PROKOFIEV / TCHAIKOVSKY / DELIBES / ADAM / TALBOT / etc
The Royal Ballet - The Collection Carlos Acosta, Tamara Rojo, Edward Watson, Mara Galeazzi, Alina Cojocaru, Marianela Nunez, Darcey Bussell, Wayne McGregor [ Opus Arte Royal Opera House Collection DVD / 15 DVD 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. |
PROKOFIEV / TCHAIKOVSKY / DELIBES / ADAM / STRAVINSKY / etc
An Evening With The Royal Ballet Carlos Acosta, Tamara Rojo, Lauren Cuthbertson, Alina Cojocaru, Marianela Nunez, Darcey Bussell, etc [ Opus Arte Royal Opera House Collection DVD / DVD - released 20/Feb/2013 ] "This compilation taster of the great classics offers knockout performances, leaving one hankering to see the complete work. Don't miss Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg in Giselle." (BBC Music) |
AGOSTINO STEFFANI
Mission Cecilia Bartoli (mezzo-soprano) / I Barocchisti, Diego Fasolis, with Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor) [ Decca DVD / DVD - released 6/Dec/2012 ] G: - "Bartoli's plummy mezzo soars, smoulders and seduces, milking the music's vocal and expressive scope to dramatic effect. It's hard to resist her sparkling personality and infectious passion for this repertoire" (Five Stars BBC Music) |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Semele (complete opera recorded in 2007) Zurich Opera / Cecilia Bartoli, Liliana Nikiteanu, Birgit Remmert, Isabel Rey / William Christie (cond) [ Decca Music Group DVD / 2 DVD - released 12/Mar/2009 ] G - "Sung dazzlingly, "Myself I shall adore" was one of many high points in Bartoli's stunning performance, her first operatic role in a language other than Italian…The wonderfully intimate Zurich Opera House allows every detail of her performance... |
PROKOFIEV
The Love for Three Oranges (recorded live in 2005) Charles Workman / José Van Dam / Philippe Rouillon / Barry Banks / Béatrice Uria-Monzon / Opéra National de Paris / Sylvain Cambreling [ ArtHaus Musik DVD / DVD - released 26/Oct/2011 ] Conducted by 20th century specialist Sylvain Cambreling and sung in the original French version by superb singer-actors, this production presents a stage performance set in perfect harmony with Prokofiev's inventive music. |
DELIBES
Coppelia (complete ballet recorded in 2001) Charline Giezendanner / Mathieu Ganio / Pierre Lacotte / École De Danse And Opéra National De Paris / David Coleman [ Arthaus Musik DVD / DVD - released 1/Jul/2011 ] On the programme this evening is Coppélia, or the girl with the enamel eyes by Léo Delibes. The excitement among the girls is great because today they will be performing in the (reproduced) scenery and costumes which at the premiere on 25 May 1870... |
BENJAMIN BRITTEN
The Turn of the Screw (complete opera) City of London Sinfonia / Richard Hickox / Mark Padmore / Lisa Milne / Catrin Wyn Davies / Diana Montague / Nicholas Kirby Johnson / Caroline Wise [ BBC / Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 2/Mar/2005 ] G :- "With its short intimate scenes and concentrated lines, the Screw is so cinematic that it's surprising there's only been one previous film. This has just won a Viennese TV award. It's one of the truest opera films to date." (BBC Music) |
LAVAILLAT
La Petite Danseuse De Degas Clairemarie Osta / Dorothée Gilbert / Mathieu Ganio / Corps De Ballet & Orchestre De L'Opéra National De Paris / Koen Kessels [ ArtHaus Musik DVD / DVD - released 8/Aug/2011 ] "An inspired and visually ravishing creation. This ballet deserves to go from success to success." (Recording of the Month MusicWeb Aug 2011) |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: Les Troyens (complete opera recorded in 2009) Daniela Barcellona / Lance Ryan / Elisabete Matos / Gabriele Viviani / Eric Cutler / Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana / Valery Gergiev [ C Major DVD / 2 DVD - released 25/Aug/2011 ] "while Padrissa's computer projections and airborne acrobats achieve memorable visions, he underproduces the human element. Embattled Troy is a dystopian ruin under nuclear dustclouds, the robotic Trojan Horse unleashing, like an internet 'Trojan',... |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Aida / La Traviata / Rigoletto (complete operas recorded 2002 - 2006) Royal Opera, Teatro Real, Liceu Opera / Daniela Dessi, Elisabetta Fiorillo, Norah Amsellem, Renata Bruson, Christine Shafer, Marcelo Alvarez, etc [ Opus Arte DVD / 5 DVD Box Set - released 20/Dec/2014 ] "José Antonio Gutiérrez's production is, by definition, ultra-traditional, but everything looks beautiful thanks to Cabanes's feeling for colour - ochres and blues dominate - and perspective." (BBC Music on Aida) |
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
Rossini: La Scala di Seta (complete opera recorded live at Rossini Opera Festival, Pesaro, August 2009) Daniele Zanfardino, Olga Peretyatko, Anna Malavasi, José Manuel Zapata / Claudio Scimone (cond) [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 20/Feb/2013 ] "The cast is uniformly good. With her film-star looks and shiny top register, Olga Peretyatko has a lot of fun as Giulia, Carlo Lepore shows off as the vacuous Blansac, Jose Manuel Zapata makes an engaging Dorvil" (BBC Music) |
WAGNER
Tristan und Isolde (complete opera recorded in 2005) Barcelona Opera House / John Treleaven / Deborah Polaski / Halfvarson / Gran Teatre del Liceu / Bertrand de Billy (cond) [ Kultur / Opus Arte DVD / 3 DVD - released 29/Jul/2008 ] G : - John Treleaven and Deborah Polaski lead an outstanding cast in Wagner's operatic tour de force based on the medieval voyager legend of Sir Tristan and Isolde, Princess of Ireland, who unknowingly offers the knight a love potion in place of the... |
CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
Monteverdi: L'incoronazione di Poppea (Complete opera recorded in 1994) Deneder Landse Opera / Cynthia Haymon / Brigitte Balleys / Michael Chance / Christophe Rousset (conductor) [ Opus Arte DVD / 2 DVD - released 25/Jan/2006 ] G :- Monteverdi's timeless masterpiece, which creates a modern, deep involvement in performers and audiences alike, is brilliantly captured in this High Definition live recording of Pierre Audi's moving and beautifully styled production from Het... |
CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
Monteverdi Cycle: L'incoronazione di Poppea / L'Orfeo / Il Ritorno d'Ulisse, Il Combattimento (Complete operas) Deneder Landse Opera / Cynthia Haymon, Brigitte Balleys, Michael Chance, John Mark Ainsley, Juanita Lascarro, Christopher Gillett, Lorna Anderson, etc [ Opus Arte DVD / 7 DVD Box Set - released 20/Sep/2016 ] Each opera has an insightful introduction, directed by Roeland Hazendonk, featuring interviews with Pierre Audi, the musical director and members of the cast....."…strikingly staged, beautifully sung…" New York Times |
FRANZ SCHREKER
Schreker: Der Schatzgräber (complete opera recorded in 2022) Deutsche Oper Berlin / Elisabet Strid, Daniel Johansson, Michael Laurenz, Thomas Johannes Mayer / Marc Albrecht (cond) [ Naxos DVD / DVD - 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. |
MIECZYSLAW WEINBERG
Weinberg: Die Passagierin [The Passenger] (complete opera recorded in 2021) Oper Graz / Dshamilja Kaiser, Nadja Stefanoff, Will Hartmann, Markus Butter / Roland Kluttig(cond) [ Naxos DVD / DVD - released 8/Jul/2022 ] Mieczysław Weinberg's powerful Holocaust drama Die Passagierin channels his and his family's ordeals of wartime and Soviet persecution, applying them musically to Zofia Posmysz's autobiographical novel. |
RICCARDO ZANDONAI
Zandonai: Francesca da Rimini (complete opera recorded in 2021) Deutsche Oper Berlin / Sara Jakubiak, Jonathan Telelman, Ivan Inverardi / Carlo Rizzi (cond) [ Naxos DVD / DVD - released 18/Feb/2022 ] "The whole thing is, I think, a great achievement. Do watch it." Gramophone Editor's Choice May 2022 |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Parsifal (Complete opera) Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester / Kent Nagano / Nikolaus Lehnhoff / Christopher Ventris / Waltraud Meier [ Opus Arte DVD / 3 DVD - released 5/May/2005 ] G :- "If you love Wagner, you'll want this splendid recording. Highest recommendations!" (ClassicalNet Aug 2005) |
SCHUMANN / FAURE / DEBUSSY / R. STRAUSS
Recital at Baden Baden & Documentary 'Diva Divina' Diana Damrau (soprano), Xavier de Maistre (harp) [ Virgin DVD / DVD - released 13/May/2013 ] This DVD, centered on the dazzling German soprano Diana Damrau, complements a ravishing recital with a fascinating documentary. |
LAURO ROSSI
Rossi: Cleopatra (complete opera recorded in 2008) Dimitra Theodossiou / Alessandro Liberatore / Paolo Pecchioli / Sebastian Catana / Orchestra Filarmonica Marchigiana, David Crescenzi [ Naxos Opera DVD / DVD - released 27/Oct/2010 ] From the brooding opening scene in which Diomedes foretells the fall of Egypt to Cleopatra's death scene, this gripping grand opera by one of Italy's forgotten masters springs vividly to life in this revival filmed at the 2008 Macerata Sferisterio... |