Montezuma

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Carl Heinrich Graun (17041759) wrote a total of 27 operas for the Berlin court and not least for Frederick II. In 1742 his Cleopatra e Cesare was performed at the opening of the Haus Unter den Linden, and in 1755 he wrote his most impressive work Montezuma. The opera tells the tragic story of the last ruler of the Aztecs, who lost his power and ultimately his life to the Spanish conquistadores. The libretto, in French prose, was written by none other than the Emperor of Prussia himself Frederick II and translated into Italian verse by his court poet. The music, written by his kapellmeister Graun, is as virtuosic as it is expressive highly rewarding for singers and attractive for audiences. Montezuma is an opera that points forward to the future to Gluck and even to Mozart. In 1982, Deutsche Oper Berlin came to Bayreuth to perform Herbert Wernickes impressive production in the baroque surroundings of the Markgräfliche Opernhaus (opened in 1748).

REVIEW
With this Montezuma an operatic jewel has been rescued from oblivion that is well worth the attention of the cultural world and not just because the libretto was written by Frederick the Great. The work itself makes a valuable contribution to the debate on the topic of Prussia. --Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

The adaptation and staging are perfectly matched. Borne along by the enthusiasm of all involved and the instantaneous applause of the audience, the performance by Deutsche Oper Berlin is one of the theatrical high points of the year. Herbert Wernicke, who also designed the set and costumes, has transferred this piece of theatrical didacticism from its exotic foreign setting to the emperors court of Sanssouci in Potsdam --Süddeutsche Zeitung

The adaptation and staging are perfectly matched. Borne along by the enthusiasm of all involved and the instantaneous applause of the audience, the performance by Deutsche Oper Berlin is one of the theatrical high points of the year. Herbert Wernicke, who also designed the set and costumes, has transferred this piece of theatrical didacticism from its exotic foreign setting to the emperors court of Sanssouci in Potsdam --Süddeutsche Zeitung

For all its linguistic and musical idiosyncrasies, this DVD is the best recorded representation of Montezuma thus far, and - even if the picture quality does show its age - beautiful to look at, too. --Carlos Maria Solare, Opera

Fine singing and handsome staging. --Malcolm Hayes, BBC Music Magazine

Actors: Alexandra Papadjiakou, Sophie Boulin, Gudrun Sieber, Catherine Gayer, Barbara Vogel

Audio Languages: German

Duration: 140 minutes

Number of Discs: 1

Subtitle Languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian

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