Widely acclaimed as one of the absolute top productions of the Mozart 22
cycle in Salzburg, "Mitridate" has everything going for it. It is a wild
story of erotic desire, jealousy, intrigue and betrayal; a dramatically
focused staging that does full justice to the conflicted relations; a cast
of singers who are all of the highest caliber; and a sensational musical
ensemble led by a singularly powerful and charismatic conductor.
Indeed, the real star of this production is conductor Marc Minkowski, who
is famed for his recordings of Baroque music with his ensemble Les
Musiciens du Louvre - Grenoble, who also play on this recording. It is
nothing less than phenomenal how Minkowski storms into the score and
unleashes raw emotions encompassing everything from happiness and
tenderness to madness and murderous jealousy. As he plumbs the depths of
this music, he carries his singers on his orchestra's richly nuanced
fabric, whips them along impetuously, and envelops them in opulent sounds.
In stage director Günter Krämer and his set designer Jürgen Bäckmann,
Minkowski found partners on a par with his vibrant talent. Through cleverly
placed mirrors, Krämer reveals what's going on "behind the scenes" at the
same time that we see what is occurring before our eyes - a breathtaking
layering of the events that illuminates the characters' psychology in a
subtle manner.
"Mitridate" is the first major opera seria of the 14-year-old Mozart, and
its plot typical of this genre, which had its heyday in the mid to late
18th century. King Mitridate, blinded by his lust for power, believes his
sons Farnace and Sifare, as well as his betrothed Aspasia, are betraying
him. He wants to put them to the test by staging his own death. The two
sons, who want to go their own ways, are thus forced to oppose their
father, even as they long for his love. Mitridate is ready to sacrifice all
three - but in the end, he is the only one who dies.
The DVD is also released within the DVD package "Mozart 22 - The complete operas" which is available in selected stores worldwide and through Amazon or JPC.