[curzon]

A very few thoughts following (and adding to) Simon's review.

I wasn't mad about the narration and why did Meier speak some of it and silently emote to the recorded sections? Surely she could have done it all?

Agree about Kucerova/Score issue. She also had a couple of moments of uncertainty. On the plus side both she and her voice are gorgeous!

The Pizarro was feeble (even on the broadcast with the advantage of a balanced sound picture he was still overpowered). I would love to hear Bryn Terfel do this role but I suppose it's not much of a temptation to him (or to managements having to shell out his fee for a very short role). However plenty of other great Wagner singers including Hotter, Stewart, Sotin and Mcintyre have doen the role.

Was I the only one who noticed Tomlinson's momentary loss of words at the beginning of the second verse of "Gold"? Not a single reviewer mentioned it! Otherwise his was a tremendous performance even if he rarely explores volumes below MF these days.

I was less enamoured of Simon O'Neill than the critics. His first "Gott" was tremendous but many of the high sections were tight and unpleasant to listen to. To be fair Beethoven (like Strauss) makes hideous demands on his tenors. O'Neil also projected very little of the desperation and hunger-fuelled raving that the best Florestans achieve. Of modern contenders Seiffert, Botha or Heppner (on a reliable day) are preferable from a vocal point of view.

Waltraud Meier is such a total performer even in concert situations that she renders herself almost critic-proof. However one has to note that certain notes are not really within her gift anymore. To see her at full tilt in the role it is worth investing in the Valencia DVD under Mehta.

Barenboim conducted a visionary reading (albeit slow at times) and the East-West Divan responded with superb playing. I do prefer a period band in "Fidelio" but if one has a modern band this was pretty exemplary.

Seb