Met in HD Tannhauser: 31 October 2015

[Pulcinella]

Coming to a cinema near you.

http://www.myvue.com/latest-movies/info/film/met-opera-tannhauser-wagner

A treat or a Hallowe'en horror?

[Flosshilde]

The New York Times review here - http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/10/ar...pgtype=article

Luke-warmish about Levine's conducting, a bit more positive about the singing, except for Elisabeth - "Eva-Maria Westbroek’s bright soprano voice may not be ideal for Elisabeth. ... Ms. Westbroek’s sound sometimes had a hard edge and wobbly vibrato." (look out, Cali ), & didn't think much of Botha's acting (non-existent). The production dates from 1977 & from the photo is very 'traditional'

Add to that the probability of the sound being rather too loud in the cinema, and I think I'll give it a miss. It'll probably come up on the radio at some point, so I might try it then.

[DublinJimbo]

… didn't think much of Botha's acting (non-existent). The production dates from 1977 & from the photo is very 'traditional'.

Add to that the probability of the sound being rather too loud in the cinema, and I think I'll give it a miss. It'll probably come up on the radio at some point, so I might try it then.

The same Botha totally destroyed Meistersinger when that was shown. 'Non-existent' is an almost charitable description of his stage presence.

[DublinJimbo]

Mr Botha was dreadful in the first two acts but redeemed himself spectacularly in the third. Star of the show, though, was Peter Mattei who was magnificent throughout. The out-of-kilter nature of the winter time change between both sides of the Atlantic almost caught us out, but we learned in time that it was a 4pm rather than a 5pm start.

[BBMmk2]

What a pity. I rather like this opera.

[ARBurton]

Mr Botha was dreadful in the first two acts but redeemed himself spectacularly in the third. Star of the show, though, was Peter Mattei who was magnificent throughout. The out-of-kilter nature of the winter time change between both sides of the Atlantic almost caught us out, but we learned in time that it was a 4pm rather than a 5pm start.

Agree entirely. However Landgraf Hermann was also notable. But Act 3 was ruined by Levine`s conducting which, in my humble opinion, was soooooooooo turgid in parts (Allmachtger Vater and O du mein holder Abendstern not least) that "becalmed" doesn`t come close.