Massenet Manon opera to libretto by Henri Meilhac and Philippe Gille. Directed 2007 by Vincent Paterson at the Staatsoper unter den Linden. Stars Anna Netrebko (Manon), Rolando Villazón (Le Chevalier des Grieux), Christof Fischesser (Le Comte des Grieux), Alfredo Daza (Lescaut), Rémy Corazza (Guillot de Morfontaine), Arttu Kataja (Brétigny, a nobelman), Hanan Alattar (Poussette, an actress), Gal James (Javotte, an actress), Silvia de la Muela (Rosette, an actress), and Matthias Vieweg (Inkeeper). Daniel Barenboim conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin and the Staatsopernchor (Chorus Master Eberhard Friedrich). Stage design by Johannes Leiacker; costumes by Susan Hilferty; lighting by Duane Schuler; choreography by Vincent Paterson. Directed for TV by Andreas Morell; produced by Bernhard Fleischer. Sung in French. Released 2008, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A+
Read MorePuccini Manon Lescaut opera to libretto by Domenico Oliva and Luigi Illica. Directed 2014 by Jonathan Kent at the Royal Opera House. Stars Kristine (Kristīne) Opolais (Manon Lescaut), Jonas Kaufmann (Des Grieux), Christopher Maltman (Lescaut, Manon's brother), Maurizio Muraro (Geronte), Benjamin Hulett (Edmondo), Nadezhda Karyazina (Musician), Robert Burt (Dancing Master), Nigel Cliffe (Innkeeper), Jihoon Kim (Sergeant), Luis Gomes (Lamplighter), and Jeremy White (Naval Captain). Antonio Pappano conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House (Concert Master Vasko Vassilev) and the Royal Opera Chorus (Chorus Master Stephen Westrop); designs by Paul Brown; lighting design by Mark Henderson; movement by Denni Sayers. Directed for TV by Jonathan Haswell. Sung in Italian. Released 2015, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master sound. Grade: B
Read MoreRossini Mosè opera to a libretto (I believe) by Luigi Balocchi and Etienne de Jouy. Directed by Cecilia Ligorio and Tiziano Mancini in semi-staged version at Milan Cathedral. Stars Ruggero Raimondi (Mosè), Bogdan Mihai (Elisero), Filippo Polinelli (Faraone), Luciano Ganci (Amenofi), Giovanni Sebastiano Sala (Aufide), Christian Starinieri (Osiride), Maria Cioppi (Maria), Lydia Tamburrino (Anaide), and Isabelle Kabatu (Sinaide). Francesco Quattrocchi conducts the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano Orchestra and Choir (Chorus Master Emiliano Esposito). Costumes by Franca Squarciapino; lighting by Valeria Tiberi; visual designs by Unità C1; directed for video by Tiziano Mancini. Released 2016, disc has 5.1 dts audio. Grade: NA
Read MoreRossini La donna del lago opera to libretto by Andrea Leone Tottola. Directed 2015 by Paul Curran at the Met with assistant directors Sara Erde, Gregory Keller, and Elise Sandell. Stars Joyce DiDonato (Elena), Juan Diego Flórez (King Giacomo V (James V) disguised as Uberto), John Osborn (Rodrigo), Daniela Barcellona (Malcolm Groeme), Oren Gradus (Douglas), Olga Makarina (Albina, Elena's confidant), Eduardo Valdes (Serano, a servant to Douglas), and Gregory Schmidt (Bertram, servant to the King). Michele Mariotti conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus (Chorus Master Donald Palumbo). Musical preparaton by Dennis Giauque, Donna Racik, Gregory Buchalter, Joshua Greene, and Liora Maurer. Sets by Kevin Knight; costumes designed by Kevin Knight with Ryan Moller; lighting by Duane Schuler; projection designs by Driscoll Otto with David Bengali; stage band conductor is Gregory Buchalter. Directed for HD TV by Gary Halvorson; music producer was Jay David Saks. Supervising Producers were Mia Bongiovanni and Elena Park; Producers were Louisa Briccetti and Victoria Warivonchik. Released in 2015, has LPCM stereo (48kHz/24-bit) and 5.1 Dolby Digital (48kHz) surround sound. Grade: A
Read MoreHunter's Bride motion picture version of the Carl Maria von Weber opera Der Freischütz to a libretto by Johann Friedrich Kind. The Weber score is adapted by director Jens Neubert and shot with 35mm film on location in Germany. Stars Franz Grundheber (Prince Ottokar), Benno Schollum (Kuno), Juliane Banse (Agathe), Regula Mühlemann (Ännchen), Michael Volle (Kaspar), Michael König (Max), René Pape (Hermit), Olaf Bär (Kilian), and Thilo Schiemenz (Saxonian Puppetplayer). Also features Anett Löschigk, Pauline Weiss, Johanna Will, Daniela Saegeling, Katrin Adam, Marlene Maucher, Rahel Storch, and Mona Zelt as bridemaids. Daniel Harding conducts the London Symphony Orchestra and Simon Halsey conducts the Berlin Radio Choir (Rundfunkchor Berlin). Photography directed by Harald Gunnar Paalgard; audio produced by Torsten Rasch; sound recorded and mixed by Joel Iwatakia; line production by Kaare Storemyr; film edited by Martin Hoffmann; production designed by Per Hjorth; scientific consulting by Matthias Hermann. Produced by Peter Stüber and Jens Neubert. Recorded in German with subtitles in German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Korean. Has several bonus features including a audio commentary by the director. Even though this was made with 35 mm film, it runs at 30fps. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound output. Grade: A
Read MoreCarl Maria von Weber DerFreischütz opera to libretto by Friedrich Kind. Directed 2015 by Axel Köhler at the Semperoper Dresden. Stars Adrian Eröd (Ottokar), Albert Dohmen (Kuno), Sara Jakubiak (Agathe), Christina Landshamer(Ännchen), GeorgZeppenfeld (Kaspar), Michael König (Max), Andreas Bauer (Hermit), Sebastian Wartig (Kilian), Anna Katharina Schumann (Lame Woman), GabrieleBerke, RahelHaar, Jana Hohlfeld, HeikeLiebmann (Bridesmaids), Falk Joost, Markus Hansel, and Fritz Feilhaber (Hunters). Christian Thielemann conducts the SächsischerStaatsopernchor and Staatskapelle Dresden (Chorus Master JörnHinnerkAndresen). Solo viola by Sebastian Herberg; solo cello by Norbert Anger. Set design by ArneWalther; costume design by KatharinaWeissenborn; lighting design by FabioAntoci; video designs by ArneWalther and KnutGeng; dramatic advice by Werner Hintze; choreography by Katrin Wolfram; fight direction by Klaus Figge. Directed for TV by TizianoMancini. Sung in German; subtitles in German, English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. Released 2015, music was recorded with 48kHz/24-bit sound sampling and disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: D+
Read MoreRimsky-Korsakov The Tsar's Bride opera to a libretto by the composer and Ilya Tyumenev. Directed 2013 by Dmitri Tcherniakov at the Schiller Theater, Berlin. Stars Anatoli Kotscherga (Vasily Sobakin), Olga Peretyatko (Marfa Sobakina), Johannes Martin Kränzle (Grigory Gryaznoy), Tobias Schabel (Grigory Malyuta-Skuratov), Pavel Černoch (Ivan Lykov), Anita Rachvelishvili (Lyubasha), Stephan Rügamer (Dr. Bomelius), Anna Tomowa-Sintow (Domna Saburova), Anna Lapkovskaya (Dunyasha), Carola Höhn (Petrovna), Dmitri Plotnikov (Young Lad), Ana Charim (Serving Girl), and Peter Krumow (Stoker). Daniel Barenboim conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin and Staatsopernchor (Chorus Master Rustam Samedov). Set design by Dmitri Tcherniakov; costume design by Elena Zaytseva; lighting design by Gleb Filshtinsky; dramaturgy by Detlef Giese; video design and production by Raketa Media. Directed for TV by Andy Sommer; produced by François Duplat. Sung in Russian; subtitles in English, French, and German. Released 2015, the music was recorded with 48kHz/16-bit sound sampling and the disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound output. Grade: A+
Read MoreProkofiev The Gambler opera to libretto by the composer (completed 1928) based on the novella The Gambler by Dostoevsky (written 1866). Directed 2008 by Dmitri Tcherniakov at the Berlin Staatsoper unter den Linden. Stars Vladimir Ognovenko (General), Kristine Opolais (Polina, the General's step-daughter and ward), Misha Didyk (Aleksey, tutor of the General's children), Stefania Toczyska (Babulenka, the General's rich old aunt), Stephan Rügamer (Marquis), Viktor Rud (Mr. Astley, a rich Englishman), Silvia De La Muela (Blanche, demi-mondaine), Gian-Luca Pasolini (Prince Nilsky/Hunchbacked Player), Alessandro Paliaga (Baron Wurmerhelm/Old Player), Plamen Kumpikov (Potapych, Babulenka's butler) Gleb Nikolsky (Casino Director), Gregory Bonfatti (1st Coupier), Robert Hebenstreit (2nd Coupier), Alexander Teliga (1st Englishman), Gianfranco Montresor (2nd Englishman), Enas Massalha (Tarted-up Lady), Alisa Zinovjeva (Pale Lady), Elizabeth Laurence (So-so Lady), Constance Heller (Distinguished Lady), Borjana Mateewa (Dubious Lady), Ki Hyun Kim (Hot-tempered Player), Otakar Klein (Nervous Player), and Ilya Kuzmin (Embittered Player) as well as Juri Bogdanov, Dmitri Plotnikov, Jens-Eric Schulze, Andreas Neher, Bernd Grabowski, and Peter Krumow (other Players). Daniel Barenboim conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin and the Staatsopernchor (Chorus Master Eberhard Friedrich). Sets by Dmitri Tcherniakov; costumes by Dmitri Tcherniakov and Elena Zaitseva; lighting by Gleb Filshtinksy; video direction by Karina Fibich. Released 2010, music was recorded with 48kHz/24-bit sound sampling and the disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound output. Grade: A
Read MoreShakespeare Verdi Opera Box set. Features three operas previously released by Opus Arte:
1. Falstaff (2010, graded A)
2. Macbeth (2012, graded A)
3. Otello (2009, graded B)
Released 2015, each disc has either 5.0 or 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. The Falstaff and Macbeth titles are both excellent. Othello is the weak link in this opera box.
Read MoreDonizetti La fille du régiment opera to libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Jean-François-Alfred Bayard. Directed 2007 by Laurent Pelly (assistance in directing and dialogue by Agatha Mélinard) at the Royal Opera House. Stars Natalie Dessay (Marie), Juan Diego Flórez (Tonio), Felicity Palmer (La Marquise de Birkenfeld), Alessandro Corbelli (Sergeant Sulpice Pingot), Donald Maxwell (Hortensius), Dawn French (La Duchesse de Crackentorp), Bryan Secombe (A Corporal), Luke Price (A Valet), and Jean-Pierre Blanchard (A Notary). Bruno Campanella conducts the Orchestra (Peter Manning Concert Master) and Chorus of the Royal Opera House (Renato Balsadonna Chorus Master). Sets by Chantal Thomas; costumes by Laurent Pelly; lighting by Joël Adam; choreography by Laura Scozzi. Directed for TV by Robin Lough; produced by Peter Byram and Hazels Wright. Released 2015, music was recorded at 48kHz/24-bit and disc has 5.1 Dolby Digital sound output. Grade: A+
Read MorePuccini Turandot opera to a libretto by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni. Directed 2012 by Giuliano Montaldo at the Teatro Carlo Felice after an original production by Fausto Cosentino. Stars Daniela Dessi (Turandot), Massimo La Guardia (Emperor Altoum), Ramaz Chikviladze (Timur), Mario Malagnini (Calaf), Roberta Canzian (Liù), Francesco Verna (Ping), Enrico Salsi (Pang), Manuel Pierattelli (Pong), Fabrizio Beggi (A Mandarin), Pasquale Graziano (The Prince of Persia), Annarita Cecchini (First Handmaid), and Simona Pasino (Second Handmaid). Also stars mimes Filippo Bandiera, Dario Greco, Robert Pierantoni, Davide Riminucci, and Simone Sistarelli. Donato Renzetti conducts the Orchestra, Chorus and Children’s Choir of the Teatro Carlo Felice (Chorus Master Marco Berrini; Chorus Master of the Children’s Choir Gino Tanasini). Set design by Luciano Ricceri; costume design by Elisabetta Montaldo Bocciardo; lighting design by Luciano Novelli; choreography by Giovanni Di Cicco. Directed for TV by Matteo Ricchetti. Sung in Italian. Released 2015, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MorePurcell The Indian Queen opera. The music was composed in 1695. The original libretto was by John Dryden and Sir Robert Howard. The book was completely rewritten by Peter Sellars to create a modern version of the conquest of the New World by the Spanish. Theodor Currentzis, an avant-garde conductor who has worked a lot with the likes of Dmitri Tcherniakov, conducts MusicAeterna, a group that plays on baroque instruments. Released 2016. Grade: NA
Read MoreMozart Don Giovanni opera to libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte. Directed 2011 by Robert Carsen at the Teatro alla Scala. Stars Peter Mattei (Don Giovanni), Bryn Terfel (Leporello), Anna Netrebko (Donna Anna), Giuseppy Filianoti (Don Ottavio), Barbara Frittoli (Donna Elvira), Štegan Kocán (Maseto), Anna Prohaska (Zerlina), and Kwangchul Youn (Commhendatore). Daniel Barenboim conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala. Set designs by Michael Levine; costumes by Brigitte Reiffenstuel; lighting by Robert Carsen and Peter van Praet; choreography by Philippe Giraudeau. Directed for video by Andreas Morell. Released 2015. Grade: NA
Read MoreWagner Tannhäuser opera to libretto by the composer. Directed 2014 by Sasha Waltz (not a typo) at the Staatsoper Berlin. Stars Peter Seiffert (Tannhäuser), Marina Prudenskaya (Venus), Ann Petersen (Elisabeth), Peter Mattei (Wolfram von Eschenbach), René Pape (Hermann, Landgraf von Thüringen), Peter Sonn (Walther von der Vogelweide), Tobias Schabel (Biterolf), Jürgen Sacher (Heinrich der Schreiber), Jan Martiník (Reinmar von Zweter), and Sónia Grané (Ein Hirtenknabe). Daniel Barenboim conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin. Choreography by Sasha Waltz; costume design by Bernd Skodzig; set design by Pia Maier Schriever and Sasha Waltz; lighting design by David Finn. Directed for TV by Vincent Bataillon; produced by François Duplat. Sung in German. Released 2015, disc has dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreVerdi Macbeth opera to a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. The 2007 Adrian Nobel production is revived in 2014 at the Met and directed by Assistant Stage Directors Gregory Anthony Fortner and Gina Lapinski. Stars Željko Lučić (Macbeth), Anna Netrebko (Lady Macbeth), René Pape (Banquo), Joseph Calleja (Macduff), Raymond Renault (Duncan), Noah Baetge (Malcolm), Claudia Waite (Lady-in-waiting), Christopher Job (Servant), Moritz Linn (Fleanzio), Richard Bernstein (Murderer), Seth Malkin (Herald), James Courtney (Doctor), David Crawford (Warrior Apparition), Ashley Emerson (Bloody Child Apparition), and Jihee Kim (Crowned Child Apparition). Fabio Luisi conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus (Donald Palumbo Chorus Master) and Ballet (Sue Lefton Choreographer). Stage band conducted by Jeffrey Goldberg. Sets and costumes by Mark Thompson; lighting by Jean Kalman; directed for live TV by Gary Halvorson; music producer Jay David Saks. Supervising Producers are Mia Bongiovanni and Elena Park; Producers are Louisa Briccetti and Victoria Warivonchik. Released 2015, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
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