DVD Videos

Staged by Giancarlo del Monaco

Released for the first time on DVD and Blu-ray!

A national monument in Spain, Manuel de Falla’s La vida breve is perhaps the greatest opera ever written in the Spanish language. A kind of ‘tragic zarzuela’, it unites verismo atmosphere, Andalusian local colour and a score shimmering with reminiscences of French Impressionism.

La vida breve is the story of a poor gypsy and her lover, who is engaged to wed a wealthy girl. “Simply a stroke of genius” wrote Spain’s Opera Viva about Guancarlo del Monaco’s austere, minimalist staging at Valencia’s Palau de les Arts Reine Sofia. Giancarlo del Monaco has worked with most important opera houses and festivals (MET, La Scala, Bregenz etc.)

Running Time Total: 82 minutes

DVD: DTS 5.0, PCM Stereo

Subtitles English, German, French, Spanish

The internationally renowned pianist Joaquín Achúcarro has been described as ‘the consummate artist’ and ‘the leading pianist from Spain’; he has won plaudits and prizes around the world.

In 2000 he was named ‘Artist for Peace’ by UNESCO in recognition of his extraordinary artistic achievements.

This DVD presents an evocative recital of Spanish-inspired music, given by Achúcarro in Madrid, and a triumphant performance of Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain with the Berliner Philharmoniker and Sir Simon Rattle, recorded in Berlin.

Including a note by Joaquín Achúcarro written for this release.

“I have only heard this sound from Rubinstein” Zubin Mehta

“There is something special with Achucarro. Very few musicians can extract this kind of sound from the piano” Sir Simon Rattle

Picture format: NTSC - 16:9

Sounds formats: PCM Stereo, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1

Region code: 0

Booklet notes: English, German, French

Running time: 27 mins (Berlin) + 75 mins (Madrid)

FSK: 0

The 2010 New Year’s Eve concert, from Berlin, frames two of the most prominent stars on DG’s roster, Elina Garanca and Gustavo Dudamel.

Recorded live, this gala performance sparkles with a selection of arias and orchestral works that include excerpts from one of Garanca’s most celebrated roles, Bizet’s Carmen, and Marguerite in Berlioz’s Damnation of Faust.

As well as providing world class accompaniment, the Berlin Philharmonic makes a stirring contribution to the program with the overture to Berlioz’s thrilling Roman Carnival and excerpts from Manuel de Falla’s ballet, The Three-Cornered Hat.

Filmed in HD, the gala will be released in 16:9 widescreen with audio in PCM and DTS surround sound .

On the 4th of June 2009 the Wiener Philharmoniker treat the Viennese public with a free open-air concert on the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace

The impressive historical setting of Schönbrunn Palace and its beautiful baroque gardens, a UNESCO world cultural heritage site, form a unique backdrop for this Summer Night concert

150,000 visitors were present in the audience, and the concert was broadcast world-wide in more than 50 countries.

Teresa Berganza’s concert in Lugano in the Spring of 1990 may be considered a synthesis of her vocal and interpretive are, of her musical intelligence, and of her elegant choices (qualities she has shown throughout her long career). She’s admired first of all for the beauty of her mezzo-soprano voice, rich, luminous and mellow, for its range and evenness, its solid high notes, and impeccable technique for fluid and perfectly produced coloratura. But there’s something more in her singing: taste, exquisite phrasing, expressiveness sought with the music, with warmth and pure compassion.