GILBERT and SULLIVAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gilbert & Sullivan: The Yeomen of the Guard Ambrosian Opera Chorus with Joel Grey, elizabeth Gale, Claire Powell, Alfred Marks, David Hillman & Elizabeth Bainbridge & others [ BBC / Umbrella DVD / DVD - released 10/Aug/2014 ] For more than 100 years the operas of Gilbert & Sullivan have played to packed audiences around the world. These two names have become synonymous with classic light opera - music that is timeless and tuneful lyrics that are witty, scathing and memorable. |
GILBERT and SULLIVAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gilbert & Sullivan: Ruddigore Ambrosian Opera Chorus with Vincent Price, Keith Michell, John Treleaven, Ann Howard, Sandra Dugdale, Donald Adams & Johanna Peters [ BBC / Umbrella DVD / DVD - released 10/Aug/2014 ] For more than 100 years the operas of Gilbert & Sullivan have played to packed audiences around the world. These two names have become synonymous with classic light opera - music that is timeless and tuneful lyrics that are witty, scathing and memorable. |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Brahms: Violin Concerto in D (with extra DVD of Beethoven Violin Concerto - 1st movement) Itzhak Perlman (violin) / Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Carlo Maria Giulini [ EMI Classics CD + DVD / 2 CD/DVD - released 20/Nov/1999 ] The classic 1977 recording reissued with an DVD bonus of the first movement of Beethoven's Violin Concerto live with the Berlin Philharmonic, filmed in 1992. |
GILBERT and SULLIVAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gilbert & Sullivan: Patience & The Sorcerer [2 DVDs] Ambrosian Opera Chorus with Sandra Dugdale, Donald Adams, Derek Hammond-Stroud, John Fryatt, Clive Revill, David Kernan & Nana Christie [ BBC / Umbrella DVD / DVD - released 10/Aug/2014 ] For more than 100 years the operas of Gilbert & Sullivan have played to packed audiences around the world. These two names have become synonymous with classic light opera - music that is timeless and tuneful lyrics that are witty, scathing and memorable. |
W. A. MOZART / FRANZ SCHUBERT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: Symphonies 31, 39, 40, 41 / Schubert: Symphony No. 4 Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Vienna Philharmonic, Nikolaus Harnoncourt [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 1/Oct/2016 ] Schubert's 'Tragic' Symphony and Mozart's 'Paris' Symphony are performed by the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Nikolaus Harnoncourt at the Wiener Musikvereinsaal in 1984. Harnoncourt goes back to Schubert's original manuscripts. |
GEORGES BIZET
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bizet: Carmen (complete opera recorded in 1985) Grace Bumbry, Jon Vickers, Mirella Freni, Justino Diaz / Vienna State Opera Choir & Vienna Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan [ Deusche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 1/Dec/2005 ] This famous film of the world's best-loved opera, directed by Herbert von karajan, features the three greatest exponents of their respective roles at the time. - "overwhelming in its truthfulness to the tragic vision of Carmen", wrote the... |
RICHARD STRAUSS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Strauss, (R.): Der Rosenkavalier (complete opera recorded in 1985) Royal Opera Covent Garden / Kiri Te Kanawa, Anne Howells, Aage Haugland, Barbara Bonney / Georg Solti (cond) [ Kultur DVD / DVD - released 10/Sep/2009 ] This opulent production by director John Schlesinger, filmed in 1985, marked the 25th anniversary of Sir Georg Solti's spectacular debut at Covent Garden, conducting this very opera. |
PUCCINI / BIZET / VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Maria Callas at Covent Garden: London 1962 & 1964 Maria Callas (soprano) / Orchestra & Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden [ EMI Classics DVD / DVD - released 20/Nov/2015 ] These are the only professional video recordings of Callas in performance on stage. The DVD contains footage of Callas performing arias in concert. Even without staging and costumes, she demonstrates her mesmerising stage presence. |
RICHARD WAGNER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Wagner: Tannhauser (Complete Opera recorded in 1983) Metropolitan Opera / Richard Cassilly, Eva Marton, Tatiana Troyanos / James Levine [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / 2 DVD - released 13/Oct/2002 ] The Metropolitan Opera sings deeply passionate Wagner in this 1991 production on a spare but darkly atmospheric stage. |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust (The Damnation of Faust) - From the Royal Albert Hall 1989 Anne Sofie Von Otter, Keith Lewis, Jose Van Dam, Peter Rose / The Chicago Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti [ AWD DVD / DVD - released 20/Jan/2006 ] Sir Georg Solti conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in a magnificent performance of Berlioz's concert cantata. |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: Le Nozze Di Figaro [The Marriage Of Figaro] (Complete Opera recorded in 1994) Glyndebourne Opera / Gerald Finley, Alison Hagley, Renee Fleming / Bernard Haitink (conductor) [ Warner Music Vision DVD / DVD - released 10/Sep/2009 ] "Pure magic….Bernard Haitink conducted the LPO in an eloquent performance, beautifully played…….One listened, as Haitink, Hagley, and Finley lifted a loving, carefully prepared performance to greatness" Opera Magazine |
FRANZ LEHAR
Lehar: The Merry Widow (complete operetta recorded in 1988) Opera Australia / Joan Sutherland, Ron Stevens, Ann-Maree McDonald / Richard Bonynge (cond) [ ABC Universal DVD / DVD - released 1/Mar/2011 ] The sparkling story concerns a national crisis in the picture-postcard country of Pontevedro, as the recently-widowed Hanna Glawari appears to be in danger of marrying a foreigner. |
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia [The Barber of Seville] (complete opera recorded in 2009) Royal Opera House / Joyce DiDonato, Juan Diego Florez, Pietro Spagnoli / Antonio Pappano (cond) [ Erato / Warner Classics DVD / 2 DVD - released 10/May/2010 ] G - "This very likely is the strongest Barber cast I've ever seen. DiDonato, wheelchair or not, is a dream Rosina, vocally flawless and always in good taste." (10/10 ClassicsToday.com) |
MOZART / DONIZETTI / LEHAR / DVORAK & OTHERS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Renee and Bryn - Under the Stars Renee Fleming, Bryn Terfel / The Orchestra of Welsh National Opera / Gareth Jones / Paul Gemignani [ Decca DVD / DVD - released 24/Mar/2003 ] Filmed 'live' in the magical mountains of Wales at Bryn Terfel's Faenol Festival, this exclusive 'Under The Stars' DVD is released to co-incide with the CD of the same title. |
GEORGES BIZET
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bizet: Carmen (complete Franco Zeffirelli production recorded in 1978) Vienna State Opera / Placido Domingo, Elena Obraztsova, Isobel Buchanan, Yuri Mazurok, Isobel Buchanan / Carlos Kleiber (cond) [ Arthaus DVD / Blu-ray Disc - released 12/Jul/2004 ] The Vienna Carmen from 1978 is a sensational filmed document from the musical legacy of Carlos Kleiber: the meticulous conductor only ever conducted a highly selected repertoire, and among his very few audio and video recordings are only seven... |
WAGNER / BERNSTEIN / MOZART / VERDI / TRADITIONAL / etc
Bryn Terfel - Live in Concert - Songs and Arias Bryn Terfel (baritone) / Radio Filharmonisch Orkest Holland, Edo de Waart [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 1/Jun/2002 ] "An undemanding popular concert with something for everybody - splendidly performed and brilliantly recorded. Recommended." MusicWeb |
GIOACHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia [The Barber of Seville] (complete opera recorded in 1988) Metropolitan Opera / Kathleen Battle, Rockwell Blake, Leo Nucci / Ralf Weikert (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / 2 DVD - released 17/May/2010 ] ""one of the most mechanically ingenious stagings that the company has offered in recent years. Robin Wagner's multifaceted set, rotating on the stage turntable, lets the action flow smoothly from place to place." (N.Y. Times) |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: I vespri Siciliani (complete opera recorded in 1990) La Scala Opera / Giorgio Zancanaro, Enzo Capuano, Chris Merritt, Cheryl Studer / Riccardo Muti (cond) [ Opus Arte / Rai Trade / La Scala Collection DVD / DVD - released 25/Dec/2015 ] Verdi's 1855 Paris opera which followed Rigoletto, Il trovatore and La Traviata is treated to a performance of blazing energy and intimate refinement with a superb cast which includes Cheryl Studer and Chris Merritt. |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Rigoletto (Complete opera recorded in 1977) The Metropolitan Opera / Placido Domingo, Ileana Cotrubas, Cornell MacNeil / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 27/May/2004 ] "Yes, Rigoletto is a singer's opera, but Verdi also poured into it some of his most dramatic as well as melodic music. That said, the vivid colours of the production have come up amazingly well and the sound is clear." (MusicWeb Dec 2006) |
ANTONIO VIVALDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Vivaldi: Pietà - Sacred Works for Alto. [Limited Edtion CD plus DVD] Philippe Jaroussky (counter-tenor) / Ensemble Artaserse [ Virgin Classics CD + DVD / 2 CD/DVD - released 1/Nov/2014 ] "There is much serenity in this music, perfect for a singer of unblemished tone and vocal agility, two of Jaroussky's prime virtues." (William Dart NZ Herald) |