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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Recorded live at the Teatro Real, October 2009
Mette Ejsing (Grandmother Buryja), Miroslav Dvorský (Laca Klemen), Nikolai Schukoff (Števa Buryja), Deborah Polaski (Kostelnicka Buryja), Amanda Roocroft (Jenufa), Károly Szemerédy (Foreman), Miguel Sola (Mayor), Marta Mathéu (Mayor’s wife), Marta Ubieta (Karolka), María José Suárez (Shepherdess), Sandra Ferrández (Barena), Elena Poesina (Jano) & Marina Makhmoutova (Aunt) Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Real, Ivor Bolton (conductor) & Stéphane Braunschweig (director) The vulnerable young woman at the heart of Janacek's breakthrough opera is a signature role for the English soprano Amanda Roocroft. Here, in Stéphane Braunschweig's clear but deeply affecting production, she is partnered by the Slovak tenor Miroslav Dvorsky, as the man through whom she finds redemption, love and hope. The complex figure of the Kostelnicka becomes both tormentor and tormented in this fearless interpretation by the great dramatic soprano Deborah Polaski. Extra features: Cast gallery Illustrated synopsis Running time 136 mins Region Code All regions Picture format 16:9 Anamorphic Sound format 2.0LPCM + 5.1(5.0) DTS Menu languages EN Subtitles EN/FR/DE/ES “Braunschweig gives us Jenufa stark and simple, the stage almost bare, the opera's emotions stripped to the bone...Nothing is allowed to deflect concentration from the central human drama. Amanda Roocroft has won laurels as Jenufa in various stage productions and comes across as a deeply sincere performer here, even if the voice is apt to turn shrill at the top...[Polaski's] very understatement is moving in its own way.” Gramophone Magazine, November 2011 “Something in the composer's writing brings out the best in [Roocroft's] creamy voice and committed acting, and here she's superb as a young woman who forgives her stepmother for committing a terrible crime. Deborah Polaski, as the stepmother, sings with fierce power” Classic FM Magazine, November 2011 *** “Roocroft plays a Jenufa who moves believably from innocent girl to disillusioned woman...Only very occasionally do the musical care and dramatic restraint of Polaski's Kostelnicka not go quite far enough, but rather that than over-the-top histrionics...Schukoff exudes unmistakable sexual allure in his caddish role.” International Record Review, October 2011 “[Roocroft's] voice seems perfect for the role and she sings it superbly, as does Polaski as the Kostelnicka. Both characters come off as multi-dimensional, but Roocroft seems older than what one would expect...[Bolton]has the measure of the score and the orchestra plays very well for him. He balances the powerful sections where the timpani pound and the brass are given the lead, with the more lyrical passages” MusicWeb International, August 2012 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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Karita Mattila (Katia), Oleg Bryjak (Dikoi), Miroslav Dvorsky (Boris), Dalia Schaechter (Kabanicha), Guy de Mey (Tikhon), Gordon Gietz (Koudriash), Natascha Petrinsky (Varvara), Marco Moncloa (Kouliguine), Itxaro Mentxaka (Glacha) & Maria José Suerez (Flekloucha) Coro y Orquesta del Teatro Real de Madrid, Jiří Bělohlávek Critical edition by Sir Charles Mackerras Production: Robert Carsen Costumes and sets: Patrick Kinmonth Lighting: Robert Carsen & Peter Van Praet Production shared with Vlaamse Opera d’Anvers At last, this magical production of Katia, by Robert Carsen, recorded at the Teatro Real de Madrid, in December 2008, and which was hailed unanimously by the critics as ‘almost perfect’. The Teatro Real Orchestra gives one of its best performances under maestro Jiří Bělohlávek, whose conducting emphasises the passion with delicacy and drama. All the action takes place on a huge body of water which reflects images of extraordinary grace, sculpted by sublime light. The stage is dominated by the extraordinary Karita Mattila in a performance of incredible intensity: the best Katia imaginable for this Janacek masterpiece. Running time: 1.48’ and extras: interviews with Robert Carsen and Jiri Belohlavek 23’30 “Its luminosity is reflected in Jiří Bělohlávek's conducting, undoubtedly the most airily lyrical Katya I can remember, which uses Mackerras's edition but applies less spiky gestures...[Mattila] refines her bright dramatic soprano sufficiently to sound fresh and eager, then captures an edge of hysterical guilt.” BBC Music Magazine, January 2011 ***** “Jiří Bělohlávek plainly loves this score and paces it well...Mattila is, without a doubt, an outstanding Kat'a...she gives a vocally splendid account, sensitively inflected and radiant at climactic moments...[Dalia Schaechter is] admirably bitter and twisted...[Oleg Bryjak] demonstrates a fine understanding of [his] role, singing with a kind of gruff belligerence that is just right for the part” International Record Review, March 2011 “This is an excellent production...Mattila as Kat'a is stupendous...[her] faultless in its progression from hesitancy to impassioned resolve. In the final monologue, her hair dishevelled, her misery and longing are heartbreaking. Throughout, Mattila sings with a flood of golden tone… Bělohlávek's conducting is beautifully judged, whether in tension or release. Utterly brilliant!” Gramophone Magazine, April 2011 | | | fRA - FRA503 (Blu-ray) Normally: $41.25 Special: $28.87 |
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| |  | Recorded live at the Opera Bastille in Paris Oct/Nov 2008
Elena Tsallagova (Vixen), Jukka Rasilainen (Forester), Michele Lagrange (Forester's Wife), David Kuebler (Schoolmaster), Roland Bracht (Priest), Paul Gay (Harasta), Hannah Esther Minutillo (Fox) Orchestra, Chorus & Atelier Lyrique of Opera National de Paris, Dennis Russell Davies +Bonus: An encounter backstage at the Paris Opera with Gerard Mortier, Andre Engel and Elena Tsallagova. "Enchanting staging…The sound is splendid, the video direction simply fabulous. Everyone, Tsallagova above all, responds beautifully to close-ups…make sure your whole family enjoys it with you!" IRR 1080i 16:9, PCM 2.0, DTS-HD Master Audio Original Language: Czech, Subtitles: English, German, French 101 mins (Opera) + 20 mins (Bonus) all audiences (FSK 0) | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Recorded live at Glyndebourne Festival Opera, June 2012
Lucy Crowe (Vixen), Emma Bell (Fox), Sergei Leiferkus (Forester), William Dazeley (Harasta), Mischa Schelomianski (Badger/Parson), Jean Rigby (Forester's Wife/Owl), Adrian Thompson (Schoolmaster/Mosquito), Colin Judson (Pásek, Innkeeper), Sarah Pring (Innkeeper’s Wife) London Philharmonic Orchestra, Glyndebourne Chorus, Vladimir Jurowski (conductor) & Melly Still (director) Sung in Czech with subtitles in English, French, German and Korean. The tale of a quick witted fox and her escape from confinement for a life in the forest that is by turns joyful and violent, The Cunning Little Vixen is an unsentimental parable of death and rebirth that lives through the instinctive and immediate world of nature, animal and human, which Janacek loved so much. Melly Still's production for Glyndebourne finds the 'delicate balance between whimsy and mysticism' (Daily Telegraph) at the heart of the opera, which Vladimir Jurowski conducts 'with lustrous style: you can hear the birds in the score, feel the sunshine and thrill to the starlit night sky in the final scene' (Opera Today). Running Time: 119 minutes Subtitles EN/FR/DE/KR Sound format: 2.0LPCD plus 5.1(5.0) DTS | 
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| |  | from Salzburg Festival 2011
Angela Denoke (Emilia Marty), Raymond Very (Albert Gregor), Peter Hoare (Vitek), Jurgita Adamonyte (Krista), Johan Reuter (Jaroslav Prus), Jochen Schmeckenbecher (Dr. Kolenaty), Ales Briscein (Janek), Linda Ormiston (Scottish servant), Peter Lobert (civil servant), Ryland Davies (Hauk-Sendorf) Wiener Philharmoniker, Esa-Pekka Salonen Staged by Christoph Marthaler One of the highlights from the 2011 Salzburg Festival. With Angela Denoke in the lead role, this emotionally powerful opera was given superior treatment at the hands of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under Esa-Pekka Salonen. The staging by Christoph Marthaler received fantastic reviews from all over the world. Janáček’s absorbing masterpiece The Makropulos Case reflects all the dominant musical styles of the early 20th century, from Bohemian tunefulness to big Straussian phrases, Berg-like jaggedness and primeval rhythms. Running Time Total: 135 minutes Picture 16:9, HD BD: DTS-HD MA 5.1, PCM Stereo Sung in Czech (original language), English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese, Korean subtitles “the Prelude is done with energy and a fine sense of Janacek's gritty, brilliantly lit orchestral writing...[Denoke] is vocally strong as well as having a striking stage presence: mysterious in the first and vulnerable in the last...Very's Albert Gregor is accurately sung and well characterized: Gregor is a hopelessly weak figure, in thrall to Marty and ridiculed by her. Very captures this astutely and sings the taxing role with a welcome lack of strain.” International Record Review, May 2012 “The vocal performances are nearly all compelling. The men - Janacek's usual weak and neurotic bunch - are entirely believable...Both the lead and female roles are remarkably complete. Jurgita Adamonyte as the starry-eyed Krista, delivers abundant ravishing tone, and Angela Denoke is an utterly credible Marty: commanding elegantly seductive and exuding a poignantly believable world weariness.” BBC Music Magazine, June 2012 **** “Musically this is a very fine version of The Makropulos Affair. It’s dominated by the superb presence of the Vienna Philharmonic in the pit. They’re Salzburg regulars but here they cast a special magic over a score that can sometimes sound jagged or fragmentary...[Denoke] commands the stage with her charismatic presence...her voice is superb, rich and beautiful with a lovely bloom that helps to suggest the character’s great experience” MusicWeb International, August 2012 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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