DVDs Page 3
Les Contes d'Hoffmann
By Jacques Offenbach.
Hoffmann tells the story of three past loves - doll-like Olympia, high-class courtesan Giulietta, and ambitious but delicate Antonia - each thwarted by the evil influence of his rival. In this production by distinguished film director John Schlesinger, with spectacular designs by Maria Björnson and William Dudley, Offenbach's nightmare world is brought to life. The all-star cast is headed by Placido Domingo as Hoffmann: his three loves are Ileana Cotrubas, Agnes Baltsa and Luciana Serra and the manifestations of his rival are sung by Geraint Evans, Robert Lloyd, Siegmund Nimsgern and Nicola Ghiuselev. Sung in French, with subtitles in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese.
D2040
 $19.95
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Death in Venice
Britten's final opera - an extraordinarily atmospheric and haunting adaptation of Thomas Mann's novella. Robert Tear takes the demanding role of Aschenbach opposite Alan Opie, who sings the various baritone parts. To portray the beauty and fascination of the Polish family and Tadzio, Britten made prominent the use of dance, by turning these characters into dancers, choreographed in this production by Martha Clarke. This new production for Glydebourne is directed by Stephen Lawless and conducted by Graeme Jenkins
D0044
$19.95
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Madama Butterfly
Puccini's Madama Butterfly is now one of the standard and favorite works adored by opera-lovers everywhere. Performed at the Arena di Verona, starring Raina Kabaivanska, Nazzareno Antinori, Eleonora Jankovic, and Lorenzo Saccomani. Maurizio Arena conducts the Chorus and Orchestra of the Arena di Verona. Sung in Italian, with subtitles available in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish
D2103
$19.95
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La Cenerentola
This Glyndebourne Festival Opera production of Rossini's version of the story of Cinderella is an exciting mixture of comedy, pathos, coloratura fireworks and masquerade. Starring Kathleen Kuhlmann, Laurence Dale, Marta Taddei, and Laura Zannini. Sung in Italian with subtitles available in English, German, and Spanish
D2258
$19.95
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Nabucco
Roberto de Simone's production of Verdi's epic opera Nabucco opened the 1986-87 season at La Scala and marked Riccardo Muti's return as Music director of Italy's greatest opera house. Nabucco firmly established Verdi as the voice of the Italian people. Starring Renato Bruson, Ghena Dimitrova, Paata Burchuladze, Bruno Beccaria, and Raquel Pierotti. Conducted by Riccardo Muti. Sung in Italian, with subtitles available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
D2042
$19.95
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Il Trittico
Puccini's Il Trittico consists of three one-act operas, each satisfying in itself, yet skillfully contrasted to make a thrilling complete program. In this recording from Milan's legendary Teatro alla Scala, Piero Cappuccilli is the vindictive Michele in Il Tabarro, Rosalind Plowright makes her Scala debut in the title role of Suor Angelica, and Juan Pons portrays the artful Gianni Schicchi in Puccini's only comedy. Sung in Italian, with subtitles in English, German, and Spanish
D2037
$19.95
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Il Barbiere di Siviglia
Fast, funny, and furious, this Glyndebourne Festival Opera production of Rossini's classic opera boasts a torrent of sparkling music, while John Cox's production - sometimes outrageously boisterous, sometimes subtly inventive - adds its own distinctive luster to this comic masterpiece. Soprano Maria Ewing excels as the bewitching Rosina, and John Rawnsley gives a virtuoso performance as the witty barber Figaro. Conducted by Sylvain Cambrelling. Sung in Italian, with subtitles in English, French, German, and Spanish
D2101
$19.95
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L'Amico Fritz
This production of Mascagni's three-act comedic opera was recorded at the Teatro di Livorno. The stellar cast is headed by Jose Bros as Fritz, Dimitra Theodossiou as Suzel, and Allessandro Paliaga as David. Sung in Italian with English subtitles
D2828
$19.95
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Wozzeck
Peter Mussbach's highly stylized production is an agonizing lament over lost innocence. Dale Duesing, in the title role, is a charismatic, agile performer and Kristine Ciesninski, as Marie, is a consummate singer and actress of Berg's work. Sung in German with English subtitles
D2915
$19.95
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La Forza del Destino
Taped live at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Valery Gergiev conducts this landmark production of Giuseppe Verdi's operatic masterpiece. This opera premiered at the Maryinsky Theatre in 1862, and is performed here in its original St. Petersburg version using reconstructions of the magnificent painted scenery. Starring Galina Gorchakova. Also starring Nikolai Putilin, Gegam Grigorian, and Marianna Tarasova.
D2079
$19.95
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Ariadne Auf Naxos
This unique opera by Richard Strauss is a gently satirical debate contrasting the artificial conventions of opera seria with the knockabout humor of commedia dell'arte. After the patron announces that the two pieces must be combined to save time, the chamber opera Ariadne auf Naxos takes place, with the abandoned Ariadne's intense longing for death interrupted by the comedians, who keep trying to cheer her up. Starring Susan Anthony, Jon Villars, Iride Martinez, Sophie Koch. From the Semperoper Dresden, with members of the Opera Chorus Studio of the Sachsische Staatsoper Dresden, conducted by Sir Colin Davis
D2909
$19.95
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The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflote)
The strangest of Mozart's operas is on the one hand the beguilling story of lovers in jeopardy; on the other, an opaque allegory. For this Zurich Opera staging, designed by Philip Prowse, Jonathan Miller has set Mozart's opera in the time of its creation: 1791, just after the French Revolution and the fall of the Bastille. Starring Matti Salminen, Elena Mosuc, Anton Scharinger, Julia Neumann. From the Opernhaus in Zurich, with the Orchestra and Chorus of the Zurich Opera House, conducted by Franz Welser-Most. Sung in German with English subtitles
D2910
$19.95
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Un Ballo in Maschera
Placido Domingo stars in this powerful Royal Opera House production of Verdi's great romantic opera. Domingo is memorable in the role of Gustavus, with Katia Ricciarelli as Amelia. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House gives a superb performance of Verdi's score under the baton of conductor Claudio Abbado.
D2071
$19.95
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Simon Boccanegra
14th-Century Genoa is the setting for one of Verdi's grandest works, and Peter Hall's elegant production, with its palpable sense of atmosphere evoked by John Gunter's sets and costumes, captures perfectly the shadowy world of scheming power politics, set against a shimmering backdrop of the omnipresent sea. Boccanegra's great cry for peace and reconcilliation echoes round the world today as powerfully as it did in the divided Italy of his own lifetime. Starring Elena Prokina and Giancarlo Pasquetto. Performed at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, with Mark elder conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Sung in Italian with subtitles available in English, German, and Spanish
D2043
 $19.95
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Der Freischütz
Carl Maria von Weber's opera met with instant success on its premiere in Berlin in 1821. Audiences identified with the folk melodies and hunting ambiance of its Bohemian setting. Starring Caterina Ligendza, Raili Viljakainen, Toni Kramer, Wolfram Raub. Dennis Russell Davies conducts the Chorus and Orchestra of the Wurttembergische Staatsoper, Stuttgart. Sung in German, with subtitles available in English, German, and Spanish
D2097
$19.95
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Der Fliegende Hollander
From the Savolinna Opera Festival comes this classic Wagner opera. Ilkka Backman's accalimed production takes place outdoors in the huge courtyard of Finland's 500-year-old Olavinlinna Castle - which gives the production an atmosphere and realism almost impossible to create in a conventional theatre. Hildegard Behrens, at the height of her career, is the tragic Senta, whose destiny is to redeem the Dutchman from his fate. The German bass-baritone, Frnaz Grundheber, sings the title role, and Finland's own Matti Salminen is the Norwegian sea captain, Daland. Leif Segerstam conducts the Savolinna Opera Festival Orchestra and Chorus. Sung in German, with subtitles available in English, French, German, and Spanish
D2252
$19.95
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Ernani
This outstanding production of Verdi's tragic opera stars four of the world's great Verdi singers; Placido Domingo, Renato Bruson, Nicolai Ghiaurov and Mirella Freni as the gentle heroine desired by these three rivals. The cast give an impassioned performance under the baton of Riccardo Muti, an acclaimed interpreter of Verdi. Based on Victor Hugo's play, this violent and sombre story of frustrated passion, and ambition thwarted and rewarded, is set by the composer to a succession of irresistible tunes, unsurpassed even in his mature works. The opera's dramatic impetus is simply unstoppable. Sung in Italian, subtitles available in English, French, German, Spanish, and Japanese..
D2033
$19.95
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Falstaff
Falstaff was Verdi's last opera and the climax of his career. Completed in 1893, when the composer was almost eighty, it is also the culmination of Italian comic opera. Librettist Arrigo Boito took the subtance of the piece from Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor, but the central character is much closer to the Falstaff of Henry IV. The jokes are at the expense not of a buffoon, but of a whole man, boisterous and roguish but with a streak of melancholy. In this Theatre Royal del la Monnaie de Bruxelles production, recorded during the 1987 Aix-en-Provence Festival, the titla role is sung by bass-baritone Jose' Van Dam, a genuine actor as well as a consummate singer, as the role demands. Sung in Italian, with subtitles available in English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese
D2035
$19.95
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Idomeneo
This production marked the operatic debut of Trevor Nunn. It has been much-acclaimed for its dramatic effect, blending Minoan Crete with the ritualistic delicacy of Japanese theatre. This dynamic stylisation is appropriately reflected in John Napier's considered and elegant designs. Bernard Haitink conducts and London Philharmonic in a forceful account of the music
D2257
$19.95
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Adriana Lecouvreur
Cilea's romantic opera, based on the story of the renowned French actress Adrienne, is given here in a live recording of a lavish production by John Copley, which features the great Dame Joan Sutherland. Her luminous singing and dramatic power are finely matched by a strong cast, including Austin Anson, Heather Begg and John Shaw. The innate lyricism of the score is beautifully captured by conductor Richard Bonynge and enhanced by sets and costumes recalling the late nineteenth century
D2085
$19.95
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War and Peace
Prokofiev captures Tolstoy's insight into human nature, chosing key moments to reflect private and public destinies against a background of Russia under threat. This production was mounted when Russia was again undergoing momentous changes. Stars Nicolai Othotnikov, Alexander Gergalov, and Yelena Prochina. With soloists, chorus, and orchestra of the Kirov Opera, conducted by Valery Gergiev. Sung in Russian with English subtitles.
D2903
$19.95
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