GIUSEPPE VERDI
Un ballo in maschera (complete opera recorded in 1990) BLU-RAY Salzburg Festival / Plácido Domingo, Leo Nucci, Josephine Barstow, Florence Quivar, Sumi Jo / Georg Solti (conductor) [ Arthaus Legendary Performances BLU-RAY / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Jul/2015 ] The outstanding production of Verdi's Un ballo in maschera at the Salzburg Festival 1989/90 was Herbert von Karajan's legacy to the Festival. Supported by a cast of superlative actor-singers in opulent scenery, Sir Georg Solti agreed to conduct... |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Strauss, R.: Ariadne auf Naxos (complete opera / original 1912 version recorded in 2012) Salzburg Festival / Emily Magee, Elena Mosuc, Jonas Kaufmann / Wiener Philharmoniker, Daniel Harding (conductor), Sven-Eric Bechtolf (director) [ Sony DVD / DVD - released 28/Jun/2014 ] "Jonas Kaufmann was spectacular as Bacchus, growing improbably stronger as he progressed. Emily Magee was scarcely less impressive in the demanding role of Ariadne." - New York Times |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Don Carlo (complete opera recorded in 2013) Salzburg Festival / Jonas Kaufmann, Anja Harteros, Matti Salminen, Thomas Hampson / Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir Antonio Pappano [ Sony DVD / 2 DVD - released 15/Sep/2014 ] Giuseppe Verdi's late opera Don Carlo delivers all the big topics while Ferdinand Wögerbauer's ultra-simple décor provides a spartan counterpoint to the dramatic action. |
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 |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Don Carlo (complete opera recorded in 2013) BLU-RAY Salzburg Festival / Jonas Kaufmann, Anja Harteros, Matti Salminen, Thomas Hampson / Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir Antonio Pappano [ Sony Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 30/Sep/2014 ] Giuseppe Verdi's late opera Don Carlo delivers all the big topics while Ferdinand Wögerbauer's ultra-simple décor provides a spartan counterpoint to the dramatic action. |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: Die Zauberflote [The Magic Flute] (complete opera recorded the Salzburg Festival in 2006) Salzburg Festival / Rene Pape, Genia Kuhmeier, Paul Groves, Diana Damrau / Vienna Philharmonic / Riccardo Muti (cond) [ Decca Classics / Mozart 22 DVD / 2 DVD - released 9/Nov/2006 ] Unsurpassed Mozartian Riccardo Muti conducts the Vienna Philharmonic and a superb cast in an outstanding performance of Pierre Audi's fantastic, colourful production of Mozart's sublime 'singspiel'. |
CHARLES GOUNOD
Gounod: Romeo et Juliet (complete opera recorded in 2008) Salzburg Festival / Nino Machaidze, Rolando Villazon, Russell Braun / Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, Yannick Nezet-Seguin [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / 2 DVD - released 4/May/2009 ] "There are some excellent performances...Villazón knows how to turn up the drama several volts...the passion he brings to moments such as the murder of Tybalt at the end of Act 3 raises the quality of the film." (Musicalcriticism.com) |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: La Boheme (complete opera recorded in 2012) Salzburg Festival / Anna Netrebko, Nino Machaidze, Piotr Beczala / Daniele Gatti (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophone DVD / DVD - released 15/Nov/2012 ] The New York Times wrote, "You don't often hear Mimì sung with such vivid character and sheer charisma." |
GOUNOD
Romeo et Juliet (complete opera recorded in 2008) BLU-RAY Salzburg Festival / Nino Machaidze / Rolando Villazon / Russell Braun / Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg / Yannick Nezet-Seguin [ Deutsche Grammophon Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 4/May/2009 ] Blu-Ray - "Villazón expresses all of Romeo's hot-blooded passion, his tender, erotic intimacy, and, finally, his deathly despair" (Süddeutsche Zeitung) |
W. A. MOZART
Die Zauberflote [The Magic Flute] (complete opera recorded the Salzburg Festival in 2006) BLU-RAY Salzburg Festival / Rene Pape, Genia Kuhmeier, Paul Groves, Diana Damrau / Vienna Philharmonic / Riccardo Muti (cond) [ Decca Classics / Mozart 22 Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 12/Jun/2016 ] "Gerhaher's beautifully enunciated Papageno and Kuhmeier's text-conscious Pamina have vocal class but they are given little to do as actors. Muti shapes good playing with po-faced grandeur ." (Gramophone) |
W.A. MOZART
Don Giovanni (the complete opera recorded at the Salzburg Festival in 2006) Salzburg Festival / Thomas Hampson / Ildebrando D'Arcangelo / Christine SchA¤fer / Robert Lloyd / Vienna Philharmonic / Daniel Harding (conductor) [ Decca Classics / Mozart 22 / 2 DVD - released 12/Dec/2006 ] G - "Fresh, transparent, dashing." -Die Presse, Vienna |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos (complete opera / original 1912 version recorded in 2012) BLU-RAY Salzburg Festival / Emily Magee, Elena Moșuc, Jonas Kaufmann / Wiener Philharmoniker, Daniel Harding (conductor), Sven-Eric Bechtolf (director) [ Sony Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 17/Feb/2014 ] Jonas Kaufmann made his highly acclaimed debut as Bacchus in this 2012 Salzburg Festival production of Ariadne auf Naxos, leading a cast including Emily Magee and Elena Mosuc, with Daniel Harding conducting. Director Sven-Erich Bechtholf's staging is... |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Così fan tutte, K588 (complete opera recorded in 2013) Salzburg Festival / Malin Hartelius, Luca Pisaroni, Marie-Claude Chappuis, Martin Mitterrutzner, Gerald Finley / Christoph Eschenbach (cond) [ EuroArts DVD / 2 DVD - released 18/Feb/2018 ] "It is all beautifully performed by a convincingly young-looking cast. Malin Hartelius sings a ravishing 'Per pietà'…Martin Mitterrutzner's free, easy tenor is just right for the high-lying part of Ferrando" Gramophone |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Otello (complete opera recorded in 2016) BLU-RAY Salzburg Easter Festival / José Cura, Dorothea Röschmann, Carlos Álvarez, Benjamin Bernheim / Staatskapelle Dresden, Christian Thielemann [ C Major Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/May/2017 ] A superb new Otello from the Salzburg Easter Festival: 'Cura is a commanding Otello with his richly coloured tenor and both fragile delicacy and fiery ardour' Südwestpresse. 'Röschmann as Desdemona guarantees effortless perfection' Neue Musikzeitung. |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Don Giovanni (Blu-ray) Salzburg Festival / Alessio Arduini, Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, Anett Fritsch, Tomasz Konieczny, Valentina Naforniţa / Vienna Philharmonic, Christoph Esc [ EuroArts Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 24/Jun/2022 ] Director Sven-Eric Bechtolf pulls off a brilliant coup with the high aesthetics of his intrigue, a masterful parody of the "everything is possible" of our time - flanked by an ensemble of exquisite vocal talents: Ildebrando D'Arcangelo,... |
LEOS JANACEK
Janacek: The Makropulos Case (complete opera recorded in 2011) BLU-RAY Salzburg Festival / Angela Denoke, Raymond Very, Peter Hoare, Jurgita Adamonyte, Johan Reuter / Esa-Pekka Salonen (cond) [ C Major Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Jan/2017 ] "The vocal performances are nearly all compelling. The men - Janacek's usual weak and neurotic bunch - are entirely believable...Both the lead and female roles are remarkably complete." (BBC Music) |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Ariodante (complete opera recorded in 2017) BLU-RAY Salzburg Festival / Cecilia Bartoli, Kathryn Lewek, Nathan Berg, Christophe Dumaux, Sandrine Piau, Rolando Villazon / Gianluca Capuano (cond) [ C Major Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 21/May/2021 ] "This is no routine Ariodante…Bartoli is Bartoli. Those who find her trilling mannered and freighted with excessive vibrato will wrinkle their noses. But who can doubt her remarkable presence on stage" BBC Music Magazine Awards 2022 Shortlisted |
JACQUES OFFENBACH
Offenbach: Orphée aux Enfers [Orpheus in the Underworld] (complete operetta recorded in 2019) Salzburg Festival / Kathryn Lewek, Joel Prieto, Anne Sofie von Otter, Martin Winkler / Enrique Mazzola (cond) [ C Major DVD / DVD - released 17/Jul/2020 ] "A frantic and fabulous show" (New York Times) |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro (Blu-ray 4K) Salzburg Festival / Luca Pisaroni, Anett Fritsch, Martina Janková, Adam Plachetka / Vienna Philharmonic, Dan Ettinger [ EuroArts 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 12/Aug/2022 ] "..the winning performances of a compelling cast; and the supple, glowing playing that the conductor Dan Ettinger drew from the Vienna Philharmonic…" The New York Times |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Blu-ray) Salzburg Festival / Monika Bohinec, Anna Gabler, Roberto Saccà, Peter Sonn, Michael Volle / Wiener Philharmoniker, Daniele Gatti [ EuroArts Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 15/Jul/2022 ] "A fresh, charming and perceptive production, magical and irresistible!" (New York Times) "All narrative and poetry is nothing but the key to true dreams" (Hans Sachs). |