Deutsche Grammophon

Lang Lang Dragon Songs

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Lang Lang Dragon Songs piano concert and documentary. This title has 3 segments:

1. A documentary and compilation of interviews made in 2005 and 2006 when Lang Lang (then age 23) returned, after making his way for years in the West as a child and young adult, to visit old haunts in China.
2. The "Dragon Songs." This is a recital of about 40 minutes with 6 solo pieces by Lang Lang and 3 pieces in which Lang Lang serves as accompanist backing musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments.
3. A performance by Lang Lang of the Yellow River Piano Concerto made in 2005 at a special patriotic performance.

The documentary and song recital were recorded in HDCAM 1080i and 5.1 digital sound. The Yellow River Piano Concerto was probably recorded for distribution on VHS tape. Released in 2013, the disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: C-

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Lucia di Lammermoor

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Donizetti Lucia di Lammermoor opera to libretto by Salvadore Cammarano. Directed 2009 by Mary Zimmerman at the Met. Stars Mariusz Kwiecien (Enrico), Anna Netrebko (Lucia), Piotr Beczala (Edgardo), Colin Lee (Arturo), Ildar Abdrazakov (Raimondo), Michaela Martens (Alisa), and Michael Myers (Normanno). Marco Armiliato conducts the Met Orchestra and Chorus (Chorus Master Donald Palumbo). Harp solo by Mariko Anraku; flute solo by Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson; harmonica solo by Cecilia Brauer. Sets by Daniel Ostling; costumes by Mara Blumenfels; lighting by T. J. Gerckens; choreography by Daniel Pelzig; directed for HD TV by Gary Halvorson. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A+

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Parsifal

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Wagner Parsifal opera to a libretto by the composer. Directed by Michael Schulz at the 2013 Salzburg Easter Festival (Großes Festspielhaus). Stars Johan Botha, Michaela Schuster, Wolfgang Koch, Stephen Milling, Milcho Borovinov, Thomas Ebenstein, Derek Welton, Eva Liebau, Annika Sophie Ritlewski, Theresa Holzhauser, Bele Kumberger, Chiara Skerath, Carolin Neukamm,  Rachel Frenkel, Mauro Peter, and Attilio Glaser. Christian Thielemann directs the Staatskapelle Dresden, the Sächsicher Staatsopernchor Dresden and Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper (Chorus Master: Pablo Assante), and the Salzburger Festpiele und Theater Kinderchor (Chorus Master: Wolfgang Götz). Sets and costumes by Alexander Polzin; lighting by Urs Schönebaum; choreography by Annett Göhre; video directed by Brian Large. Released 2013, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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The Opera Gala

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The Opera Gala recital concert. Anna Netrebko (soprano), Elīna Garanča (mezzo-soprano), Ramón Vargas (tenor), and Lodovic Tézier (baritone) sing opera favorites for the 2007 Gala Concert at the Baden-Baden Festival. Here's the program:

1. Bellini  "Sinfonia" from Norma
2. Bellini  "Mira, o Norma" from Norma
3. Donizetti "Una furtiva lagrima" from L'elisir d'amore
4. Bellini "Or dove fuggo io mai?--Ah! per sempre io ti perdei--Bel sogno beato" from I Puritani
5. Bellini "Casta Diva--Ah, bello a me ritorna" from Norma
6. Rossini "Nacqui all'affanno e al pianto" from La Cenerentola
7. Verdi "È lui!...Desso!...L'Infante! from Don Carlo
8. Saint-Saëns "Bacchanale"  from Samson et Dalila
9. Delibes "Viens, Mallika--Dôme epais, le jasmin" from Lakmé
19. Bizet "Au fond du temple saint" from Les Pêcheurs de perles
11. Saint-Saëns "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix" from Samson et Dalila
12. Verdi "Oh! fede nocgar potessi-Quanda le sere al placido" from Luisa Miller
13. Verdi "Felice ancor io son" (Morte di Rodrigo) from Don Carlo
14. Puccini "O soave fanciulla"  from La Bohème
15. Verdi "Un di, se ben rammentomi" from Rigoletto
16. Lehár "Meine Lippen, sie küssen so heiß" from Giuditta
17. Rossini "La danza"
18. Ruperto Chapí "Al pensar en el dueño de mis amores" from Las hijas del Zebedeo
19. Bizet "Toreador Song" from Carmen
20. Verdi "Brindisi" or "The Toast" from La Traviata

Marco Armiliato conducts the SWR (Südwestrundfunk) Sinfonieorchester of Baden-Baden und Freiburg. Released 2008, disc has 5.1 PCM and 5.1 dts-HD sound. Grade: A-

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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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Anna Bolena

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Donizetti Anna Bolena opera to a libretto by Felice Romani. Directed 2011 by Eric Génovèse at the Wiener Staatsoper. Stars Ildebrando D'Arcangelo (Enrico VIII or Henry VIII), Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena or Ann Boleyn), Elīna Garanča (Giovanna Seymour or Jane Seymour), Dan Paul Dumitrescu (Lord Rochefort), Francesco Meli (Lord Riccardo or Richard Percy), Elisabeth Kulman (Smeton or Mark Smeaton), and Peter Jelosits (Sir Hervey). Evelino Pidò conducts the Chor, Orchester, und Bühnenorchester der Wiener Staatsoper (Chorus Masters Thomas Lang and Martin Schebesta). Set design by Jacques Gabel and Claire Sternberg; costume design by Luisa Spinatelli; lighting design by Bertrand Couderc. Directed for TV by Brian Large. Sung in Italian. Released 2011, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A+

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Ring des Nibelungen

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Richard Wagner Der Ring des Nibelungen opera cycle directed by Robert Lepage from 2010 through 2012 at the Metropolitan Opera. This is a box set of 5 Blu-ray discs, containing the entirety of the Ring cycle. As of 2013, the 4 operas and the stand-alone documentary extra are available individually as well. Released 2012, the opera discs have 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A+

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Die Walküre

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Wagner Die Walküre opera to a libretto by the composer. Directed 2011 by Robert Lepage at the Metropolitan Opera. Stars Jonas Kaufmann (Siegmund), Eva-Maria Westbroek (Sieglinde), Hans-Peter König (Hunding), Bryn Terfel (Wotan), Deborah Voigt (Brünnhilde), Stephanie Blythe (Fricka), Kelly Cae Hogan (Gerhilde), Molly Fillmore (Helmwige), Marjorie Elinor Dix (Waltraute), Mary Phillips (Schwertleite), Wendy Bryn Harmer (Ortlinde), Eve Giglotti (Siegrune), Mary Ann McCormick (Grimgerde), and Lindsay Ammann (Rossweiße). James Levine conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Associate Direction by Neilson Vignola; set design by Carl Fillion; costume design by François St.-Aubin; lighting design by Etienne Boucher; video image art by Boris Firquet in collaboration with Ex Machina. Sung in German. Released 2012, disc has 5.1 dts HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A+

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La Bohème (Netrebko)

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Giacomo Puccini La Bohème opera to libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica. Staged 2012 by Damiano Michieletto at the Salzburg Festival. Stars Anna Netrebko (Mimi), Nino Machaidze (Musetta), Piotr Beczala (Rodolfo), Massimo Cavalletti (Marcello), Alessio Ardunini (Schaunard), Carlo Colombara (Colline), Davide Fersini (Benoît), Peter Kálmán (Alcindoro), Paul Schweinester, Steven Forster, Liviu Gheorghe Burz, Michael Wilder, and Martin Müller. Daniele Gatti conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker,  the Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor (Chorus Master: Ernst Raffelsberger), the Salzburger Festspiele und Theater Kinderchor (Chorus Master; Wolfgang Götz), and members of the Angelika Prokopp Sommerakademie of the Wiener Philharmoniker (stage music). Set design by Paolo Fantin; costumes by Carla Teti; lighting by Martin Gebhardt; dramatic advice by Kathrin Brunner; choreography by Nikolaos Lagousakos; directed for TV by Brian Large. Released 2012, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: C

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Götterdämmerung

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Wagner Götterdämmerung opera. Directed 2012 by Robert Lepage. Stars Maria Radner (First Norn), Elizabeth Bishop (Second Norn), Heidi Melton (Third Norn), Deborah Voigt (Brünnhilde), Jay Hunter Morris (Siegfried), Iain Paterson (Gunther), Hans-Peter König (Hagen), Wendy Bryn Harper (Gutrune), Waltraud Meier (Waltraute), Eric Owens (Alberich), Erin Morley (Woglinde), Jennifer Johnson Cano (Wellgunde), and Tamara Mumford (Floßhilde). Fabio Luisi conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus (Chorus Master Donald Palumbo). Associate Direction by Neilson Vignola; set design by Carl Fillion; costume design by François St.-Aubin; lighting design by Etienne Boucher; video image art by Lionel Arnould in collaboration with Ex Machina. Released 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A+

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Das Rheingold

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Wagner Das Rheingold. Directed 2010 by Robert Lepage. Stars Lisette Oropesa (Woglinde), Jennifer Johnson (Wellgunde), Tamara Mumford (Flosshilde), Eric Owens (Alberich), Stephanie Blythe (Fricka), Bryn Terfel (Wotan), Wendy Bryn Harmer (Freia), Franz-Josef Selig (Fasalt), Hans-Peter König (Fafner), Adam Diegel (Froh), Dwayne Croft (Donner), Richard Croft (Loge), Gerhard Siegel (Mime), and Patricia Bardon (Erda). James Levine conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Associate Direction by Neilson Vignola; set design by Carl Fillion; costume design by François St.-Aubin; lighting design by Etienne Boucher; video image art by Boris Firquet in collaboration with Ex Machina. Released 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A+

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Siegfried

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Wagner Siegfried opera. Directed 2011 by Robert Lepage. Stars Gerhard Siegel (Mime), Jay Hunter Morris (Siegfried), Bryn Terfel (The Wanderer), Eric Owens (Alberich), Hans-Peter König (Fafner), Mojca Erdmann (The Forest Bird), Patricia Bardon (Erda), and Deborah Voigt (Brünnhilde). Fabio Luisi conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Associate Direction by Neilson Vignola; set design by Carl Fillion; costume design by François St.-Aubin; lighting design by Etienne Boucher; video image art by Pedro Pires in collaboration with Ex Machina. Released 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A+

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Mahler Symphony No. 8 "Symphony of a Thousand"

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Mahler Symphony No. 8 "Symphony of a Thousand." Gustavo Dudamel conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Simón Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela in Caracas, Venezuela, augmented by multiple student choruses (Chorus Masters Lourdes Sánchez and Manuel López Gomez). Soloists are Manuela Uhl (soprano), Julianna Di Giacomo (soprano), Anna Larsson (contralto), Charlette Hellekant (mezzo-soprano), Burkhard Fritz (tenor), Brian Mulligan (baritone), and Alexander Vinogradov (bass). Produced by Bernhard Fleischer and Chris Ayzoukian; video direction by Michael Beyer. Released 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

There were a lot of performers in this massive effort. I haven't seen any such claim, but with all the student choirs and orchestras available in Venezuela, putting 1,000 musicians in a piece might be possible.

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Il trovatore

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Verdi Il trovatore opera to libretto by Salvadore Cammarano and Leone Emanuele Bardare. Directed 2011 by David McVicar at the Metropolitan Opera. Stars Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Il Conte di Luna), Sondra Radvanovsky (Leonora), Dolora Zajick (Azucena), Marcelo Álvarez (Manrico), Stefan Kocán (Ferrando), Maria Zifchak (Ines), Eduardo Valdes (Ruiz), Robert Maher (Un Vecchio Zingaro), and Raymond Aparentado (Un Messo). Marco Armiliato conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus (Chorus Master Donald Palumbo). Set design by Charles Edwards; costume design by Brigitte Reiffenstuel; lighting design by Jennifer Tipton; choreography by Leah Hausman; stage direction by Paula Williams; musical preparation by Jane Klaviter, Howard Watkins, J. David Jackson, Hemdi Kfir, and Vlad Iftinca; assistant stage direction by Daniel Rigazzi; fight direction by Nigel Poutlon; dramaturgy by Paul Cremo.  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. Sung in Italian. Released in 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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La fanciulla del West

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Puccini La fanciulla del West opera to a libretto by Guelfo Civinini and Carlo Zangarini. Directed 2011 by Giancarlo del Monaco. Stars Deborah Voigt (Minnie), Lucio Gallo (Jack Rance), Marcello Giordani (Dick Johnson or Ramirrez), Tony Stevenson (Nick, the Bartender), Keith Miller (Ashby, the Wells Fargo Agent), Dwayne Croft (Sonora), Hugo Vera (Trin), Trevor Scheunemann (Sid), Richard Bernstein (Bello), Adam Laurence Herskowitz (Harry), Michael Forest (Joe), David Crawford (Happy), Edward Parks (Larkins), Philip Cokorinos (Billy Jackrabit), Ginger Costa-Jackson (Wowkle), Oren Gradus (Jake Wallace), Jeff Mattsey (José Castro), and Edward Mout (Pony Express Rider). Nicola Luisotti conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus (Chorus Master Donald Palumbo). Set and costume design by Michael Scott; lighting design by Gil Wechsler; musical preparation by Gildo di Nunzio, Donna Racik, Steven Eldredge, Joseph Colaneri, Carrie-Anne Matheson, and Milos Repicky; fight direction by B. H. Barry; assistant stage direction by Gregory Keller, Jonathon Loy, Louisa Muller, and Elena Sacconaghi-Marzoni; dramaturgy by Paul Cremo.  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 in 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound output. Grade: A-

La fanciulla del West had its world premiere at the Met in 1910 with Puccini in the audience and Toscanini conducting. In 2010, the Met celebrated the centenary of of the premiere by reviving a 1991 production from Giancarlo del Monaco with extremely beautiful traditional sets and costumes.  This staging  probably follows the original libretto and score as closely as current taste would allow. If you don't know the opera, this is the version to get first. It's easy to follow; after you have seen it several times, you will know the work well. Then you can better enjoy the updated version of La fanciulla from the Netherlands Opera, which gives you some different things to think about and is a hoot to boot. By the way, Lucio Gallo plays sheriff Jack Rance in both shows.

Here's an odd YT clip that's a series of "slides" about this production. Activate the CC button for commentary by Deborah Voigt: