SITE RATING: 8/10
SITE
REVIEW: Although
I gave the audio CD a high ranking, and
although the technical aspects of the
blu-ray disc I viewed are excellent as far
as image and sound, I feel like I need to
drop the rating a touch on the video - for
some visual aspects which detracted from the
experience. Beautifully filmed
at Basilica Stift Klosterneuburg in Lower
Austria, the stunning architecture is
highlighted during the opening Sinfonia, in
aerial shots which showcase the landmark
church. Similarly, the interior,
soloists, orchestra and choir are given
excellent showcasing from both long and
close-range camera angles. The sound
is beautifully mixed, capturing the natural
acoustic, and yet clear and well-blended;
it's an idea space for such a project, and
for the small size of the Bach Consort
Wien. The problems arise in the visual
performance of a couple of the soloists and
the choir - for a project that was obviously
meant to be seen as well as heard, some of
the performers obviously have no idea how to
"play" to a camera. First, the good:
tenor Michael Schade and soprano Hanna
Herfertner give luminous performances, with
their faces reflecting the alternately
tender, joyous moments they are singing
about. Alternately, alto Gaia Petrone,
dressed in a severe blue suit and with her
eyes glued to her score, sounds wonderful,
but looks stiff and emotionally mute.
Bass Christian Immler seems to have one
look: stern fatalism; which, while
appropriate to many of his arias, still
comes across as one-dimensional. The
chorus too, looks uninvolved and the rote
appearance on their faces make it appear
they are not terribly involved in the
glorious music they are making. So,
while the performance is still top-drawer,
the visual aspect tempers that impression a
bit. Still - it's a well produced,
excellently sung Messiah - and worth
picking up.
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