Die Zauberflöte

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Mozart Die Zauberflöte opera to a libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. Directed 2006 by Pierre Audi at the Salzburg Festival (Grosses Festspielhaus) as part of the huge Salzburg Festival M22 Project to record all the Mozart operas in HD. Stars Paul Groves (Tamino), Genia Kühmeier (Pamina), Christian Gerhaher (Papageno), Irena Bespalovaite (Papagena), Diana Damrau (Queen of the Night), René Pape (Sarastro), Inga Kalna (First Lady), Karine Deshayes (Second Lady), Ekaterina Gubanova (Third Lady), Franz Grundheber (Speaker/First Priest), Xavier Mas (Second Priest), Michael Authenrieth (Third Priest), Burkhard Ulrich (Monostatos), Simon O'Neil (First Armoured Man), Peter Loehle (Second Armoured Man), and Members of the Vienna Boys' Choir (The Three Boys) . Riccardo Muti conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker and the Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor (Chorus Master Thomas Lang). Stage design by Karel Appel; costume design by Jorge Jara. Directed for TV by Brian Large; produced by Bernhard Fleischer. Sung in German. Released 2015, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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Roméo et Juliette

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Charles Gounod Roméo et Juliette opera to libretto by Jules Barbier & Michel Carré. Directed 2008 by Bartlett Sher at the Salzburg Festival. Stars Nino Machaidze (Juliette), Rolando Villazón (Roméo), Mikhail Petrenko (Frère Laurent), Russell Braun (Mercutio), Cora Burggraaf (Stéphano), Falk Struckmann (Comte Capulet), Juan Francisco Gatell (Tybalt), Susanne Resmark (Gertrude, the Nurse), Christian Van Horn (Duc de Vérone), Mathias Hausmann (Comte Pâris), Jean-Luc Ballestra (Grégorio), and Robert Murray (Benvolio). Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg and the Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor (Chorus Master Jörn H. Andresen). Musical Assistant was Leo Hussain; set design by Michael Yeargan; costumes by Catherine Zuber; lighting by Jennifer Tipton; choreography by Chase Brock; fight scene by B. H. Barry; directed for TV by Brian Large. Released  2009, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: B+

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The Hollow Crown

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The Hollow Crown television film series. Each film is an adaptation of one of the works of Shakespeare's Henriad: Richard II; Henry IV, Part I; Henry IV, Part II; and Henry V. Directed by Rupert Goold (Richard II), Richard Eyre (Henry IV, Parts I & II), and Thea Sharrock (Henry V). Stars Ben Whishaw (King Richard II of England), Rory Kinnear (Henry Bolingbroke), Clémence Poésy (the Queen), David Suchet (the Duke of York), Patrick Stewart (John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster), David Morrissey (Earl of Northumberland), Tom Hughes (the Duke of Aumerle), James Purefoy (Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk), Lindsay Duncan (the Duchess of York), Ferdinand Kingsley (Bushy), Samuel Roukin (Bagot), Harry Hadden-Paton (Green), Tom Goodman-Hill (Sir Stephen Scroop), Adrian Schiller (Lord Willoughby), Peter de Jersey (Lord Ross), Finbar Lynch (Lord Marshall), Lucian Msamati (the Bishop of Carlisle), Richard Bremmer (the Abbot of Westminster), Rhodri Miles (the Welsh Captain), David Bradley (the Gardener), Simon Trinder (the Gardener's Assistant), Isabella Laughland (the Queen's Lady), Daniel Boyd (the Groom), Jeremy Irons (Henry IV), Simon Russell Beale (Falstaff), Tom Hiddleston (Prince Hal/King Henry V), Julie Walters (Mistress Quickly), Alun Armstrong (Earl of Northumberland), Joe Armstrong (Hotspur), David Bamber (Robert Shallow), Niamh Cusack (Lady Northumberland), David Dawson (Poins), Michelle Dockery (Lady Percy), Tom Georgeson (Bardolph), Iain Glen (Earl of Warwick), Nicholas Jones (Archbishop of York), David Hayman (Earl of Worcester), James Laurenson (Earl of Westmoreland), Geoffrey Palmer (Lord Chief Justice), Harry Lloyd (Edmund Mortimer), Maxine Peake (Doll Tearsheet), Paul Ritter (Ancient Pistol), Robert Pugh (Owen Glendower), Alex Clatworthy (Lady Mortimer), Ian Conningham (Peto), Stephen McCole (Douglas), Adam Kotz (Hastings), Henry Faber (Prince John of Lancaster), Mark Tandy (Sir Richard Vernon), Pip Torrens (Mowbray), Tim McMullan (Silence), Michael Keane (Thomas Wart), Dominic Rowan (Coleville of the Dale), Jolyon Coy (Sir Walter Blun), John Hurt (the Chorus/Falstaff's boy as a man), Geraldine Chaplin (Alice), Paul Freeman (Thomas Erpingham), Tom Georgeson (Bardolph), Richard Griffiths (Duke of Burgundy), Paterson Joseph (Duke of York), Anton Lesser (Exeter), Paul Ritter (Ancient Pistol), Malcolm Sinclair (Archbishop of Canterbury), Owen Teale (Captain Fluellen), Mélanie Thierry (Princess Katherine), Lambert Wilson (Charles, King of France), Edward Akrout (Louis, the Dauphin), Tom Brooke (Corporal Nym), Jeremie Covillaut (Montjoy), Maxime Lefrançois (The Constable of France), Stanley Weber (Duke of Orleans), Gwilym Lee (Williams), Richard Clothier (Earl of Salisbury), Nigel Cooke (Bishop of Ely), John Dagleish (Peto), George Sargeant (Falstaff’s boy). Cinematography by Danny Cohen (Richard II) and Ben Smithard (Henry IV, Parts I & II); produced by Pippa Harris, Sam Mendes, Gareth Neame, and Rupert Ryle-Hodges. Released 2015, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. From the picture of the back of the package above, you can see that this is marked for Region B only, and this is also pointed out in the Amazon for sale posting. It would appear no Region A or C version of this has been released. Grade: NA

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Henry IV Part I

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Shakespeare 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+

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Henry IV Part II

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Shakespeare 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

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Verdi Messa da Requiem

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Verdi 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

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Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2

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This 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-

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Fierrabras

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Schubert 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

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I Shardana

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Ennio 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

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Don Giovanni (D'Arcangelo)

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Mozart 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

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Der Rosenkavalier

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Richard 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

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Argerich and Barenboim Duos

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Martha 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

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Jenůfa

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Janáček 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

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Feuersnot

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Richard 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

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