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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Recorded at the Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center, Houston, Texas, 17–18 March 2000
Stephanie Novacek (Jo), Joyce DiDonato (Meg), Chad Shelton (Laurie), Stacey Tappan (Beth), Margaret Lloyd (Amy), Daniel Belcher (John Brooke) & Chen-Ye Yuan (Friedrich Bhaer) Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, Patrick Summers Based on Louisa May Alcott’s enduringly popular novel about the adventures of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy in civil-war era New England, Mark Adamo’s opera Little Women has been performed in more than 70 national and international engagements since its 1998 première by Houston Grand Opera and has achieved the status of an American classic. This recording, with a superb cast expertly directed for television, vividly brings to life an opera that The New Yorker hailed as “A beautifully crafted work, brilliantly molding Alcott’s tale into operatic form,” and The New York Times dubbed a “masterpiece”. Stage Production Director: Peter Webster Directed for Television by Brian Large Set Designer: Christopher McCollum Sung in English • Subtitles in English Total Running Time: 114:53 NTSC: No Region Coding • Aspect Ratio: 16:9 • PCM Stereo 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 “It will prove too sentimental for some tastes...But you can't fault the performance, filmed in 2002 during a revival of the original Houston production. Joyce DiDonato fans will be fascinated by her self-assured Meg. But it's Stephanie Novacek's self-willed Jo, and Stacey Tappan, heart-rending as fragile Beth, that make the strongest impression.” The Guardian, 9th December 2010 *** “It's expertly staged and acted, and interesting to see the young Joyce DiDonato in repertoire far removed from her familiar one.” BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 2010 **** “What was an outstanding cast in 2000 is still astounding today...[Novacek] patiently creates for Jo a spectrum of intimate depth and then explores it with a sure dramatic touch and a voice of power and beauty...a convincing demonstration that Little Women could be an audience-pleaser wherever it plays.” Gramophone Magazine, March 2011 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Recorded live at Het Musiektheater, Amsterdam on 7th, 25th
& 29th June 2007.
Gerald Finley (J. Robert Oppenheimer), Jessica Rivera (Kitty Oppenheimer), Eric Owens (General Leslie Groves), Richard Paul Fink (Edward Teller), James Maddalena (Jack Hubbard), Thomas Glenn (Robert R. Wilson), Jay Hunter Morris (Captain James Nolan), Ellen Rabiner (Pasqualita) Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera & Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Lawrence Renes (musical director) & Peter Sellars (stage director) Note: This Blu-ray Disc (BD) is not compatible with standard DVD players The longing to overcome human boundaries led the physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer to begin an experiment that formed a threat to the whole of humanity, and whose scientific results still do today. The question of the moral implications of the atomic bomb is raised in John Adams’ opera, just as much as that of the influence on the private lives of the main characters. Doctor Atomic is the fifth work to result from almost twenty years of collaboration between the American composer and his fellow American director and Erasmus Prize-winner Peter Sellars. 'The cast is flawless… Adams has created a beautiful provocative work that refreshes the repertoire.’ The Times PICTURE FORMAT: 1080i
LENGTH: 231 Mins
SOUND: DOLBY TrueHD 5.1 & 2.0
SUBTITLES: EN/FR/DE/ES/IT/NL
“Doctor Atomic centres on the hours before the first detonation of the atomic bomb… Peter Sellars's film of the opera is expressionistic, claustrophobic, sometimes deliberately out of focus. The sound quality is exceptionally good, as is the singing and playing under conductor Lawrence Renes.” BBC Music Magazine, October 2008 ***** “Gerald Finley carries the problems of the world on his shoulders as Oppenheimer and the Netherlands Philharmonic and Lawrence Renes play like it’s the best score since Fidelio.” Gramophone Magazine, December 2008 “The heart throbs...in scenes featuring Jessica Rivera as Oppenheimer’s wife, the opera’s symbol of warmth, sensuousness, and hope. But these are moments: the overall tone stays cool, intellectual. We watch as observers, not participants. Sellars directed this TV version himself. There are virtues here, and vices. Cinema aficionados dismayed by static shots may revel in the nervous visuals, the quick editing and close-ups (you grow very familiar with Rivera’s tongue). But by fidgeting so much, Sellars the film director often works against the interests of Sellars the stage director. Body movements are truncated; the patterns of Lucinda Childs’s choreography get lost. All too rarely do we grasp the big picture and enjoy the full impact of Adrianne Lobel’s stark sets, with desert hills silhouetted and the bomb, cradled with wires, looming overhead like a malevolent planet. Finley, Rivera, Eric Owens and the rest of the cast are always as eloquent as the opera allows, and Lawrence Renes’s conducting is on the ball. Extras are disappointing: too much of Sellars holding forth, not enough on the production” The Times, 1st August 2008 *** | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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James Maddalena (Richard Nixon), Janis Kelly (Pat), Kathleen Kim (Chiang Ch'ing), Robert Brubaker (Mao Tse-tung), Russell Braun (Chou En-lai) & Richard Paul Fink (Henry Kissinger) Metropolitan Opera ‘The opera and the production may have come to the Met at just the right time to comprehend the continuing resonances of this audacious and moving opera.’ New York Times ‘A modern masterpiece.’ Washington Post Nonesuch Records releases the Metropolitan Opera's performance of John Adams' Nixon in China, with the composer conducting, on Blu-ray and DVD together in one package on November 19. The Met's production, staged by Adams' long-time collaborator Peter Sellars, stars James Maddalena as Richard Nixon, a role he created at the opera's world premiere in 1987 and has since performed at international leading opera houses, including the English National Opera, Netherlands Opera, and Brooklyn Academy of Music. Nixon in China was recorded and broadcast live in movie theatres around the world as part of The Met: Live in HD on February 12, 2011 - 10 days after the opera received its Met premiere. The opera's libretto is by American poet Alice Goodman, who also collaborated with Adams and Sellars on The Death of Klinghoffer. The Met's production, which was originally created by the English National Opera, features the work of the 1987 world premiere's design team, including set designer Adrianne Lobel, costume designer Dunya Ramicova, lighting designer James F. Ingalls, and choreographer Mark Morris. Nixon in China also features Janis Kelly as Pat Nixon, Kathleen Kim as Chiang Ch'ing, Robert Brubaker as Mao Tse-tung, Russell Braun as Chou En-lai, and Richard Paul Fink as Henry Kissinger. Adams, who regularly conducts major orchestras around the world, made his Met debut as conductor with Nixon in China; his opera Doctor Atomic had its Met premiere in a well-reviewed 2008 production. "I met Peter Sellars in 1983, and he proposed the idea and even the title for Nixon in China. My first response was pretty skeptical-Nixon was little more than a butt for late night comedians by that time," Adams tells the Met's Elena Park in an interview published in the Blu-ray/DVD's booklet. "But I eventually realized it was a perfect idea, and that it was right to find our mythology in our own contemporary history." In the same interview, Sellars says of Nixon in China's arrival at the Met: "It's very sweet after 25 years. We created it as anti-grand opera originally, and now it's beautiful that at the Met it can be genuinely grand. The work was made by a group of very young, very idealistic people. We were trying to show what opera can contribute to history, which is to deepen it and move it into its more subtle, nuanced, and mysterious corners, which might just open into more surprising and satisfying possibilities for a future." Menus: English Picture Format: 1080i 29.97 HD 16:9 Colour Mode: Color Region Code: All Region Disc Format: BD25 Duration: 177 mins Sound: (1) Dolby TrueHD 24-bit Surround (2) Dolby TrueHD 24-bit Stereo Subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese Bluray with DVD. “James Maddalena, the original Nixon, may have lost some vocal tautness, but his presentation of Nixon’s complex character has grown only richer. And most of his colleagues are magnificent: Janis Kelly, shining bright as Pat Nixon; Russell Braun, wonderfully pained and sombre as Zhou Enlai; Kathleen Kim as Chairman Mao’s wife, eyes and mouth dripping venom.” The Times, 30th November 2012 **** “As a record of [Sellars's, Adams's and Maddalena's] achievement, this is a valuable document...by 2011 Maddalena was in vocal decline. Future generations will see Nixon in China as the composer intended But it gives due prominence to Janis Kelly’s Pat Nixon and Kathleen Kim’s Madame Mao, and it is wonderful to be re-acquainted with Mark Morris’s choreography.” Financial Times, 29th December 2012 **** “Maddalena (though not in best voice) portrays a more noble Nixon pushed to his diplomatic limits. The heart of the opera is Pat Nixon, portrayed by Janis Kelly with less sense of submission and a lot more depth..Given Sellars's penchant for tight camera close-ups in his video direction, the opera often feels like the intimate chamber work that, in its conflicted heart, it actually wants to be.” Gramophone Magazine, March 2013 “Though vocally strained, James Maddalena brings baffled tenderness to the title role. Janis Kelly is a superb Pat Nixon, Russell Braun a noble Chou En-lai. Robert Brubaker's Mao is tetchy, while Kathleen Kim is an incendiary Madame Mao and Richard Paul Fink an oily Kissinger.” BBC Music Magazine, May 2013 **** “It’s hard to imagine the piece looking better...It sounds terrific too. A beaming Adams conducts, the players sharing his delight in what remains his most melodically generous score...This production is brilliantly cast – Janis Kelly’s weary Pat Nixon is a joy” The Arts Desk, 1st June 2013 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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Plácido Domingo (Cyrano), Sondra Radvanovsky (Roxane), Arturo Chacón Cruz (Christian), Rod Gilfry (De Guiche), Corrado Carmelo Caruso (Ragueneau), Roberto Accurso (De Valvert), Javier Franco (Carbon), Itxaro Mentxaka (La Duègne / Sister Marthe) & Nahuel di Pierro (Le Bret) Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana & Cor de la Generalitat Valenciana, Patrick Fournillier Stage Director & Stage Designer: Michal Znaniecki While best known today for having composed the ending to Puccini’s unfinished Turandot, Franco Alfano wrote some dozen operas, including Cyrano de Bergerac (1936) with a libretto by Henri Cain based on Edmond Rostand’s drama of the same name. It is a moving tale of romantic misunderstanding, swashbuckling bravado and heartbreaking loyalty, in which the eloquent Cyrano feels unable to express his love for Roxane because of his famously protuberant nose – except on behalf of his handsome but inarticulate friend, Christian. HIGH DEFINITION 1080i PCM Stereo ● DTS-HD 5.1 Total Running Time: 141:04 “Domingo is unquestionably moving and makes a good case for having added the title role to his huge gallery of characters; his dark tone can still be thrilling and he is a more committed actor than many of his colleagues. …Sondra Radvanovsky matches him as a spirited Roxane, using her gleaming soprano to musical effect. Michal Znaniecki's traditionally costumed production... works effectively enough in tandem with Patrick Fournillier's light-textured conducting.” BBC Music Magazine, March 2010 **** “Domingo's…voice is also caught in marvellously fine condition. This may well be the heroic last act in his career as the world's greatest tenor, and in the final scene especially his performance is intensely moving.” Gramophone Magazine, March 2010 “the sets are simple but effective...Sondra Radvanovsky makes for an impressive Roxane...Domingo’s voice remains remarkably powerful and eloquent, even if the high notes are noticeably effortful once or twice. His death scene is genuinely touching...The performance is well filmed, visually, with some split screens from different camera angles and the occasional slow-motion reminiscence of earlier action” Opera Britannia, 30th June 2011 ***/**** | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | 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. |
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| |  | Recorded in Teatro Massimo, Catania
Michele Kalmandi (Filippo Maria Visconti), Dimitra Theodossiou (Beatrice di Tenda) José Maria Lo Monaco (Agnese de Manio), Alejandro Roy (Orombello), Michele Mauro (Anichino), Rizzardo del Maino (Alfio Marletta) Orchestra & Chorus of Teatro Massimo, Catania, Antonio Pirolli (conductor) & Henning Herman Brockhaus (stage director) Beatrice di Tenda is a relatively unknown and rarely recorded opera composed by Vincenzo Bellini. Available on Blu-Ray and DVD. World Premiere On Blu-Ray. | 
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| |  | Recorded live at the Netherlands Opera, October 2009
Daniel Borowski (Lord Gualtiero Valton), Mariola Cantarero (Elvira), Riccardo Zanellato (Sir Giorgio), John Osborn (Lord Arturo Talbot), Scott Hendricks (Sir Riccardo Forth), Gregorio Gonzalez (Sir Bruno Roberton), Fredrika Brillembourg (Enrichetta di Francia) Chorus of the Netherlands Opera & Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Giuliano Carella (conductor) & Francisco Negrin (director) In Vincenzo Bellini’s last opera, Elvira’s love for Arturo overcomes the power-games in Puritan England, staged with darkly dramatic flair by Francisco Negrin as a world of blind dogma. Mariola Cantarero is compelling as the heroine on the verge of insanity in one of the greatest mad scenes in the history of opera. One of the leading lyric tenors today, John Osborn sings Arturo with fearless commitment and some spectacular top notes. In the pit is the bel canto specialist Giuliano Carella. Running time: 173 minutes Subtitles: EN/FR/DE/DU Sound format: 2.0LPCM + 5.1(5.0) DTS “Negrin gets some excellent performances from his cast, who are able to express emotion without being either hammy or cheesy. Scott Hendricks as the rejected lover sings nobly after a gusty start...Osborn manages a stupendous top F, non-falsetto, and his singing in the trio, lyrical but desperate, is even more wonderful...Go on, give it a whirl.” Gramophone Magazine, March 2013 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Bellini - I Puritani
| | | DG - 0734489 (Blu-ray) Normally: $26.75 Special: $20.06 |
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| |  | Recorded live at Het Muziektheater, Amsterdam, in 2005.
Hasmik Papian (Norma), Irini Tsirakidis (Adalgisa), Hugh Smith (Pollione), Giorgio Giuseppini (Oroveso), Anna Steiger (Clotilde), Carlo Bosi (Flavio) Nederlands Kamerorkest, Julian Reynolds (musical director) & Guy Joosten (stage director) In Guy Joosten’s ingenious production of Bellini’s masterpiece, Norma is about more than just beautiful singing. It becomes a layered, timeless drama in which Norma is the archetypal successful woman struggling to retain her dominant but vulnerable position. Hasmik Papian’s lyrical and intense interpretation of the title role accentuates the striking similarity between a Druid high priestess and a modern opera diva. Conductor Julian Reynolds guides the brilliant cast, choir and Netherlands Chamber Orchestra to great heights, providing a refreshing new take on the chef d’oeuvre of bel canto. Note: This Blu-ray Disc (BD) is not compatible with standard DVD players PICTURE FORMAT: 1080i
LENGTH: 188 Mins
SOUND: 2.0 & 5.0 PCM AUDIO
SUBTITLES: EN/FR/DE/ES/IT/NL
“Joosten’s staging is quirky and fun, and offers plenty of scope for campery… first rate singing from Hasmik Papian and Irini Tsirakidis as Norma and Adalgisa, and conducting as exciting as it is elegant from Julian Reynolds.” Classic FM Magazine | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Recorded at the Felsenreitschule during the Salzburg Festival 2011
Patricia Petibon (Lulu), Pavol Breslik (The Painter/A Negro), Michael Volle∙(Dr. Schön/Jack the Ripper), Cora Burggraaf (Dresser/High_School Boy/Groom), Franz Grundheber (Schigolch), Thomas Piffka (Alwa), Thomas Johannes Mayer (An Animal Tamer/Rodrigo), Heinz Zednik (The Prince/The Manservant), Andreas Conrad (The Marquis), Martin Tzonev (The Theatre Manger/The Banker), Emilie Pictet (A Fifteen-year-old girl), Cornelia Wulkopf (Her Mother) Wiener Philharmoniker & Upper Austrian Jazz Orchestra, Marc Albrecht Vera Nemirova, staging Vera Nemirova’s challenging production of Berg’s operatic masterpiece Lulu won critical acclaim when first seen at the Salzburg Festival in 2010, and was successfully repeated in 2011, when the production was filmed for DVD. Supporting Nemirova’s powerful vision of corruption, decadence and death were the highly praised set designs by the young German artist Daniel Richter. Musically the production was led with style and assurance by the brilliant young German conductor Marc Albrecht, currently director of the Netherlands Opera. Singing Lulu with allure and passion was the lauded French soprano Patricia Petibon, whose charms gripped an outstanding cast of top European singers. Lulu is a very rarely performed work, which was also left unfinished by the composer. This performance includes the missing 3rd act, which was completed by Friedrich Cerha, winner of the Salzburg Music Award 2010. Picture format DVD: 1080i - 16:9 Sound formats DVD: PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1 Region code: 2,3,4,5,6,8 Subtitles: English, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean Booklet notes: English, German, French Runnning time: 173 mins “Musically there is plenty to admire...Ultimately, it is Volle as Dr Schon and Jack the Ripper who impresses most...Petibon's background in early music may be thought to give her an unusual degree of vulnerability...After a cautious start, her performance gains conviction as it proceeds...this is one of those recordings that takes time to reach the dark, disturbed heart of Berg's most ambivalently poised and perturbing work” Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2012 “The singing and acting of Patricia Petibon as Lulu is magnificent. She is that rare creature, a singer with the face and figure of a model...One does not have to wonder why men fall under her spell and even die of it...Almost all of the staging and costuming is dedicated to the service of this music. It is not necessary to suspend one's disbelief as so often happens in current opera staging: here one is gripped from beginning to the disturbing and bloody end.” MusicWeb International, August 2012 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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