Shakespeare Henry IV Parts I & II plays. Directed 2014 by Gregory Doran at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. This is a combo pack containing two plays that are available individually: Henry IV Part I and Henry IV Part II. See our stories on the individual titles for more details and our grades on each.
Read MoreShakespeare Henry IV Part I play. Directed 2014 by Gregory Doran at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Stars Jasper Britton (King Henry IV), Alex Hassell (Prince Hal), Antony Sher (Sir John Falstaff), Trevor White (Hotspur), Sean Chapman (Earl of Northumberland/Earl of Douglas), Joshua Richards (Bardolph/Owen Glendower), Paola Dionisotti (Mistress Quickly), Jennifer Kirby (Lady Percy), Elliot Barnes-Worrell (Prince John/Francis), Marin Bassindale (Peto), Antony Byrne (Earl of Worcester), Nicholas Gerard-Martin (Carrier/Sir Michael), Robert Gilbert (Lord Edmund Mortimer/Carrier), Jonny Glynn (Rakehell), Nia Gwynne (Lady Mortimer), Jim Hooper (Sir Richard Vernon), Yousseff Kerkour (Earl of Westmoreland/Ostler), Sam Marks (Ned Poins), Keith Osborn (Archbishop of York/Sheriff), Leigh Quinn (Traveller), Simon Thorp (Sir Walter Blunt/Lord Chief Justice), and Simon Yadoo (Chamberlain/Vinter). Designed by Stephen Brimson Lewis; lighting by Tim Mitchell; music by Paul Englishby; sound by Martin Slavin; movement by Michael Ashcroft; fights by Terry King; screen director was Robin Lough; screen producer was John Wyver. Released 2015, this disc has 5.1 dts Master Audio. Grade: A+
Read MoreShakespeare Henry IV Part II play. Directed 2014 by Gregory Doran at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Stars Elliot Barnes-Worrell (Prince John), Marin Bassindale (Snare/Peto/Duke of Clarence), Jasper Britton (King Henry IV), Antony Byrne (Rumour/Porter/Pistol), Sean Chapman (Earl of Northumberland), Paola Dionisotti (Mistress Quickly), Oliver Ford Davies (Justice Shallow), Nicholas Gerard-Martin (Lord Hastings/Feeble/Davy), Robert Gilbert (Travers/Sir John Coleville), Jonny Glynn (Morton/Earl of Warwick/Shadow), Nia Gwynne (Doll Tearsheet/Lady Northumberland), Alex Hassell (Prince Hal), Jim Hooper (Justice Silence/Gower), Yousseff Kerkour (Earl of Westmoreland/Fang/Bullcalf), Jennifer Kirby (Lady Percy), Sam Marks (Ned Poins), Keith Osborn (Archbishop of York), Leigh Quinn (Wart/Duke of Gloucester), Joshua Richards (Bardolph), Luca Saraceni-Gunner (Falstaff's Page), Antony Sher (Sir John Falstaff), Simon Thorp (Lord Chief Justice), Trevor White (Lord Mowbray), and Simon Yadoo (Lord Randolph/Mouldy/Beadle). Designed by Stephen Brimson Lewis; lighting by Tim Mitchell; music by Paul Englishby; sound by Martin Slavin; movement by Michael Ashcroft; fights by Terry King; screen director was Robin Lough; screen producer was John Wyver. Released 2015, disc has 5.1 dts Master Audio. Grade: A
Read MoreVerdi Messa da Requiem concert. Recorded 2007 at the Basilica di San Marco, Venice. Lorin Maazel conducts the Symphonica Toscanini and Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Chorus Master Piero Monti). Soloists are Norma Fantini (soprano), Anna Smirnova (mezzo-soprano), Francesco Meli (tenor) and Rafał Siwek (bass). Disc is In Memorium marking, in 2007, the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Arturo Toscanini. Directed for TV by Tiziano Mancini. Sung in Latin. Released 2015, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreThis Achúcarro title includes:
Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 recorded in studio on May 26, 27, and 28, 2009 at the Jerwood Hall in London.
There is also a recital of about 36 minutes with the following shorter pieces recorded in Room 64 of the Prado Museum in Madrid at an unidentified time:
1. Brahms Intermezzo No. 2 (Three Intermezzi Op. 117)
2. Brahms Intermezzo No. 2 (Three Intermezzi Op. 117)
3. Brahms Intermezzo No. 3 (Three Intermezzi Op. 117)
4. Chopin Prelude No. 15
5. Chopin Prelude No. 16
6. Scriabin No. 1 Prelude (Op. 9 for Left Hand)
7. Scriabin No. 2 Nocturne (Op. 9 for Left Hand)
8. Albéniz Suite Iberia Op. 47 Book 1 No. 2 El Puerto
Colin Davis conducts the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 with the London Symphony Orchestra to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Achúcarro's debut with the LSO. Directed for TV by Robin Lough. Released 2010, disc has 5.1 PCM sound. Grade: C-
Read MoreSchubert Fierrabras opera to a libretto by Joseph Kupelwieser. Directed 2014 by Peter Stein at the Salzburg Festival. Stars Michael Schade (Fierrabras), Dorothea Röschmann (Florinda), Julia Kleiter (Emma), Benjamin Bernheim (Eginhard), Marcus Werba (Roland), Georg Zeppenfeld (König Karl), Marie-Claude Chappuis (Maragond), and Peter Kálmán (Boland). Ingo Metzmacher directs the Wiener Philharmoniker. Stage designs by Ferdinand Wögerbauer; contume designs by Annamaria Heinreich; lighting by Joachim Barth; directed for video by Peter Schönhofer. Released 2015, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreEnnio Porrino I Shardana opera to a libretto by the composer. Directed by Davide Livermore at the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, Italy. Stars Manrico Signorini (Gonnario), Angelo Villari (Torbeno), Gianpiero Ruggeri (Orzocco), Domenico Balzani (Norace), Paoletta Marrocu (Bèrbera Jonia), Alessandra Palomba (Nibatta), Gabriele Mangione (Perdu), Enrico Zara (Sardinian Shephard / The Lookout / Second Warrior), Nicola Ravarino Guagenti (A Voice / First Warrior), and special guest Elena Ledda. Anthony Bramall conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of Fondazione Teatro Lirico di Cagliari (Chorus Master Marco Faelli). Set design by Giò Forma Production Design; costume design by Marco Nateri; light design by Loïc François Hamelin; video designs by D-Wok. Directed for TV by Davide Mancini. Sung in Italian. Released 2015, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreMozart Don Giovanni opera to libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte. Directed 2014 by Sven-Eric Bechtolf at the Salzburg Festival. Stars Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Don Giovanni), Tomasz Konieczny (Il Commendatore), Lenneke Ruiten (Donna Anna), Andrew Staples (Don Ottavio), Anett Fritsch (Donna Elvira), Luca Pisaroni (Leporello), Valentina Nafornita (Zerlina), and Alessio Arduini (Masetto). Christoph Eschenbach conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker and the Philharmoina Chor Wien (Chorus Master Walter Zeh). Directed for video by Andreas Morell. Released 2015, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreRichard Strauss Der Rosenkavalier opera to libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Directed 2014 by Richard Jones at the Glyndebourne Opera House. Stars Tara Erraught (Octavian), Kate Royal (The Marschallin), Lars Woldt (Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau), Teodora Gheorghiu (Sophie), Michael Kraus (Herr von Faninal), Miranda Keys (Marianne Leitmetzerin), Helene Schneiderman (Annina), Christopher Gillett (Valzacchi), Andre Dunajev (Italian Singer) Gwynne Howell (Notary), Robert Wörle (Innkeeper), and Scott Conner (Police Inspector). Robin Ticciati conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra (Leader Pieter Schoeman) and The Glyndebourne Chorus (Chorus Master Jeremy Bines). Designs by Paul Steinberg; costumes by Nicky Gillibrand; lighting by Mimi Jordan Sherin; moment direction by Sarah Fahie; directed for TV by François Roussillon; Executive Producer George Bruell. Released 2015, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreMartha Argerich and Daniel Barenboim Piano Duos. Recorded 2014 at the Philharmonie Berlin. Argerich and Barenboim perform the following pieces:
1. Mozart Sonata for Two Pianos in D major
2. Schubert Variations on an Original Theme in A flat major
3. Stravinsky Le Sacre du printemps (Rite of Spring) in piano version for 4 hands
Released 2015, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreJanáček Jenůfa opera to a libretto by the composer. Directed 2014 by Christof Loy at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Stars Michaela Kaune (Jenůfa), Jennifer Larmore (Kostelnička Buryjovka), Will Hartmann (Laca Klemeň), Ladislav Elgr (Števa Buryja), Hanna Schwarz (Grandmother Buryjovka), Simon Pauly (Foreman), Stephen Bronk (Mayor), Nadine Secunde (Mayor's Wife), Martina Welschenbach (Karolka), Jana Kurucová (Barena), Alexandra Hutton (Jano), and Fionnuala McCarthy (Herdswoman). Donald Runnicles conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin (Chorus Master William Spaulding). Set designs by Dirk Becker; costumes by Judith Weihrauch; lighting by Bernd Purkrabek; choreography by Thomas Wilhelm; dramaturgy by Christian Arseni; video by Brian Large. Subtitles in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Korean, and Chinese. Released 2015, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio surround sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreRichard Strauss Feuersnot opera to a libretto by Ernst von Wolzogen. Directed 2014 by Emma Dante at the Teatro Massimo Palermo. Stars Nicola Beller Carbone (Diemut), Dietrich Henschel (Kunrad), Alex Wawiloff (Schweiker von Gundelfingen), Rubén Amoretti (Ortolf Sentlinger), Christine Knorren (Elsbeth), Chiara Fracasso (Wigelis), Anna Maria Sarra (Margret), Michail Ryssov (Jörg Pöschel), Nicolò Ceriani (Hämmerlein), Paolo Battaglia (Kofel), Christiano Olivieri (Ortlieb Tulbeck), Irina Pererva (Ursula), Francesco Parrino (Ruger Aspeck), Valentina Vitti (Walpurg), and Francesca Martorana (Ein großes Mädchen). Gabrielle Ferro conducts the Orchestra, Chorus and Youth Chorus of the Teatro Massimo (Chorus Master Piero Monti; Youth Chorus Master Salvatore Puntero). Set designs by Carmine Maringola; costumes by Vanessa Sannino; lighting by Christian Zucaro; choreography by Sandro Campagna; directed for video by Tiziano Mancini. Released 2015, disc has 5.1 dts-HD sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreLe Corsaire ballet. Story: Anna-Marie Holmes version of the libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Joseph Mazilier, based on The Corsair oem by Lord Byron. Choreography and staging: Anna-Marie Holmes after Marius Petipa and Konstantin Sergeyev. Music composed by Adolphe Adam, Cesare Pugni, Léo Delibes, Riccardo Drigo, Prince Pyotr van Oldenburg, Ludwig Minkus, Yuly Gerber, Baron Boris Fitinhof-Schnell, and Albert Zabel, all edited by Lars Payne and Gavin Sutherland. Recorded 2014 as performed by the English National Ballet. Stars Alina Cojocaru (Medora), Vadim Muntagirov (Conrad), Erina Takahashi (Gulnare), Dimitri Gruzdyev (Lankendem), Junor Souza (Ali), Yonah Acosta (Birbanto), Michael Coleman (Pasha), Juan Rodriguez (Pasha Assistant), and Nancy Osbaldeston (Lead Villager). Odalisques danced by Shiori Kase, Alison McWhinney, and Laurretta Summerscales. Lead Roses danced by Nancy Osbaldeston, Ksenia Ovsyanick, Adela Ramírez, and Laurretta Summerscales. Lead Flowers danced by Jem Ghoi, Senri Kou, Jenna Lee, and Jia Zhang. Numerous minor roles are danced by artists of the English National Ballet, students of the English National Ballet School, and pupils of the Tring Park School. Gavin Sutherland directs the Orchestra of English National Ballet. Sets and costumes by Bob Ringwood; lighting by Neil Austin; directed for the screen by Chris Blaine with his brother Ben Blain as Producer for Charlie Productions. Stereo recorded with 48kHz/24-bit sound sampling and 5.1 dts recorded with 48kHz/16-bit sound sampling. Released 2014, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound output. Grade: B
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Le Corsaire ballet. Libretto (after Lord Byron's poem The Corsair), choreography, and stage direction by Kader Belarbi. Assistant Choreographer was Laure Muret. Performed 2013 at the Théâtre National du Capitole de Toulouse. Original music composed by Adolphe Adam, with additional music by Anton Arensky, David Coleman, Édouard Lalo, Jules Massenet, and and Jean Sibelius. Stars Maria Gutierrez (Slave-Girl), Davit Galstyan (Corsaire), Takafumi Watanabe (Sultan), Juliette Thélin (Sultan's Favorite Concubine), Demian Vargas (Corsair's Companion), Juliana Bastos and Julie Loria (Two Slaves), Henrik Victorin (Slave Trader), Cédric Pons (Guard) and Joël Sitbon (Guard). In addition, Ballet du Capitole Supernumeraries playing the roles of Concubines, Dervishes, Peris, Corsairs, City Folk, etc. include Nuria Arteaga, Virginie Baïet-Dartigalongue, Taisha Barton-Rowledge, Juliana Bastos, Isabelle Brusson, Olivia Hartzell, Lauren Kennedy, Ina Lesnakowski, Julia Loria, Maki Matsuoka, Solène Monnereau, Gwenaëlle Poline, Pascale Saurel, Vanessa Spiteri, Alexander Akulov, Matthew Astley, Petros Chrkhoyan, Kamill-Ariston Chudoba, Adrien Delépine, Pierre Devaux, Jean-Gabriel Evrard, Julian Ims, Shizen Kazama, Jérémy Leydier, Nicolas Rombout, Henrik Victorin, Yannick Valentian, and Stéphane Motard. David Coleman directs the Orchestre National du Capitole. Sets by Sylvie Olivé; costumes by Olivier Bériot; lighting by Marian Hewlett; Camille Ansquer assisted in designing sets; artistic advice by Martine Kahame; music advice by Elena Rassadkina Bonnay. Directed for screen by Luc Riolon; produced by Fabienne Servan Schreiber and Laurence Miller. Released 2014, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: C+
Read MoreVerdi Les vêpres siciliennes opera to libretto by Charles Duveyrier and Eugène Scribe. Directed 2013 by Stefan Herheim at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. Stars Lianna Haroutounian (Hélène), Bryan Hymel (Henri), Michael Volle (Guy de Montfort), Erwin Schrott (Jean Procida), Neal Cooper (Thibault), Jihoon Kim (Robert), Jean Teitgen (Le Sire de Béthune), Jeremy White (Le Comte de Vaudemont), Nicholas Darmanin (Daniéli), Michelle Daly (Ninetta), and Jung Soo Yun (Mainfroid). Antonio Pappano conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House (Concert Master Vasko Vassilev) and Royal Opera Chorus (Chorus Director Renato Balsadonna). Set design by Philipp Fürhofer; costume design by Gesine Völlm; lighting design by Anders Poll; dramaturgy by Alexander Meier-Dörzenbach;choreography by André de Jong. Directed for TV by Rhodri Huw. Sung in French. Released 2015, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A
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