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.

After the CD recording of Thaïs, which marked the beginning of Dynamic’s collaboration with Venice’s prestigious Teatro La Fenice, here is now the DVD version of this enthralling opera, by the captivating music and dramatic development.

The title role, in this excellent production, is sung by an Eva Mei in great vocal form, who gives an interpretation of extraordinary depth. Beside her, the famous bass-baritone Michele Pertusi, as Athanaël, shows once again his unquestionable style. On the podium is Marcello Viotti, music director of the Venetian theatre.

The story of the conversion of the beautiful courtesan, and the clash between spirituality and sensuality have been portrayed brilliantly by Pier Luigi Pizzi, one of today’s most talented opera directors. The visual quality of this production is indeed one of its strong points, and the DVD recording will not fail to fascinate the viewer.

French, English, Italian, German and Spanish subtitles.

Agrippina was staged for the first time in late December 1709 - or possibly at the beginning of 1710 - at Venice’s Teatro San Grisostomo and met with enormous success, as testified by twenty-seven following performances, a record number even for 18th-century standards. Agrippina’s triumph sanctioned Handel’s definitive investiture as an operatic composer. After nearly 300 years this opera appears as a masterpiece of 18th-century music and an innovative work, considering that when Handel composed it he was just twenty-four years old. The composer’s melodic creativity and sense of theatre are quite remarkable. The cast, conducted by Jean-Claude Malgoire, includes Véronique Gens in the title role. This double DVD, which follows the CD release of this work, will not fail to attract the interest of Baroque opera lovers.

French, English, Italian, German and Spanish subtitles.

Most of Schubert’s operas were written without a specific commission, in the hope that, once completed, some theatre might find them interesting simply by virtue of their musical value. This unrealistic optimism proved almost always wrong and Schubert suffered bitter disappointments, very often working for nothing. Begun on 20th September 1821, Alfonso und Estrella was completed on 27th February 1822 but was first staged, on the initiative of Franz Liszt, only in 1854, after Schubert’s death. Alfonso und Estrella has the characteristic climate of a romantische Oper. If it is true that Schubert lacks the sense of theatre which is typical of the best operatic composers of his day (for example Weber), the power of his creativity and beauty of many arias cannot be denied.

The DVD version comes with subtitles in German, English, Italian, French and Spanish.

On the anniversary of the first success of Madama Butterfly in Brescia on 28th May 1904, Placido Domingo conducted, from the podium of Torre del Lago Puccini, Daniela Dessì, Fabio Armilato and Juan Pons in a new production by Stefano Monti with sets designed by Arnaldo Pomodoro and costumes of Maison Gattinoni. After Maria Stuarda, Thaïs and Agrippina Dynamic is proud to announce this new, prestigious, DVD release. Subtitles in 7 languages (Italian, English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese).

Even though in recent years Idomeneo has been staged more frequently, this Mozart masterpiece can hardly be counted among the operas (the Da Ponte trilogy in primis) that made of the Salzburg composer one of the greatest operatic composers of all times. Yet Idomeneo was, in its day, a revolutionary work, animated by music that appears remarkably innovative and profoundly theatrical. This double DVD set presents the Teatro San Carlo of Naples’s staging, signed by Pier Luigi Pizzi, one of today’s most creative directors. Marco Guidarini, on the podium, conducts a cast of international renown.

Nabucco was premièred at Milan’s La Scala on March 9th 1842. It met with enormous success, crowned by as many as 75 performances at La Scala before the end of that year. With Nabucco Verdi finally found his own stance, attaining linguistic and expressive means that, in the space of a decade, would make him the undisputed master of Italian opera theatres.

The present, interesting production, staged at the Carlo Felice theatre in Genoa, features young but already internationally renowned interpreters: Alberto Gazale, as a solid and convincing Nabucco; Susan Neves as an Abigaille by the beautiful and powerful vocal means; Orlin Anastassov as a greatly authoritative Zaccaria, which lets foresee for him a radiant career.

Subtitled in 7 languages (Italian, English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese)

16:9

An opera with a rich vein of musical ideas; sumptuous and original sets; a little-known German Romantic composer; high-level interpreters (among them Anna Caterina Antonacci, a star of international renown): these are the ingredients of Hans Heiling, staged in 2004 in Cagliari under the scrupulous and refined baton of Renato Palumbo. There is no doubt that this timeless story of gnomes and spirits, love and suffering, supernatural powers and mortal beauty will captivate many opera lovers.

Il Corsaro is still one of Verdi’s less known and performed operas. Chronologically speaking, it belongs to the famous ”years in the galley”, even though it dates from a period (the autumn of 1848) when the composer’s name, in Italy, could already be considered established. Although this is considered one of Verdi’s minor works, there are many exciting and poignant passages in it, and the tight dramatic action makes for music that has a pressing and incisive rhythm. The renowned baritone Renato Bruson and conductor Renato Palumbo stand out in the cast. The video recording makes the most of Lamberto Puggelli’s beautiful sets. Subtitles in 7 languages (Italian, English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese).