PRODUCTION

Bright, light, unique staging. Sets are replaced with rear projections and draperies. Costumes are simplified but traditional in concept. Movement is conventional and stilted, but seems fitting due to the lightness of the reading and the simplicity of the production. Overall, the staging is sufficient to represent Wagner’s concepts and never distracts from the performance.

PERFORMANCES

Decker’s concept is lighter and more lyric even than Karajan’s, perhaps due to limitations of his forces. Orchestra and chorus are underpowered but adequate. Lindholm is an effective Isolde who strains at climaxes. McCray offers the right timbre without consistently finding the notes of the score. Baniewicz and Braun are accurate but have little to offer vocally. Minor parts are handled routinely.

TECHNICAL COMMENTS

Canadian engineering is at its worst in both video and audio: diffuse, vague, and distorted. Lighting is harsh, violating the fluid lines of the production and contradicting its lightness. Camera work is admirable, deserving of better engineering and lighting. Overall, the production and Lindholm make this a performance worth watching — once.

Evaluation: Adequate