Korngold: Die Tote Stadt

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Die tote Stadt may be better known for the lushly orchestrated lyricism of its music, but the psychological acuity of its exploration of grief and memory is no less impressive from a composer who was still 23 when no less than Otto Klemperer conducted the premiere in Cologne in 1920. Korngold's gift for a tune ensured that his star has hardly waned since then, though the opera is rarely staged: Kasper Holten's inful and restrained production is a rare chance both to see and hear an opera of high emotional charge heightened by the dark cityscape of its title. A superb cast is led by Finnish National Opera's artistic director Mikko Franck, who is celebrated for his impassioned interpretations of Romantic opera. Press Reviews "... Kasper Holten's splendid production ... " (Opera) "Korngold's music is marvellous throughout. Vogt ... has, besides the required stamina, also the beauty of tone and the ringing top notes to allow him to ride over the orchestra. His youthful timbre and intelligent phrasing made him the most consummate Paul I have heard, whether live or on a . I hope some record company has grabbed the rtunity to record this production, since Vogt was not alone in vocal brilliance. Marietta's role is also enormously taxing, but Camilla Nylund sang it with the same assurance as Vogt, actually on a par with Katarina Dalayman's reading in Stockholm. Mikko Franck, Artistic Director and General Music Director of the Finnish National Opera, is a charismatic conductor and there was an extraordinary glow to the orchestra. With analytic clarity, he laid bare every strand of Korngold's masterly orchestral colours. I regard Die tote Stadt as one of the greatest operas of the first quarter of the 20th century and the Finnish National Opera's production makes it stand out as a true masterpiece, scenically and musically." (Seen and Heard International) "Holten's surreal evocation of Bruges, the dead city of the title, is wonderfully creepy ... Klaus Florian Vogt excels as the wild-eyed, obsessive Paul, desperately trying to make over Camilla Nylund's slutty Marietta in saintly Marie's image. Mikko Franck's conducting is to die for. " (The Guardian ììììì) Cast Klaus Florian Vogt (Paul) Camilla Nylund (Marietta) Markus Eiche (Frank / Fritz) Sari Nordqvist (Brigitta) Kaisa Ranta (Juliette) Melis Jaatinen (Lucienne) Per-Håkan Precht (Victorin) Juha Riihimäki (Count Albert) Finnish National Opera Chorus, Children’s Chorus and Orchestra; Mikko Franck Production Company: Finnish Opera Stage Director: Kasper Holten Television Director: Hannu Kamppila Choreographer: Signe Fabricius Disc Information Catalogue Number: OA1121D Date of Performance: 2010 Running Time: 150 minutes Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic Subtitles: EN; FR; DE; JP; KR Label: Opus Arte