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Storyline
A deliciously biting satire about both the world of Grand Opera and United Europe. A Hungarian conductor (Arestrup) attempts to mount a bold new production of Richard Wagner's "Tannhäuser" while navigating the snares and pitfalls of artistic egos, rampant nationalism, internal company and union politics, and precarious funding. Written by
Dawn M. Barclift
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Trivia
The director's name,
István Szabó, translates as Stephen Tailor, and one running gag in the film is that several people are called this in different languages: Stefan Schneider, Steve Taylor, Stefano Sarto (three of the singers), and Etienne Tailleur (the stage manager).
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Soundtracks
"Du bis wie eine Blume"
(from song cycle "Myrthen, op. 25")
Music by
Robert Schumann
Text by
Heinrich Heine
Performed by
Kiri Te Kanawa soprano,
Roger Vignoles piano
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I saw this last night on UK TV. Glenn Close looked the part as a diva.
Her mouthing of Kiri Te Kanawa's singing was stunning. I've seen Elizabeth Schwarzkopf and Victoria de los Angeles sing, from the front row, and I would have believed this to be real thing, had it not been a movie.
I can only imagine that Te Kanawa recorded it after Close has shot the scenes. Otherwise, Close is a wonderful mimic.
Anyway, I was charmed by the movie. Simplistic it may be. But then so was Shakespeare in Love. And, as there, a miracle happens when the curtain goes up (except that there was no curtain at the Globe and here it doesn't actually go up, which is where the miracle happens).
David