"This is neither a Lohengrin to seek out for its direction, nor to avoid because of it. As drama, it can't begin to touch the rats of Hans Neunefels that populated Bayreuth's previous Lohengrin, already a modern classic. Arguably it's even a bit lame, but it's also very pretty and (perhaps involuntarily) traditional. This leaves plenty room to focus on the performances-which is a good thing, as I will elaborate below ... You can tell Christian Thielemann is in his element, from the overture on. Smoothly powerful, supple, compelling, never-ending streams of sounds emanate from the Bayreuth pit. The playing is rock solid ... This, in turn, aids Anja Harteros' Elsa, whose on-the-money intonation, whose vulnerability and delicacy-in-strength makes her one of the most compelling Elsas of our time. Piotr Beczala's Lohengrin ... might not have been the most intuitive choice, but he acquits himself very nicely indeed ... Waltraud Meier's leave-taking of one of her favorite roles is impressive and touching to witness. Dramatically she can pull all registers and Thielemann makes sure she does not have to strain".