Petr Weigl, his works, & a fine tradition.

[Slrdsyj]

Of director Peter Weigl's film works, "The Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk", "Eugene
Onegin", "A Village Romeo and Juliet", and "Die Winterreise" are the ones that
I've seen. He is truly talented and has done a remarkable job with his film
versions of opera and other classical music. His works are elegant, sometimes
sensual, occasionally mixed with a dose of eroticism, well-cast with attractive
and convincing actors with little exception. The naturalistic settings - the
lush interiors, and beautiful exteriors and scenery of nature - are grand
without being gaudy. He does not feel a need to over-modernise things, trying
to be so hip or so hot or chic. There is no smugness in the tone of his
directing style or his sets.
I've been told that Weigl is almost 80 years of age. On that note, I've
thought of one thing. Opera productions done on stages in theatres are
irreplaceable. There is no substitute for this. At the same time, Weigl has
carried on a fine tradition of film productions of operatic works that is
worthy of being continued into the future. Although, Weigl is not the first
person to work on this art of opera movies (Jean-Pierre Ponelle and Mario
Lafranchi have given the world other good and notable opera films that also
deserve acclaim), he has left a legacy of fine and splendid work. I've been
told that he's been directing such opera and classical music films since the
1970's through to the 1990's.
Who among directors is going to carry on this worthy tradition when Petr
Weigl is gone?

[thierry morice]

Of director Petr Weigl's film works, "The Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk", "Eugene
Onegin", "A Village Romeo and Juliet", and "Die Winterreise" are the ones that
I've seen.

Also to be recommended his Werther, Turn of the Screw and hard-to-find
Rusalka.
His "Mary Stuart" is a bit more controversorial, for it's not a movie
of the Donizetti opera, but combines the Schiller play with the opera
(that's why I prefer not to mention it with the Italian title, which
isn't the title chosen by Weigl anyway).

I also have his "Vskresenie", an opera by the Slovak composer Cikker
after "Resurrection" by Tolstoy.

I hope his Faust (Gounod) and Saint Sébastien (Debussy) will also be
released on DVD.

th.

[Slrdsyj]

Petr Weigl directed a film version of Gounod's "Faust", too? When was this?
Was this one or "Rusalka" ever released on VHS years ago? Whose singing
voices are heard in those movies?
Also, what was "Martyrdom of Saint Sebastien" like? Was it a film of a
concert performance or was it an opera film like "Mstensk" "Onegin" or "Village
Romeo and Juliet, or was it like "Winterreise" in structure?
"Vskresenie", was that ever released on VHS? Which recording was used for
this film and who sang in it?

Also, what are your opinions of Weigl's "Turn of the Screw"? How does it
compare with the 1990 stage production of "Turn of the Screw" starring Helen
Field, Samuel Linay, Richard Greager, and Phyllis Cannan. I think it was
released only this past summer.

(By the way, didn't Weigl's "Village Romeo and Juliet" feature the voices of
Helen Field and Samuel Linay? That's something that they ended up starring on
stage together in another production which was previously the subject of
another Petr Weigl movie.)

Date: 1/18/04 8:23 AM Eastern Standard Time

Of director Petr Weigl's film works, "The Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk", "Eugene
Onegin", "A Village Romeo and Juliet", and "Die Winterreise" are the ones

that

I've seen.

Also to be recommended his Werther, Turn of the Screw and hard-to-find
Rusalka.
His "Mary Stuart" is a bit more controversorial, for it's not a movie
of the Donizetti opera, but combines the Schiller play with the opera
(that's why I prefer not to mention it with the Italian title, which
isn't the title chosen by Weigl anyway).
I also have his "Vskresenie", an opera by the Slovak composer Cikker
after "Resurrection" by Tolstoy.
I hope his Faust (Gounod) and Saint Sébastien (Debussy) will also be
released on DVD.
th.

[thierry morice]

Post by Slrdsyj
Petr Weigl directed a film version of Gounod's "Faust", too? When was this?
Was this one or "Rusalka" ever released on VHS years ago? Whose singing
voices are heard in those movies?

I have Rusalka on VHS, but I think it was limited to Czech/Slovak
Republic
Rusalka: C. Benackova / M. Vasaryova
Prince: P. Dvorsky / M. Knazko
Witch: B. Marova / J. Adamova
Foreign Princess : M. Subrtova / B. Turzonovova
Water Goblin : O. Malachovsky / P. Koci

Faust (1972)
The interpreters are M. Vasaryova, J. Zahradnicek, M. Bohacova, M.
Knazko,
the singers A. Svorc, J. Jindrak...
Sorry I can't find more precise infos. I'm quoting from the book "Svet
Petra Weigl" by Alena Bechtoldova. A remarkable book with lots of
pictures ...

Post by Slrdsyj
Also, what was "Martyrdom of Saint Sebastien" like? Was it a film of a
concert performance or was it an opera film like "Mstensk" "Onegin" or
"Village Romeo and Juliet", or was it like "Winterreise" in structure?

It is a real film, made in Syria for the greatest part. Due to d'
Annunzio's text it is rather lyrical, similar in this o Winterreise,
but it has a "plot" similar to the classical opera movies.

Post by Slrdsyj
"Vskresenie", was that ever released on VHS? Which recording was used for
this film and who sang in it?

I have it taped from the Slovak TV.
Sung among others b G. Benackova and René Tucek.

Post by Slrdsyj
Also, what are your opinions of Weigl's "Turn of the Screw"? How does it
compare with the 1990 stage production of "Turn of the Screw" starring Helen
Field, Samuel Linay, Richard Greager, and Phyllis Cannan. I think it was
released only this past summer.

Don't know the stage production, but like the movie, which was made in
Lednice, a South Moravian castle in neo-gothic style with a great
park. Weigl succeded very well in reconstructing England there ... His
dramaturgy is also very convincing.

Post by Slrdsyj
(By the way, didn't Weigl's "Village Romeo and Juliet" feature the voices of
Helen Field and Samuel Linay?

Helen Field: Vreni
Sauel Linay: Sali as a child
Also, of course, Thomas Hampson as singer AND actor, as the Dark
Fiddler.

Hope it helps

th.