Purcell The Indian Queen opera. The music was composed in 1695. The original libretto was by John Dryden and Sir Robert Howard. The book was completely rewritten by Peter Sellars to create a modern version of the conquest of the New World by the Spanish. Theodor Currentzis, an avant-garde conductor who has worked a lot with the likes of Dmitri Tcherniakov, conducts MusicAeterna, a group that plays on baroque instruments. Released 2016. Grade: NA
Read MoreMozart Don Giovanni opera to libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte. Directed 2011 by Robert Carsen at the Teatro alla Scala. Stars Peter Mattei (Don Giovanni), Bryn Terfel (Leporello), Anna Netrebko (Donna Anna), Giuseppy Filianoti (Don Ottavio), Barbara Frittoli (Donna Elvira), Štegan Kocán (Maseto), Anna Prohaska (Zerlina), and Kwangchul Youn (Commhendatore). Daniel Barenboim conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala. Set designs by Michael Levine; costumes by Brigitte Reiffenstuel; lighting by Robert Carsen and Peter van Praet; choreography by Philippe Giraudeau. Directed for video by Andreas Morell. Released 2015. Grade: NA
Read MoreWagner Tannhäuser opera to libretto by the composer. Directed 2014 by Sasha Waltz (not a typo) at the Staatsoper Berlin. Stars Peter Seiffert (Tannhäuser), Marina Prudenskaya (Venus), Ann Petersen (Elisabeth), Peter Mattei (Wolfram von Eschenbach), René Pape (Hermann, Landgraf von Thüringen), Peter Sonn (Walther von der Vogelweide), Tobias Schabel (Biterolf), Jürgen Sacher (Heinrich der Schreiber), Jan Martiník (Reinmar von Zweter), and Sónia Grané (Ein Hirtenknabe). Daniel Barenboim conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin. Choreography by Sasha Waltz; costume design by Bernd Skodzig; set design by Pia Maier Schriever and Sasha Waltz; lighting design by David Finn. Directed for TV by Vincent Bataillon; produced by François Duplat. Sung in German. Released 2015, disc has dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreStrauss & Ravel Concert. Vladimir Jurowski conducts the Chamber Orchestra of Europe in 2009 in the Richard Strauss Metamorphosen and Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme. Hélène Grimaud joins as soloist in the Ravel Piano Concerto in G Major. TV direction by Louise Narboni; produced by Pierre-Martin Juban. Released 2010, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grades: A- for the Ravel and B- for the two Strauss pieces.
Read MoreNapoli ballet to music by Edvard Helsted, H.S. Paulli, H.C. Lumbye, and Louise Alenius. Choreographed by Sorella Englund and Nikolaj Hübbe after August Bournonville. Stars Alban Lendorf (Gennaro), Alexandra Lo Sardo (Teresina), Benjamin Buza (Golfo), Lis Jeppesen (Veronica), Alba Nadal (Geovanina), Mette Bødtcher (Flora), Jean-Lucien Massot (Peppo), Fernando Mora (Giacomo), Poul Erik Hesselkilde (Pascarillo), Josephine Berggreen (Pilgrim), Magnus Christoffersen (Cyclist), Mogens Boesen (Carlino), Eva Bloborg (Carla, Guesthouse Owner), Cédric Lambrette (Fra Ambrosio), Maria Bernholdt (Prostitute), and Josee Bowman (Prostitute). Corps dancers include: Ulrik Birkkjaer, Carolina Baldwin, Marcin Kupinski, Gregory Dean, Holly Jean Dorger, Amy Watson, Susanne Grinder, Ide Praetorius, Christina Michanek, Amalie Adrian, and Jonathan Chmelensky. Graham Bond conducts Det Kongelige Kapel. Sets and costumes by Maja Ravn; lighting by Mikki Kunttu; dramaturgical retelling by Camilla Hübbe; staging by Sorella Englund and Nikolaj Hübbe assisted by Silja Schandorff and Claire Still; assistant direction of children by Ann Kolvig. Produced by Jens Lange; directed for the screen by Uffe Borgwardt and Peter Borgwardt. There are no bonus features. Opus Arte includes a cheap keepcase booklet with typefonts so tiny and ugly that you may need a maginfying glass to read it. Released 2015, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: B-
Read MoreVerdi Macbeth opera to a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. The 2007 Adrian Nobel production is revived in 2014 at the Met and directed by Assistant Stage Directors Gregory Anthony Fortner and Gina Lapinski. Stars Željko Lučić (Macbeth), Anna Netrebko (Lady Macbeth), René Pape (Banquo), Joseph Calleja (Macduff), Raymond Renault (Duncan), Noah Baetge (Malcolm), Claudia Waite (Lady-in-waiting), Christopher Job (Servant), Moritz Linn (Fleanzio), Richard Bernstein (Murderer), Seth Malkin (Herald), James Courtney (Doctor), David Crawford (Warrior Apparition), Ashley Emerson (Bloody Child Apparition), and Jihee Kim (Crowned Child Apparition). Fabio Luisi conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus (Donald Palumbo Chorus Master) and Ballet (Sue Lefton Choreographer). Stage band conducted by Jeffrey Goldberg. Sets and costumes by Mark Thompson; lighting by Jean Kalman; directed for live TV by Gary Halvorson; music producer Jay David Saks. Supervising Producers are Mia Bongiovanni and Elena Park; Producers are Louisa Briccetti and Victoria Warivonchik. Released 2015, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreOffenbach Les contes d'Hoffmann opera to a libretto by Jules Barbier. New version directed 2014 by Christoph Marthaler with Joaquim Rathke at the Teatro Real. Stars Eric Cutler (Hoffmann), Anne Sofie Von Otter (La Muse/Nicklausse), Vito Priante (Lindorf/Coppélius/Dr. Miracle/Dapertutto), Christoph Homberger (Andrès/Cochenille/Frantz/Pitichinaccio), Ana Durlovski (Olympia), Measha Brueggergosman (Antonia/Giulietta), Altea Garrido (Stella), Lani Poulson (La Mère d’Antonia), Jean-Philippe Lafont (Maître Luther/Crespel), Gerardo López (Nathanaël), Graham Valentine (Spalanzani), Tomeu Bibiloni (Hermann), and Isaac Galán (Schlemil). Actors and dancers are: Joaquín Abella, Catalina Amorós, Mauricio Bautista, Beatriz Bergamín, Paco Celdrán, Veronica Garzón, Haizam Fathy, Ada Fernádez, Macarena Hoffmann, Carolina Isach, Jack Jamison, Antonio Jiménez, and Fátima Rojas. Sylvain Cambreling conducts the Orchestra & Chorus of the Teatro Real de Madrid (Chorus Master Andrés Másparo). Sets and costumes by Anna Viebrock; lighting by Olaf Winter; dramaturgy by Malte Ubenauf; choreography by Altea Garrido; directed for TV by Jérémie Cuvillier; produced by François Duplat and Xavier Dubois. Sung in French. Released 2015, Blu-ray disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A-
Read MoreDavid Dunnett in 2012 plays the following selections on the grand organ of the Norwich Cathedral:
1. Handel "Coro" from Water Music (arr. Osborne Peasgood)
2. J. S. Bach "Sinfonia on Cantata No. 29" (arr. Marcel Dupré)
3. J. S. Bach "Sheep May Safely Graze"
4. Heathcote Statham "Rhapsody on a Ground"
5. Percy Whitlock "Folk Tune"
6. Handel "Hornpipe" from Water Music (arr. Osborne Peasgood)
7. Saint-Saëns "Fantaisie in E flat"
8. Jehan Alain "Le Jardin suspendu"
9. Alexandre Guilmant "March on a Theme of Handel "
10. William Walond "Voluntary in G"
11. Ronald Watson "Kum ba'yah"
12. Percy Fletcher "Festival Toccata"
13. Elgar "Angel's Farewell" from The Dream of Gerontius (arr. Sir Herbert Brewer)
14. Iain Farrington "Live Wire"
Priory specializes in church and organ music. This package has a Blu-ray, a DVD, and a CD! Recorded and produced by Paul Crichton; filmed and edited by Richard Knight; Associate Producer was Callum Ross; Executive Producer was Neil Collier. Released 2014, disc has 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound. Grade: A
Read MoreVerdi Falstaff opera to libretto by Arrigo Boito. Directed by Robert Carsen at the Metropolitan Opera. Stars Carlo Bosi (Dr. Caius), Ambrogio Maestri (Sir John Falstaff), Keith Jameson (Bardolfo), Christian Van Horn (Pistola), Jennifer Johnson Cano (Meg Page), Angela Meade (Alice Ford), Stephanie Blythe (Mistress Quickly), Lisette Oropesa (Nannetta), Paolo Fanale (Fenton), and Franco Vassallo (Ford). James Levine conducts the Metropolitan Opera, Orchestra & Chorus (Chorus Master Donald Palumbo). Set design by Paul Steinberg; costume design by Brigitte Reiffenstuel; lighting design by Robert Carsen and Peter Van Praet. Released in 2015, disc has dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreDonizetti L'elisir d'amore opera to libretto by Felice Romani. Directed 2005 by Otto Schenk at the Baden-Baden Festspielhaus. Stars Rolando Villazon (Nemorino), Anna Netrebko (Adina), Leo Nucci (Belcore), and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo (Dulcamara), Inna Los (Gianneta) and Michael Burggasser (Dulcamera's assistant). Alfred Eschwé conducts the Orchester and Chor der Wiener Staatsoper. Sets and costumes by Jürgen Rose; directed for TV by Karina Fibich. Released 2015. Grade: NA
Read MoreKarol Szymanowski King Roger opera to libretto by the composer and Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz. Directed 2015 by Kasper Holten at the Royal Opera House. Stars Mariusz Kwiecien (King Roger II of Sicily), Georgia Jarman (Roxana), Saimir Pirgu (Shepherd), Kim Begley (Edrisi), Alan Ewing, (Archbishop), and Agnes Zwierko (Deaconess). Antonio Pappano conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House (Concert Master Peter Manning) and the Royal Opera Chorus (Chorus Director Renalto Balsadonna). Designs by Steffen Aarfing; lighting design by John Clark; video design by Luke Halls; choreograpy by Cathy Marston; dramaturgy by John Lloyd Davies; directed for video by Ian Russell. Released in 2015, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio surround sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreMozart La finta giardiniera opera (composed at age 18) to a libretto possibly from Giuseppe Petrosellini. Directed by Tobias Moretti at Opernhaus Zürich in 2006. Stars Eva Mei (Sandrina), Christoph Strehl (Il Contino Belfiore), Rudolf Schasching (Il Podestà Don Anchise), Isabel Rey (Arminda), Liliana Nikiteanu (Il Cavalier Ramiro), Julia Kleiter (Serpetta), and Gabriel Bermúdez (Nardo). Nikolaus Harnoncourt directs the Orchestra "La Scintilla" of the Zurich Opera. There is no chorus. Set design by Rolf Glittenberg; costumes by Renate Martin and Andreas Donhauser; lighting by Jürgen Hoffmann; directed for TV by Felix Breisach. Released 2009, disc has 5.1 dts-HD sound. Grade: A
Read MoreSommernachtskonzert 2015 (2015 Summer Night Concert). On May 14, 2015 Zubin Mehta conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker in the annual Summer Night Concert at the Baroque Park of the Schönbrunn palace in Vienna. Features pianist Rudolf Buchbinder. Sound produced by Raimund Langner; directed for TV by Henning Kasten. Released 2015, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: B
Here is the program:
1. Richard Strauss, Fanfare für Wiener Philharmoniker
2. Carl Nielsen, Maskarade: Overture
3. Edvard Grieg, Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in A Minor (Buchbinder)
4. Alfred Grünfeld, Soirée de Vienne (Buchbinder encore)
5. Christian Sindling, Frühlingsrauschen (Rustle of Spring)
6. Edvard Grieg, Peer Gynt Suite No. 1
7. Jean Sibelius, Finlandia
Encores:
1. Hans Christian Lumbye, Kopenhagener Eisenbahn-Dampf-Galopp
2. Johann Strauss II, Wiener Blut - Walzer
Read MoreAnne-Sophie Mutter Live - The Club Album concert. Anne-Sophie Mutter performs May 7 and 8, 2015 at the Neue Heimat nightclub in Berlin as part of the Yellow Lounge concert series. Features Mutter's long-time accompanist, pianist Lambert Orkis, harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani, and the Mutter Virtuosi ensemble. Also features a live video installation by VJ (that's video jockey) Philipp Geist. The setlist is as follows:
1. Vivaldi 3. Presto from The Four Seasons - Concerto In G Minor, RV 315, "The Summer"
2. Gershwin Allegro ben ritmato e deciso from Three Preludes
3. Gershwin Andante con moto e poco rubato from Three Preludes
4. Gershwin Allegro ben ritmato e deciso from Three Preludes
5. J.S. Bach. Allegro (3rd movement) from Double Concerto For 2 Violins, Strings, and Basso continuo In D Minor, BWV 1043 (Noa Wildschut, solo violin II)
6. Tchaikovsky "Mélodie" from Souvenir d'un lieu cher, Op. 42
7. Vivaldi Allegro non molto from The Four Seasons - Concerto In F Minor, RV 297, "The Winter"
8. J.S. Bach Vivace (1st movement) from Double Concerto For 2 Violins, Strings, And Continuo In D Minor, BWV 1043 (Nancy Zhou solo violin II)
9. Brahms Hungarian Dance No.1 In G Minor
10. Debussy "Golliwogg's Cakewalk" from Children's Corner
11. Saint-Saëns Introduction et Rondo capriccioso
12. Debussy "Clair de lune" from Suite bergamasque
13. Copland "Hoe-Down" from Rodeo
14. J.S. Bach/Gounod "Ave Maria"
15. Arthur Benjamin "Jamaican Rumba"
16. John Williams "Theme from Schindler's List"
Finally, although not a word is said about it in the Blu-ray package or in the PR, this was recorded with 96kHz/24-bit sound sampling (according to my Oppo BDP-93). Released 2015, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: B+
Read MoreRossini Il barbiere di Siviglia opera to libretto by Cesare Sterbini. Directed 2009 by Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier at the Teatro Regio di Parma. Stars Changhan Lin (Fiorello), Juan Diego Flórez (Count Almavira), Pietro Spagnoli (Figaro), Joyce DiDonato (Rosina), Alessandro Corbelli (Doctor Bartolo), Ferruccio Furlanetto, (Don Basilio), Jennifer Rhys-Davies (Berta), Bryan Secombe (Ambrogio), Christopher Lackner (Officer), and Andrew Macnair (Notary). Antonio Pappano conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House (Concert Master Vasko Vassilev) and the Royal Opera Chorus (Chorus Director Renato Balsadonna). Set designs by Christian Fenouillat; costume design by Agostino Cavalca; lighting design by Christophe Forey; directed for screen by David Stevens; produced by Frances Whitaker. Released 2015, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
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