But the conductor’s light, fleet way with the music at least allowed this element to proceed in an attractive way
... It was instantly clear that Hartmut Haenchen, the conductor of this first revival, was going to be lighter and fleeter than Semyon Bychkov had been first time round. Mainly,
Haenchen’s way is preferable. With Bychkov there were puzzling pauses, dragging orchestral bridge passages, general stasis. Haenchen knocked a quarter of an hour off Bychkov’s timing,
with enlivening effect. ...
... On the other hand, the scandalous Paris Venusberg music
was thrilling and shocking... and allow the opera to proceed on
its attractive musical way.
Michael Tanner
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