Il trovatore

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Verdi Il trovatore opera to a libretto by Salvadore Cammarano and Leone Emanuele Bardare. Directed 2010 by Lorenzo Mariani at the Teatro Regio di Parma Verdi Festival. Stars Claudio Sgura (Il Conte di Luna), Teresa Romano (Leonora), Mzia Nioradze (Azucena), Marcelo Álvarez (Manrico), Deyan Vatchkov (Ferrando), Cristina Giannelli (Ines), Roberto Jachini Virgili (Ruiz), Enrico Rinaldo (Un Vecchio Zingaro), and Seung Hwa Paek (Un Messo). Yuri Temirkanov conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro Regio Di Parma (Chorus Master Martino Faggiani). Set and costume design by William Orlandi; lighting design by Christian Pinaud. Directed for TV by Tiziano Mancini. Sung in Italian. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Stiffelio

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Verdi Stiffelio opera to a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. Directed by Guy Montavon in 2012 at the Teatro Regio di Parma Verdi Festival. Stars Roberto Aronica (Stiffelio),Yu Guanqun (Lina), Roberto Frontali (Stankar), Gabriele Magnione (Raffaele), George Andguladze (Jorg), Cosimo Vassallo (Federico), and Lorelay Solis (Dorotcea). Andrea Battistoni conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro Regio Di Parma (Chorus Master Martino Faggiani). Sets and costumes by Francesco Calcagnini; lighting by Guy Montavon. Directed for TV by Tiziano Mancini. Sung in Italian. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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The Cunning Little Vixen

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Leoš Janáček The Cunning Little Vixen opera to libretto by the composer. Directed by Melly Stil at Glyndebourne. Stars Lucy Crowe (Vixen Sharp Ears), Emma Bell (Fox), Sergei Leiferkus (Forester), Mischa Schelomianski (Badger/Priest), Adrian Thompson (Schoolmaster/Mosquito), William Dazeley (Harašta), Jean Rigby (Forester's Wife/Owl), Colin Judson (Pásek the Innkeeper), and Sarah Pring (Inkeeper's Wife). Vladimir Jurowski conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Glyndebourne chorus (Chorus Master Jeremy Bines). Set designs by Tom Pye; costumes by Dinah Collin; lighting by Paule Constable; choreography by Maxine Doyle; fight direction by Kevin McCurdy; directed for film by Thomas Grimm; executive producer George Bruell. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Mayerling

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Mayerling ballet. Choreography by Kenneth MacMillan. Music by Franz Liszt as arranged and adapted by John Lanchbery. Performed 2009 at the Royal Opera House.  Stars Edward Watson (Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary), Mara Galeazzi (Baroness Mary Vetsera, Rudolf's mistress), Iohna Loots (Princess Stephanie, Rudolf's wife), William Tuckett (Emperor Franz Josef of Austria, Rudolf's father), Cindy Jourdain (Empress Elisabeth, Rudolf's mother), Sarah Lamb (Marie Larisch, Rudolf's ex-mistress), Elizabeth McGorian (Baroness Helena Vetsera, Mary's mother), Steven McRae (Bratfisch, Rudolf's driver and entertainer), Ursula Hageli (Archduchcess Sophie, mother of Franz Josef), Laura Morera (Mitzi Caspar, a high-class prostitute and Rudolf's regular mistress), Gary Avis (Colonel Middleton, lover of the Empress), Sergei Polunin, Bennet Gartside, Yohei Sasaki, Thomas Whitehead (four Hungarian officers), Elizabeth Sikora (Katerina Schratt, a friend of the Emperor),  Paul Stobart (Alfred Grünfeld, a pianist), Alastair Marriott (Count Taafe, Prime Minister), Johannes Stepanek (Count Hoyos, Rudolph's friend), Romany Pajdak (Princess Louise, Stephanie's sister), David Pickering (friend of Rudolf), Sian Murphy (Princess Gisela, Rudolf's elder sister), Francesca Filpi (Princess Valerie, Rudolf's younger sister), Leanne Cope (Princess Valerie as a child), Mara Galeazzi (Mary Vetsera as a child); Michael Stojko (Rudolf's valet), Ernst Meisner (Count Larisch), and other artists of the Royal Ballet. Barry Wordsworth conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House (Associate Concert Master Ania Safonova). Designs by Nicholas Georgiadis; scenario by Gillian Freeman; lighting by John B. Read; staging by Grant Coyle, Monica Mason, and Monica Parker. Produced and directed by Ross MacGibbon. Released 2010, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A+

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Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 and Roussel Symphony No. 3

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Here is the program for this BBC Symphony Orchestra concert conducted 2010 by Lionel Bringuier at the Royal Albert Hall:

1. Berlioz Le Corsaire Overture
2. Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 with Nelson Freire as piano soloist
3. Gluck Orfeo ed Euridice - Dance of the Blessed Spirits in piano transcription played by Giovanni Sgambati
4. Roussel Symphony No. 3
5. Ravel Daphnis et Chloé - Suite No. 2

Produced by Xavier Dubois and Francois Duplat; directed for TV by Andy Sommer. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Rite of Spring

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Stravinsky Rite of Spring and music from The Firebird by Stravinsky. Michael Tilson Thomas directs the San Francisco Symphony in a recent performance of  Stravinsky classics as part of the "Keeping Score" outreach program of the San Francisco Symphony. In addition, Thomas narrates an educational program about Stravinsky and Rite of Spring. The concert is in HD; the documentary is in SD. The concert was directed by Gary Halvorson. Otherwise, title was directed and produced by David Kennard, Joan Saffa, and Michael Bronson. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 Dolby TrueHD sound. You should not be especially impressed with the claim that has "up-sampled 96kHz24 bit sound." See our discussion of this gimmick at our review of San Francisco Symphony at 100. Grade: NA

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Raymonda

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Raymonda ballet. Music by Alexandr Glazunov. Choreography by Marius Petipa as revived 2011 by Sergei Vikharev with the Orchestra and Corps de Ballet of the Teatro alla Scala.  Stars Olesia Novikova, Friedemann Vogel, Mick Zeni, Mariafrancesca Garritano, Francesca Podini, Claudio Coviello, Marco Agostino, Sabina Galasso, Luigi Saruggia, Manuela Aufieri, Matteo Buongiorno, Matthew Endicott, Antonella Albano, Daniela Cavalleri, Serena Sarnataro, Maurizio Licitra, Beatrice Carbone, Eris Nezha, Lara Montanaro, Alessandro Grillo, and Emanuela Montanari. Also stars students of the Accademia Teatro alla Scala Ballet School (directed by Frédéric Olivieri). Michail Jurowski conducts the Orchestra of the Teatro Alla Scalla. Original sets by Orest Allegri, Pëtr Lambin, and Konstantin Ivanov as recreated by Elena Kinkulskaya and Boris Kaminsky; original costumes by Ivan Vsevoložskij recreated by Irene Monti; lighting design by Marco Filibeck; historical archive research by Pavel Gershenzon. Directed for TV and video by Lorena Sardi; photography directed by Luciano Cricelli; production managed by Luca Latini; musical advice from Giovanni Primavesi and Maddalena Novati; editing by Valeria Franchino; direction assistance by Elena Russi. Released 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A

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Palestrina

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Hans Pfitzner Palestrina opera to a libretto by the composer. Directed 2009 by Christian Stückl at the Nationaltheater in Munich. Stars Christopher Ventris (Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina), Peter Rose (Pope Pius IV), Michael Volle (Giovanni Morone), Jon Daszak (Bernardo Novagerio), Roland Bracht (Cardinal Christoph Madruscht), Falk Struckmann (Carlo Borromeo), and Christiane Karg (Ighino). Simone Young conducts the Bayerisches Staatsochester and the Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper (Chorus Masters Andrés Máspero and Stellario Fagone). Stage and costume design by Stefan Hageneier; lighting design by Michael Bauer; video direction by Karina Fibich. Also includes Making of “Palestrina” bonus film. Released 2019, disc has dts-HD Master Audio 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 2010 by Brian FitzGerald at the Sydney Opera House. Stars Cheryl Barker (The Feldmarschallin), Catherine Carby (Count Octavian Rofrano), Manfred Hemm (Baron Ochs Auf Lerchenau), Warwick Fyfe (Herr von Faninal), Emma Pearson (Sophie von Faninal), Andrew Brunsdon (Valzacchi), Jacqueline Dark (Annina), and Henry Choo (Italian Singer). Andrew Litton conducts the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra (Concertmaster Aubrey Murphy), Opera Australia Chorus (Chorus Master Michael Black), and Children's Chorus (Chorus Preparation by Anthony Hunt). Rehearsed by Roger Press; designs by Carl Friedrich Oberle; lighting by Nigel Levings. Audio direction by Tony David Cray; TV direction by Cameron Kirkpatrick. Production Executive was Chris Yates; Producer was Sam Russell. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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La forza del destino

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La forza del destino

Verdi La forza del destino opera to libretto by Francesco Piave. Directed 2007 by Nicolas Joël at Teatro del Maggio Musicale in Florence. Stars Violeta Urmana (Donna Leonora), Carlo Guelfi (Don Carlo di Vargas), Marcello Giordani (Don Alvaro), Duccio Dal Monte (Il Marchese di Calatrava), Julia Gertseva (Preziosilla), Roberto Scandiuzzi (Padre Guardiano), Bruno De Simone (Fra Melitone), Antonella Trevisan (Curra), Filippo Polinelli (Un alcalde), Carlo Bosi (Mastro Trabuco), and Alessandro Luongo (Un chirurgo). MaggioDanza choreographed  by Sabine Mouscardès. Zubin Mehta conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Chorus Master Piero Monti). Restaged by Timo Schlüssel; set designs by Ezio Frigerio; costumes by Franca Squarciapino; lighting by Jürgen Hoffman; video projections by Ideogamma di Sergo Metalli, Rimini. Directed for TV by Andrea Bevilacqua.  Released 2009, disc has 7.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: C

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L'Olimpiade

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Pergolesi L'Olimpiade opera to a libretto by Metastasio. Directed by Italo Nunziata in 2011 at the Teatro Valeria Moriconi in Jesi as part of the Pergolesi Festival. Stars Raúl Giménez, Lyubov Petrova, Yetzabel Arias Fernández, Jennifer Rivera,  Sofia Soloviy, Antonio Lovano, and Milena Storti. Alessandro De Marchi conducts the Academia Montis Regalis. Sets by Luigi Scoglio; costumes by Ruggero Vitrani; lighting by Patrick Latronica; directed for TV by Tiziano Mancini. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: B+

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St. Matthew Passion

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Bach St. Matthew Passion (St. Matthäus Passion) oratorio. Features singers Mark Padmore (tenor), Peter Harvey (bass), Maria Espada and Renate Arends (sopranos), Ingeborg Danz and Barbara Kozelj (mezzo-sopranos), Peter Gijsbertsen (tenor), and Henk Neven (bass). Iván Fischer conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Netherlands Radio Choir, and the National Children’s Choir (Chorus Master Gijs Leenaars). Directed for TV by Dick Kuijs. Released 2013, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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La battaglia di Legnano

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Verdi La battaglia di Legnano opera to a libretto by Salvadore Cammarano. Directed 2012 by Ruggero Cappuccio at the Teatro Lirico "Giuseppe Verdi" di Trieste. Stars Enrico Giuseppe Iori, Francesco Musini, Federico Benetti, Gabriele Sagona, Leonardo López Linares, Dimitra Theodossiou, Andrew Richards, Giovanni Guagliardo, Sharon Pierfederici, Alessandro de Angelis, and Nicola Pascoli. Boris Brott conducts the Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Lirico "Giuseppe Verdi" (Chorus Master Paolo Vero). Sets and custumes by Carlo Savi with the participation of Mimmo Paladino and Matthew Spender; lighting by Nino Napoletano; directed for video by Tiziano Mancini. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Il corsaro

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Verdi Il corsaro opera to a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. Directed 2008 by Lamberto Puggelli at the Teatro Regio di Parma Verdi Festival. Stars Bruno Ribeiro, Andrea Papi, Irina Lungu, Luca Salsi, Silvia dalla Benetta, Gregory Bonfatti, and Angelo Villari. Carlo Montanaro conducts the Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Regio di Parma (Chorus Master Martino Faggiani). Sets by Marco Capuana; costumes by Vera Marzot; lighting by Andrea Borelli; directed for video by Tiziano Mancini. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Luisa Miller

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Verdi Luisa Miller opera to a libretto by Salvadore Cammarano. Directed 2007 by Denis Krief at the Teatro Regio di Parma Verdi Festival. Stars Giorgio Surian (Il Conte di Walter), Marcelo Álvarez  (Rodolfo), Francesca Franci (Federica), Rafał Siwek (Wurm), Leo Nucci (Miller), Fiorenza Cedolins (Luisa), Katarina Nikolic (Laura), and Angelo Villari  (Un Contadino). Donato Renzetti conducts the Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Regio di Parma (Chorus Master Martino Faggiani). Sets, costumes, and lighting by Denis Krief; video direction by Andrea Dorigo. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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