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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Jessye Norman - A Portrait
An intimate and in-depth portrait of one of the world's greatest sopranos, a true primadonna assoluta! Yves Saint Laurent's garden paradise in Marrakech provides the lush, tropical background for this deep insight into Jessye Norman's professional and private life. Filmed by German film maker Andre Heller this DVD gives a deeply personal and emotional portrait of one of opera and lieder's most respected exponents. The film also includes 14 specially-staged performances in fantastical settings of her repertoire, of pieces by Mozart, Richard Strauss, Schoenberg, Ravel, Schumann, Mahler, Wagner, Purcell and Schubert and Berg. The performances give a beautiful and unique look at the artistic world of this very special diva. Filmed in widescreen, this is the first new Jessye Norman DVD for many years and is significant for being the only programme-length, in-depth interview film of both the public and personal sides of someone with a reputation for being fiercely protective of her privacy. Amongst many other subjects, Norman discusses her childhood, family, her idols, working relationships with different conductors and directors, how she chooses repertoire, her career path, her political views, relationships, attitudes towards religion, and her aspirations and dreams. The wide range of interview matter, coupled with the striking performances, make this DVD a fascinating, unusual and essential product for all vocal afficionados and certainly for the many fans of Jessye Norman. | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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Video Director - Brian Large Set & Costume Design - Michael Levine Lighting - Jean Kalman Choreographer - Serge Bennatham This is a star-led performance of one of the most popular romantic operas with the unrivalled pairing of Fleming and Hvorostovsky as the doomed lovers. Their onstage chemistry, emotional singing and outstanding acting make this a truly special and unique production. Thousands of movie-goers watched this production live in cinemas across Europe and the US in February 2007, when the production and the singing of the central characters met with great critical acclaim. Valery Gergiev, Russia's greatest living conductor, leads Russia's classic opera, with a thrilling account of Tchaikovsky's most intense and passionate score. Robert Carsen, described in the International Herald Tribune as 'one of the most sought-after stage directors on the operatic scene' creates an evocative and striking staging. Anne Midgette, reviewing this production in the New York Times, wrote, 'this remains one of the most extraordinarily beautiful stagings I've seen.' “Luxuriously cast but staged with restraint, Robert Carsen's production as revived by Peter McLintock has already reached wide audiences through the Met's live screenings. For one, Onegin really is central to the drama… Hvorostovsky's hero, always elegant in his long phrases, shows a human face to the rejection of the young and impressionable Tatyana and sensitively underlines the notion, heightened by Tchaikovsky's short duet of asides, that the senseless duel with his best friend Lensky might be stopped at any moment. ...Fleming comes into her own in the final blaze of passion, a truly cinematic scene between two charismatic stars. ...Gergiev conjures limpid but always well projected woodwind solos in the first act and powerful bass lines to emphasise lurking tragedy. He's also an inspiring presence in the short behind-the-scenes documentary.” BBC Music Magazine, April 2008 ****  BBC Music Magazine
DVD Choice - April 2008 |
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| |  | New Year's Concert 2008 (DVD)
Hellmesberger: | Kleiner Anzeiger - Galopp, Op. 4 | Lanner: | Hofball-Tänze (Court Ball Dances), Op. 161 | Strauss, J, I: | Pariser Walzer, Op. 101 Versailler Galopp, Op. 107 Damen-Souvenir-Polka, Op. 236 Chineser-Galopp, Op. 20 | Strauss, J, II: | Napoleon-Marsch, Op. 156 (1854) Indigo und die Vierzig Rauber: Overture Freut euch des Lebens Waltz, Op. 340 Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, Op. 214 Russischer Marsch Die Pariserin - Polka francaise, Op. 238 Kaiser-Walzer, Op. 437 | Strauss, Josef: | Dorfschwalben aus Österreich - waltz, Op. 164 Laxenburger Polka, Op. 60 Die Libelle - Polka mazur, Op. 204 |
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Recorded - Arena di Verona, Italy 2007 “There is a good sense here of the fitness of things, and of their grandeur too. As the camera roves and observes the great arena before the show begins, one becomes probably more aware of its size than if one were there in person with the milling crowds trying to find a seat. For a roof there is the spacious firmament on high, and onstage a structure that might have been designed to fill the Tate Modern. Then, as the opera unfolds, Verdi's music fills the auditorium and merely human voices rise to their almost superhuman task.
Vocally, and perhaps dramatically, the opera is dominated by Abigaille, an outsize soprano whose music makes harder demands upon voice and technique than almost any comparable role in opera. Guleghina is the Abigaille of our time: powerful, intense, wide of range, agile in passagework, and when need arises capable of softness.
If she were completely steady and if her timbre had an Italianate vibrancy and variety of coloration she would be ideal. As Nabucco, the veteran Nucci comes through with impressive authority and stamina, the middle of his voice still rich and ample. The High Priest, Zaccaria, the third major character, has one of the great bass roles in the Verdi repertoire: finely sung here by Carlo Colombara, firm, sonorous and noble in bearing.
Of the others, Fabio Sartori deserves mention, physically somewhat cumbersome, vocally fullbodied and incisive. Chorus and orchestra do the arena and its 2007 season credit, and the conductor, Daniel Oren, is well in control of his far-flung forces. The production team also wins its way through to grateful acknowledgment, despite the initial ill-will created by the blocks of scaffolding which suggest nothing more biblical than the local Ikea store in its early stages of construction. It has its uses, which include doing duty for the banks of the Euphrates, from which the Israelites sing (most beautifully) their immortal 'Va, pensiero'.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 “There is a good sense here of the fitness of things, and of their grandeur too. Guleghina is the Abigaille of out time: powerful, intense, wide of range, agile in passagework, and when need arises capable of softness. As Nabucco, the veteran Nucci comes through with impressive authority and stamina... Chorus and orchestra do the arena and its 2007 season credit.” Gramophone Magazine, May 2008 “[Nucci is] commanding as an unforgettable Nabucco. Maria Guleghina does not quite match him, but she is vocally strong as Abigaille...the special effects work well enough, and the whole performance is well held together by Daniel Oren and the magnificent singing of the Verona Chorus.” Penguin Guide, 2010 edition *** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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Recorded - Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg, December 2006 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Sung in the original English (written before the German version Die Schopfung).
Recorded: filmed 10 March 1990 in Gloucester Cathedral, UK | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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Renée Fleming (Violetta), Rolando Villazon (Alfredo) & Renato Bruson (Germont), Suzanna Guzmán (Flora), Ania Alkimova (Annina), Daniel Montenegro (Gastone), James Creswell (Grenvil), Philip Kraus (Baron Douphol), Lee Poulis (Marchese d'Obigny) Chorus and Orchestra of the Los Angeles Opera, James Conlon "My music was played, I came in and my eye's met Renée's eyes. That gorgeous look. I became Alfredo and all I wanted to do was melt Violetta's heart with the fire of my soul." Rolando Villazón Recorded: LA Opera 2006 “Fleming comes showcased here in Marta Domingo's ultra-conventional production: efficient and lavish, it offers no insights yet causes no offence. Fleming moves convincingly from feistiness to fragility, and brings vocal glamour to each of the musically contrasting Acts. She and Rolando Villazón's fresh and dark-toned Alfredo create an on-stage chemistry that is not lost on the appreciative audience.” BBC Music Magazine, February 2008 **** “[Fleming's] warm, vibrant quality makes its mark from her very first phrase...Bruson [is] well past his prime as a singer but patrician in manner and still refulgent in the centre of his voice...Conlon conducts levelheadedly” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 “The Los Angeles performance moved me more than any other Traviata has done in years… Fleming with one of the most lovely voices to be heard in the part…” Gramophone Magazine, April 2008 “Fleming is an ideal Violetta, singing radiantly, and Rolando Villazon is both ardent and rich-toned, never coarse. Their two personalities strike sparks off each other, yet their voices blend rapturously. Renato Bruson, too, is splendid, making a dignified and strong character of Germont Senior...Brian Large, as usual, covers the action with his cameras very perceptively” Penguin Guide, 2010 edition **** | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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“One of the Met's nights of stars, with a comparatively trim Pavarotti in great voice; only Leona Mitchell slightly below par. The sets and the playing are almost too sumptuous for this early raw work.” BBC Music Magazine, February 2008 **** “A quartet of major voices was on hand to fill the leading roles... Naturally, they gave fans of sheer vocalism a great deal to cheer about during the evening... Mr. Pavarotti gave a splendid full-throated performance... He was also a sensitive partner in the many ensemble numbers... Miss Mitchell filled the house gloriously... Mr. Milnes was a dominating force... Mr. Raimondi gave his usual solid performance, musically and dramatically... James Levine's conducting had plenty of passion and momentum” New York Times “While all four solo performances are superb, one has only to sample the finale to Act I to discover what an electrifying team they make...If Pavarotti dominates by the sheer ardour of his singing, overall this is a totally gripping performance, unlikely to be surpassed on DVD.” Penguin Guide, 2010 edition **** | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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“The Kirov's production is breathtakingly gorgeous... The star, of course, is the inimitable Uliana Lopatkina, who has been the Kirov's hottest ticket for many years. She merits the hype... her technical facility is extraordinary. Her first act pas de deux is a jaw-dropping display of molten, luxurious control and suspension.” The Boston Globe | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Orchestra!
Presented by Dudley Moore Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti The 2-DVD set traces the development of the orchestra from the time of Bach and Handel to the present day. It includes all eight programmes originally broadcast on Channel 4: 1) Introduction to the Orchestra 2) Upper Strings 3) Woodwind 4) Lower Strings 5) Brass 6) Percussion 7) Piano 8) The Conductor Featuring young musicians from around the world, this is an entertaining and educational celebration of the orchestra. | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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