ANDREA CHÉNIER (Giordano) – The Royal Opera Covent Garden
Giordano’s passionate opera is set in Paris immediately before and during the French Revolution. Placido Domingo stars in the title role as the idealistic poet, and Maddalena, the object of Chénier’s adoration, is portrayed by the Bulgarian soprano Anna Tomowa Sintow. A servant-turned-revolutionary, Gérard, sung by Italian baritone Giorgio Zancanaro, also loves Maddalena, and when he is elevated to the revolutionary court he wreaks his revenge against Chénier who is condemned to death. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House is conducted by Julius Rudel.
EL GATO MONTÉS (Penella) – Los Angeles Music Center Opera
Plácido Domingo returns to his musical roots in a rare staging of Manuel Penella’s El Gato Montés (The Wild Cat). Verónica Villarroel portrays the peasant girl, torn by her love for the dashing bandit, sung by Justino Díaz, and heroic matador Rafael, sung by Plácido Domingo. Jealous love, misplaced honour and noble revenge all form part of the Los Angeles Music Center Opera’s production of El Gato Montés.
In a short introduction, Domingo reminisces about performing in, and growing to love, this opera with his parents and sister during his childhood. The Los Angeles Music Center Opera Orchestra is conducted by Miguel Roa.
PAGLIACCI (Leoncavallo) – Washington National Opera
This often-performed short opera uses the play-within-a play device to explore the classic operatic themes of passion, adultery, jealousy and revenge. The great tenor aria, Vesti la giubba, expresses the anguish of the cuckolded husband who is a performing clown but must make others laugh, even as his heart is breaking. Franco Zeffirelli’s production is set in a contemporary urban environment, with fire eaters, children, animals, jugglers and acrobats. Plácido Domingo gives a definitive performance as Canio, showing that he is arguably the finest actor-tenor of our time. The Washington National Opera Orchestra is conducted by Leonard Slatkin.
ANDREA CHENIER:
Picture format: NTSC 4:3 FF
Audio: L-PCM Stereo
Duration: 112 mins
Subtitles: Eng / Fr / Ger / It / Jp
EL GATO MONTES:
Picture format: NTSC 4:3 FF
Audio: L-PCM Stereo
Duration: 112 mins
Subtitles: Eng / Fr / Ger / It / Sp
PAGLIACCI:
Picture format: NTSC 4:3 FF
Audio: Dolby 2.0 Stereo + 5.1 Surround
Duration: 78 mins
Bonus interview (in English)
Picture format: NTSC 16:9
Audio: L-PCM 2.0 Stereo
Duration: 35 mins Colour
Subtitles: None Region Code: 2-6
