Description

Richard Strauss's Capriccio 2 DVD Set

UPC: 0807280732795

Product Features

Title: Capriccio by Richard Strauss
Conductor: Ulf Schirmer
Stage Director: Robert Carsen
Set Design: Michael Levine
Costume Design: Anthony Powell
Lighting: Robert Carsen, Peter van Praet
Choreography: Jean-Guillaume Bart
Performers:Orchestra: Orchestre de l'Opéra national de Paris
- Renée Fleming as Die Gräfin
- Dietrich Henschel as Der Graf
- Rainer Trost as Flamand
- Gerald Finley as Olivier
- Franz Hawlata as La Roche
- Anne Sofie von Otter as Clairon
- Robert Tear as Monsieur Taupe
- Annamaria Dell'Oste as Eine italienische Sängerin
- Barry Banks as Ein italienischer Tenor
- Petri Lindroos as Der Haushofmeister
Format: 2 DVDs (NTSC, Region Code: 0)
Language: German with subtitles in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian
Sound: PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.0, DTS 5.0
Picture Format: 16:9
Running Time: 148 minutes
Publisher: Arthaus Musik
Release Year: 2011
Special Features: Directed for TV and Video by François Roussillon

Overview

Capriccio is Richard Strauss's final opera, a "conversation piece for music" that explores the question of whether words or music hold more importance in the operatic art form. This production, recorded live at the Opéra national de Paris in 2004, stars the renowned soprano Renée Fleming as the Countess, a role she has made her own with her exquisite vocal performance and deep emotional interpretation. Conducted by Ulf Schirmer and directed by Robert Carsen, this staging is celebrated for its elegant set design and refined costumes, which complement the intellectual and aesthetic themes of the opera.

Interesting Facts

Capriccio is unique among Strauss’s works, as it is entirely focused on the debate about the primacy of words versus music in opera—a meta-commentary on the art form itself.
Renée Fleming's portrayal of the Countess is widely regarded as one of her signature roles, showcasing her superb vocal control and expressive depth.
This production was part of the 2004 Paris Opera season and was praised for its sophisticated direction by Robert Carsen, who brought out the wit and subtlety of the libretto co-written by Strauss and Clemens Krauss.
The opera features a single act, with the action revolving around an evening discussion in an 18th-century salon, culminating in the Countess's famous final monologue.

Track Listing

Introduction and Salon Discussion: The debate on words versus music begins.
Interludes and Aria Performances: Various characters present their perspectives through performances.
Final Monologue: The Countess's introspective decision on whether to choose between her suitors, who represent words and music.