Robin Hood

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Jukka Linkola Robin Hood contemporary music opera to a libretto by Jukka Virtanen. Directed 2011 by Kari Heiskanen at the Finnish National Opera. (In case you didn't know, the English word "opera" is rendered as "ooppera" in Finnish.) Aimed at children and grown-ups, stars Mari Palo, Ville Rusanen, Matti Salminen, Jyrki Anttila, Niall Chorell, and Päivi Niufsula. Mikko Franck conducts the Finnish National Opera Orchestra, Chorus, and Children's Choir. Designs by Kati Lukka; costumes by Marja Uusitalo; lighting by Mickey Kunttu; battle choreography by Seppo Kumpulainen; sound engineering by Tomi Pietilä; video post-processing by Oy Ilkka Niemi. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 surround sound. Grade: NA

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Mission

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Cecilia Bartoli Mission recital of music by Agostino Steffani (1654-1728), an obscure pre-baroque composer whose music has long been neglected and that Bartoli is now promoting. This title is called "A film by Olivier Simonnet", and it was shot over 6 days in June 2002 at the Château de Versailles. It has the look and feel more of a film than a video, but the cadence is 30 (not 24) fps. It rained most of the days of the shoot, which contributed a steamy, mysterious ambience to the film.  Bartoli appears in almost every scene. She is joined by famous countertenor Philippe Jaroussky in several duets. Actor Frank Delage appears in the mute role of Agostino Steffani. The singers are supported by the I Barocchisti chamber orchestra (Conductor Diego Fasolis) and the Coro della Radiotelevisione svizzera (Swiss Radio Chorus)(Chorus Master Claude Hauri). Director of Photography was Alexis Kavyrchine; Sound Producer was Arend Prohmann; Costume Designer was Christian Gasc; Producer was Pierre-Olivier Bardet. A nice keepcase booklet has extensive credits for others who worked on this project and information such as the exact locations in the Château where each scene was shot. The sound was recorded at 48kHz24 bit and the disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound at 48kHz24 bit. Grade: A

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Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

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Wagner Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg opera to a libretto by the composer. Directed 2011 by David Mouchtar-Samorai at the Staatstheater Nürnberg. Stars Albert Pesendorfer (Hars Sachs), Jochen Kupfer (Sixtus Beckmesser), Michael Putsch (Walter von Stolzing), Michaela Maria Mayer (Eva), Guido Jentjens (Veit Pogner), Tilman Lichdi (David), Christoph Wittman, Kurt Schober, Martin Berner, Martin Platz, Philip Carmichael, Martin Nyvall, Yong Jae Moon, Vladislav Solodyagin, Daeyoung Kim, and Leilo Pfister. Marcus Bosch conducts the Staatsphilharmonie Nürnberg and the Staatstheater Nürnberg Chorus (Chorus Master T. Vaask). Sets by H. Hauser; costumes by U. Eicker; choreography by J. Monten; dramaturgy by K. Weßler; lighting by K. Kornberger; directed for TV by M. Schuetrumpf. Released 2013, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Winterreise

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Schubert Winterreise song cycle performed 2012 by tenor Christoph Prégardien and Michael Gees on piano. Recorded in studio with multiple high-definition cameras; sound was recorded using 192kHz24 bit sound sampling. This is the most sophisticated sound technology used so far (2013) in any HDVD. (We also have a few titles with sound recorded at 96kHz24 bit.) Sung in German. The 71 minutes of music has subtitles in German only. There is a nice 21-minute behind-the-scenes documentary with subtitles in English, German, and French. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 PCM output. In addition, the Blu-ray package has a bonus CD with the music recorded at 44kHz16 bit. Grade: A+

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Bodas de sangre & Suite flamenca

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Bogas de sangre (Blood Wedding) flamencodance piece and Suite flamenca. Performed at the Teatro Real in Madrid. Choreography and light design are both by Antonio Gades.

1. Bodas de sangre is based on the theatre play by Federico García Lorca. Stars Cristina Carnero, Ángel Gil, Vanesa Vento, Joaquín Mulero, and Maite Chico. Also stars Alberto Ferrero, Alfredo Tejada, Antonio Mulero, Antonio Solera, Camarón de Pitita, Carolina Pozuelo, Conchi Gómez, David Martín, Elías Morales, Enrique Pantoja, Jairo Rodríguez, Joni Cortés, Mª José López, María Nadal, Merche Recio, Miguel Lara, and Virginia Guiñales. Adaptation for ballet by Alfreho Mañas; set and costume designs by Francisco Nieva. Music by Emilio de Diego, Perelló y Monreal (¡Ay, mi Sombrero!), and Felipe Campuzano (Rumba).

2. Suite flamenca features Stella Arauzo and Miguel Lara. Also features women dancers Carolina Pozuelo, Conchi Gómez, Cristina Carnero, Maite Chico, María José López, María Nadal, Merche Recio, Vanesa Vento, and Virginia Guiñales. Men dancers are Alberto Ferrero, Ángel Gil, Antonio Mulero, David Martín, Elías Morales, Jairo Rodríguez, and Jaoquín Mulero.  Flamenco dancers are Alfredo Tejada, Enrique Pantoja, Gabriel Cortés, and Joni Cortés. Guitarists are Antonio Solerá and Camarón de Pitita. Music by Antonio Gades, Ricardo Freire, and Juan Antonio Zafra. Choreography for Soleá por bulerías and Tanguillos by Cristina Hoyos.

Television producer was Ángela Álvarez Rilla. Released 2012, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. For both titles Grade: A

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Amelia

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Amelia modern dance movie. Music by David Lang with lyrics by Lou Reed (and, per urban legend, Nico, a friend of Andy Warhol). Choreography by Édouard Lock, leader of the dance group LaLaLa Human Steps. Lock first created a theater version of Amelia. Then in 2002 he also directed and edited the movie version we review here, which was shot on super 16 motion picture film at 24 fps. The dancers are Andrea Boardman, Nancy Crowley, Mistaya Hemingway, Keir Knight, Chun-Hong Li, Bernard Martin, Jason Shipley-Holmes, Billy Smith, Naomi Stikeman, and Zofia Tujaka. Musicians are Alexandre Castonguay (cello), Simon Claude (violin), Njo Kang Kie (piano and musical direction), and Nadine Medatwar (vocalist). Unique set designed by Lock; photography directed by André Turpin; costumes by Vandal; Folley effects by Lisa Wedlock (the film was shot silent and all sound comes from post-production); sound design by Hans-Peter Strobl and Lisa Wedlock; artistic director was Louise Marie Beauchamp. Producers were Pierre L. Touchette and Bob Krupinski; executive producers were Luc Châtelain, Alain Simard, and Daniel Langlois. There are valuable extras: (1) Director's Commentary in English and French as movie plays, (2) an interactive feature that takes you from the movie to 32 "how we did it" documentary clips, and (3) history of LaLaLa Human Steps. (Instructions in booklet on using the interactive feature are wrong: correct instructions are on disc.) Released 2009, disc has 5.0 PCM 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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Don Giovanni (Skovhus)

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Mozart Don Giovanni opera to libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte.  Directed 2010 by Dmitri Tcherniakov at the Festival d' Aix-in-Provence. Stars Bo Skovhus, Kyle Ketelsen, David Bizic, Colin Balzer, Marlis Petersen, Kristine Opolais, Kerstin Aveno, and Anatoli Kotscherga. Louis Langrée conducts the Freiburger Barockorchester and the English Voices. Costumes by Tcherniakov and Elena Zaitseva; lighting by Gleb Filshtinsky; directed for TV by Andy Sommer; produced by François Duplat. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Ciro in Babilonia

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Rossini Ciro in Babilonia (Cyrus in Babylon) to a libretto by by Francesco Aventi. Directed 2012 by Davide Livermore at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro. This opera was written by Rossini when he was 20, and this is the world premiere filming of the work in any form! Stars Ewa Podleś (Ciro), Michael Spyres (Baldassare), Jessica Pratt (Amira), Carmen Romeu (Argene), Mirco Palazzi (Zambri), Robert McPherson (Arbace), and Raffaele Costantini (Daniello). Will Crutchfield (from his piano) directs the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna (Chorus Master Lorenzo Fratini). Set and lighting design by Nicolas Bovey; video design by D-Wok; costumes by Gianluca Falaschi; directed for video by Daniele Biggiero. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Brahms Symphony No. 2 and Janáček Glagolitic Mass

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Brahms Symphony No. 2 and Janáček Glagolitic Mass concert. Mariss Jansons conducts the Symphonieorchester und Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks (Bavarian Radio Symphonie Orchestra and Choir) in 2012 at the KKL Concert Hall in Lucerne. Soloists are Tatiana Monogarova (soprano), Marina Prudenskaja (mezzo-soprano), Ludovit Ludha (tenor), and Peter Mikuláš (bass). Iveta Apkalna plays organ; Peter Dijkstra was Chorus Master; video directed by Michael Beyer.   Released 2013, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Otello

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Giuseppe Verdi Otello opera to libretto by Arrigo Boito. Directed 2008 by Stephen Langridge at the Salzburg Festival. Stars Aleksandrs Antonenko, Marina Poplavskaya, Carlos Álvarez, Barbara Di Castri, Stephen Costello, Antonello Ceron, Mikhail Petrenko, Simone Del Savio, and Andrea Porta. Riccardo Muti conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker, the Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor (Chorus Master Thomas Lang), and the Salzburger Festspiele Kinderchor. Stage music by the Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg. Sets by George Souglides; costumes by Emma Ryott; lighting by Giuseppe Di Iorio; video direction by Peter Schönhofer. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A

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Falstaff

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Verdi Falstaff opera to libretto by Arrigo Boito. Directed 2011 by Stephen Medcalf at Teatro Regio di Parma Verdi Festival. Stars Ambrogio Maestri, Luca Salsi, Antonio Gandia, Luca Casalin, Patrizio Saudelli, Mattia Denti, Svetla Vassileva, Barbara Bargnesi, Romina Tomasoni, and Daniela Pini. Andrea Battistoni conducts the Orchestra and Coro del Teatro Regio di Parma (Chorus Master Martino Faggiani). Sets and costumes by Jamie Vartan; lighting by Simon Corder; video direction by Tiziano Mancini. Released in 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Aida

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Giuseppe Verdi Aida opera to libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni. Directed 2012 by Joseph Franconi Lee at the Teatro Regio di Parma as part of the Verdi Festival.  Stars Carlo Malinverno (The King), Mariana Pentcheva (Amneris), Susanna Branchini (Aida), Walter Fraccaro (Ramadès), George Andguladze (Ramfis), Alberto Gazale (Amonasro), Yu Guanqun (Priestess), and Cosimo Vassallo (Messenger). Antonino Fogliani conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro Regio Di Parma (Chorus Master Martino Faggiani). Sets and costumes by Mauro Carosi, lighting by Guido Levi; choreography by Marta Ferri. 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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Mozart Early Sacred Music from Salzburg 2012

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The Mozart Early Sacred Music from Salzburg 2012 concert consists of 2 works written by Mozart when he was 20:

1. Litaniae de venerabili altaris sacramento K. 243 (Litany of the sacrament of the venerable alter)
2. Missa longa K. 262

Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducts the Concentus Musicus Wien and the Arnold Schoenburg Chor. Soloists are Sylvia Schwartz (soprano), Elizabeth Von Magnus (mezzo-soprano), Jeremy Ovendon (tenor), Florian Boesch (baritone). This is the first in what is planned to be a new series of sacred music concerts at the Salzburg Festival, called "Ouverture Spirituelle." The venue is the Salzburg Cathedral. Released 2013, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Salzburg Festival Opening Concert 2012

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The 2012 Opening Concert for the Salzburg Festival consists of:

1. Stravinskiy Symphony of Psalms, for Chorus and Orchestra
2. Mussorgsky Songs and Dances of Death
3. Prokofiev Symphony No. 5

Valery Gergiev conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the Concert Chorus of the Vienna State Opera. Sergei Semishkur is tenor soloist for the Songs and Dances of Death. Released 2012, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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