DVD Videos

Diana Damrau and Angelika Kirchschlager star in the acclaimed 2008 production of Humperdinck’s famous fairytale opera, in the company of two of Britain’s most revered musical figures: Thomas Allen, playing the role of the Father, and the legendary conductor Colin Davis. Directors Patrice Caurier and Moshe Leiser combine their characteristic wit and a dash of deliciously dark comedy with the opera’s fairytale charm. Humperdinck’s music mixes catchy folk-like songs with sumptuous instrumental colour, making the result as tunefully approachable, musically memorable and visually delightful as opera gets. Filmed in High Definition and recorded in full Surround Sound.

‘Angelika Kirchschlager’s tousled, boyish Hänsel and Diana Damrau’s Gretel are dramatically convincing and vocally superb, while their parents, excellently sung and played by Elizabeth Connell and Thomas Allen, earn our sympathy as well as our censure. Pumeza Matshikiza’s goblin-like Sandman is truly magical and Anita Watson’s feather-dusting Dew Fairy another amusing creation. Colin Davis, unafraid to relish the icing on the cake, draws a warm, effulgent sound from the orchestra.’ Evening Standard

Bonus material:

Illustrated synopsis & animated cast gallery.

Interview with Colin Davis.

Fairytales feature.

Cinema trailer.

Laurent Pelly (stage production)

A brand new, striking production of one of the most popular of operas: the only modern version of Humperdinck's classic in the Universal DVD catalogue

The first Hansel & Gretel DVD on Decca: Laurent Pelly's striking new production of Humperdinck's enduringly popular masterpiece.

The performance comes from Glyndebourne, where the production premiered in 2008. The singing and ensemble from the Glyndebourne cast is outstanding and received excellent reviews.

Laurent Pelly updates the action to the modern day, with the family living in a cardboard box and the witch's gingerbread house represented as the sweets and chocolate aisle of a supermarket! This makes for a striking twist on the traditional children's story.

Filmed in High Definition with substantial bonus - a 38 minute documentary including interviews with the cast, conductor and director.

Set Design and Costumes by Maurice Sendak.

Humperdinck‘s opera is steeped in the guileless world of folk-song: the children‘s songs and dances, the idyllic forest scenes, the supernatural material and the central thematic chorale are all rooted in German traditional music.

Frank Corsaro’s production for Zurich Opera was designed by Maurice Sendak. They have worked together on numerous highly-acclaimed opera stagings, all noted for their striking visual impact.

Sendak is renowned world-wide for his classic children’s books. His vivid, magical and often disturbing imagery is perfect for the fairy-tale world of Hänsel und Gretel. He expands the Witch’s gingerbread cottage into an entire farmyard of sweetmeats, complete with windmill. The house has a life of its own, with menacing, glowing eyes, which also dominate the stage during the ‘Witch’s Ride’ interlude.

This production of Humperdinck’s endearing and musically adroit opera will entrance adults and children alike.

Sound Format: PCM Stereo, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1

Picture Format: 16:9

DVD Format: DVD 9, NTSC

Subtitle Languages: DE, GB, FR, ES, IT

Running Time: 105 mins

FSK: 0

The legendary bass Feodor Chaliapin (1873-1938), regarded as one of the supreme singing actors of the 20th century, left an invaluable record of his art in this, his only sound film.

Though primarily an actor in this film, Chaliapin is afforded ample opportunity to sing. The musical score consists of four songs by Jacques Ibert and one by Alexander Dargomyzhsky. Don Quixote is directed by G. W. Pabst, described by Leonard Maltin as "one of the prime architects of modern cinema".

As was the case with many early sound films destined for international release, it was filmed both in English and French versions. This DVD presents both versions, with English, French, German, and Italian subtitles.

This volume of Naxos Musical Journey takes you on a memorable trip through Russia. Experience haunting scenes of winter in St. Petersburg or escape to the resort of Yalta on the Black Sea; climb the Odessa Steps as immortalized in Eisenstein's legendary film The Battleship Potemkin; travel across the breathtaking Russian countryside or stop in the old town of Khiva with its timeless mosques, medrese, tombs and palaces. This is a tour filled with the sights and sounds evoked in the melodies of Russia's greatest composers.

Following the success of the enlightening first series of Keeping Score, MTT and SFS return with three further programmes that combine one-hour documentaries with live concert performances. The new programmes explore the music and stories behind the music.

Each of the three DVDs in Keeping Score Series 2 features a documentary episode - with MTT guiding us through the composers’ perspectives and influences - coupled with a live concert performance of each work. The programmes are designed to engage and entertain viewers of all levels of musical background. With outstanding production values, they are released on DVD and Blu-Ray HD formats, making SFS the first orchestra to distribute its product on Blu-Ray disc.

Coming of age at the dawn of the twentieth century, Charles Ives saw the halcyon days of his youth fading fast. Not willing to let them go, he invented a striking new musical language to enshrine the feelings and ideals of a simpler time. But many, shocked by passages like the “fireworks” in ‘Fourth of July,’ found his new-fangled methods at odds with the memories he was trying to preserve. Did Ives go too far? Or did he succeed in turning his memories into music?

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

Janacek's opera, inspired by the 1920s newspaper cartoon character, Vixen Sharpears, returns to its roots with a specially-adaped version of the score prepared by conductor Kent Nagano for the animated film by Geoff Dunbar.

NB: No subtitles