RICHARD STRAUSS
Salome (complete opera recorded in 2009) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / Nadja Michael, Michael Volle, Michaela Schuster, Thomas Moser / Philippe Jordan [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Aug/2010 ] "Nadia Michael… is an attractive Salome, moving like a dancer, as physically unafraid as she is vocally… Michael Volle is an imposing, rich-toned Narraboth" (Gramophone) |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Don Giovanni (complete opera recorded in 2014) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Mariusz Kwiecien, Alex Esposito, Alexander Tsymbalyuk, Véronique Gens , Antonio Poli / Nicola Luisotti (cond [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/Nov/2014 ] Mozart's sublime tragic comedy offers boundless scope for directors, and Kasper Holten has chosen it to follow his directorial debut of Eugene Onegin. He wanted to shift the emphasis from Don Giovanni's sex life into a darker place, showing... |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) (complete opera recorded in 2021) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Mauro Peter, Siobhan Stagg, Roderick Williams, Sabine Devieilhe, Mika Kares / Julia Jones (cond) [ Opus Arte Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 26/Nov/2021 ] David McVicar's classic production embraces both the seriousness and comedy of Mozart's work. The audience is transported to a fantastical world of dancing animals, flying machines and dazzlingly starry skies. The setting provides a wonderful... |
GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (complete opera filmed in 2006) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / Jonas Kaufmann, Anna Caterina Antonacci, Ildebrando D'Arcangelo / Antonio Pappano (conductor) [ Decca Music Group Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 25/Jan/2017 ] BLU-RAY - 'Kaufmann and Antonacci are that rare breed: superb singers who can also act with subtlety and passion' The Guardian |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Tosca (complete opera recorded in 2001) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Ruggero Raimondi / Antonio Pappano (cond) [ BBC / Opus Arte Blu-ray 4K Ultra HD / Blu-ray UHD - released 10/Oct/2017 ] "brings this opera vividly to life ... this is a classic of the future" The Guardian |
GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti: Lucia Di Lammermoor (complete opera recorded in 1971) Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Sherrill Milnes, Nicolai Ghiaurov / Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Richard Bonynge [ Decca 2 CDs plus Blu-ray audio & Libretto / 3 CD/Blu-ray Disc - released 20/Jun/2019 ] Remastered in ultra-high quality 96kHz/24-bit audio at Abbey Road Studios in 2014 under the supervision of long-term Decca balance engineer Philip Siney. |
GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti: L'elisir d'amore (complete opera recorded in 1971) [2 CDs plus Blu-ray audio] Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Sherrill Milnes, Nicolai Ghiaurov / Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Richard Bonynge [ Decca 2 CDs plus Blu-ray audio / 3 CD Box Set - released 27/Sep/2019 ] "The "L'elisir" set was one of the loveliest things Sutherland ever did on record . . . As Donizetti's Adina she is charming -- touching, exuberant, virtuoso (her coloratura is astounding), and always very human." (Gramophone) |
KIRI te KANAWA
I Could Have Danced all Night (Concert & Portrait) BLU-RAY Kiri Te Kanawa (soprano) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, John Hopkins / Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Stephen Barlow [ Arthaus Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Oct/2015 ] Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's story has all the best elements of an operatic fairytale. Coming from a part-Maori background she went on to become one of the world's most famous opera stars. |
PYOTR Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Cherevichki [The Slippers] (complete opera recorded in 2009) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / Larissa Diadkova, Maxim Mikhailov, Vladimir Matorin, Olga Guryakova, Vsevolod Grivnov / Alexander Polianichko (cond) [ Opus Arte Royal Opera House Collection Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Aug/2011 ] "…this expensive-looking production that combines the forces of the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet…" The Guardian |
PYOTR Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71 (recorded at Bregenz Festival, 2009) BLU-RAY Royal Ballet / Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Peter Wright (choreographer) / Miyako Yoshida / Ricardo Cervera / Steven McRae [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 19/Nov/2010 ] 'One of the very best seasonal treats for children and adults alike, the Royal Ballet's Nutcracker is a handsome, magical, thoroughly traditional rendering of ETA Hoffmann's immortal if deeply strange story.' Sunday Express |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: La Traviata (recorded live Covent Garden in 2019) BLU-RAY Royal Opera / Ermonela Jaho, Charles Castronovo, Placido Domingo / Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Antonello Manacorda [ Opus Arte Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 10/Sep/2019 ] ".Castronovo is a splendid Alfredo, his bright, springy tone capturing the character's impetuosity...Manacorda conducts sensitively, not always with Solti's zip, but supports his singers well." Gramophone |
GIACOMO MEYERBEER
Meyerbeer: Robert Le Diable (complete opera recorded in 2012) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / Bryan Hymel, Patrizia Ciofi, John Relyea, Marina Poplavskaya / Daniel Oren (conductor) [ Opus Arte Royal Opera House Collection Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/Aug/2013 ] "Meyerbeer's vocal writing demands virtuoso singing, and receives that here. Bryan Hymel hurls himself unstintingly at the title role, impossible high notes and all." BBC Music |
GEORGE BENJAMIN
Benjamin: Written on Skin (complete opera recorded in 2013) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / Christopher Purves, Barbara Hannigan, Bejun Mehta, Victoria Simmonds / George Benjamin (cond) [ Opus Arte Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/Aug/2014 ] GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE AWARD WINNER 2014 - Contemporary |
ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK
Humperdinck: Hansel und Gretel (complete opera recorded in 2008) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Angelika Kirchschlager / Diana Damrau / Elizabeth Connell / Thomas Allen / Colin Davis, conductor [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Aug/2009 ] "Diana Damrau, a plain-Jane Gretel with awkward pigtails, gets along famously with her brother, dancing, playing, being huffy. They work well off one another and their voices blend beautifully. The Sandman and Dew Fairy are lovely." 10/10 ClassicsTod |
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOSVKY
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Op. 20 (complete ballet recorded in 2009) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Marianela Nunez, Thiago Soares, Elizabeth McGorian / Valeriy Ovsyanikov, conductor [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 10/Oct/2009 ] G : - 'Anthony Dowell's production…offers the ultimate classical experience, with the sights and sounds of a proud 19th century tradition running at full throttle.' The Times |
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOSVKY
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Op. 20 (complete ballet recorded in 2018) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Marianela Nunez, Vadim Muntagirov, Elizabeth McGorian / Koen Kessels (cond) [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/Oct/2019 ] Swan Lake has a special place in The Royal Ballet's repertory. This new production by Artist in Residence Liam Scarlett features additional choreography whilst remaining faithful to Petipa and Ivanov's classic. John Macfarlane's opulent designs... |
W.A. MOZART
Mozart: Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) (complete opera recorded in 2003) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Simon Keenlyside / Dorothea Roschmann / Will Hartmann / Diana Damarau / Franz-Josef Selig / Sir Colin Davis (cond) [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Jun/2008 ] "Diana Damrau's supremely sung Queen of the Night oozes class, while Simon Keenlyside's profoundly human, touchingly sympathetic view of Papageno deserves an Olivier Award." (Classic FM) |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart Operas Box Set: Don Giovanni / Die Zauberflöte / Le nozze di Figaro [complete operas recorded 2003-2008] BLU-RAY Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Simon Keenlyside, Kyle Ketelsen, Miah Persson, Joyce DiDonato, Dorothea Röschmann, Erwin Schrott, etc [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / 5 Blu-ray Box Set - released 20/Nov/2014 ] Containing three of Mozart's best-known and loved operas, this 5-disc box set features outstanding Royal Opera House productions and a raft of world-class artists, available at mid-price for the very first time. |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Don Giovanni (complete opera recorded in 2008) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Simon Keenlyside / Kyle Ketelsen / Miah Persson / Ramón Vargas / Joyce DiDonato / Charles Mackerras (cond) [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Jun/2009 ] "If one of the cast it to be named above the rest, that should be Joyce DiDonato, an outstandingly accomplished Elvira, brilliantly projected, interestingly conceived, her singing concentrated in tone." (Gramophone) |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro [The Marriage of Figaro] (complete opera recorded in 2006) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / Erwin Schrott, Miah Persson, Gerald Finley / Antonio Pappano (cond) [ Opus Arte / BBC Blu-Ray / 2 Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Aug/2011 ] "Here is a Figaro to put with the 1973 Glyndebourne production placed among the top five operatic DVDs. Figaro and Susanna are very much the centre here, and we like them not only because they sing and act well but because they are sympathetic in a... |