I don't know why this works as well as it does but it does. Gluck's music can seem static and cold but this production, stylised and oddly mechanical at times, somehow breathes humanity and feeling into the piece more than an overtly 'dramatic' interpretation would. Magdelena Kozena is as sublime as ever.
There are few good DVDs of operas. This is a good one. Brilliant production and singing. The expressionist production suits the music and Magdalena Kozena sings and acts really well.
Magnificent singing from Kozena and company but one was utterly distracted by the strange, over-stylised production which quite took away just about all the pleasure I had expected from such a stellar cast and such wonderful music. I had the same reaction to the Rameau opera I had also recently anticipated viewing with enjoyment although, while this production could almost be described as "frozen", the Ramaeu was utterly manic. In each case i was driven to switch off before the end of the first act. How I wish they'd just leave the music to speak for itself.