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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Recorded 2011 The Arts Centre, Melbourne
Richard Alexander (The Mikado), Kanen Breen (Nanki-Poo), Taryn Fiebig (Yum-Yum), Mitchell Butel (Ko-Ko), Warwick Fyfe (Pooh-Bah) & Jacqueline Dark (Katisha) Opera Australia Chorus & Orchestra Victoria, Brian Castles-Onion (conductor) & Stuart Maunder (director) Designer: Tim Goodchild Choreographer: Carole Todd Lighting Designer: Derek Coutts Perhaps the most widely-loved and hilarious of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Savoy Operas, this classic production by Opera Australia creates a fantastical, imaginary Japan. With amazingly detailed sets, lavish costumes and a fabulous cast astutely directed by Stuart Maunder, this comic operetta sparkles from beginning to end. The music is pure joy, with an amazing performance drawn from Orchestra Victoria by the superb conductor Brian Castles-Onion. Audio DVD/2.0 LPCM/5.1 DTS Picture format NTSC Audio BD LPCM stereo and 5.0 DTS-HD Master Audio “If it's colour you want, Opera Australia's 1985 production of The Mikado, revamped in 2004, has it in spades...But if you're after reasonable taste and G&S traditions subtly tweaked, look away...Goodchild's designs are good fun, but you might need to activate the English subtitle option to catch some of the chorus's words” BBC Music Magazine, September 2012 ** “Stuart Maunder’s production is fast-paced and much detailed carefully planned stage business holds the audience’s attention...All characters sing superbly and the vocal numbers are a joy to listen to...The contribution by the musical director and the orchestra was first class. A new and fresh version of the overture has been substituted for the traditional one.” MusicWeb International, June 2012 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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This Dino Yannopoulos-directed production ran at the Metropolitan Opera at irregular intervals until 1977, with the title role attracting the likes of Carlo Bergonzi, Franco Corelli, and Plácido Domingo. Maddalena would be sung by Renata Tebaldi, Martina Arroyo, and Eileen Farrell; Gérard by Robert Merrill and Ettore Bastianini; and Fausto Cleva, Lamberto Gardelli, and James Levine presided in the pit. Levine again conducted when Nicolas Joël’s production premiered in April 1996 with Luciano Pavarotti in the title role, opposite Aprile Millo and Juan Pons. This DVD captures a telecast from the following season, with Pavarotti and Pons reprising their portrayals and Maria Guleghina as Maddalena. | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Recorded live at La Teatro alla Scala, 20 March, 2011
Günther Groissböck (Sarastro), Saimir Pirgu (Tamino), Albina Shagimuratova (Queen of the Night), Genia Kühmeier (Pamina), Ailish Tynan (Papagena), Alex Esposito (Papageno) & Peter Bronder (Monostatos) Orchestra of Teatro alla Scala & Choir of the Accademia del Teatro alla Scala, Roland Böer (conductor) & William Kentridge (stage director) From the Queen of the Night's vocal pyrotechnics to Papageno's chirpy birdsongs, The Magic Flute is one of Mozart's most charming and engaging operas. However, its fairytale surface conceals the mysteries of an initiation ritual and a multi-layered plot, packed with allegories to fire up the imagination. This celebrated production by artist William Kentridge joyfully bursts onto the stage of Teatro alla Scala in Milan, featuring the dazzling Russian coloratura Albina Shagimuratova as the Queen of the Night, and Italian bass Alex Esposito as Papageno, one of the most sought-after artists of his generation. Extra features: Overview of the Magic Flute Running time 150 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 “This is a wonderful performance...I was more moved and enchanted by this than by any other Magic Flute I have seen on DVD...[Esposito's Papageno] sung with glorious abandon, while his acting strikes notes of pathos...Kuhmeier is as expressive as it's possible to be, without transgressing Mozart's idiom...The most sensational performance is by [Shagimuratova], the finest Queen of the Night I have ever heard...This is a noble, ennobling achievement.” BBC Music Magazine, April 2012 ***** “It is world-worthy; the conception, by South African artist William Kentridge, emphasizes the concepts of light and dark, exploration and love...It's endlessly good to look at...Musically, there is also much to admire...Esposito's Papageno is a well-sung charmer - more serious than many, deeply sincere...this is a fascinating take on the work that Flute aficionados will appreciate for plenty of reasons.” International Record Review, March 2012 “It is very much 'producer's opera' and it will annoy some people. I found it fascinating...Lively musical direction, incorporating Rene Jacobs's superfluous keyboard interjections. Don't miss this visually enchanting and thought-provoking treat.” Gramophone Magazine, May 2012  BBC Music Magazine
DVD Choice - April 2012 |
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| |  | Die Rote Zora (Zora The Red)Live Recording from The Komische Oper Berlin, 2010
Komische Oper Berlin, Catherine Larsen-Maguire (conductor) & Jasmina Hadziahmetovic (stage director) Family opera in three acts by Elisabeth Naske - from 8 years and up When his mother dies, twelve-year-old Branko is suddenly left on his own. His father Milan is never at home, as he treks with his violin through the coastal towns of Croatia. Even Branko‘s grandmother sends the boy away. Now Branko has nowhere to go and he‘s also terribly hungry. Fortunately he gets to know Zora, the brave girl with the red hair, and becomes part of her gang. These kids struggle through life, completely on their own: Pavle, being as strong as three guys, the small and quick Nicola, Duro, who wants to become a farmer or horse breeder, and Zora their brave leader. They call themselves »Uskoki«, for they are as brave as the real Uskoks, Slav freedom fighters of former times, and they stick together no matter what happens. Day by day the children steal their food in a tricky and adventurous way, so that they are not only chased by the policeman but also by the mighty fishmonger Karaman. But Zora is much too smart, nobody can catch or scare her – until one day a trick of the gang leads to a catastrophe and antagonises the whole city against them. Only the old fisherman Gorian helps the children … Elisabeth Naske‘s family opera is based on Kurt Held‘s juvenile book classic, describing the adventures of an orphans‘ gang in Croatia in the 1930s. With the opera we can immerse ourselves into a Mediterranean atmosphere, taking us with its rousing rhythm through the thrilling story. Sound Format: PCM Stereo Picture Format: 16:9 DVD Format: DVD 9, NTSC Subtile Languages: DE (Original Language), GB, Korean Running Time: 114 mins FSK: 0 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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Staged by David Poutney “The cast is a dream team” wrote the Financial Times after the premiere of this production of Verdi’s La forza del destino at the Wiener Staatsoper. Topping the list is Nina Stemme, who gives a full-blooded portrayal of Leonora. Passionate forceful readings are also provided by Salvatore Licitra as Alvaro and Carlos Álvarez as Don Carlo. Zubin Mehta leads Staatsoper Orchestra with agility, subtleness and relaxed mastery, and right from the start David Poutney establishes an atmosphere of entrapment by fate. With the aid of a bizarre, unforgettable stage construction, the acclaimed director finds an ideal setting to illustrate the merciless powers of chance and destiny. Running Time Total: 161 minutes DVD: DTS 5.1, PCM Stereo “Pountney's unfussily direct handling of the tragic side of the drama plays to his cast's strengths. Compared to his colleagues here, the late Salvatore Licitra may not have been the stage's most natural actor but...a terrific passion carries all before it....And Nina Stemme's Leonora? A hugely well-acted assumption of the role, with (in the 'Pace! Pace, mio dio' scena) the uncanny presence and vocal fury offered by Price, Barstow or Freni.” Gramophone Magazine, March 2012 “Dramatically convincing, [Alvarez] broods darkly and his burnished baritone, although not ringing out as freely as one would wish, is powerful...Stemme is an involving Leonore, with a lovely rich lower and mid-register tone, but she is strained and variable above the stave...Krasteva throws herself into cowgirl Preziosilla with gusto, although her fruity mezzo noticeably lacks a trill...Mehta conducts effectively.” International Record Review, February 2012 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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Tosca: it is opera, it is Italy. It is desire, passion and murder…. Featuring opera superstars Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna and Ruggero Raimondi, with musical direction by the world-renowned Antonio Pappano. Prestige of official selection at Venice Film Festival, a comprehensive and successful commercial run in cinemas and outstanding critical acclaim. 10th anniversary special edition, with exclusive DVD bonus features including a new 10th anniversary interview with soprano Angela Gheorghiu, a collector’s booklet and a “Costume Design” featurette plus original 2001 interviews with Angela Gheorghiu on her role as Tosca, director Benoît Jacquot on creating Tosca as film and Antonio Pappano on Puccini’s music for the opera. “brings this opera vividly to life… this is a classic of the future” The Guardian “gripping and very well sung” Opera Now “superb” Gramophone Magazine "Gheorghiu gives a performance that cuts to the core of Puccini's tragedy... Pappano's conducting; a rich reading that conjures the ideal mixture of syrup and bitterness" Independent on Sunday Audio: Dolby Stereo & Optional 5.1 Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Feature Running Time: 120 mins Italian with optional English subtitles Bonus Features Running Time: 41 mins Region: 0, PAL Territory: Worldwide (excluding Japan, North America, France and Germany) | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Live recording from Opera de Wallonie, Liège, February 2011
Anna Maria Panzarella (Agnesina), Liesbeth Devos (Xunchia), Priscille Laplace (Kam-sì), Federica Carnevale (Zyda), Filippo Adami (Zon-zon), Alberto Rinaldi (Geminiano), Juri Gorodezki (Ly-lam) & Daniele Zanfardino (Si-sin) Opera Royal de Wallonie, Rinaldo Alessandrini (conductor) & Stefano Mazzonis di Pralafera (director) This is the world première recording of Baldassarre Galuppi’s little known opera L’Inimico della Donna (The Enemy of Women). Staged by Stefano Mazzonis di Pralafera this production took place in February 2011 at the Opera de Wallonie, Liège. Alongside a host of expert soloists, the renowned Italian early music specialist Rinaldo Alessandrini conducts the Opera Royal de Wallonie Orchestra. Alessandrini is regarded as a foremost interpreter of early Italian opera and has won many prestigious awards for his previous recordings on other labels. Picture format: 16:9 Sound format: LPCM 2.0 / Dolby digital 5.1 Booklet notes: Ita / Eng / Fre / Ger Subtitles: Fre, Eng, Ger, Spa, Ita “Anna Maria Panzarella tops a fine cast, the staging is colourful and Alessandrini conducts with zest.” Classical Music, 25th February 2012 ***** “This eighteenth-century premonition of The Mikado is a delight...The cast is good, though there's only one star: Anna Maria Panzarella (Agnesina) does the tomboy thing terribly well and as she falls in love it's not just her costumes and the music which become more feminine, it's also her acting and singing...'L'inimico delle donne is very simply filmed...You really feel you are there. And it's where I want to be. A delight from start to finish.” International Record Review, January 2012 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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Mikhail Kazakov (Prince Yury), Vitaly Panfilov (Prince Vsevolod), Tatiana Monogarova (Fevroniya), Mikhail Gubsky (Grishka Kutyer'ma), Gevork Hakobyan (Fyodor Poyarok), Alexander Naumenko (Burunday) Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, Alexander Vedernikov (conductor) & Eimuntas Nekrošius (director) The Invisible City of Kitezh, completed in 1905, is a remarkable opera that fuses folklore, mysticism and realism. Its subject is the story of the advancing Mongol army’s entry to Great Kitezh and the city’s subsequent miraculous survival. Rejecting archaisms and the more religiously inclined suggestions of his librettist, Rimsky-Korsakov sought to create an opera that “is contemporary and even fairly advanced”. It is therefore through-composed, hinting at times at Wagnerian procedure, and flooded with the composer’s rich, apt and brilliant orchestral palette, fully supportive of the powerful vocal writing. Sung in Russian with English subtitles “These are murderously difficult roles, but Tatiana Monogarova is just about the best Fevronia I've seen, vocally clear and sturdy, if a little unvarying, physically beautiful and a credibly passionate actress. Mikhail Gubsky's Grishka makes a strong impact...[Vedernikov] conjures the score's symphonic richness out of a fairly ordinary theatre orchestra.” BBC Music Magazine, April 2012 **** “Monogarova, with her warm, firm middle register, is vocally well suited to her role (physically too)...she gives a tireless performance, in which her voice retains its rich tone throughout...[Gulordava] catches the ear with a well-carried tone and a touch fear...Much of Nekrosius's direction is representational, even abstract, rather than natural but it does not diverge from the story.” International Record Review, March 2012 “Tatiana Monogarova is very fine in the role of Fevronya – it's hard to think of who might sing it better these days – and the tenor Vitaly Panfilov makes a decent Vsevolod...For anyone who doesn't know this remarkable work, it's a must-buy at a bargain price.” The Guardian, 22nd March 2012 **** | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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With her sensational role debut at the Vienna State Opera, superstar diva Anna Netrebko displays a performance of rare vocal and dramatic power. The Russian soprano sings the role of the unjustly accused second wife of British King Henry VIII, ‘veering between indignant fury and tender righteousness’ and demonstrating a new level of confidence in her technique with excellent ‘passagework, particularly in trills, and seamless runs even to the lowest notes’ (Opera News). The performance also stars DG mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča, in ‘a fantastic display of bel canto’ (Opera News) as Anna's rival Giovanna Seymour. Ildebrando D’Arcangelo brings his beautifully dark tone to the role of Enrico and young Italian tenor Francesco Meli sings the demanding role of Lord Percy with a ‘youthful virility’ (Agence France Press), promising great things for the future. On the podium Evelino Pidò 'drew playing of unusual precision and refinement...making every note matter' (Financial Times). “It's no accident that Netrebko's better forays into bel canto have come with Garanca by her side, inspiring her to some lovely singing. Their voices blend beautifully...I find her a welcome counterpoint to Netrebko's passionate queen...Netrebko emerges from the challenge triumphantly. The sincerity in her performance is admirable, while the darker vocal qualities she possesses suit the character well.” International Record Review, May 2012 “[Netrebko] gives a demonstration of characterisation and bel canto vocal virtuosity that is second to none, Callas included...Garanca’s is a consummate interpretation by an artist at the top of her game...D'Arcangelo is a tall, handsome and seductive Enrico whose smooth singing only lacks a little lower extension... Pidò adds to his reputation in this music with a well-paced and phrased interpretation.” MusicWeb International, May 2012 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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Lucian Krasznec (Sandor Barinkay), Evelin Novak (Saffi), Harald Serafin (Conte Carnero), Wolfgang Bankl (Kalman Zsupan), Monika Bohinec (Czipra) Festival Orchester Mörbisch, Chor und Ballet der Seefestspiele Mörbisch & Statisterie der Seefestspiele Mörbisch, Manfred Mayrhofer | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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