DVD Videos

After his success with Freischütz, Weber wanted to write a grand romantic opera and in the end the subject of Euryanthe was chosen, a tale inspired by a legend going back to the thirteen century. Euryanthe is music of inspiration and originality such as is rarely found in the history of German opera in the first half of the nineteenth century. The Italianisms that are occasionally glimpsed in Freischütz are eliminated almost completely. Euryanthe is set to music in its entirety, with accompanied recitative passages that are often of great beauty. We may say that in an opera that has many experimental features Weber sought for the first and only time in his life to overcome the traditional dichotomy between spoken and sung parts, between recitative and closed numbers, creating a highly supple musical structure. The present production features a cast of specialists of German opera and the outstanding direction of Pier Luigi Pizzi. Subtitles in German, English, Italian, French and Spanish.

The only known DVD program of opera arias sung by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, in her most radiant and graceful form: the camera and microphone vividly capturing her special affinity with this repertoire

60 minutes, color.

Directed by Ruth Berghaus, Set Design by Hartmut Beyer & Costumes by Marie-Louise Strandt.

Arthaus Musik presents a DVD release of Weber’s masterpiece Der Freischütz in a production by the legendary director Ruth Berghaus. Chorus and orchestra of the Zurich opera are conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt, universally celebrated for the structural transparency of his interpretations, his intellectual penetration and his emotional understanding of both music and opera plot. An all-star cast made this production a highly memorable event, which was hailed by international music critics as a reawakening of this romantic opera by Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826).

Berghaus created this Freischütz for Zurich Opera in 1993 and its revival in 1999 provided an opportunity to recapture a vivid example of her work. Her style often negated naturalism - she considered imagery, sign, gesture and visual contradiction more important than narrative. With sets by Hartmut Meyer and costumes by Marie-Louise Strandt, Berghaus’ staging eschews the local peasant colour conventionally associated with Weber's opera. Regimented, black-clad villagers people a stage defined by monolithic planes and blocks of coloured light emphasises geometric patterns, creating stage pictures that evoke the art of the Russian Constructivists.

Weber’s glorious Romantic work was first performed in Berlin 1821 and was an immediate success. The famous chorus of the huntsmen is still a favourite with male choirs and performances of the opera have continued to captivate audiences with the work’s outpouring of grand and memorable music, its atmosphere of mystery and its dramatic depiction of good and evil. It is a gripping theatrical experience and this DVD recording provides the viewer with just that.

Stage direction Alex Ollé, Carlus Padrissa – La Fura dels Baus

Scenography Alfons Flores, Costumes Lluc Castells, Lighting Urs Schönebaum

High Definition recording : Teatro Real - Madrid: 09/2010

Bel Air present the hard-hitting new production of Kurt Weill’s Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny by Catalan collective, La Fura dels Baus, from the Teatro Real de Madrid. Composed in the 1930s by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, this is a mordant satire on capitalism in a society in which the ultimate crime is not having money. In 20 scenes the authors tell the story of a city lost in the middle of a desert and run by three thugs; in Mahagonny food, sex, gambling and violence rule supreme.

The production, by Alex Ollé and Carlus Padrissa of La Fura dels Baus, combines enormous inventiveness, joy and energy with awe-inspiring ferocity.

Perfect casting brings together a group of singers – Measha Brueggergosman, Michael König, Jane Henschel and Willard White – who are also marvellous actors. The Teatro Real Orchestra and Chorus are directed by young Spanish conductor Pablo Heras-Casado, who received the “El Ojo Crítico” prize in 2010, awarded annually to Spain’s most outstanding artists.

La Fura was founded in 1979 as a Catalan street theatre group. Key features of the ‘Furan’ language were already apparent: interaction with the audience, the use of unusual spaces and the adaptation of the show to the characteristics of each space. Their work for the opening ceremonies of the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Mediterráneo, mar olímpico brought La Fura dels Baus to an audience of billions throughout the world. Their first foray into opera was with La Atlántida, with frequent collaborator Jaume Plensa, and has developed as far as Wagner’s Ring Cycle and Boris Godunov, a daring reflection on the problem of terrorism, its limits and the manipulation it generates.

Stunning images and more information on www.lafura.com

16/9, NTSC, PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1

Total timing : 138 minutes

Subtitles : Fr, Eng, Ger, Spa

Lotte Lenya and Gisela May were the two most prominent interpreters of Brecht and Weill in the last century. Here, from 1958, is Lenya performing five of Kurt Weill’s songs from The Threepenny Opera, Happy End, Mahagonny and the Berlin Requiem. Gisela May performs Brecht songs with music by Weill, Heymann, and Dessau (1972). As a bonus, Martha Schlamme performs two songs of Weill, joined by Will Holt in one number. Approx. 80 minutes, black & white, color.