Richard Wagner - Siegfried - Jerusalem, Tomlinson, Evans - Barenboim, Bayreuth 1992Siegfried: Siegfried Jerusalem,
Mime: Graham Clark,
Der Wanderer: John Tomlinson,
Alberich: Günter von Kannen,
Alberich: Günter von Kannen,
Fafner: Philip Kang,
Brünnhilde: Anne Evans,
Erda: Birgitta Svendén,
Stimme des Waldvogels: Hilde Leidland
Conductor: Daniel Barenboim
Staged and directed: Harry Kupfer
This legendary production of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, directed by Harry Kupfer at Bayreuth Festival Opera and conducted by Daniel Barenboim, is considered one of the greatest productions of this titanic work ever staged. One of the most exciting aspects of this release is the format, which is genuine 16:9 widescreen from the original HDTV 1250 recording, one of the first Hi-Definition recordings made in Europe. There is also surround sound from tapes made at the original recording by UNITEL.
"Filmed over a lengthy period on the Bayreuth Festspiel stage, but not during actual performances, we get the best of both worlds. There’s the famed Bayreuth acoustic, slightly subdued but with enough clarity to project both orchestra and singing. There’s also the advantage of close acquaintance with the sets and direction as well as opportunities for second takes when necessary. Sometimes the close-ups reveal a lack of realism, as when Siegfried boxes Mime’s ears; the camera shows us that the blows are empty gestures. We know that Siegfried Jerusalem would never dream of hurting a hair on Graham Clark’s head, however slimy the creature he impersonates.", musicweb.
