Thursday, 9 October 2008

DVD: The cunning little vixen - Paris Chatelet


The cunning little vixen. Paris Châtelet 1995. Production: Nicolas Hytner. Cast includes: Eva Jenis, Thomas Allen, Hana Minutillo. Conductor: Sir Charles Mackerras. Further information here.

The major appeal of Janacek´s Cunning little Vixen lies within the astonishingly compelling interludes, especially when given a performance like this one by the Orchestre de Paris conducted by the superb Sir Charles Mackerras. A densely textured reading of great evocative beauty. A better reading of this score I cannot imagine.

Nicolas Hytner´s
stylistically simple staging may offend no-one, neither is it particularly memorable. The duality of the work is represented by doubles of various insects and generally the staging evolves around dancers in various coloured body suits in brightly coloured and aesthetic sets.

As CD, this would be highly recommended.

The bottom line (scale of 1-5, 3=average):

The singers: 4

Nicolas Hytner: 3

Sir Charles Mackerras: 5

Overall impression: 3

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