Berlioz Les Troyens opera to libretto by the composer. Directed 2009 by Carlus Padrissa at the Palau de les Arts "Reina Sofía" in Valencia with staging by La Fura dels Baus. Stars Lance Ryan (Énée), Gabriele Viviani (Chorèbe), Giorgio Giuseppini (Panthée), Stephen Milling (Narbal), Eric Cutler (Iopas), Oksana Shilova (Ascagne), Elisabete Matos (Cassandre), Daniela Barcellona (Didon), Zlata Bulicheva (Anna), Dmitri Voropaev (Hylas), Askar Abdrazakov (Priam), Tomeu Bibiloni (Un chef gret), Yuri Vorobiov (L'ombre d'Hector), Javier Agulló (Helenus), Yuri Vorobiov and Vincent Pavesi (Deux Sentinelles Troyennes), Bonifaci Carrillo (Un Prêtre de Pluton), Dolores Lahuerta (Polyxèna), María Luisa Corbacho (Hécuba), Pepa Juan (Andromaque), and Darío March (Astyanax). Stars ballet dancers Tatiana Tkachenko, Elena Yevseyeva, Anton Pimonov, and Alexei Timofeyev of the Mariinsky Theatre, with choreography by Emil Faski. Also stars mimes and dancers Manuel Alcaide, Joaquín Bello, Pablo Bosch, Jordi Cano, Cristina Carrión, María Casasempere, María José Cases, Juan José Dalmau, Blanca Diago, Almudena Mahiques, Aycha Naffaa, Roseta Plasencia, Diego Ramírez, María Jesús Sánchez, Juan Carlos Serrano, José Luis Soria, and Miguel Ángel Sweeney. Valery Gergiev conducts the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valensiana and the Cor de la Generalitat Valenciana (Chorus Master Francesc Perales). Stage music provided by Fundación Desarroya (Director Ricardo Casero). Stage design by Roland Olbeter; video creation by Franc Aleu; lighting design by Peter Van Praet; costume design by Chu Uroz; choreography by María Jesús Sánchez. Directed for TV by Tiziano Mancini. Sung in French. Released 2011, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: D+
Read MoreHandel Partenope opera to a libretto by an unknown author from a libretto originally written by Silvio Stampiglia. Directed 2008 by Francisco Negrin at Det Kongelige Teater (The Royal Danish Theater). Stars Inger Dam-Jensen (Partenope), Andreas Scholl (Arsace), Tuva Semmingsen (Rosmira), Christophe Dumaux (Armindo), Bo Kristian Jensen (Ermilio), and Palle Knudsen (Ormonte). Lars Ulrich Mortensen conducts the Concerto Copenhagen. Directed for TV by Peter Borgwardt. Released 2014, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreThis title includes two films relating to Wayne McGregor:
A Moment in Time is a 30-minute performance film, offered as a bonus extra, with three short pieces by McGregor. It has nice music from folks like Joby Talbot, Olafur Arnalds, and Kaija Saariaho recorded at 48kHz/24 bit specs. But it will not be reviewed because it only has stereo sound (and the video also suffers from VHS or DVD-level quality).
Going Somewhere considers the choreographic techniques of Wayne McGregor illustrated by recordings of his work with his own dance group, Random Dance. There are also recordings of his work with stars of the Royal Ballet, experimental work with high school students, and several "science" segments. Directed by Catherine Maximoff; photography by Samuel Dravet; sound by François Waledisch and Henri Maïkoff; editing by Emmanuelle Baude. Released 2014, disc has PCM stereo sound. Grade: D+
Read MoreThe Metamorphosis, a dance-theatre adaptation after the Kafka short story. Choreographed and directed by Arthur Pita especially for Edward Watson, a principal dancer for the Royal Opera House Ballet. Performed 2013 at the Royal Opera House's Linbury Studio Theater (where the work was premiered in 2011). Original music composed and performed by Frank Moon, who plays guitar, oud, violin, tam-tam, and sings. Edward Watson plays the role of the main character, Gregor Samsa. Supporting dancers are Laura Day (Grete Samsa, Gregor's sister), Nina Goldman (Mrs. Samsa, Gregor's mother), Neil Reynolds (Mr. Samsa, Gregor's father), as well as Bettina Carpi (Maid, Coffee Lady, Dream Figure, Bearded Man), Greig Cooke (Train Conductor, Dream Figure, Bearded Man), and Amir Giles (Clerk, Dream Figure, Bearded Man). Designs by Simon Daw; lighting by Guy Hoare. Assistant Choreographer was Scarsett Perdereau; Producer was Poppy Ben-David; TV Director was Ross MacGibbon. Disc has extra features named "Introduction to The Metamorphosis" and "Bringing The Metamorphoses to Life." This title is part of the Royal Opera House Collection Series. Released 2014, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A
Read MoreWagner Parsifal opera to a libretto by the composer. Directed 1998 by Wolfgang Wagner at the Bayreuth Festival. Stars Falk Struckmann (Amfortas), Matthias Hölle (Titurel), Hans Sotin (Gurnemanz), Poul Elming (Parsifal), Ekkehard Wlaschiha (Klingsor), and Linda Watson (Kundry). Giuseppe Sinopoli conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Bayreuther Festspiele (Chorus Master Norbert Balatsch). Set design by Wolfgang Wagner. Directed for TV by Horant H. Hohlfeld. Sung in German. Released 2014, disc claims 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreBruckner Symphony No. 8. Christian Thielemann conducts the Staatskapelle Dresden in 2012. Directed for TV by Henning Kasten. Released 2014, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreDonizetti Don Pasquale opera to libretto by Giovanni Ruffini. Directed 2013 by Mariame Clément at Glyndebourne. Stars Alessandro Corbelli (Don Pasquale), Danielle de Niese (Norina), Nikolay Borchev (Malatesta), Alek Shrader (Ernesto), James Platt (Notary), and Anna-Marie Sullivan (Servant). Enrique Mazzola conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra (Leader Pieter Schoeman) and Glyndebourne Chorus (Chorus Master Jeremy Bines). Designs by Julia Hansen; lighting by Bernd Purkrabek; directed for TV by Myriam Hoyer. Released 2014, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreRichard Strauss Capriccio opera to a libretto by Clemens Krauss and Richard Strauss. Directed 2013 by Marco Arturo Marelli at the Vienna State Opera. Stars Renée Flemming (Countess), Bo Skovhus (Count, Brother of Countess), Michael Shade (Flamand, a Musician), Markus Eiche (Olivier, a Poet), Angelika Kirchschlager (Clairon, an Actress), Kurt Rydl (La Roche, a Theater Director), Michael Roider (Monsieur Taupe, a Prompter), Íride Martínez (an Italian Singer), Benjamin Bruns (an Italian Tenor), Josefine Tyler (Young Dancer), Samuel Colombet (Young Dancer), and Clemens Unterreiner (the Major-Domo). Christoph Eshenbach conducts the Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera. Sets and lighting by Marco Arturo Marelli; costumes by Dagmar Niefind; choreography by Lukas Gaudernak; video directed by Brian Lange. Released 2014, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreRossini La Cenerentola to libretto by Jacopo Ferretti. Directed 2007 by Joan Font at the Liceu Theatre. Stars Joyce DiDonato (Angelina, the Cenerentola or Cinderella), Juan Diego Flórez (Prince Ramiro), Bruno De Simone (Don Magnifico), David Menéndez (Dandini), Simón Orfila (Alidoro), Cristina Obregón (Clorinda) and Itxaro Mentxaka (Tisbe). Patrick Summers conducts the Met Orchestra & Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu. Sets and costumes by Joan Guillen. Released 2014. Grade: NA
Read MorePuccini Turandot opera to a libretto by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni. Directed 2013 by Andrew Sinclair, after Andrei Serban, at the Royal Opera House. Stars Lise Lindstrom (Turandot), Marco Berti (Calaf), Eri Nakamura (Liù), Michel de Souza (Mandarin), Raymond Aceto (Timur), Dionysios Sourbis (Ping), David Butt Philip (Pang), Doug Jones (Pong), and Alasdair Elliott (Emperor Altoum). Henrik Nánási conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House (Concert Master Vasko Vassilev) and the Royal Opera Chorus (Chorus Director Renato Balsadonna). Designs by Sally Jacobs; lighting design by F. Mitchell Dana; choreography by Kate Flatt; choreologist was Tatiana Novaes-Coelho. Directed for TV by Ian Russell. Sung in Italian. Released 2014, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreBruckner Symphony No. 7 concert. Part of the Bruckner Mature Symphonies series by Accentus. Daniel Barenboim conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin at the Philharmonie Berlin in 2010. Directed for TV by Elizabeth Malzer; produced by Paul Smaczny. Released 2014, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreBach St. Matthew Passion oratorio. The video recording was directed 2011 by Louise Narboni at the Basilica Cathedral Saint-Denis, Paris. Solosist are Werner Güra (Evangelist), Stephen Morscheck (Jesus), Lucy Crowe (soprano), Christine Rice (mezzo-soprano), Nicholas Phan (tenor), Matthew Brook (bass) and Bertrand Grunenwald (bass). John Nelson conducts the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, Schola Cantorum of Oxford, and the Maîtrise de Paris. Includes a 52-minute documentary extra called John Nelson's Saint Matthew Passion---The Journey, also directed by Narboni, as well as information about Soli Deo Gloria. Released 2014, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound.
The 43-person Orchestre de Chambre de Paris (Paris Chamber Orchestra) is a leading French chamber group. The current President of the orchestra is Brigitte Lefèvre, who is also the Director of the Paris Opera Ballet. John Nelson is currently Honorary Music Director of the orchestra. The Schola Cantorum of Oxford is a famous 30-person chamber choir directed by James Burton, most of the members of which are college students at Oxford. The Maîtrise de Paris is a famous French choir for young women directed by Patrick Marco.
Soli Deo Gloria, a U.S. charity that promotes sacred music performances and recordings all over the world, recruited all these forces. Assuming the artists got enough rehearsal time, the result could be a fabulous performance and recording. Grade: NA
Read MoreWagner Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg opera to a libretto by the composer. Directed 2011 by David McVicar at Glyndebourne. Stars Gerald Finley (Hans Sachs), Marco Jentzsch (Walter von Stolzing), Johannes Martin Kränzle (Sixtus Beckmesser}, Alastair Miles (Veit Pogner), Anna Gabler (Eva), Topi Lehtipuu (David), Michaela Selinger (Magdelena), Colin Judson (Kunz Vogelgesang), Andrew Slater (Konrad Nachtigall), Henry Waddington (Fritz Kothner), Robert Poulton (Herrman Ortel), Alasdair Elliot (Balthasar Zorn), Daniel Norman (Augustin Moser), Adrian Thompson (Ulrich Eisslinger), Graeme Broadbent (Hans Foltz), Maxim Mikhailov (Hans Schwarz), Mats Almgren (Nightwatchman). Vladimir Jurowski conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra (Leader Pieter Schoeman; Assistant Conductor Anthony Negus) and the Glyndebourne Chorus (Chorus Master Jeremy Bines). Design by Vicki Mortimer; lighting design by Paule Constable; choreography by Andrew George; fight direction by Nicholas Hall; film direction by François Roussillon; soundd supervision by Andy Rose; executive production by George Bruell; produced by Toni Hajal. Released 2012, 2 discs have 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A
Read MoreHenry Purcell The Fairy Queen semi-opera to anonymous adaptation (with massive cuts) of Shakespeare'sA Midsummer Night's Dream. Directed 2009 by Jonathan Kent at Glyndebourne. Stars as actors Joseph Millson (Oberon), Sally Dexter (Titania), JothamAnnan (Puck), Desmond Barrit (Bottom), Robert Burt (Flute), Jack Chissick (Snout), Paul McCleary (Quince), Brian Pettifer (Snug), Roger Sloman (Starveling), Taliesin Knight (Changeling Boy), TerrenceHardiman (Egeus), William Gaunt (Theseus), Susannah Wise (Hermia), Helen Bradbury (Helena), Oliver Kieran Jones (Lysander), and Oliver Le Sueur (Demetrius). Singing stars are Claire Debono (First Fairy/Spring), Anna Devin (Second Fairy), Desmond Barrit (Drunken Poet), Carolyn Sampson (Night), Ed Lyon (Secrecy/Adam), Andrew Foster-Williams (Sleep/Coridon), Robert Burt (Mopsa), Sean Clayton (Summer), Adrian Ward (Autumn), LukasKargl (Phœbus), Lucy Crowe (Juno), and Helen-Jane Howells (Eve) as well as Miriam Allan, Rachel Redmond, and John Mackenzie (Soloists from the Glyndebourne Chorus). Dancing stars are Laura Caldow, NuniCampos, Tommy Franzén, Caroline Lynn, Omar Gordon, Anthony Kurt-Gabel, MaurizioMontis, and Sarah Storer. William Christie conducts the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (Leader Alison Bury) and the Glyndebourne Chorus (Assistant Chorus Master Oliver Gooch). Designs by Paul Brown; lighting by Mark Henderson; choreography by Kim Brandstrup; TV direction by FrançoisRoussillon; executive production by Toni Hajal; sound supervision by Jean Chatauret. Released 2010, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio. Grade: B
Read MoreWagner Götterdämmerung opera. Directed 2013 by Guy Cassiers at the Teatro alla Scala. Stars Lance Ryan (Siegfried), Gerd Grochowski (Gunther), Johannes Martin Kränzle (Albrerich), Mikhail Petrenko (Hagan), Iréne Theorin (Brünnhilda and Third Norn), Anna Samuil (Gutrune), Waltraud Meier (Waltraute and 2nd Norn), Margarita Nekrasova (1st Norn), Aga Mikolaj (Woglinda), Maria Gortsevskaya (Wellgunda), and Anna Lapkovskaja (Flosshilda). Daniel Barenboim conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala (Chorus Master Bruno Casoni). Set design by Guy Cassiers; set and lighting design by Enrico Bagnoli; costume design by Tim van Steenbergen; video design by Arjen Klerkx and Kurt D'Haeseleer; choreography by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui; TV direction by Patrizia Carmine. Released 2014, disc has 5.1 Dolby Digital sound. Grade: NA
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