Wagner Parsifal opera to a libretto by the composer. Directed 2012 by Pierre Audi at the Dutch National Opera. Stars Alejandro Marco-Buhrmester (Amfortas), Mikhail Petrenko (Titurel/Klingsor), Falk Struckmann (Gurnemanz), Christopher Ventris (Parsifal), Petra Lang (Kundry), Jean-Léon Klosterman (First Knight of the Grail), Roger Smeets (Second Knight of the Grail), Lisette Bolle, Rosanne van Sandwijk, Erik Slik, Jeroen de Vaal (4 Esquires), Lisette Bolle, Inez Hafkamp, Tomoko Makuuchi, Rosanne van Sandwijk, Oleksandra Lenyshyn, Melanie Greve (6 Flower Maids), and Marieke Reuten (Voice from Above). Iván Fischer conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Choir of the Dutch National Opera (Chorus Master Martin Wright), and the "Kickers" of the Waterland Youth Music School (Chorus Master Lorenzo Papolo). Set design by Anish Kapoor; costume design by Christof Hetzer; lighting design by Jean Kalman; movement by Gail Skrela; dramaturgy by Klaus Bertisch. Directed for TV by Misjel Vermeiren. Sung in German. Released 2017, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read More💓 Tango! concert of Ástor Piazzolla tango nuevo music performed 2013 by the Isabelle van Keulen Ensemble at the MotorMusic Studios in Mechelen, Belgium. The Isabelle van Keulen Ensemble is a chamber music group formed primarily to play Piazzolla compositions; it consists of van Keulen on violin, Christian Gerber on bandoneón, Ulrike Payer on piano, and Rüdiger Ludwig on double bass. Music director was Felicia Van Boxstael and the recording producer was Steven Maes for Serendipitous. The executive producers were Anne de Jong and Marcel van den Broek. Project coordinators were Jolien Plat and Inge De Pauw. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A+
Read MoreSchubert 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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