DVD 7105 GOTTERDAMMERUNG (Wagner)

As great as a disappointment as his "Walküre" was, Sir Simon Rattle's "Gotterdammerung" is a pleasure. It's consistently exciting, sometimes grand and always marvelously played by the Berlin Philharmonic (listen to the winding of those horns!). There lingers, however, a suspicion that a journeyman like Adam Fischer (DVD 13295) knows the score better. Just a qualm. As for the singers, the Norns and Rhinemaidens (both unidentified) are excellent. The Gibichung siblings are only average and Anne Sofie von Otter's Waltraute is a disappointment. She's good but in this role you need to be great. Mikhail Petrenko relies on verbal acuity as Hagen to make up for lack of tonal mass. Too briefly heard, Dale Deusing's Alberich has more singing tone than most interpreters of the role. Ben Heppner obliterates all other Siegfrieds on DVD. Not only does he have that handsome voice, he and director Stéphane Braunschweig have worked out a detailed characterization of a naive but truly heroic youth. His Brünnhilde, Katarina Dalayman, is a worthy companion. Her voice has both a rich, Rysanek-like femininity but is also equal to surmounting the biggest challenges in the score. Everyone is doubtless grateful for Rattle's consideration for the singers when the temptation to wallow in orchestral magnificence must have been great. Braunschweig's minimalist production emphasizes characterization. The seemingly revoulationary premise is to treat the opera as though it were happening to real people. This pays the dividend of constant viewer involvement. While the Rattle/Braunschweig "Ring" is highly uneven, this "Gotterdammerung" brings it safely into port. Sound is superior, picture very good (16:9 ratio but windowboxed).

Superb ensemble without a week link. The Berlin Philharmonic under Simon Rattle is inspired. Excellent video and sound.