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Wagner: Lohengrin
Jonas Kaufmann, Harteros, Wolfgang Koch, Michaela Schuster
Bavarian State Opera, Kent Nagano
Jonas Kaufmann’s sensational role debut as Wagner’s Lohengrin was the talk of the 2009 Munich Festival.
Filmed in high-def widescreen, Jonas Kaufmann’s bow as Lohengrin is a logical follow-up to the success of his German arias album (4781463), described by Hugh Canning in International Record Review as “one of the vocal records of the year [2009], if not the decade”
His sound, a unique combination of torrid sensuality and radiant, crystalline purity, serves a musico-dramatic intelligence that makes a unity of Lohengrin’s often difficult to reconcile heroic and lyric elements. No wonder La Scena Musicale saluted Jonas Kaufmann “. . . the finest Heldentenor since Jon Vickers . . .”
Partnered by Anja Harteros – per The Opera Critic, “an exceptional Elsa” – Kaufmann heads a stellar cast conducted by Kent Nagano
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Metropolitan Opera Gala 1991 25th Anniversary at Lincoln Center Strauss, J, II: Die Fledermaus: Act 2
Verdi: Rigoletto: Act 3
Otello: Act 3
Mirella Freni, Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Cheryl Studer, Anne Sofie von Otter, Barbara Daniels, Justiano Díaz, Leo Nucci, Hermann Prey, June Anderson, Kathleen Battle, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Thomas Hampson, Uwe Heilmann, Barbara Kilduff, Aprile Millo, Sherrill Milnes, Paul Plishka, Samuel Ramey, Birgitta Svendén & Frederica von Stade
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet, James Levine
The Metropolitan Opera celebrates 25 years at Lincoln Center.
The cast-list for the evening reads like a Who's Who of 20th-century opera.
Thrill to “hours and hours of glorious opera...A triumphant celebration of virtuosity (Toronto Globe and Mail) as New York’s legendary opera company celebrates its first quarter century at Lincoln Center with “one of the most exquisitely refined and extravagant assemblages of vocal artistry the Met stage has yet hosted” (New York Times). “Not just another night at the opera” (Los Angeles Times), this extraordinary gala features complete acts from three favorite works, starring dozens of the world’s greatest singers, all conducted by Met music director James Levine.
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Poulenc: Dialogues des Carmélites
Live Recording from The Staatsoper Hamburg, 2008
Wolfgang Schöne, Wolfgang Schöne, Nikolai Schukoff, Kathryn Harries, Anne Schwanewilms (:love:) & Gabriele Schnaut
Staatsoper Hamburg, Simone Young (conductor) & Nikolaus Lehnhoff (director)
Set Design by Raimund Bauer.
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Mozart: Così fan tutte, K588
Live Recording from The Zurich Opera House, 2009
Malin Hartelius, Anna Bonitatibus, Martina Janková, Javier Camarena, Ruben Drole & Oliver Widmer
Zurich Opera House, Franz Welser-Möst (conductor) & Sven-Eric Bechtolf (director)
Set Design by Rolf Glittenberg.
Jealous men and unreliable women: Mozart’s “Opera buffa” Così fan tutte is a masterpiece of its genre. This operatic gem which is part comedy, part tragedy is a wry study in love, manipulation and trust. After having cooperated twice before (Le nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni) Così fan tutte was the third and last collaboration of Mozart and librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte. It is a clear-sightedly view of the confusion of human relations and opens up an abyss that seems to go far beyond the framework of a “Dramma giocoso”. In the tension between love and passion, security and selfnegation, faithfulness and betrayal, the couples get lost in emotional chaos. Mozart illustrates these diverse emotions with his sublime music which is in turn poignant and stoic, heartfelt and romantic. A fine cast enriches Mozart’s stirring music. Under Franz Welser-Möst’s fabulous conducting this production of the Zurich Opera House is setting musical standards. In conjunction with the director Sven-Eric Bechtolf, he has developed into one of the leading teams in contemporary music theater. A great score, a famous production and wonderful singers: this Così fan tutte live recorded at the famous Zurich Opera House is a ‘must see’ for opera lovers.
“Franz Welser-Möst’s conducting sets the tone: relaxed but attentive, focused on the individual soloists’ voices but at the same time with an ear for the overall tonal range of the orchestra …” Neue Zürcher Zeitung
“A Mozart ensemble that currently is probably without equal in the opera world. Rapturous applause at the end.” Das Opernglas
Sound Format: PCM STEREO
DD 5.1, DTS 5.1
Picture Format: 16:9
DVD Format: 2 x DVD 9, NTSC
Subtitle Languages: IT, GB, DE, FR, ES, JP
Running Time: 200 mins
FSK: 0
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Handel: Admeto, Re di Tessaglia HWV22
Tim Mead, Marie Arnet & Kirsten Blaise
Gottingen Festival Orchestra, Nicholas McGegan
Stage Director: Bernd Lepel
Doris Dörrie and Tadaschi Endo received an Oscar® Nomination in 2008 for Best Foreign Language Film (“Cherry Blossoms – Hanami”).
This production received the prestigious Herald Angel Award, Edinburgh International Festival 2009.
Film and Opera director Doris Dörrie directed successful Operas in Salzburg and Munich.
Recorded live at the Internationale Handel-Festspiele Göttingen, Deutsches Theatre 2009.
“It´s brilliantly played … directed with fine sensibility and sensuality. Weird but delightful.” 5 stars The Times
"Handel would have enjoyed this enchanting shadow theater" Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
Bonus Baroque and Butoh (22 minutes)
Picture Format: NTSC 16:9
Sound Format: DTS 5.1 PCM Stereo
Region Code: 0
Duration: 181 minutes + 22 minutes bonus material
Recorded: live at the Internationale Handel-Festspiele Gottingen Deutsches Theatre 2009
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Holten: The Visit of the Royal Physician
Sung in Danish
Johan Reuter (Johann Friedrich Struensee), Gert Henning-Jensen (King Christian VII), Elisabeth Jansson (Queen Caroline Mathilde), Sten Byriel (Ove Høegh-Guldberg), Djina Mai-Mai (Bootee-Caterine) & Gitta-Maria Sjøberg (Queen Dowager Juliane Marie)
Royal Danish Opera Choir & Royal Danish Orchestra, Bo Holten
Based on the bestselling novel by P.O. Enquist
Bo Holten's new opera The Visit of the Royal Physician, based on the best-selling novel by Per Olov Enquist, was a great success with both audience and critics after its premiere in 2009.
The opera is set in the 1770s, one of the most dramatic periods in Danish history, and is a story of tragic love, intrigue and a lust for power.
It tells the story of the young, idealistic doctor Struensee who dreams of creating a new and better world. He is given the chance to put his ideas into practice when, almost by coincidence, he becomes royal physician to the insane King Christian VII. Soon he is also the lover of the young Queen Caroline Mathilde. The result is a disaster for all those involved.
The performance was recorded at the Copenhagen Opera and is conducted by the composer.
Region Code: 0
Subtitles: English, German and French
Running Time: c. 154 min + 37 min bonus material
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Langgaard: Antikrist
Sung in Danish
Sten Byriel (bass), Anne Margrethe Dahl (soprano), Poul Elming (tenor), John Lundgren (baritone), Camilla Nylund (soprano) & Susanne Resmark (mezzo-soprano)
Danish National Choir & Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard
Region Code: ABC
Subtitles: English, German and French
Dacapo's very first Blu-ray production features Rued Langgaard's powerful vision of the coming of Antikrist in the spectacular co-production with the Royal Danish Opera and the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) from 2002.
No punches are pulled as the composer's breathtaking revelation unfolds with its intriguing allegorical characters and its powerful statement about the moral decay of modern society.
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Monteverdi: Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria
Sung in Italian
Kobie van Rensburg (Ulisse), Christine Rice (Penelope), Cyril Auvity (Telemaco) & Joseph Cornwell (Eumete)
Les Arts Florissants, William Christie (conductor) & Pierluigi Pizzi (director)
Recorded: Teatro Real, Madrid, April 2009.
This is the second Monteverdi opera with William Christie and Les Arts Florissants, made possible by collaboration between Dynamic and Teatro Real.
Dedicated to the performance of Baroque music on original instruments, the vocal and instrumental ensemble Les Arts Florissants is one of the most renowned and respected early music groups in Europe and around the world.
The DVD also features interviews with William Christie, Kobie van Rensburg and Christine Rice.
“Les Arts Florissants and William Christie have an individualised spontaneity yet breathe as one.” The Independent
Picture Format: 16:9
Audio Format: DD 5.1 / LPCM 2.0
Region Code: 0 – All regions
Running Time: 175 Min approx
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Pfitzner: Palestrina
directed for stage by Christian Stückl
Christopher Ventris, Peter Rose, Michael Volle, Falk Struckmann, Christiane Karg & John Daszak
Bayerisches Staatsorchester, Simone Young
Requiring 38 soloists, chorus and large orchestra, "Palestrina", Pfitzner's "most important" work (Süddeutsche Zeitung), is a challenging opera to stage. Christian Stückl's lively and colorful interpretation at the Bavarian State Opera is wonderfully served by conductor Simone Young, who cultivates a silky, organic orchestral texture.
Heading the many outstanding soloists are the imposing Christopher Ventris as Palestrina, the mighty Bayreuth regular Falk Struckmann, the velvety-smooth baritone Michael Volle and the most promising young singer of 2009 (survey held by Opernwelt) Christiane Karg.
Christian Stückl is well versed with the ecclesiastical subject because of his productions of the Passion Play in Oberammergau. His worldwide reputation is based on his annual restaging of the Jedermann in Salzburg since 2003. Together with André Heller, Stückl was responsible for the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup in Germany in 2006.
Sounds formats DVD: PCM Stereo, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1
Region code: 0
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Purcell: The Fairy Queen
Recorded live at Glyndebourne Opera House, Lewes, East Sussex, on 17th & 19th July 2009.
Sally Dexter, Joseph Millson, Desmond Barrit, Desmond Barrit, Susannah Wise, Susannah Wise, Oliver Le Suer & Oliver Kieran Jones
The Glyndebourne Chorus & Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, William Christie (conductor) & Jonathan Kent (stage director)
Jonathan Kent’s spectacular production of Purcell’s huge semi-opera is joyous, imaginative and witty. Glyndebourne, with its intimate auditorium, provides the perfect setting for a drama which is partly spoken and partly sung. Based on an adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the story is lavished with a brilliance that justifies this production’s acclaim. Paul Brown’s inventive designs, Kim Brandstrup’s exquisite choreography, an excellent cast of actors and singers and outstanding playing by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment under William Christie combine to make a seamless theatrical experience, here recorded in High Definition and true surround sound.
“There are too many highlights to mention in this varied and infinitely delightful entertainment. Glyndebourne has a triumph on its hands.” The Stage
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