New Releases

This 2012 recording of the most influential and wide spread oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach features the Hungarian conductor Iván Fischer, a visionary in his field, with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. The double choir is the essential musical aspect on which Iván Fischer’s interpretation of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion is based. Only by consistently seizing on that duality will all the complementary layers stand out as they should. He describes this essential fundamental aspect as follows: “You can’t do the St. Matthew in an unreligious way. The only approach is from a deep, universally religious feeling.”

The internationally renowned tenor Mark Padmore is brilliant as the Evangelist, Peter Harvey gives a moving interpretation of Christ. Together with Ingeborg Danz, Renate Arends, Maria Espada, Barbara Kozelj, Peter Gijsbertsen and Henk Neven and the Netherlands Radio Choir they carry the audience through an affecting performance of this masterwork.

PCM Stereo, DD 5.0

Running Time: 174 mins

Subtitle Languages: DE (Original Language), GB, FR, ES, JP

This 2012 recording of the most influential and wide spread oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach features the Hungarian conductor Iván Fischer, a visionary in his field, with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. The double choir is the essential musical aspect on which Iván Fischer’s interpretation of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion is based. Only by consistently seizing on that duality will all the complementary layers stand out as they should. He describes this essential fundamental aspect as follows: “You can’t do the St. Matthew in an unreligious way. The only approach is from a deep, universally religious feeling.”

The internationally renowned tenor Mark Padmore is brilliant as the Evangelist, Peter Harvey gives a moving interpretation of Christ. Together with Ingeborg Danz, Renate Arends, Maria Espada, Barbara Kozelj, Peter Gijsbertsen and Henk Neven and the Netherlands Radio Choir they carry the audience through an affecting performance of this masterwork.

PCM Stereo, dts-HD Master

Audio 5.0

Running Time: 174 mins

Subtitle Languages: DE (Original Language),

GB, FR, ES, JP

When Britten started to work on Owen Wingrave he conceived the opera both for performance on stage and for TV production.

In fact the first TV production of Owen Wingrave was broadcast in 1971, two years before the staged premiere at Covent Garden. This 2001 production, made for Channel 4 television, intriguingly tells the drama of Owen, who refuses to follow a military career like his ancestors. The story, in which pacifism makes up the main theme, was written by Henry James, and the libretto adapted by Myfanwy Piper. The Canadian baritone Gerald Finley stars as Owen with Peter Savidge, Hilton Marlton and Josephine Barstow at his side.

The production was directed by the award winning TV director Margaret Williams. Highly acclaimed conductor Kent Nagano is the musical director of this performance featuring the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin.

“The cast is outstanding: Gerald Finley as Owen, the formidable Dame Josephine Barstow as his terrifying aunt and Martyn Hill as his militaristic grandfather. Who says singers can‘t act? One of the best opera films ever.” The Sunday Times

Sound Format: PCM Stereo

Picture Format: 16:9

DVD Format: DVD 9 / NTSC

Subtitle Languages: GB (Original Language), DE, FR, ES

Running Time: 92 mins

Rossini was 24 years old when in 1816 he wrote his seventeenth and most famous opera The Barber of Seville in an astonishing three weeks. Michael Hampe’s humorous direction of his 1988 live performance at the Schwetzingen SWR Festival stands out with its fast tempo that makes for a highly exuberant production. Ezio Firgerio’s appealing stage and Mauro Pagano’s colourful costumes heighten the comic effect. The musical direction of conductor Gabriele Ferro strikes a beautiful balance between a vibrant orchestral performance and a superb ensemble of singers. The irresistible Cecilia Bartoli as Rosina leads a cast that also includes David Kuebler, Gino Quilico and Carlos Feller.

“This is an effective, straightforward traditional performance under Gabriele Ferro, with Cecilia Bartoli in excellent voice, making this an irresistible production which should be in every collection.” Classical London

Sound Format: PCM Stereo

Picture Format: 4:3

DVD Format: DVD 9 / NTSC

Subtitle Languages: IT (Original Language), DE, GB, FR, ES, JP

Running time: 185 minutes

La forza del destino (The Force of Fate), premiered in St. Petersburg 1862, is one of Verdi’s most important opera compositions.

Its plot is complicated and combines a sequence of interlaced unfortunate strokes of fate. Donna Leonora is the centre of events, together with her brother Don Carlo di Vargas and her lover Don Alvaro.

The story was originally set in 18th century Spain, however the French director Nicolas Joël established the action in a slightly later period, in the time of the Empire, the early 19th century.

The 2007 performance at the beautiful Maggio Musicale theatre in Florence, conducted by Zubin Mehta, who is a frequent guest artist there, stars Violeta Urmana as Donna Leonora with Carlo Guelfi and Marcello Giordani as Don Carlo and Don Alvaro.

“The singing and playing are fantastic, and the production is faithful and unobtrusive. [...] To my mind this set now leads the field and takes its place as one of the great Verdi productions [...] A real classic.” MusicWeb International

Giuseppe Verdi, especially known for his numerous opera compositions, is doubtless one of the most famous romantics, and his 200th birthday is currently celebrated around the world. Arthaus Musik wants to take this anniversary as an occasion to release the most brilliant Verdi-productions from the extensive catalogue in a series of opera box sets.

This second Verdi Opera Selection Box includes the unforgettable Aida from Milan starring Luciano Pavarotti and Maria Chiara as well as Nabucco with Leo Nucci and Simon Boccanegra with Plácido Domingo in the title role.

Sound Format: PCM Stereo, DD 5.1 (Aida, Simon Boccanegra) + DTS 5.1 (Nabucco)

Picture Format: 16:9 (Nabucco, Simon Boccanegra) / 4:3 (Aida)

DVD Format: 3x DVD 9 & 1x DVD 5 / NTSC

Subtitle Languages: IT (Original Language), GB, DE, FR, ES (Nabucco) / + Korean (Simon Boccanegra) / DE, GB, FR, NL, ES (Aida)

Running Time: 435 mins + 78 mins (Bonus Aida)

Sound Format: PCM Stereo, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1

(Coppélia & Paquita) / PCM Stereo, DD 5.0, DTS 5.0 (Giselle)

Picture Format: 16:9

DVD Format: 3 x DVD 9 / NTSC

Subtitles (Bonus): GB, DE, ES, IT, CN (Coppélia) / GB, DE, ES, IT (Paquita)

Running Time: 281 mins + 64 mins (Bonus for Coppélia & Paquita)

FSK: 0

World Premiere Recording

„It can be truly said of Adelaide di Borgogna that, like a rose, it bloomed but a day - l’espace d’un matin.” First performed in Rome on the 27th December 1817, it enjoyed very few revivals. In 2011 the Rossini Festival in Pesaro presented the second staged performance of Adelaide di Borgogna since 1825.

The story of the opera was taken from a historical event that took place in the medieval period, marking the end of an independent Italian kingdom and leading to the birth of the German Holy Roman Empire through the efforts of Otto I of Saxony. Caught between political rivalry and the love of two men, Adelaide of Burgundy struggles to fight for her people and chooses Otto, the better ruler, for herself and her kingdom.

Adelaide stars sought-after mezzo Daniela Barcellona as Ottone, young Australian soprano Jessica Pratt, who possesses a natural-born bel canto voice, in the role of Adelaide, and Bogdan Mihai gives proof of his versatile coloratura-tenor.

Director Pier’ Alli devised a modern, stylish look for his production, which interweaves medieval aspects with ironically used elements from the time of the opera’s genesis. His video installations create a beautifully abstract world for Rossini’s colourful music.

SPECIAL FEATURE: Making Of Adelaide di Borgogna

Sound Format: PCM Stereo, DD 5.1

Picture Format: 16:9, 1080i FULL HD

Format: DVD 9 & DVD 5, NTSC,

Subtitle Languages: IT (Original Language), GB, DE, FR, ES, JP, Korean

Running Time: 137 mins + 17 mins (Bonus)

FSK: 0

Richard Wagner’s oeuvre is impressive. Even during his lifetime it was clear that his visions for music theatre were ground-breaking and unique.

2013 sees Wagner’s 200th birthday – an important occasion for Arthaus Musik to recognize and honour him. The catalogue contains three outstanding opera productions which will now be released together in this exclusive Wagner Collection DVD Box. Besides the legendary Lohengrin from Vienna with Plácido Domingo in the title role, you will find the sensual production of Tannhäuser by Nikolaus Lehnhoff from Baden-Baden as well as the recent spectacular and provocative staging of Rienzi at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

Sound Format: PPCM Stereo (Lohengrin) + DD 5.1, DTS 5.1 (Tannhäuser, Rienzi)

Picture Format: 16:9 / 4:3 (only Lohengrin)

DVD Format: 5 x DVD 9 & 1 x DVD 5, NTSC

Subtitle Languages: DE (Original Language) IT, GB, FR, ES

Running Time: 580 mins + 84 mins (bonus)

FSK: 12

World Premiere Recording!

The 2010 Jesi production is conscious of the complexity of Flaminio for all its seeming simplicity and cleverly exploits the suggestive milieu of the Teatro Valeria Moriconi, in particular its shape and relatively small scale. Without any attempt at realism, (the main action takes place “in a villa on the outskirts of the city of Naples, complete with hunting lodge, etc.”, but just a handful of props to symbolise the bucolic atmosphere), the production concentrates on establishing a kind of meta-theatrical relationship to this repertoire work which sets out to highlight the interweaving and overlayering of truth and fiction, passion and irony, tragedy and comedy. The orchestra sits behind a broad wooden platform and suspended netting decorated with leaves; every so often scenes about the characters’ private lives open up on various levels (these serve to expand the audience perspective both horizontally and vertically), as if the plot were following the inner development of these living characters. The theatrical narrative unravels – through a brilliant succession of dramatic and light-hearted moments – to its predictable happy ending.

The result takes us a step closer towards finally rediscovering such masterpieces of the Neapolitan school of the 18th century: in addition to being highly serious, ingenious and fabulous entertainment in its own right, Il Flaminio is substantive proof of the key role Naples played in developing the genre for European audiences.

PCM Stereo, dts-HD Master Audio 5.1 (Blu-ray)

Picture Format: 16:9, 1080i FULL HD

Subtitle Languages: IT (Original Language), GB, DE, FR, ES, JP, Korean

Running Time: 183 mins

FSK: 0