Wagner is not familiar to me but some works like Lohengrin, Walkyrie and Tannhaüser are.
I giggled a bit at some gestures like the bosoms jerking in tune, but when it came to the last part of the opera, at the sight of Elisabeth expecting Tannhaüser in an empty stage, then Wolfram appearing in a foggy light in the distance, when the acting and singing reached a deeper level, I could forget the proper story to see two persons caught in their own love story. Wolfram gave a helpful hand to Elisabeth, which she let go, he then ran after her to put his coat on her shoulders and even pat them a bit, while she gave him a last intense look, and disappeared....But the peak was reached with Peter Mattei : Just the music and him lying under the star light.. Venus light...
From 2.38 to 2.46. 50, it is difficult to try to express the beauty of his slow waltz here, his singing and last steps to commune with his beloved Elisabeth...gone.
I have always liked this tune. This time I understood it deeper. What a poetic insight in this scene... seen by Sasha Waltz, danced with so much feeling by this wonderful singer and artist, almost making me cry to watch his solitude, discovering her shoes and leaving his glasses next to them... he does not need to see now she has left for good, offering her life in a prayer to save the soul of her only love... and he is also offering her his last loving care.. to be able to go near her where she is... where sight is not necessary. In the world created by Wagner we are in a strange country of dreams and nightmares, where it is possible to float far from reality.
(My gratitude to Logan D for this precious upload which allows me to watch this work over and over again. Let's hope it will not disappear too soon; the video excerpt is home made with lots of drawbacks, including the reflection of my lampshade... and poor sound, but I really wanted to see the steps this marvellous artist does while singing, with the cello sobbing softly and the harp beating the rhythm... it is moving and beautiful. It is a waltz, isnt'it? ). Sorry, as often I cannot upload this short video of the Romance. I will try again...
And I managed tonight to upload it from Youtube, in better conditions.... the magic of Daniel Barenboim's orchestra, with the miracle of this artist's rendition operate the charm.
On Mezzo:
10 / 05 - 16h00
on mezzo live hd
22 / 05 - 16h30
on mezzo
24 / 05 - 16h30
on mezzo live hd
29 / 05 - 09h00
on mezzo live hd
(score PDF photo Petrucci scores)
I was going to leave this comment on Saturday but I always seem to be on the iPad when I first read your posts and Blogger won't let me leave my comment until I am on a "proper computer" !
ReplyDeleteTannhaüser is not something I would normally lean towards ( unless it was a VK Venus of course! ) but this made me listen to your extract and I fully agree about the beauty of it. Thank you for leading me down unusual paths and pointing me in unexpected directions!