Wiener Staatsoper 2002 – One of the lesser known works by Giuseppe Verdi, Simon Boccanegra is regarded by most opera lovers as one of his finest. The action takes place in the 14th century and deals with the political and personal rivalry between the corsair Simon Boccanegra, who has been elected Doge of Genoa with the help of …
Filmed at the Vienna State Opera in 2005, Andrei Serban’s production of Massenet’s opera with a late 18th century setting pushes the action forwards to the 1950’s,with the visuals exemplifying that decade with precision.With as much delicacy on display as naked passion,his(Alverez)morbid poet is outstandingly realised both vocally and dramatically. Together with Erod’s dour Albert and Ileana Tonca’s …
Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro (Legendary Performances) [Blu-ray]
Teatro alla Scala 2006 – Giorgio Strehler was one of Europe’s most celebrated theatre directors. In his Piccolo Teatro in Milan he created outstanding interpretations of Bertolt Brecht and William Shakespeare. As an opera director he worked at all the major international opera houses, most notably the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, where he was responsible for productions of …
Giuseppe Verdi: Rigoletto (Legendary Performances) [Blu-ray]
Gran Teatre del Liceu 2004 – In their series of celebrated opera productions from the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Arthaus presents a staging of Rigoletto, one of Verdi’s most popular operas. The tragic opera about the Duke of Mantua, the court jester Rigoletto and his daughter Gilda forms part of the composer’s trilogia popolare together with …
Arrigo Boito: Mefistofele (Legendary Performances) [Blu-ray]
San Francisco Opera 1989 – Boito’s treatment of the Faust legend in Mefistofele has never been as popular as Gounod’s, but Boito was an imaginative composer and a great librettist (he wrote the words for Verdi’s Otello and Falstaff, two of the finest librettos in Italian opera). As the title suggests, his version puts the spotlight on the diabolical villain of the …
Pietro Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana – Ruggero Leoncavallo: Pagliacci (Blu-ray Sampler)
Here are two timeless stories of love, honor, justice and violence a highlight for every opera lover. Pietro Mascagnis Cavalleria rusticana and Ruggero Leoncavallos Pagliacci speak to ones heart and soul. They are regarded as the most absorbing tragedies of Italian music theater. Adultery, jealousy and betrayal are leading to passionate conflicts that jointly connect …
The decision between Wagner and Verdi divides opera lovers into cultural enemies. Giuseppe Verdi, the Southern European, is famous for his anthropocentric work lovely, melodic, tragic and true-to-life. The German Richard Wagner is known and admired for his heroic legends and myths tremendous and expressive. This 6-part documentary series, Wagner vs. Verdi, presents different …