Filmed Opera

[malkhos]

After posting links to video of Andrew Lloyd Weber musicals (which in itself might be a sign of the end times), Med Cat posted links to various opera companies that have put some film records of their performances out beyond the paywalls.

These may be alright for listening, but hardly for watching.

When a film is based on an opera, made by a film

Comments

[fingersweep]

With you on opera films vs filmed operas. Götz Friedrich directed a few Strauss operas back in the 70s & 80s with Karl Böhm. They're pretty great, too. Here's their Elektra: https://youtu.be/jq1qfG0r4LE.

Also, the Powell and Pressburger Tales of Hoffmann, which (I'm not sure) may count the earliest opera film. That's just one of my favorite movies ever.

The most horrendous thing of the kind I've seen is Syberberg's Parsifal.

[malkhos]

Unfortunately I don't particularly care for Strauss.

I see the Offenbach is also on Youtube and will have a look at it.

You'e right the Syberberg is a monstrosity. Even in terms of the opera, there is a great deal of good music in it, but dramatically it is just wrong-headed: too much Wagner and not enough traditional material. I'm writing a book bout Perceval, so it's a disappointment to me.

[med_cat]

I'd not tried the musicals yet--I take it you're not a big fan? ;)

But the Met's productions have been quite good, I thought, and close-up; I've enjoyed several of their operas, and a good friend enjoyed their Ring cycle (I watched part of it with her).

Perhaps, of course, as I'd not attended many live opera performances, I am not as critical of recordings as someone who'd seen many more performances, live.

[lindahoyland]

Opera does work best on the stage but as someone who has seen about 60 operas live in my youth, I do enjoy some recordings. I love the Boulez/Cheareau Ring for example.
Zeferelli's "Traviata" is another opera film.

[malkhos]

Yes, but a Zefferelli film.