GIOACHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: La Cenerentola [Cinderella] (complete opera with full libretto recorded in 1992) Cecilia Bartoli, William Matteuzzi, Enzo Dara, Alessandro Corbelli / Orchestra & Chorus of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Riccardo Chailly [ Decca DVD / DVD - released 28/Aug/2014 ] "All eyes and ears, inevitably, are on Bartoli, and she doesn't disappoint...The singing itself is ravishing. At the same time, the performance makes dramatic sense...Decca provide a superb Alidoro, an alluring Clorinda, inventive and elaborate... |
W. A. MOZART / FRANZ SCHUBERT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: Symphonies 31, 39, 40, 41 / Schubert: Symphony No. 4 Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Vienna Philharmonic, Nikolaus Harnoncourt [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 1/Oct/2016 ] Schubert's 'Tragic' Symphony and Mozart's 'Paris' Symphony are performed by the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Nikolaus Harnoncourt at the Wiener Musikvereinsaal in 1984. Harnoncourt goes back to Schubert's original manuscripts. |
RICHARD WAGNER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE - Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen (14 CDs plus bonus DVD) John Tomlinson, Günter von Kannen, Bodo Brinkmann, Siegfried Jerusalem, Anne Evans, etc / Bayreuth Festival Orchestra and Choir, Daniel Barenboim [ Warner Classics / 15 CD/DVD Box Set - released 1/Jun/2004 ] "Barenboim seems to get the most from his singers, as almost all are effective in their roles. I agree with the general consensus that John Tomlinson is excellent as Wotan (and, in Siegfried, as Der Wanderer). Anne Evans as Brünnhilde in the last... |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: The Essential Mozart [5 DVD set] Gil Shaham / Sharon Kam / Sandrine Piau / Dorothea Roschmann / Daniel Barenboim / and more [ EuroArts DVD / 5 DVD Box Set - released 10/Oct/2011 ] MediciArts offers a DVD box full of the most sparkling of Mozart's compositions. Performed by instrumentalists, orchestras, conductors and singers, among the best interpreters of his works, this representative selection... |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: Cosi Fan Tutte (complete opera recorded in 2006) Glyndebourne Opera / Topi Lehtipuu, Luca Pisaroni, Miah Persson, Anke Vondung / Ivan Fischer (conductor) [ Opus Arte / Rai Trade DVD / 2 DVD - released 1/May/2007 ] 'I had to search long and hard down memory lane to recall a Così that so vividly revealed both the pleasure and the overwhelming pain of this evermore disturbing masterpiece, and I failed.' Opera |
GEORGES BIZET
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bizet: Carmen (complete opera recorded in 1985) Grace Bumbry, Jon Vickers, Mirella Freni, Justino Diaz / Vienna State Opera Choir & Vienna Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan [ Deusche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 1/Dec/2005 ] This famous film of the world's best-loved opera, directed by Herbert von karajan, features the three greatest exponents of their respective roles at the time. - "overwhelming in its truthfulness to the tragic vision of Carmen", wrote the... |
ITZHAK PERLMAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Itzhak Perlman - Virtuoso Violinist Itzhak Perlman (violin) with Pinchas Zukerman and many more [ Allegro Films DVD / DVD - released 12/Jul/2008 ] G : - "Doing what television does best, BBC2's superb Perlman triptych - two concerts sandwiching an intimate you-are-there documentary - took us as close as it is decent and proper to go into the unexplained world of genius." - Daily Mail |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Brahms: Violin Concerto in D (with extra DVD of Beethoven Violin Concerto - 1st movement) Itzhak Perlman (violin) / Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Carlo Maria Giulini [ EMI Classics CD + DVD / 2 CD/DVD - released 20/Nov/1999 ] The classic 1977 recording reissued with an DVD bonus of the first movement of Beethoven's Violin Concerto live with the Berlin Philharmonic, filmed in 1992. |
JESSYE NORMAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Jessye Norman - A Portrait Jessye Norman (soprano) with various accompaniments [ Deccal DVD / DVD - released 14/Mar/2008 ] An intimate and in-depth 90 minute portrait of the legendary soprano, including specially staged studio films of 12 bestloved pieces from Jessye Norman's repertoire. |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Don Giovanni... The definitive film edition of Mozart's classic opera! (filmed in 1979 and now remastered & restored) Kiri te Kanawa, Edda Moser, Teresa Berganza, Jose van Dam, Ruggero Raimondi, Lorin Maazel (conductor) [ Second Sight /Gammont DVD / 3 DVD Box Set - released 1/Aug/2011 ] Filmed on location in picturesque Vincenza, Italy, the operatic masterpiece Don Giovanni is beautifully translated to film by director Joseph Losey. Now restored and remastered. |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Prokofiev: Betrothal in a Monastery (complete opera) Kirov Opera & Ballet / Anna Netrebko, Larissa Diadkova, Nikolai Gassiev, Aleksander Gergalov / Valery Gergiev (conductor) [ Philips DVD / DVD - released 5/Jan/2006 ] 'The lively Kirov production.is a delight. What is most remarkable is the overall quality and consistency of the cast. Anna Netrebko was splendid as Louisa, singing with limpid, agile tone.' New York Times |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: I vespri Siciliani (complete opera recorded in 1990) La Scala Opera / Giorgio Zancanaro, Enzo Capuano, Chris Merritt, Cheryl Studer / Riccardo Muti (cond) [ Opus Arte / Rai Trade / La Scala Collection DVD / DVD - released 25/Dec/2015 ] Verdi's 1855 Paris opera which followed Rigoletto, Il trovatore and La Traviata is treated to a performance of blazing energy and intimate refinement with a superb cast which includes Cheryl Studer and Chris Merritt. |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: Tosca (Complete opera recorded in 1978) Metropolitan Opera / Luciano Pavarotti, Shirley Verrett, Cornell Macneil / James Conlon (cond) [ Decca Music Group DVD / DVD - released 7/Oct/2010 ] Luciano Pavarotti will always be associated with the role of the painter Cavaradossi in Puccini's Tosca. His interpretations of the arias 'Recondita armonia' and 'E lucevan le stelle' became two of his greatest hits, which he sang at all his concerts. |
VINCENZO BELLINI
Bellini: La Sonnambula (the complete opera, recorded in 2009) Metropolitan Opera / Juan Diego Florez, Natalie Dessay, Michele Pertusi / Evelino Pido (conductor) [ Decca Music Group DVD / DVD - released 11/Mar/2010 ] G:- "[The rehearsal conceit] may sound like a straight thumbs-down. But it works....almost without knowing it, one is drawn into the work itself, rejoicing in the power of song...Juan Diego Flórez has an abundance of all that is required and enjoys a... |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera (complete opera recorded in 1991) Metropolitan Opera / Luciano Pavarotti, Leo Nucci, April Millo, Florence Quivar / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 30/May/2008 ] "The best justification for buying this issue is to see and hear Pavarotti nearer to his vocal peak in a role which his strong lyric voice and clear diction is ideally suited" (MusicWeb) |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: Ernani (complete opera recorded in 1983) Metropolitan Opera / Luciano Pavarotti, Leona Mitchell, Sherrill Milnes / James Levine (cond) [ Decca DVD / DVD - released 18/Jan/2008 ] " Mr. Pavarotti gave a splendid full-throated performance... He was also a sensitive partner in the many ensemble numbers... Miss Mitchell filled the house gloriously... " New York Times |
GIOACCHINIO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: L'Italiana in Algeri (Complete opera recorded in 1986). Metropolitan Opera / Marilyn Horne, Paolo Montarsolo, Douglas Ahlstedt / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / 2 DVD - released 13/Oct/2005 ] Marilyn Horne takes centre stage in this production of Rossini's opera, recorded live at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 1986. Other performers include Douglas Ahlstedt, Paolo Montarsolo and Allan Monk. James Levine conducts. |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: Otello (complete opera recorded in 2012) Metropolitan Opera / Renee Fleming, Johan Botha, Falk Struckmann / Semyon Bychkov (cond) [ Decca DVD / DVD - released 15/May/2015 ] Renée Fleming's Desdemona enshrines one of her signature roles in a definitive performance: "she knows exactly how to spin the gentle lines of the 'Willow Song' and 'Ave Maria' so that they softly fill the hall" (New York Times). This 2012... |
JULES MASSENET
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Massenet: Thais (complete opera, recorded in 2009) Metropolitan Opera / Renee Fleming, Thomas Hampson, Michael Schade / Jesus Lopez-Cobos (cond) [ Decca Music Group DVD / DVD - released 18/Feb/2010 ] The New York Times lauded Renée Fleming as a "vocally sumptuous and unabashedly show-stealing Thaïs". If this is crime, opera needs more of it! |
RICHARD WAGNER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Wagner: Tannhauser (Complete Opera recorded in 1983) Metropolitan Opera / Richard Cassilly, Eva Marton, Tatiana Troyanos / James Levine [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / 2 DVD - released 13/Oct/2002 ] The Metropolitan Opera sings deeply passionate Wagner in this 1991 production on a spare but darkly atmospheric stage. |