- Category: Video » Music & Musicals » Classical Music
- Format: Blu-Ray Learn more about the Blu-Ray format using Tower WIKI.
- Region:
Region 1 (U.S. & Canada only.)
Learn more about Region formats.
- Number of Discs: 1
- UPC/EAN: 809478070320
- WAPI (Tower ID): 113547590
- Studio: Opus Arte
- Release Date: July 28, 2009
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Average Customer Review:
(1 customer review)
- Tower.com Sales Rank: #25509 in Movies (See Top 100 Movies Bestsellers)
- #2740 in Music & Musicals (See Top 100 Music & Musicals Bestsellers)
- #331 in Classical Music (See Top 100 Classical Music Bestsellers)
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Product DescriptionRun a Quick Search on "The Royal Opera: Hansel & Gretel" starring Engelbert Humperdinck to Browse Related Products:Browse more products related to "The Royal Opera: Hansel & Gretel"Browse more products related to "Engelbert Humperdinck"Distributor NoteDiana Damrau and Angelika Kirchschlager star in the acclaimed 2008 production of Humperdinck’s famous fairytale opera, in the company of two of Britain’s most revered musical figures: Thomas Allen, playing the role of the Father, and the legendary conductor Colin Davis. Directors Patrice Caurier and Moshe Leiser combine their characteristic wit and a dash of deliciously dark comedy with the opera’s fairytale charm. Humperdinck’s music mixes catchy folk-like songs with sumptuous instrumental colour, making the result as tunefully approachable, musically memorable and visually delightful as opera gets. Filmed in High Definition and recorded in full Surround Sound. Release NoteBlu-ray Disc Features: If You Enjoy "The Royal Opera: Hansel & Gretel (Blu-Ray)", May We Also Recommend:Customer Reviews for "The Royal Opera: Hansel & Gretel (Blu-Ray)"Most Recent Customer Reviews  Excellent, if creepy, production. Damrau shines., September 23, 2009
By Ben
Everyone knows this story. Two poor hungry children are sent out into the woods
to pick berries and find themselves captured by a witch whose house is made of
gingerbread and sweets. She wants to eat them. Depending on the version youve
read, either the witch gets her way, or she gets cooked in her own oven. This
Humperdinck opera follows the latter interpretation, and in some ways that seems
a shame, because its hard to take the creepiness of the witch as seriously when
shes so flatly dumb about whats happening. You cant help but wonder how this
witch found a child she COULD trick? Enough about the plot.
This is,
honestly, a great production. The score is moving and beautiful, and it is
masterfully performed here. The audio clearly benefits from the Blu-ray format.
All of the performers did admirable jobs singing their parts, but standing out
above and beyond all others were Diana Damrau (as Gretel) and Thomas Allen (as
Father). Allens performance is boomy and believable as the carefree, drunken
Father who comes home to find his children sent out by the rather spiteful
Mother into the (apparently dangerous) woods. You cant help but wonder why
Mother and Father had never discussed the fact that a witch who eats children
lives in the woods outside their house...youd think that would have come up at
some point.
Anyway, Damraus performance of Gretel is inspiring. You cant
exactly say she "stole the show" as it is pretty much the lead role, but her
beautiful voice and the whimsical sparkling in her eye really put Hansels
character firmly out of your mind when shes singing. You almost forget its in
German and youre reading everything!
When the witch finally shows up, she is
wearing a sweater with the top and bottom buttons fastened, and the rest of them
undone, completely exposing her strangely-painted breasts in a very strange (and
apparently pointless) way. I guess when witches are wandering around in the
woods, they like to feel at one with nature. Without getting cold shoulders.
When the scene shifts into her gingerbread house, she trades in the exposed
nipples for a walker. Yes, a walker. The little metal frames with two wheels
that old people use to get around more easily. This is just one of a bizarre
string of production decisions that were taken to bring a modern-day mentality
to a very old story. Other examples include the occasional "all stars" t-shirt,
or plastic bag from a grocery store. Sometimes these choices were funny and
clever. The walker was just there to be weird.
I should probably say
something about the picture quality, as this is a Blu-ray release. In a word:
Fantastic. The cameras are not afraid to get close to the performers, and with
so many wonderful expressions coming from Damrau throughout the performance,
this is most definitely a good thing. You can really connect with the childrens
playful spirits and get lost in their play. The set design is somewhat unique,
although I cant really say that there seemed to be any reason for the
uniqueness. Why make the walls in the bedroom crooked? Was it to make Hansel
and Gretel seem smaller than they actually were? If that was the intent, then
they should have made the beds bigger to dwarf them.
There are several "what
tha?" moments that left me scratching my head. Regardless, the overall effect of
this performance is a positive one. Not for children, even aside from the
exposed boobs. There are some really dark moments at the end that are perfectly
valid story elements, but still not something I would want my kids to see
portrayed so graphically.
In short: Worth it for Diana Damraus performance,
the Blu-ray visuals, and the score.
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