LORTZING: Zar und Zimmermann (Hamburg State Opera studio production, 1969) (NTSC)

Albert Lortzing
ZAR UND ZIMMERMANN

Historic Studio Production from the Hamburg State Opera, 1969
Sung in German

Peter the Great: Raymond Wolansky
Peter Ivanov: Peter Haage
Van Bett: Hans Sotin
Marie: Lucia Popp
Admiral Lefort: Herbert Fliether
Lord Syndham: Noël Mangin
Marquis de Châteauneuf: Horst Wilhelm
Widow Browe: Ursula Boese
Officer: Franz Grundheber

Ballet and Chorus of the Hamburg State Opera
The Philharmonic State Orchestra Hamburg
Charles Mackerras, conductor

Gyula Trebitsch, director
(arranged for TV by Joachim Hess)

Picture format: NTSC 4:3 (Colour)
Sound format: Dolby Digital Mono
Region code: 0
Menu Languages: English, German, French, Spanish
Subtitle Languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian
Running time: 131 mins
No. of DVDs: 1 (DVD 9)

• What better legacy could an opera-house director leave behind him than a string of excellent theatrical productions! Composer/director Rolf Liebermann (1910-1999), described by The Independent as "one of the most influential figures of the post-war musical scene", certainly succeeded in doing this – particularly during the 14 years from 1959 to 1973 that he spent in charge of Hamburg State Opera. During the Liebermann era the company in this northern German city embarked on a new artistic and administrative course that had - and still has - an impact on the entire operatic scene in central and western Europe.
  
  
• It is significant in terms of Rolf Liebermann’s artistic credo that he selected Joachim Hess’ 1969 production of Albert Lortzing’s comic opera Zar und Zimmerman (The Tsar and the Carpenter) to be included amongst the august ranks of his 13 opera films. What he was clearly trying to achieve was as varied as possible a documentation of the performing capabilities of the Hamburg opera company during this period. Millions of television viewers (in those days) were to be given the opportunity to share the experience.
  
  
• It may seem strange nowadays, but all that needs to be said regarding the production is that the story, in terms of libretto and music, has been realised on a simple 1:1 basis – with all the technical skills available to film-makers in the late 1960s.