DVD Videos

Major stars of the international opera stage come together with the Chor und Orchester of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, under the internationally acclaimed conductor Donald Runnicles, in this opera gala in aid of the German AIDS Foundation.

Highlights from operas by Rossini, Verdi, Meyerbeer, Wagner, Delibes, Sartori are performed by world-class musicians from around the globe.

Heading the star-studded line-up were established artists of the calibre of Adrianne Pieczonka, Vivica Genaux and Simone Kermes, while the younger generation is represented by tenors Francesco Demuro, Antonio Poli and Teodor Illincai, as well as the exciting soprano Kristin Lewis and mezzo-soprano Anna Smirnova. The result was truly an evening to remember.

Picture format DVD: NTSC 16:9

Sound format DVD: PCM Stereo

Region code: 0

Booklet notes: English, German, French

Runnning time: 75 mins

Designer Mark Thompson

Light design Nigel Levings

Lakmé, Delibes greatest opera, is performed by Opera Australia in all its oriental glory. Starring the exquisite coloratura soprano Emma Matthews as the innocent girl priestess Lakmé, and superb tenor Aldo Di Toro as the love-struck Gerald, the story tackles religion and cross-cultural love against a backdrop of British rule in India in the mid-19th century.

French conductor Emmanuel Joel-Hornak brings out the full depth of the lush, dramatic score, with familiar high points being the beautiful renditions of the well-known Flower duet and Bell Song. Dominica Matthews adds her rich voice as Mallika and Stephen Bennett is darkly dominating as Brahmin priest Nilakantha, Lakmé’s father, while Roxane Hislop is a consumate Mistress Bentson.

Set and costume designs by Mark Thompson fill the stage with rich colour, atmosphere and exoticism, complemented by Nigel Levings’ warm lighting. This restudied production, originally conceived by Adam Cook, is skilfully directed by Roger Hodgman.

The Places

On a hill above the ancient town of Kulmbach stands the imposing 12th century Hohenzollern fortress of Plassenburg. Among various collections on display is the remarkable Tin Soldier Museum, with various figures and dioramas that recreate battles and mirror the great castle itself, with a variety of scenes from all periods of human history.

The Music

The March has an inevitable part to play in human history. Marco Polo remarked on the use of music by the armies of China to terrify the enemy before a battle. Military music, however, has a more precise purpose, whatever alarm it may strike into the hearts of those who hear it. Drums and trumpets may serve as useful signals, to advance or retreat, to eat or to sleep. The same instruments and their near relations may serve to keep an army moving together, and may serve to inspire feelings of bravery and patriotism. At the same time a march can provide a suitable accompaniment to an occasion of solemnity, a wedding, a funeral or a state ceremony. The music chosen for this tour offers a series of Marches by different composers, culminating in Mendelssohn’s Wedding March.

Video Format • NTSC / Colour / 4:3

Audio Format • DTS 5.1 / Dolby Digital 5.1 / PCM Stereo 2.0

Region Coding • No Region Coding

Choreography Patrice Bart

Director Koen Kessels

Premiered by the Opera De Paris in 1870, and inspired by the fantastical writings of E.T.A. Hoffmann, Coppélia tells the story of a young man who becomes besotted with an exquisite automaton and is finally brought to his senses by his fiancée. In their production from the magnificent Palais Garnier, choreographer Patrice Bart in his final production and designer Ezio Toffolutti explore the story’s darker side while doing full justice to the exuberance and elegance of Delibes’ glorious score.

This production was screened in cinemas worldwide in March 2011

‘’The Paris Opera orchestra played sensuously for the conductor, Koen Kessels...costumes were extremely attractive, set theatrically striking. The dancers were models of self-presentation’’ New York Times

Extra features:

The mystery of Coppélia

Running time 124 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

Choreography by ARTHUR SAINT-LÉON

Directed for Stage by PIERRE LACOTTE & CLAUDE BESSY

The young ballet dancers of the L’Ecole de Danse de l’Opéra de Paris move elegantly and quickly through the rehearsal rooms of the house. The slight tension that spreads among the young girls, the oldest of whom is just 17 years of age, pervades the atmosphere – an atmosphere made, as it were, for the painter Edgar Degas. On the programme this evening is Coppélia, or the girl with the enamel eyes by Léo Delibes. The excitement among the girls is great because today they will be performing in the (reproduced) scenery and costumes which at the premiere on 25 May 1870 had delighted Emperor Napoleon III and the Empress.

The first choreography of the work was undertaken by Arthur Saint-Léon (1821-1870), a violin and dance virtuoso famous at that time. He died of a heart attack at the age of 49, only a few months after the premiere. Over the years many arrangements and choreographies have been made of the piece. The version on this DVD is by Pierre Lacotte, the great ballet expert who has received many honours, and Claude Bessy, the long standing director of the ballet school at the Paris opera.

Special Feature: Les Enfants de la Danse - Documentary on the École de Danse de l’Opéra national de Paris.

Sound Format: PCM Stereo, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1

Picture Format: 16:9

DVD Format: DVD 9, NTSC

Subtitle Languages: GB, DE, ES, IT, CN (Bonus)

Running Time: 67 mins & 52 mins (Bonus)

FSK: 0

Choreography, Stage Direction & Lighting Design by John Neumeier

Set & Costume Design by Yannis Kokkos

The longstanding and enormously successful director of the Hamburg Ballet, John Neumeier, created his famous adaptation of Sylvia at the invitation of the Paris Ballet. Arthaus presents a recording of this choreography from the Opéra de Paris with a line-up of soloist that includes some of the world’s best dancers, indeed stars on the international dance scene.

Sylvia has a long history connected to the Opéra de Paris and has transcended the metamorphoses of dance throughout the twentieth century to be revived again and again right up to John Neumeier’s refreshingly contemporary version. As a choreographer infused as much with the culture of the repertoire as with a spirit of creativity, he seemed preordained to offer a new version of this “classic”. Supported by the cautiously simple but very effective stage and costume design by the Greek painter Yannis Kokkos, emphasising the dancing rather than dominating it, John Neumeier has created a ballet that is as timeless as the mythological fable it portrays and at the same time very close to audiences today.

BONUS: Interviews with the artists

Sound Format: PCM Stereo, DD 5.0, DTS 5.0

Picture Format: 16:9

DVD Format: DVD 9, NTSC

Subtitle Languages: GB, DE, F, ES, IT (Bonus)

Running Time: 136 mins

FSK: 0

Dame Joan Sutherland, Australian Icon and declared National Treasure, has been described as the foremost soprano of our age and one of the greatest operatic artists of all time. This DVD contains highlights of her stage performances with Opera Australia, including many of her most internationally famous and highly acclaimed roles.