SCHNEITZHOEFFER
La Sylphide (complete ballet recorded in 2004) Aurélie Dupont / Mathieu Ganio / Mélanie Hurel / Le Corps De Ballet And Opéra National De Paris / Ermanno Fl [ Arthaus Musik DVD / DVD - released 12/May/2011 ] Arthaus presents Pierre Lacotte's landmark reconstruction of the Romantic Ballet La Sylphide, long regarded as a classic in its own right. |
STRAVINSKY / FAURE / TCHAIKOVSKY
Jewels (ballet by George Balanchine) Ballet de L'Opera National de Paris / George Balanchine / Christian Lacroix [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 19/Jun/2006 ] G :- 'Jewels', a work first performed by the New York City Ballet in 1967. This alluring, abstract ballet, a triptych in which each piece sparkles with the brilliance of a precious stone, is a lyric tribute to women and to the capital cities of... |
STRAVINSKY / FAURE / TCHAIKOVSKY
Jewels [ballet by George Balanchine] (recorded in 2005) BLU-RAY Ballet de L'Opera National de Paris / Aurelie Dupont, Marie-Agnes Gillot, Agnes Letestu, Clairemarie Osta [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Dec/2008 ] DVD Blu-Ray - Jewels, a work first performed by the New York City Ballet in 1967. This alluring, abstract ballet, a triptych in which each piece sparkles with the brilliance of a precious stone, is a lyric tribute to women and to the capital cities... |
BEETHOVEN / DEBUSSY / FAURE / SAINT-SAENS / etc
Proust, or How The Heart Skips A Beat (complete ballet recorded in 2007) Choreography by Roland Petit Ballet de l'Opéra National de Paris / Stéphanie Romberg / Eleonora Abbagnato / Manuel Legris / Koen Kessels (cond) [ Bel Air Classiques / Harmonia Mundi Distibution / DVD - released 1/Dec/2008 ] G - In 1974, Roland Petit, probably the greatest and certainly one of the most prolific of 20th century French choreographers he was the first person to create a work based on Proust's novel, A la recherche du temps perdu, completed in 1922, the... |
PROKOFIEV
The Love for Three Oranges (recorded live in 2005) Charles Workman / José Van Dam / Philippe Rouillon / Barry Banks / Béatrice Uria-Monzon / Opéra National de Paris / Sylvain Cambreling [ ArtHaus Musik DVD / DVD - released 26/Oct/2011 ] Conducted by 20th century specialist Sylvain Cambreling and sung in the original French version by superb singer-actors, this production presents a stage performance set in perfect harmony with Prokofiev's inventive music. |
DELIBES
Coppelia (complete ballet recorded in 2001) Charline Giezendanner / Mathieu Ganio / Pierre Lacotte / École De Danse And Opéra National De Paris / David Coleman [ Arthaus Musik DVD / DVD - released 1/Jul/2011 ] On the programme this evening is Coppélia, or the girl with the enamel eyes by Léo Delibes. The excitement among the girls is great because today they will be performing in the (reproduced) scenery and costumes which at the premiere on 25 May 1870... |
MAURICE RAVEL
Ravel: Orchestral Works (Incls 'Daphnis et Chloe', 'Ma Mere l'Oye' & 'Bolero') Choeurs du Theatre National de l'Opera / Orchestre de Paris, Jean Martinon [ Warner Classics / 3 CD - released 21/Oct/2007 ] "Fortunate the collector who chances on this set; delight and revelation await. At bargain price this is a gift that will cast its smiling spell for years to come" (MusicWeb Bargain of the Month October 2007) |
LAVAILLAT
La Petite Danseuse De Degas Clairemarie Osta / Dorothée Gilbert / Mathieu Ganio / Corps De Ballet & Orchestre De L'Opéra National De Paris / Koen Kessels [ ArtHaus Musik DVD / DVD - released 8/Aug/2011 ] "An inspired and visually ravishing creation. This ballet deserves to go from success to success." (Recording of the Month MusicWeb Aug 2011) |
FRANCIS POULENC
Poulenc: Dialogues des Carmelites (Complete opera) Denise Duval, Regine Crespin / Choeurs et Orchestre du Theatre National de l'Opera de Paris / Pierre Dervaux [ Warner Erato Home of Opera / 2 CD - released 20/May/2016 ] 'A classic and irreplaceable recording. It is evident that the singers were inspired by the piece to give of their considerable best and Pierre Dervaux's conducting of the work is both inspired and inspiriting.' (Gramophone) |
LEO DELIBES
Delibes: Coppelia (Complete ballet recorded at the Palais Garnier March 2011) BLU-RAY Paris Opera Ballet / Dorothee Gilbert, Mathias Heymann, José Martinez / Koen Kessels (cond) [ BBC / Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/Nov/2011 ] "Well worth watching…wonderment and terrific dancing…this is one that I will be returning to with anticipation and pleasure." (Blu-rayDefinition) |
DELIBES
Coppelia (Complete ballet recorded at the Palais Garnier March 2011) Dorothee Gilbert (Swanilda) / Mathias Heymann (Frantz) / José Martinez (Coppélius) / Paris Opera Corps de Ballet & Orchestre Colonne [ BBC / Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 20/Nov/2011 ] "On this DVD, excellent performances are provided by the quartet of principal dancers. The corps de ballet contributes delightfully in well-lit pools of light. Their routines are traditional and much as we would expect." (MusicWeb Feb 2012) |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24 / La mort de Cleopatre Janet Baker, Nicolai Gedda, Gabriel Bacquier / Chœurs de 'Opera de Paris, Orchestre de Paris & LSO / Georges Pretre & Alexander Gibson [ EMI Gemini / 2 CD - released 1/May/2007 ] "Prêtre's "Damnation de Faust"...does have some of the finest singers of the day. Nicolai Gedda and Gabriel Bacquier both turn in excellent professional performances. Dame Janet Baker was evidently determined to stretch herself no matter what the... |
VERDI / DONIZETTI / GOUNOD / ARDITI
La Stupenda Joan Sutherland (soprano) / Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden & Paris Conservatoire Orchestra [ Alto / CD - released 10/Aug/2013 ] (* Penguin Guide Rosette on Art of Prima Donna vol.2) "this 1959 recital** at once put her on the map as one of the greatest recording artists of all time" "most cherishable of all operatic recital records" (Penguin Guide) "breathtaking display" re... |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Dancer's Dream - Four documentaries dedicated to the great ballet productions by Rudolf Nureyev Les Etoiles / Les Premiers Danseurs et le Corps de Ballet de l'Opéra national de Paris / Orchestre de l'Opéra national de Paris [ Arthaus Musik DVD / 4 DVD - released 1/Jul/2011 ] The documentaries by François Roussillon examine the various aspects of the ballets, which have become classics in the repertoire of the ballet ensemble of the Paris opera through Rudolf Nureyev's choreography. Nureyev's innate talent for dancing and... |
W. A. MOZART
Le Nozze di Figaro [The Marriage of Figaro] (complete opera recorded in 2010) Ludovic tezier / Barbara Frittoli / Ekaterina Siurina / Luca Pisaroni / Orchestra of the Paris National Opera / Philippe Jordan [ Bel Air Classiques DVD / 2 DVD - released 20/Sep/2012 ] G:- "Unlike many Figaro productions these days, the physicality is never vulgar, and there are constant small touches that add character...[Pisaroni] displays the ideal bass-baritone instrument for this role" (International Record Review) |
Mado Robin, Agnes Disney, Libero de Luca. Orchestre et choeur de l'Opera-Comique, Paris. Georges Sebastian
Delibes - Lakme (Highlights from the opera) [ Decca Heritage / CD - released 25/Aug/2004 ] "Another very recommendable 'highlights' disc from Decca...the recording is perfect." Gramophone April 1955 |
DELIBES
Lakme (complete opera) Mado Robin (soprano) / Agnes Disney (mezzo) / Libero de Luca (tenor) / Paris Opera-Comique Chorus and Orchestra / Georges Sebastien [ Naxos Historical / 2 CD - released 4/Mar/2007 ] The great soprano Mado Robin made her début at the Paris Opéra in 1945 as Gilda, and gave her first performance as Lakmé, which was to become her most famous rôle, the following year at the Opéra-Comique. |
PUCCINI
Tosca (complete opera recorded in 1964/5) Maria Callas, Carlo Bergonzi, Tito Gobbi, Giorgio Tadeo / aris Conservatoire Orchestra, Paris Opera Chorus, Georges Prêtre [ Warner Classics Maria Callas Remastered / 2 CD - released 10/Nov/2014 ] Tosca was the role in which - in 1965, the year this recording was made - Callas gave her last complete performances at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, the Metropolitan Opera and the Paris Opéra. This was her final complete recording of an... |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Tosca (complete opera recorded in 1964/5) Maria Callas, Carlo Bergonzi, Tito Gobbi, Giorgio Tadeo / Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, Paris Opera Chorus, Georges Prêtre [ Warner Classics Legendary Opera Recordings / 2 CD Box Set - released 23/Sep/2016 ] This Tosca was Maria Callas's final studio recording of a complete opera. In 1965, 12 years after her first recording of the opera (made in Milan Victor de Sabata) she was reunited in Paris with the Scarpia of Tito Gobbi. Both singers bring new... |
PUCCINI / BELLINI / ROSSINI
Maria Callas: Toujours - Paris 1958 BLU-RAY Maria Callas (soprano) / Orchestra & Chorus of the Paris National Opera [ Warner Classics Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/Nov/2015 ] This Blu-ray disc is part of a collection of three that gather together concert and stage performances from the latter phase of Callas's career, 1958-1964. These are the only professional video recordings of Callas in performance on stage. |