RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Das Rheingold (complete opera recorded in 2021) BLU-RAY Berlin Opera / Derek Welton, Tobias Kehrer, Thomas Blondelle, Markus Blondelle / Sir Donald Runnicles (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 16/Feb/2024 ] As early as 1851, Wagner wrote, 'I propose to produce my myth in three complete dramas, preceded by a lengthy Prelude.' The Prelude was Das Rheingold ('The Rhine Gold') the preliminary evening of Wagner's epic tetralogy Der Ring des Nibelungen ('The... |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Strauss: Die Liebe der Danae, Op. 83 (complete opera recorded in 2011) BLU-RAY Berlin Opera / Manuela Uhl, Mark Delavan, Matthias Klink, Thomas Blondelle / Andrew Litton (cond) [ Arthaus Musik BLU-RAY / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Aug/2016 ] "fine dynamic control (here is one heroic baritone who really can sing intimately), expansive personality and fabulously clear and meaningful textual projection...the orchestra revel in the score under Andrew Litton." (International Record Review) |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Gotterdammerung (complete opera recorded in 2021) BLU-RAY Berlin Opera / Nina Stemme, Clay Hilley, Thomas Lehmann, Aile Asszonyi / Sir Donald Runnicles (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / 2 Blu-ray - released 17/May/2024 ] Götterdämmerung ('Twilight of the Gods') is the final opera of Wagner's epic tetralogy Der Ring des Nibelungen ('The Ring of the Nibelung') in which his visionary masterpiece reaches its cataclysmic conclusion. Betrayal and death, murder and remorse,... |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Die Walkure (complete opera recorded in 2021) BLU-RAY Berlin Opera / Nina Stemme, Iain Paterson, Brandon Jovanovich, Elisabeth Teige / Sir Donald Runnicles (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / 2 Blu-ray - released 15/Mar/2024 ] Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen ('The Ring of the Nibelung') comprises four operas of which Die Walküre ('The Valkyrie') is the second, famous for its spectacular set-pieces such as the Ride of the Valkyries and Wotan's Farewell. The plot focuses on... |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen (complete operas recorded in 2021) BLU-RAY Berlin Opera / Nina Stemme, Iain Paterson, Brandon Jovanovich, Elisabeth Teige / Sir Donald Runnicles (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / 4 Blu-ray Box Set - released 15/Sep/2022 ] "Donald Runnicles leads an impressive account of the score. His deep knowledge of the music comes through in the naturalness of the discourse, the easy communication with the singers and the vibrant colours he draws from the orchestra." Fanfare |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Die Walkure (complete opera recorded in 2021) BLU-RAY Berlin Opera / Clay Hilley, Nina Stemme, Iain Paterson, Ya-Chung Huang, Tobias Kehrer / Sir Donald Runnicles (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / 2 Blu-ray - released 19/Apr/2024 ] Siegfried is the third of the four operas that comprise Wagner's epic tetralogy Der Ring des Nibelungen ('The Ring of the Nibelung'). Siegfried, raised by the evil dwarf Mime, discovers that he is the son of Siegmund and Sieglinde. He must negotiate... |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Parsifal (Complete opera recorded in 2015) BLU-RAY Berlin State Opera / Wolfgang Koch, Andreas Schager, Anja Kampe, Matthias Hölle / Daniel Barenboim (cond) [ Bel Air Classiques Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 28/Sep/2016 ] The Wagner's mystic masterpiece "Parsifal" at Staatsoper Berlin staged by Dmitri Tcherniakov and conducted by Daniel Barenboim. |
BORIS ASAFIEV
The Flames of Paris (complete ballet) BLU-RAY Bolshoi Ballet / Natalia Osipova / Denis Savin / Ivan Vasiliev / Pavel Sorokin (cond) [ Bel Air Classiques Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 10/Dec/2010 ] Under the aegis of its now acting artistic director, Alexei Ratmansky, the Bolshoi Theatre Ballet Company, continues its foray into the history of Russian ballet with a revival of The Flames of Paris. |
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (complete ballet recorded in 2010) BLU-RAY Bolshoi Ballet / Nina Kaptsova, Artem Ovcharenko, Denis Savin / Pavel Klinichev (cond) [ Bel Air Classiques Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Jun/2012 ] The most talented soloists of the Bolshoi Ballet appear in this production including Nina Kaptsova (Marie) and Artem Ovcharenko (the Nutcracker Prince) and Denis Savin (Drosselmeyer). |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte, K620 [The Magic Flute] (complete opera recorded in 2013) BLU-RAY Bregenz Festival / Alfred Reiter, Norman Reinhardt, Ana Durlovski, Bernarda Bobro / Patrick Summers (cond) [ C Major Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/Nov/2013 ] Staged by: David Pountney Subtitles: E, G, F, Sp, Kor, Chin Sound Format: DD 2.0, dts 5.1 Picture: 16:9, HD Booklet: E, G Total Running Time: 150 mins |
MIECZYSLAW WEINBERG
The Passenger, Op. 97 (complete opera recorded in 2010) BLU-RAY Bregenz Festival / Michelle Breedt, Roberto Sacca, Elena Kelessidi, Artur Rucinski, Svetlana Doneva / Teodor Currentzis (cond) [ Arthaus Musik Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Dec/2015 ] Continuing its tradition of unearthing little-known 20th-century operas, the Bregenz Festival presented the first staged production of Polish-Russian composer Mieczysław Weinberg's 'The Passenger' in 2010.. |
FRANCO FACCIO
Faccio: Hamlet (complete opera recorded at the Bregenz Festival, July, 2016) BLU-RAY Bregenz Festival / Pavel Cernoch, Claudio Sgura, Iulia Maria Dan, Eduard Tsanga, Dshamilja Kaiser / Paolo Carignani (cond) [ C Major Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 15/Aug/2017 ] "this marvellous opera, anticipating the musical language of later Italian verismo composers, combines lovely musical interludes with superb vocal writing" Telegraph |
ANDRE TCHAIKOVSKY
The Merchant of Venice (complete opera recorded in 2013) BLU-RAY Bregenz Festival / Richard Angas (Duke of Venice), Christopher Ainslie, Charles Workman, Adrian Clarke, Norman Patzke / Erik Nielsen [ EuroArts Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 5/Apr/2015 ] "Bergian in idiom, it's a fine if uneven piece...Magdalena Anna Hofmann is a superb Portia; Jason Bridges exudes charm as Lorenzo; Eröd and Ainslie are heartbreaking and unforgettable." (The Guardian) |
GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (Complete opera recorded in 2017) BLU-RAY Bregenzer Festspiele / Gaëlle Arquez, Daniel Johansson, Scott Hendricks, Elena Tsallagova / Paolo Carignani (cond) [ C-Major BLU-RAY / Blu-ray - released 24/Sep/2017 ] "The French singer Gaëlle Arquez proves to be a lucky find. Not only her massive, shimmering mezzo-soprano is convincing, but her high-quality acting skills as well." Salzburger Nachrichten |
PROKOFIEV / TCHAIKOVSKY / DELIBES / ADAM / TALBOT / etc
The Royal Ballet - The Collection BLU-RAY Carlos Acosta, Tamara Rojo, Edward Watson, Mara Galeazzi, Alina Cojocaru, Marianela Nunez, Darcey Bussell, Wayne McGregor [ Opus Arte Royal Opera House Collection Blu-ray / 15 Blu-ray Box Set - released 10/Nov/2016 ] Celebrating 60 years since the Royal Ballet was awarded its Royal Charter, this magnificent 15-disc collection brings together 22 ballets spanning a decade of dance. The Collection illustrates the breadth of the Royal Ballet's work: from such... |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Tosca (Complete opera recorded in 1992) BLU-RAY Catherine Malfitano, Placido Domingo, Ruggero Raimondi / Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of Rome RAI, Zubin Mehta [ Warner Classics Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 3/Jun/2013 ] Recorded live in July 1992 - REMASTERED IN HIGH DEFINITION FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPE. |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Giulio Cesare [complete opera recorded in 2012] Blu-ray Salzburg Whitsun Festival / Cecilia Bartoli, Andreas Scholl, Philippe Jaroussky, Anne Sofie von Otter. Christophe Dumaux / Giovanni Antonini (cond) [ Decca Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 13/May/2016 ] "[Andreas Scholl's] coloratura is note perfect, he phrases recitatives with as much musicianship as arias, and the steadiness and purity of his voice are remarkable." The Financial Times |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: La Rondine (Complete opera recorded in 2015) BLU-RAY Deutsche Oper Berlin / Dinara Alieva (Magda de Civry), Charles Castronovo, Alexandra Hutton, Alvaro Zambrano, Stephen Bronk / Roberto Rizzi Brignoli ( [ Delos Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 3/Sep/2016 ] "Villázon shows admirable restraint in a straightforward, stylish production that contains a good deal of charm…there's a rich darkness to [Alieva's] voice, especially in Doretta's Dream." (Blu-ray of the Month Gramophone July 2016) |
FRANZ SCHREKER
Schreker: Der Schatzgräber (complete opera recorded in 2022) BLU-RAY Deutsche Oper Berlin / Elisabet Strid, Daniel Johansson, Michael Laurenz, Thomas Johannes Mayer / Marc Albrecht (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 8/Nov/2023 ] Franz Schreker's career was cut short by the events of 1933 in Germany but he achieved real fame with his operas, and the huge success of Der Schatzgräber ('The Treasure Hunter') in the 1920s was the high point of his career. In a complex and... |
LEOS JANACEK
Janacek: Jenufa (Complete opera recorded in 2014) BLU-RAY Deutsche Oper Berlin / Jennifer Larmore, Will Hartmann, Ladislav Elgr, Hanna Schwarz / Donald Runnicles (cond) [ ArtHaus Musik Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Jan/2017 ] "The action is lightly moved into the 20th century, to around the time of the opera's premiere...Both Larmore and Michaela Kaune's older-looking than usual Jenufa give full-voiced, fluent readings of their roles." Gramophone |