WALTER FELSENSTEIN EDITION (Komische Oper, 1956-76) (NTSC)

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"a treasure ... a fascinating glimpse of an important moment in operatic history ... prov[ing] that Felsenstein was one of 20th-century opera's most influential and creative geniuses." - Peter G. Davis, The New York Times (May 18, 2008)

Walter Felsenstein (1901 - 1975), founder and general director of the Komische Oper in Berlin, was one of the twentieth century's greatest creative theatre directors, who played a hugely important role in the revival of opera as a theatrical art form. A brilliant artist who directed over 190 productions during the course of his career, he was equally committed to the works, their creators, the ensemble and the audience. This unique edition brings together 7 opera films in a rare documentation that offers an insight into the theatrical work of a man whose legendary productions fascinated international audiences for decades. The films can now be experienced for the first time in carefully restored digital form. Felsenstein's consistent development of the musical/visual language of opera film remains a source of inspiration even today. Opera on film - opera as film - however one describes them, his productions continue to astonish with their clarity and intensity. They will remain an invaluable artistic legacy for generations to come!

Beethoven: Fidelio (1956)
Janaček: The Cunning Little Vixen (1965)
Mozart: Don Giovanni (1966)
Verdi: Otello (1969)
Offenbach: Les contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann) (1970)
Offenbach: Barbe-bleu (Bluebeard) (1973)
Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) (1975-76)

Limited Edition with 12 DVDs
Book with 104 pages, facsimile prints and
7 inserts for each opera film

All Opera films are sung in German.

Special Features:
- Original manuscripts of Walter Felsenstein
- Original staging piano reductions with audio examples
- Drafts of the stage design, figurines, sketches and drawings
- Historical audio material with speeches and interviews with Walter Felsenstein
- Rehearsal film of Don Giovanni and newsreel footage from The Tales of Hoffmann
- Footage of Felsenstein stagings 1945 - 1961
- Script excerpts, conceptual scripts and picture galleries

Picture format: NTSC 4:3
Sound format: PCM stereo
Region code: 0 (worldwide)
Menu languages: English, German, French, Spanish
Subtitles: English, German, French, Spanish
Running time: 18 hours 20 mins

Fidelio, Op. 72 (Komische Oper, 1956) (NTSC) (more info)
Performed by: Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Composed by: Ludwig van Beethoven
Conducted by: Fritz Lehmann
Heinz Rehfuss, bass
Kurt Equiluz, tenor
Hannes Schiel, actor
Sonja Schoner, soprano
Richard Holm, tenor
Michael Tellering, actor
Erwin Gross, actor
Grete Zimmer, actor
Wolfgang Hebenstreit, actor
Harry Payer, actor
Alfred Poll, bass
Claude Nollier, actor
Magda Laszlo, soprano
Fritz Berger, tenor
Georg Wieter, bass
Leo Heppe, bass


1. Fidelio, Op. 72 (Komische Oper, 1956) (NTSC) - 1:24:00

The Cunning Little Vixen, JW I/9 (Komische Oper, 1965) (sung in German) (NTSC) (more info)
Performed by: Berlin Komische Oper Orchestra
Composed by: Leos Janacek
Conducted by: Vaclav Neumann
Rudolf Asmus, baritone
Werner Enders, tenor
Herbert Rossler, bass
Helga Naujoks, vocals
Frank Folker, vocals
Karin Vetter, dancer
Manfred Hopp, tenor
Josef Burgwinkler, baritone
Irmgard Arnold, soprano
Christel Oehlmann, soprano
Ruth Schob-Lipka, soprano


1. The Cunning Little Vixen, JW I/9 (Komische Oper, 1965) (sung in German) (NTSC) - 2:02:00

Don Giovanni, K. 527 (Komische Oper, 1966) (sung in German) (NTSC) (more info)
Performed by: Berlin Komische Oper Orchestra
Composed by: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conducted by: Zdenek Kosler
Gyorgy Melis, baritone
Rudolf Asmus, baritone
Klara Barlow, soprano
Fritz Hubner, bass
Herbert Rossler, bass
John Moulson, tenor
Eva-Maria Baum, soprano
Anny Schlemm, contralto


1. Don Giovanni, K. 527 (Komische Oper, 1966) (sung in German) (NTSC) - 3:25:00

Otello (Komische Oper, 1969) (sung in German) (NTSC) (more info)
Performed by: Berlin Komische Oper Orchestra
Composed by: Giuseppe Verdi
Conducted by: Kurt Masur
H.G. Nocker, bass
Hans-Otto Rogge, tenor
Herbert Rossler, bass
Peter Seufert, tenor
Vladimir Bauer, baritone
Horst-Dieter Kaschel, bass
Hanna Schmoock, mezzo-soprano
Erich Blasberg, bass
Christa Noack-von Kamptz, soprano


1. Otello (Komische Oper, 1969) (sung in German) (NTSC) - 2:21:00

Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Komische Oper, 1970) (sung in German) (NTSC) (more info)
Performed by: Berlin Komische Oper Orchestra
Composed by: Jacques Offenbach
Conducted by: Karl-Fritz Voigtmann
H.G. Nocker, bass
Melitta Muszely, soprano
Alfred Wroblewski, bass
Rudolf Asmus, baritone
Uwe Kreyssig, baritone
Werner Enders, tenor
Sylvia Kuziemski, mezzo-soprano
Vladimir Bauer, baritone
Horst-Dieter Kaschel, bass
Heinz Kogel, baritone


1. Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Komische Oper, 1970) (sung in German) (NTSC) - 2:43:00

Barbe-bleue (Komische Oper, 1973) (sung in German) (NTSC) (more info)
Performed by: Berlin Komische Oper Orchestra
Composed by: Jacques Offenbach
Conducted by: Karl-Fritz Voigtmann
H.G. Nocker, bass
Ingrid Czerny, soprano
Helmut Polze, baritone
Hans-Otto Rogge, tenor
Rudolf Asmus, baritone
Werner Enders, tenor
Ute Trekel-Burckhardt, mezzo-soprano
Manfred Hopp, tenor
Eva-Maria Baum, soprano
Evelyn Bolicke, vocals
Anny Schlemm, contralto
Irmgard Arnold, soprano
Christa Noack-von Kamptz, soprano
Ruth Schob-Lipka, soprano


1. Barbe-bleue (Komische Oper, 1973) (sung in German) (NTSC) - 2:49:00

Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), K. 492 (Komische Oper, 1976) (sung in German) (NTSC) (more info)
Performed by: Berlin Komische Oper Orchestra
Composed by: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conducted by: Geza Oberfrank
Jozsef Dene, bass-baritone
Inge Hasse, vocals
Rudolf Asmus, baritone
Uwe Kreyssig, baritone
Werner Enders, tenor
Annemarie Hoffmann, vocals
Helmut Volker, bass
Barbara Sternberger, soprano
Frank Folker, vocals
Ute Trekel-Burckhardt, mezzo-soprano
Magdalena Falewicz, soprano
Ursula Reinhardt-Kiss, soprano
Ruth Schob-Lipka, soprano


1. Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), K. 492 (Komische Oper, 1976) (sung in German) (NTSC) - 3:36:00

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