HARRISON BIRTWISTLE
The Minotaur (complete opera recorded in 2008) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / John Tomlinson, Johan Reuter, Christine Rice, Andrew Watts / Antonio Pappano (cond) [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 30/Nov/2015 ] "The filming reinforces the strengths of Stephen Langridge's tightly controlled, potently expressive production in an economical yet atmospheric setting, with the whole ensemble totally engaged in the drama's dark enterprise." (Gramophone) |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Stiffelio (recorded live Covent Garden in 1993) Royal Opera House / Jose Carreras, Catherine Malfitano, Gregory Yurisch / Edward Downes (cond) [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 10/Sep/2011 ] "Elijah Moshinsky's handsome Stiffelio was one of Covent Garden's greatest triumphs under a previous regime. José Carreras and Catherine Malfitano lead a fine cast." (BBC Music) |
JOBY TALBOT
Talbot: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (complete ballet recorded in 2011) Royal Opera House / Lauren Cuthbertson, Sergei Polunin, Edward Watson, Zenaida Yanowsky / Barry Wordsworth (cond) [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 25/Nov/2014 ] Lewis Carroll's ever-popular story provides the basis for Christopher Wheeldon's spectacular new work, starring Royal Ballet Principal Lauren Cuthbertson. Captivating designs by Bob Crowley, an engaging and passionate score by Joby Talbot, and... |
PUCCINI
Turandot (Complete opera recorded in 2013) Royal Opera / Lise Lindstrom, Marco Berti, Eri Nakamura, Raymond Aceto / Henrik Nánási (cond) [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 31/Mar/2014 ] "Long one of my favourite productions of anything...Serban struck a healthy blow against the ultra-ornate Zeffirellian approach with a look that's often as dark as the heart of the opera's Chinese fairy-tale princes" (Gramophone) |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Il Trittico (complete operas recorded live in 2011) Royal Opera House / Lucio Gallo, Aleksandrs Anton, Ermonela Jaho, Ekaterina Siurina / Antonio Pappano [ Opus Arte DVD / 3 DVD - released 20/Jan/2013 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD WINNER 2013: Opera |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Salome (complete opera recorded in 1992) Royal Opera House / Maria Ewing, Michael Devlin, Kenneth Riegel, Gillian Knight / Edward Downes [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 25/Nov/2015 ] "Maria Ewing is the magnetic anti-heroine in this rather stagey production by her former husband, Peter Hall. With solid support from the other principals and conductor Edward Downes, the result is worthy rather than gripping." (BBC Music) |
TCHAIKOVSKY
Classic Ballets: Swan Lake / Nutcracker / Sleeping Beauty (recorded 2006-2009) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / Marialela Nunez, Thiago Soares, Alina Cojocaru, Federico Bonelli, Miyako Yoshida, Steven McRae / Valery Ovsyanikov, Koen kessels ( [ Opus Arte Blu-ray / 3 Blu-ray Box Set - released 1/Oct/2013 ] This special collection brings together three acclaimed Royal Ballet performances of Tchaikovsky's celebrated masterpieces. The tragic and gloriously romantic Swan Lake features compelling dancing from Marianela Nuñez and Thiago Soares... |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Salome (complete opera recorded in 2008) Royal Opera House / Nadja Michael, Thomas Moser, Michaela Schuster / Philippe Jordan (cond) [ BBC / Opus Arte DVD / 2 DVD - released 1/Dec/2008 ] "One of the most hotly anticipated, controversial and downright exciting opera productions of this year arrives quickly onto DVD. David McVicar, one of the most in-demand opera directors at work today, produces a visceral, exciting realisation of... |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: I Due Foscari (recorded live Covent Garden September 2015) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / Plácido Domingo, Francesco Meli, Maria Agresta, Maurizio Muraro / Antonio Pappano (cond) [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 2/Sep/2016 ] Plácido Domingo takes on the role of the tragic Francesco Foscari, Doge of Venice, in Verdi's potent and dramatic opera of family loyalties and political intrigue. Thaddeus Strassberger's powerful setting explores the corruption lurking beneath the... |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf, Op. 67 (complete ballet recorded in 2010) Royal Opera House / Sergei Polunin, Will Kemp, Kilian Smith, Charlotte Edmonds / The Royal Ballet School & Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Paul Murphy [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 25/Nov/2014 ] "...Matthew Hart's Peter and the Wolf is one of the most beguiling children's ballets around." The Telegraph |
PROKOFIEV
Peter and the Wolf, Op. 67 (complete ballet recorded in 2010) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / Sergei Polunin, Will Kemp, Kilian Smith, Charlotte Edmonds / The Royal Ballet School & Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Paul Murphy [ Opus Arte Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 10/Apr/2016 ] Choreography Matthew Hart Peter and the Wolf, Prokofiev's musical fairy tale, has been delighting children since 1936. Nearly 60 years later, in 1995, the young choreographer Matthew Hart created a witty choreographed version for the Royal Ballet... |
TCHAIKOVSKY
Eugene Onegin (complete opera recorded in 2013) Royal Opera House / Simon Keenlyside, Krassimira Stoyanova, Peter Rose / Robin Ticciati (cond) [ Opus Arte / BBC DVD / DVD - released 20/Oct/2013 ] Gramophone Magazine DVD of the Month - December 2013 |
TCHAIKOVSKY
Eugene Onegin (complete opera recorded in 2013) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / Simon Keenlyside, Krassimira Stoyanova, Peter Rose / Robin Ticciati (cond) [ Opus Arte / BBC Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 10/Dec/2013 ] Gramophone Magazine DVD of the Month - December 2013 |
GEORGE BENJAMIN
Benjamin: Lessons in Love and Violence (complete opera recorded in 2018) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / Stéphane Degout, Barbara Hannigan, Gyula Orendt, Peter Hoare / George (cond) [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Jul/2019 ] "At just 90 minutes, this is an opera of impressive concentration with not a word or note wasted." Gramophone |
BENJAMIN BRITTEN
Britten: Gloriana (complete opera recorded in June 2013) Royal Opera House / Susan Bullock, Toby Spence, Patricia Bardon, Mark Stone, Kate Royal / Paul Daniel (conductor) [ Opus Arte Royal Opera House Collection DVD / DVD - released 25/Nov/2013 ] Central to the Royal Opera's centenary celebrations marking the birth of Benjamin Britten was Richard Jones's witty and insightful new production of the royal operatic pageant that Britten wrote to honour the Coronation, exploring the late life, love... |
TCHAIKOVSKY
Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66 (complete ballet recorded in 1994) Royal Opera House / Viviana Durante, Zoltán Solymosi, Anthony Dowell, Benazir Hussein / Barry Wordsworth (cond) [ BBC / Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 1/Sep/2009 ] G - 'Viviana Durante is outstanding as Aurora. Radiant and youthful, she dances with an ease and naturalness that is enchanting.' Evening Standard |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Turandot, Tosca, La Boheme (Complete operas recorded 2001 - 2013) Royal Opera / Lise Lindstrom, Marco Berti, Eri Nakamura, Raymond Aceto, Angela Gheorghiu, Jonas Kaufmann, Bryn Terfel, etc / Various conductors [ Opus Arte DVD / 3 DVD Box Set - released 20/Nov/2015 ] Three magnificent Royal Opera productions of three of Puccini's greatest operas. Featuring a host of international opera stars, this collection is brimming with the drama and sumptuous music that have made Puccini a household name. |
GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (live at the Royal Opera House, June 2011) BLU-RAY Royal Opera / Christine Rice, Bryan Hymel, Aris Argiris & Maija Kovalevska / Constantinos Carydis [ BBC / Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/Aug/2016 ] Julian Napier's cinematic film of the Royal Opera's production of Carmen - originally shot in 3D - is now made available on DVD and 2D Blu-ray. Arguably the world's most popular opera, at the centre of this musical drama is the fiery Carmen, a gypsy... |
MOZART / VERDI / BIZET / WAGNER / PUCCINI / R. STRAUSS / etc
The Royal Opera - The Collection BLU-RAY The Royal Opera / Renee Fleming, Gerald Finley, Miah Persson, Eva-Maria Westbroek, Simon O'Neill, Erwin Schrott, Kate Royal, Jonas Kaufmann, etc [ BBC / Opus Arte Blu-ray / 18 Blu-ray Box Set - released 8/Oct/2021 ] Over a decade of opera is represented here with no fewer than 16 operas in this magnificent 18-disc collection of stunning performances by The Royal Opera, with amazing casts, featuring some of the greatest singers of this century. |
CHARLES GOUNOD
Gounod: Faust (complete opera recorded in 2019) BLU-RAY The Royal Opera / Michael Fabiano, Erwin Schrott, Irina Lungu) [ Opus Arte Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 26/Mar/2021 ] "Ettinger's approach is dynamic yet supple, pointing up the alternate punch and delicacy of Gounod's admirable scoring." BBC Music Five Stars |