Cardillac

1985
7.7| 1h29m| en
Details

Wolfgang Sawallisch conducts this acclaimed staging of Paul Hindemith's ambitious opera of the goldsmith Cardillac, whom fortune seems to favor and then abandon, featuring Donald McIntyre and Maria de Francesca-Cavazza in the starring roles. Filmed in 1985 at the Bavarian State Opera and directed by the legendary Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, the production captures every nuance of Hindemith's powerful tale of love, suspicion and betrayal. Opera Performance, recorded at 16-25 September 1985 at the National Theater in Munich.

Director

Producted By

AD
AD

Watch Free for 30 Days

All Prime Video Movies and TV Shows. Cancel anytime. Watch Now

Trailers & Clips

Reviews

PlatinumRead Just so...so bad
ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.
Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
Lela The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.
TheLittleSongbird Cardillac is very like its composer Paul Hindemith, one of those works that I more appreciate than love. It is a very interesting and well-crafted opera with a story that is both energetic and full of atmosphere. The music won't be for all tastes though, with me the decadence and density of it suits the story very well indeed, but do be warned, Cardillac is done in a style that you may not be as familiar to you and you may find it somewhat unpleasant and alien to you. This is a great production of Cardillac though and will serve as a good introduction to it. Personally the only criticism is the chorus' diction, which is not always clear, with somewhat of a mumbling quality. The costumes and sets are expressionistic, stark and angular, and in a good way as it does reflect the nature of the music and storytelling perfectly. The angular set design and costumes that are the very meaning of grotesque people will most likely find "ugly", while not as extreme as that from personal reaction that is understandable, but considering that there is very little "beautiful" about Cardillac in the first place it is appropriate. The staging is compelling and dramatic, it doesn't look static or amateurish, while the orchestra play with the right amount of textural density, decadence and warped beauty that the score demands, the chorus apart from some unclear diction sing and act with vigour and involvement and Wolfgang Sawallisch's conducting is full of authority and liveliness. Brash perhaps but again in an appropriate way. The performances are excellent across the board, showing an ability to bring Mozartian-like elegance and Wagnerian-like heft to their roles. The best of the cast is Donald McIntyre in the lead, his voice has elegance and heft as well as beautiful phrasing and his acting shows perfectly a sinister character that you do feel sympathy for at the end. Overall, the opera will take time to get used to but the production itself is great. 9/10 Bethany Cox