Lohengrin

As a fan of opera, I thoroughly enjoyed this rendition of Wagner's Lohengrin. The sword fighting is a little clumsy, and there were times in the second act when the synchronisation didn't quite work. However, it is solid in the music and singing department as far as I am concerned. It looks great, the costumes and sets are really beautiful, and the swan is a beautiful creature. The story is a wonderful tale and features vivid characters and well thought-out situations, while the music is faultless, well it's Wagner, of course it would be. The direction is solid, while the singing and acting is spot on. The orchestra is wonderfully expressive and dynamic too. Placido Domingo is a handsome and heroic Lohengrin, and in magnificent vocal form. Robert Lloyd is superb as Henry Fowler with an imposing presence and a resonant bass voice, while Cheryl Studer is a poignant Elsa. Dunja Vejzovic is a very effective Ortrud as well. Overall, very effective rendering of a wonderful opera. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Lohengrin is one of the most beautiful Richard Wagner's masterpieces. The story of the knight that cannot tell his name and origin, brought by a swan to defend the honor of Elza, who is being falsely accused of killing her brother, is a very beautiful tale of individuality and liberation. This version of this opera is wonderful, the interpretation of the cast is marvelous. Although being more than three and half hours long divided in three acts, the viewer does not get tired or bored. One remark is one of the viewer in the theater that coughs all the time. Further, in the second act, the Brazilian DVD has a lack of synchronization between the movement of the lips and sound. Fortunately the subtitles are very well synchronized with no delay the whole opera. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Lohengrin"