CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Verdi - Don Carlos

starring: Ramon Vargas, Iano Tamar, Nadja Michael, Alastair Miles, Bo Skovhus
directed by: Peter Konwitschny

Release Date October 30, 2007
A history of a French Don Carlos mirrors the failure of France to provide singers whose career is based on that language. The DVD under consideration reflects that deterioration in that not one singer can claim it as their first language. The Don is Mexican, Posa a Dane, Elizabeth a Georgian, Philip an Englishman,Eboli, a German. As a result we really don't anything resembling French production although Vargas, Miles and Skovhus are better at it than Tamar and Michael. Tamar, howeve, has a beautiful lyrico spinto voice and Michael are somewhat careless. Even with these criticisms I am thrilled that it is a complete text and unlikely to be challenged in the next few years.

What can be challenged and should be is the Konswitschy ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Wagner - Lohengrin

starring: John Treleaven, Emily Magee, Luana DeVol, Hans-Joachim Ketelsen, Reinhard Hagen
directed by: Peter Konwitschny

Release Date June 26, 2007
Before purchasing this video, I had the benefit of reading a favorable review in Opera News, which prepared me for the shock of seeing Lohengrin set in a classroom with all the players cast as children. It is absolutely absurd...but it works! All the boys, including the king with a paper crown, wear short pants and knee socks; all the girls, simple skirts and blouses with socks and little girl shoes.

Elsa, sung and acted beautifully by Emily Magee, is hiding in the classroom cupboard. She finally comes forward to face the king after Telramund, Hans-Joachim Ketelsen, has accused her of drowning her brother Gottfried, the Duke of Brabant. Telramund has been put up to this by his wife Ortrud, played by Luana DeVol. Elsa requests a champion ... Read More: