Wagner: Die Walküre 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Wagner: Die Walküre 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman December 5, 2018

Herbert von Karajan may have been one of the most lionized conductors of his generation, but to quote a famous show business cliché, what he really wanted to do was evidently direct, that is if one concedes that merely aiming a little stick baton at a battery of musicians in an orchestra pit isn’t directing. Von Karajan’s list of achievements is truly monolithic, but one of his odder biographical entries is his more or less total takeover of the premiere of Salzburg’s now long running Easter Festival in 1967 with a still hotly debated production of Richard Wagner’s Die Walküre . As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations surrounding the founding of the Easter Festival, Salzburg supposedly “recreated” the 1967 production that von Karajan threw his full artistic weight behind, though how much was recreated is open for debate, as evidenced not just by new projections to take the place of what were evidently glass paintings in the original, but a whole new, perhaps modernized, approach to costumes that is again evidently quite different from what audiences in 1967 were greeted by.

Wagner has been one classical composer who has been rather well served by the high definition era, and that extends to this particular opera. Since I've personally reviewed Die Walküre several times by this point, I won't provide another plot summary, and instead refer you to both my Wagner: Die Walkure Blu-ray review and my Wagner: Die Walkure Blu-ray review for information not just on story mechanics, but also so those interested can see how different directors have sometimes pretty radically altered the source material to suit their particular whims.

Wagner: Die Walküre 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Die Walküre is presented on 4K UHD courtesy of Unitel and C Major with a 2160p transfer in 1.78:1. Alert readers may have noticed that this review does not provide screenshots, because this is yet another opera 4K presentation that does not come with a 1080p Blu-ray included in the package. This title evidently was released on "traditional" 1080p Blu-ray about a year ago, but I was not sent a screener, so don't have a source for screenshots. I'm also frankly guessing on the 1080p video score as a result, but am basing that score on long experience with Unitel and C Major opera releases, as well as what might be termed a relatively considered deduction based on how the 2160p version looks. This is being touted on the back cover of this release as having been "filmed in 4K", though a couple of other kind of odd decisions, both in terms of the production and in terms of this disc release, may keep some of the benefits of a "true" 4K source at least slightly at bay. This is a fairly spare piece from a production design standpoint, with only the massive appearance of Yggdrasil early on breaking up what is largely a barren stage, shorn of "real" backdrops and stage dressing other than the gigantic ring which can be seen in the first photograph I've included with this review, which indeed comes from this production. There's also a somewhat monochromatic approach toward lighting and costume design, with grays predominating in Act 1 and Act 3, and a kind of pale green ambience informing Act 2. That lack of a really vivid palette may help to salve the "wound" (Amfortas or other, but I digress) that this release also does not feature HDR of any kind, and so is in standard dynamic range. Detail levels are generally good when lighting conditions allow, and in fact "little" elements like the runes on Wotan's staff are clear and precise looking. Textures on some of the costumes are also rendered cleanly, though there aren't the "over the top" costuming choices in this production, and in fact some of the performers wear what amounts to modern dress. Blacks are nicely deep, helping to create the feeling of foreboding that suffuses the opera.

Wagner: Die Walküre 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Die Walküre features LPCM 2.0 and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0 tracks, though the disc is authored to default to the stereo track, and you have to get into the Pop Up Menu to actually access audio options (the Main Menu only contains a Play option). There's really beautiful hall ambience on the surround track, one that helps to provide some almost sumptuous spaciousness in the often dark and brooding orchestral masses that Wagner repeatedly exploits throughout the opera. While there's a suitably "Wagnerian" burnish to brass especially, conductor Christian Thielemann, a longtime protege of von Karajan, actually coaxes some surprising lightness out of the Staatskapelle Dresden, with some especially enjoyable interplay between strings and winds. Fidelity is excellent throughout, and prioritization is generally excellent, allowing soloists to soar above often overpowering instrumental accompaniments. There are a few passing moments where the orchestra does temporarily mask some of the singing, but these tend to be transitory at worst.

Wagner: Die Walküre 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There are no supplements offered on the 4K UHD disc.

Wagner: Die Walküre 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A lot of times we curmudgeonly critics deride dramatic films for being "too talky", and I guess some might feel that Die Walküre might be accused of being "too sing-y" (if I may be permitted to coin a somewhat questionable adjective). Unfortunately, this production feels kind of lethargic, as if all the assembled Gods and Goddesses, along with the occasional hanger on Mere Mortal, are simply going through the paces. The fact that the physical production doesn't offer much in the way visual blandishments may also be a detriment to some. Thielemann offers a sometimes very passionate accounting of the score, and some of the performances, notably Anja Kampe as Brünnhilde, are impressive. I'm not sure this release really cries out for a 4K UHD presentation, but one way or the other Unitel and C Major (along with a few other labels, some classical music oriented, others not) might be well advised to follow standard industry protocol by including a 1080p Blu-ray with their 4K UHD releases.