Wagner - Tannhauser / Mehta, Kollo, National Theatre of Munich Rating: Release Date: 06 March, 2001 Retail Price: $29.99 OUR Price: $26.99 You SAVE: $3.00! Cast: Brian Large Waltraud Meier

Wagner - Tannhauser / Mehta, Kollo, National Theatre of Munich Reviews

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Close to disastrous...
I bought it because of the raves about Secunde. She and Kollo make Trannhauser the Mom and Dad of this opera, and frumpy, at that. Elizabeth should be glowing and her voice reflecting that. As for Kollo, he had no business singing Tannhauser with his vocal spread and wobble. To me, he was an embarrasment. Meier is wonderful -- not a pretty voice, but solid and exciting; the small item of her beauty doesn't go unnoticed, either.

The production/set is so depressing, I'm going to think twice before I complain about the VHS from the Met, although I'm not bowled over with Casilly or Marton. However, Venus is sung by Troyanos who is always a treat.



First hated it, then loved it
When I watched this DVD for the first time, I hated it. I stopped watching it during the first scene of the second act. Three years ago I decided to watch the whole DVD. My opinion changed completely. Sure a lot of the staging doesn't make much sense. But it certainly looks good and is actually quite entertaining. The Venusberg scene is beautifully surrealist. The singing contest is dramatic. The end of the opera is very touching. Zubin Mehta conducts a dramatic and emotional performance. Unfortunately singing is not quite as good. Bernd Weikl and especially René Kollo (once the greatest Tannhäuser of the World) were past their prime. Nadine Secunde's Elisabeth is little more than acceptable. Waltraud Meier gives the best vocal performance of the DVD. However, they all act very well.

I heard that René Kollo hated David Alden's production, and it is true that it probably isn't everybody's cup of tea. But apart from the Ponnelle Tristan and Chéreau Rheingold, I enjoyed it more than any other Wagner DVD or VHS.

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