Lohengrin

Lohengrin is not my favourite Wagner opera, Tristan and Isolde is a contender for that, but it has a great story and some of Wagner's most sublime music. I love Wagner, his style may take some getting used to but it is unique and the more I hear his music the more compelling it gets.

Of the three productions I've seen(this, 1986 and 1990), this one's my favourite. The sets are basic in a sense but are good enough, and the costumes are great. The only disappointment in regard to the imagery was the swan, which was little more than a very faint glowing white disc in the background.

The orchestra apart from a first act prelude that could've been more opulent and a fatigued brass section towards the end are superb, the chorus are simply wonderful and the conducting is authoritative. The picture quality and camera work are pretty excellent, and the sound is clear and vibrant with only a few out-of-sync moments in act 3 disappointing a little.

I loved the performances. Peter Hoffmann is much better than he was in the 1986 Met production, more charisma, more nuances and more ring on the high notes. Karan Armstrong is a poignant Elsa with a great voice(even with some forced tone under pressure) and between her, Marton and Studer, she has the most subtle acting.

Elizabeth Connell I think will suffer in comparison to Astrid Varnay, Christa Ludwig and Leonie Rysanek, but while she doesn't quite ooze with malevolence the way the above did she sings and acts the role of Ortrud beautifully. Leif Roar is excellent as Telramund, he is outstanding as an actor and thankfully his high register isn't as overly-melodramatic as it was in the Met production.

Siegfried Vogel is a regal Henry, though his entrance could've been more of this. Bernd Weikl is as great as ever in a smaller role as the Herald.

All in all, very well done. 9/10 Bethany Cox