This hugely successful production of Verdi’s romantic drama Ernani, recorded in 1982, features four legendary opera stars, all at the height of their powers: Plácido Domingo, who gives a commanding performance as the bandit Ernani, Mirella Freni as the heroine, Renato Bruson as the charming but devious King Charles of Spain, and Nicolai Ghiaurov as a noble Silva. They give an impassioned, electric performance under the conductor Riccardo Muti, an acclaimed Verdi interpreter. The producer, Luca Ronconi, has created a totally convincing production for this drama of jealousy and revenge.
OTELLO – The Royal Opera, Covent Garden
Plácido Domingo justifiably considers the role of Otello to be one of his finest, and this famous 1992 recording of Otello demonstrates why he has become so idenitified with this pinnacle of the tenor repertoire. His magnificent performance combines all his strengths as a singer and an actor to bring the tragic moor powerfully to life. The role of Desdemona is sung movingly by Kiri Te Kanawa, and Iago is played by Sergei Leiferkus, whose ability to convey both nobility and evil makes him ideal for this role. Elijah Moshinsky’s handsome production is conducted by Sir Georg Solti.
IL TROVATORE – Vienna State Opera
In this production of Il trovatore, filmed in 1978, Herbert von Karajan not only conducts, but was also the stage director, giving this tale of Spanish nobles and gypsies a dark framework against which Verdi’s music was able to shine all the more brightly. This recording features Raina Kabaivanska as Leonora, the legendary Fiorenza Cossotto as the gypsy Azucena, Piero Cappuccilli as the Count and Plácido Domingo as a truly lyrical troubadour, Manrico.
DVD Video - 4 discs
$33.25
In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.
NVC Arts/Warner Classics is delighted to announce the release of the second volume of DVD boxed sets that showcase some of the greatest recordings of Plácido Domingo’s career on stage. This volume features full length performances of operas by Verdi, including Ernani from La Scala, Domingo’s famous performance as Otello from The Royal Opera, Covent Garden, and Il trovatore from Vienna State Opera.
Bonus: This volume is complemented by a 1-hour bonus DVD in which Plácido Domingo speaks at length, with passion and fervour, about each of the roles he sings in these three operas.
Colour
Region Code: 2-5
OTELLO: Picture format: NTSC 4:3 FF
Audio: Dolby 2.0
Duration: 145 mins
Subtitles: Eng / Fr / Ger / It / Sp
ERNANI: Picture format: NTSC 4:3 F
Audio: L-PCM Stereo
Duration: 137 mins
Subtitles: Eng / Fr / Ger / Sp / Jp
IL TROVATORE: Picture format: NTSC 4:3 FF
Audio: Dolby 2.0 & Dolby 5.1 Surround
Duration: 150 mins
Subtitles: Eng / Fr / Ger / It / Sp
Bonus interviews: Picture format: NTSC 16:9
Audio: Dolby 2.0
Duration: 66 mins
Subtitles: None
April 2011
*****
“Domingo's much-admired Otello is captured here around its peak (1992). The rare La Scala Ernani is a strong souvenir, but the Trovatore under Karajan with a top-notch cast is even more special.”
Click on any of the works listed above for alternative recordings.
