Beethoven Fidelio
“Pretty darn close to having”
Overview
This production is a gala affair; the sets are traditional (evocative of 18th-19th century Spain); the lighting is bright, so colors are good and one can see all of the action. Singers are generally well chosen and perform admirably. However, at this point, slight reservations creep in; although Janowitz (Fidelio/Leonore) and Kollo (Florestan) look "good" and act well, the singing parts tax them a bit when pushed to the limit. Most of the time that doesn't matter, and an argument can be made that a little vocal strain is in character with their dire plight. Ideally, for me, Vickers as Florestan would have added extra vocal heft and more sensitive acting than Kollo.
Director
Otto Schenk
Cast
Gundula Janowitz
Leonora
René Kollo
Florestan
Manfred Jungwirth
Rocco
Hans Sotin
Don Pizarro
Lucia Popp
Marzelline
Adolf Dallapozza
Jaquino
Hans Helm
Fernando
Karl Terkal
1er Gefangener
Alfred Šramek
2e Gefangener
Leonard Bernstein
Conductor
Details
Language
de
Status
Released
