Review by davidsaxonjones

This wonderful production, filmed at the London Coliseum, makes this potentially cloying fairy tale really terrifying. Interpreted as an Edwardian teenage girl's nightmare vision of her widowed father's new relationship it is not exactly subtle but it certainly packs a punch. There is a more recent version starring Renee Fleming which seems to borrow from the same ideas, but here everything is right including Lazarides' wonderfully surreal sets. Hannan, Treleavan, Howard are all impeccable; it is not surprising that Treleavan is now one of the foremost Wagner tenors. If I had a quibble it would be the inaudibility of the words - so often a problem - I know it is sung in English but sub-titles would be a great advantage. Otherwise - smashing!