LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphonies No. 5 & 9 (Blu-ray) René Kollo, Anna Tomowa-Simtow, Agnes Baltsa, José van Dam / Choir of the Deutsche Oper, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan [ EuroArts Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 6/May/2022 ] This important visual document provides a rare insight into the way in which 'das Wunder Karajan' fashioned his unique style. The roused interpretation of Beethoven's most popular symphony, Symphony No. 9 with the Berliner Philharmoniker was recorded... |
JACQUES OFFENBACH
Offenbach: Orphée aux Enfers [Orpheus in the Underworld] (complete operetta recorded in 2019) BLU-RAY Salzburg Festival / Kathryn Lewek, Joel Prieto, Anne Sofie von Otter, Martin Winkler / Enrique Mazzola (cond) [ C Major Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 17/Jul/2020 ] Operetta enthusiast Barrie Kosky has landed a gigantic success with Offenbach's subversive and hilarious reversion of the Orpheus myth at the Salzburg Festival. Kosky created a magically precise and witty staging with numerous extravagant costumes in... |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Lohengrin (complete opera recorded in 2018) BLU-RAY Staatsoper Stuttgart / Michaël König, Simone Schneider, Martin Gantner, Okka von der Damerau / Cornelius Meister [ Bel Air Classiques Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 20/Nov/2020 ] What are heroes made of and why do our societies need them so badly ? At the Staatsoper Stuttgart, stage director Árpád Schilling tries to answer this mythological, political and existential question, lying at the core of Richard Wagner's Lohengrin.... |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: 9 Symphonies & Overtures (1977 recordings) Blu-ray audio in Dolby Atmos Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon Blu-ray audio in Dolby Atmos / 2 Blu-Ray Audio - released 1/Nov/2019 ] "Beethoven is in no way déjà vu to Karajan, as this set gloriously proves" - Richard Osborne (Gramophone) |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphonies 1 - 9 [Complete 1963 recordings remastered at 24 bit Blu-ray audio] Gundula Janowitz, Hilde Rassel Majdan, Waldemar Kmentt, Walter Berry / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon Blu-ray audio / Blu-Ray Audio - released 12/Sep/2017 ] Blu-ray Audio comprises ALL 9 SYMPHONIES plus the rehearsal of the Ninth Symphony |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos 1 - 9 (1970s recordings) [BLU-RAY DOBLY ATMOS] Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Agnes Baltsa, Peter Schreier, Jose van Dam / Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon / 2 Blu-Ray Audio - released 20/Oct/2019 ] Grammy Award Winning Cycle: Winner of "Best Orchestral Performance" - 1978. |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Un ballo in maschera (complete opera recorded in 2016) BLU-RAY Bavarian State Opera / Piotr Beczala, George Petean, Anja Harteros, Okka von der Damerau, Sofia Fomina / Zubin Mehta (cond) [ C Major BLU-RAY / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/Mar/2017 ] "Musically things are more than fine. BeczaĆa pulls off this one hell of a tenor role…with style and confidence. Harteros gives her usual tightly focused emotional performance." Gramophone Magazine - Blu-ray of the Month - May 2017 |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Turandot (complete opera recorded in 2015) BLU-RAY Bregenz Festival / Mlada Khudoley, Manuel von Senden, Michael Ryssov, Riccardo Massi / Paolo Carignani (cond) [ EuroArts / Unitel Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Mar/2016 ] "Guanqun Yu's schoolgirl Liu, sporting beret and pigtails, is the pick of the cast. She delivers a beautifully affecting, 'Tu che di gel sei cinta'. Riccardo Massi sings attractively as Calaf, with a very creditable 'Nessun dorma'." |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Giulio Cesare [complete opera recorded in 2012] Blu-ray Salzburg Whitsun Festival / Cecilia Bartoli, Andreas Scholl, Philippe Jaroussky, Anne Sofie von Otter. Christophe Dumaux / Giovanni Antonini (cond) [ Decca Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 13/May/2016 ] "[Andreas Scholl's] coloratura is note perfect, he phrases recitatives with as much musicianship as arias, and the steadiness and purity of his voice are remarkable." The Financial Times |
ERICH WOLFGANG KORNGOLD
Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane (complete opera recorded in 2018) BLU-RAY Deutsche Oper Berlin / Sara Jakubiak, Brian Jagde, Josef Wagner, Okka von der Damerau, Derek Welton / Christof Loy [ Naxos Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 7/Jun/2019 ] "Marc Albrecht and his orchestra are familiar, so their excellence is no surprise. But the three lead singers are relative unknowns-and their stupendous performances leave you wondering why." Fanfare |
GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (complete opera recorded live August 2002) BLU-RAY Glyndebourne Opera / Anne Sofie von Otter, Laurent Naouri, Marcus Haddock, Lisa Milne / Philippe Jordan (cond) [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Dec/2008 ] Blu-Ray - - "(Von Otter's) Carmen has loads of overt sexuality - she languidly glides through the Habanera while sucking on a piece of fruit and then a cigar - and she shows plenty of temperament and fatalism tinged with fear later." (Los Angeles Times) |
STRAVINSKY / MOZART / BIZET / WAGNER / PUCCINI / BRITTEN / etc
Glorious Glyndebourne: (excerpts from various operas recorded at Glyndebourne) BLU-RAY Glyndebourne Opera / Miah Persson, Topi Lehtipuu, Matthew Rose, Anne Sofie von Otter, Danielle de Niese, John Mark Ainsley, etc [ Opus Arte Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 10/May/2014 ] An exuberant brainchild of John Christie, Glyndebourne Festival Opera launched in 1934 with a production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. Since then, Glyndebourne has become a byword for excellence, bringing together the finest operatic musicians... |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte, K620 [The Magic Flute] (complete opera recorded in 2016) BLU-RAY Teatro alla Scala / Martin Summer, Yasmin Özkan, Martin Piskorski, Fatma Said, Till von Orlowski / Ádám Fischer (cond) [ C Major Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/May/2017 ] Accompanied by a luxurious team of professionals, consisting of the renowned stage director Peter Stein, stage designer Ferdinand Wöger and conductor Ádám Fischer, Teatro alla Scala presents Mozart's Zauberflöte. In this production, orchestra,... |
DVORAK / MOZART
Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 'From the New World' / Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K219 "Turkish" BLU-RAY Yehudi Menuhin (violin) / Berliner Philharmoniker / Wiener Symphoniker / Herbert von Karajan [ C Major Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 16/Feb/2011 ] "an electrifying performance by a rejuvenated Berlin Philharmonic at the peak of its powers; it is also a visually stunning record of a masterclass in virtuoso conducting." (Gramophone) |
Andrew Von Oeyen
Liszt: Piano Music [ Delos / CD - released 29/Aug/2011 ] |
ELGAR
The Dream of Gerontius (complete) Ann Sofie von Otter (mezzo soprano) / David Rendall (tenor) Alastair Miles (bass) / London Symphony chorus & orchestra / Sir Colin Davis [ LSO Live / 2 CD - released 10/Aug/2006 ] 'this new recording from the LSO and Sir Colin Davis is so detailed in its emotional responses - so magical is Davis's phrasing that there are times that one dare not breathe for fear of breaking the spell' International Record Review |
Ann Sophie von Otter, soprano, Elvis Costello, vocals, and ensemble
For the Stars-Anne Sofie von Otter meets Elvis Costello [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 1/Jun/2001 ] Wonderful pairing of the soprano star with great songwriter/performer |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Der Rosenkavalier (Complete Opera) Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Agnes Baltsa, Janet Perry & Kurt Moll / Wiener Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon Opera! / 3 CD - released 1/May/2012 ] "underrated. It has strong vocal performances...and it's gloriously played by the Vienna Philharmonic...this is a set well worth having alongside more fleet-footed versions." (International Record Review) |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Requiem / Coronation Mass (rec 1975) Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Agnes Baltsa, Werner Krenn, JosAC van Dam / Berliner Philharmoniker / Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon Karajan Master Recordings / CD - released 26/Jan/2008 ] The French review magazine Diapason wrote of this Coronation Mass: "The choral and orchestral forces are very effective, the soloists prestigious and the conductor's interpretation spectacular and very lyrical", and of the Requiem: "The tempos are... |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Der Rosenkavalier (Highlights from the complete Opera) Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Kurt Moll, Agnes Baltsa / Vienna Philharmonic / Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 3/Feb/2002 ] Highlights from the popular Strauss opera |