Weber - Der Freischutz / Ligendza, Kramer, Schone, Probst, Davies, Stuttgart Opera | 
 enlarge | Director: Hartmut Schottler
Actors: Toni Kramer, Caterina Ligendza, Raili Viljakainen, Wolfram Raub, Wuerttemberg State Opera Orchestra
Studio: Kultur Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.99
Buy New: $15.33
You Save: $14.66 (49%)
New (17) Used (3) from $15.33
Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 90875
Format: Classical, Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Language: German (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 146
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.6
ISBN: 0769776833
UPC: 032031209794
EAN: 9780769776835
ASIN: B00023BN4W
Theatrical Release Date: 2000
Release Date: June 29, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Carl Maria von Weber's masterpiece Der Freischutz remains the quintessential German opera before the rise of Wagner, and this engaging 1983 production by the Wurttemberg State Opera shows that, warts and all, Weber's supernatural story is still eminently entertaining. Director-designer Achim Freyer has placed this work in a beautifully detailed forest setting that has the folkloric quality of classic fairy tales, grounding Weber's fantastic plot in a specific world of wonderment. Conductor Dennis Russell Davies himself does wonders with the Wurttemberg State Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Right from the overture--so popular it is often played by itself in concert--Davies has a handle on Weber's endlessly hummable, instantly memorable music. Although the choral singers are an outstanding ensemble of both actors and singers, the two principals, Catarina Ligendza (Agathe) and Toni Kramer (Max), bring freshness and charm to their characterizations of Weber's romantic couple who may or may not marry at story's end. --Kevin Filipski
Description
Carl Maria von Weber's opera Der Freischuetz met with instant success on its premiere in Berlin in 1821, rapidly spreading throughout Europe. Audiences identified readily with the folk melodies and hunting character of its Bohemian setting. The story tells of Max's struggle to win Agathe in marriage. The desperation which leads him to trade with the devil in order to regain his lost marksman's skills, finds resolution when fate intervenes to prevent the fatal 'free bullet' from striking Agathe, saved by the sacred roses in her bridal coronet. In this Achim Freyer production from the Wuerttemberg State Opera, the Huntsman's role is taken by Toni Kraemer, with Caterina Ligendza as Agathe, Raili Viljakainen as Aennchen and Wolfram Raub as Samiel, under the baton of American conductor Dennis Russell Davies.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
not quite an artistic disaster..... April 4, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Not quite an 'artistic disaster'. The design and stage management is interesting and different. The director created a toy theater box setting with exaggerated perspectives and pop-up puppet like characters with stylized movements (mainly side to side). Women turn into dolls with funny make-up, the Bavarian peasants are poked fun at and look like malicious simpletons.
It all comes together well at the end, a pyramid with the Prince at the apex - a very effective idea.
Neither is anything wrong with it musically. Ligendza and Viljakunen, her charming partner in the subrette role are great assets to this production. The four deep voice roles (two extra ones thrown in for the last act) are all strong and resonant. My only objection is the tenor,a very difficult pre Wagnerian role,
I find the voice lacking in strength and range and his acting unimaginative, repetitious. Conducting though excellent, will not reach the heights of
Joseph Keilberth in inspiration and innigkeit. Altogether at least 3 stars.
 Small Town Gemutlichkeit August 26, 2007
2 out of 7 found this review helpful
Staging Der Freischutz as a religious fairy-tale seems to me the only tolerable approach; at least the "small town in the lost forest" of German Romanticism is evoked. Der Freischutz is a period piece, even though an important period piece. In other words, don't try to make too much of it, and don't expect too much except for some charming schmaltzy music. The singing in this production is excellent, the acting not bad, the staging and costuming fitting. I suspect that those reviewers who despise this production want somehow to make Carl Maria von Weber the heir of Mozart and the father of Wagner. He's neither, but he's fun once in a while.
 A STAGE DIRECTOR'S MISCONCEPTION May 31, 2007
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This is just so WRONG! Do yourself a favor; if you really like this opera go and buy the ARTHAUS MUSIC DVD with Gottlob Frick, Arlene Saunders and a wonderful cast and production. The current cast on this DVD can't hold a candle to that near perfect cast and production. Where do they come up with these outrageous concepts. A six foot sexually active bunny - come off it and have some respect for the composer and this beautiful score. AN ARTISTIC DISASTER1
Is This Romantic Opera? January 27, 2006
11 out of 13 found this review helpful
Honestly, were are the Romantic stagings that the music evokes? I was hoping to see a realistic backdrop showing a lush Black Forest, not a silly array of Freudian symbols. I burst out laughing at the big masturbating bunny, which is a reaction that I don't think Weber intended for the mysterious "wolf-glen" scene. With all the attention on period performances you'd think that the people who put this crap on stage would try and follow suite. If the directors have to use a zeitgeist model, why not Goethe? Freud lived almost a century after Weber.
 Wonderfull June 8, 2005
9 out of 15 found this review helpful
I am not exactly a fan of opera, but this is one of the most beautifull things I've ever seen / heard in my entire life!
This is maybe because this masterpiece sounds less like a traditional opera.
The romantism, the beauty, the tenderness, the well taste, the arrangements, the melodies, the singers, the choir are so incredible that I can hardly speak.
I was listening to this, together with my 19 years old sun, who's a fan of rock and roll and plays eletric bass, and he too got astonished on what he was hearing, so marvelous it was.
The scenario, together with the costumes are also a show appart.
I strongly recomend "Der Freischuetz" from Carl Maria von Weber to everybody whose looking for something realy superior, not only in quality, but also in spirit.
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