Opera

Death in Venice

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Benjamin Britten Death in Venice opera to a libretto by Myfanwy Piper. Directed by Pier Luigi Pizzi in 2008 at Teatro La Fenice using special sets and locations in Venice. Singing stars are Marlin Miller (Gustav von Aschenbach), Scott Hendricks (The Traveller and others), Razek-François Bitar (The Voice of Apollo), Alessandro Riga (Tadzio), Danilo Palmieri (Jaschiu), Sabrina Vianello (The Strawberry Seller / The Newspaper Seller), Liesbeth Devos (The Lace Seller / A Strolling Player), Julie Mellor (The Beggar Woman), Marco Voleri (The Hotel Porter / The Glass Maker), Shi Yijie (A Gondolier / A Strolling Player), William Corrò (The Ship's Steward and others), and Luca Dall'Amico (The Lido Boatman, and others).  Chorus soloists are Carlo Agostini, Antonio Casagrande, Anna Malvasio, Enrico Masiero, Ciro Passilongo, Alessia Pavan, Gabriella Pellos, Francesca Poropat, Andrea Lia Rigotti, Paola Rossi, Elisa Savino, Bo Schunnesson, Claudio Zancopè, and Franco Zanette. Dancers and mimes are Roberto Adriani, Gianmaria Bissacco, Silvia Casadio, Antonio D'Amore, Natalia Danuta, Danilo Fernandez, Fulvio Garlato, Giuseppe Grasso, Alexandra Grillo, Sara Lippi, Mata Mafalda Marcelli, Tiziana Minio, Roberto Moro, Giuseppe Romano, Tomaso Santinon, Francesca Thian, Andrea Tocchio, Davide Tonucci, Carlo Zanetti, Lara Zinelli, and Davide Zongoli. Bruno Bartoletti directs the Orchestra and Chorus of Del Teatro La Fenice (Chorus Master Alfonso Caiani). Sets and costumes by Pier Luigi Pizzi; choreography by Gheorghe Iancu; lighting by Vincenzo Raponi, Video Director was Davide Mancini.This came out first in a Dynamic DVD and is now republished as a world premiere in Blu-ray. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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La forza del destino

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La forza del destino

Verdi La forza del destino opera to libretto by Francesco Piave. Directed 2011 by Stefano Poda at Teatro Regio di Parma Verdi Festival. Stars Ziyan Afteh (Il Marchese di Calatrava), Dimitra Theodossiou (Donna Leonora), Vladimir Stoyanov (Don Carlo di Vargas), Aquiles Machado (Don Alvaro), Mariana Pentcheva (Preziosilla), Roberto Scandiuzzi (Padre Guardiano), Carlo Lepore (Fra Melitone), Adriana Di Paola (Curra), Alessandro Bianchini (Un Alcalde), Myung Ho Kim (Mastro Trabuco), and Gabriele Bolletta (Surgeon). Gianluigi Gelmetti directs the Orchestra e Coro Del Teatro Regio di Parma (Concert Master Martino Faggiani). Sets, costume, and lighting design, and choreography by Stefano Poda. Directed for TV by Tiziano Mancini.  Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: C+

Stefano Poda, one of the most distinctive opera directors, has been involved in some 100 productions including at least 15 in his “unity style” in which he designs and directs everything that happens on the stage.

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Ballo in maschera

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Verdi Un ballo in maschera opera to libretto by Antonio Somma. Directed 2012 by Massimo Gasparon (after Pierluigi Samaritani) at the Teatro Regio di Parma Verdi Festival. Stars Francesco Meli, Vladimir Stoyanov, Kristin Lewis, Elisabetta Fiorillo, Serena Gamberton, Filippo Polinelli, Antonio Barbagallo, Enrico Rinaldo, Cosimo Vassallo, and Enrico Paollilo. Gianluigi Gelmetti directs the Orchestra e Coro Del Teatro Regio di Parma (Concert Master Martino Faggiani). Sets and costumes by Pierluigi Samaritani; lighting by Andrea Borelli; choreography by Roberto Maria Pizzuto; video direction by Tiziano Mancini. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Don Carlo

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Verdi Don Carlo opera to a libretto by Camille du Locle and Joseph Méry. Directed (year not given) by Joseph Franconi Lee at the Teatro Comunale "Luciano Pavarotti" in Modena. Stars Giacomo Prestia, Mario Malagnini, Simone Piazzola, Luciano Montanaro, Paolo Buttol, Cellia Costea, Alla Posniak, Irène Candelier, Giulio Pelligra, and Marco Gaspari. Fabrizio Ventura conducts the Orchestra Regionale Dell'Emilia-Romagna and the Coro Lirico Amadeus-Fondazione Teatro Comunale di Modena (Chorus Master Stefano Colò. Sets and costumes by Alessandro Ciammarughi; lighting by Nevio Cavina; video direction by Tiziano Mancini. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Robert le diable

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Meyerbeer Robert le diable opera to a libretto written by Eugène Scribe and Germain Delavigne. Directed 2012 by Laurence Pelly at the Royal Opera House. Stars Bryan Hymel (Robert), John Relyea (Bertram), Marina Poplavskaya (Alice), Patrizia Ciofi (Isabelle), Jean-François Borras (Raimbaut), Nicolas Courjal (Alberti), David Butt Philip (First Chevalier/Master of Ceremonies), Pablo Bemsch (Second Chevalier/Herald), Ashley Riches (Third Chevalier/Prince of Grenada), Jihoon Kim (Fourth Chevalier/Priest), and Dušica Bijelić (Lady-in-Waiting). Daniel Oren conducts the Orchestra (Concert Master Peter Manning) and Chorus of the Royal Opera House (Chorus Director Ronato Balsadonna). Set designs by Chantal Thomas; costumes by Laurent Pelly and Jean-Jacques Delmotte; lighting by Duane Schuler; choreography by Lionel Hoche; video design by Claudio Cavallari; directed for the screen by Sue Judd.  Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A+

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Lulu

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Alan Berg Lulu opera to libretto by the composer (3-act version completed by Friedrich Cerha in 1979). Directed 2010 by Vera Nemirova at the Salzburg Festival (Haus für Mozart). Stars Patricia Petibon, Michael Volle, Thomas Piffka, Tanja Ariane Baumgartner, Cora Burggraaf, Pavol Breslik, Franz Grundheber, Thomas Johannes Mayer, Heinz Zednik, Andreas Conrad, Martin Tzonev, Emilie Pictet, and Cornelia Wulkopf. Marc Albrecht conducts the Vienna Philharmonic. Sets by Daniel Richter; costumes by Klaus Noack; lighting design by Manfried Voss; dramatic advisory by Sonja Nemirova and Jens Schroth; video direction by Brian Large.

This is the same recording as a Kultur Lulu released for Region A only. This Euroarts release is for Regions B and C; on the package, it calls this "Region Code 2-6 (worldwide excl. USA & Canada)." So it seems  that Kultur and EuroArts have a contract dividing up the world into two markets for this title. But when I put the EuroArts disc in my Region A Oppo 93, it plays fine! Zoltan Glied also confirmed this on two Region A players. EuroArts is known for shabby quality control; this time the sloppiness works in the customer's favor.

Released 2012, this version has a decent keep case booklet, whereas the Kultur version has none. Also the EuroArts disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound, whereas the Kultur version has only Dolby 5.0 sound. Finally, the EuroArts disc has German subtitles, but the Kultur does not. Because of the better sound spec, the nice presentation, and the better subtitles, I grade this version "A" and give a "B" to the Kultur disc. But caution: one of these days EuroArts may change the disc to block Region A players. Grade: A

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Lulu

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Berg Lulu opera to a libretto by the composer. Directed 2009 by Christof Loy at Royal Opera House. Stars Agneta Eichenholz (Lulu), Michael Volle (Dr. Schön/Jack the Ripper), Klaus Florian Vogt (Alwa), Jennifer Larmore (Countess Geschwitz), Gwynne Howell (Schigolch), Peter Rose (Animal Trainer/Athlete), Philip Langridge (Prince/Manservant/Marquis), Heather Shipp (Dresser/Schoolboy/Groom), Will Hartman (Painter/Policeman/Negro), Jeremy White (Professor of Medicine/Theater Manager/Banker/Professor), Kostas Smoriginas (Journalist), Vuyani Mlinde (Manservant), Monika-Evelin Liiv (Gallery Owner), Frances McCafferty (Mother), and Simona Mihai (15-year-old Girl). Antonio Pappano conducts The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House (concert master Peter Manning). Designs by Herbert Murauer; costumes by Eva-Mareike Uhlig; lighting by Reinhard Traub; movement direction by Thomas Wilhelm; music produced by David Groves; film direction by Robin Lough. Released 2010, disc has 5.1 dts Master Audio sound. Grade: C+

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I vespri siciliani

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Verdi I vespri siciliani opera to a libretto of Augustin Eugène Scribe and Charles Duveyrier translated by Arnaldo Fusinato. (This is the Italian version of the French Les Vêpres Siciliennes.) Directed 2010 by Pier Luigi Pizzi at Teatro Regio di Parma Verdi Festival. Stars Leo Nucci (Guido di Monforte), Dario Russo (Il Sire di Bethune), Andrea Mastroni (Il Conte Vaudemont), Fabio Armiliato (Arrigo), Giacomo Prestia (Giovanni da Procida), Daniela Dessì (La Duchessa Elena), Adriana Di Paola (Ninetta), Raoul D'Eramo (Danieli), Roberto Jachini Virgili (Tebaldo), and Alessandro Battiato (Roberto). Massimo Zanetti conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro Regio di Parma (Chorus Master Martino Faggiani). Set and costume design by Pier Luigi Pizzi; choreography by Roderto Maria Pizzuto; lighting design by Vincenzo Raponi. Directed for TV by Tiziano Mancini. Sung in Italian. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD sound. Grade: NA

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Simon Boccanegra

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Verdi Simon Boccanegra opera to a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave and later revised by Arrigo Boito. Directed 2010 by Giorgio Gallione at the Teatro Regio di Parma Verdi Festival (with Marina Bianchi as stage director). Stars Leo Nucci (Simon Boccanegra), Roberto Scandiuzzi (Jacopo Fiesco), Simone Piazzola (Paolo Albiani), Paolo Pecchioli (Pietro), Tamar Iveri (Amelia (Maria Boccanegra)), Francesco Meli (Gabriele Adorno), Luca Casalin (Un Capitano dei Balestrieri), and Olena Kharachko (Ancella D’Amelia). Andrea Battistoni conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro Regio di Parma (Chorus Master Martino Faggiani); set and costume design by Guido Fiorato; lighting design by Bruno Ciulli. Directed for TV by Tiziano Mancini. Sung in Italian. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: B+

Once again we have full-throttle Italian opera: it appears that nearly every credited artist in this production is Italian. In fact, this is the same Giorgio Gallione production that was recorded in 2007 at Teatro Comunale di Bolgona, published by Arthaus in Blu-ray, and was reviewed here earlier. So here Gallione had about 3 years to make improvements. The cast is all new with Nucci as a superstar addition. The set and costumes are the same, but with small improvements that add polish. The new stage director, Marina Bianchi, spiffed up personal direction and acting considerably. And this time around we have tried-and-true Tiziano Mancini framing the video file . . .

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Dove è amore è gelosia

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Giuseppe Scarlatti Dove è amore è gelosia opera to a libretto by Marco Coltellini. (Where There is Love There is Jealosy.) Directed 2011 by Ondřej Havelka at the Český Krumlov Theater where it was first performed in 1768. Stars Lenka Máčiková (Marquise Clarice), Aleš Briscein (Count Orazio), Kateřina Kněžiková (Vespetta) , Jaroslav Březina (Patlrizio), Bohumil Kiepl (Servant), and Tatána Kupcová (Marquise). Vojtěch Spurný conducts the Schwarzenberg Court Orchestra. Costume Designer-Jana Zbořilová; Music Director-Sylva Smejkalová; Sound Engineer-Jan Kotzman; Director of Photography-Jan Malíř; Producer-Jiří Hubač. There is also a valuable documentary about the history of the Český Krumlov Theater and staging of the revived opera.  Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A+

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Lo frate 'nnamorato

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Pergolesi Lo frate 'nnamorato opera to a libretto by Gennarantonio Federico. Directed 2011 by Willy Landin at the Teatro G.B. Pergolesi in Jesi as part of the Pergolesi Spontini Festival. Stars Nicola Alaimo, Elena Belfiore, Patrizia Biccirè, Jurigta Adamonyte, Barbara di Castri, David Alegret, Laura Cherici, Rosa Bove, and Filippo Morace. Fabio Biondi conducts the Europa Galante orchestra. Costumes by Elena Cicorella; lighting by Fabrizio Gobbi; directed for TV by Tiziano Mancini. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Attila

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Verdi Atilla opera to a libretto by Temistocle Solera. Directed 2010 by Arturo Gama at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Stars Ildar Abdrazakov (Attila), Vladislav Sulimsky (Ezio), Anna Markarova (Odabella), Sergei Skorokhodov (Foresto), Mikhail Makarov (Uldino), and Timur Abdikeyev (Leone). Valery Gergiev conducts the Mariinsky Orchestra. Production designs by Frank Phillip Schlössmann; costumes by Frank Phillip Schlössmann and Hanne Loosen; lighting by Evgeny Ganzburg; video direction by Matthias Leutzendorff. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Le nozze di Figaro

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Mozart Le nozze di Figaro opera to libretto by Lorenza da Ponte. Directed 2012 by Michael Grandage at Glyndebourne. Stars Sally Matthews (Countess Almaviva), Audun Iversen (Count Almaviva), Vito Priante (Figaro), Lydia Teuscher (Susanna), Isabel Leonard (Cherubino), Ann Murray (Marcellina), Andrew Shore (Bartolo), Sarah Shafer (Barbarina), Colin Judson (Don Curzio), Alan Oke (Don Basilio), and Nicholas Folwell (Antonio). Robin Ticciati conducts the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Glyndebourne Chorus (Chorus Master Jeremy Bines). Film directed by François Roussillon; produced by George Bruell and Toni Hajal. Released 2013, has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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La Cenerentola

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Rossini La Cenerentola to libretto by Jacopo Ferretti. Directed 2009 by Sharon Thomas at the Met. Stars Elīna Garanča, Lawrence Brownlee, Simon Alberghini, Alessandro Corbelli, Rachelle Durkin, Patricia Risley, and John Relyea. Maurizio Benini conducts the Met Orchestra and Chorus. Produced by Cesare Lievi; sets and costumes by Maurizio Balo. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Ariadne auf Naxos

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R. Strauss Ariadne auf Naxos opera to libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Directed 2012 by Philippe Arlaud at the Baden-Baden Festival. Stars René Fleming (Ariadne/Primadonna), Eike Wilm Schutte (Ein Musikleher), Sophie Koch (Der Komponist), Robert Dean Smith (Bacchus/Der Tenor), and Jane Archibald (Zerbinetta). Christian Thielemann directs the Staatskapelle Dresden. Set and lighting design by Philippe Arlaud; costume design by Andrea Uhmann; directed for TV by Brian Large. Released 2013. Grade: NA

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