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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Recorded live at the Royal Opera House, December 2012
Bryan Hymel (Robert), Patrizia Ciofi (Isabelle), John Relyea (Bertram), Marina Poplavskaya (Alice), Nicolas Courjal (Alberti), David Butt Philip (Master of Ceremonies), Pablo Bemsch (Second Chevalier/Herald), Ashley Riches (Prince of Granada), Jihoon Kim (Fourth Chevalier/Priest), Jean-Francois Borras (Raimbaut) & Dušica Bijelic (Lady-in-waiting to Isabelle) Royal Opera Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Daniel Oren (conductor) & Laurent Pelly (director) A grand opera that dominated the stages of Europe for most of the 19th century, Robert le diable is a masterpiece. Director Laurent Pelly breathes new life into Giacomo Meyerbeer’s great spectacle and audaciously entertaining moral fable, in this colourful new staging for The Royal Opera. The wonderful score includes brilliant arias, dramatic ensembles, rousing choruses and a ballet of ghostly nuns, and with the wavering hero of the title sung by Bryan Hymel, acclaimed for his role as Énée in Les Troyens for The Royal Opera and the Metropolitan Opera, this is an unmissable experience. Premiered in 1831, it was one of the first grand operas staged at the Paris Opéra. Meyerbeer’s European fame was initiated with “Robert” – performed 470 times in Paris alone by the time of the composer’s death in 1864. “It is a masterpiece...Meyerbeer has made himself immortal” (Frédéric Chopin) Extra features: ‘The legacy of Robert le diable, and a cast gallery. Running time: 122 minutes Subtitles EN/FR/DE/JP/KR Sound format: 2.0LPCM + 5.1(5.0) DTS | 
| | | Scheduled for release on 3 June 2013. Order it now and we will deliver it as soon as it is available. |
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| |  | Recorded live at the Royal Opera House, March 2012
Choreography Kenneth MacMillan. Given its premiere by The Royal Ballet in 1965 with Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn dancing the title roles, Kenneth MacMillan’s first full-evening ballet has become a signature work for the Company, enjoying great popularity around the world. From the outset, the production teems with life and colour as the townspeople, market traders and servants of the rival Montagues and Capulets go about their daily business in vibrant crowd scenes. But Romeo and Juliet take centre stage for those great pas de deux: the meeting in the ballroom, the balcony scene, the morning after the wedding and the final devastating tomb scene. Although The Royal Ballet has performed Romeo and Juliet over 400 times, each performance and pairing is subtly different, and Lauren Cuthbertson and Federico Bonelli are utterly captivating in the title roles. This performance was broadcast live from Covent Garden to cinemas worldwide. Kenneth MacMillan's first full-evening ballet has become one of The Royal Ballet's signature works. This production was one of the big successes of last season’s Royal Opera House Live Cinema Season. Acclaimed performances by star principals, Lauren Cuthbertson and Federico Bonelli. Extra features: Documentaries on Kenneth MacMillan's production, and "Sharps, Points and Pirouettes" the famous sword fight scene. Includes deluxe slipcase. Running time: 158 minutes Subtitles (extra features only): EN/FR/DE/IT/ES/PT/JP Sound format: 2.0LPCM + 5.1(5.0) DTS |
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| |  | An Evening With The Royal Opera
Bringing together a collection of arias and choruses from some of the world’s favourite operas, this disc showcases the outstanding artists and productions from the stage of the Royal Opera House. The perfect gift for anyone who loves opera. A unique collection from one of the world’s finest opera houses, showcasing the international opera stars and famous Royal Opera House productions. The comprehensive packaging will include a synopsis of each opera, suggestions for further exploration of the catalogue and full subtitles. International stars featured in the collection include: Jonas Kaufmann, Renee Fleming, Simon Keenlyside, Gerald Finley and Miah Persson. Running time: 80 minutes Subtitles: EN/FR/DE/JP/ES Sound format: 2.0LPCM + 5.1(5.0) DTS “all musically exceptional” BBC Music Magazine, May 2013 **** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | An Evening With The Royal Ballet
Highlights from: Coppélia, Giselle, La fille mal gardée, Romeo & Juliet, Swan Lake, Sylvia The Firebird, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Divertissements Romeo & Juliet Act 1 Dance of the Knights Voices of Spring pas de deux The Sleeping Beauty Rose Adagio The FirebirdFirebird's Dance La fille mal gardée Act 2 - Fanny Elssler pas de deux La fille mal gardée Act 2 - Clog Dance GiselleAct 2 - Grand pas de deux Romeo & Juliet Act 2 - Balcony Scene Sylvia Act 3 - Pas de deux (Andante) Swan Lake Act 2 - Dance of the Cygnets Coppélia - Swanilda impersonates Coppelia The Nutcracker Act 2 - Grand pas de deux (includes Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy) Swan Lake Act 4 - Finale (Pas de trois)
Carlos Acosta, Tamara Rojo, Lauren Cuthbertson, Alina Cojocaru, Marianela Nunez, Darcey Bussell, Johan Kobborg, Leanne Benjamin, Roberto Bolle, Thiago Soare, Luke Heydon, Miyako Yoshida, Christopher Saunders Orchestra of the Royal Ballet, Covent Garden The perfect gift for anyone who loves ballet. A unique collection from one of the world's leading ballet companies, showcasing scenes from some of the world's best-loved ballets. Ballet principals include: Carlos Acosta, Tamara Rojo, Lauren Cuthbertson and Marianela Nunez. The comprehensive packaging will include a synopsis of each ballet, and suggestions for further exploration of the catalogue. Running time: 95 minutes Subtitles: N/A Sound format: 2.0LPCM + 5.1(5.0) DTS “This compilation taster of the great classics offers knockout performances, leaving one hankering to see the complete work. Don't miss Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg in Giselle.” BBC Music Magazine, January 2013 ***** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Recorded live at The Royal Opera House, 13 June, 2011
Black, red, cream and gold are the colours that define Phyllida Lloyd’s Royal Opera House staging of Verdi’s robust, yet penetrating setting of Shakespeare’s Scottish play. Manipulated by a whole coven of cunning, scarlet-turbanned witches, the characters often evoke figures in a splendid Gothic fresco. With Simon Keenlyside making his British role-debut, as an athletic, brooding Macbeth and Liudmyla Monastyrska as his Lady, both imperious and subtle, this performance, masterfully conducted by Antonio Pappano, goes far beyond mere sound and fury. This production went out LIVE to cinema screens around the world. …an impressive company showcase, full of moments when chorus and orchestra are at full throttle. Whipped up by Antonio Pappano's baton, they sound truly thrilling.’ The Guardian Extra features: Cast gallery Interviews with Simon Keenlyside, Raymond Aceto and Liudmyla Monastyrska Rehearsing Macbeth with Antonio Pappano Running time 170 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/IT/ES “Lloyd's Covent Garden staging of Verdi's opera has a good deal going for it; there's plenty of atmosphere in Anthony Ward's aptly dark-toned sets...Keenlyside sings the title role with imagination and insight, even if his lyric approach doesn't command the full cut and thrust of a true Verdi baritone...Pappano is an authoritative Verdian, punching the score out into the theatre.” BBC Music Magazine, May 2012 **** “you know that Keenlyside is an accomplished lieder-singer by the dramatic precision in this phrase readings throughout (his Act 4 aria has such emotional transparency he almost breaks your heart)...Monastyrska unleashes such pent-up venom with her sharp-edged vocalism that the total package is almost too psychologically repulsive...the production is wonderfully atmospheric...Pappano is the most important artistic catalyst” Gramophone Magazine, July 2012 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Frederick Ashton: Les Patineurs, Divertissement & Scènes de ballet
Meyerbeer: | Les Patineurs Laura Morera, Samantha Raine, Steven McRae, Sarah Lamb, Rupert Pennefather, Christina Arestis, Francesca Filpi, Ryoichi Hirano, Kenta Kura, Liam Scarlett & Andrej Uspenski Paul Murphy | Stravinsky: | Scènes de ballet Miyako Yoshida, Ivan Putrov, Edward Watson & Lauren Cuthbertson Barry Wordsworth |
Divertissement Tchaikovsky: Awakening Pas de deux (1968) Darcey Bussell & Jonathan Cope Massenet: Thaïs Pas de deux (1971) Mara Galeazzi & Thiago Soares Paganini: Devil’s Holiday Variation (1939) Viacheslav Samodurov Brahms: Five Brahms Waltzes in the manner of Isadora Duncan (1975) Tamara Rojo Strauss: Voices of Spring Pas de deux (1977) Leanne Benjamin & Carlos Acosta Tommasini after Paganini: Devil’s Holiday Pas de deux (1939) Laura Morera & Ricardo Cervera Conductor Barry Wordsworth
Founder choreographer of The Royal Ballet, Frederick Ashton created more than 100 ballets over a 60 year career. Showcasing three of his shorter works, this disc reflects the breadth of his sophisticated, elegant and widely popular style. Les Patineurs evokes the Edwardian skating rink, with all its youthful charm and humour, in contrast to Scènes de Ballet where sharp geometric shapes and the music of Igor Stravinsky are combined to create perhaps Ashton’s most modernist work. Divertissements, a collection of eight short dances, features some of Ashton’s most lyrical choreography, including pas de deux set to Romantic masterpieces by Tchaikovsky and Massenet. Extra features: Interviews with dancers from Les Patineurs Running time 96 mins approx 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 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Recorded live at the Royal Opera House, 9th March, 2011
Choreography Christopher Wheeldon. Lewis Carroll’s ever-popular story provides the basis for Christopher Wheeldon’s spectacular new work, starring Royal Ballet Principal Lauren Cuthbertson. Captivating designs by Bob Crowley, an engaging and passionate score by Joby Talbot, and Wheeldon’s breathtaking choreography combine to produce in the words of The Times “spectacular family entertainment brought to life with enormous theatrical verve.’’ It was broadcast on the BBC over the Easter period. The production will be revived at the Royal Opera House in Spring 2012. Extra features: Documentary about ‘Being Alice’ Running time 120 mins approx 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 “What a treat this is - such an imaginative treatment of a favourite story. There are extraordinary, eccentric sets and special effects; colourful, larger-than-life, argumentative characters and extraordinary costumes. Lauren Cuthbertson, as Alice, is excellent, her every movement suggesting the actions and emotions of this curious, spirited pre-adolescent...
Christopher Wheeldon’s choreography is very imaginative and fitting for every character.” MusicWeb International, August 2012 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Recorded live at the Royal Opera House, 16 & 18 December, 2010
Choreography Matthew Hart Peter and the Wolf, Prokofiev’s musical fairy tale, has been delighting children since 1936. Nearly 60 years later, in 1995, the young choreographer Matthew Hart created a witty choreographed version for the Royal Ballet School with designs by Ian Spurling. Described as ‘an utterly delightful ballet and a perfect showcase for the younger students,’ by the Royal Ballet’s Director, Monica Mason, it was staged again – and recorded for this DVD – in 2010. "...Matthew Hart’s Peter and the Wolf is one of the most beguiling children’s ballets around.” The Telegraph Extra features: Cast gallery Documentary feature on rehearsing Peter and the Wolf Running time 38 mins approx 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 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Recorded live at the Royal Opera House, 23 & 26 February 2011
Eva-Maria Westbroek (Anna Nicole), Alan Oke (Old Man Marshall), Gerald Finley (The Lawyer Stern), Susan Bickley (Virgie), Jeremy White (Daddy Hogan), Loré Lixenberg (Cousin Shelley), Peter Hoare (Larry King), Rebecca de Pont Davies (Aunt Kay), Dominic Rowntree (Older Daniel), Allison Cook (Blossom), Andrew Rees (Doctor), Grant Doyle (Billy) & Wynne Evans (Mayor); John Parricelli (guitar), John Paul Jones (bass guitarist), Peter Erskine (drummer) Royal Opera Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Antonio Pappano (conductor) & Richard Jones (director) In a tragic-comic take on the extremes of celebrity culture, composer Mark Anthony Turnage, librettist Richard Thomas and director Richard Jones add Anna Nicole Smith to opera’s gallery of bad, sad girls. A pneumatic Playboy model who married an octogenarian billionaire, she achieved grotesque fame before her destitute, drugriddled death. With its jazz-coloured score and Eva-Maria Westbroek’s starry performance, this is, as the New York Times said: “an engrossing outrageous, entertaining and, ultimately deeply moving opera”. "...It's a tremendous show...shocking it isn't; stunning it is!" The Independent Contains very strong language and scenes of a sexual nature Extra features: Cast gallery Illustrated synopsis Behind the scenes feature including artist interviews Running time 120 mins approx 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 “The six camera operators get in close enough for us all to appreciate the visual brilliance of Richard Jones’s direction and Miriam Buether’s colourfully absurd sets. Better yet, the cameras offer extra chances for the Dutch soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek to warm and tenderise Anna Nicole’s rollercoaster life...The camera’s scrutiny also helps appreciation of Gerald Finley. Always an eloquent stage performer, he’s unsettlingly plausible as Stern” The Times, 12th August 2011 *** “a slick satire on the superficiality of American popular culture...Eva-Maria Westbroek gives a gutsy central performance” Financial Times, 13th August 2011 ** “this is an opera that demands to be seen in its full wide-screen glory...On DVD, the opera is worryingly compelling. The more Turnage and his librettist, Richard Thomas, pile one cringe-making scene upon another, the harder it is to look away...the whole cast is excellent...all bolstered by a vivid musical performance under Pappano...As it stands, the opera is a salacious expose and not much more - a compelling one none the less.” Gramophone Magazine, November 2011 “such pulsing energy and raucous humour in a brassy, vivid score that is perfectly matched to its trailer-trash subject...Nobody...could fail to admire Richard Jones’s flamboyantly inventive staging or Eva-Maria Westbroek’s brave and sassy performance in the title role of the rags-to-riches girl who married a billionaire and met a tragic end.” The Telegraph, 2nd December 2011 “a weirdly inspired work: engrossing, entertaining and ultimately quite moving...Here is an unlikely holiday gift that should delight and fascinate anyone interested in contemporary opera and American popular culture.” New York Times, 23rd November 2012 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Recorded live at the Royal Opera House, London, June & July 2009
Verdi’s best-loved work, is performed here by a star cast in a revival of Richard Eyre’s highly acclaimed 1994 production. Music Director Antonio Pappano conducts La traviata for the first time at Covent Garden. American soprano Renée Fleming returns to Covent Garden to sing Violetta for the first time with The Royal Opera. La traviata was first performed at the Teatro La Fenice, Venice in March 1853. "...Antonio Pappano takes charge of this revival, searching out the meaning of Verdi's score in a supple, sentient reading that sweeps you along." The Guardian Extra features: Cast gallery Antonio Pappano interviews Renée Fleming Running time 135 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/IT “I was sniffy about her first night but this DVD comes from later in the run, by which time she had found an uncharacteristic emotional freedom. She is still the prima donna playing the part, but the beautiful sounds she makes, especially in the Act One finale and the Act Two party, are well worth hearing, and the high-quality film-work puts us right at the heart of the action.” Financial Times, 21st May 2011 **** “this is a sensible, believable, attractive presentation that is more in line with Verdi than with the idiocies of Regietheater...Vocally, [Fleming] is on good form at almost every turn... Calleja must sound authentic enough as an Italianate tenor for anyone...I always have the impression that [Pappano] works with the singers rather than challenging them to a duel. The chorus and orchestra respond fittingly to his direction.” International Record Review, July 2011 “At the age of 50, [Fleming] still looks very good in the role of the doomed courtesan...[she] sounds good, too, singing with consistent skill...There's a sincerity to Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja's portrayal of Alfredo which gives it more spontaneity than his American colleagues supply...Stronger than the vocals is the conducting of Antonio Pappano, which possesses a natural stylishness and fluency” BBC Music Magazine, July 2011 *** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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