Mozart Così fan tutte opera to libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. Directed 2013 by Sven-Eric Bechtolf at the Salzburg Festival. Stars Malin Hartelius (Fiordiligi), Luca Pisaroni (Guglielmo), Marie-Claude Chappuls (Dorabella), Martin Mitterrutzner (Ferrando), Martina Janková (Despina), and Gerald Finley (Don Alfonso). Christoph Eschenbach conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker and the Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor (Chorus Master Ernst Raffelsberger). Set design by Rolf Glittenberg; costume design by Marianne Glittenberg; lighting design by Jurgen Hoffman; directed for video by Tiziano Mancini. Released 2015, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreRossini Aureliano in Palmira opera to a libretto by G. F. R. (generally attributed to Giuseppe Felice Romani). Directed 2014 by Mario Martone at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro. Stars Michael Spyres (Aureliano), Jessica Pratt (Zenobia), Lena Belkina (Arsace), Raffaella Lupinacci (Publia), Dempsey Rivera (Oraspe), Sergio Vitale (Licinio), Dimitri Pkhaladze (Gran Sacerdote), and Raffaele Constantini (Un Pastore). Will Crutchfield completed a new critical edition of the score and conducts the Orchestra Sinfonica G. Rossini and the Chorus of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna (Chorus Master Andrea Faidutti). Set design by Sergio Tramonti; costume designs by Ursula Patzak; directed for TV by Tiziano Mancini. Released 2015, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreMozart Die Zauberflöte opera to a libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. Directed 2006 by Pierre Audi at the Salzburg Festival (Grosses Festspielhaus) as part of the huge Salzburg Festival M22 Project to record all the Mozart operas in HD. Stars Paul Groves (Tamino), Genia Kühmeier (Pamina), Christian Gerhaher (Papageno), Irena Bespalovaite (Papagena), Diana Damrau (Queen of the Night), René Pape (Sarastro), Inga Kalna (First Lady), Karine Deshayes (Second Lady), Ekaterina Gubanova (Third Lady), Franz Grundheber (Speaker/First Priest), Xavier Mas (Second Priest), Michael Authenrieth (Third Priest), Burkhard Ulrich (Monostatos), Simon O'Neil (First Armoured Man), Peter Loehle (Second Armoured Man), and Members of the Vienna Boys' Choir (The Three Boys) . Riccardo Muti conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker and the Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor (Chorus Master Thomas Lang). Stage design by Karel Appel; costume design by Jorge Jara. Directed for TV by Brian Large; produced by Bernhard Fleischer. Sung in German. Released 2015, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreCharles Gounod Roméo et Juliette opera to libretto by Jules Barbier & Michel Carré. Directed 2008 by Bartlett Sher at the Salzburg Festival. Stars Nino Machaidze (Juliette), Rolando Villazón (Roméo), Mikhail Petrenko (Frère Laurent), Russell Braun (Mercutio), Cora Burggraaf (Stéphano), Falk Struckmann (Comte Capulet), Juan Francisco Gatell (Tybalt), Susanne Resmark (Gertrude, the Nurse), Christian Van Horn (Duc de Vérone), Mathias Hausmann (Comte Pâris), Jean-Luc Ballestra (Grégorio), and Robert Murray (Benvolio). Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg and the Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor (Chorus Master Jörn H. Andresen). Musical Assistant was Leo Hussain; set design by Michael Yeargan; costumes by Catherine Zuber; lighting by Jennifer Tipton; choreography by Chase Brock; fight scene by B. H. Barry; directed for TV by Brian Large. Released 2009, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: B+
Read MoreSchubert Fierrabras opera to a libretto by Joseph Kupelwieser. Directed 2014 by Peter Stein at the Salzburg Festival. Stars Michael Schade (Fierrabras), Dorothea Röschmann (Florinda), Julia Kleiter (Emma), Benjamin Bernheim (Eginhard), Marcus Werba (Roland), Georg Zeppenfeld (König Karl), Marie-Claude Chappuis (Maragond), and Peter Kálmán (Boland). Ingo Metzmacher directs the Wiener Philharmoniker. Stage designs by Ferdinand Wögerbauer; contume designs by Annamaria Heinreich; lighting by Joachim Barth; directed for video by Peter Schönhofer. Released 2015, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreEnnio Porrino I Shardana opera to a libretto by the composer. Directed by Davide Livermore at the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, Italy. Stars Manrico Signorini (Gonnario), Angelo Villari (Torbeno), Gianpiero Ruggeri (Orzocco), Domenico Balzani (Norace), Paoletta Marrocu (Bèrbera Jonia), Alessandra Palomba (Nibatta), Gabriele Mangione (Perdu), Enrico Zara (Sardinian Shephard / The Lookout / Second Warrior), Nicola Ravarino Guagenti (A Voice / First Warrior), and special guest Elena Ledda. Anthony Bramall conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of Fondazione Teatro Lirico di Cagliari (Chorus Master Marco Faelli). Set design by Giò Forma Production Design; costume design by Marco Nateri; light design by Loïc François Hamelin; video designs by D-Wok. Directed for TV by Davide Mancini. Sung in Italian. Released 2015, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreMozart Don Giovanni opera to libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte. Directed 2014 by Sven-Eric Bechtolf at the Salzburg Festival. Stars Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Don Giovanni), Tomasz Konieczny (Il Commendatore), Lenneke Ruiten (Donna Anna), Andrew Staples (Don Ottavio), Anett Fritsch (Donna Elvira), Luca Pisaroni (Leporello), Valentina Nafornita (Zerlina), and Alessio Arduini (Masetto). Christoph Eschenbach conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker and the Philharmoina Chor Wien (Chorus Master Walter Zeh). Directed for video by Andreas Morell. Released 2015, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreRichard Strauss Der Rosenkavalier opera to libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Directed 2014 by Richard Jones at the Glyndebourne Opera House. Stars Tara Erraught (Octavian), Kate Royal (The Marschallin), Lars Woldt (Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau), Teodora Gheorghiu (Sophie), Michael Kraus (Herr von Faninal), Miranda Keys (Marianne Leitmetzerin), Helene Schneiderman (Annina), Christopher Gillett (Valzacchi), Andre Dunajev (Italian Singer) Gwynne Howell (Notary), Robert Wörle (Innkeeper), and Scott Conner (Police Inspector). Robin Ticciati conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra (Leader Pieter Schoeman) and The Glyndebourne Chorus (Chorus Master Jeremy Bines). Designs by Paul Steinberg; costumes by Nicky Gillibrand; lighting by Mimi Jordan Sherin; moment direction by Sarah Fahie; directed for TV by François Roussillon; Executive Producer George Bruell. Released 2015, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreJanáček Jenůfa opera to a libretto by the composer. Directed 2014 by Christof Loy at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Stars Michaela Kaune (Jenůfa), Jennifer Larmore (Kostelnička Buryjovka), Will Hartmann (Laca Klemeň), Ladislav Elgr (Števa Buryja), Hanna Schwarz (Grandmother Buryjovka), Simon Pauly (Foreman), Stephen Bronk (Mayor), Nadine Secunde (Mayor's Wife), Martina Welschenbach (Karolka), Jana Kurucová (Barena), Alexandra Hutton (Jano), and Fionnuala McCarthy (Herdswoman). Donald Runnicles conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin (Chorus Master William Spaulding). Set designs by Dirk Becker; costumes by Judith Weihrauch; lighting by Bernd Purkrabek; choreography by Thomas Wilhelm; dramaturgy by Christian Arseni; video by Brian Large. Subtitles in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Korean, and Chinese. Released 2015, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio surround sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreRichard Strauss Feuersnot opera to a libretto by Ernst von Wolzogen. Directed 2014 by Emma Dante at the Teatro Massimo Palermo. Stars Nicola Beller Carbone (Diemut), Dietrich Henschel (Kunrad), Alex Wawiloff (Schweiker von Gundelfingen), Rubén Amoretti (Ortolf Sentlinger), Christine Knorren (Elsbeth), Chiara Fracasso (Wigelis), Anna Maria Sarra (Margret), Michail Ryssov (Jörg Pöschel), Nicolò Ceriani (Hämmerlein), Paolo Battaglia (Kofel), Christiano Olivieri (Ortlieb Tulbeck), Irina Pererva (Ursula), Francesco Parrino (Ruger Aspeck), Valentina Vitti (Walpurg), and Francesca Martorana (Ein großes Mädchen). Gabrielle Ferro conducts the Orchestra, Chorus and Youth Chorus of the Teatro Massimo (Chorus Master Piero Monti; Youth Chorus Master Salvatore Puntero). Set designs by Carmine Maringola; costumes by Vanessa Sannino; lighting by Christian Zucaro; choreography by Sandro Campagna; directed for video by Tiziano Mancini. Released 2015, disc has 5.1 dts-HD sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreVerdi Les vêpres siciliennes opera to libretto by Charles Duveyrier and Eugène Scribe. Directed 2013 by Stefan Herheim at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. Stars Lianna Haroutounian (Hélène), Bryan Hymel (Henri), Michael Volle (Guy de Montfort), Erwin Schrott (Jean Procida), Neal Cooper (Thibault), Jihoon Kim (Robert), Jean Teitgen (Le Sire de Béthune), Jeremy White (Le Comte de Vaudemont), Nicholas Darmanin (Daniéli), Michelle Daly (Ninetta), and Jung Soo Yun (Mainfroid). Antonio Pappano conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House (Concert Master Vasko Vassilev) and Royal Opera Chorus (Chorus Director Renato Balsadonna). Set design by Philipp Fürhofer; costume design by Gesine Völlm; lighting design by Anders Poll; dramaturgy by Alexander Meier-Dörzenbach;choreography by André de Jong. Directed for TV by Rhodri Huw. Sung in French. Released 2015, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A
Read MoreVerdi Les vêpres siciliennes opera to libretto by Charles Duveyrier and Eugène Scribe. Directed 2010 by Christof Loy at the Amsterdam Music Theatre. Stars Alejandro Marco-Buhrmester (Guy de Montfort), Jeremy White (La Sire de Béthune), Christophe Fel (Le Comte de Vaudemont), Burkhard Fritz (Henri), Balint Szabo (Jean Procida), Barbara Haveman (Duchess Hélène), Lívia Ághová (Ninetta), Fabrice Farina (Daniéli), Hubert Francis (Thibault), Roger Smeets (Robert), and Rudi de Vries (Mainfroid). Also features dancers Barbara Spitz (Barbara Nota), Adam Ster (Henri Nota), Richard Gittins (Frédéric d'Autriche), Katharina Wunderlich (Hélène d'Autriche), and Samon Presland (The Young Montfort) for the Four Seasons ballet segment. Paolo Carignani conducts the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and the Koor van De Nederlandse Opera (Chorus Master Martin Wright). Ballet storybook by Thomas Jonigk; set design by Johannes Leiacker; costume design by Ursula Renzenbrink; lighting design by Bernd Purkrabek; choreography by Thomas Wilhelm; dramaturgy by Yvonne Gebauer; video by Evita Galanou and Thomas Wollenberger. Directed for TV by Misjel Vermeiren. Sung in French. Released 2011, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: D+
Read MoreMozart La finta giardiniera opera to a libretto possibly by Giuseppe Petrosellini. Directed 2014 by David Lescot at the Opéra de Lille. Stars Carlo Allemano (Don Anchise, the Podestà), Erin Morley (Violante, disguised as Sandrina), Enea Scala (Comte Belfiore), Marie-Adeline Henry (Arminda), Marie-Claude Chappuis (Ramiro), Maria V. Savastano (Serpetta), and Nikolay Borchev (Roberto, disguised as Nardo). Emmanuelle Haïm conducts Le Concert d'Astrée (Chorus Master Philippe Grisvard). Atsushi Sakaï was Assistant to the Music Director. Set designs by Alwyne de Dardel; costumes by Sylvette Dequest; lighting by Paul Beaureilles; directed for film by Jean-Pierre Loisil. Released 2009, disc has 5.1 dts-HD sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreVerdi Otello opera to libretto by Arrigo Boito. Directed 2012 by Elijah Moshinsky at the Met. Stars Johan Botha (Otello), Renée Fleming (Desdemona), Falk Struckmann (Iago), Michael Fabiano (Cassio), Renée Tatum (Emilia), Stephen Gaertner (Montano), Eduardo Valdes (Roderigo), James Morris (Lodovico), and Luthando Qave (A Herald). Semyon Bychkov conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus, and Ballet (Chorus Master Dorald Palumbo). Sets designed by Michael Yeargan; costumes by Peter J. Hall; lighting by Duane Schuler; choreography by Eleanor Fazan; stage direction by David Kneuss; directed for TV by Barbara Willis Sweete. Music Producer was Jay David Saks; Supervising Producers were Mia Bongiovanni and Elena Park; Producers were Louisa Briccetti and Victoria Warivonchik. Released 2014, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreDonizetti Classic Comedies box set. This box set includes two previously released Glyndebourne productions of Donizetti operas. Below are the discs. See the individual titles for more information:
1. Don Pasquale. 2013. (Not Yet Graded)
2. L'elisir d'amore. 2009. (Grade A+)
Released 2015, both discs have 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
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