Description

Erich Wolfgang Korngold: Die tote Stadt - Deutsche Oper Berlin (1983) - DVD

UPC: 0807280165692

Product Features

Title: Die tote Stadt (Live from the Deutsche Oper Berlin, 1983)
Composer: Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Libretto: Paul Schott (Pseudonym for Erich Wolfgang Korngold and his father Julius Korngold) based on Bruges-la-Morte by Georges Rodenbach
Conductor: Heinrich Hollreiser
Stage Director: Götz Friedrich
Set Designer: Andreas Reinhardt
Costume Designer: Margit Bardy
Choreographer: Ruthild Engert
Chorus Master: William Murray
Video Director: Brian Large
Performers:Orchestra and Chorus: Deutsche Oper Berlin
- Paul: James King
- Marietta: Karan Armstrong
- Brigitta: Margit Neubauer
- Frank: Donald Grobe
- Juliette: Sylvia Greenberg
- Victorin: William Murray
- Fritz/Graf Albert: David Knutson
- Lucienne: Ruthild Engert
Picture Format: 4:3, NTSC
Region Code: 0 (Worldwide)
Sound Format: PCM Stereo
Running Time: 122 minutes (plus 8-minute bonus feature)
Bonus: Introduction by Götz Friedrich
Subtitles: German (Original Language), English (GB), French (FR), Spanish (ES), Italian (IT)
Publisher: Arthaus Musik GmbH

Overview

Erich Wolfgang Korngold's Die tote Stadt (The Dead City) is a powerful opera set in the morbid and mystical atmosphere of Bruges. This production, recorded live at the Deutsche Oper Berlin in 1983, has become legendary, largely due to Götz Friedrich’s hauntingly beautiful stage direction and the remarkable performances of James King as Paul and Karan Armstrong as Marietta. The opera, filled with themes of love, loss, and obsession, is set against the backdrop of Andreas Reinhardt's stunning sets that perfectly capture the dark, brooding essence of Bruges.

This DVD presents not only the complete opera but also a special bonus feature: an introduction by stage director Götz Friedrich, offering insights into the production’s creation and the interpretation of Korngold’s complex work.

Interesting Facts

Die tote Stadt was composed by Korngold when he was only 23 years old and premiered simultaneously in Hamburg and Cologne in 1920.
This production from the Deutsche Oper Berlin in 1983 is particularly famous, often considered one of the most iconic interpretations of the opera.
The opera’s libretto, based on the novel Bruges-la-Morte by Georges Rodenbach, intertwines themes of memory, hallucination, and the fine line between reality and fantasy.
James King, who portrays Paul, is one of the most respected heldentenors of the 20th century, known for his powerful voice and dramatic intensity.
The opera’s score is lush and cinematic, showcasing Korngold’s talent for orchestration, which later influenced his work in Hollywood film scores.