CARL HEINRICH GRAUN (1704-1759): Montezuma.
Catalogue Number: 07O029
Label: Arthaus Musik
Reference: 101 629
Format: DVD
Price: $28.98
Description: Recently we offered a mid-price reissue of the 1993 Capriccio recording of this 1756 opera seria, with libretto by Frederick the Great and, in true Enlightenment fashion, taking the side of the brutalized Aztecs against their Spanish conquerors. Now from the Deutsche Oper Berlin video series, previously limited to black-and-white historical performances of standard repetoire from the 60s, comes this 1982 production recorded at the Markgräfliches Opera House in Bayreuth. There were no male roles in the opera but the producers here have given the Spaniard roles to men while all the Aztecs are women. Although the orchestra is modern-instrument, the venue, the splendid baroque theatre in which the performance was given is "authentic" all the way! As Frederick identified with the Aztec king, the costumes are late 18th century German court. Alexandra Papadjiakou (mezzo), Sophie Boulin, Gudrun Sieber (sopranos), Walton Grönroos (baritone), Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin; Hans Hilsdorf. NTSC region 0. PCM mono. 4:3 picture format. 140 min.