LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 9 (Recorded live from the Opéra Bastille and the Palais Garnier, Paris 2014-15) Ricarda Merbeth, Daniela Sindram, Robert Dean Smitm, Günther Groissböck / Paris National Opera Chorus and Orchestra, Philippe Jordan [ Arthaus DVD / 4 DVD Box Set - released 20/Sep/2016 ] "A seasoned Beethovenian will likely conclude that a lot of care and thought went into the interpretations as well." Classical-Net |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 9 (Recorded live from the Opéra Bastille and the Palais Garnier, Paris 2014-15) BLU-RAY Ricarda Merbeth, Daniela Sindram, Robert Dean Smitm, Günther Groissböck / Paris National Opera Chorus and Orchestra, Philippe Jordan [ Arthaus Blu-Ray / 3 Blu-ray Box Set - released 20/Sep/2016 ] "A seasoned Beethovenian will likely conclude that a lot of care and thought went into the interpretations as well." Classical-Net |
ALBAN BERG
Berg: Lulu (Complete Opera recorded in 1979 with complete libretto) Teresa Stratas, Yvonne Minton, Robert Tear / Paris Opera Orchestra/Pierre Boulez [ Deutsche Grammaphon / 3 CD Box Set - released 16/Mar/2000 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) -- "This pioneering recording, the first to use Friedrich Cerha's realisation of Act 3, has not been bettered" (Gramophone) |
GIACOMO PUCCINI / GIUSEPPE VERDI / GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (complete opera recorded in 1950) Michel Dens, Martha Angelici, Germaine Chellet, Frederic Leprin / Paris Opéra-Comique Chorus & Orchestra, André Cluytens [ Naxos Historical Great Opera Recordings / 2 CD - released 3/Mar/2003 ] "The singers are first rate, the orchestral musicians spirited and wholly committed and Cluytens' direction, with its pace and sense of theatre, is second to none." MusicWeb. |
GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (Complete Opera recorded in June 2009) Opéra Comique, Paris / Anna Caterina Antonacci, Andrew Richards, Nicolas Cavallier, Monteverdi Choir / John Eliot Gardiner (cond) [ Naxos DVD / DVD - released 14/May/2021 ] On 3 June 1975, the day after the 33rd performance of Carmen - indicating limited success as the receipts were meagre - he died from a heart attack, at the age of 36, like Mozart. |
GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (Complete Opera recorded in June 2009) BLU-RAY Opéra Comique, Paris / Anna Caterina Antonacci, Andrew Richards, Nicolas Cavallier, Monteverdi Choir / John Eliot Gardiner (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 14/May/2021 ] On 3 June 1975, the day after the 33rd performance of Carmen - indicating limited success as the receipts were meagre - he died from a heart attack, at the age of 36, like Mozart. |
BIZET / MENDELSSOHN / MOZART / PUCCINI / STRAUSS 11 / RAMEAU
THE BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: Opera and Ballet Highlights Paris Opera Ballet / Royal Opera House / Teatro Real, Madrid / Glyndebourne Opera / Pacific Northwest Ballet / Drottningholms Slottsteater [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Jan/2009 ] Blu-Ray - Opera and Ballet Highlights from the Opus Arte catalogue at a very special price. |
HINDEMITH
Cardillac (complete opera recorded in 2005) Paris National Opera / Alan Held / Angela Denoke / Christopher Ventris / Kent Nagano (cond) [ Bel Air Classiques / DVD - released 24/Jul/2007 ] G :- Cardillac is a master jeweller who cannot live without his creations, killing his clients to recuperate them and assert his authorship. |
GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (complete opera recorded in 1964) Maria Callas, Nicolai Gedda, Andréa Guiot, Robert Massard, Nadine Sautereau / Orchestre du Théâtre National de l'Opéra de Paris, Georges Prêtre [ Warner Classics Maria Callas Remastered / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2015 ] Towards the end of Callas's career, there were many rumours that she was planning to perform Carmen on stage. This was never to be, but Carmen became her penultimate complete recording of an opera - and her only complete recording of a French opera.... |
BIZET
Carmen (complete opera recorded in 2009) Opéra Comique, Paris / Anna Caterina Antonacci / Andrew Richards / Anne-Catherine Gillet / Nicolas Cavallier / John Eliot Gardiner (conductor) [ FRA Musica / 2 DVD - released 10/Oct/2010 ] Anna Caterina Antonacci is now acknowledged as a major artist, and her extraordinary vocal timbre and great acting skills have enabled her to perform a vast and varied repertoire in the world's most important theatres. She made her Covent Garden... |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: Cinderella (Complete ballet choreographed by Rudolf Nureyev recorded in 2008) Paris Opera Ballet / Agnes Letestu / Jose Martinez / Laetitia Pujol / Koen Kessels (cond) [ Opus Arte DVD / 2 DVD - released 1/Dec/2008 ] "The production here was created in 1986 by Rudolf Nureyev. The setting is Hollywood in the 1930s. The basic story is intact and Nureyev was scrupulous in his use of Prokofiev's music. In all a sumptuous package." (MusicWeb Nov 2008) |
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) |
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... |
LEO DELIBES
Delibes: Coppelia (complete ballet) (with Minkus - Don Quixote highlights) Orchestre du Theatre National de l'Opera de Paris / Jean-Baptiste Mari [ EMI Ballet Edition / 2 CD - released 1/Sep/2010 ] The Ballet Edition is a series of 2 CD sets drawn from the catalogues of EMI Classics, presenting the best-loved and most popular ballets, performed by the world's leading orchestras and conductors. |
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... |
LEO DELIBES
Delibes: Lakme (complete opera recorded in 2022) Opera Comique, Paris / Sabine Devieilhe, Grederic Antouni, Stephane Degout, Ambroisine Bre / Pygmalion, Raphael Pichon [ Naxos DVD / DVD - released 20/Oct/2023 ] "Laurent Pelly transforms Delibes's opera into an exploration of colonialism and cultural appropriation...Raphaël Pichon, conducting Pygmalion on original instruments, relishes Delibes's lush orchestration." BBC Music DVD of the Month Jan 2024 |
LEO DELIBES
Delibes: Lakme (complete opera recorded in 2022) BLU-RAY Opera Comique, Paris / Sabine Devieilhe, Grederic Antouni, Stephane Degout, Ambroisine Bre / Pygmalion, Raphael Pichon [ Naxos Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 20/Oct/2023 ] "Laurent Pelly transforms Delibes's opera into an exploration of colonialism and cultural appropriation...Raphaël Pichon, conducting Pygmalion on original instruments, relishes Delibes's lush orchestration." BBC Music Blu-ray of the Month Jan 2024 |
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 |