Opera

Ercole Amante

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Francesco Cavalli Ercole Amante opera to libretto by Francesco Buti. Directed 2019 by Valérie Lesort and Christian Hecq at the Opéra Comique in Paris. Stars Nahuel di Pierro (Ercole ) Anna Bonitatibus (Giuone), Giuseppa Bridelli (Deianira), Francesca Aspromonte (Iole), Kystian Adam (Hyllo), Eugénie Lefebvre (Pasithea/Clerica/Terza Grazia/Secondo Pianeta), Ray Chenez (Il Paggio), Giulia Semenzato (Venere/Bellezza/Cinzia), Luca Tittoto (Nettuno/Eutyro), and Dominique Visse (Licco). Raphaël Pichon conducts the Choir and Orchestra Pygmalion. Set design by Laurent Peduzzi; costume design and machinery by Vanessa Sannino; lighting design by Christian Pinaud; movement collaboration by Rémi Boissy; puppets by Carole Allemand, Sophie Coeffic, and Valérie Lesort. Directed for TV by François Roussillon. Sung in Italian. Released 2021, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound.Grade: NA

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Becoming Santa Claus

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Mark Adamo Becoming Santa Claus opera to a libretto by the composer. Directed 2015 by Paul Curran at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas, Texas. Stars Jennifer Rivera (Queen Sophine), Jonathan Blalock (Prince Claus), Matt Boehler (Donkey/Messenger), Hila Plitmann (Yan), Lucy Schaufer (Ib), Keith Jameson (Yab), and Kevin Burdette (Ob). Also features dancers Kym Cartwright, Caradee Cline, Jason Fowler, Matt Holmes, Tom Kilps, and Elise Lavallee. Emmanuel Villaume conducts the Dallas Opera Orchestra, with associate conductor Paolo Bressan, handbell director Tim Effler; musical preparation by Kirk Severtson and Christopher Devlin. Choreography by Paul Curran; set and costume design by Gary McCann; lighting design by Paul Hackenmueller: projection design by Driscoll Otto; wig and make-up design by David Zimmerman; assistant director was Opheli Wolf; stage manager was Lisa Marie Lange; assistant stage directors were Katy Reeves and Miranda Wilson. Directed for TV by Aaron Butler. Sung in English. Released 2017, disc has LPCM stereo and 5.1 Dolby Digital sound. Grade: NA

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Der Rosenkavalier

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Richard Strauss Der Rosenkavalier opera to libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Directed 2020 by André Heller at the Staatsoper Berlin. Stars Camilla Nylund (Feldmarschallin Fürstin Werdenberg), Michèle Losier (Octavian), Nadine Sierra (Sophie), Günther Groissböck (Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau), Roman Trekel (Herr von Faninal), Anna Samuil (Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin), Karl-Michael Ebner (Valzacchi), Katharina Kammerloher (Annina), Atalla Ayan (Italian Singer), Erik Rosenius (Ein Polizeikomissar), Florian Hoffmann (Der Haushofmeister bei der Feldarmarschallin), Linard Vrielink (Der Haushofmeister bei Faninal), Jaka Mihelač (Ein Notar), Andrés Moreno Garcia (Ein Wirt), and Victoria Randem (Eine Modistin). Zubin Metha conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin and the Staatsopernchor Berlin (chorus master Anna Milukova). Set design by Xenia Hausner; costume design by Arthur Arbesser; lighting design by Olaf Freese; video design by Günter Jäckle and Philip Hillers. Directed for TV by Felix Breisach. Sung in German. Released 2021, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Cendrillon

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Massenet Cendrillon (Cinderella) opera to a libretto by Henri Caïn. Directed 2019 at Glyndebourne by revival director Fiona Dunn after Fiona Shaw. Stars Danielle de Niese (Cendrillon), Kate Lindsey (Prince Charming), Lionel Lhote (Pandolfe), Nina Minasyan (The Fairy Godmother), Agnes Zwierko (Madame de la Haltière), Eduarda Melo (Noémie), Julie Pasturaud (Dorothée), Romanas Kudriašovas (Master of Ceremonies), Anthony Osborne (The Dean), Michael Wallace (The Prime Minister), Adam Marsden (The King), Sofia Larsson (First Spirit), Jacquelyn Parker (Second Spirit), Jennifer Witton (Third Spirit), Leslie Davis (Fourth Spirit), Rhiain Taylor (Fifth Spirit), Lauren Easton (Sixth Spirit). Also features Megan Silburn (Little Cinderella [mute]), Richard Bignall, Natalia Brzezińska, Sam Carl, Andrew Davies, Jade Moffat, David Shaw, Rachel Taylor, and Pamela Wilcock (Servants) as well as dancers Jess Barlow, Ryan Munroe, Emily Pottage, Sophie Thorpe, and Connor Williams. John Wilson conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra (Leader Pieter Schoeman) and the Glyndebourne Chorus (Chorus Director Aiden Oliver). Set design by Jon Bausor; costume design by Nicky Gillibrand; lighting design by Anna Watson; and movement direction by Mike Ashcroft. Directed for TV by François Roussillon. Sung in French. Released 2020, disc has 5.1 HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A

In the heart of every child burns the existential question: “What will I become?”

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L'Empio Punito

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Alessandro Melani L’Empio Punito (“The Punished Wicked”) opera to libretto by Giovanni Filippo Apolloni. Directed 2019 by Cesare Scarton at the Reate Festival in Rome. Stars Alessandro Ravasio (Atrace); Michela Guarrera (Ipomene); Carlotta Colombo (Cloridoro); Sabrina Cortese (Atamira); Mauro Borgioni (Acrimante); Giacomo Nanni (Bibi); Alessio Tosi (Delfa); Riccardo Pisani (Tidemo); Luca Cervoni (Corimbo); Maria Elena Pepi (Proserpina); Guglielmo Buonsanti (Demonio); Maria Elena Pepi and Luca Cervoni (Due Pastorelle); Luca Cervoni, Riccardo PIsani, and Guglielmo Buonsanti (Coro di Stallieri e Diavoli); and Gaetano Carbone, Alessandro Gaglio, Valerio Leoni, and Guido Targetti (Actors). Alessandro Quarta conducts the Reate Festival Baroque Ensemble. Set design by Michele Della Cioppa; costume design by Anna Biagiotti; lighting design by Andrea Tocchio. Directed for TV by Maxim Derevianko; video operators were Gianluca Santoni, Federico Rodelli, Serena Perla, and Francesco Siciliano; audio recording by Giacomo De Caterini. Sung in Italian. Released 2020, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Turandot

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Puccini Turandot opera to a libretto by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simon. In 2018 Robert Wilson directed (with assistant Nicola Panzer), designed the sets (with assistant Stephanie Engeln), and designed the lighting (with assistant John Torres) for Turandot at the Teatro Real in Madrid. Stars Irene Theorin (Turandot), Raúl Giménez (Imperatore Altoum), Andrea Mastroni (Timur), Yolanda Auyanet (Liù), Gregory Kunde (Il Principe Ignoto [Calaf]), Joan Martín-Royo (Ping), Vicenç Esteve (Pang), Juan Antonio Sababria (Pong), and Gerardo Bullón (Un Mandarino). Nicola Luisotti conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro Real and the Jorcam Children Chorus (Chorus Master Andrés Máspero). Costume design by Jacques Reynaud; hairstyle and makeup by Manuela Halligan; video design by Tomek Jeziorski; dramaturgy by José Enrique Macián. Directed for TV by Andy Sommer; produced by Natalia Camacho and Xavier Dubois. Sung in Italian. Released 2020, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio surround sound. Grade: A

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La Dori

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Pietro Antonio Cesti La Dori opera to libretto by Giovanni Filippo Apolloni. Directed 2019 by Stefano Vizioli at the Innsbruck Festival. Stars Francesca Ascioti (Dori), Rupert Enticknap (Oronte), Federico Sacchi (Artaserse), Francesca Lombardi Mazzulli (Arsinoe), Emőke Baráth (Tolomeo), Bradley Smith (Arsete), Pietro di Bianco (Erasto), and Alberto Allegrezza (Dirce). Ottavio Dantone conducts the Accademia Bizantina. Set design by Emanuele Sinisi; costum design by Anna Maria Heinreich; lighting design by Ralph Kopp; choreography by Pierluigi Vanelli. Directed for TV by Karen Katchatryan. Sung in Italian. Released 2020, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Frühlingsstürme

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Jaromír Weinberger Frühlingsstürme opera to libretto by Gustav Beer and reconstructed and arranged by Norbert Biermann. Directed 2020 by Barrie Kosky at the Komische Oper Berlin. Stars Stefan Kurt (General Wladimir Katschalow), Alma Sadé (Tatjana), Vera-Lotte Boecker (Lydia Pawlowska), Dominik Könniger (Roderich Zirbitz), Tansel Akzeybek (Ito), Tino Lindenberg (Colonel Baltischew), and Luca Schaub (Grand Duke Michailowitsch). Also features dancers and extras of the Komische Oper Berlin. Jordan de Souza conducts the Orchestra of the Komische Oper Berlin. Set and lighting design by Klaus Grünberg; associate set designer was Anne Kuhn; costume design by Dinah Ehm; choreography by Otto Pichler; dramaturgy by Ulrich Lenz. Directed for TV by Götz Filenius. Sung in German. Released 2020, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Mireille

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Charles Gounod Mireille opera to libretto by Michel Carré. Directed 2009 by Nicolas Joel at the Paris National Opera. Stars Inva Mula (Mireille), Charles Castronovo (Vincent), Franck Ferrari (Ourrias), Alain Vernhes (Ramon), Sylvie Brunet (Taven), Anne-Catherine Gillet (Vincenette), Sébastien Droy (Andreloux), Nicolas Cavallie (Ambroise), Amel-Brahim Djelloul (Clémence), Ugo Rabec (Ferryman), Christian Rodrigue Moungoungou (citizen of Arle), Sophie Claisse (voice from on high), and Alexandre Duhamel (Echo). Marc Minkowski conducts the Orchestre et Choeurs de l'Opera national de Paris (Choir Master Patrick Marie Aubert). Set design by Ezio Frigerio; costumes by Franca Squarciapino; lighting by Vinicio Cheli; choreography by Patrick Ségot. Directed for TV by François Roussillon. Sung in French. Released 2010, Blu-ray disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A+ with the 💓 designation.

This originally came out in 2010 published by FRAmusica in its distinctive design with the “cut-through” front cover shown above in pale blue. Eventually this went “out of print” and became a collectors’ item. Alas, in 2020 I tried to play my 2010 disc and it would not load (due, I guess to the mysterious “disc rot” illness). Thank Goodness I kept the story up, because now Naxos has

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Rodelinda

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Handel Rodelinda opera to a libretto by Nicola Francesco Haym. Directed 2011 by Stephen Wadsworth at the Met. Stars Renée Fleming (Rodelinda), Joseph Kaiser (Grimoaldo), Shenyang (Garibaldo), Stephanie Blythe (Eduige), Andreas Scholl (Bertarido), Iestyn Davies (Unulfo), and Moritz Linn (Flavio). Harry Bicket conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Continuo: Harry Bicket, harpsichord (recitative); Bradley Brookshire, harpsichord (ripieno); David Heiss, cello; and Daniel Swenberg, theorbo and baroque guitar. Set design by Thomas Lynch; costume design by Martin Pakledinaz; lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski. Directed for TV by Matthew Diamond; Music Producer Jay David Saks; Supervising Producers Mia Bongiovanni and Elena Park; Producers Louisa Briccetti and Victoria Warivonchik. Sung in Italian. Released 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A-

Rodelinda is considered one of Handel’s greatest works, but the newcomer must contend with some of the ugliest character names in all literature and a also be aware of a backstory to the opera. There was a virtuous King Bertarido married to Queen Rodelinda, and they had a son, Prince Flavio. The ambitious nobleman Grimoaldo was engaged to Bertarido’s sister, Eduige. Grimoaldo usurped the throne, and Bertarido escaped into the countryside. Unable to find allies, Bertarido floated a false story, believed by almost everyone, that he had died.

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Ciboulette

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Reynaldo Hahn Ciboulette operetta to a libretto by Robert de Flers. Directed 2013 by Michel Fau at the Opéra Comique in Paris (with assistant stage director Damien Lefevre). Stars Julie Fuchs (Ciboulette), Jean-François Lapointe (Duparquet), Julien Behr (Antonin), Eva Ganizate (Zenobie), Ronan Debois (Roger), Cécile Achille (Françoise), Jean-Claude Sarragosse (Monsieur Grenu), Guillemette Laurens (Madame Grenu), Patrick Kabongo Mubenga (Auguste/Victor), François Rougier (Le Patron/Le Maire), Safir Behloul (Grisard), Bernadette Lafont (Madame Pingret), Michel Fau (La Comtesse de Castiglione), and Jérôme Deschamps (Le Directeur de l’Opéra). Laurence Equilbey conducts the Orchestre Symphonique de l'Opéra de Toulon (with assistant conductor Chirstophe Grapperon) and the Accentus chorus (Chorus Master Christophe Grapperson). Set design Bernard Fau and Citronelle Dufay; costume design by David Belugou; lighting design by Joël Fabing; movement collaborator was Cécile Rousssat; make-up design by Pascale Fau; vocal coach was Nicolaï Maslenko. Directed for TV by François Roussillon. Sung in French. Released in 2021, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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The Love for Three Oranges

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Prokofiev The Love for Three Oranges opera to a libretto written by the composer based on a play by Carlo Gozzi. Directed 2005 by Laurent Pelly at De Nederlandse Opera (Muziektheater). Stars Alain Vernhes (King of Clubs), Martial Defontaine (The Prince), Natascha Petrinsky (King's Niece), François Le Roux (Léandre, the Prime Minister), Serghei Khomov (Trouffaldino), Marcel Boone (Pantalon), Sir Willard White (Tchélio, sorcerer, the King's protector), Anna Shafajinskaja (Fata Morgana, Léandre's protector), Sylvia Kevorkian (Linette, a princess), Magali de Prelle (Nicolette, a princess), Sandrine Piau (Ninette, a princess), Richard Angas (La Cuisinière, the gigantic cook), Alexander Vassiliev (Farfarello, a demon/herald), Marianna Kulikova (Sméraldine, a slave), Sergei Khomov (Master of Ceremonies), as well as Ruud Kok, Robert Kops, Willem Korteling, Jan Majoor, Wojtek Okraska, Jan Polak, Harry Teeuwen, Martin Vijgenboom, Bert Visser, and Arjan Wiering (10 Eccentrics). Stéphane Denève conducts the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera (Chorus Master Martin Wright). Sets by Chantal Thomas; costumes by Laurent Pelly; lighting by Joël Adam; choreography by Laura Scozzi. Directed for TV by Misjel Vermeiren. Sung in French. Released 2008, disc has PCM 5.1 sound. Grade: A+

When I was a kid, we didn't have HDVD. We didn't have TV. We had radio and 8mm black and white home movies. Kids loved the serials on radio. I waited all week for "The FBI in Peace and War." I wasn't interested in the propaganda—I loved the theme song, a jaunty march that sent me careening about the kitchen. I asked my mom, "Where did the music come from?" She said, "From a modern opera about oranges. It was too crazy to perform, but people like that song."

Mom was wrong about one thing. The Love for Three Oranges wasn't modern. The way I see it,

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Capriccio

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Richard Strauss Capriccio opera to a libretto by Clemens Krauss and Richard Strauss. This is the Met John Cox production with 2011 stage direction by Peter McClintock. Stars Renée Fleming (The Countess), Joseph Kaiser (Flamand), Russell Braun (Olivier), Peter Rose (La Roche), Morten Frank Larsen (The Count), Sarah Connolly (Clairon), Olga Makarina and Barry Banks (Italian Singers), Ronald Naldi, Paul Corona, Steven Goldstein, Christopher Schaldenbrand, Grant Youngblood, Scott Scully, Brian Frutiger, Kyle Pfortmiller (Servants), Micahael Devlin (Majordomo), and Bernard Fitch (Monsieur Taupe). Solo dancers are Laura Feig and Eric Otto. Also stars stage musicians David Chan (violin), Rafael Figueroa (cello), and Dennis Giauque (harpsichord). Andrew Davis conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, with stage band conductor Jeffrey Goldberg. Set design by Mauro Pagano; costume design and interior décor by Robert Perdziola; lighting design by Duane Schuler; choreography by Val Caniparoli; dramaturgy by Paul Cremo. Directed for 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 2011, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A+

Richard Strauss was the last great, complete man of music in the western tradition

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Le Nozze in Villa

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Donizetti Le Nozze in Villa opera to a libretto by Bartolomeo Merelli. Directed 2020 by Davide Marranchelli at the Teatro Donizetti Bergamo. Stars Gaia Petrone (Sabina), Omar Montanari (Don Petronio), Fabio Capitanucci (Trifoglio), Giorgio Misseri (Claudio), Manuela Custer (Anastasia), Claudia Urru (Rosaura), and Daniel Lettieri (Anselmo). Stefano Montanari conducts the Orchestra Gli Originali and the Coro Donizetti Opera (Chorus Master Fabio Tatari). Set design by Anna Bonomelli; costume design by Linda Riccardi; lighting design by Alessandro Carletti. Directed for TV by Matteo Ricchetti; recorded by Rino Trasi, Vera Zanotti, and Silvano Landonio; editing and post-production by Rino Trassi. Sung in Italian. Released 2021, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

The Fondazione Teatro Donizetti and Dynamic raise yet another body from the dead—Donizetti’s third attempt at writing an opera. This project almost suffered yet another death . . .

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L'ange de Nisida

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Donizetti L’ange de Nisida opera to libretto by Alphonse Royer and Guastave Vaëz. Directed 2019 by Francesco Micheli at the Teatro Donizetti. Stars Florian Sempey (Don Fernand d’Aragon), Roberto Lorenzi (Don Gaspar), Konu Kim (Leone de Casaldi), Lidia Fridman (La comtese Sylvia de Linarès), and Federico Benetti (Le Moine). Jean-Luc Tingaud conducts the Orchestra Donizetti Opera and the Coro Donizetti Opera (Chorus Master Fabio Tartari). Set design by Angelo Sala; costume design by Margherita Baldoni; lighting design by Alessandro Andreoli; assistant directors are Davide Gasparro and Erika Natali; costume assistants are Silvia Pasta and Valentina Volpi. Directed for TV by Adriano Figari and Matteo Richetti; video production by Matteo Richetti; sound recording by Rino Trasi, Giuseppe Famularo, and Vera Zanotti; sound editing and post production by Rino Trasi. Sung in Italian. Released 2020, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

Nisida is a tiny and romantic-looking island in the Bay of Naples that is corrected to Naples by a small bridge. Donizetti started on L’ange de Nisida (the The Angel of Nisida), in 1839. He abandon the project

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