Hunter's Bride

Opera lovers have always stated that opera encompass various art forms. This film opera just shows that the art of filming can also be part of the art forms that make opera great. Producing a film opera allows for interpretations and expressions that are not possible on the stage opening new creativity capabilities. This film opera is very well done, with a clear interpretation. The music, orchestra and excellent singers are of very high quality, as is the recording sound. One interesting aspect of filming an opera is the sound combination of the music, orchestra and signers, with the noises available on a film like falling stones, wind, steps over fallen leaves, etc. I am sure there are many opinions on what the best mix should be, depending on personal preferences. Every new technology, when applied to art, allows for exploration of new possibilities, and creates new dilemmas. For this film opera, I found the sound combination appropriate and enhancing the overall experience.The magic aspects of Der Freischutz have never been easy to stage. This film allows a much easier portrayal of magic without being overwhelming while keeping the human aspects on the forefront.I strongly recommend this film to every opera lover, and to those who have not watched this opera before. You will be surprised how many arias you will recognize from casual listening.

This is a DVD consisting of a film production of the opera “Der Freischutz – The Marksman”, featuring a dynamite cast – including Rene Pape as the Hermit. The choral work is amazing, and as the liner notes indicate, over two years was spent casting this film. Over 600 people were employed in the Dresden area during the making of this film, which was shot in 35mm. Kudos goes to Juliane Banse, for her wonderful vocal work and very believable acting. She’s a delight.It should be noted that this is not a film of an opera production – rather, it is a film of the opera singers acting and singing in the production. While I enjoyed the story itself (particularly the bullet fabrication scene with the special effects available to a current film maker), I had trouble not being distracted by the fact that the operatic singing seemed to not quite match the singing I was seeing on screen. They weren’t out of sync – not at all – but I could tell that what I was hearing did not exactly correspond to what I was seeing. As it turns out, the singing was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London and then matched with the film. And while it is matched really well, it took me a while to get past that. All that being said, the music is *wonderful*.The liner notes are informative, and give background on Weber’s life and the creation of the work. There is also a question and answer section in the booklet that is illuminating about the process of putting together the film and what the director was trying to accomplish. This is a solid, enjoyable film, and is definitely worth seeing even if you haven’t seen the opera before in person.

I really enjoyed this. I have seen most of available opera movie combinations (as contrasted with filmed stage performances) and I rank it up there with the Domingo-Migenes Carmen. It has a cast, quite comparable in quality to that on the 1968 Rolf Liebermann Freischütz but blows it away sonically and visually with the use of recent technology. I have never heard horns recorded better. The Wolf's Glen scene is enough to give you goose flesh. My opinion is based on the dts-HD 5.1 Master Audio track on the blu-ray. I think that this movie has had only a very limited run in theaters so I would have preferred a full screened 16:9 to the 2:35:1 we get here with the large bands at top and bottom. Director Jens Neubert's commentary track adds to the overall value of the disc. I don't find him all that convincing with his arguments for changing the name of the opera to the original Jägersbraut and moving the setting to the Napoleonic wars of Weber's time from the original 17th century Thirty Years war. However he was very good on explaining how he chose the cast and directed and filmed the performance. Very strongly recommended.

This production suffocates Weber's opera. Yes, the story has always been a little thin and goofy, but the music is wonderful. In this production, though, the story and music are crushed by the director's "artistic" pretensions. The constant groveling in the dirt by the male leads is pointless and tiresome. Did any men in this era ever wash their hair or themselves?Save your money, and just enjoy any of the fine recordings available.

This is truly beautiful, beautifully filmed and done and sung, but the liner's stated emphasis on making this a cinematic experience explains why there is so much non-singing in it. Now I am not greatly familiar with how much of Weber's opera is spoken dialogue, but I feel not so much as there is here. I would like to see a staging before making a final judgement on this DVD, but, for now, I find the whole less than the sum of its parts.

This is what a filmed opera should be -- vibrant, wide dynamic range, beautifully set. You hear the sound of artillery, wagon wheels going by, laughter, sounds of peasants at work and play because that is what the opera is about. Staged opera strives to incorporate some of that into its presentation, but is limited. Filmed opera, however, can carefully mix the soundtrack so you get wind as a backdrop to emotional turmoil, thunder to signal something ominous, laughter to enhance an intimate duet, giving it a very personal touch. Close ups render a chamber opera feel while pans give one the feel of sitting back in the mezzanine, taking in the whole of it. The singing is excellent and the orchestra is quite fine. Someone else wrote that the music was fine when you could hear it over the sound effects and I honestly don't know what they were talking about. If having an opera come alive is too distracting, it is best to stick to a studio recording. But this production is well designed and well executed. I'm grateful for the chance to experience it.