Hector Berlioz: Troyens (Les) ( NTSC) (Arthaus DVD)

As a ten-year-old Hector Berlioz was deeply gripped by Vergil’s Aenead, and for years dreamed of a ‘grand opera in Shakespearian style’ on this theme, which he was not to complete until 1858, under the title of ‘Les Troyens’ (‘The Trojans’). Yet this dream of his youth became a bitter disappointment: the unabridged original version of this demanding, costly and mammoth work was never staged during Berlioz’ lifetime, and for years was thought impossible to perform. Not until the complete version was staged under Colin Davis at Coven Garden in 1969 did Berlioz’ creation gain recognition as one of opera history’s central works. The present, celebrated production, with the Orchestre de Paris conducted by Sylvain Cambreling, took pride of place at the Salzburg Festival 2000. In Herbert Wernicke’s clearly structured direction, the multiple scenes are not illustrated at random but psychologically reinterpreted. Deborah Polansky as Dido/Cassandra, and John Villars as Aeneas, perform brilliantly in the leading roles.