Prices shown exclude VAT. (UK tax is not payable for deliveries to United States.)
See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  |
Andrea Bocelli stars in the title role of Giordano's romantic and passionate opera of life and death, set during the French Revolution. Andrea Chénier, a historical figure and poet who lost his life to the French Revolution, gave Giordano and his librettist, Illica, inspiration for an opera of action, intrigue, and betrayal that touches and thrills. The score and text beautifully underscore the triumph of love over death when Chénier and his beloved make their final exit to the guillotine. Accompanied by some of the most stirring music of the Italian repertoire, their closing duet is among opera's greatest moments. This new recording partners Andrea Bocelli with the aristocratic soprano of Violeta Urmana, who has sung the role of Maddalena at the world's leading houses, including The Metropolitan Opera, New York. “[Bocelli's] voice is real enough and unmistakably personal in timbre; he also sings with some emotional commitment, enunciating clearly and (often) phrasing imaginatively...[Urmana] has both warmth and authority: there is a reserve of aristocratic grandeur in her most tender utterances.” Gramophone Magazine, July 2010 “Violeta Urmana is a high-voltage Maddalena, and there's a superb Gérard from Lucio Gallo...Marco Armiliato is the exciting conductor, really bringing home the anguish of lives caught at a crisis point of history which ultimately lies beyond individual comprehension.” The Guardian, 12th August 2010 ** “Violeta Urmana is a quality Maddalena, Lucio Gallo a stalwart Carlo” BBC Music Magazine, October 2010 ** | | | (Sorry, download not available in your country) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
|
|
| |  |
This is the first complete recording on the new opera label SoloVoce. This recording from Turin places some of the best current Italian singers in the limelight and together they relish Verdi’s score in a strong ensemble performance. Ernani is regarded as one of the “cradles” of Verdi’s compositional style. Many audible details in this early opera soon became distinctive musical traits in his later works. “In overall performance is a convincing advocate...Daniela Dessì sings conscientiously and leaves an impression of sincerity...[Armiliato] is a tenor of impressive resources and in many effects scrupulous in method.” Gramophone Magazine, August 2010 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
|
|
| |  | Pergolesi - Dixit Dominus
Pergolesi Year 2010 marks the birth 300 years ago of a first rank composer and singular voice. Claudio Abbado’s affinity for Pergolesi is a joy to the ear and balm to the soul. The introductory album of maestro’s Pergolesi Project, the famous Stabat Mater, was rapturously received by the press Characteristic are these comments in The Times: “Abbado’s commitment to period style is never in doubt . . . He has exceptional soloists: Rachel Harnisch and Sara Mingardo in the Stabat, ravishing in the harmonic suspensions of their duets; a lovely toned Julia Kleiter in the Salve; and the exemplary Giuliano Carmignola in the rarely recorded Violin Concerto, a little masterpiece, all but forgotten by the mainstream.” For this third album of three, Abbado works once more with an excellent cast of singers including Rosa Bove, Rachel Harnisch, Julia Kleiter and Lucio Gallo. Live recording “One of the highlights of the third collection is Harnisch's account of the aria of unrequited love, Chi non ode e chi non vede, with its changing tempi and expressive anguish” Penguin Guide, 2011 edition | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
|
|
| |  | Recorded live at the Zurich Opera House in October 2008.
Melanie Diener (Leonore), Roberto Saccà (Florestan), Lucio Gallo (Don Pizarro), Alfred Muff (Rocco), Sandra Trattnigg (Marzelline), Christoph Strehl (Jaquino), Krešimir Stražanac (Don Fernando), Boguslaw Bidzinski (First Prisoner), Morgan Moody (Second Prisoner) Zurich Opera Orchestra & Zurich Opera Chorus, Bernard Haitink (conductor) & Katharina Thalbach (director) Translucence, transparency – warmth’ are the qualities identified by Bernard Haitink as necessary for an ideal sound performance of Beethoven’s only opera, and all are present in this fantastic recording of Katharina Thalbach’s new production for Opernhaus Zurich. Haitink conducts the Zurich Opera Orchestra in a magnificent performance in which Leonore Overture No. 3 provides an interlude between the two scenes of the second act, following a tradition started by Gustav Mahler. German soprano Melanie Diener, in the role of Leonore, leads a brilliant cast including Alfred Muff as Rocco, Roberto Saccà as Florestan, Sandra Trattnigg as Marzelline and Christoph Strehl as Jaquino. This High Definition recording with true surround sound marks the start of an exciting new collaboration between Opus Arte and Opernhaus Zurich. Extra features: Illustrated synopsis Cast gallery Running time 149 mins Region code All regions Picture format 16:9 Anamorphic Sound format 2.0 PCM & 5.0 DTS Menu language EN Subtitles EN/FR/DE/ES | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
|
|
| |  | Recorded live at the Zurich Opera House in October 2008.
Roberto Saccà (Florestan), Melanie Diener (Leonore), Alfred Muff (Rocco), Sandra Trattnigg (Marzelline), Christoph Strehl (Jaquino), Lucio Gallo (Don Pizarro), Krešimir Stražanac (Don Fernando), Boguslaw Bidzinski (First Prisoner), Morgan Moody (Second Prisoner) Zurich Opera Orchestra & Zurich Opera Chorus, Bernard Haitink (conductor) & Katharina Thalbach (director) Translucence, transparency – warmth’ are the qualities identified by Bernard Haitink as necessary for an ideal sound performance of Beethoven’s only opera, and all are present in this fantastic recording of Katharina Thalbach’s new production for Opernhaus Zurich. Haitink conducts the Zurich Opera Orchestra in a magnificent performance in which Leonore Overture No. 3 provides an interlude between the two scenes of the second act, following a tradition started by Gustav Mahler. German soprano Melanie Diener, in the role of Leonore, leads a brilliant cast including Alfred Muff as Rocco, Roberto Saccà as Florestan, Sandra Trattnigg as Marzelline and Christoph Strehl as Jaquino. This High Definition recording with true surround sound marks the start of an exciting new collaboration between Opus Arte and Opernhaus Zurich. Extra features: Illustrated synopsis Cast gallery Running time 149 mins Region code All regions Video codec: AVC/MPEG-4 Disc size: BD50 Picture format 1080i High Definition / 16:9 Sound format 2.0 PCM & 5.0 DTS Master Audio Menu language EN Subtitles EN/FR/DE/ES | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
|
|
| |  | Live Recording from The Puccini Festival, Torre Del Lago 2005
Set and Costume Designer - Nall The 51st Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago opened with a new production of an opera that is perhaps the composer‘s most underestimated work: “La Fanciulla del West” – often dismissed as a mere „western opera“. The musical director was Alberto Veronesi, artistic director of the festival. Ivan Stefanutti was the stage director, with spectacular sets by American painter Nall and an all-star cast including Daniela Dessì and Fabio Armiliato (the singers are regarded as two of the leading interpreters of Italian soprano and tenor roles) and the baritone Lucio Gallo. On 27 March 1918 Anton Webern wrote from Prague to his friend and teacher Arnold Schoenberg after attending a performance of “La Fanciulla del West”: “A score with many original sounds. Magnifi cent. Every bar a surprise. Very special sounds. Not a trace of kitsch!“ There is little to add to that. Sound Format: PCM STEREO, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1 DVD Format: DVD 9, NTSC Picture Format: 4:3 Letterbox Running Time: 138 mins FSK: 0 Subtitle Languages: IT, GB, DE, FR, ES, JP “...conducted with spirit by Veronesi, Lucio Gallo's dark-souled Rance is an asset, as are Daniela Dessì's feisty Minnie and Fabio Armiliato's bold bandit.” BBC Music Magazine, May 2010 **** “The drawing card is Daniela Dessi: her big, warm, Italianate voice clearly arises from the same gene pool as Renata Tebaldi's - a significant plus - though Dessi's vocal mileage is evident in Act 1 when gear shifts are audible. In the following two acts, though, language production becomes paramount, allowing Dessi to make an excellent stab at revealing Minnie's inner life...Lucio Gallo's few rough edges feel perfectly right for sheriff Jack Rance.” Gramophone Magazine, December 2011 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
|
|
| |  | Live Recording from The Teatro Comunale Florence, 2002
Co-Director C. P. Von Maldeghem, Set Design by Stefan Mayer & Costume Design by Moidele Bickel. Giuseppe Verdi’s 1857 opera, “Simon Boccanegra”, about the Genoese doge who in the 14th century strove for settlement and peace – an allegory for Italy’s modern battle for freedom -was unsuccessful. It was not until 24 years later that he was able to produce a new version together with his librettist, Arrigo Boito, who made the plot more appealing to the audience. But it is primarily in the music that Verdi now dares to pursue new avenues which although had already been established, are now to be consistently followed: arias and recitatives are replaced by a style of declamation that pervades the entire work. The orchestra too is ennobled from an accompanying ensemble to a commentarial one. In the production of the second version by Peter Stein, one of the biggest theatre directors of the 20th century, the production becomes a rediscovery of this opera. Claudio Abbado competently conducts the soloists and the choir and orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and yields an extraordinary sound. Sound Format: PCM STEREO DD 5.1, DTS 5.1 DVD Format: DVD 9, NTSC Picture Format: 16:9 Running Time: 143 mins FSK: 0 Subtitle Languages: GB, DE, FR, ES, IT, CN Region Code: 0 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
|
|
| |  | A Verdi Gala from Berlin
Verdi: | Excerpts from Un ballo in maschera, Don Carlo, Rigoletto, La Traviata & Falstaff |
Recorded live at the Philharmonie, Berlin, 30–31 December 2000 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
|
|
| |  |
| | | Usually despatched in 8 - 10 working days. |
|
|
| |  | Recorded live at the Royal Opera House, September 2011
Il Tabarro Lucio Gallo (Michele), Aleksandrs Antonenko (Luigi), Eva-Maria Westbroek (Giorgetta), Alan Oke (Tinca), Jeremy White (Talpa), Irina Mishura (La Frugola), Ji-Min Park (Venditore), Anna Devin, Robert Anthony Gardiner (Due Amanti) Suor Angelica Ermonela Jaho (Suor Angelica), Anna Larsson (La Zia Principessa), Eryl Royle (Suor Osmina), Anna Devin (Suor Genovieffa), Kathy Batho (Novice), Elizabeth Key (Suor Dolcina), Elizabeth Woollett (Nursing Sister), Gillian Webster, Kathleen Wilder (Due Cercatrici), Irina Mishura (La Badessa), Elizabeth Sikora (Maestra delle Novizie), Elena Zilio (La Suora Zelatrice) Gianni Schicchi Lucio Gallo (Gianni Schicchi), Ekaterina Siurina (Lauretta), Francesco Demuro (Rinuccio), Elena Zilio (Zita), Rebecca Evans (Nella), Marie McLaughlin (La Ciesca), Jeremy White (Betto di Signa), Gwynne Howell (Simone), Robert Poulton (Marco), Alan Oke (Gherardo), Filippo Turkheimer (Gherardino), Henry Waddington (Maestro Spinelloccio), Enrico Fissore (Ser Amantio di Nicolai), Daniel Grice (Pinellio), John Molloy (Guccio) Royal Opera Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Antonio Pappano (conductor) & Richard Jones (director) This is The Royal Opera’s first complete presentation of Puccini’s Il trittico since 1965. Leading director Richard Jones staged his witty, darkly comic realization of Gianni Schicchi for The Royal Opera in 2007, and here he completes the trio. 3 DVDs for the price of 1 Leading director Richard Jones staged his witty, darkly comic realization of Gianni Schicchi for The Royal Opera in 2007. The production was revived in 2012 and here he completes the trio with two new productions of Il Tabarro and Suor Angelica. Antonio Pappano conducts an acclaimed cast including Eva-Maria Westbroek, Ermonela Jaho, Lucio Gallo, Elena Zilio and rising star Francesco Demuro. These three one-act works were broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and went to cinemas world-wide in February 2012. Running time: 180 minutes Subtitles: EN/FR/DE/ES Sound format: 2.0LPCM + 5.1(5.0) DTS “a triumph...three wonderfully directed and expertly acted productions. Add in Pappano's impeccable conducting and his valuable introductions to the pieces, and you have a nigh-on ideal Trittico.” BBC Music Magazine, September 2012 ***** “In the theatre, Suor Angelica packed a stronger punch [than Il Tabarro]. Here, on DVD, it is little short of devastating...Jaho's youthful vulnerability is deeply moving...Gianni Schicchi is a wicked 1960s delight...Outstandingly filmed, this set marks a high point for live opera on DVD...I have no hesitation in making this new Trittico the top recommendation.” Gramophone Magazine, October 2012 “Pappano draws consistently fine playing from the orchestra...Gallo is in very good from as Michele...Westbroek gives her all in Giorgetta's contrasting scenes...Jaho dominates [Suor Angelica], of course, and in a role which she had never sung before...Gallo exhibits his facility for comic roles [in Schicchi]...One will have to look far to find a better trio of performances than these” International Record Review, September 2012  BBC Music Magazine
DVD Choice - September 2012 |
| | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |
|
Gramophone Magazine
BBC Music Magazine Awards 2013