GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti: Don Pasquale (complete opera recorded in 2006) BLU-RAY Zurich Opera / Juan Diego Florez, Isabel Rey, Ruggero Raimondi, Oliver Widmer / Nello Santi (cond) [ Decca Music Group Limited Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 12/Mar/2009 ] Decca presents Florez in one of his most famous stage roles with this performance of Donizetti's irresistible comedy from Zurich Opera House. This is the first recording, both audio and visual, of Flórez singing the role of Ernesto. |
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Fidelio (complete opera recorded in 2004) Jonas Kaufmann, Camilla Nylund, Chor and Orchestra of the Zurich Opera House, Nikolaus Harnoncourt [ Arthaus DVD / DVD - released 2/Aug/2019 ] Beethoven's only opera Fidelio never ceases to fascinate audiences with its spellbinding story of true love. Staged by renowned opera director Jürgen Flimm this production is the outstanding result of the teamwork of the Zurich Opera. |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Tosca (complete opera recorded in 2009) Zurich Opera / Jonas Kaufmann, Thomas Hampson, Emily Magee / Paolo Carignani (cond) [ Decca DVD / DVD - released 10/Jun/2011 ] "Jonas Kaufmann is so eloquent that the deficiencies flying around him on stage vanish as soon as he opens his mouth...A modest word of praise, too, for Giuseppe Scorsin as the Sacristan" (Times) |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Macbeth (Complete opera recorded in 2001) Zurich Opera / Thomas Hampson, Paoletta Marrocu, Roberto Scandiuzzi / Franz Welser-Most [ Arthaus DVD / DVD - released 1/Jul/2022 ] Thomas Hampson made a triumphant début in the title role of Verdi's Macbeth in this Zurich Opera production, with Paoletta Marrocu as his beautiful, power-hungry wife. |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: La Boheme (complete opera recorded in 2005) Zurich Opera / Cristina Gallardo-Domas, Elena Mosuc, Marcello Giordani, Cheyne Davidson / Franz Welser-Most (cond) [ EMI Classics / DVD - released 26/Mar/2007 ] The Belgian director of this production, Philippe Sireuil, was heavily inspired by Aki Kaurismäki's film version of Henri Murger's novel "Scènes de la vie de Bohème". |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Rigoletto (complete opera recorded in 2006) BLU-RAY Zurich Opera House / Leo Nucci / Elena Moscu / Piotr Beczala / Nello Santi (cond) [ Arthaus Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 2/Feb/2009 ] Blu-Ray - "The emotional energy of the evening is concentrated in Santi's person; he stands for nothing less than incontestable aplomb, and for music-making that, thanks to his sense of timing and style, is above reproach." |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Orlando (complete opera recorded in 2007) BLU-RAY Zurich Opera House / Marijana Mijanovic / Martina Jankova / Katharina Peetz / William Christie (cond) [ Arthaus Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 2/May/2009 ] "Jens-Daniel Herzog has produced a sophisticated version of George Frideric Handel's Orlando. William Christie is a fascinating conductor who manages a superb ensemble. Opera that is both cool and cultivated - fantastic!" Aargauer Zeitung |
ENGLEBERT HUMPERDINCK
Humperdinck: Konigskinder (complete opera recorded in 2010) Zurich Opera / Jonas Kaufmann, Isabel Rey, Oliver Widmer / Jens-Daniel Herzog (cond) [ Decca DVD / DVD - released 20/Dec/2012 ] Tenor superstar Jonas Kaufmann leads the cast in the first-ever DVD release of the beautiful fairytale opera from the composer of Hänsel und Gretel. The German tenor is "the fairytale prince of most opera-goers' dreams - young, reckless,... |
ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK
Humperdinck: Konigskinder (complete opera recorded in 2010) BLU-RAY Zurich Opera / Jonas Kaufmann, Isabel Rey, Oliver Widmer / Jens-Daniel Herzog (cond) [ Decca Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/Apr/2014 ] Tenor superstar Jonas Kaufmann leads the cast in the first-ever Blu-ray release of the beautiful fairytale opera from the composer of Hänsel und Gretel. |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: Fierrabras (complete opera recorded in 2007) Zurich Opera / Jonas Kaufmann, Juliane Banse, Twyla Robinson / Franz Welser-Most (cond) [ EMI Classics / DVD - released 26/Mar/2007 ] "it is well cast, everyone seguing from dialogue through song splendidly, notably soprano Twyla Robinson's in the most exciting performance of the evening. Kaufmann is predictably excellent (though it is a rather short role) Juliane Banse sounds dark... |
GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (complete opera recorded in 2008) BLU-RAY Zurich Opera / Jonas Kaufmann, Vesselina Kasarova, Isabel Rey, Michele Pertusi / Franz Welser-Möst (cond) [ Decca Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 16/Oct/2016 ] " it's [Kasarova's] Carmen who makes this production unforgettable. Not just her smoky mezzo dipping down into the chest register in the Habanera, but her gifts are an actress" BBC Music |
GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti: Don Pasquale (complete opera recorded in 2006) Zurich Opera / Juan Diego Florez / Isabel Rey / Ruggero Raimondi / Nello Santi (cond) [ Decca DVD / DVD - released 12/Sep/2007 ] Following DVD releases of Il barbiere di Siviglia from Madrid and La Fille du regiment from Genoa, Decca continues the DVD series presenting Florez in his great stage roles with this performance of Donizetti's irresistible comedy from Zurich Opera House. |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Fidelio (complete opera recorded in 2008) BLU-RAY Zurich Opera / Krešimir Stražanac, Lucio Gallo, Roberto Sacca, Melanie Diener, Alfred Muff / Bernard Haitink, conductor [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 10/Apr/2010 ] Translucence, transparency - warmth' are the qualities identified by Bernard Haitink as necessary for an ideal sound performance of Beethoven's only opera, and all are present in this fantastic recording of Katharina Thalbach's new production. |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Cosi fan Tutte (complete opera recorded in 2009) BLU-RAY Zurich Opera / Malin Hartelius, Anna Bonitatibus, Martina Janková, Javier Camarena / Franz Welser-Most (conductor) [ Arthaus Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 10/May/2010 ] "The singing is uniformly excellent. Malin Hartelius is a terrific Fiordiligi, her vibrato prominent but never bothersome, her inflections ideal, her sense of silliness sublime." 10/10 highest rating Classicstoday.com |
FRANZ LEHAR
Lehár: Das Land des Lächelns [The Land Of Smiles] (complete operetta recorded in 2017) Zurich Opera / Piotr Beczala, Julia Kleiter, Rebeca Olvera, Spencer Lang / Fabio Luisi (conductor) [ Accentus DVD / DVD - released 20/Nov/2018 ] "Fabio Luisi conducts with a subtle consciousness of the requisite style and the orchestra sounds marvellous" Opera |
W. A. MOZART
Die Zauberflote [The Magic Flute] (complete opera recorded in 1988) Barbara Bonny / Edita Gruberova / Hans Peter Blochwitz / Thomas Hampson / Zurich Opera / Nikolaus Harnoncourt [ Warner Classics Opera Collection / 2 CD - released 1/Sep/2009 ] "Harnoncourt's Mozart can veer between the playful and the over solemn, but here it's spot on and sustained by a strong cast. Gruberova is a stellar Queen of the Night." BBC Music Magazine, January 2010 *** |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Semele (complete opera recorded in 2007) Zurich Opera / Cecilia Bartoli, Liliana Nikiteanu, Birgit Remmert, Isabel Rey / William Christie (cond) [ Decca Music Group DVD / 2 DVD - released 12/Mar/2009 ] G - "Sung dazzlingly, "Myself I shall adore" was one of many high points in Bartoli's stunning performance, her first operatic role in a language other than Italian…The wonderfully intimate Zurich Opera House allows every detail of her performance... |
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Fidelio (complete opera recorded in 2004) BLU-RAY Jonas Kaufmann, Camilla Nylund, Chor and Orchestra of the Zurich Opera House, Nikolaus Harnoncourt [ Arthaus Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 2/Aug/2019 ] "Jonas Kaufmann and Camilla Nylund fearlessly [pack] every phrase with compellingly truthful shades of meaning. Harnoncourt's Beethoven is famously raw and earthy: strong on struggle and on the composer's robust musical roots" BBC Music Five Stars |
Juliane Banse, Cornelia Kallisch, Zurich Opera, Heinz Holliger
Heinz Holliger - Schneewittchen (Snow White) (Complete Opera) [ ECM Records / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2009 ] Critic's Choice-the Best CDs of 2001 (BBC Music Magazine) |
ROSSINI
Le Comte Ory (complete opera recorded in 2013) Zurich Opera / Cecilia Bartoli, Javier Camarena, Rebecca Olvera, Carlos Chausson / Muhai Tang (cond) [ Decca DVD / DVD - released 7/Mar/2014 ] Cecilia Bartoli stars in this ebullient Zurich Opera House production of Rossini's first French-language comedy opera described by the international press as "pure, unadulterated fun". |