Humperdinck - Hansel und Gretel
by Georg Solti, August Everding
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DVD details
Actor: Brigitte Fassbaender, Edita Gruberova, Helga Dernesch, Hermann Prey, Sena JurinacDirector: August Everding, Georg Solti
Brand: Universal Studios
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); German (Subtitled); Chinese (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Subtitled); German (Original Language), DTS 5.1; English (Original Language); French (Original Language); Spanish (Original Language); Mandarin Chinese (Original Language)
Format: Classical, Color, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 109 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-01-10
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Deutsche Grammophon
DVD Reviews of Humperdinck - Hansel und Gretel
DVD Review: A lyrical fairy tale beautifully filmed
Summary: 5 Stars
I reviewed a new DVD of Verdi's Falstaff conducted by Sir Georg Solti on DGG some weeks ago. I thought it superb. Here is another Solti led release: Englebert Humperdinck's charming fairy tale opera based on Hansel und Gretel. It was filmed for Unitel and has been available on video before. It, too, is an excellent effort in all respects. I've occasionally been less than enthusiastic about Solti's conducting; his Ring cycle is not my favorite but I'm in the minority on that. These two recent releases may make me rethink my opinion of Solti's operatic vision. I guess you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!
Filmed in Vienna under the direction of August Everding in January and February 1981, the soundtrack was recorded in September the previous year. This is similar to Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's technique; his belief that lip synching enables singers to focus on their acting rather than worrying about where their next note is coming from. This works for me but purists do not like it. Be forewarned that this is not a typically staged Opera!
Brigitte Fassbaender sings Hansel and she is wonderful in the part. Her light mezzo makes her a perfect Hansel. What I found a little disconcerting was her uncommon beauty which, although disguised by costume and make-up, made me struggle to see her as a young boy. Edita Gruberova sings Gretel and she too is marvelous. In the mid-1980's she moved into the Italian bel canto repertoire for which she has been better known. The pair in tandem carry the weight of this lyrical Opera without difficulty. Perfect casting. The late Hermann Prey is the Father. He was a comedic singer/actor of the first magnitude (my personal favorite Figaro for both Mozart and Rossini), but he tones his comic gifts down for this role. He looks suitably haggard in the film but his singing is as lively as ever. Helga Dernesch is the mother and she too is fine. Most interesting is the much-loved soprano Sena Jurinac in the role of the Witch, two years before her retirement. Her older voice is perfect for the role. Her farewell to the stage was as the Marschallin.
The Vienna Philharmonic is superb, as always. In years of listening, I cannot recall a bad performance by this remarkable ensemble. The film uses special effects such as stop motion photography and animation for the more imaginative scenes. They are effective but limited. Do not compare them to today's Computer Graphics intensive films. A lyrical fairy tale ambiance suffuses this film and it is quite magical if you do not expect more than 1981 can deliver. I enjoyed it and was often quite moved (the appearance of the Angels, in particular, I found exceptionally lovely and poetic).
The film runs 107 minutes. It is in color, shot full screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Sound formats are PCM stereo and DTS 5.1. On higher-end A/V systems there is a significant difference between the two, with DTS providing greater presence, a larger illusion of space in the soundfield and a sense of "liveness" I have found in none of the other formats (including Dolby 5.1). Lower-end systems may not reveal much difference. There are the usual subtitles and no extras other than excerpts from current DGG releases. This is an excellent DVD which I recommend highly. You will probably treasure it as I do as long as you take my several provisos into consideration.
Mike Birman
Description of Humperdinck - Hansel und Gretel
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