Search

Release: March 25, 2014

$7.99

Description

J. S. Bach's last completed vocal work reveals the overwhelming wealth of his creativity and compositional skills. Composed during Bach's time as cantor at the St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, it's heard here in the composer's domain as the crowning glory of the 2013 Leipzig Bach Festival. Georg Christoph Biller leads the St. Thomas Boys Choir, an outstanding quintet of soloists, and the prestigious Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, playing on authentic period instruments.

Release: September 23, 2016

$6.99

Description

This is the 50th anniversary of the album's release. Latest addition to the Classic Albums series. Filmed in high definition and simultaneously released on DVD and Blu-ray.

Release: October 18, 2016

$7.99

Description

Franck (Raphae l Personnaz) is an eager rookie homicide squad inspector. When a woman is found with her throat cut, he shrewdly unearths parallels between previously unrelated cases. Before he knows it, Franck is caught up in an eight-year obsessive hunt for Serial Killer 1, a man whose very existence is questioned by others. Loosely based on the investigation into real-life murderer Guy Georges, aka the Beast Of The Bastille (whose lurking disorder is deftly captured by Adama Niane), the story milks suspense from the procedural aspects of the manhunt, the false leads, dead ends, and the stifling bureaucracy of a police force hindered by dwindling budgets and a knee-jerk insistence on outdated, traditional methods. Bonus Features: English Subtitles

$7.99

Description

Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducts Beethoven's Missa Solemnis in a major concert performance of the sacred masterwork.

Release: May 19, 2015

$7.99

Description

The stars come out to play in the joyous World War ll-era Thank Your Lucky Stars. A breezy, behind-the-Hollywood-scenes story about young talents hoping for a big break glitters with specialty numbers featuring Golden Era greats. Highlights include Humphrey Bogart being out-tough-guyed by S.Z. “Cuddles” Sakall and singers ranging from the gifted (Dinah Shore, Dennis Morgan) to the good sports (Errol Flynn, John Garfield). And Bette Davis’ witty, wry, jitterbugging rendition of They’re Either Too Young or Too Old by Arthur Schwartz and Frank Loesser is “the cherry on the top” (Clive Hirschhorn, The Hollywood Musical). Dig in!

Release: October 7, 2014

$6.99

Description

Bellini I Puritan(Br)

Release: February 28, 2012

$7.99

Description

Alban Berg's opera "Lulu" is the story of a lower-class girl who sleeps her way to fame and fortune before losing everything she has and finding death at the hands of Jack the Ripper. Conductor Marc Albrecht supports the two main protagonists, Patricia Petibon's Lulu and Michael Volle's Dr. Schön, with the rich sonorities of Berg's music. Particularly impressive are the gigantic backdrops that dominate the stage and were painted by Daniel Richter, one of the leading German artists of our time. "... The wonderfully transparent, flowing sound of the Wiener Philharmoniker, which splendidly displays all the colors of this magical score under the fabulously precise baton of Marc Albrecht...."

Release: August 26, 2014

$6.99

Description

Gianandrea Noseda conducts this Metropolitan Opera production of Alexander P. Borodin's opera. Ildar Abdrazakov stars as the titular prince who returns to his homeland from a spell as a prisoner of war to find it a land of wreck and ruin. Igor vows to change his ways and become a better man. Can he also rebuild his nation? Oksana Dyka, Anita Rachvelishvili and Sergei Semishkur co-star.

Release: October 28, 2014

$7.99

Description

Following their recording of the Eighth Symphony by Anton Bruckner, conductor Christian Thielemann and the Staatskapelle Dresden continue their internationally acclaimed Bruckner symphony cycle with Bruckners Symphony No. 5. ... magician of the (Bruckner) sound. (Kurier on Thielemann) The end of the third movement took ones breath away. (Der Neue Merker) A veritable glorious orchestra (Neue Zuricher Zeitung on the Staatskapelle s Bruckner 5 at Lucerne Festival)

Release: January 25, 2011

$7.99

Description

Product Description The unique recording of Chopins Piano Concertos featuring Evgeny Kissin and Nikolai Demidenko marks Frédéric Chopins 200th anniversary. The Russian star pianists are accompanied by the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Antoni Wit. The internationally celebrated concert event recorded live at the National Philharmonic Hall, Warsaw, presents Nikolai Demidenko with a marvelous performance of Chopins Concerto No. 1 and Evgeny Kissin with a most thrilling interpretation of Concerto No. 2. The former wunderkind enthused the audience, which could not get enough even after three encores - A unique performance and truly a gift for Chopin lovers all over the world. Review The consistency with which Demidenko had conceived his interpretation was admirable. There was not a single remark in the score that was omitted or left without interpretation. Evgeny Kissin ravished the audience with his great poetic vision, the powerful creation that made an unforgettable impression. It was a giant fresco, where detail does not matter so much, as the big picture is of prominent importance. --Krzysztof Komarnicki, Magazyn Chopin

Release: August 7, 2020

$7.99

Description

Classical Music

Release: May 29, 2012

$6.99

Description

.

Release: February 23, 2021

$6.99

Description

From Larry Peerce, the acclaimed director The Incident, Ash Wednesday, The Other Side of the Mountain and Two-Minute Warning, comes this rock ’n’ roll drama starring Grammy-winning superstar Rick Springfield (“Jessie’s Girl”) that heats up the screen with rousing music and romance. An incredible soundtrack featuring seven Springfield songs, including the hit, “Love Somebody,” as well as music by Peter Gabriel, Graham Parker and Nona Hendryx. Jamie Roberts (Springfield) is a rock star living the highlife when he falls for an intellectual child psychologist (Janet Eilber, Romantic Comedy) who only has ears for classical music. Opposites attract, but his jealous ex-girlfriend (Patti Hansen, They All Laughed) isn’t ready to give up so easily. Love is hard to find when the whole world is watching. Special Features: -NEW Audio Commentary by Entertainment Journalist and Author Bryan Reesman -NEW Interview with Director Larry Peerce -11 Radio Spots -Theatrical Trailer -Dual-Layered BD50 Disc -Optional English Subtitles

Release: August 14, 2020

$7.99

Description

The legendary composer leads the Vienna Philharmonic in a gala concert in Vienna, featuring iconic film themes and performances with violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter.

Release: November 10, 2009

$7.99

Description

Directed by Gary Halvorson, David Kennard, Joan Saffa.

Release: November 10, 2009

$6.99

Description

Directed by Gary Halvorson, David Kennard, Joan Saffa. Starring Michael Tilson Thomas.

$7.99

Description

This program examines Stravinsky's landmark ballet score and its explosive impact on modern music.

$6.99

Description

Pianist Lang Lang performs a celebrated program with the Vienna Philharmonic in a concert film designed to showcase musical virtuosity.

Release: August 28, 2015

$6.99

Description

Sir Colin Davis was a maestro without airs and graces" (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung) and an interpretor of Mozart and Berlioz who enjoyed worldwide renown. This recording of Mahler, Gustav's Das Lied von der Erde" features Davis in fine form, brillian

Release: June 14, 2011

$7.99

Description

From the sounds outside his bedroom window a kind of sonic goulash of military marches, ethnic dance bands, church bells and nature itself Gustav Mahler created an entire universe of emotion in music. In an astonishingly productive twenty-five years, he fashioned ten symphonies and 45 songs of cosmic scale, great beauty and jarring emotional twists and turns. And he did it all in the brief moments he could spare from his day job as one of Europe s preeminent conductors. On Gustav Mahler: Origins and Legacy, the latest release in the PBS Keeping Score series, Michael Tilson Thomas returns to the provincial Austro-Hungarian city of Mahler s childhood and bears witness to his grand achievements, great sorrows and daring musical explorations into the depths of the human soul. Join MTT and the San Francisco Symphony as they trace Mahler s rise as a young conductor, his career-crowning appointments in Vienna and New York, his turbulent marriage and the sudden, tragic death of his daughter and show how his stormy inner life inspired new and ever-more heartbreaking heights of creativity. SFS Media s two-disc set includes the documentary accompanied by a second disc with concert performances by the San Francisco Symphony including the first symphony, selected movements of the fifth, seventh and ninth symphonies and the complete Songs of a Wayfarer with baritone Thomas Hampson.

Release: January 8, 2013

$6.99

Description

Eleven-disc classical set collecting Mahler symphonies, Totenfeier, and Das Lied von der Erde performances by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Release: January 8, 2013

$6.99

Description

Eleven-disc classical set collecting Mahler symphonies, Totenfeier, and Das Lied von der Erde performances by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Release: January 8, 2013

$6.99

Description

Leatherface, the Cook, Grandpa, and company are back, proving that "the family that slays together stays together," in Tobe Hooper's follow-up to his 1974 shock classic. Dennis Hopper plays a deranged ex-lawman who teams with a late-night DJ (Caroline Williams) to track down the cannibalistic brood, who are prowling the prairie for "fresh meat." With Jim Siedow, Bill Moseley, and Bill Johnson as Leatherface. 101 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; Subtitles: English (SDH); audio commentary; featurettes; alternate opening; deleted scenes; image gallery; TV spots; theatrical trailers.

Release: January 8, 2013

$6.99

Description

Eleven-disc classical set collecting Mahler symphonies, Totenfeier, and Das Lied von der Erde performances by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Release: January 8, 2013

$6.99

Description

Eleven-disc classical set collecting Mahler symphonies, Totenfeier, and Das Lied von der Erde performances by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Release: January 8, 2013

$6.99

Description

Eleven-disc classical set collecting Mahler symphonies, Totenfeier, and Das Lied von der Erde performances by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Release: June 26, 2012

$6.99

Description

A historical production by Stanford University and the History Office of the NASA Ames Research Center presented in Blu-ray 3D Video and features footage from the 1980's NASA Viking 1 & 2 Missions to Mars. The soundtrack was created at the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA) at Stanford under the direction of John Chowning. This disc contains bonus features including a 15 minute interview with John Chowning, William Schottstaedt and Michael McNabb.

Release: January 27, 2015

$7.99

Description

Memorial Concert for Claudio Abbado It was a deeply affecting and appropriate farewell. The spirit of Claudio Abbado, the great conductor and founder of orchestras who died in January 2014, was present in music, words, and silence. Thousands upon thousands came to the Basilica di Santo Stefano in Bologna and the Piazza della Scala in Milan to pay their last respects. In Lucerne, the members of the LUCERNE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA paid tribute to this extraordinary man and friend with a deeply moving concert - "The emotional intensity was unbelievable; this could only be achieved by true musicians, by those capable of love." (Neue Zürcher Zeitung) Friends and associates look back fondly on Claudio Abbado and speak of how they experienced these moments of grief and farewell. Andris Nelsons, LUCERNE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA Isabelle Faust, violin Bruno Ganz / Excerpt from Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 3, Eroica Claudio Abbado, Lucerne Festival Orchestra, August 2013 / Franz Schubert Symphony No. 7 in B minor "Unfinished", Allegro moderato / Friedrich Hölderlin Brot und Wein / Alban Berg Violin Concerto - To the Memory of an Angel / Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 3 in D minor, Adagio

Release: February 26, 2016

$7.99

Description

In the melting pot of Venice, trade is God. With its ships plying the globe, the city opens its arms to all as long as they come prepared to do business and there is profit to be made. When the gold is flowing, all is well but when a contract between Bassanio and Shylock is broken, simmering racial tensions boil over. A wronged father, and despised outsider, Shylock looks to exact the ultimate price for a deal sealed in blood. Press Reviews "this haunting production crackles with tension... There is evidence of crisp, fresh thinking in every scene of this excellent production" (The Evening Standard) "Technically this is one of Shakespeare's comedies, but I have never seen it so successfully given a hard edge without getting caught up in its own earnestness." (The Financial Times) "The Palestinian actor Makram J Khoury is a touching Shylock." (The Guardian) Cast Makram J. Khoury (Shylock) Nadia Albina (Nerissa) Scarlett Brookes (Jessica) Patsy Ferran (Portia) Owen Findlay (Salerio) Jacob Fortune-Lloyd (Bassanio) Brian Protheroe (Aragon) Ken Nwosu (Gratiano/Morocco) Stage Director: Polly Findlay Designer: Johannes Schütz Catalogue Number: OABD7192D Date of Performance: 2015 Sound: LPCM & DTS Master Audio 5.1 Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Subtitles: English Label: Opus Arte

Release: December 21, 2018

$7.99

Description

The Wild West meets the soulful sound of Italy. Fearless New York gangsters meet cowboys from the dusty prairie. Godfather meets Taxi Driver. And the magic of cinema meets the rich sound of a first-class symphony orchestra. This exclusive live concert production presents a unique selection of movie classics - from Sergio Leone’s iconic Spaghetti Westerns to modern mafia masterpieces by Francis Ford Coppola and the cult movies of Tarantino. The Danish National Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Sarah Hicks and joined by a fistful of strong guest artists for this premiere performance of the authentic soundtracks by composer legends Ennio Morricone, Nino Rota, Sonny Bono and Bernard Herrmann.

Release: January 6, 2017

$6.99

Description

“Everything about the show exuded immediacy and naturalness: the intriguingly updated production by the director Sven-Eric Bechtolf; 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) First-ever opera release on ULTRA HD Blu-ray TM •The new 4k standard offers a four times higher resolution compared to the former Full HD picture which allows viewers a deeper immersion into the performance. The new 4k standard for Ultra Blu-ray has a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels in the so-called “50p” mode (50 pictures per second), resulting in much higher image definition and smoothness. •96KHz/24bit High-Res Audio •Compatible with 4k capable Blu-ray players. •Including Digital Opera Guide •In the hands of Sven-Eric Bechtolf, this final production in the Salzburg Festival’s Mozart / Da Ponte trilogy is a unique evening of inspiring opera •The stage design, spread over two levels showing up to five rooms at the same time, ensures fast-paced, parallel and multi-layered staging •Conductor Dan Ettinger’s extraordinary musical sensitivity is truly noteworthy – “…the Vienna Philharmonic committed themselves with refined tonal brilliance and striking phrasing”. (Der Standard) •The soloists are a delight – “the sweet-voiced, appealing soprano Martina Janková”, “the alluring soprano Annett Fritsch” and “the charismatic bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni” (The New York Times)

Release: August 27, 2013

$6.99

Description

Product Description Mozart did not write the Requiem as despairing funeral music for his impending death. Rather, the piece proclaims eternal light and redemption. Together with a first-class quartet of soloists, the choirs of the Bavarian and Swedish radios and the distinguished musicians of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Claudio Abbado uncovers this more hopeful and forgiving essence of the Requiem. Review The baton is not a magic wand it cannot join together the fragmentary work that Mozart composed in the face of death. Yet, in Abbados hand, the baton could become a guide to the mysterious, sublime, consoling legacy of Mozart. --Deutschlandradio Kultur "The undisputed focal point here is the conductor himself, whose soulful intensity, both heard and seen, makes this video an important complement to any of the fine recordings in the catalogue." --David J. Baker, Opera News, February 2014

Release: February 5, 2016

$7.99

Description

Coverage of the Vienna Philharmonic's 2016 New Year's Concert featuring Mariss Jansons on the conductor's podium. This year's concert features compositions by Robert Stolz, Carl Michael Ziehrer and Emile Waldteufel as well as regulars Johann and Josef Strauss.

Release: March 1, 2019

$7.99

Description

The 2019 New Year's Concert will be conducted for the first time by Christian Thielemann. A native of Berlin, Thielemann has been a regular and welcome guest of the Vienna Philharmonic since 2000, with the result that his first New Year s Concert may be seen as setting an example and providing an appropriate tribute to his previous work with the orchestra. According to the orchestra s chairman, Daniel Froschauer, orchestra and musicians trust each other completely: "The profound musical understanding and trust that have existed from the outset and that have always functioned perfectly have subsequently borne remarkable fruit in the symphonic repertory as well."

Release: February 5, 2013

$6.99

Description

Since 1939, The Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert has become a tradition and the world's most famous classical music event. For the second time in three years,celebrated conductor Franz Welser-Most returns to the podium for this extraordinary event. Welser-Most is the music director of The Cleveland Orchestra,General Music Director of the Vienna State Opera and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. The Vienna New Year s Concert is unique and has often been imitated, but not equaled, with a live broadcast on television in over 70 countries around the world with over 40 million viewers. This package contains the complete New Year s Eve concert as seen on TV. . Included as bonus track the film Honeymoon , which was broadcasted during the intermission as well as 2 ballet sequences. The Blu-ray also contains three additional bonus tracks which are concert footage (from the hall) for tracks which are showing landscapes from Austria during the TV broadcast. Track Listing: 1. Opening Credits 2. Die Soubrette, Polka schnell, op. 109 3. Kuss-Walzer, op. 400 4. Theater-Quadrille, op. 213 5. Leichte Kavallerie, Ouvertüre 6. Sphären-Klänge, Walzer, op. 235 7. Die Spinnerin, Polka francaise, op. 192 8. Lohengrin, Vorspiel zum Dritten Aufzug 9. Unter vier Augen, Polka Mazur 10. Hesperusbahnen, Walzer, op. 279 11. Melodien-Quadrille, op. 112 12. Don Carlo, Prestissimo, Balletmusik 3. Akt 13. Erinnerung an Ernst oder Der Carneval in Venedig, Fantasie, op. 126 14. Plappermäulchen, Polka schnell, op. 245 15. Neujahrsgruß / New Year's Address / Allocution du Nouvel An 16. Radetzky-Marsch, op. 228 17. End Credits 18. Galoppin, Polka schnell, op. 237 (Ballett) 19. Wo die Citronen blüh'n, Walzer, op. 364 (Ballett) 20. Honeymoon (Intermission Programm) 21. Aus den Bergen, Walzer, op. 292 (Saalbilder) 22. Steyrische Tänze, op. 165 (Saalbilder) 23. An der schönen blauen Donau, Walzer, op. 314 (Saalbilder)

Release: September 25, 2015

$7.99

Description

Although posthumous, Les Contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann) is considered as the masterpiece of Jacques Offenbach's work. Inspired by E.T.A Hoffmann's, this opéra fantastique mixes love, pain and whim. It's an ôde to art and poetry.The intrigue settles around three stories about a broken love. Told by Hoffmann, narrator and hero, these tales paint a portrait of three feminine figures: Olympia the automaton, Antonia the dying opera singer and Giulietta the courtesan. This triptych allows the development of very different universes, and color. It's also a declension of the image of the woman and of the evil.Christoph Marthaler signs this creation for the Teatro Real. This is Gerard Mortier's last commission for this stage. From Letzte Tage to King size, the Swiss director has proven his ease in many different registers. An essential capacity needed for a work as rich and subtle as The Tales of Hoffmann. Music is conducted by Sylvain Cambreling and the cast includes Eric Cutler, Anne Sofie von Otter, Measha Brueggergosman and Jean-Philippe Lafont.

Release: May 7, 2024

$7.99

Description

This incomparable story of crime and redemption from the French master Robert Bresson follows Michel, a young pickpocket who spends his days working the streets, subway cars, and train stations of Paris. As his compulsive pursuit of the thrill of stealing grows, however, so does his fear that his luck is about to run out. A cornerstone of the career of this most economical and profoundly spiritual of filmmakers, Pickpocket is an elegantly crafted, tautly choreographed study of humanity in all its mischief and grace, the work of a director at the height of his powers. BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack Audio commentary featuring film scholar James Quandt Introduction by writer-director Paul Schrader The Models of Pickpocket, a 2003 documentary by Babette Mangolte that features interviews with actors from the film Interview with director Robert Bresson from a 1960 episode of the French television program Cinépanorama Q&A on Pickpocket from 2000, featuring actor Marika Green and filmmakers Paul Vecchiali and Jean-Pierre Améris Footage of the sleight-of-hand artist and Pickpocket consultant Kassagi from a 1962 episode of the French television show La piste aux étoiles Trailer PLUS: An essay by novelist and critic Gary Indiana

Release: December 11, 2020

$7.99

Description

Romeo and Juliet: Beyond Words is a ballet feature film created by the International Emmy Award-winning Michael Nunn and William Trevitt. It stars the dancers of The Royal Ballet in Kenneth MacMillan's classic ballet and is set to Sergei Prokofiev's original score. Highlighting the essence of MacMillan's world-renowned choreography, Nunn and Trevitt's Romeo and Juliet takes us into the action with striking intimacy. Through detailed portrayals by The Royal Ballet dancers, we experience Shakespeare's iconic characters in a new and intimate way, and this groundbreaking film captures the kind of extraordinary performances that have earned The Royal Ballet their world-class reputation. Filmed on location, Nunn and Trevitt's Romeo and Juliet has been re-imagined for the camera, in a production that is internationally recognized as being at the zenith of dance storytelling. This is a story everyone knows, told in the universal language of dance, presented in a way never seen before.

Release: September 13, 2019

$6.99

Description

Rossini's comic masterpiece The Barber of Seville was based on Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais's French play Le Barbier de Séville and is the ultimate opera buffa. The score is a compendium of the composer's wittiest and most brilliant writing, and includes the famous entrance aria Largo al factotum and a raft of superbly dynamic ensembles. This vibrant and youthful production features Florian Sempey, one of the world's best Figaros, the 'Rossini tenor' Michele Angelini, vivacious and critically admired Catherine Trottmann, and the award-winning team of acclaimed director Laurent Pelly and conductor Jérémie Rhorer who directs his spirited period ensemble Le Cercle de l'Harmonie.

Release: July 8, 2008

$12.99(Not Free for Subscribers)

Description

Genre: Music

Release: June 12, 2012

$8.99(Not Free for Subscribers)

Description

In September 2011, Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony launched the Orchestra's milestone Centennial Season with a celebratory gala concert at Davies Symphony Hall dubbed "Fanfare for a New Century." the gala concert was broadcast nationally on PBS in March and April 2012 as part of their Great Performances series. The gala was hosted by Bay Area author Amy Tan and directed for television by Gary Halvorson and features one of the leading artists of our time, violinist Itzhak Perlman performing Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor. The concert opens with Aaron Copland's vivid portrayal of American prairie life, the Billy the Kid ballet suite and concludes with Britten's orchestral showpiece the Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. Capping off the concert is an encore of Bay Area composer John Adams' Short Ride in a Fast Machine featuring moving images of San Francisco projected throughout Davies Symphony Hall. San Francisco Symphony at 100 also includes historical documentary features narrated by Amy Tan highlighting the orchestra's early beginnings, it's rich history of touring and it's commitment to young people and innovations in media.

Release: September 29, 2009

$6.99

Description

Product Description Twin Spirits is a unique and intimate, live theatrical performance by a chamber ensemble of actors, singers and musicians, portraying the deep and ultimately tragic love between the composer Robert Schumann and his pianist wife Clara Wieck. In this intensely moving performance of words, song and music, the Schumanns’ long separation, so formative an influence on their lives, is reflected in the division of the ensemble into male and female groups. Robert's letters to Clara are read by Sting and his songs sung by Simon Keenlyside, with accompaniments and instrumental music played by Iain Burnside and Sergej Krylov. Clara's letters to Robert are read by Trudie Styler and her songs sung by Rebecca Evans, with accompaniments and instrumental music played by Natalie Clein and Natasha Paremski. The narrator, Derek Jacobi, links together the letters and lyrics to complete the essential outline of the story. Conceived and directed by John Caird, Twin Spirits was first performed in June 2005 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London and has since been experienced only at private performances for charity by small audiences of all ages and interests, leaving them deeply touched and inspired. Press Reviews "Twin Spirits portrays the life and love of Robert and Clara Schumann through readings of their surviving letters. These are read by Sting and Trudie Styler, with Derek Jacobi authoritatively filling in any gaps in the story. In one sense it's a static productions, with everyone seated throughout, but it's actually quite engrossing - perfectly paced and beautifully filmed. It's impossible not to emerge with both a true empathy for the Schumanns and a renewed or awakened interest in their music. The acting stays just the right side of luvviness, with Sting and Styler delivering strong, subtly believable performances. They're supported by beautifully executed interludes from a top line-up of soloists. This is tender, moving, well put together, and supplemented by an enlightening bonus DVD." (Classic fM) "John Caird's Twin Spirits, filmed live at the Royal Opera House, is beautifully constructed and performed with extraordinary fervour… Sting and Trudie Styler's own marriage undoubtedly informs their profoundly affecting portrayal of the Schumanns… Musical choices are mostly Schumann, a bit of Clara and some evocative Mozart and Chopin... often in special arrangements. Bonus material is generous... The issues are fascinating, though. How good is Clara's music? The jury is still out." (BBC Music Magazine) Cast Sting (Actor) Trudie Styler (Actor) Derek Jacobi (Narrator) Simon Keenlyside (Tenor) Sergej Krylov (Violin) Iain Burnside (Piano) The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Production Company: Royal Opera House Stage Director: John Caird Disc Information Catalogue Number: OABD7043D Date of Performance: 2005 Running Time: 206 minutes Sound: 2.0 & 5.0 PCM Aspect Ratio: 1080i High Definition / 16:9 Subtitles: EN, FR, DE, ES, IT + EN (SONGS ONLY) Label: Opus Arte Review A Great Love Story is Told in Words and Music The nearly legendary story of Robert and Clara Schumann was staged and filmed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in 2007. The production, titled "Twin Spirits," is now available in a 2-DVD set from Opus Arte, and it is impressive and unusual. As Narrator, Derek Jacobi has center stage. On his right are actor Sting to read from Robert Schumann's letters, baritone Simon Keenlyside to sing Schumann's songs, Sergej Krylov (violin), and Iain Burnside (piano). On his left are actress Trudie Styler to read from Clara's letters, soprano Rebecca Evans to sing selections as a solo or as a duet with Keenlyside, Natalie Clein (cello), and Natasha Peremski (piano). The first disc contains the performance, which is an expert balance of narration and dramatic readings with solos and accompaniments from the musicians. As is explained in the program notes, some of the selections were edited in various ways for theatrical effect. All in all, it provides a fascinating insight into two human beings who loved, created complex and beautiful music, and finally suffered when Robert had a mental breakdown. The second disc offers another set of insights into the genius of the two when different members of the cast, actors and players, discuss the personalities and works of the two Schumanns. The educational value of this disc alone is great. I would like to see similar formats used for other famous musicians--but only with such skilled artists as were used in "Twin Spirits." But when will art departments stop using white print over colored backgrounds in the booklets, which might please their eyes but ruin ours? -- Art Times, Frank Behrens, December 2009 Better than you'd expect. This entertainment comes out of a charity event held at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. If you don't blink, you can see Alfred Brendel schmoozing before the curtain goes up. Basically, it pairs the music of Robert and Clara Schumann with their writings to and about one another (with side trips to Mozart and Chopin). The texts and notes don't line up chronologically, but emotionally. The words, from letters and diaries (particularly the so-called "marriage" diary which they kept jointly), chronicle the couple from pre-courtship to Robert's insanity and death, with a bit on Clara's long widowhood. A whiff of the "high-class" charity event lingers a little over the enterprise. Frankly, when I saw Sting's name, I muttered, "God save us from arty rockers." However, Sting surprised me. His delivery was intelligent, understated, with just enough "characterization" that you felt the presence of another personality, perhaps even Schumann's. In other words, he convinced me. It's the professional actors -- Jacobi and Styler -- that I occasionally caught "acting." Jacobi at times became a Masterpiece Theatre compère, while Styler here and there over-emoted. Her young Clara Wieck was a little too cute. However, Jacobi's lines functioned simply for set-ups and connections, and Styler became genuinely moving as Clara bears the family catastrophe. However, the real glory of the evening lies -- don't be too surprised -- in the music and the performances. Evans does well with her songs, although she occasionally slips into opera mode. Burnside supplies sensitive accompaniments -- a pro who knows his Schumann. The cellist Natalie Clein . . . well, I couldn't concentrate too well on her music-making, she's so gorgeous -- a bit like the young Argerich. What I did get showed a fiery but musical personality. She's wonderful in chamber music. American pianist Natasha Paremski negotiated some fiendish passage-work from Clara's piano concerto with spirit and aplomb. Violinist Sergei Krylov seemed uncomfortable in a chamber setting, but he certainly set the tone of the playing. You couldn't accuse him of bland good taste or timidity. However, baritone Simon Keenlyside stood out. I've heard few better Lieder singers. Furthermore, his duet with Evans in Mozart's "Là ci darem" from Don Giovanni provided the musical highpoint of the enterprise -- silkily seductive and a better aphrodisiac than oysters (though not as tasty). It strikes me as ironic that Mozart beats out Schumann in a Schumann documentary -- home-field advantage notwithstanding. The music, for the most part, serves the drama. Sometimes, we get abbreviations or cutoffs so the readings may continue. At other times, piano pieces have been "orchestrated" for the instrumental ensemble and at least one solo song turned into a duet. However, Martin Ward displays great taste, even in a chamber arrangement of something like "Träumerei" -- a trap that can lead to sugar coma if you don't take care. Some of the best bits come from the bonus disc, which contains, among other things, interviews with the musicians and the actors as well as a short documentary made at the Schumann-Haus in Zwickau, the composer's birthplace. John Caird serves as interlocutor. As he talks with the actors, it becomes clear that the group brings contemporary cultural perspectives to the marriage. Clara becomes the put-upon mother of the brood, while Robert flits about doing as he pleases -- writing symphonies and music criticism, preparing to conduct, and so on. This really doesn't survive a moment's thought. Clara, one of the greatest pianists of her day, was the primary breadwinner (one of her tours paid the family's expenses for three years) and had plenty of domestic help. She couldn't have practiced otherwise, and she set herself challenging programs. Don't get me wrong. She had plenty to put up with otherwise from Schumann, who among other things couldn't bear extraneous noise while he worked. I don't remember how they worked it out. She may have had to practice off-premises or Schumann may have composed off-premises. At any rate, musicologist Daniel Gallagher sits in and occasionally and gently puts things right. I should point out that these are extremely informal conversations among intelligent people. My favorite moment comes from pianist Natasha Paremski, who uses the word "vibe" and then asks, "That's not too American a word, is it?" Iain Burnside replies in his Best British Manner, "It's a word, yes." For me, however, the documentary, One Heart, One Soul, counts as the most interesting portion of the bonus features. It consists of the director of Schumann-Haus, Gerd Nauhaus, a man who knows his Schumann as well as anybody, discussing the composer. He too corrects some of the misperceptions that have arisen during the other interviews. Nauhaus speaks German, but you can choose subtitles from among several languages, including English. One may very well ask what audience these discs serve. Sting provides one answer: those not normally interested in classical music can come to the genre by getting involved in the story. It is a cracking good story, if a little weepy -- a Romance novel that happens to be true. Die-hard Sting fanatics will probably want it, even though he doesn't sing. Those who know their Schumann may or may not find something to interest them. The performances all shine, but it's not a Schumann concert, after all. You'll just have to work it out for yourselves. -- Classical CD Review, Steve Schwartz, February 2010 Having brought John Dowland to the masses with his album Songs from the Labyrinth, Sting takes another shot at presenting classical music to a wider audience which has developed the infuriating habit of not taking any notice of it. In this live performance, Sting portrays the passionate and tragically short-lived Robert Schumann by reading from his letters, while his wife Trudie Styler enacts the role of Robert's spouse Clara Schumann (formerly Wieck). In between, selections from the Schumanns' music are played by an ensemble comprising cellist Natalie Clein, pianists Iain Burnside and Natasha Paremski, violinist Sergej Krylov and singers Simon Keenlyside and Rebecca Evans. "I think it's a great `in' for people who don't normally listen to classical music," says Sting. Twin Spirits was devised as a fundraiser for a variety of charities, including the Royal Opera House, so we probably have to forgive its overtones of highbrow schlock. However, our task is not made easier by Derek Jacobi's performance as narrator. Ensconced on a throne and dressed like a Victorian philanthropist, Sir Del is at his fruitiest and most orotund. Fans of Frasier may be reminded of his guest performance as Jackson Hedley, the world's most preposterous Shakespearean actor. However, although Sting has suffered his share of critical brickbats, here he keeps a straight bat and delivers his readings with a mixture of wry humour and quiet sincerity. Trudie sometimes lurches into over-emoting luvviedom, but then again, she was a member of the RSC back in the day, which is how the RSC's John Caird was recruited to direct the project. And it can't be denied that the saga of the Schumanns' doomed greatest-love-of-all is a powerful tear-jerker. "There are moments in the story that make me very fearful," Styler admits. "The idea of losing my husband confronts me when I look at Sting as Robert. There are a few moments in the script where Robert and Clara are having a good time, so I try to make the most of them, just as I do in my own life." At 90 minutes, Twin Spirits cries out for some editing scissors, but perseverance is rewarded by the quality of the musical performances. Simon Keenlyside brings thunderous conviction to his musical portrayal of Robert Schumann, and the quartet performance of Traumerei, which marks the composer's solitary and miserable death, feels lonelier than a coyote's howl. Surprisingly, the second disc of additional features contains some of the best bits, especially Caird's conversations with the participants. All the musicians offer useful insights into the music, with Iain Burnside contributing shrewd remarks about the way Robert Schumann's music demands active intervention from the performer to bring it to life. When Caird introduces musicologist Daniel Gallagher to supply commentary on the Schumanns' life and work, he's so fascinating that that even Sting and Trudie find themselves spontaneously quizzing him. Despite all this, if you really want to explore the Schumanns' work, you might consider buying a selection of CDs and playing them a lot. -- The Arts Desk, Adam Sweeting, October 1, 2009 In his lifetime, Robert Schumann remained in the shadow of his wife Clara Wieck, whose concert career as a pianist took her all over Europe while he labored as a music journalist and largely unrecognized composer. Clara's overbearing father had taught them both piano, but his callous objections to the growing romance between Robert and Clara resulted in a physical separation that -- happily for musicologists -- left hundreds of letters detailing the musical and emotional development of this fascinating couple. While in different cities, they would often arrange to play the same piece at the same time, and then write to each other about the emotions aroused; once they were finally married, they kept a joint "marriage diary" for three and half years that recorded their musical and domestic happiness. Sting and his wife, actor Trudie Styler, are joined by Derek Jacobi, soprano Rebecca Evans, baritone Simon Keenlyside, and four instrumentalists for Twin Spirits, an educational project from London's Royal Opera House that presents the lives and works of Clara and Robert Schumann. Sting and Styler portray the couple in words, Keenlyside and Evans in music. Jacobi narrates. Devised and directed by John Caird, the show was recorded live in an intimately arranged and lit studio space at the opera house. It weaves together musical excerpts, love letters, diary entries and narration to tell the story of their love and marriage, tragically shortened when Robert's mental illness forced his commitment to an asylum. The show itself, which has been given as charity performances since 2005, is both informative and affecting, with spontaneous and energetic musical contributions, especially Evans's urgent rendition of Clara's "Er ist gekommen" and Keenlyside's sweeping "Ich grolle nicht," capped by a powerful high A. Evans's controlled voicing of "Ich hab im Traum geweinet" and Keenlyside's "Stille Liebe" are also effective. Most of the musical selections are short, and many have violin and cello additions, which lend an appropriate salon atmosphere, though the opening of "Carnaval" sounds odd with strings. Because of its placement in the storyline (and the use of Chopin's variations on its tune), "Là ci darem la mano" receives an odd interpretation, but Keenlyside's and Evans's skill and naturalness are winning. Another huge plus is Styler's warm, expressive delivery. With her wispy hair, vulnerable face and a faraway look in her eyes, Styler embodies the romantic, artistic spirit who rejoices in her soul mate; in passages detailing the end of Robert's life, Styler makes Clara's pain palpable. Sting's spiky, contemporary look is a bit of a jolt, but his connection to the material and identification with the obsessive, suffering composer are genuine. All the artists contributed their time to the project without remuneration; only Jacobi (whose presence undoubtedly signals "class") seems arch and distanced in his narration. Several bonus offerings include lengthy, round-table discussions in which the singers, instrumentalists and actors speak of how powerfully the interaction of words and music affected their interpretations and delivery. A thirty-five-minute lecture at the Robert Schumann Haus in Leipzig provides biographical details and background on the Schumanns' careers and training, as well as on their marriage and children. All proceeds from DVD sales benefit outreach projects of the Royal Opera House Education Programme. -- Opera News Online, Judith Malafronte, Decmber 2009 Like cucumber sandwiches at high tea, this depiction of the romance between two German musicians is a uniquely English confection. It follows in the tradition of BBC radio's dramatization of biographical presentations. In this case, the extended courtship and all-too-brief marriage is rendered with convincing fidelity through an enlightened blending of the spoken word and musical examples from the respective compositions of Robert Schumann and Clara Wieck. Nobly narrated by Derek Jacobi, the dialogue is ably conveyed by Sting (when will he, as an emerging musical polymath, be granted a knighthood so that his real name may enter common usage?) and Trudie Styler reading the lovers' correspondence compiled over decades. An unusual form of entertainment, but it kept a capacity audience in rapt attention over a long evening at Covent Garden. The singers and musicians give heartfelt support to the story with immaculate performances. The set includes close to two hours of extra features. It is also available from Opus Arte on conventional DVD format. Highly recommended to admirers of the Schumanns and all collectors with a special interest in German music of the Romantic period. -- La Scena Musicale, October 2009 One of the most moving love stories in the world of music is the relationship between Robert and Clara Schumann. In 2007, the British producer David Caird put together a music theater piece called Twin Spirits at London's Covent Garden in which Derek Jacoby narrated the romantic and tragic story, with Sting and his wife Trudie Styler reading passages from Robert and Clara's letters and the remarkable diary they kept together in the first years of their marriage. Some excellent chamber musicians and singers punctuate the readings with excerpts from the works of both Robert and Clara. Twin Spirits tells the story of Robert Schumann coming to Leipzig to study with the renowned music teacher Friedrich Wieck. Wieck's daughter Clara was a piano prodigy, by far the most talented of his six children. Robert was nine years older than her. He lived with the Wiecks for a year. By the time Clara was in her mid teens, they had fallen in love. Wieck was violently opposed to this romance. Clara's career came first. He refused to permit the marriage and ultimately the two lovers went to court for permission. Clara was 21; Robert 30. Wieck eventually relented when the couple had the first of their eight children, only four of whom outlived their parents. Clara was much more famous than Robert, and traveled extensively giving recitals, which were admired by the greatest musical figures of the time. She inspired Robert -- the year before they were married, he wrote more than 100 of his greatest songs. And she helped further his career by playing his compositions. Robert Schumann suffered from periodic mental breakdowns; tragedy struck when he tried to drown himself. He was institutionalized, but Clara was forbidden to see him for more than two years, until he was actually dying. She spent the rest of her life giving concerts and performing her husband's music. In his musical selection, Twin Spirits producer/director David Caird is less concerned with chronology than with finding something appropriate for each part of the story. Purists might object to the way Caird has rearranged some of the original music for this production. But in this dramatic context, I find these new arrangements both tasteful and effective. Sting, we've come to know, has a serious interest in classical music; he's also a coolly expressive actor and reader. Trudie Styler is particularly affecting reading what Clara wrote during her final visits to Robert. The most disappointing element of Twin Spirits is the rather artificial narration by Derek Jacobi, an actor I usually admire. But the whole enterprise is a compelling and poignant retelling of the story, and the well-chosen and well-performed music make this an outstanding addition to the year celebration of Robert Schumann's bicentennial. -- NPR, Lloyd Schwartz, February 17, 2010 Sting has been taking ever braver leaps into the classical music world over the last few years. As someone who doesn't enjoy his singing, I heaved a sigh of relief that he is on speaking duty in this fascinating musical dramatization of the often difficult, artistically inspirational, romantically fulfilling relationship between composer Robert Schumann and Clara Wieck. Sting is Robert to Trudie Styler's Clara as they sit with narrator Derek Jacobi on the Covent Garden stage, surrounded by exceptional musicians, including tenor Simon Keenlyside, soprano Rebecca Evans and violinist Sergei Krylov. Excerpts from the lovebirds' letters are interwoven with Schumann's music (and a bit of Mozart and Chopin). Once you get into the slow, black-backdropped pace of the story, you come to appreciate what an amazing job director John Caird has done to make the 90-minute show absorbing. A second DVD has more than an hour of extras, including background interviews and a documentary. This is inventive classical programming at its best, though music purists might prefer to hear uncut versions of many of the pieces on the program. -- TheStar.com, John Terauds, November 17, 2009 This is an uncharacteristically small-scale production for writer-director John Caird, who is more closely associated with such spectacles as Les misérables and Nicholas Nickleby. It's a 90-minute account, through words and music, of the personal and professional relationship between Robert Schumann and his wife, née Clara Wieck, devised in 2005 for the education division of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and since then trotted out for various fundraising events with different performer rosters. This version was recorded before a silent audience in late 2007. Despite the number of artists on stage, it seems quite intimate; the actors are low-key, and the musicians, while rising to the passions of the music as necessary (particularly in the finale of Robert's Piano Trio No. 1, which closes the program), are direct and obviously under no pressure to play to a large hall. Although the proceedings are conveyed mainly through close-ups and two- and three-shots, the placement of the performers is interesting and deliberate. In the center, to the rear, on what looks almost like a throne, Sir Derek Jacobi offers bits of introduction and narrative context. Down front, at opposite sides of the stage, sit the actors portraying the Schumanns: pop star Sting, who has always struck me as more intelligent and subtle than he is generally given credit for, and Trudie Styler, best known in America as Mrs. Sting, but in England an accomplished actress with (like Jacobi) a Shakespearean background. Clustered near each of the two main actors is a trio of musicians, divided by gender. On Robert's side are a baritone and a male violinist and pianist; on Clara's, a soprano and a female cellist and pianist. The musicians do not remain segregated all the time; obviously, there's crossover in the trio movement, and both singers deliver Mozart's "Là ci darem la mano," which was important in the Schumanns' personal history. There's also an arrangement of "Träumerei" that manages to include all the instrumentalists. But for the most part, each historical figure is represented by his or her own group of musicians. As you might have guessed, the music comes in bits and pieces, mostly songs and instrumental miniatures (by both Robert and Clara), but for the most part each item is complete in itself and only occasionally, mainly in the beginning, do the actors talk over the music. The spoken lines are drawn from the Schumanns' letters; Caird has heavily edited them and mingled missives from various periods to create a coherent narrative. This overall approach will obviously not satisfy purists who seek an impartial documentary account of the Schumanns, nor music lovers who prefer to hear song cycles and chamber works in their entirety. But that's not the point of this project; it's an introduction to the general, intelligent, curious music lover of the personalities behind this music, and to Clara's essential role in Robert's life and career. If Sting and Styler, sometimes reading from scripts but often looking straight into the camera, don't fully convey the excitement of early love, they are very good at communicating the comfortable intimacy, affection, and mutual respect of an old married couple. Perhaps each is best when not speaking; they can communicate quite a lot in the cutaway shots of one watching the other deliver lines, or in listening to the musicians (who are also seen being quietly attentive during some of the spoken passages). The musical performances are quite good, even if Simon Keenlyside, like most baritones, finds Schumann's top notes taxing. Those requiring a more straightforward documentation of the Schumann situation may prefer the 35-minute documentary in which a curator from the Schumann House museum and archive speaks, in subtitled German, about their marriage and careers, repeating some material from the stage presentation but elaborating on other issues. There's also a surprisingly engaging series of chats with Caird, the performers, and musicologist Daniel Gallagher about the Schumanns and their music. Gallagher's contributions are especially good, even for non-specialists, and while the actors don't have much of substance to contribute, they do at least chime in with the occasional smart observation and perceptive question. The Blu-ray video quality is, as usual, superb, although there's nothing more technically challenging here than maintaining clarity on a rather dark stage. The aspect ratio is 16:9, and the audio options are limited to PCM 2.0 and 5.0. Subtitles are available for the songs and the German documentary. Old hands at this subject may feel that its treatment here is too superficial, but take this for what it is: an educational entertainment designed to introduce the Schumanns' music and cobiography to the uninitiated without insulting their intelligence. "Twin Spirits" surely succeeds on those grounds, most touchingly. -- Fanfare, James Reel, Mar-Apr 2010 Twin Spirits is a live theatrical performance that features narration, impersonation (in an epistolary manner), and chamber music centered on the lives and love of Robert and Clara Schumann. Evidently the work, created and directed by John Caird, toured in smaller venues before being presented at the Royal Opera House. It is indeed a unique experience, the letters of the Schumann's used as the basis for a story of their lives, dramatized here to excellent effect, and enhanced by their music. One can think of no more worthy subjects than these two hyper-romantic figures, celebrated in their day and long afterwards, with personal connections tying them into the fortunes and foibles of Brahms, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Joachim, and Chopin. Their love story is one that was well known even in their own day, and their passion for one another is marked only by the equal degree of tragedy and sorrow that graced their short time together. I will not dwell on aspects of that story here, as it is well known, and if unknown easily found in books and on the Web. Suffice it to say, the story begins with Robert's first studies with Clara Wieck's father (Robert was essentially self-taught), his aspirations as a pianist until he ruined his hands, his solicitation of love from Clara and desire to marry her (against her father's wishes), the frustration they experienced until they could get married, early bliss in their marital life and the success of each, Robert's seminal decline and mental instability, Clara's heartrending final years with Robert in an asylum, and her life after Robert's death. All of this seems like it might be too much for a stage production, but the letters have been carefully vetted in order to keep the action--such as it is--moving along. The story is given general guidelines by Derek Jacobi--superb as usual--and the parts of Robert and Clara taken by Sting and wife Trudie Styler. This might seem an odd choice at first, but Sting seems to have had a late-in-life classical-music conversion (remember his Dowland record?), and his performance as Robert is outstanding, as seasoned as from any actor I can imagine playing the part. Trudie Styler is equally affecting, and her moment of breakdown towards the end is truly distressing. But this is not a play at all--there is no dramatic movement or stage acting. Most of the time, Sting and Trudie are seated close to one another, and they often lean towards each other when speaking. Jacobi is seated pretty much center stage, and they all can be seen watching each other. Interspersed among the talkers are a series of musicians, an all-male group (baritone, violin, piano) on Robert's side, and a female group (soprano, cello, piano) on Clara's side. At different times in the "action," the music of one of the Schumanns is played by one of these groups, or a portion of each. For the most part, the performances are excellent, the singing of Simon Keenlyside being notable, along with the last selection, the Finale from the D-Minor Piano Trio, op. 63, a real barnburner and triumphant ending to an otherwise factual human misfortune that nonetheless had moments of supreme joy. But its protagonists were certainly as star-crossed as Romeo and Juliet ever were. If there is a downside, it would be the lack of more representative music on Robert's part. The very nature and intimacy of this production nixes the idea of large ensemble performances, but one feels like part of the emotional picture is missing without them. Some of the music has been doctored or altered, nothing egregious, but odd sounding to those who know it. This was probably unavoidable in order to make the music portion fuller while using only chamber pieces. The songs are what they are, and there are a few pieces pertinent to the Schumanns at certain times that are by other composers. The staging is wonderful, making it easy to follow what is happening; the sound is equally pleasing, LPCM stereo or DTS surround (my choice). The music however, is only secondary to the engrossing tale, and is chosen wisely to enhance the story where the words end. As bonuses, we get a substantial amount, the cast talks and the documentary being of more than casual interest. I enjoyed this thoroughly, and I can't imagine any music lover who wouldn't. -- Fanfare, Steven E. Ritter, Jan/Feb 2010 Top About this item Similar From the Brand Reviews Twin Spirits: Sting performs Schumann [Blu-ray]

Release: April 30, 2013

$6.99

Description

Esa-Pekka Salonen leads the Philharmonia Orchestra in a unique performance of Holst's 'The Planets Suite', captured in High Definition by 37 cameras. This immersive experience takes the viewer to the heart of the Philharmonia as they perform this well-loved piece, using cameras placed in a multitude of positions and angles to create an extraordinary glimpse of the orchestra at work from within. As well as 'The Planets', the filmed performances also includes a new commission by UK composer Joby Talbot, 'Worlds, Stars, Systems, Infinity'. Additional features include a 'Making of' documentary feature, listening guide films for each planet, audio commentaries from conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen and principal players of the Philharmonia and, for Blu-Ray only, a picture-in-picture option that allows a simultaneous view of the conductor and orchestra in action. The Philharmonia Orchestra is committed to bringing classical music to new audiences in creative and exciting ways, and to this end has become a technological trailblazer in its adoption and adaptation of new technology.

Release: September 25, 2015

$6.99

Description

After personal tragedies and the fiasco of his last opera Un giorno di regno, Verdi wanted to give up composing for ever. Fortunately he made a further attempt: Nabucco. His first real success, the first genuine Verdi opera", was born. Nabucco - the comp

Release: November 20, 2020

$8.99(Not Free for Subscribers)

Description

Naxos of America

Release: August 26, 2008

$7.99

Description

José Cura and Dmitri Hvorostovsky lead the star cast of Verdi's blazingly passionate opera, in Elijah Moshinsky's Royal Opera House production co-produced with Teatro Real Madrid, with sets by the noted Italian film designer Dante Ferretti. Filmed in High Definition. Press Reviews "Elijah Moshinsky's production is surely as lively and moving as Verdi's intricate masterpiece deserves. Jose Cura sizzles. Dimitri Hvorostovsky is everything one could want to see and hear in a Verdi baritone. This new “Trovatore” DVD is a reminder that not every golden age happened long ago." (San Francisco Chronicle) "All four are in excellent voice. Cura...supports Naef with beautiful quiet singing...Hvorostovsky is formidable...There are two other filmed Trovatore's available at present, for a combination of musical excellence and intelligent production neither comes close to this one." (International Record Review) "Elijah Moshinsky's staging offers splendid mid-19th-century visuals (the Risorgimento provides the inspiration) in designs by Dante Ferretti, including enormous cannons, an iron foundry and a railway station. " (BBC Music Magazine) Cast José Cura (Manrico) Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Count di Luna) Yvonne Naef (Azucena) Verónica Vilarroel (Leonora) The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House; Carlo Rizzi Production Company: The Royal Opera Stage Director: Elijah Moshinsky Disc Information Catalogue Number: OABD7006D Date of Performance: 2002 Running Time: 172 minutes Sound: 2.0 & 5.0 PCM Aspect Ratio: 1080i High Definition / 16:9 Subtitles: EN, FR, DE, ES Label: Opus Arte

Release: May 4, 2015

$7.99

Description

This all-new Blu-Ray from the Metropolitan Opera features Verdi's operatic masterpiece, Otello. The cast features American soprano Renee Fleming in one of her signature roles. As The New York Times noted, "she knows exactly how to spin the gentle lines of the `Willow Song' and `Ave Maria' so that they softly fill the hall." The cast includes South African tenor Johan Botha in the title role, Falk Struckmann as an evil Iago and Semyon Bychkov conducts.

Release: October 19, 2010

$7.99

Description

A small-town sheriff who runs speeders off the road is challenged by a victim's hot-rod brother.

Release: March 19, 2013

$7.99

Description

Wagner Siegfried(Br)

Release: October 26, 2018

$7.99

Description

On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the Salzburg Easter Festival presents a 'Re-creation' of Die Walküre, specifically, of Herbert von Karajan's musico-theatrical vision of the 19th century masterwork, with which the legendary Maestro opened the very first Easter Festival in 1967. The top-ranking ensemble of singers performs in the faithfully reconstructed scenery of the original production with impressive video backdrops inspired by the original glass paintings. Christian Thielemann, who has been assistant of Karajan in his beginnings, counts among the world's foremost Wagner conductors, ''… there is an absolute polish to this performance that is exceptional'' writes the Financial Times about the conductor and orchestra. The critics are full of praise for this ''musically ravishing Walküre'' (Frankfurter Allgmeine) and its ''excellent ensemble of soloists''. As Sieglinde, Anja Harteros is ''enchanting and elegant'', Peter Seiffert ''amazingly presents a steady and expressive Siegmund'', Christa Mayer ''shows off as irresistible, throroughbred Fricka'' and Anja Kampe is celebrated as ''outstanding Brünnhilde'' (Süddeutsche Zeitung). ''Musically it was superb.'' (The Spectator)