Cecilia & Byrn at Glyndebourne

Cecilia & Byrn at Glyndebourne, a recital. Cecilia Bartoli and Bryn Terfel sing a short program of 10 opera arias and duets from baroque, classical, and bel canto composers:

1. Mozart Le Nozze di Figaro  Overture

2. Mozart Le Nozze di Figaro "Cinque . . . dieci . . ."

3. Mozart Le Nozze di Figaro "Se a coso madama"

4. Mozart Le Nozze di Figaro "Se vuol ballare"

5. Mozart La clemenza di Tito "Parto, parto"

6. Rossini Il barbiere di Siviglia Overture

7. Rossina Il barbiere di Siviglia "Dunque io son"

8. Mozart Don Giovanni  "Madamina, il catalogo è questo"

9. Haydn L' anima del filosofo "Al tuo seno fortunato"

10. Donizetti L'elisir d'amore "Quanto amore!"

11. Mozart Don Giovanni "Là ci darem la mano"

12. Handel Judas Maccabeus "Arm, arm, ye brave"

13. Rossini Semiramide "Bel raggio lusinghier"

14. Mozart Die Zauberflöte " Pa-pa-pa-pa"

Myung-Whun Chung directs the London Philharmonic Orchestra (Leader Joakim Svenheden) at the Glyndebourne Opera House in 1999. Directed for TV by Brian Large.  Released  2008,  disc has 5.1 PCM sound. Grade: A-

This is the Blu-ray version of the title released earlier in HD DVD. This disc features two of the best singers available.  You get to hear the music delivered in a clear, clean, and flawless way that is unobtainable on an opera stage. I think getting to see the delivery so well as here also aids the music. This will be quite satisfactory to folks who know and love fine singing. On the other hand, many folks are likely to find this dish rather bland. For their first taste of recital singing on HDVD, they might try the Baden-Baden Opera Gala with its more generous program and 4 different voices.