Nevertheless, if you're a Sutherland fan, but not sufficiently much of one to already own all her DVDs, you'll probably consider this selection worth having.
Finally, with performances of Mozart's Idomeneo due in Taipei next week (see tomorrow's Around Town, Page 13, for the preview), it's worth mentioning a somewhat maligned DVD of the work from the UK's Glyndebourne Opera, filmed in 1974. The generally recommended production is Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's for the Metropolitan Opera in 1982 with Pavarotti, Cotrubas and Behrens, issued on DVD in a re-mastered version in 2006 (DGM 073 4234). The version with Ramon Vargas and conducted by Roger Norrington in the brand new M22 set of all Mozart's 22 operas and opera fragments is also gathering enthusiasts.
This is not today's Glyndebourne theater but the older, much smaller one. The stage is so cramped that no elaborate effects are possible. Even so, Richard Lewis in the title role, Leo Goeke as his perplexed son Idamante, the young Josephine Barstow as Elettra, and Bozena Betley as Ilia are all well worth listening to, and watching. Lewis brings a splendid gravitas to his part, Goeke is entirely believable in his troubled relations with his two women, not to mention his father, while both Barstow and Betley, though very different in vocal tone, sing with great clarity and feeling.
I won't claim this Idomeneo should be anyone's first choice. But if you happen to see it, it's worth picking up. The score is significantly cut, but for the rest there's much of interest. Glyndebourne was founded with Mozart's operas primarily in mind, and his music suits an intimate theater like this to perfection.
RSS