I just noticed that of my
gratuitous idols (at the top of the page), Malin Hartelius is one post behind
the others. Well! I just had to do something about that! And Vesselina Kasarova is a great bonus in this clip. This Zurich
performance is at least seven years old. I wonder if MH will be taking on the
Marschallin soon. Maybe not for a few years…
I love how Octavian has to coax Sophie out of the cupboard! I’ve not seen this entire
performance, so I’m not sure who the cadaverous dude is who seems to get so
much screen time. Ignore him and enjoy the bliss that is MH’s Sophie. Himmlische indeed!
i have seen this *many* times and live 3 times this past july! though i must admit this time around the Sophie was not as brilliant as MH here, it's interesting how one has to listen to so many other versions to really truly appreciate what MH has done here both vocally and acting-tly (is there such a word :D). (VK was as charming this time around as in dvd!)
ReplyDelete"acting-ly" is now an official word!
Delete*Many* times for me also. Some observations on the cadaverous dude here http://eyesometric.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/white-shirt-weekend-43/
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reference, the thoughts on the production and all the extra photos. I guess I need to track down this DVD. I forgot Nina Stemme was the Marschallin here.
DeleteOooh! Thanks for a good excuse to dig the DVD up again, Rob! :oD Now I think on it again, I wonder if the cadaver (actually Octavian's page 'boy', I think) is also doubling as his boss' older self looking nostalgically back on his younger romance? (But he ends up alone because he spent his days romancing too many girls without sticking with one?)
ReplyDeleteI'm deadly jealous that Dr T has seen VK live in that role so many times. :o) I've heard some people downrating Hartelius' Sophie simply because she isn't blond (a weird thing!), but I really haven't heard a vocally more superb Sophie than hers (and she acts so well!). The gal should be a superstar, but chose to stay under most radar just so she could have a (sort of) normal family life in Zurich. What an amazing person!
And thanks a bunch to Eyes for all the wonderful screenshots on the 2011 page, too! I'm supposed to be getting ready to go on a group ride (and easy pace one, mind) now, but I can't stop staring at the screen!! :oD
Because she's not blonde?!?! I guess those same folks would be rather disappointed with Reri Grist, Kathleen Battle or Barbara Hendricks as Sophie, then.
DeleteI admire MH for sticking to having a 'normal' life. but glad she didn't totally drop out of sight as Alison Hagley did.
I definitely need to track down this DVD!!! Thanks for your comments!
R
I still love Barbara Bonney as Sophie ( Solti/Howells/Te Kanawa/ ROH ) and also opposite von Otter. Perhaps we are like certain birds and imprint on what we first see :)
DeleteEyes not Anon!
I think we may be, Eyes. Lucia Popp was my first Sophie. Speaking of BB, I just heard her in an duet from L'Elisir d'Amore with Gösta Winbergh. It was quiet lovely.
DeleteOh - so beautiful! This goes straight on to my list of DVDs to purchase!
ReplyDeleteJa, me too, I actually just ordered a copy!
Deletei hope you like it, i really love it. Earworm also wrote up a 3-piece review on this with focus on the amazing voice of Nina Stemme's, followed by MH and acting of VK. this being my first exposure to Der R, i thought the kitchen was quite natural :-). MH didn't have any problem splashing around some kind of goey things right after this scene above while in conversation w/ Octavian.. the Sophie i saw treated it like touching raw eggs, with barely 2 fingers :-D
DeleteThanks for the reminder about Earworm's review(s). Her blog is what encouraged me to start blogging instead of writing snarky responses to stupid Amazon reviews :).
DeleteThe other night when I should have been sleeping, I watched the finale of this production (posted on YT by Earworm). Then, encouraged by the discussion of our first Sophies, I found the video of the Otto Schenck production with Lucia Popp (now THERE's a blonde Sophie) and Brigette Fassbaender (very manly Octavian) (and Gwyneth Jones when she still had a lovely voice). That presentation scene is in an elegant room, but it still looks SOMEwhat utilitarian with its huge cabinets with plates displayed.
(My first Lucia Popp Sophie was aural only -- on the Bernstein LPs with Christa Ludwig as the FM, Walter Berry as Ochs, and a not quite as lovely sounding GJ as Octavian(!!))
THEN I found another recording of that Schenck production with ASvO (Yay!) and ... Barbara Bonney, who is wonderful as Sophie. (That one has Felicity Lott as the FM). I've always like BB, and it's interesting how I keep coming across performances from her that I hadn't noticed before. (Though not universally acclaimed, I rather liked her slightly older and jaded Despina in the Chereau production of Cosi).
I think this might be the beginning of a whole separate post...My First Sophie. Maybe in the new year!
I have a bit of trouble with the fact that the scene takes place in the kitchen. I'm glad to hear VK is doing Octavian again.
ReplyDeleteWell, I have to agree about the kitchen. On the other hand, maybe it emphasizes how low-class Faninal is, or that he doesn't really grasp the imprtance of the rose ceremony. On the other hand, most of the time, Faninal is a bit classier than Ochs...
Delete