouldn't hesitate to add this to an opera collection.
Rating:
Summary: Abbado's conducting is wonderful
Review: Unlike some of the other reviewers, I thoroughly enjoyed this performance. Abbado was wonderful in his conducting. The cast was solid and the singing quite good, even Placido Domingo who is not one of my favoite tenors. Judging from the applause at this live performance, the audience loved what they saw. Given the reasonable price, I wouldn't hesitate to add this to an opera collection.
Rating: 
Summary: Domingo singing Wagner? Don't you have ears?
Review: What a shame to waste such a great cast and conductor and the venue with a 'ticket selling' ITALIAN opera star, Domingo. Does anyone cares what his German sounds like? Has the world gone mad? Wanting to do something is not enough - I would like to conduct the Ring cycle in Bayreuth, but they won't let me. Is it enough that a major ITALIAN opera star has a minority complex of singing all those um-pa-pa trivia and pop songs with Iglesias (yes, don't you remeber) and switch into Helden-tenors? Beautiful singing, lovely voice - yes, but is that Lohengrin as Wagner wanted to be?...
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