Wagner Die Walküre to a libretto by the composer. Directed 2018 by Keith Warner at Royal Opera House. Stars Stuart Skelton (Siegmund), Emily Magee (Sieglinde), Ain Anger (Hunding), John Lundgren (Wotan), Nina Stemme (Brünnhilde), and Sarah Connolly (Fricka). Antonio Pappano conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House (Concert Master Vasko Vassilev). Set design by Stefanos Lazaridis; costume design by Marie-Jeanne Lecca; lighting design by Wolfgang Göbbel; video design by Mic Pool and Dick Straker; movement direction by Michael Barry. Directed for TV by Jonathan Haswell. Sung in German. Released 2020, disc has and 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio. Grade: NA
Read MoreMozart Le nozze di Figaro opera to libretto by Lorenza da Ponte. Directed 2014 by Felix Breisach at the Theater an der Wien. Stars Bo Skovhus (Conte di Almaviva); Christine Schäfer (Contessa di Almaviva); Mari Eriksmoen (Susanna); Andrè Schuen (Figaro); Elisabeth Kulman (Cherubino); Ildikó Raimondi (Marcellina); Peter Kálmán (Bartolo/Antonio); Mauro Peter (Basilio/Don Curzio); and Christina Gansch (Barbarina). Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducts the Concentus Musicus Wien and the Arnold Schoenberg Chor (Chorus Master Erwin Ortner). Staging and costumes by Doris Maria Aigner; scenic arrangement by Felix Breisach. Directed for TV by Felix Breisach. Sung in Italian. Released 2021, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: D
This video was made 6 years ago—a bad sign. There’s no director because this is an un-staged concert production of the opera. The package does credit Felix Breisach for “scenic arrangement.” That means, I think, that
Read MoreVerdi Nabucco opera to a libretto by Temistocle Solera. Directed 2019 by Stefano Ricci at the Teatro Regio di Parma. Stars Amartuvshin Enkhbat (Nabucco), Ivan Magri (Ismaele), Michele Pertusi (Zaccaria), Saioa Hernández (Abigaille), Annalisa Stroppa (Fenena), Gianluca Breda (High Priest of Baal), Manuel Pierattelli (Abdallo), and Elisabetta Zizzo (Anna). Francesco Ivan Ciampa conducts the Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, the Orchestra Giovanelle della Via Emilia, and the Coro del Teatro Regio di Parma (Chorus Master Martino Faggiani). Set design by Nicolas Bovey; costume design by Gianluca Sbicca; light design by Alessandro Carletti; choreography by Marta Bevilacqua. Directed for TV by Matteo Ricchetti and Adriano Figari. Released 2020, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio. Grade: NA
Read MoreWhat is the Best Blu-ray of La Bayadère Ballet? La Bayadère considered one of the greatest classical ballets. In January, 2021, we have 5 versions in Blu-ray, all following the original choreography by Petipa. One is graded A+ and 3 get As. So you can hardly go wrong. This story suggests which title might be best for you and gives you links to more information.
Bolshoi Ballet. A+. 2013. Bel Air. This is the full modern version from choreographer Grigorovich designed to be the definitive record for all time of La Bayadère in HD TV. It’s the only recording with 4 ramps to the floor for the Kingdom of the Shades dancers (all the others titles only have 1 ramp). The white corps numbers 32 dancers. The video file from Vincent Batallion is one of the best dance videos ever made. We also admire the way Grigorovich tells the story. The only way to improve on this would be for the Bolshoi to eventually remake it in 4K with HDR.
Paris Opera Ballet. A. 1994. Kultur. This started as a movie shot on 35 mm film of a monumental production made by the POB in honor of the Rudolf Nureyev, the greatest dancer-choreographer in history.
Read MoreWhat's the Best Blu-ray of Debussy's landmark Pelléas et Mélisande opera? In April 2020 we have four Blu-ray versions.
Read MoreBeethoven Project ballet. Music by Beethoven (featuring elements from the Eroica Variations [piano and chamber music], the Creatures of Prometheus ballet, and Symphony No. 3 (“Eroica” or “Heroic”). Choreography by John Neumeier. Performed and recorded 2019 at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden. Stars Aleix Martinez (Ludwig van Beethoven); Edvin Revasov (Beethoven’s Ideal); Patricia Friza (Beethoven’s Mother); Borja Bermudez (Beethoven’s Nephew); Anna Laudere (Beethoven’s “Distant Beloved”); and soloist dancers Christopher Evans, Marc Jubete, Emilie Mazoń, Yun-Su Park, Madoka Sugai, Alexandr Trusch, Lizhong Wang, and Mayo Arii. Also features musicians Michał Białk (Piano); Ermir Abeshi (Violin); Teodor Rusu (Cello); Xiangzi Cao-Staemmler, Helmut Winkel, Benjamin Rivinius, and Mario Blaumer (String Quartet). Simon Hewett conducts the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern. Set design by Heinrich Tröger; lighting and costumes by John Neumeier. Directed for TV by Myriam Hoyer. Released 2020, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: B
The Beethoven Project is not one of Neumeier’s narrative works. It’s abstract dancing to Beethoven music with some allusions to facts about his life. The music is divided into 3 parts, and the music in each part contains a theme you will probably recognize
Read MoreMozart Così fan tutte opera to libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. Directed 2010 by Jonathan Miller at the Royal Opera House. Stars Pavlov Breslik (Ferrando), Stéphane Degout (Guglielmo), Thomas Allen (Don Alfonso), Maria Bengtsson (Fiordiligi), Jurgita Adamonyté (Dorabella), and Rebecca Evans (Despina). Thomas Hengelbrock conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House (Co-Concert Master Sergey Levitin; Fortepiano Continuo Christopher Wilis) and the Royal Opera Chorus (Chorus Director Renato Balsadonna; Chorus Director for this Revival Stephen Westrop). Set design by Jonathan Miller with Tim Blazdell, Andrew Jameson, Colin Maxwell, Catherine Smith, and Anthony Waterman; costume design by Sabine Lemaïtre in collaboration with Jonathan Miler; lighting design by Jonathan Miller and John Charlton. Directed for TV by Robin Lough. Sung in Italian. Released 2021, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: D
This title, released in 2021, was recorded in 2010, so it’s an old-timer. In fact, it was an old-timer near the end of the line in 2010! This production harks back all the way to 1995 . . .
Read MoreOffenbach Les Contes d'Hoffmann opera to a libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré. Directed 2018 by Tobias Kratzner. Stars Nina Minasyan (Olympia), Ermonela Jaho (Antonia), Christine Rice (Giulietta), Irene Roberts (La Muse), Eva Kroon (La Voix de la Tombe), John Osborn (Hoffmann), Erwin Schrott (Lindorf/Coppelius/Le docteur Miracle/Le captaine Dapertutto), Rodolphe Briand (Spalanzani), Paul Gay (Crespel/Maître Luther), François Lis (Peter Schlémil), Sunnyboy Dladla (Andrès/Cochenille/Frantz/Pittichinaccio), Mark Omvlee (Nathanaël), Frederik Bergman (Hermann), Alexander de Jong (Wilhelm), and Peter Arink (Le captaine des Sbires). Carlo Rizzi conducts the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the Dutch National Opera Chorus (Chorus Master Ching-Lien Wu). Set and costume design by Rainer Sellmaier; lighting design by Bernd Purkrabek; dramaturgy by Klaus Bertisch. Released 2020, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreNB: There seems to be some confusion with the cover art. We will update as we learn more.
Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem concert. In 1918, Paavo Järvi conducts the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie [German Chamber Orchestra] Bremen and the State Choir Latvija (Latvian State Choir) at the Bremen Cathedreal. Soloists are Valentina Farcas (Sorpano) and Matthias Goerne (Baritone). Directed for TV by Andreas Morell. Sung in German. Released 2020, disc has 5.0 dts-Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreLa Bayadère ("The Temple Dancer") ballet. Music by Ludwig Minkus. Choreography by Nacho Duato after Marius Petipa. Performed 2019 at the Mikhailovsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg. Stars Angelina Vorontsova (Nikiya, the Lead Bayadère); Victor Lebedev (Solor); Sergey Strelkov (The High Brahmin); Andrey Kasyanenko (Dugmanta, the Rajah); Andrea Laššáková (Gamzatti); Nikita Tchetverikov (Bronze Idol); Olga Poryvko (Aya); Andrey Yakhnyuk (Magedaveya, a Fakir); Victoria Zaripova and Marina Korotchenkova (D’Jampe); Victor Lebedev, Andrea Laššáková, Debora Davis, Yulia Lukyanenko, Ekaterina Odarenko, Ella Persson (Grand Pas Classique); Tatiana Miltseva and Andrey Yakhnyuk (Drummers); Svetlana Bednenko, Andrea Laššáková, and Yulia Lukyanenko (Three Shades); Olga Arsenina (First Variation), and dancers of the Mikhailovsky Ballet (Bayadères, Fakirs, Dancers, Guests, Guards, and Shades). Pavel Sorokin conducts the Orchestra of the Mikhailovsky Theatre. Stage and costume design by Angelina Atlagić; lighting design by Brad Fields; artistic director for the Mikhailovsky Theatre was Vladimir Kekhman. Directed for TV by Andy Sommer; produced by François Duplat. Released 2020. Grade: A
Before I got this disc to review, I’d never heard of the Mikhailovsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg. I thought ballet in Saint Petersburg resided at the
Read MoreBeethoven Complete Piano Concertos concert. Jan Lisiecki plays with Tomo Keller leading the Academy of St Martin in the Fields as Concertmaster. No videographer credited on keepcase artwork. Released 2020, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
It’s a red-flag when no videographer gets credit on the keepcase artwork.
Read MoreLa Bayadère ("The Temple Dancer") ballet. Music by Ludwig Minkus. Choreography by Natalia Makarova after Marius Petipa. Directed 2018 by Natalia Makarova at the Royal Opera House. Stars Marianela Nuñez (Nikiya); Vadim Muntagirov (Solor); Natalia Osipova (Gamzatti); Gary Avis (The High Brahmin); Christopher Saunders (Rajah); Yuhui Choe, Yasmine Naghdi, Akane Takada, and Artists of the Royal Ballet (The Shades), and Alexander Campbell (The Golden Idol). Boris Gruzin conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House (Concert Master Sergey Levitin). Set design by PIer Luigi Samaritani; costume design by Yolanda Sonnabeno; lighting design by John B. Read; staging by Olga Evreinoff; ballet master was Jonathan Howells; ballet mistress was Samantha Raine; assistant ballet mistress was Sian Murphy; principal coaching by Carlos Acosta, Alexander Agadzhanov, and Lesley Collier. Directed for TV by Ross MacGibbon. Released 2020. Grade: NA
Read MoreRuggero Leoncavallo Pagliacci opera to libretto by the composer. Directed 2019 by Luigi Di Gangi and Ugo Giacomazzi at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. Stars Vlaeria Sape (Nedda/Colombina); Angelo Villari (Canio/Pagliaccio); Devid Cecconi (Tonio/Taddeo); Matteo Mezzaro (Peppe/Arlecchino); Leon Kim (Silvio); Vito Luciano Roberti (A villager); Leonardo Melani (A villager); and Elena Barsotti, Gaia Mazzeranghi, Erika Melli, Jane Tayar, Paolo Arcangeli, Cristiano Colangelo, Pierangelo Preziosa, and Davide Reiminucci (Extras). Valerio Galli conducts the Orchestra, Coro e Coro delle voci blanche del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Chorus Master Lorenzo Fratini). Set design by Federica Parolini; costume design by Agnese Rabatti; lighting design by Luigi Biondi. Directed for TV by Matteo Ricchetti. Sung in Italian. Released 2020, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreLa Bayadère ballet. Music by Ludwig Minkus arranged by John Lanchbery. Choreographed by Rudolf Nureyev after Marius Petipa. Performed 1994 at the Paris Opéra Ballet. Stars Isabelle Guérin (Nikiya), Laurent Hilaire (Solor), Élisabeth Platel (Gamzatti, the Rajah's daughter), Francis Malovic (The High Brahmin), Jean-Marie Didière (Rajah), Lionel Delanoê (Maghaveya, the Head Fakir), Wilfried Romoli (The Bronze Idol) as well as Agnès Letestu, Clothilde Vayer, and Nathalie Riqué (The Three Shades). Michel Quéval conducts the Orchestre Colonne. Set designs by Ezio Frigerio; costumes by Franca Squarciapino. Originally recorded by film director Alexandre Tarta on 35mm stock and later transferred to a video produced by François Duplat. Released 2010, disc has LPCM stereo sound only. Grade: A
This is a fine-art motion picture film originally made in 1994 to show in movie houses. There were quite a few of such movies made over the years. Many of those films are still available today thru Criterion etc. But this is one of only several fine-arts movie to be remastered to video well enough to take advantage of Blu-ray presentation (as opposed to the VHS or DVD). Video resolution is better than DVD but not as good as typical HDVDs released from 2010 on. Because this was made to be shown in movie houses, it only has stereo sound. Long ago we excluded this title for age and stereo only. But recently Wonk Zach Farr argued that we should cover this and sent us his copy of the disc to reconsider.
Read MoreDebussy Pelléas et Mélisande opera to libretto by Maurice Maeterlinck. Directed 2012 by Nikolaus Lehnhoff at the Aalto-Musiktheater Essen. Stars Jacques Imbrailo (Pelléas), Michaela Selinger (Mélisande), Vincent Le Texier (Golaud), Doris Soffel (Geneviève), Wolfgang Schöne (Arkel), Dominik Eberle (Yinoid), and Mateusz Kabala (Doctor). Stefan Soltesz conducts the Essener Philharmoniker and the Opernchor des Aalto-Theaters (Chorus Master Alexander Eberle). Sets by Raimund Bauer; costumes by Andrea Schmidt-Futterer; lighting by Olaf Freese. Directed for video by Marcus Richardt. Sung in Italian. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A
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