Schumann: Genoveva

Juliane Banse (Genoveva), Shawn Mathey (Golo), Martin Gantner (Siegfried), Cornelia Kallisch (Margaretha), Alfred Muff (Drago), Ruben Drole (Hidulfus), Tomasz Slawinski (Balthasar), Matthew Leigh (Caspar)

Orchestra and Chorus of The Zurich Opera House, Nikolaus Harnoncourt (conductor) &...

Nikolaus Harnoncourt is often too four-square and unatmospheric in Romantic scores, but here his taut tempos and incisive phrasing are refreshing, making the rich choral passages splendidly crisp — BBC Music Magazine, December 2008, 3 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 30th Nov 2009
Catalogue No: 101328
Label: Arthaus Musik

Schumann: Genoveva

Live recording from the Zurich Opera House, 2008
Juliane Banse (Genoveva), Shawn Mathey (Golo), Martin Gantner (Siegfried), Cornelia Kallisch (Margaretha), Alfred Muff (Drago), Ruben Drole (Hidulfus), Tomasz Slawinski (Balthasar), Matthew Leigh (Caspar)
Opernhaus Zürich
Nikolaus Harnoncourt (conductor) & Martin Kušej (director)

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About

Set Design Rolf Glittenberg & Costume Design Heidi Hackl.

On 25th June 1850, Robert Schumann’s only opera, Genoveva, received its first performance at Leipzig State Theatre. It was a much-awaited event, as Schumann, widely regarded as the leading German instrumental composer, had set his mind to the urgent task of creating a national opera. However, despite the efforts of the composer’s supporters to maintain interest in the work, the opera was soon forgotten. When conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt first came across Genoveva some 15 years ago (he subsequently recorded a CD of it in 1996), he voiced the opinion that “Genoveva is a work of art for which one should be prepared to go to the barricades”. Harnoncourt sees the main reason why Genoveva has not been recognised as a brilliant composition and perhaps the most significant opera written during the second half of the 19th century, as having much to do with the false expectations attached to the work. “You mustn’t look for dramatic events in this opera. What it offers us is a glimpse into the soul. Schumann was not interested in creating something naturalistic – he wanted to write a type of opera in which the music had a greater say.”

“Never before so vivid! Robert Schumann was only too familiar with passionate yearning, cold possessiveness and madness. In Zurich his underestimated opera Genoveva has undergone a brilliant revival.” Die Zeit

Sound Format: PCM Stereo, dts-HD Master Audio 7.1

Picture Format: 16:9

Resolution: 1080i FULL HD

Blu-ray Disc: 25 GB (Single Layer)

Subtitle Languages: GB, DE, FR, ES, IT, JP

Running Time: 146 mins

SK: 6

Artists

Orchestra and Chorus of The Zurich Opera House, Nikolaus Harnoncourt (conductor) & Martin Kušej (director)

Reviews

December 2008

Nikolaus Harnoncourt is often too four-square and unatmospheric in Romantic scores, but here his taut tempos and incisive phrasing are refreshing, making the rich choral passages splendidly crisp

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Schumann: Genoveva

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