The BBC – TV documentary “Wagner”, with RICHARD BURTON: what’s your assessment of it?

Question by Alberich: The BBC – TV documentary “Wagner”, with RICHARD BURTON: what’s your assessment of it?
I recently contracted with Netflix for viewing of DVDs. And was thrilled to discover that “Wagner” starring Richard Burton was available.

And have already viewed the 1st of the 4 DVD set(total running time, over 9 hrs.). But was very disappointed; cancelled #-2 and #-3 DVDs, and opted to only review the 4th: hoping to at least see some scenes of the actual annual festival held at the Festspielhaus in Bayreuth, Germany.

I thought the script was terrible: outright distortion of some of the facts of his life if I’m not mistaken(and I very well could be). But too, Burton had aged something awful by the time the series was made, and didn’t give a very convincing performance in my opinion.

Unless one is an Wagnerian fanatic – which I’m not, though, admittedly an avid one – the OVERLOAD of music from his operas, was difficult too dealt with: at least it was for me.

Here’s a You Tube clip from it for those who aren’t in anyway familiar with it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiDe_HruhlY

If you’ve viewed it, what’s your assessment? Would you recommend it? Or not?

If you haven’t viewed it, do you think you might want to?

Alberich

Best answer:

Answer by mephistopheles
Yay! I’m guessing netflix is the same deal as Lovefilm over here in the U.K.
I’ve just checked and they have it available also but over three discs with a combined running time of almost only eight hours?
It seems to have elicited very mixed reviews.
No never seen it nor heard of it for that matter before and alas taking into account your own glowing review and after watching the clip you posted I’m not awfully inspired to do so anytime soon ( :

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