Opera

I Lombardi alla Prima Crociata

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Verdi I Lombardi alla prima crociata opera to a libretto by Temistocle Solera. Directed by Lamberto Puggelli in 2009 at the Teatro Regio di Parma Verdi Festival. Stars Roberto De Biasio, Michele Pertusi, Cristina Giannelli, Dimitra Theodossiou, Roberto Tagliavini, Gregory Bonfatti, Jansons Valdis, Francesco Meli, Daniela Pini, and Francesco Meli. Daniele Callegari conducts the Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Regio di Parma (Chorus Master Martino Faggiani). Sets by Paolo Bregni, costumes by Santuzza Calí, lighting by Andrea Borelli; co-direction by Lorenza Cantini; directed for TV by Tiziano Mancini. Released 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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I Due Foscari

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Verdi I Due Foscari opera to a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. Directed by Joseph Franconi Lee in 2009 at the Teatro Regio di Parma Verdi Festival. Stars Leo Nucci, Roberto De Biasio, Tatiana Serjan,  Roberto Tagliavini, Gregory Bonfatti, Marcella Polidori, Mauro Buffoli, and Alessandro Bianchini. Donato Renzetti conducts the Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Regio di Parma  (Chorus Master Martino Faggiani). Sets and costumes by William Orlandi; lighting by Valerio Alfieri; choreography by Marta Ferri; directed for TV by Tiziano Mancini. Released 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Ernani

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Verdi Ernani opera to a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. Direction, sets, costumes, and lighting by Pier'Alli in 2005 at the Teatro Regio di Parma Verdi Festival. Stars Marco Berti, Carlo Guelfi, Giacomo Prestia, Susan Neves, Nicoletta Zanini, Samuele Simoncini and Alessandro Svab. Antonello Allemandi conducts the Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Regio di Parma (Chorus Master Martino Faggiani). Light design realized by Andrea Borelli; sets realized by Michele Ricciarini; costumes made by Tatiana Lerario; assistant director was Silvia Morandini. Released 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Il trittico

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Puccini Il trittico with three one-act operas. Directed 2011 by Richard Jones at the Royal Opera House. They are:

  • Il tabarro to libretto by Giuseppe Adami. Stars Lucio Gallo (Michele), Eva-Maria Westbroek (Giorgetta), Aleksandrs Antonenko (Liugi), Alan Oke (Tinca), Jeremy White (Talpa), Irina Mishura (Frugola), Ji-Min Park (Song Seller), Anna Devin and Robert Anthony Gardiner (Lovers). Set design by Ultz; costume design by Nicky Gillibrand; lighting design by D.M. Wood; movement by Sarah Fahie; fight direction by Natalie Dakin.

  • Suor Angelica to libretto by Giovacchino Forzano. Stars Elena Zilio (Monitress), Melissa Alder and Kate McCarney (Two Lay Sisters), Elizabeth Sikora (Mistress of the Novices), Eryl Royale (Sister Osmina), Anna Devin (Sister Genovieffa), Katy Batho (Novice), Ermonela Jaho (Sister Angelica), Elizabeth Key (Sister Dolcina), Elizabeth Woollett (Nursing Sister), Gillian Webster and Kathleen Wilder (Two Alms Sisters), Irina Mishura (Abbess), Anna Larsson (The Princess), as well as Tamsin Coombs, Kiera Lyness, Renata Skarelyte, and Amy Catt (Nuns). Set deisgn by Miriam Buether; costume design by Nicky Gillibrand; lighting design by D.M. Wood; movement by Sarah Fahie.

  • Gianni Schicchi to libretto by Giovacchino Forzano. Stars Peter Curtis (Buoso Donati), Gwynne Howell (Simone), Elena Zilio (Zita), Francesco Demuro (Rinuccio), Jeremy White (Betto di Signa), Robert Poulton (Marco), Marie McLaughlin (La Ciesca), Alan Oke (Gherardo), Lisa Anne Robinson (Nella), Filippo Turkheimer (Gherardino), Lucio Gallo (Gianni Schicchi), Ekaterina Siurina (Lauretta), Henry Waddington (Maestro Spinelloccio), Enrico Fissore (Ser Amantio di Nicolao), Daniel Grice (Pinellino), and John Molloy (Guccio). Associate direction by Benjamin Davis; set design by John Macfarlane; costume design by Nicky Gillibrand; original lighting design by Mimi Jodran Sherin; revival lighting design by D.M. Wood; choreography by Lucy Burge; revival choreography by Sarah Fahie.

Richard Jones directs all productions. Antonio Pappano conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and the Royal Opera Chorus (Concert Master Peter Manning; Chorus Director Renato Balsadonna). Directed for screen by Francesca Kemp. Sung in Italian. Released in 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A

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La Bohème (Sølberg)

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Giacomo Puccini La Bohème opera to libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica. Directed 2012 by Stefan Herheim at the Oslo Opera House. Stars Diego Torre (Rodolfo), Vasilij Ladjuk (Marcello), Marita Sølberg (Mimì), Jennifer Rowley (Musetta), Giovanni Battista Parodi (Colline), Espen Langvik (Schaunard) and Svein Erik Sagbråten (Benoit/Parpignol/Alcindoro/Toll Gate Keeper/Death). Eivind Gullberg Jensen conducts the Norwegian National Opera Orchestra, Norwegian National Opera Chorus, and Norwegian National Opera Children’s Chorus. Set and costume design by Heike Scheele; lighting design by Anders Poll; dramaturgy by Alexander Meier-Dörzenbach; directed for TV by Stein-Roger Bull; produced by NordicStories AS. Released 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: B+

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Tchaikovsky Iolanta and Stravinsky Perséphone

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This title has two shorter operas, both directed by Peter Sellers and connected by the same stage setting at Teatro Real:

  1. Tchaikovsky Iolanta opera to a libretto by Modest Tchaikovsky. Stars Ekaterina Scherbachenko (Iolanta), Alexej Markov (Robert) , Pavel Cernoch (Vaudémont), Dmitry Ulianov (King René) , Willard White (Ibn-Hakia), Vasily Efimov (Alméric), Pavel Kudinov (Bertrand), Ekaterina Semenchuk (Marta), Irina Churilova (Brigitta), and Letitia Singleton (Laura). Sung in Russian.

  2. Stravinsky Perséphone to a libretto by André Gide. Stars singers Dominique Blanc (Perséphone), Paul Groves (Eumolpe) as well as dancers Sam Sathya (Perséphone), Chumvan Sodhachivy (Déméter), Khon Chansithyka (Pluton) (Cambodian dance group Amrita), and the Pequeños Cantores chorus. Sung in French.

For both productions: Teodor Currentzis conducts the Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Real and young singers of the JORCAM (Chorus Master André Máspero); set designs by George Tsypin; costume design by Martin Pakledinaz & Helen Siebrits; lighting design by James F. Ingalls. Directed for TV by Ángela Álvarez Rilla. Released 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Il prigionier superbo & La serva padrona

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Two shorter operas by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi to librettos by Gennarantonio Federico directed by Henning Brockhaus at the Pergolesi Spontini Music Festival.

  • Il prigionier superbo (The Proud Prisoner) stars Antonio Lozano (Sostrate), Marina Rodríguez Cusí (Rosmene), Marina de Liso (Metalce), Ruth Rosique (Ericela), Marina Comparato (Viridate), and Giacinta Nicotra (Micisda). Set design by Henning Brockhaus; costume design by Giancarlo Colis; lighting design by Henning Brockhaus and Fabrizio Gobbi.

  • La serva padrona (The Servant Turned Mistress) stars Alessandra Marianelli (Serpina), Carlo Lepore (Uberto), and Jean Méningue (Vespone). Set design by Benito Leonori; costumes by Giancarlo Colis; lighting by Alessandro Carletti.

Corrado Rovaris conducts the Accademia Barocca de I Virtuosi Italiani. Directed for TV by Tiziano Mancini. Sung in Italian. Released 2012, disc has 5.1 dts HD-Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Nabucco

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Verdi Nabucco opera to a libretto by Temistocle Solera. Staged 2009 by Daniele Abbado at the Teatro Regio di Parma Verdi Festival (Stage Director was Caroline Lang). Stars Leo Nucci, Bruno Ribeiro, Riccardo Zanellato, Dimitra Theodossiou, Ana Maria Chiuri, Alessandro Spina, Mauro Buffoli, and Cristina Giannelli. Michele Mariotti conducts the Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Regio di Parma (Chorus Master Martino Faggiani). Sets and costumes by Luiigi Perego; lighting by Valerio Alfieri; directed for TV by Tiziano Mancini. Released 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio. Grade: NA

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Un giorno di regno

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Verdi Un giorno di regno opera to a libretto by Felice Romani. Directed 2012 by Pier Luigi Pizzi at the Teatro Regio di Parma Verdi Festival. Stars Guido Loconsolo, Andrea Porta, Anna Caterina Antonacci, Alessandra Marianelli, Ivan Magri, Paolo Bordogna, Ricardo Mirabelli, and Seung Hwa Paek. Donato Renzetti conducts the Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Regio di Parma (Chorus Master Martino Faggiani). Choreography by Luca Veggetti; lighting by Vincenzo Raponi; directed for TV by Tiziano Mancini. Released 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Oberto

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Verdi Oberto opera to a libretto by Temistocle Solera. Directed 2007 by Pier'Alli at the Teatro Regio di Parma Verdi Festival. Stars Mariana Pentcheva, Fabio Sartori, Giovanni Battista Parodi, Francesca Sassu, Giorgia Bertagni, Elio Battaglia, and Irene Cerboncini. Antonello Allemandi conducts the Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Regio di Parma (Chorus Master Martino Faggiani). Sets, costumes, and lighting by Pier'Alli; directed for video by Tiziano Mancini. Released in 2012, disc has 5.1 dts HD Master Audio Sound. Grade: NA

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Falstaff

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Verdi Falstaff opera to a libretto by Arrigo Boito. Directed 2011 by Sven-Eric Bechtolf at the Opernhaus Zürich. Stars Ambrogio Maestri, Massimo Cavalletti, Javier Camarena, Patrizio Saudelli, Martin Zysset, Davide Fersini, Barbara Frittoli, Eva Liebau, Yvonne Naef, Judith Schmid, and Domenic Gloor. Daniele Gatti conducts the Orchestra of the Zurich Opera House, Chorus of the Zurich Opera House (Chorus Master Ernst Raffelsberger), and the Supernumeraries of the Zurich Opera House. Set design by Rolf Glittenberg; costume design by Marianne Glittenberg; lighting by Jürgen Hoffmann, Pascal Schmid, and Susane Saudan; sound supervised by Wilhelm Zürrer; produced and directed for TV by Feliz Breisach; released 2012, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: B-

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Arabella

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Strauss Arabella opera to a libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Directed 2012 by Sven-Eric Bechtolf at the Vienna State Opera. Stars Emily Magee (Arabella), Genia Kühmeier (Zdenka), Tomasz Konieczny (Mandryka), Michael Schade (Matteo), Wolfgang Bankl (Count Waldner), and Zoryana Kushpler (Adelaida). Franz Welser-Möst conducts the Orchestra, Chorus, and Stage Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera. Set design by Rolf Glittenberg; costume design by Marianne Glittenberg, TV direction by Don Kent. Sung in German with subtitles in 7 languages. Released 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

Electric Pictures states on the Blu-ray keepcase that Arabella is a problematical work because Hugo von Hofmannsthal died before he could finish the libretto. But the claim is made that Sven-Eric Bechtolf came up with a "superbly convincing" version that resolves ambiguities left by Hofmannsthal.

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Idomeneo

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Mozart Idomeneo opera to a libretto by Gianbattista Varesco. Directed 2008 by Dieter Dorn at the Cuvilliés Theatre, Munich. Stars John Mark Ainsley (Idomeno), Pavol Breslik (Idamante), Juliane Banse (Ilia), Annette Dasch (Elettra), Rainer Trost( Arbace), Guy de Mey (Gran Sacerdote di Nettuno), and Steven Humes (La Voce). Kent Nagano conducts the Bayerisches Staatsorchester as well as  the Chor,  Extrachor, and  Bewegungschor der Bayerischen Staatsoper (Chorus Master Andrés Máspero).  Stage and costume design by Jürgen Rose; choreographic assists by Marco Santi; lighting design by Tobias Löffler; dramaturgy by Hans-Joachim Ruckhäberle and Peter Heilker; and assistant stage direction by Oliver Brunner. Directed for TV by Brian Large. Released 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A-

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Königskinder

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Engelbert Humperdinck Königskinder opera to a libretto by  Ernst Rosmer (pen name of Else Bernstein-Porges).  Directed 2010 by Jens-Daniel Herzog and Nina Russi at Opernhaus Zürich. Stars Jonas Kaufmann (The King’s Son), Isabel Rey (the Goose Girl), Oliver Widmer (Fiddler), Liliana Nikiteanu (Witch), Reinhard Mayr (Lumberjack), Boguslaw Bidzinski (Broommaker), Marie-Thérèse A/bert (Broommaker's Daughter), Kai Florian Bischoff (Town Councillor), Tomasz Slawinski (Innkeeper), Anna Schlosser (Innkeeper's Daughter), Miroslav Christoff (Tailor), Wiebke Lehmkuhl (Stable girl), Pablo Ricardo Bemsch (First Gatekeeper), George Humphrey (Second Gatekeeper), and Suzanne Grobholz (a Woman). Ingo Metzmacher conducts the Chorus, Youth Chorus, Children's Chorus, and Orchestra of Opernhaus Zürich. Set and costume designs by Mathis Neidhardt; lighting by Jürgen Hoffmann. Directed for TV by Felix Breisach. Sung in German. Released 2012, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

This is the only video (out in DVD and Blu-ray) ever published of this opera.  Here is a synopsis from the artwork on the back of the keepcase:  Königskinder follows the story of the King's Son (the Königskind) and the beautiful Goose-girl. After a chance meeting in the woods, the Königskind and the Goose-girl fall in love. However, the Goose-girl is unable to leave with her sweetheart as she is trapped by a witch's spell. Eventually the lovers are reunited, but immediately cast out by the townsfolk. The opera is bought to a heartbreaking close when hunger forces the starving couple to eat the witch's poisoned bread.

Here are some YouTube clips that suggest that Herzog successfully updated this opera:

Die Entführung aus dem Serail

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Mozart Die Entführung aus dem Serail opera to libretto by Christoph Friedrich Bretzner. Directed 2008 by Johan Simons (with Assistant Director Bert Bijnen) at Het Muziektheater, home of De Nederlandse Opera. Stars Laura Aikin (Konstanze), Edgaras Montvidas (Belmonte), Kurt Rydl (Osmin), Mojca Erdmann (Blonde), Michael Smallwood (Pedrillo), Steven Van Watermeulen (Bassa Selim), Oleksandra Lenyshyn, Maartje de Lint, Ian Spencer, Bert Visser (Four Janissaries), and Goua Robert Grovogui (A mute). Constantinos Carydis (with Assistant Boudewijn Jansen) conducts the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra and the Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera (Chorus Master Brian Fieldhouse). Sets by Bert Neumann, costumes by Nina von Mechow; lighting by Lothar Baumgarte; dramaturgy by Koen Tachelet and Klaus Bertisch; directed for TV by Misjel Vermeiren. Released 2008, disc has 5.0 Dolby TrueHD sound. Grade: C+

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