Fidelio

This is not quite my favourite production of Beethoven's great opera. I do prefer the 1978, 2002 and especially 1970 productions, but this 1990 one is very solid and a production worth having. The costumes and setting are very convincing, and Beethoven's wonderful music still has its power thanks to the orchestral playing and the firm conducting of Chistoph Von Dohnyani. The drama is very involving on the whole with a poignant O Welche Lust and a sublime in every way Mir Ist So Wunderbar. I have only one disappointment, which was the cut of the Nichts, Nichts, Mein Florestan, an amazing exchange that could have had a lot of emotional impact if included.

Camera work is focused, the picture quality is generally clear, the sound quality just adds to the power of the music and how it was performed and the lighting is austere without being too dark. I didn't think much of the packaging design of the DVD though, not particularly that interesting or well designed and may confuse those unfamiliar with the opera first hand. The singing is great. Gabriella Benackova's voice has so much warmth that soars above the orchestra with ease. She's a good actress too, with a powerful Abscheulicher and a poised O Nameleuse Freude. Marie McLaughlin and Neill Archer are also excellent, with McLaughlin being perhaps the cutest Marzelline I've seen.

But the best support turns came from Robert Lloyd's superb Rocco, although I have been familiar with Lloyd for years not in a while have I heard so much pleasure than his delightful Hat Man Nicht Auch Gold Beineiben, and also to Monte Pederson who while I would have preferred a more powerful and (slightly) less pinched voice like Hans Sotin's lets Don Pizarro's evilness just drip out of him. Hans Tchammer is a firm and sympathetic Fernando, if lacking the resonance of a Martti Talvela for example. I agree that Josef Protschka is too burly and healthy to be a prisoner all broken and verging on starvation, but his In Des Lebens is moving and doesn't sound too strained at the top and he's an acceptable if not brilliant actor.

All in all, very solid and definitely worth having. 7.5/10 Bethany Cox