Die Tote Stadt (2001)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Based upon the novel by Georges Rodenbach
Composed by Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Starring Angela Denoke, Torsten Karl, Yuri Batukov, Birgitta Svenden, and Stephan Genz

Released by: Art Haus Musik
Region: 1
Rating: NR
Anamorphic: Yes

My Advice: Buy it.

Mix demonic visions with an obsessed widower, an allegedly fallen priest, a dancer/prostitute, and a vast cemetery, and what do you get? You get Die Tote Stadt, of course. I confess that this is my favorite opera, but then again, when something is your favorite, it’s all too easy for someone’s version of it to irritate you, rather than please you.

Die Tote Stadt is a surreal look at one man’s madness following the death of his cherished wife. The protagonist, Paul (Kerl), has created a kind of shrine to his dead wife, Marie (Denoke), including a lock of her long blond hair. Soon Paul meets a young dancer named Marietta (also Denoke), whose resemblance to Marie startles and confuses him. When Marietta discovers Paul’s obsession with his dead wife, however, she flees. It is not long, however, before Marietta comes upon a drunken and broken Paul, and she re-enters his life with possibly disastrous consequences.

If you have read the novel upon which this opera was based, or have seen another production of this opera, then you might be intrigued by a few subtle changes made in the final act of the opera, well in keeping with the surreal mood of the entire piece, as well as the tale of madness and redemption.

The performances are top notch all around. Denoke does an excellent job as Marie/Marietta, bringing a touching, but definitely seductive depth to her role. Kerl as the mad, driven, and possibly ultimately self-destructive Paul is unforgettable. His role could easily have devolved into stereotypical melodrama or incomprehensible ravings, but instead, he plays his role with sensitivity, moving the audience to pity and even understanding, rather than contempt. The voices are, of course, excellent; particularly well-done pieces include "Wunderbar!," "Wohin-Frank-du?", and "Dich such ich, Bild!"

There are no extras on this disc, which is a shame. It would have been marvelous to have had a commentary from the stage designer, the costumer, the director, the performers...anyone, basically. This is also a great chance for some kind of featurette about the history of opera; this is the kind of modern opera that could truly rope in new fans for opera, and the opportunity should have been seized.

The sound and video quality are as perfect as you want them to be for a production where such things matter so very much. Each song is crystal clear with perfect acoustics on the stage and in the digital transfer. The lighting and cinematography are also quite good, giving viewers the valuable "you are there" experience without ruining the stage illusions.

For opera fans or for the opera-curious, this production is a must-see. It’s a great way for people who think they won’t enjoy opera to fall in love with this seriously misunderstood and underrated art form. After all, how often do we get to see a diva in combat boots? If you enjoy Hitchcock or modern thrillers, then this is the perfect opera for you. Opera-lovers, like wine-lovers and anime fans, tend to assume that they have to be snobs about something in order to do it justice, but sometimes, it’s okay to just enjoy something. So sit back and enjoy the Hollywood cues in this production (reminding viewers of composer Korngold’s extensive work on films), the drama, the gothic elements, and the psychological spiral.