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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Live Recording from The Zurich Opera House, 2001
Set Design by Stefanos Lazaridis With this opera, Verdi composed a true music drama. For this great early opera, he demanded from his librettist Francesco Maria Piave a text that would have “extravagance, originality brevity and sublimity.” Thomas Hampson made a triumphant début in the title role of Verdi’s Macbeth in this Zurich Opera production, with Paoletta Marrocu as his beautiful, power-hungry wife. In David Pountney’s hard-edged, post-modern production duality of man and woman is constantly brought into question. His Macbeth is not just a story about the usurpation of a crown with supernatural intervention, it resonates with symbolic references to the battle of the sexes and throws into sharp relief the link between power and gender. A strong supporting cast draws a top quality performance from the Zurich Opera Orchestra. Sound Format: PCM Stereo, DD 5.1 Picture Format: 16:9 DVD Format: DVD 9, NTSC Subtitle Languages: IT, GB, DE, FR, ES Running Time: 141 mins FSK: 0 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn
Thomas Hampson adds a special version of Des Knaben Wunderhorn to his huge discography of works by Gustav Mahler. Released in Mahler Year 2011, this album celebrates the 100th anniversary of the composer's death. It is Hampson’s first ever studio recording of the orchestra version of Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Hampson is joined by The Wiener Virtuosen, a chamber ensemble of the highly acclaimed principal players of the Wiener Philharmoniker. “Mahler’s music is a ‘sound cosmos’ unto itself […] It is a reflection of my own world, something that’s extraordinarily informative to me as human being.” (Thomas Hampson) “[Hampson] refines his forces to those of the Wiener Virtuosen...This has the effect of creating a wonderfully fresh imaginative take on the songs...these slimmer forces really put a spring in the music's step...And his choice of tempos...is often inspired...A constantly absorbing recital.” BBC Music Magazine, January 2011 **** “no performer has ever had a more comprehensive knowledge of the manuscript sources...Instrumentally speaking, the results are fabulous...Long-term admirers should not expect the immaculate finish...of the singer's youth. Instead we have a more autumnal brand of vocalisation, one that arguably suits these feisty, individualistic songs of ordinary folk.” Gramophone Magazine, February 2011 “Mahler’s whole world is here, rendered in a fabulously piercing and tender performance...It’s partly to do with the reduced chamber scoring used by the Vienna soloists, which makes Mahler’s orchestral colours seem unusually vivid. But Hampson is also on superb form, catching the music’s emotional complication as well as its folk-like simplicity.” The Telegraph, 4th February 2011 ***** “The principal revelations are instrumental, with sinewy, acerbic textures steering us into a world closer to German expressionism than post-romanticism.” The Guardian, 10th March 2011 *** | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | A Bach Christmas
CD 1 77.40 01 Magnificat, BWV 243 Chorus: Magnificat 02 “Meine Seel’ erhebt den Herrn”, BWV 733 Magnificat, BWV 243 03 Aria: Et exsultavit spiritus meus 04 Aria: Quia respexit humilitatem 05 Chorus: Omnes generationes Cantata BWV 10* 06 Chorus: Meine Seel’ erhebt den Herrn 07 Duet: Er denket der Barmherzigkeit 08 Lobt Gott, ihr Christen, allzugleich, BWV 609 Cantata BWV 1 09 Chorus: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern 10 “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern”, BWV 739 Cantata BWV 40 11 Chorale: Die Sünd’ macht Leid 12 Aria: Höllische Schlange, wird dir nicht bange? 13 “In dulci jubilo”, BWV 729 Cantata BWV 151 14 Aria: Süßer Trost, mein Jesus kömmt 15 In dulci jubilo, BWV 608 16 Cantata BWV 152 Concerto Cantata BWV 110 17 Chorus: Unser Mund sei voll Lachens 18 Orchestral Suite No.4, BWV 1069 Réjouissance Cantata BWV 121 19 Recitative: Doch wie erblickt es dich in deiner Krippe? 20 Chorale: Lob, Ehr’ und Dank sei dir gesagt 21 Wir Christenleut’, BWV 612 22 Cantata BWV 64 Aria:Was die Welt in sich hält 23 Mass in B minor, BWV 232 Sanctus CD 2 78.30 Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 01 Chorus: Jauchzet, frohlocket 02 Aria: Großer Herr, o starker König 03 Part II Sinfonia 04 Chorale: Brich an, o schönes Morgenlicht 05 Recitative: Und der Engel sprach zu ihnen 06 Aria: Frohe Hirten, eilt, ach eilet 07 Recitative: So geht denn hin 08 Aria: Schlafe, mein Liebster 09 Chorale:Wir singen dir in deinem Heer 10 Puer natus in Bethlehem, BWV 603 Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 11 Chorus: Herrscher des Himmels 12 Aria: Ich will nur dir zu Ehren leben 13 Vom Himmel hoch, da komm’ ich her, BWV 606 Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 14 Chorus: Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen 15 Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar, BWV 607 Cantata BWV 91 16 Aria: Die Armut, so Gott auf sich nimmt Cantata BWV 122 17 Chorus: Das neugebor’ne Kindelein 18 Aria: Ist Gott versöhnt und unser Freund 19 Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 610 20 Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod, arr. Pasatieri) 21 O Jesulein süß (Schemelli, arr. Bach)
Artists include Ton Koopman, Kurt Equiluz, Paul Esswood, Thomas Hampson, Max van Egmond, Tölzer Knabenchor, Knabenchor Hannover, Wiener Sängerknaben, Chorus Viennensis, The Choir of New College, Oxford, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Concentus musicus Wien, Leonhardt-Consort, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Gustav Leonhardt & Edward Higginbottom | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | The Gustav Mahler CelebrationRecorded live at Kaliště
On 7 July 2010 Kaliště in Czech Republic, where Gustav Mahler was born on this very day 150 years ago, the music world celebrated one of the greatest composers ever. The renowned Mahler Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Austrian maestro Manfred Honeck, and world famous soloists will commemorate the composer with an unique outdoor live concert. Gustav Mahler was born into a Jewish family in Kaliště on July 7, 1860 as the second of fourteen children. His exceptional musical gifts became apparent at an early age. He began giving music lessons when he was six, and at fifteen he was admitted to the Vienna Music Conservatory. He embarked on what was to become an extraordinary career as a conductor and operatic administrator when he was barely twenty. Mahler was best known during his own lifetime as one of the leading orchestral and operatic conductors of the day. He has since come to be acknowledged as one of the most important late-romantic composers Picture format DVD: NTSC 16:9 Sounds formats DVD: PCM Stereo, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1 Region code: 0 Booklet notes: English, German, French Running time: 78 mins FSK: 0 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Live Recording from The Vienna State Opera, 2002
Set Design by Stefan Mayer. One of the lesser known works by Giuseppe Verdi, Simon Boccanegra is regarded by most opera lovers as one of his finest. The action takes place in the 14th century and deals with the political and personal rivalry between the corsair Simon Boccanegra, who has been elected Doge of Genoa with the help of the plebeian vote, and the local nobleman, Jacopo Fiesco. Arthaus presents a „visually alert, musically sensitive and disturbingly coherent“ (Der Standard) production of the piece on DVD. The staging was directed by one of the giants of the European theatre, Peter Stein. His fondness for atmospherically dense spaces in which the characters can fully develop is particularly well brought out in his Vienna production, not least because he had at his disposal two remarkable singing actors for the principal male roles, Thomas Hampson and Ferruccio Furlanetto. The Vienna State Opera’s Simon Boccanegra was a great event in the house’s history, and the beauties of this unique work to blossomed under Daniele Gatti’s care. Sound Format: PCM Stereo, DD, 5.1, DTS 5.1 Picture Format: 16:9 DVD Format: DVD 9, NTSC Subtitle Languages: IT, GB, DE, FR, ES Running Time: 137 mins FSK: 0 “It is rare that you have a quintet of principals who sing with such clear and rock-steady tone...Hampson as Boccanegra is at his peak, singing magnificently. He is deeply moving opposite Cristina Gallardo-Domas as Maria in their great Recognition scene...[and] well matched by Ferruccio Furlanetto with his dark, finely controlled bass as Fiesco” Penguin Guide, 2010 edition **** | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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Opera for Children is a wonderful range which is being made available internationally. 15 world-famous operas accompanied by a booklet telling the story. Includes beautifully illustrated story book of the opera for parents to read to children. | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Thomas Hampson sings Schumann
If there is one genre of music which baritone Thomas Hampson is exceptionally passionate about, it is lieder. He has invested a great amount of time, work and love in luring this genre out of the shadows and particularly cherishes that of Robert Schumann. Hampson begins this Schumann recital, recorded at Munich's Prinzregententheater with Wolfram Rieger at the piano, with the famous cycle Zwölf Gedichte Op. 35 on poems by Justinus Kerner.The second part of the recital is devoted to the original version of the popular Dichterliebe Op. 48. In original cycle of 1840 there are four songs that were omitted from the later cycle.These works are featured here as first-ever recordings of these rediscovered works. "What makes him so rewarding in opera is the same artistry he brings to lieder - the command of music as a language, the sense of line and color, the range of effects" Opera News NTSC · 16:9, PCM Stereo · DD 5.1 · DTS 5.1 Region code: 0 Booklet: English, French, German Languages: German Subtitles: English, French, German Running time: 84 mins “The Kerner-Lieder make huge demands… Hampson and Wolfram Rieger show themselves to be more than equal to the task, however. Both singer and pianist are at one with the emotional evolution of the cycle. The editing of the longshots, middle-distance and close-ups is sensitively paced within each song, with lighting and camera angles faithfully recreating a live recital experience.” BBC Music Magazine, December 2009 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Sung in German
Filmed at the Theater an der Wien during performances in May 1997. Stage Director: Jürgen Flimm Set Design: Erich Wonder Costumes: Florence von Gerkan An all-star cast, world-famous choir and orchestra conducted by the renowned Nikolaus Harnoncourt came together in May 1997 to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Franz Schubert’s birth with a new production of his rarely performed opera Alfonso und Estrella. Despite his inexperience in the field, Schubert provides some of his most poignantly beautiful music, notable for its sensitive use of orchestral colour and strong vocal lines. Winner of two Emmys and many other prestigious awards, Brian Large directed this historic Vienna Festival production of one of Schubert’s most ambitious major works. | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Recorded live in concert in Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, 28 September – 2 October 2007
One of today’s most significant recording cycles continues with Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony offering another instalment in their award-winning cycle of Mahler vocal and orchestral works, this time tackling the exquisite and mysterious Das Lied von der Erde. The project’s uncommon critical and commercial success have brought the exceptional conductor-orchestra partnership two Grammy Awards and numerous citations throughout the world. Every release has entered the Top Ten of the Billboard Classical Chart. MTT has distinguished himself as one of the world’s foremost Mahler interpreters, and through his signature performances, as one of the composer’s most compelling advocates. Recently, his achievements were recognised by The Gramophone who named him Artist of the Year. Not only the music, but the guests on this recording are also impressive: worldwide famous and always mesmerizing baritone Thomas Hampson and tenor Stuart Skelton (who rose to fame singing the great Wagner and Strauss tenor roles). Most fans will be surprised to see the man doing the lower part – immortalized by great singers, such as Brigitte Fassbaender, Kathleen Ferrier and Christa Ludwig – but it is not uncommon nor the first time on record, and Thomas Hampson certainly has the credentials and experience in this role. Since the project began in 2001, the San Francisco Symphony has recorded eight of the nine Mahler symphonies, Kindertotenlieder and the Adagio from the unfinished Tenth Symphony and due to its commercial, critical acclaim and artistic success of the Mahler recording project, the SFS has expanded it to include all Mahler’s works for voices, chorus and orchestra, including a remastering of their earlier recording of Das klagende Lied. | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | The Vaughan Williams Experience
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Greensleeves Vaughan Williams: Linden Lea Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 2 - "A London Symphony" - II Lento / III Scherzo (Nocturne): Allegro vivace Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony: III Scherzo: The Waves Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony: IV The Explorers: O vast Rondure / O we can wait no longer / O thou transcendent / Away O Soul! Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis Vaughan Williams: The Wasps – Overture Vaughan Williams: Job - Dance of Job’s Comforters Vaughan Williams: Job - Elihu’s Dance of Youth and Beauty Vaughan Williams: Job - Pavane of the Sons of the Morning Vaughan Williams: Symphony No.5 in D Major - Scherzo Vaughan Williams: Symphony No.5 in D Major - Romanza Lento Vaughan Williams: Symphony No.6 in E minor - I Allegro Vaughan Williams: Symphony No.6 in E minor - II Moderato Vaughan Williams: Sinfonia Antartica (Symphony No.7) - I Prelude Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending
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