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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Recorded live Nationaltheater, Munich, July 2007
Edita Gruberova (Lucrezia), Pavol Breslik (Gennaro), Franco Vassallo (Don Alfonso), Alice Coote (Maffio Orsini), Bruno Ribeiro (Jeppo Liverotto), Christian Rieger (Don Aposto Gazella), Christopher Magiera (Ascanio Petrucci), Erik Årman (Oloferno Vitellozzo), Steven Humes (Gubetta), Emanuele D'Aguanno (Rustighello), Christian Van Horn (Astolfo) Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper & Bayerisches Staatsorchester, Bertrand de Billy "The raison d'etre of this new production of Lucrezia Borgia at the Bayerische Staatsoper is undoubtedly the great Edita Gruberova. Sopranos come and go, but there is always Edita, who has been in front of the public for almost forty years and still going strong, thank you very much. At the age of 62, many of her contemporaries would likely have retired to a teaching post somewhere, or at least moved on to the old ladies, the maids, the witches, and other assorted "character roles" in opera, or disappeared from public view altogether. Not Edita Gruberova, who remains the undisputed Queen of Bel Canto. …Her coloratura - and the seemingly infinite variations in dynamics - is as amazing as ever. …Lucrezia is not exactly a charming character, poisoning everyone in sight, but Gruberova managed to make her sympathetic.The final scene was a vocal and dramatic tour de force that one rarely encounters these days. She was well partnered by a fellow Slovak, tenor Pavel Breslik, who was an exceptionally fine Gennaro. Celebrated in Mozart, I wasn't prepared for his idiomatic Italian, his plangent timbre and stylish yet heart-onsleeve singing/acting was an unalloyed pleasure. Looking handsome and youthful, he complemented the soprano perfectly…he is a natural candidate for any director wanting to show some flesh onstage, witness his Idamante last season. Christof Loy had him scraping a knee, taking off his shirt ostensibly to wipe off the blood.Another example - the libretto calls for Gennaro to destroy Lucrezia's coat of arms. In this contemporary production, it was replaced by her name in large illuminated letters attached to the gray background. Gennario rips the B off her name and throws it on the stage floor - rather amusing as "ORGIA" remains on the wall, the implications of which rather unmistakable. The production is extremely pared-down, with really no set to speak of, a bare stage save for a few office chairs.Yet there is something to be said about this approach, as it allows one to focus on the emotional and dramatic core of the work. ...Ultimately this is a vehicle for the prima donna so nothing else really matters, especially when the diva delivered in spades like last evening…The third vocal standout was British mezzo Alice Coote as Maffio Orsini.The Gennaro-Maffio duet was a highlight of the evening…her Act Two extended scena was terrific. BONUS: The Art of Bel Canto - Edita Gruberova A Portrait an empathic portrait of the Queen of coloratura, Edita Gruberova, prima donna assoluta. NTSC 16:9, PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1 Region Code: 0 Original language: Italian Subtitles: English, German, French, Italian Booklet Notes: English, German, French Running Time: 129 mins + 54 mins Documentary German FSK: 6 “Christof Loy's serious contemporary production has simple modern clothes… and little scenery… Entries, exits and who is onstage are treated in deconstructionist fashion. This is exciting in Act 2 where the constant presence of the Duca (Alfonso) and his oily henchman Rustighello at Princess Negroni's party is not realistic but hugely underlines the threat to Gennaro, Maffio Orsini and their friends visiting Ferrara. The Slovak soprano legend Edita Gruberová... produces a dramatic performance of concentration, at its most convincing in Act 2 where her age meshes well with the character of distraught mother. The handsome Slovakian tenor Pavol Breslik is a star Gennaro of passion and agility, and Alice Coote is a convincingly butch Maffio. The orchestra play richly for de Billy who sounds at home in this repertoire.” Gramophone Magazine, March 2010 “the major vocal honours of the evening belong to Pavol Breslik as Gennaro. He sings with excellent diction, variety of tone and good characterisation whilst acting with conviction...If the production and staging lacks cohesion and conviction, thankfully those convictions are present in the pit under the direction of Bertrand de Billy.” MusicWeb International, June 2012 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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Dimitra Theodossiou, Roberto De Biasio, Enrico Giuseppe Lori, Nidia Palacios, Luigi Albani, Giuseppe Di Paola & Mauro Corna Orchestra and Chorus of the Bergamo Musica Festival Gaetano Donizetti, Tiziano Severini Director: Francesco Bellotto Filmed at the Teatro Donizetti, Bergamo, Italy, 30 November & 2 December 2007 Based on Victor Hugo’s most sensational play, Lucrèce Borgia, a scandalous tale of murder, torture, incest, homosexuality, drunkenness and orgies, Donizetti’s opera is one of the great masterpieces of Italian bel canto repertoire. While omitting some of its more excessive elements, the libretto by Felice Romani inspired Donizetti to compose superb arias, duets, ensembles and choruses, bringing each act to a stirring conclusion. Beautifully costumed and designed, brimming with high drama and pathos, this production stars in the infamous title rôle Greek diva Dimitra Theodossiou, praised for her stupendous acting and singing in Donizetti’s Roberto Devereux (Naxos DVD 2110232). | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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Joan Sutherland (Lucrezia Borgia), Ronald Stevens (Gennaro), Margreta Elkins (Maffio Orsini), Richard Allman (Don Alfonso), Robin Donald (Jacopo Liveretto), Lyndon Terracini (Don Apostolo Gazella), Gregory Yurisich (Ascanio Petrucci), Lamberto Furlan (Oloferno Vitellozzo), Pieter Van der Stolk (Gubetta), Graeme Ewer (Rustighello), John Germain (Astolfo), Neville Grave (Un servo), Eddie Wilden (Un coppiere) The Australian Opera Chorus & The Elizabethan Sydney Orchestra, Richard Bonynge Lucrezia Borgia, infamous noblewoman of the Renaissance, has outlived three husbands and is now married to Don Alfonso, Duke of Ferrara. After the Borgia’s palace is defaced by vandals, Lucrezia demands the desecrator’s death to avenge the insult. When the noble young soldier Gennaro is arrested for the crime, Lucrezia’s thirst for vengeance and murder sets in motion a tragic chain of events that eventually destroys her enemies and herself. PICTURE FORMAT: 4:3
LENGTH: 140 Mins
SOUND: STEREO
SUBTITLES: EN
“Lucrezia Borgia is a lyrical masterly example of Donizetti's art that delights the ear endlessly… Sutherland made the low key arias breathtaking vehicles for the most ravishing singing one is likely to hear on any opera stage in the world” The Financial Review | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | La Stupenda: The Glory of Joan Sutherland
Cilea: | Adriana Lecouvreur Joan Sutherland (Adriana), Heather Begg (Principessa di Bouillon), Anson Austin (Maurizio), John Shaw (Michonnet), Jeffrey Black (Quinault), Christopher Dawes (Poisson), Judith Saliba (Mlle. Jouvenot), Jennifer Bermingham (Mlle. Dangeville), Graeme Ewer (L'Abate di Chazeuil) George Ogilvie (director) | Donizetti: | La Fille du Régiment Joan Sutherland (Marie), Anson Austin (Tonio), Heather Begg (Marquise of Berkenfield), Gregory Yurisich (Sulpice), Gordon Wilcock (Hortensius), Stephen Bennett (A Peasant), David Lemke (Corporal), James Huxtable (Dancing Master), Drew McFarlane (Notary) Sandro Sequi (director) Lucrezia Borgia Joan Sutherland (Lucrezia Borgia), Ronald Stevens (Gennaro), Margreta Elkins (Maffio Orsini), Richard Allman (Don Alfonso), Robin Donald (Jacopo Liveretto), Lyndon Terracini (Don Apostolo Gazella), Gregory Yurisich (Ascanio Petrucci), Lamberto Furlan (Oloferno Vitellozzo), Pieter Van der Stolk (Gubetta), Graeme Ewer (Rustighello), John Germain (Astolfo), Neville Grave (Un servo), Eddie Wilden (Un coppiere) Stephen Lawless (director) | Meyerbeer: | Les Huguenots Joan Sutherland (Marguerite de Valois), Amanda Thane (Valentine), Anson Austin (Raoul de Nangis), Suzanne Johnston (Urbain), John Pringle (Count de Nevers), Clifford Grant (Marcel), John Wegner (Count de Saint Bris) Lotfi Mansouri (stage director) |
The Australian Opera Chorus & The Elizabethan Sydney Orchestra, Richard Bonynge This unique 5 DVD collection brings together, for the first time, the legendary Australian soprano in four key dramatic coloratura roles that were cornerstones of her repertory – Marguerite de Valois in Les Huguenots, Marie in La fille du Régiment, and the eponymous heroines in Adriana Lecouvreur and Lucrezia Borgia. Accompanying them is the celebrated gala concert she gave in 1983 with her long-time colleague (and one-time protégée), Luciano Pavarotti, featuring extracts from several other major Sutherland roles, including Violetta (La Traviata), Ophélie (Hamlet) and, of course, her signature role, Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor). All four operas and gala concert were filmed in the iconic Sydney Opera House, and conducted by her husband, Maestro Richard Bonynge. Running time: 12 hours 5 minutes Subtitles: EN Sound format: 2.0LPCM + 5.1(5.0) DTS | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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