Wagner: Lohengrin - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
Acclaimed director Werner Herzog stages Richard Wagner s
classic opera, Lohengrin in a lavish production filmed at the
famed Bayreuth Opera House, with Peter Schneider
conducting the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra. The medieval
romance of the Swan Knight, who comes miraculously to the
rescue of the falsely accused Elsa of Brabant, became one
of Richard Wagner s most beloved operas. This production
features an all-star cast including Cheryl Studer as Elsa
and Paul Frey as Lohengrin, as well as Gabriele Schnaut,
Ekkehard Wlaschiha and Manfred Schenk.

Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

A blend of the traditional and the new May 9, 2008
20 out of 22 found this review helpful

Wagner's 1850 vision of rapturous stillness, the ecstasy of love and of the strange and terrible beauty that is barely discernable in the eternal silence that rounds our lives, has often been one of the most difficult of his operas to stage. Rudolph Kempe's brilliant 1964 recording on EMI is still the finest recorded version available of this deeply mystical work. Wagner perfected the technique of sonically weaving a cosmic stage upon which human passions play out in his later masterpieces, especially Tristan and Parsifal, but Lohengrin is the headwater of much of his greatest later artistry.

Film director Werner Herzog staged this production under the watchful eye of Bayreuther Festspiele artistic director (and Wagner grandson), Wolfgang Wagner. Herzog was given his marching orders: this production must stay in the repertoire a minimum of five years - "so no trendy antics." By blending the most modern and up-to-date theater technology: smoke, lasers, film back projection, with a deeply traditional stage production, Herzog has essentially created a late 20th century version of a 19th century picture-book world that romantically recreates the primitive 10th century northern-European setting. Nothing exemplifies this more than Lohengrin's sudden, heroic swan-borne entrance through a scrim of laser light and smoke. The effect is electrifying as it is perfectly timed to Wagner's powerful music. Moments such as these work brilliantly in combination with the magnificent sound and exemplary performance of the Bayreuther Festspiele. This time travel telescoping of three temporal sensibilities, crisply focuses (into a slightly more Earthbound vision) Wagner's occasional over-reaching for mythic effects, the very thing that makes his operas so difficult to stage coherently. That is one of this production's greatest strengths, and is well worth a recommendation for that fact alone.

The cast stars Paul Frey as Lohengrin, Manfred Schenk as King Henry the Fowler, and Cheryl Studer as Elsa von Brabant. The orchestra is conducted by Peter Schneider. Their performances are superb, heightened by Bayreuth's absolutely resplendant acoustics. Every note bursts from the stage with a warmth and clarity fostered by the now 150 year old wood from which the stage is constructed. The orchestra, which plays from beneath the covered pit, is similarly rewarded: Wagner's brilliant writing for the brasses is given a warmth and reverberant fullness of tone that is slightly recessed and softened by the wood covering. Unique in the opera world, Bayreuth's stunning acoustics provides an aura of distance, increasing the other-worldly quality of Wagner's music, an effect that is perfect for his operas.

Brilliantly directed by Brian Large, the DVD was filmed in June 1990 and looks crystal clear in this remastered version that runs for 214 minutes. The sound in both PCM stereo and DTS 5.1 is full, rich and life-like. There are the usual DGG menus and translations. A booklet is enclosed.

A blend of traditional staging with new technology, all in the service of a splendid artistic conception, makes this Lohengrin a fine investment for fans of this opera. Most strongly recommended.

Mike Birman

5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding release! May 13, 2008
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Wonderful news from the DGG vaults. Many of us Wagner lovers are familiar with this cherished production from previous incarnations. But this reincarnation on DVD brings out everything to new life and new focus. Outstanding interpretations from Cheryl Studer as Elsa and Gabriele Schnaut as Ortrud. A little less so the Lohengrin of Paul Frey but we have heard much much worse in recent times. Gorgeous, naturalistic production and staging. No Regietheater or Eurotrash here. It is like balm for the eyes, ears and soul. Again. All in all, this is THE Lohengrin to own. Thank you, DGG. Question for DGG: how much longer before you release on DVD the treasured Bayreuth TANNHAEUSER with Maestro Sinopoli, Studer and others?

2 out of 5 stars

beautiful but badly flawed August 1, 2008
6 out of 8 found this review helpful

I had seen a scene from the second act on YouTube and was stunned at how beautiful and realistic the production was, so I purchased this dvd. There were some amazingly beautiful touches in this production. Sets, costumes, colors. Also, some very fine performances by Studer and Schnaut most notably.

I was enjoying this UNTIL the very ending, which nearly, for me discredits the entire production. The ending of Lohengrin is unique in that we have both overwhelming happiness and sadness. When I say "overwhelming" - when done right, it is. And as it IS so unique, the effect on the viewer is too. Overwhelming happiness at the return of Elsa's brother and the triumph of "good over evil" - and overwhelming sadness as Elsa, upon discovering Lohengrin's departure, falling "life-less." (One small mystery that I have debated is whether Elsa merely faints or dies.) In any case, Ortrud is basically "evil incarnate" as she, with selfish and malicious motives is the cause of every problem in the story. HOW COULD the director obscure the very essense of the story at the end of this production? In this production after Lohengrin's departure, Elsa and Ortrud are seen "reaching out" to each other. huh?? HUH???? I was VERY disappointed, after having enjoyed the performance up to this point to witness such strangeness. The effect Wagner surely wanted is NOT here.

I would urge everyone who likes this opera to see the Met's production with Eva Marton and Peter Hoffman. THERE IS NO COMPARISON. I can tell you that you will be "overwhelmed" by how powerful the ending SHOULD be. Directors who distort the stories of operas are MISREPRESENTING great art. This is a RAMPANT problem in the world of opera. While on the sympohony orchestra stage, intellects are striving for authenticity, in the world of opera, great artists are participating in FALSE representations of some of the greatest works of art ever. One would not tolerate a mustache on the Mona Lisa. Opera lovers should INSIST on authenticity and respect to at least the ESSENSE of the operas themselves.

4 out of 5 stars

Good Lohengrin, though not definitive August 1, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

I just purchased this, and though much has already said of the performers (particularly Schnaut, Studer, and Frey--all described accurately by other reviewers), I felt the need to review this positively to offset the reviewer who gave this production two stars because they disliked the ending.

"Regietheater" (director's theater) in opera is nothing new. This production, for the most part, is traditional. Only the true purists would complain. Heck, the Bayreuth '83 DVD production doesn't even have a swan. The swan in this seems a little out of place, but ih. . .at least it's *there*. We live in a world where Valkyries ride invisible horses and Wagner's stage directions are only "suggestions." Feel grateful the chorus isn't dumping soup on the stage.

I love Cheryl Studer's Elsa (the highlight of this production) and Schnaut's Ortrud, though not the best I've heard, is very well acted. Frey as Lohengrin can't really. . .er, act. . .but his voice is all right, and Lohengrin only has a big part to play in Act 3, so for the first two acts he isn't as annoying as he could be. All in all, I'd recommend this far and above the Met version and *any* version with Placido Domingo in it. (I know his German has improved in recent years, but my God!) This isn't my favorite version--that goes to the '83 Bayreuth DVD--but is definitely worth adding to any Wagner collection.

3 out of 5 stars

Good points marred by dull direction, mediocre acting May 30, 2008
1 out of 7 found this review helpful

Werner Herzog's 1990 Bayreuth Lohengrin has some very good singing and occasionally interesting staging yet is seriously marred but dull direction and interaction among the characters. Of the four Lohengrin's I have seen on DVD (Abbado, Domingo/Vienna; Hofmann, Levine/Met; and Hofmann, Nelsson/Bayreuth), this overall has the least interesting characterisation and involvement from the singers.

The singing generally is fine. Paul Frey is a lyrical although unheroic Lohengrin, but this man can't act his way out of a box. He just looks stiff and unfomfortable. Cheryl Studer was well known for her Elsa, and offers much warmhearted lyricism. Try as she does, though, there is no chemistry between her and the dullard Frey. And she is simply not as moving as the Met's Eva Marton. Ekkehard Wlaschiha's Telramund and Gabrielle Schnaut's Ortrud are reasonably well done, but try as they may, they are somehow held back by well-known filmmaker Werner Herzog's inability to get his actors to well, interact much in a compelling manner.

Herzog's best moments come from his nature-inspired Act 2 dialogue between Elsa and Ortrud, more personal and compelling than most anything else in this quite static production. Herzog's emphasis on nature in Act 3 also is winning but when the actors and direction leave such an insipid impression on stage, the trees, the snow at the end - fine touches - go for little.

The Act 1 entrance of the swan is not compelling at all here. Almost embarrassing. And too often, the chorus, so vital in this work, while sounding great, looks small and insignificant through Brian Large's camera work.

Conductor Peter Schneider is one of the best parts of this performance, offering a straightforward reading with both lyricism and drama, rising to some compelling heights and passion when called for. Still, that and Studer's fine Elsa are not enough to bring this Lohengrin into the top rank.

Overall, the drama here is not compelling, not nearly as much as in the Levine/Met and Nelsson/Bayreuth productions, my favorites. Maybe one can chalk it up to Herzog's inexperience with the opera medium. For the most part this is just dull to watch.

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