Les Troyens

Berlioz Les Troyens opera to libretto by the composer. Directed  2003 by Yannis Kokkos at the Théâtre Musical de Paris.  Stars Susan Graham, Anna Caterina Antonacci, Renata Pokupić, Gregory Kunde, Ludovic Tézier, Nicolas Testé, Laurent Naouri, Mark Padmore, Stéphanie d'Oustrac, Topi Lehtipuu, Fernand Bernadi, René Schirrer, Danielle Bouthillon, Laurent Alvaro, Nicolas Courjal, Benjamin Davies, Robert Davies, Frances Jellard, Lydia Koniordou, and Quentin Gac. Sir John Eliot Gardiner conducts the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, the Monteverdi Choir, and the Chœur du Théâtre du Châtelet (Chorus Master Donald Palumbo). Set and costumes by Yannis Kokkos; lighting by Patrice Trottier; choreography by Richild Springer; TV direction by Peter Maniura. Released  2010, two-disc set has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A+

Recorded in 2003, this production was hailed as a landmark event in every respect when it came out on DVD. Now we have it in Blu-ray HDVD with its impressive staging using front projection and a huge inclined mirror to reveal a whole new perspective of the action (and at times "doubling" the number of people on stage). And then there is the playing of the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique with authentic Berlioz epoch instruments (on stage as well as in the pit) expertly conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Not to mention the combined Monteverdi Choir and Châtelet Théâtre Choir. Their contribution is one of this production's most outstanding features, since their crisp, perfectly controlled singing clearly shows that Berlioz was a supreme master of choral writing. And the soloists! Anna Caterina Antonacci as Cassandra is incredible! Her presence,  acting, and  powerful voice give huge dramatic impact to the first two acts. She sets the standard so high, you wonder if the rest of the cast could match it! Well they do! In particular, Susan Graham shines as Didon, matched by American tenor Gregory Kunde as Aeneas. With razor sharp images and thrilling sound in Blu-ray, this  should be a cornerstone of the collection of every dedicated HDVD enthusiast. (Mini-review based on comments from Gordon Smith 2010.)