3h 12min | Comedy, Music, Romance | TV Movie 9 October 1962
Director: Paul Czinner
Herbert von Karajan ... conductor
Rudolf Hartmann ... director: stage production (as Professor Rudolf Hartmann)
Stars: Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Otto Edelmann, Sena Jurinac.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056426/
Watched online, good print with subtitles. Only 3h in length.
First performed in 1911, but takes place in 18th century.
Previously viewed and noted here (26Jun), without subtitles and no knowledge of the story. A different performance ('85) noted here (10Jul).
I don't understand why this opera is one of the warhorses, oft performed. I don't find it interesting, nor charming, nor musically attractive. There is no moment in the opera where the music makes me stop and listen, nor is any particularly familiar. The only vocal gymnastics (to my undereducated ear) comes as extreme low notes from OE, and he did not project them at all well. (I did marvel at them in the '85 performance.)
The story, largely (2+ of the 3 acts) about sexual predator Count Ochs (OE), cousin to the princess ES, is unsavory, even though he is made to look foolish and is prevented from marrying the daughter of the wealthy baron. I suppose I should take solace that even in 1911, this opera recognized that being a sexual predator is a bad thing. Or maybe it just protests his being so bad at it.
ES (b. '15) is such a good actress that I wanted her onstage much more. The role occupies the first act, and is a small cog in the last of the third act. Her acting is subtle, appropriate for film/tv and I suspect also comes across onstage. According to her IMDb credits, this looks like her only video-recorded opera. No wonder the cheapest disc I can find at the moment is $20.
Only a 7 for ES and the wonderful sets and costumes. The gowns worn by ES and SJ are gorgeous, and the suits of OE and the baron were quite ornate.
live opera, cond. von Karajan; 7-
