Walter Braunfels – Ulenspiegel (DVD)

UPC: 832400900618

Product Features

• Title: Ulenspiegel – Opera in 3 Acts
• Composer & Librettist: Walter Braunfels (1882–1954)
• Performers:Chorus: EntArteOpera Choir (Choirmaster: Franz Jochum)
  • Till Ulenspiegel: Marc Horus
  • Nele: Christa Ratzenböck
  • Klas: Joachim Goltz
  • Profoss (Provost): Hans Peter Scheidegger
  • Jost/Schuster (Cobbler): Andreas Jankowitsch
  • Additional Performers: Tomas Kovacic, Martin Summer, Saeyoung Park, Dimitrij Leonov, Neven Crnic, Laszlo Kiss, Mario Lerchenberger
• Orchestra: Israel Chamber Orchestra
• Conductor: Martin Sieghart
• Stage Director: Roland Schwab
• Stage & Costume Design: Susanne Thomasberger
• Lighting Design: Roman Hauser, Jan Derschmidt
• Picture Format: NTSC, Color, 16:9
• Sound Formats: 2.0 Stereo, 5.1 Surround
• Region Code: 0 (Worldwide)
• Subtitles: German, English
• Running Time: 129 minutes
• DVD Format: DVD 9

Overview

This world première recording of Ulenspiegel by Walter Braunfels is an operatic revival of a work that was suppressed during the Nazi regime due to Braunfels’ status as a "degenerate" composer. Based on the famous novel Thyl Ulenspiegel by Charles de Coster, the opera recounts the adventures of the trickster Till Ulenspiegel set against the backdrop of Flemish resistance against Spanish rule. The piece masterfully blends humor and tragedy, with Braunfels’ music oscillating between lyrical beauty and dynamic orchestration.

Featuring performances from Marc Horus as Till Ulenspiegel and Christa Ratzenböck as Nele, this production by EntArteOpera is a rare treat for lovers of 20th-century opera. Conductor Martin Sieghart leads the Israel Chamber Orchestra through a remarkable performance, bringing Braunfels’ score to life with precision and passion. With a stage design that creatively reflects the period, this DVD is a must-have for collectors and fans of modern opera.

Interesting Facts

• Ulenspiegel was composed in 1913, but its performance was hindered due to Braunfels being labeled a "degenerate" composer by the Nazi regime.
• The opera is based on the novel Thyl Ulenspiegel by Charles de Coster, a popular figure in Flemish literature who symbolizes resistance and rebellion.
• This production is a collaboration between EntArteOpera and the Internationales Brucknerfest Linz, 2014.
• The chamber orchestra arrangement by Werner Steinmetz adds an intimate touch to the expansive soundscape originally composed by Braunfels.
• Walter Braunfels is often compared to composers like Richard Strauss, though his works remained overshadowed due to historical circumstances.

Publishers

• Capriccio
• EntArteOpera

Hashtags

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