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... |
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. |
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) |
GIOACHINO ROSSINI
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". |
GIOACHINO ROSSINI
Rossini: Le Comte Ory (complete opera recorded in 2013) BLU-RAY Zurich Opera / Cecilia Bartoli, Javier Camarena, Rebecca Olvera, Carlos Chausson / Muhai Tang (cond) [ Decca Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 7/Mar/2014 ] "Musical standards are high, with Tang and the orchestra bouncing the score merrily along. Bartoli sends herself up...vocally, she is in more consistent voice than on some recent recordings" (BBC Music) |
ALBAN BERG
Lulu (complete opera recorded in 2002) Zürich Opera / Laura Aikin / Cornelia Kallisch / Alfred Muff / Franz Welser-Most (cond) [ TDK / DVD - released 19/May/2006 ] |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer [The Flying Dutchman] (complete opera recorded in 2013) Zurich Opera / Bryn Terfel, Anja Kampe, Matti Salminen, Marco Jentzsch / Alain Altinoglu (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 30/Jan/2015 ] DG is proud to present an exciting and exceptional new opera production on DVD and BR: Bryn Terfel stars in Richard Wagner's Der fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman). |
ROSSINI
Otello (complete opera recorded in 2013) Zurich Opera / Cecilia Bartoli, Peter Kálmán, John Osborn, Javier Camarena / Muhai Tang (cond) [ Decca DVD / DVD - released 4/Apr/2014 ] Cecilia Bartoli makes her long-anticipated debut in the role of Desdemona in Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier's new production of Rossini's Otello for the Zurich Opera House. |
ROSSINI
Otello (complete opera recorded in 2013) BLU-RAY Zurich Opera / Cecilia Bartoli, Peter Kálmán, John Osborn, Javier Camarena / Muhai Tang (cond) [ Decca Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/Jul/2014 ] DVD/Blu-ray of the Month - July 2014 |
ALBAN BERG
Berg: Wozzeck (complete opera recorded in 2015) BLU-RAY Zurich Opera / Christian Gerhaher, Brandon Jovanovich, Mauro Peter, Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke / Fabio Luisi (cond) [ Accentus Music Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Dec/2016 ] "This is a finely honed production that follows its premise to an absurdist conclusion with slick theatricality and dispassionate zeal." Gramophone Award WINNER 2017 - Opera |
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". |
MASCAGNI / LEONCAVALLO
Cavalleria Rusticana & I Pagliacci (complete opera recorded in 2009) BLU-RAY Zurich Opera / Fiorenza Cedolins, José Cura, Carlo Guelfi, Cheyne Davidson, Paoletta Marrocu / Stefano Ranzani (cond) [ Arthaus Musik Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 22/Dec/2015 ] Two timeless stories of love, honour, justice and violence - a highlight for every opera lover. Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana and Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci speak to one's heart and soul. They are regarded as the most absorbing... |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Falstaff (complete opera recorded in October 2012) BLU-RAY Zurich Opera House / Ambrogio Maestri, Barbara Frittoli, Meg Page, Mistress Quickly, Massimo Cavalletti / Daniele Gatti (cond) [ C Major Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Jan/2017 ] "The cast, led by a secure Maestri, can boast a lovable Nannetta in Liebau and further clever variations on Quickly's eccentricity from Naef." Gramophone |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Rigoletto (complete opera recorded in 2006) Zurich Opera House / Leo Nucci, Elena Moscu, Piotr Beczala / Nello Santi (cond) [ Arthaus Musik DVD / DVD - released 14/Oct/2007 ] G - "First we must salute the 64-year old Leo Nucci's Rigoletto. Visually, the pathetic figure with the haunted, apprehensive expression will prove memorable, as well those notes and phrases which still proclaim him one of the most richly endowed... |
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,... |