Wagner Rienzi opera to libretto by the composer. Directed 2012 by Jorge Lavelli at the Théâtre du Capitole, Toulouse. Stars Torsten Kerl (Rienzi), Marika Schönberg (Irene), Daniela Sindram (Adriano), Richard Wiegold (Stefano Colonna), Stefan Heidemann (Paolo Orsini), Robert Bork (Cardinal Orvieto), Marc Heller (Baroncelli), Leonardo Neiva (Cecco del Vecchio), and Jennifer O'Loughlin (Messenger of Peace). Pinchas Steinberg conducts the Orchestre National du Capitole, the Chœur du Capitole, and the Coro dell'Accademia Teatro alla Scala di Milano (Chorus Master Alfonso Caiani). Artistic collaboration by Dominique Poulange; set design by Ricardo Sánchez Cuerda; costume design by Francesco Zito; lighting design by Jorge Levelli and Roberto Trafferi. Directed for TV by Denis Caïozzi. Sung in German. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
A complete production of Rienzi lasts 4 hours and 40 minutes. The 2010 Berlin Rienzi (Arthaus Blu-ray) was cut almost in half to 2 hours and 36 minutes. Subject Toulouse version (Opus Arte Blu-ray) is a bit longer at 2 hours and 56 minutes. Mike Ashman in the November 2013 Gramophone complains that to truly enjoy Rienzi, you heed the whole enchilada. Still, since there is no good recording of the "behemoth" uncut, Ashman prefers the Toulouse as follows: "We're still at the level of a Rienzi snapshot but it's . . . a dramatically and musically more coherent picture of the [full opera] than the Berlin show provided."
Here's a good clip:
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