Opus Arte
Giselle is the quintessential Romantic ballet. Its title role, one of the most technically demanding and emotionally challenging in the classical repertory, is here danced by Alina Cojocaru, partnered by Johan Kobborg as Count Albrecht. This tale of the transcendental power of love over death is evocatively portrayed through Peter Wright's sensitive staging and John Macfarlane's designs, which beautifully contrast the human and supernatural worlds.
Bonus features :
- Illustrated synopsis
Bonus features :
- Illustrated synopsis
In this 2016 production of Giselle , the etoiles Marianela Nunez and Vadim Muntagirov join forces with Barry Wordsworth and the Royal Opera House Orchestra to bring the work that Tchaikovsky considered to be "a poetic, musical, and choreographic jewel" to life.
"Lovely in their wedding clothes and crowned with flowers and ribbons, glittering rings on their fingers, the Willis dance in the moonlight as though they were elves. Their countenance, whiter than snow, glows with youth, they laugh with such perverse cheer, such entrancing gaiety (...) that no-one can withstand these dead Bacchants..." This is how Heinrich Heine described the willis, the fantastical creatures of mythology that are at the heart of Giselle, and who would become an archetypal character of Romantic ballet. Dead before their wedding days, the sinister maidens carry away any men they run across in a dance that leads to death.
The willis inspired Theophile Gautier to suggest a plot to Henri de Saint-Georges, author of the libretto that Adam would set to music. The choreography established by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot is employed here by Marius Petipa, the brother of Lucien, who was the dance partner of Carlotta Grisi, the Italian etoile dancer for whom the role of Giselle was written. The premiere...
"Lovely in their wedding clothes and crowned with flowers and ribbons, glittering rings on their fingers, the Willis dance in the moonlight as though they were elves. Their countenance, whiter than snow, glows with youth, they laugh with such perverse cheer, such entrancing gaiety (...) that no-one can withstand these dead Bacchants..." This is how Heinrich Heine described the willis, the fantastical creatures of mythology that are at the heart of Giselle, and who would become an archetypal character of Romantic ballet. Dead before their wedding days, the sinister maidens carry away any men they run across in a dance that leads to death.
The willis inspired Theophile Gautier to suggest a plot to Henri de Saint-Georges, author of the libretto that Adam would set to music. The choreography established by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot is employed here by Marius Petipa, the brother of Lucien, who was the dance partner of Carlotta Grisi, the Italian etoile dancer for whom the role of Giselle was written. The premiere...
The longing to overcome human boundaries lead the physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer to begin an experiment that formed a threat to the whole of humanity, and whose scientific results still do today. The question of the moral implications of the atomic bomb is raised in John Adams' opera, just as much as that of the influence on the private lives of the main characters. Dr. Atomic is the fifth work to result from almost twenty years of collaboration between the American composer and his fellow American director and Erasmus Prize-winner Peter Sellars.
Bonus features:
- Interview with Peter Sellars.
- Illustrated synopsis
Bonus features:
- Interview with Peter Sellars.
- Illustrated synopsis
Two Frederick Ashton ballets in one exquisite evening performance. Principals Natalia Osipova and Steven McRae dance Ashton's Rhapsody , created for the Royal Ballet in 1980 by Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lesley Collier, with spectacular choreography to suit the dancers' star reputations. Laura Cuthbertson and Vadim Muntagirov lead the charistmatic cast in Ashton's poignant and heart-warming reflection on love, The Two Pigeons , based on an old French folk tale and first performed on Valentine's Day 1961. These two ballets by the Company's Founder Choreographer capture The Royal Ballet's famous skill and distinctive style.
Barry Wordsworth conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House in the rapturous Rachmaninoff and Messager scores.
Barry Wordsworth conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House in the rapturous Rachmaninoff and Messager scores.
Three contrasting ballets by the Royal Ballet's Founder Choreographer Frederick Ashton: The Dream (1964) is an enchanting adaptation of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream to music by Mendelssohn . Symphonic Variations (1946) is an early Ashton masterpiece, and a breathtaking, abstract work on the beauty of pure movement. Marguerite and Armand (1963), here danced by former Royal Ballet Principal Zenaida Yanowsky and Guest Artist Robert Bolle, is tragic love story of great lyric beauty. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House is conducted by Emmanuel Plasson.
Founder choreographer of The Royal Ballet, Frederick Ashton created more than 100 ballets over a 60 year career. Showcasing three of his shorter works, this video reflects the breadth of his sophisticated, elegant and widely popular style.
Les Patineurs evokes the Edwardian skating rink, with all its youthful charm and humour, in contrast to Scnes de Ballet where sharp geometric shapes and the music of Igor Stravinsky are combined to create perhaps Ashton's most modernist work. Divertissements , a collection of eight short dances, features some of Ashton's most lyrical choreography, including pas de deux set to Romantic masterpieces by Tchaikovsky and Massenet.
Les Patineurs evokes the Edwardian skating rink, with all its youthful charm and humour, in contrast to Scnes de Ballet where sharp geometric shapes and the music of Igor Stravinsky are combined to create perhaps Ashton's most modernist work. Divertissements , a collection of eight short dances, features some of Ashton's most lyrical choreography, including pas de deux set to Romantic masterpieces by Tchaikovsky and Massenet.
George Balanchine and the Paris Opera always enjoyed a special relationship after Jacques Rouche, the then administrator, offered the young choreographer the post of ballet master in 1929. Balanchine declined the job, but he created several ballets for the company and came to the Palais Garnier regularly to oversee his works. In 2000, seventeen years after his death, a rare and precious ballet arrived at the Paris Opera: Jewels, a work first performed by the New York City Ballet in 1967. This alluring, abstract ballet, a triptych in which each piece sparkles with the brilliance of a precious stone, is a lyric tribute to women and to the capital cities of the great dance schools. Couturier, painter and craftsman Christian Lacroix created the glorious costumes and sets which, together with the outstanding performances of the dancers and the sensitive musical direction of Paul Connelly, result in a celebration of sumptuous splendour.
Bonus features:
- George Balanchine Forever - A film by Reiner E. Moritz, including interviews with Barbara Horgan, chairman of the Balanchine Foundation, Brigitte Lefevre, director of Ballet de L'Opera, designer Christian Lacroix and star dancers Laetitia Pujol, Clairemarie Osta, Aurelie Dupont, Agnes Letestu and Marie-Agnes Gillot
Bonus features:
- George Balanchine Forever - A film by Reiner E. Moritz, including interviews with Barbara Horgan, chairman of the Balanchine Foundation, Brigitte Lefevre, director of Ballet de L'Opera, designer Christian Lacroix and star dancers Laetitia Pujol, Clairemarie Osta, Aurelie Dupont, Agnes Letestu and Marie-Agnes Gillot
Widely lauded by critics, choreographer Jonathan Watkins' 1984 is an awe-inspiring retelling of George Orwell's masterpiece.
Winston Smith lives in a world of absolute conformity, his every action scrutinized by Big Brother. However, when Winston meets Julia, he dares to rebel by falling in love.
Danced by Northern Ballet - the UK's foremost narrative ballet company - to a score by Tony-nominated composer Alex Baranowski , this thoroughly modern take on Nineteen Eighty-Four will change the way you think about ballet.
Winston Smith lives in a world of absolute conformity, his every action scrutinized by Big Brother. However, when Winston meets Julia, he dares to rebel by falling in love.
Danced by Northern Ballet - the UK's foremost narrative ballet company - to a score by Tony-nominated composer Alex Baranowski , this thoroughly modern take on Nineteen Eighty-Four will change the way you think about ballet.
Kes reimagined is a new film by award-winning choreographer Jonathan Watkins and International Emmy award-winning director Ross MacGibbon, based on the novel A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines.
Jonathan Watkin's acclaimed production was conceived and created for Sheffield's Crucible Theatre in 2014.
Set in a Yorkshire mining community, this re-imagining of Hine's tale told through dance and puppetry, takes a us on a journey with the young working-class boy, Billy Casper. Billy is troubled at home and at school but his outlook on life is transformed when he finds and trains a kestrel. As the beloved Kes swoops and spins in the expansive freedom of the Yorkshire countryside, Billy's self-confidence begins to soar, and boy and bird become one.
Jonathan Watkin's acclaimed production was conceived and created for Sheffield's Crucible Theatre in 2014.
Set in a Yorkshire mining community, this re-imagining of Hine's tale told through dance and puppetry, takes a us on a journey with the young working-class boy, Billy Casper. Billy is troubled at home and at school but his outlook on life is transformed when he finds and trains a kestrel. As the beloved Kes swoops and spins in the expansive freedom of the Yorkshire countryside, Billy's self-confidence begins to soar, and boy and bird become one.
Translucence, transparency ?EUR" 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 for Opernhaus Zurich. Haitink conducts the Zurich Opera Orchestra in a magnificent performance in which Leonore Overture No. 3 provides an interlude between the two scenes of the second act, following a tradition started by Gustav Mahler. German soprano Melanie Diener, in the role of Leonore, leads a brilliant cast including Alfred Muff as Rocco, Roberto Sacca as Florestan, Sandra Trattnigg as Marzelline and Christoph Strehl as Jaquino.
Bonus features :
- Illustrated synopsis
Bonus features :
- Illustrated synopsis
Beethoven's only opera is a masterpiece, an uplifting story of risk and triumph. In this new production, conducted by Antonio Pappano, Jonas Kaufmann plays the political prisoner Florestan, and Lise Davidsen his wife Leonore (disguised as Fidelio) who daringly sets out to rescue him. Set in strong counterpoint are the ingredients of domestic intrigue, determined love and the cruelty of an oppressive regime. The music is transcendent throughout and includes the famous Act I Quartet, the Prisoners' Chorus and Florestan's impassioned Act II cry in the darkness and vision of hope. Tobias Kratzer's new staging brings together the dark reality of the French Revolutionary 'Terror' and our own time to illuminate Fidelio's inspiring message of shared humanity.
La Bete et la Belle is renowned French choreographer Kader Belarbi's compelling reimagining of the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast - a psychological drama that explores the rejection or acceptance of difference, centring around Beauty's discovery of the depth of true love. First performed by the Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal in 2005, Theatre du Capitole's reprise of Belarbi's acclaimed production has confirmed its status as among the best of modern ballets, combining stunning set and costume designs with striking choreography that reflects the unique soundscape of the Ligeti-dominant musical score. Takafumi Watanabe and Julie Loria assume the lead roles in a production that instantly transport us into the beautiful dream world of this timeless masterpiece reinterpreted.
In Guy Joosten's ingenious production of Bellini's masterpiece, Norma is about more than just beautiful singing. It becomes a layered, timeless drama in which Norma is the archetypal successful woman struggling to retain her dominant but vulnerable position. Hasmik Papian's lyrical and intense interpretation of the title role accentuates the striking similarity between a Druid high priestess and a modern opera diva. Conductor Julian Reynolds guides the brilliant cast, choir and Netherlands Chamber Orchestra to great heights, providing a refreshing new take on the chef d'oeuvre of bel canto.
Bonus features :
- Introduction to Norma , including interviews with principal members of the cast and artistic team.
- Illustrated Synopsis
Bonus features :
- Introduction to Norma , including interviews with principal members of the cast and artistic team.
- Illustrated Synopsis
Star soprano Sonya Yoncheva sings the towering role of Bellini's Norma - a priestess torn between love and duty - in a timeless tale of love and betrayal, set in a fanatically religious and war-torn modern society. The spectacular production of Alex Olle for The Royal Opera also stars Joseph Calleja as Norma's former lover Pollione, leader of the forces occupying her country, Brindley Sherratt as her domineering father Oroveso, and Sonia Ganassi as Adalgisa, her greatest friend and unwitting rival in love. Royal Opera Music Director Antonio Pappano leads this superb cast, the Royal Opera House in one of the greatest works of the bel canto repertory.
Through the eye of French director Laurent Pelly this expression of Berlioz's undying admiration for the Bard - his adaptation of Much Ado about Nothing as an opera comique - becomes 'an elegant treatise on love and music designated in shades of grey with 50s-era costumes' (Sunday Express). Housed by designer Barbara de Limburg in a series of oversized boxes, it's 'terribly chic, terribly pretty' (The Spectacular). Soaring over the 'warmly graceful playing of the London Philharmonic', Paul Appleby sings 'attractively' as Benedict and Stephanie d'Oustrac 'makes a marvellously wiry and fiery Beatrice, singing with charm and actin with gusto' (The Telegraph).
Tom Cairns' cinematic film of Bernstein's chamber opera features a young and vibrant cast, set in the Fifties. This biting satire on American suburban married life stars Stephanie Novacek as Dinah and Karl Daymond as Sam, facing a serious communication breakdown - he is obsessed with his achievements in work and sport: she seeks escapism via therapy and the magical world of the latest movie release, Trouble in Tahiti . Inspired by jazz and American musical comedy, the score is a path-breaking fusion of lyric art with popular entertainment.
Bonus features:
- Introduction to Trouble in Tahiti
- Not Particularly Romantic - Humphrey Burton, Bernstein's biographer, comments on the composer's life and the significance of Trouble in Tahiti.
- A Very Testing Piece - Conductor Paul Daniel on the performance and background of the opera
Bonus features:
- Introduction to Trouble in Tahiti
- Not Particularly Romantic - Humphrey Burton, Bernstein's biographer, comments on the composer's life and the significance of Trouble in Tahiti.
- A Very Testing Piece - Conductor Paul Daniel on the performance and background of the opera
This world premiere of a gripping new work by composer Harrison Birtwistle and librettist David Harsent, commissioned by The Royal Opera, brings the monstrous, Greek mythological character to the stage. The Minotaur, part man, part beast, trapped in his labyrinth and constrained by his bloodthirsty role there, longs to discover his true identity and his own voice. Athens must pay a blood sacrifice to Crete and among the innocents is Theseus, who has come to challenge the violent Minotaur, but who also attracts the attention of Ariadne, half-sister and keeper of the monster; it is with her help he succeeds.
Bonus features:
- Documentary - Myth is Universal .
- Illustrated synopsis.
Bonus features:
- Documentary - Myth is Universal .
- Illustrated synopsis.
Director David McVicar describes Carmen as "the first ever musical," and his new production, with Anne Sofie von Otter in the title role, restores the original opra comique as Bizet wrote it, stripping away subsequent re-workings which turned it into a grand opera. Philippe Jordan makes his Glyndebourne debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Glyndebourne Chorus and a cast that includes Marcus Haddock, Laurent Naouri and Lisa Milne.
Bonus features:
- Costume design
- How to fight on stage
- Illustrated synopsis
- The cast and their characters
- Choreographing Carmen
- The Gardens of Glyndebourne
Bonus features:
- Costume design
- How to fight on stage
- Illustrated synopsis
- The cast and their characters
- Choreographing Carmen
- The Gardens of Glyndebourne
This recording commemorates the 50th anniversary of Joaquin Achucarro's debut with the London Symphony Orchestra after winning the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic International Competition in 1959. Recorded at Jerwood Hall, St Luke's, London, with Britain's eminent conductor Colin Davis at the helm, Achucarro delivers a consummate performance that brilliantly expresses his delicate and passionate style.
Bonus features :
- Joaquin Achucarro: 50 Years On - A documentary including interviews with Placido Domingo, Simon Rattle and Zubin Mehta.
- Achucarro at the Prado - performances of solo pieces by Brahms, Chopin, Scriabin and Albeniz filmed in the beautiful setting of the Prado museum.
Bonus features :
- Joaquin Achucarro: 50 Years On - A documentary including interviews with Placido Domingo, Simon Rattle and Zubin Mehta.
- Achucarro at the Prado - performances of solo pieces by Brahms, Chopin, Scriabin and Albeniz filmed in the beautiful setting of the Prado museum.
Death in Venice , the last opera by Benjamin Britten , was composed based on the novella by Thomas Mann of the same name, which inspired at least one other celebrated artist, the filmmaker Luchino Visconti. Britten's opera was first performed at Aldeburgh Festival in 1973, just two years after the cinema release of Visconti's film, which Britten never saw. The complicated subject of the opera required a lot of preparation. Britten, who was already very ill, often expressed his fear that he would not be able to finish it. He even postponed an important operation in order to finish the score. Despite his best efforts, he was not able to conduct his piece, neither for its first performance, which he heard on the radio, nor for its recording.
Seventy years after its Glyndebourne world premier, Benjamin Britten's first chamber opera is welcomed home with a 'performance of enthralling emotional power and physical beauty' gifted with 'piercingly intelligent, immaculately realised staging and superb singing, acting and playing' led by 'Fiona Shaw's supremely nuanced direction' and underpinned by 'febrile playing' from members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (The Telegraph). The production eloquently and tastefully tackles the difficult subject, which is lent emotional weight by 'Christine Rice's grandly sung Lucretia, noble in tone yet tragically vulnerable', along with baritone Duncan Rock's 'forthright' Tarquinius and the 'smooth bass' of Matthew Rose as the caring Collatinus (The Guardian).
Cursive II is a masterpiece by Lin Hwai-min, choreographer of the highly acclaimed Moon Water and Bamboo Dream. Inspired by the aesthetics of Chinese calligraphy, this work is both commanding and seductive. The superb Cloud Gate dancers, trained in meditation, Chi-Kung and martial arts, touch you with original movements, fierce as striking thunder or soft as flowing ink on rice paper. The complexity of energy is further enhanced by the music of John Cage, while the blown-up images of 'ice crackles' from Sung porcelain shimmer with delicate beauty. This production exquisitely filmed by dance expert Ross MacGibbon captures the meditative aura of the dance. It excites. It mesmerizes. You can never turn away an eye for one second.
Bonus features:
- Dragon Flying and Phoenix Dancing - an introduction to Cursive II with Lin Hwai-min
- Floating on the Ground - a documentary by Reiner E. Moritz, portraying Lin Hwai-min, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan and Cursive II in the context of the company?EUR(TM)s history, including interviews with the choreographer, dancers and creative crew.
Bonus features:
- Dragon Flying and Phoenix Dancing - an introduction to Cursive II with Lin Hwai-min
- Floating on the Ground - a documentary by Reiner E. Moritz, portraying Lin Hwai-min, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan and Cursive II in the context of the company?EUR(TM)s history, including interviews with the choreographer, dancers and creative crew.
Commissioned to celebrate the marriage of the Sun King, Louis XIV, and Marie Therese of Spain, the original production of Cavalli's Ercole Amante took two years to complete and, at the time, was the grandest show ever performed in Europe. DNO's contemporary, hilarious and surreal production, directed by David Alden, is a triumph of opera buffa, a riot of decoration and symbolism complemented by Constance Hoffman's exceptional costumes. Luca Pisaroni's Ercole is heroic and melodious in turn, Veronica Cangemi is a splendid Iole, and the Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera and Concerto Koln give a sublime performance under Ivor Bolton, a master of baroque music.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated synopsis.
- Cast gallery.
- Behind the scenes with Johanette Zomer.
- Behind the scenes with Luca Pisaroni.
- The making of Ercole Amante.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated synopsis.
- Cast gallery.
- Behind the scenes with Johanette Zomer.
- Behind the scenes with Luca Pisaroni.
- The making of Ercole Amante.
Premiered by the Opera De Paris in 1870, and inspired by the fantastical writings of E.T.A. Hoffmann, Copplia tells the story of a young man who becomes besotted with an exquisite automaton and is finally brought to his senses by his fiance. In their production from the magnificent Palais Garnier, choreographer Patrice Bart in his final production and designer Ezio Toffolutti explore the story's darker side while doing full justice to the exuberance and elegance of Delibes' glorious score.
Ninette de Valois' charming and funny Coppelia is a classic of the Royal Ballet repertory - a story of love, mischief and mechanical dolls, starring Marianela Nunez and Vadim Muntagirov. The intricate choreography is set to Delibes' delightful score and shows off the technical precision and comedic timing of the whole Company. Osbert Lancaster's designs bring a colourful storybook world to life in his entertaining and joyful ballet
Darcey Bussell and Roberto Bolle star in Frederick Ashton's Sylvia , restored to the splendour of its elegant and opulent three-act form for the 75th anniversary celebrations of The Royal Ballet. Taken from Greek mythology, it tells the story of Sylvia, loved by Aminta, abducted by Orion and eventually rescued by Eros.
Ashton was inspired by the music of Leo Delibes to create such great choreographic sequences as the famous Act 3 pas de deux and the mischievous role of Eros, one of the delightful, darkly comic characterisations for which Ashton became known and loved. Sylvia is a wonderful showcase for virtuosity, invention and classical beauty, the epitome of Ashton style in stage settings of great detail and painterly perfection.
Ashton was inspired by the music of Leo Delibes to create such great choreographic sequences as the famous Act 3 pas de deux and the mischievous role of Eros, one of the delightful, darkly comic characterisations for which Ashton became known and loved. Sylvia is a wonderful showcase for virtuosity, invention and classical beauty, the epitome of Ashton style in stage settings of great detail and painterly perfection.
Described as 'a joyous romp' (Opera News), Donizetti's dramma giocoso shows us what can go wrong when the egos of the actors get in the way of putting on a good show. From the prima donna and the sub-par lead tenor, to the seconda donna's boisterous mother (played by a bass singer) and all the characters in between, everyone is playing the diva whilst the director pulls his hair out in frustration, and questions of who will fund the production are raised...
Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali ('The Conventions and Inconveniences of the Stage') - a joyful play on words in itself - more commonly known as Viva la mamma! is a two-act farce that shines an exaggerated spotlight on the behind-the-scenes working of a theatre and the rehearsal process with hilarious results.
Lauren Pelly directs this masterpiece of comic timing and satire, marking the continuation of his celebrated relationship with Opera de Lyon.
Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali ('The Conventions and Inconveniences of the Stage') - a joyful play on words in itself - more commonly known as Viva la mamma! is a two-act farce that shines an exaggerated spotlight on the behind-the-scenes working of a theatre and the rehearsal process with hilarious results.
Lauren Pelly directs this masterpiece of comic timing and satire, marking the continuation of his celebrated relationship with Opera de Lyon.
Diana Damrau sings the title role in Donizetti's tragic masterpiece Lucia di Lammermoor . Director Katie Mitchell compellingly draws Lucia as a strong and independent woman who fiercely fights against her brother's machinations, and Vicki Mortimer's spectacular split-screen set metes out with devastating precision the events of Walter Scott's famous story. Daniel Oren conducts a thrilling cast, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and the Royal Opera Chorus is on the Donizetti's most beautiful and dramatically potent operas.
With the magnificent sets of the Quartier Latin in Giancarlo del Monaco's La Boheme as a backdrop, the Teatro Real presents an invigorating Latin jazz cross-pollination, featuring some of the world's greatest jazz fusionists: the veteran Cuban saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera and the creator of the "New Flamenco Sound," Spanish pianist Chano Dominguez. This vibrant tte--tte of two of Latin jazz's most talented musicians offers some of the best Latin jazz of our times. This concert fires up the screen with virtuosic and electrifying performances of some truly multi-dimensional jazz, coloured with salsa, flamenco, tango, bolero, African and other Latin music elements.
Katie Derham introduces highlights from the past ten years at the Royal Ballet in this special, extended edition of Essential Royal Ballet.
Presented on location in Covent Garden at the iconic Royal Opera House, Katie weaves the history of ballet through carefully curated excerpts from the past decade of performances and goes behind the scenes to see what it takes to be a dancer in the company of The Royal Ballet as they prepare to take to the stage.
From the great classics of The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker to the exciting frontiers of contemporary dance, Katie takes us on a romp through the repertory, showcasing the diversity of the UK's biggest ballet company.
With stunning solos, passionate pas de deux and jaw-dropping numbers for the corps de ballet, it is a chance to see your favourite dancers up close, including Carlos Acosta, Marianela Nunez, Natalia Osipova and Steven McRae, alongside rising stars like Francesca Hayward and Matthew Ball, who will introduce their favourite ballets and share stories of their life on the stage.
The ballets featured include the classics Giselle, La Bayadere, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker while the 20th-century heritage of the Royal Ballet is explored in works by Frederick Ashton and Kenneth MacMillan...
Presented on location in Covent Garden at the iconic Royal Opera House, Katie weaves the history of ballet through carefully curated excerpts from the past decade of performances and goes behind the scenes to see what it takes to be a dancer in the company of The Royal Ballet as they prepare to take to the stage.
From the great classics of The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker to the exciting frontiers of contemporary dance, Katie takes us on a romp through the repertory, showcasing the diversity of the UK's biggest ballet company.
With stunning solos, passionate pas de deux and jaw-dropping numbers for the corps de ballet, it is a chance to see your favourite dancers up close, including Carlos Acosta, Marianela Nunez, Natalia Osipova and Steven McRae, alongside rising stars like Francesca Hayward and Matthew Ball, who will introduce their favourite ballets and share stories of their life on the stage.
The ballets featured include the classics Giselle, La Bayadere, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker while the 20th-century heritage of the Royal Ballet is explored in works by Frederick Ashton and Kenneth MacMillan...
Sir Charles Mackerras teases the romantic beauty from Gounod's score, which has been much admired and performed since its debut, at the Theatre Lyrique, Paris, in 1867. In this 1994 recording, the youthful Roberto Alagna as Romeo and Leontina Vaduva as the unattainable Juliette, lead an excellent cast in a touching portrayal of this story of impossible love, based on the play by William Shakespeare.
World-renowned tenor Plcido Domingo is joined by Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna and a host of other international stars including Susan Graham, in the famously glittering 1996 Gala Concert on the stage of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Asher Fisch conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House in a programme of many of the world's best-loved operatic arias with music by composers including Bizet, Massenet, Gounod, Mozart and Donizetti.
In a deserted city, a young boy stumbles into a theatre. He wanders through the audition, where rows of velvet chairs, draping curtains and chandeliers seem to lie in lovely wait for audiences to return. The theatre may be empty, but the show will go on...
Starring characters from Scottish Ballet's most popular festive ballets, the worlds of the Snow Queen and the Sugar Plum Fairy collide when the theatre bursts into life. In this spectacular, hour-long film, you'll be treated to an extraordinary show filled with acrobats, snowflakes, clowns, princes and - of course - beautiful ballerinas.
The Secret Theatre features the choreography of Scottish Ballet founder Peter Darelle and CEO/Artistic Director Christopher Hampson, co-directed for the screen by Jess and Morgs. With set and costumes designed by Lez Brotherston, music by Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky recorded live by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra, new additional composition by Frank Moon , and performances from the full Scottish Ballet Company, this Christmas special is an unforgettable adventure for the whole family
Starring characters from Scottish Ballet's most popular festive ballets, the worlds of the Snow Queen and the Sugar Plum Fairy collide when the theatre bursts into life. In this spectacular, hour-long film, you'll be treated to an extraordinary show filled with acrobats, snowflakes, clowns, princes and - of course - beautiful ballerinas.
The Secret Theatre features the choreography of Scottish Ballet founder Peter Darelle and CEO/Artistic Director Christopher Hampson, co-directed for the screen by Jess and Morgs. With set and costumes designed by Lez Brotherston, music by Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky recorded live by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra, new additional composition by Frank Moon , and performances from the full Scottish Ballet Company, this Christmas special is an unforgettable adventure for the whole family
Christopher Hogwood conducts the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and a distinguished cast including Danielle de Niese and Charles Workman in Wayne McGregor's new production of Handel's opera in which The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet appear in a rare and beautifully crafted collaboration.
Bonus features :
- Illustrated synopsis
- Staging Acis and Galatea
Bonus features :
- Illustrated synopsis
- Staging Acis and Galatea
Lacrosse sticks and flying bicycles bring contemporary chic to this timeless fantasy of warriors and witches in Robert Carsen's fun-filled transformation of Handel's first London triumph. Conducting from the keyboard just as Handel himself did, Ottavio Dantone leads a youthful cast of today's luminaries in the dramatic art of Baroque opera; the 'affecting' Sonia Prina, the 'unadorned intensity' of Anett Fritsch and 'fire-breathing flair' of Branda Rae. (The Observer)
Miyako Yoshida dances the title role originally created for Margot Fonteyn in the hauntingly beautiful underwater world of Ondine , vividly brought to life by The Royal Ballet. Frederick Ashton's shimmering choreography, Lila de Nobili's impressionistic designs and Hans Werner Henze's specially commissioned, vibrant and inventive score, memorably combine to evoke the many moods and colours of the sea.
Bonus features :
- The making of Ondine - an interview with Hans Werner Henze
Bonus features :
- The making of Ondine - an interview with Hans Werner Henze
Ever since its triumphant premiere in 1960, Frederick Ashton's La Fille mal gardee has been treasured as one of his happiest creations ?EUR" his artistic tribute to nature, and an expression of his feelings for his beloved Suffolk countryside.
Marianela Nunez and Carlos Acosta perfectly portray the young lovers Lise and Colas, determined to thwart the plans of Widow Simone to marry off her wayward daughter to Alain, the simple son of wealthy Farmer Thomas.
Osbert Lancaster's colourful, picture-book designs, along with Ferdinand Herold's tuneful score, arranged by John Lanchbery, provide the perfect setting for Ashton's blissfully bucolic ballet, complete with haywain, pony, maypole and ribbons, a cockrel and his chickens and, of course, the famous clog dance, here wonderfully led by William Tuckett as the irascible but lovable Widow Simone.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis.
Marianela Nunez and Carlos Acosta perfectly portray the young lovers Lise and Colas, determined to thwart the plans of Widow Simone to marry off her wayward daughter to Alain, the simple son of wealthy Farmer Thomas.
Osbert Lancaster's colourful, picture-book designs, along with Ferdinand Herold's tuneful score, arranged by John Lanchbery, provide the perfect setting for Ashton's blissfully bucolic ballet, complete with haywain, pony, maypole and ribbons, a cockrel and his chickens and, of course, the famous clog dance, here wonderfully led by William Tuckett as the irascible but lovable Widow Simone.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis.
Diana Damrau and Angelika Kirchschlager star in the acclaimed 2008 production of Humperdinck's famous fairytale opera, in the company of two of Britain's most revered musical figures: Thomas Allen, playing the role of the Father, and the legendary conductor Colin Davis. Directors Patrice Caurier and Moshe Leiser combine their characteristic wit and a dash of deliciously dark comedy with the opera's fairytale charm. Humperdinck's music mixes catchy folk-like songs with sumptuous instrumental colour, making the result as tunefully approachable, musically memorable and visually delightful as opera gets.
Bonus features :
- Illustrated Synopsis
- Animated cast gallery
- Interview with Colin Davis
- Fairytales feature
Bonus features :
- Illustrated Synopsis
- Animated cast gallery
- Interview with Colin Davis
- Fairytales feature
The tale of a quick-witted fox and her escape from confinement for a life in the forest that is by turns joyful and violent, The Cunning Little Vixen is an unsentimental parable of death and rebirth that lives through the instinctive and immediate world of nature, animal and human, which Janacek loved so much. Melly Still's production for Glyndenbourne finds the 'delicate balance between whimsy and mysticism' (Daily Telegraph) at the heart of the opera, which Vladimir Jurowski conducts' with lustrous style: you can hear the birds in the score, feel the sunshine and thrill to the starlit night sky in the finale scene' (Opera Today).
The vulnerable young woman at the heart of Janacek's breakthrough opera is a signature role for the English soprano Amanda Roocroft. Here, in Stphane Braunschweig's clear but deeply affecting production, she is partnered by the Slovak tenor Miroslav Dvorsky, as the man through whom she finds redemption, love and hope. The complex figure of the Kostelnicka becomes both tormentor and tormented in this fearless interpretation by the great dramatic soprano Deborah Polaski.
Inspired by Gene Kelly's iconic work in Hollywood, Starstruck , winner of the 2022 Best Dance Film Award at the National Dance Awards, brings an immersive, theatrical experience, in which audiences around the world can escape with us to the glamour and grace of Paris, 1960.
One of the first choreographers to bring the 'American style' to Europe, the legendary Gene Kelly was invited to create an original work for the Paris Opera Ballet in 1960. His jazzy, joyful Pas de Dieux was highly acclaimed at the time as 'a breath of fresh air' but has been rarely performance since. It has now been given a new set of wings for its life on stage and screen.
In collaboration with Kelly's widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, Scottish Ballet's CEO/Artistic Director Christopher Hampson and designer Lez Brotherson (The Snow Queen, The Secret Theatre) have lovingly revived the original ballet and added a delightful new twist. You'll be transported into the world where jazz meets ballet, and the stars align.
Combining live performance capture with cinematic filming techniques and additional elements not seen in the stage production, Starstruck is directed for screen by Oscar Sanson (Dive) , and produced in partnership and beyond, and we honour his creative legacy with this playful new ballet....
One of the first choreographers to bring the 'American style' to Europe, the legendary Gene Kelly was invited to create an original work for the Paris Opera Ballet in 1960. His jazzy, joyful Pas de Dieux was highly acclaimed at the time as 'a breath of fresh air' but has been rarely performance since. It has now been given a new set of wings for its life on stage and screen.
In collaboration with Kelly's widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, Scottish Ballet's CEO/Artistic Director Christopher Hampson and designer Lez Brotherson (The Snow Queen, The Secret Theatre) have lovingly revived the original ballet and added a delightful new twist. You'll be transported into the world where jazz meets ballet, and the stars align.
Combining live performance capture with cinematic filming techniques and additional elements not seen in the stage production, Starstruck is directed for screen by Oscar Sanson (Dive) , and produced in partnership and beyond, and we honour his creative legacy with this playful new ballet....
Acclaimed dancer-choreographer Akram Khan 'speaks tremendously of tremendous' (Financial Times) and this new Giselle , commissioned by English National Ballet, re-imagines the classic narrative ballet for the 21st century. Giselle has become a former garment factory migrant worker, Albrecht, a member of the wealthy factory-owing class. An abandoned 'ghost factory' haunted by the memory of female migrant workers, many of them victims of industrial accidents, replaces the traditional glade of Act II. There, Giselle's desire to break the cycle of violence will lead to her reconciliation with Albrecht and his release from the retributive justice of the Wilis.
Created by Frederick Ashton for a film in 1971, and brought to the stage in a production by Anthony Dowell in 1992, Tales of Beatrix Potter brings alive, with rich characterization and invention, the famous images and stories of Beatrix Potter.
John Lanchbery's music (incorporating mostly forgotten Victorian melodies) is utterly captivating, inspiriting spirited playing from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Paul Murphy. Christine Edzard's designs conjure up a lost England field mice and Berkshire black pigs, of foxgloves and shady groves. Swept up in the ballet's childlike exuberance, the entire cast delivers outstanding portrayals of such colourful figures as Jemima Puddle-Duck, Mr Jeremy Fisher, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and the irrespressible Peter Rabbit. Frederick Ashton's warm and witty, yet demanding, choreography creates a piece of charm and grace for all ages.
John Lanchbery's music (incorporating mostly forgotten Victorian melodies) is utterly captivating, inspiriting spirited playing from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Paul Murphy. Christine Edzard's designs conjure up a lost England field mice and Berkshire black pigs, of foxgloves and shady groves. Swept up in the ballet's childlike exuberance, the entire cast delivers outstanding portrayals of such colourful figures as Jemima Puddle-Duck, Mr Jeremy Fisher, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and the irrespressible Peter Rabbit. Frederick Ashton's warm and witty, yet demanding, choreography creates a piece of charm and grace for all ages.
From The Royal Ballet's classical origins in the works of Petipa, to the home-grown choreographers who put British ballet on the world stage, this mixed programme highlights the versatility of the Company. Petipa's Raymonda Act III is Russian classical ballet summarized in one act, full of sparkle and precise technique, while Ashton's Enigma Variations is quintessentially British in every way - from its score by Elgar and period designs by Julia Trevelyan Oman, to Ashton's signature style, the essence of British ballet. Concerto, MacMillan's fusion of classical technique with a contemporary mind, completes a programme that shows the breadth of the Company's heritage.
Sarah Lamb and Vadim Muntagirov star as tragic lovers Manon and Des Grieux in this performance of Kenneth MacMillan's Manon , a classic of the Royal Ballet repertory. Nicholas Georgiadi's period designs set the ballet in the contrasting worlds of Paris luxury and Louisiana swampland, while the intense emotion of MacMillan's choreography is complemented by a score drawn from Massenet's music. The impassioned pas de deux for Manon and Des Grieux drive this tragic story, and make Manon one of MacMillan's most powerful dramas.
Kenneth MacMillan based his dark, intense ballet Mayerling on the tragic true story of Crown Prince Rudolf and his Mistress Mary Vetseva, and its celebrated as one of The Royal Ballet's narrative masterpieces. The oppressive world of the Austro-Hungarian empire is brought to life the whole company, with a score drawn from the sweeping music of Franz Liszt , and with the sumptuous designs by Nicholas Georgiadis, Steven McRae dances Rudolf, one of the most technically and emotionally demanding roles in the repertory for male dancers, with Sarah Lamb as Mary Vetseva, in choreography that pushes classical ballet to its limits.
MacMillan's vision has been vital in shaping The Royal Ballet's style and repertory, and what better way to appreciate his art than with this rare chance to experience three contrasting works in a single performance. Abstract, dramatic, humorous – this programme gives a wonderfully varied introduction not just to MacMillan's work but to the beauty and dramatic power of ballet itself. Concerto, to Shostakovich's Second Piano Concerto, contrasts moments of exuberance and elegiac reflection. The Judas Tree places a single woman among 13 men to enact a harrowing event that is recognizably contemporary but with biblical overtones. Elite Syncopations completes the programme with a sparkling evocation of a dance hall that brings ragtime rhythms to the dance, and a ragtime band to the stage.
Bonus features:
- Introductions by Deborah MacMillan
Bonus features:
- Introductions by Deborah MacMillan
The Royal Ballet presents a stellar cast in Kenneth MacMillan's ballet, filmed in 1994 for the BBC, with John Lanchbery's sumptuous scoring of music by Franz Liszt. The dramatic soundscape is matched by MacMillan's penetrating interpretation of the events.
Edward Watson dances the role of Crown Prince Rudolf in Kenneth MacMillan's compelling ballet depicting the final years of Rudolf's life. A relentless downward spiral of political intrigue, drugs and murder culminates in a suicide pact between Rudolf and his 17-year-old mistress, Mary Vetsera (Mara Galeazzi), at the royal hunting lodge known as Mayerling.
Bonus features:
- Costumes
- Principals in rehearsal
Bonus features:
- Costumes
- Principals in rehearsal
Jean-Christophe Maillot revisits Swan Lake with writer Jean Rouaud (Winner of the 1990 Prix Goncourt)! Filmed in a studio at Monaco's Grimaldi Forum, this modern interpretation of the classic ballet sheds new light on the mythic tale of Siegfried and Odette. Conceived by the cutting edge visual artist Ernest Pignon-Ernest, Le Lac features costumes by Philippe Guillotel and Bertrand Maillot's musical adaptation of Tchaikovsky's original score performed by the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra under Leonard Slatkin. An impressive production and winner of the 2013 Golden Prague prize for "Best Performing Arts Program"!
The young prince Siegfried is set to become king, and must choose his future wife at the celebration of his 21st birthday. Unhappy that he cannot marry for love, he visits the nearby forest, where he sees a group of swans pass by, and then he pauses at the sight of a woman dressed in white swan feathers. He learns that she is none other than the Princess Odette, who suffers under the curse of the sorcerer Rothbart: during the daytime, she is transformed into a white swan, and at night she returns to her natural form as a beautiful young woman. Unable to kill Rothbart and risk making the curse irreversible, the prince decides to marry Odette, with whom he has...
The young prince Siegfried is set to become king, and must choose his future wife at the celebration of his 21st birthday. Unhappy that he cannot marry for love, he visits the nearby forest, where he sees a group of swans pass by, and then he pauses at the sight of a woman dressed in white swan feathers. He learns that she is none other than the Princess Odette, who suffers under the curse of the sorcerer Rothbart: during the daytime, she is transformed into a white swan, and at night she returns to her natural form as a beautiful young woman. Unable to kill Rothbart and risk making the curse irreversible, the prince decides to marry Odette, with whom he has...
Jean-Christophe Maillot's inspired adaptation of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew won three Golden Masks (best choreographic show best male dancer (Petruchio) and best female dancer (Katherine)) and has toured the world to great acclaim since it was created for the Boilshoi in 2014. Now Jean-Christophe Maillot and The Ballets de Monte-Carlo bring this "funny", fast-witted version" (The Guardian) to the screen, with a fresh and witty re-interpretation of the combative relationship between Katherine and Petruchio as they fight to find true love. Set to an inspired selection of some of Shostakovich's most memorable music, this is one of the finest "Shakespeare ballets" and not to be missed.
With its combination of enchanting love story and broad, burlesque comedy, Cendrillon is one of the great fairy tales - a Cinderella that looks back to Charles Perrault's original story in all its richness and ambiguity. Massenet's sensuous Belle Epoque fairy tale is gilded with lavish orchestral textures and glittering vocal writing, drawing on everything from Baroque dances to Wagner-inspired chromaticism, to bring its story to colourful life, conjuring a world of infinite musical and emotional variety.
The diversity of Wayne McGregor's astonishing talent is demonstrated through Chroma , Infra and Limen , each created for The Royal Ballet, for whom he is resident choreographer. Intimate yet universal, light yet dark, frenetic yet lyrical, McGregor pursues his passion for exploring the inner workings of the human body and mind, his many-layered and beautiful dances providing visual, sensual and kinaesthetic stimulus for the viewer.
Messiaen's breathtakingly intense opera on the life of St. Francis of Assisi stars Rod Gilfry as the charismatic visionary, beguiled by the glory of creation, yet fearful of both its imperfections and its transience. Pierre Audi's thoroughly engaging production for The Netherlands Opera brings out the naive imagery, the grandeur, and above all the vast tenderness of the resplendent score, revealed as a grandiose ritual with the meaning and purpose of life as its central theme. But the real drama of the work takes place in the orchestra. Elevated to stupendous heights by the sublimely inspired Ingo Metzmacher, The Hague Philharmonic and the Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera combine forces with a brilliant cast to produce the finest possible musical pilgrimage.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis.
- Interviews : The Children
- Interviews : The Message
- Interviews : "A Chamber Piece ?EUR? Really"
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis.
- Interviews : The Children
- Interviews : The Message
- Interviews : "A Chamber Piece ?EUR? Really"
Marius Petipa's exotic ballet, set in legendary India, is a story of love, death and vengeful judgment. Natalia Makarova's sumptuous recreation of Petipa's choreography, with atmospheric sets by Pier Luigi Samaritani and beautiful costumes by Yolanda Sonnabend, stars Tamara Rojo as the Bayadre (temple dancer) Nikiya, Carlos Acosta as Solor, and Marianela Nuez as Gamzatti, whose alluring presence challenges Solor's love for Nikiya.
Natalia Makarova's acclaimed production of this 19th-century classic ballet brings an exotic world of temple dancers and noble warriors to life. Featuring opulent sets by Pier Luigi Samaritani and beautiful costumes by Yolanda Sonnabend, it stars Marianela Nunez as the bayadere (temple dancer) Nikiya, Vadim Muntagirov as Solor, and Natalia Osipova as Gamzatti, whose alluring presence challenges Solor's Love for Nikiya.
This spectacular film of Don Quixote , choreographed after Marius Petipa and directed for the screen by Russian ballet superstar Rudolf Nureyev, is recognised as one of the finest ballet performances ever caught on camera and cinematic triumph in its own right.
Filmed in Melbourne with The Australian Ballet in 1972, the cast includes Nureyev as Basilio, Sir Robert Helpmann as the deluded knight and Lucette Aldous as Kitri. This timeless story of love, gallantry and misadventure - all unfolding with Minku's exhilarating Spanish-flavoured music - has stood the test of time as one of the world's most popular ballets.
Filmed in Melbourne with The Australian Ballet in 1972, the cast includes Nureyev as Basilio, Sir Robert Helpmann as the deluded knight and Lucette Aldous as Kitri. This timeless story of love, gallantry and misadventure - all unfolding with Minku's exhilarating Spanish-flavoured music - has stood the test of time as one of the world's most popular ballets.
Monteverdi's operatic scene for three voices Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda , with a libretto drawns from Torquato Tasso's Gerusalemme liberata , is a vivid romance set against the backdrop of the First Crusade, in which the noble knight Tancredi fights a duel with a supposed Saracen warrior only to discover, too late, that the vanquished opponent dying in his arms is non other than his beloved Clorinda in disguise. In this dramatic and intimate performance, staged with precision by Pierre Audi, musical director David Porcelijn gives great attention to the phrasing and dynamic demands of the score, leading the ASKO Ensemble and the singers to transparent brilliance.
Bonus feature:
- Introduction to Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clarinda by Roeland Hazendonk
Bonus feature:
- Introduction to Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clarinda by Roeland Hazendonk
Almost four decades before creating his Poppea , Monteverdi wrote in the preface to his fifth book of madrigals, "The modern composer must create his works solely on the basis of the truth" ?EUR" a credo to which the music of his final opera is utterly faithful.
Poppea is a potent work from opera's first true creator and pioneering genius. The fact that, at the close of this highly charged dramma in musica , he allows evil to triumph over good (albeit temporarily), has frequently led to his being decried as amoral.
Monteverdi's timeless masterpiece, which creates a modern, deep involvement in performers and audiences alike, is brilliantly captured in this live recording of Pierre Audi's moving and beautifully styled production from Het Muziektheater Amsterdam.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated synopsis
- Introduction to L'incoronazione di Poppea - featuring interviews with Pierre Audi, Christophe Rousset and members of the cast.
Poppea is a potent work from opera's first true creator and pioneering genius. The fact that, at the close of this highly charged dramma in musica , he allows evil to triumph over good (albeit temporarily), has frequently led to his being decried as amoral.
Monteverdi's timeless masterpiece, which creates a modern, deep involvement in performers and audiences alike, is brilliantly captured in this live recording of Pierre Audi's moving and beautifully styled production from Het Muziektheater Amsterdam.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated synopsis
- Introduction to L'incoronazione di Poppea - featuring interviews with Pierre Audi, Christophe Rousset and members of the cast.
Claudio Monteverdi developed the principles of opera with L'Orfeo in the first decade of the 17th-century. At the very end of his life he wrote L'incoronazione di Poppea . The opera marked a decisive move from allegorical and mythic elements towards a historical subject - the love affair between the Roman Emperor Nero and his mistress Poppea. His final masterpiece, where the beauty of the arias vanquished the decadence of the storyline, was first performed in the year of his death.
For decades John Eliot Gardiner has been at the forefront of Monteverdi performance and scholarship, and for the 450th anniversary of Monteverdi's birth in 2017 he conducted all three of the composer's surviving full-length operas. This semi-staged production, recorded in Venice's historical Teatro La Fenice is part of that acclaimed cycle.
For decades John Eliot Gardiner has been at the forefront of Monteverdi performance and scholarship, and for the 450th anniversary of Monteverdi's birth in 2017 he conducted all three of the composer's surviving full-length operas. This semi-staged production, recorded in Venice's historical Teatro La Fenice is part of that acclaimed cycle.
Intense and refined performances by an inspired cast, led by a profound and commanding John Mark Ainsley as the legendary tragic musician, are sustained with fluent ease and obvious affection by the ensemble under Stephen Stubbs. The beautifully styled, evocative stage production, rich with Pierre Audi's trademark symbolism, accentuates the solemn serenity of Monteverdi's most famous work to create a moving and timeless experience.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated synopsis
- Introduction to the opera featuring interviews with Pierre Audi, Stephen Stubbs and members of the cast
Bonus features:
- Illustrated synopsis
- Introduction to the opera featuring interviews with Pierre Audi, Stephen Stubbs and members of the cast
Monteverdi's seminal first opera tells the dramatic story from Ovid's Metamorphoses of the descent of Orfeo (Georg Nigl) into the underworld to recover his beloved wife Euridice (Roberta Invernizzi), who has died from a snake bite. In a new production for La Scala, based on a painting by Titian and directed by Robert Wilson, the opera receives a powerful and inspiring performance from a fine cast, the Orchestra of Teatro alla Scala and Concerto Italiano under the much-admired Italian early music specialist, Rinaldo Alessandrini.
Jordi Savall directs Le Concert des Nations, La Capella Reial de Catalunya and the leading soloists of early opera in a beautiful period production of Monteverdi's favola in musica staged at Barcelona's Gran Teatre del Liceu in 2002. Gilbert Deflo's stage direction reflects the sublime art and imagery found in Mantua's Palazzo Ducale, with its famous Hall of Mirrors, where the opera was first performed in 1607. Soloists include Furio Zanasi, Montserrat Figueras, Sara Mingardo, Antonio Abete, Daniele Carnovich, Fulvio Bettini, Gerd Turk, Francesc Garrigosa and Carlos Mena.
The history books tell us that L'Orfeo was one of the earliest surviving operas, and the most frequently performed of its era. Monteverdi and his librettist called it a 'fable in music', one which re-enacts the famous story of Orpheus who descends to the underworld in an attempt to bring his dead bride, Eurydice, back to life.
His journey through Hades proves fruitless, as, being unable to resist looking back at Eurydice as she follows him back to the living world he thus inadvertently condemns her to return to the world of the dead. Orpheus su?ers, loses himself in the violence of grief, grows and fnally comes to a new and deeper understanding of himself.
L'Orfeo is a magical introduction to Monteverdi's probing investigation of human nature, character and desire by means of music.
His journey through Hades proves fruitless, as, being unable to resist looking back at Eurydice as she follows him back to the living world he thus inadvertently condemns her to return to the world of the dead. Orpheus su?ers, loses himself in the violence of grief, grows and fnally comes to a new and deeper understanding of himself.
L'Orfeo is a magical introduction to Monteverdi's probing investigation of human nature, character and desire by means of music.
In his penultimate opera, based on text adapted from Homer's Odyssey , Monteverdi ventures further than ever before into the depths of human emotion. In this dramma in musica human frailty falls victim to time, fortune and love. Gods and humans, comic and intensely serious characters plus spectacular scenic effects are brought together in a wonderfully rich and effective texture. Pierre Audi's highly stylised and timeless production is captured here in a live recording from Het Muziektheater Amsterdam.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated synopsis
- Introduction to Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria - including interviews with Glen Wilson and Pierre Audi.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated synopsis
- Introduction to Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria - including interviews with Glen Wilson and Pierre Audi.
Claudio Monteverdi was a pioneer in the origins and development of opera, taking vocal music beyond Renaissance polyphony and entering a modern era in which genuine feelings and emotions are expressed through a wide variety of characters. Part of a late flowering in Monteverdi's illustrious career, Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria is considered the most tender and moving of his three surviving operas. It takes its narrative from the second half of Homer's Odyssey, presenting Ulysses as a flawed hero; a lone wanderer who has to overcome cruel tests, terrible hardships, treachery and deception before he can be reunited with his faithful queen Penelope and recover his kingdom. Recorded in Venice's historical Teatro La Fenice, this semi-staged production is part of John Eliot Gardiner's acclaimed celebration of Monteverdi's 450th anniversary, a true milestone in Western cultural history.
The Mother is a powerful, narrative dance production choreographed and directed by Arthur Pita - a master storyteller. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's dark tale, The Story of a Mother , this sumptuously designed production stars international dance superstar Natalia Osipova and multi-award winning dancer Jonathan Goddard.
This inventive new production conjures up a dangerous, kaleidoscopic world, combining narrative dance and drama. In setting out to save her sick child, a young mother journeys into the unknown to face life and death. Will she succumb to the forces of evil, or will the power of motherhood prevail?
This inventive new production conjures up a dangerous, kaleidoscopic world, combining narrative dance and drama. In setting out to save her sick child, a young mother journeys into the unknown to face life and death. Will she succumb to the forces of evil, or will the power of motherhood prevail?
Mozart's final opera returns to Glyndebourne after an absence of nearly 20 years in a stark, compelling and very well acted' production directed by Claus Guth. Richard Croft sings the title role 'with exemplary stylistic poise and tonal sweetness', and Anna Stephany is a Sesto 'touchingly full of angst and remorse... with terrific elan and immaculate technical control' in the arias (The Telegraph) - her "Parto, Parto" 'simply breathtaking' (The Guardian). Guth's vision sets the 1st-century Roman story in a two-storey office suite bureaucracy 'exquisitely lit by Olaf Winter', aptly framing the scheming of Vitellia, sung by Alice Coote 'in terrific form'. The OAE under Robin Ticciati 'brings out the sheer beauty' of Mozart's score (Express).
Don Giovanni is one of the timeless classics of all opera. Mozart's music, and the words of his great collaborator Da Ponte, are brought to life in Francesca Zambello's engrossing production from 2002 with its rich and colourful designs by Maria Bjornson. The music is memorable, dramatic and enjoyable: from the seductive solo voices of the famous 'La ci darem la mano' to the fabulous ensemble as Don Giovanni's infatuated conquests, vengeful victims and their outraged relatives join forces for justice. And retribution does finally come to Don Giovanni, a serial womanizer and a murderer, with the searing flames of Hell ready to engulf him. Simon Keenlyside heads the outstanding cast, conducted by renowned Mozart expert Charles Mackerras.
Bonus Features
- Synopsis
- Cast gallery
- Into the Royal Opera House
- A Backstage Tour
- Antonio Pappano in conversation with Charles Mackerras and Francesca Zambello
Bonus Features
- Synopsis
- Cast gallery
- Into the Royal Opera House
- A Backstage Tour
- Antonio Pappano in conversation with Charles Mackerras and Francesca Zambello
Johan Simons' feisty production of Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail is an intelligently innovative account of Mozart's 1782 comic tale of abduction, love, loyalty and forgiveness. Kurt Rydl's Osmin is hilarious, with just the right edge of latent thuggery; Mojca Erdmann's smart and cheeky Blonde sports a red riding coat, high latex boots and a belt that she is not afraid to use on the men! Laura Aikin's Konstanze, torn between true love and obligation, reveals a vast range of human emotions and Edgaras Montvidas' Belmonte portrays his coming-of-age with clarity and genuine charisma. The performance is whipped up to a feverish pitch in the pit by Constantinos Carydis, the orchestra and chorus responding with fleet virtuosity. This ground-breaking performance delivers everything one could wish for from a Mozart opera, combining thrilling energy with a profound sense of lyrical beauty and truth.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated synopsis and cast gallery.
- Interviews with the cast.
- Behind the scenes documentary.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated synopsis and cast gallery.
- Interviews with the cast.
- Behind the scenes documentary.
Director David McVigar's original-period vision for this Mozartian gem allows its genius to speak for itself, offering a 'mesmerizing, sensitive... outstanding' portrayal of Enlightenment-era fascination with the East that is both 'exquisitely acted and sung', featuring a Konstanze and a Belmonte sung with 'finesse and bravura' and a 'sensationally voiced' Osmin (The Guardian).
Comic relief in Glyndebourne's 'brilliant production' is provided by 'beautifully sung live-wire performances' of Pedrillo and Blonde, and Robin Ticciati leads the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment through a restored, authentic rendition of the critical score with 'lovely fizz' and 'poignant gravitas' (The Independent).
Comic relief in Glyndebourne's 'brilliant production' is provided by 'beautifully sung live-wire performances' of Pedrillo and Blonde, and Robin Ticciati leads the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment through a restored, authentic rendition of the critical score with 'lovely fizz' and 'poignant gravitas' (The Independent).
Mozart's fourth opera ?EUR" written when he was only 14 ?EUR" displays all the hallmarks of the fresh, inventive writing that was to flourish into extraordinary genius in his later works and, with a cast as good as this, The Royal Opera's production takes Mitridate, re di Ponto to the highest levels of operatic achievement. Based on a play by Jean Racine, it is a story of jealous love and political intrigue.
Lorenzo da Ponte's libretto and Mozart's music were to transform the stock characters of the opera buffa tradition into real human beings, making Le Nozze di Figaro one of the most sophisticated operas of all time. A charming, expressive and witty Figaro, Lorenzo Regazzo leads a sparkling cast to illustrate superbly the timeless humanity of this masterpiece. Christoph Marthaler's take on Mozart's classic is both daringly original and highly contemporary, the setting transposed to a wedding-dress shop lit with neon lights and a shabby register office.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis
- A Day of Real Madness ?EUR" A documentary film by Reiner E. Moritz, including interviews with the cast and creative crew
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis
- A Day of Real Madness ?EUR" A documentary film by Reiner E. Moritz, including interviews with the cast and creative crew
In David McVicar's spellbinding production of Le nozze di Figaro the break-down of the relationship between Finley's suave, dashingly self-absorbed Count and Roschmann's passionately dignified Countess lies at the heart of the opera. The struggle to rekindle their love contrasts tragic-comically with the sexy ease between a feisty Figaro (Erwin Schrott) and a sassy Susanna (Miah Persson) and the tenacious spark that remains between Marcellina (Graciela Araya) and Bartolo (Jonathan Veira). Antonio Pappano conducts (and accompanies the recitatives) with invigorating wit and emotional depth, allowing the ensemble to capture the moments of dramatic tension to perfection and engaging fully with the rhythm of an already classic production, captured in High Definition video and surround sound.
Bonus features:
- The Magic of Mozart - Interviews with Antonio Pappano, David McVicar and principal cast.
- Illustrated Synopsis
Bonus features:
- The Magic of Mozart - Interviews with Antonio Pappano, David McVicar and principal cast.
- Illustrated Synopsis
Perhaps no opera is as closely and affectionately associated with a single house as Le nozze di Figaro is with Glyndebourne. Effortlessly witty yet shot through with pain and sadness, this deeply ambivalent day in the life of masters and servants as they scheme and outwit one another was Glyndebourne's opening production in 1934.
Michael Grandage's staging is the seventh, set in a louche Sixties ambience. Marshalled by the 'ideal pacing' of Robin Ticciati, a youthful cast of principals has 'no weak link' and 'looks gorgeous' in a production that continues Glyndebourne's rewarding history of engagement with Mozart's and Da Ponte's 'day of madness.' (The Sunday Times)
Michael Grandage's staging is the seventh, set in a louche Sixties ambience. Marshalled by the 'ideal pacing' of Robin Ticciati, a youthful cast of principals has 'no weak link' and 'looks gorgeous' in a production that continues Glyndebourne's rewarding history of engagement with Mozart's and Da Ponte's 'day of madness.' (The Sunday Times)
One of Mozart's most enchanting works, Die Zauberflote is a fairy tale that uses familiar archetypes to ask provocative and difficult questions about religion, the nature of power, the bonds of family, and of course love.
Premiered just months before Mozart's death, Die Zauberflote in many ways represents a new departure for the composer. Catching the spirit of revolution in the air, Mozart turned his attention for the first time from court opera to popular opera, writing this singspiel ('sung play') for a new and much broader audience.
Celebrated Canadian directing duo Barbe and Doucet make both their British and Glyndebourne debuts here with their new Die Zauberflote, a veritable "theatrical feast of eccentricity." (The Guardian). Ryan Wigglesworth conducts an outstanding cast including Russian soprano Sofia Fomina as Pamina, David Portillo as her beloved Tamino, Brindley Sherratt as Sarastro, and the ebullient Bjorn Burger as Papageno.
Premiered just months before Mozart's death, Die Zauberflote in many ways represents a new departure for the composer. Catching the spirit of revolution in the air, Mozart turned his attention for the first time from court opera to popular opera, writing this singspiel ('sung play') for a new and much broader audience.
Celebrated Canadian directing duo Barbe and Doucet make both their British and Glyndebourne debuts here with their new Die Zauberflote, a veritable "theatrical feast of eccentricity." (The Guardian). Ryan Wigglesworth conducts an outstanding cast including Russian soprano Sofia Fomina as Pamina, David Portillo as her beloved Tamino, Brindley Sherratt as Sarastro, and the ebullient Bjorn Burger as Papageno.
Wit and astute theatrical awareness are the hallmarks of this exceptional vision of Mozart's and Da Ponte's famous masterpieces, directed by the duo Jossi Wieler and Sergio Morabito. Set in a 1960s youth hostel, Cosi fan tutte is a charmingly original tableau of adolescent inexperience, while Le nozze di Figaro , set in a car showroom, exemplifies the delicate balance between love's shadowy manipulation and its cheerful innocence. Don Giovanni , by contrast, is a breathtaking, sinister game of voyeuristic intimacy and brutal violence. Ingo Metzmacher and a sparkling ensemble and cast underscore this unique vision of a kaleidoscope of human emotions with commitment and vitality.
Bonus features :
- Illustrated synopses - Cosi fan tutte , Le nozze di Figaro , Don Giovanni
- Introductions: The Trilogy , Cosi fan tutte , Le nozze di Figaro , Don Giovanni
Bonus features :
- Illustrated synopses - Cosi fan tutte , Le nozze di Figaro , Don Giovanni
- Introductions: The Trilogy , Cosi fan tutte , Le nozze di Figaro , Don Giovanni
Mozart's genius in setting to music Da Ponte's comic play of love, infidelity and forgiveness marks Cosi fan tutte as one of the great works of art from the Age of Enlightenment. Nicholas Hytner's beautiful new production, with its sure touch and theatrical know-how, lives up to its promise to be "shockingly traditional", while Ivan Fischer teases artful performances from an outstanding international cast of convincing young lovers.
Bonus features :
- Illustrated Synopsis
- Interview with Ivan Fischer
- Interview with Nicholas Hytner
- Cast Feature
- Animated Gallery
Bonus features :
- Illustrated Synopsis
- Interview with Ivan Fischer
- Interview with Nicholas Hytner
- Cast Feature
- Animated Gallery
Boris Godunov is the story not only of a troubled leader but of an entire nation, and its history is as eventful as that of Mother Russia herself. In this new production, the legendary director Andrei Konchalovsky presents a personal vision of the opera that takes Mussorgsky's bare and monumental first version as its basis, while adding the final scene from the composer's revision, in which not only the Tsar but the people themselves reveal their fatal flaws.
Orlin Anastassov stars in the title role, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda.
Orlin Anastassov stars in the title role, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda.
Acclaimed director Laurent Pelly is one of the most renowned and prolific interpreters of Offenbach's brilliantly inventive operettas, including several productions for the Opera de Lyon. The composer's satirical and hilarious opera bouffe version of the Charles Perrault's 17th-century tale of the serial wife-murdering Bluebeard (in which no-one actually gets murdered), deftly walks the line between humour and cruelty, with a stellar performance from Yann Beuron in the title role.
Giancarlo Del Monaco's passionate and intelligent production of Jacques Offenbach's magnum opus creates a climactic kaleidoscope of deep and convincing emotions. A highly credible incarnation of the pitiable Kleinzach he sings about, Aquiles Machado is the poet who loses his romantic idealism, his reflection and finally his soul to a 'trio of charming enchantresses'. Conductor Alain Guingal inspires the superbly dramatic cast, including Maria Bayo, Milagros Poblador, Valentina Kutzarova and Katharine Goeldner, in an outstanding recording.
Bonus features:
- Interviews with Maria Bayo, Aquiles Machado and Juan Carlos Matellanes
- Illustrated Synopsis
Bonus features:
- Interviews with Maria Bayo, Aquiles Machado and Juan Carlos Matellanes
- Illustrated Synopsis
The 1993 Winter Gala Concert from the stage of the Royal Opera House sees a stellar array of the world?EUR(TM)s greatest artists celebrate the music of Tchaikovsky ?EUR" composer of many of the all-time opera, concert and ballet favourites, including The Queen of Spades , the 1812 Overture and The Nutcracker .
Force of Nature Natalia follows a season in the life of dance superstar Natalia Osipova . With unique access to Natalia's personal archive, we follow her preparations for a fifth season as a principal of The Royal Ballet as she continues to champion contemporary dance with some of the world's greatest choreographers. This compelling portrait chronicles the rehearsal process of two new works, The Mother by Arthur Pita, and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui's Medussa, and follows legendary ballerina and choreographer Natalia Makarova as she directs a revival of her classic production of La Bayadere for The Royal Ballet.
Natalia opens up about her life and history, her childhood in Russia, her time with American Ballet Theatre and her journey to the Royal Opera House. It is an unparalleled opportunity to get up close and personal with the leading ballerina of our generation and understand why critics and audiences all over the world call her a ''force of nature' of the dance world.
Natalia opens up about her life and history, her childhood in Russia, her time with American Ballet Theatre and her journey to the Royal Opera House. It is an unparalleled opportunity to get up close and personal with the leading ballerina of our generation and understand why critics and audiences all over the world call her a ''force of nature' of the dance world.
Written by John Gay in 1728, The Beggar's Opera is widely considered to be the first musical comedy, and one that pre-empted by about 300 years the current vogue for jukebox productions, which create a plot to fit around hit songs. Gay took some of the best-known tunes of his day, both classical and popular, and worked them into a savagely satirical tale set amongst London's thieves, pimps and prostitutes.
For the festivities marking the Pergolesi's tercentenary in his native Jesi, Ignacio Garca created a new staging of the imperial drama Adriano in Siria . His staging in Jesi's exquisite 18th-century Teatro Comunale Pergolesi includes the delightful comic intermezzo Livietta e Tracollo , thus following the precedent set at the premiere in 1734. A fine Italian cast and the distinguished Accademia Bizantina are led by the Accademia's director, Ottavio Dantone.
Prokofiev's enchantingly surreal commedia dell'arte masterwork is turned into a spectacular triumph of total theatre in this vital production from the Amsterdam Muziektheater. De Nederlandse Opera has chosen to use the more flexible French libretto of the 1921 premiere, a pertinent choice which has the advantage of accentuating the aesthetic common ground shared by Prokofiev and Les Six .
Stephane Deneve's brilliant musical direction inspires outstanding performances from the soloists and the superb Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, enhanced by the smart, blockbusting staging of Laurent Pelly and the exquisite sets of Chantal Thomas, which propel this feverish fable to great heights.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis
- Introduction to L'amour des 3 Oranges - including interviews with main members of the cast and the artistic team
Stephane Deneve's brilliant musical direction inspires outstanding performances from the soloists and the superb Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, enhanced by the smart, blockbusting staging of Laurent Pelly and the exquisite sets of Chantal Thomas, which propel this feverish fable to great heights.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis
- Introduction to L'amour des 3 Oranges - including interviews with main members of the cast and the artistic team
Peter and the Wolf , Prokofiev's musical fairy tale, has been delighting children since 1936. Nearly 60 years later, in 1995, the young choreographer Matthew Hart created a witty choreographed version for the Royal Ballet School with designs by Ian Spurling. Described as 'an utterly delightful ballet and a perfect showcase for the younger students,' by the Royal Ballet's Director, Monica Mason, it was staged again in 2010.
John Copley's enduring production of one of the most famously melodious and popular of all operas is a classic of the Royal Opera repertory. With historically accurate designs by Julia Trevelyan Oman and an excellent cast headed by Hibla Gerzmava and Teodor Ilincai, this 2009 revival, in which conductor Andris Nelsons makes a distinguished Royal Opera House debut, does full justice to Puccini's masterpiece.
Bonus Features :
- Cast Gallery
- Interview with John Copley
- Interview with Andris Nelsons
Bonus Features :
- Cast Gallery
- Interview with John Copley
- Interview with Andris Nelsons
Nikolaus Lehnhoff's Hollywood-style production updates this Wild West story to the capitalist culture of Wall Street, perfectly reflecting Puccini's innovatory spirit. In a new angle on the age-old love triangle theme, corrupt Sheriff Jack Rance (Lucio Gallo) and charismatic criminal Dick Johnson (Zoran Todorovich) vie for the love of glamorous blonde and devout Christian Minnie (Eva-Maria Westbroek), finding her way in a man's world. Carlo Rizzi's idiomatic conducting draws excellent singing from the large cast and fine playing from the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra.
Bonus features :
- Backstage insights - principal members of the cast and Basia Jaworski.
Bonus features :
- Backstage insights - principal members of the cast and Basia Jaworski.
Robert Wilson's pure and highly stylised 2003 production enhances the timeless beauty of Puccini's moving Japanese tragedy. Cheryl Barker and Martin Thompson lead an inspired cast in a highly charged recording from the Amsterdam Muziektheater with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by a masterful and passionate Edo de Waart.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis
- Introduction to the Madama Butterfly - interviews with Robert Wilson, Edo De Waart and the cast
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis
- Introduction to the Madama Butterfly - interviews with Robert Wilson, Edo De Waart and the cast
Daniela Dessi takes the title role in Nuria Espert's new production of Puccini's fiery Roman melodrama of lust, betrayal and revenge.
A new production by the internationally acclaimed director Nuria Espert for the Teatro Real, Madrid, in a beautifully intense and dramatic classical style. The lighting by Vinicio Cheli increases the atmosphere of a performance which is destined as a benchmark for twenty-first century productions. Based on the theatre play La Tosca , by Victorien Sardou and first performed at the Teatro Costanzi de Roma on 14th January 1900. Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa.
Bonus feature:
- Interviews with Daniela Dessi and Fabio Armiliato, Ruggero Raimondi, Maurizio Benini, and Nuria Espert
A new production by the internationally acclaimed director Nuria Espert for the Teatro Real, Madrid, in a beautifully intense and dramatic classical style. The lighting by Vinicio Cheli increases the atmosphere of a performance which is destined as a benchmark for twenty-first century productions. Based on the theatre play La Tosca , by Victorien Sardou and first performed at the Teatro Costanzi de Roma on 14th January 1900. Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa.
Bonus feature:
- Interviews with Daniela Dessi and Fabio Armiliato, Ruggero Raimondi, Maurizio Benini, and Nuria Espert
The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera join forces for Wayne McGregor's acclaimed fusion of music and movement, whose richly layered designs perfectly complement Purcell's telling of a classical tale of love thwarted by evil powers. With Sarah Connolly and Lucas Meachem in the title roles, Christopher Hogwood conducts the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
Castor et Pollux is arguably Rameau's finest creation in the tragdie lyrique style. Its libretto, based in mythology, focuses on an unusual theme: the self-sacrificing love between Castor, who is mortal, and his immortal brother, Pollux. When Castor is killed while defending his beloved Telaire from an attempted abduction, Pollux resolves to give up his immortality and take Castor's place in the Underworld. After passionate debate over who will live and who will die, the brothers are eternally united, transformed into the constellation Gemini. The strikingly luminous sets, depicting a stylized version of the constellation, give this fabulous production, staged by Pierre Audi and conducted by Christophe Rousset, a glorious 21st-century baroque look.
Bonus features :
- Illustrated Synopsis
- To serve this big spectacle - a look behind the scenes of Castor et Pollux with comments by Pierre Audi and members of the cast and crew.
Bonus features :
- Illustrated Synopsis
- To serve this big spectacle - a look behind the scenes of Castor et Pollux with comments by Pierre Audi and members of the cast and crew.
In Glyndebourne's first-ever staging of an opera by Rameau , director Jonathan Kent presents a production which, in his own words, 'strives to appeal to every sense and show audiences how engrossing and musically ravishing French Baroque opera can be.' Rameau's inventive take on Racine's great tragedy Phedre brought to life Paul Brown's colourful and elegant designs and Ashley Page's playful choreography. Ed Lyon and Christine Kang give captivating performances as the titular young lovers, while Sara Connolly, making a welcome return to Glyndebourne, 'invests Phaedra with both grandeur and a desperately human vulnerability' (The Independent). Leading exponent of early music William Christie 'sets an exhilarating pace, galvanising the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment to playing of tremendous panache' (The Daily Telegraph).
Inspired by a fable by La Fontaine, Rameau produced perhaps his most brilliant music for his penultimate great work, blending reality and the surreal on several levels. This passionate new production by Jose Montalvo, stunningly choreographed by Montalvo and Dominique Hervieu, sets new standards in entertainment, charm and ingenuity. The sharp and spectacular multimedia staging does full justice to Rameau's dazzling burlesque, confirming Olivier Rouviere's statement that ' Les Paladins is the last laugh of a witty 77-year old composer'. Recorded live in 2004 at the Paris Theatre du Chatelet, both the virtuoso cast and Les Arts Florissants are in top form, clearly enjoying themselves in the masterful hands of William Christie.
Bonus feature:
- Baroque that rocks! ?EUR" A documentary film by Reiner E. Moritz featuring interviews with William Christie, Dominique Hervieu, Topi Lehtipuu, Stephanie d'Oustrac and other members of the cast
Bonus feature:
- Baroque that rocks! ?EUR" A documentary film by Reiner E. Moritz featuring interviews with William Christie, Dominique Hervieu, Topi Lehtipuu, Stephanie d'Oustrac and other members of the cast
Making full use of Drottningholm Theatre's unique 17th century Baroque theatre machinery, as well as his deep creative understanding of the profound drama of the work, stage director Pierre Audi creates a production of Zoroastre that completely accords with the spirit of Rameau. True to the form of the tragedie lyrique, choreographer Amir Hosseinpour's dances perfectly match the weight and meaning of both plot and music. The ensemble, Les Talens Lyriques, reinforced with musicians from the Drottningholm Court Theatre Orchestra and Chorus, is expertly and passionately led into the musical stratosphere by musical director Christophe Rousset. This intensely dramatic production is captured live in vibrant High Definition video and true surround sound.
Bonus features:
- Zoroastre: Discovering an opera - a documentary by Olivier Simonnet
- Illustrated Synopsis
Bonus features:
- Zoroastre: Discovering an opera - a documentary by Olivier Simonnet
- Illustrated Synopsis
Thea Sharrock's irresistible new production of Shakespeare's popular romantic comedy stirs wit, sentiment, intrigue and love into a charming confection which challenges the traditional rules of romance. At its heart, a feisty but feminine Rosalind (Naomi Frederick), in love with the endearingly naive Orlando (Jack Laskey), uses her disguise as Ganymede to counsel him playfully in the art of wooing. Distraction is provided by Dominic Rowman, a remarkably funny Touchstone, and Tim McMullan, whose sonorous tomes are perfectly suited to the lugubrious wit of Jacques.
When the King of Navarre and his three courtiers forswear all pleasure ?EUR" particularly of the female variety ?EUR" in favour of a life of study, the arrival of the Princess of France and her ladies plays havoc with their intentions. Using every kind of verbal gymnastics to poke fun, Shakespeare's most intellectual comedy is brought to hilarious life in Dominic Dromgoole's highly entertaining production, rich in visual humour and sexual innuendo. Jonathan Fensom's knot garden and original music by Claire van Kampen create the framework for an engaging performance by an excellent cast.
"Something wicked this way comes..."
Returning home from battle, the victorious Macbeth meets three witches on the heath. Driven by their disturbing prophecies, he sets out on the path to murder.
This contemporary productions of Shakespeare's darkest psychological thriller marks both Christopher Eccleston's RSC debut and the return Niamh Cusack to the company.
Returning home from battle, the victorious Macbeth meets three witches on the heath. Driven by their disturbing prophecies, he sets out on the path to murder.
This contemporary productions of Shakespeare's darkest psychological thriller marks both Christopher Eccleston's RSC debut and the return Niamh Cusack to the company.
Conscience is but a word that cowards use.
Young Richard of Gloucester uses the chaos of the Wars of the Roses to begin his unscrupulous climb to power. Despite being manifestly unfit to govern, he seizes the crown as King Richard III. But how does he do it?
How do we let tyrants get away with it? How do they find their way to power? Why do we buy into it? And how can it be stopped? Richard III is a savagely comic analysis of the exercise of power. It reminds us both of the dangers of tyranny and of our duty not to let it go unchecked.
Directed by Gregory Doran and featuring Arthur Hughes as Richard, this is the thrilling climax to Shakespeare's first great history cycle.
Young Richard of Gloucester uses the chaos of the Wars of the Roses to begin his unscrupulous climb to power. Despite being manifestly unfit to govern, he seizes the crown as King Richard III. But how does he do it?
How do we let tyrants get away with it? How do they find their way to power? Why do we buy into it? And how can it be stopped? Richard III is a savagely comic analysis of the exercise of power. It reminds us both of the dangers of tyranny and of our duty not to let it go unchecked.
Directed by Gregory Doran and featuring Arthur Hughes as Richard, this is the thrilling climax to Shakespeare's first great history cycle.
"My only love sprung from my only hate!"
What if your first true love was someone you'd been told to hate? Ripped apart by the bitter division of their parents, two young people will risk everything to be together.
The most famous story of love at first sight explodes with intense passion and an irresistible desire for change. Will this spark a revolution, or will division continue to tear through the generations?
What if your first true love was someone you'd been told to hate? Ripped apart by the bitter division of their parents, two young people will risk everything to be together.
The most famous story of love at first sight explodes with intense passion and an irresistible desire for change. Will this spark a revolution, or will division continue to tear through the generations?
Dominic Dromgoole's production brings refreshing clarity to one of Shakespeare's most famous and best-loved tragedies, drawing out the contemporary relevance of this passionate teenage love story. Ellie Kendrick, a truly youthful Juliet, and Adetomiwa Edun, a boyish Romeo, head an excellent cast whose period costumes point to the timelessness of parental disapproval, adolescent temperament, rivalry and violence. Filmed before a live audience at Shakespeare's Globe in the heart of London, its intimate and atmospheric setting adds immediacy and vitality to the humour and passion of Shakespeare's verse.
In a reimagined 1590, society is a matriarchy. Baptista Minola is seeking to marry off her two sons, the sweet-tempered Bianco and the rebellious Katherine. Cue an explosive courtship and a keenly witty portrayal of hierarchy and control. Shakespeare's fierce, energetic comedy of gender and materialism is turned on its head to offer a fresh perspective on Elizabethan social status and power, directed by Justin Audibert.
Twins are separated in a shipwreck and forced to fend for themselves in a strange land. The first twin, Viola, falls in love with Orsino, who dotes on Olivia, who falls for Viola but is idolised by Malvolio. Enter Sebastian, who is the spitting image of his twin sister... Twelfth Night is a tale of unrequited love - hilarious and heartbreaking.
Glyndebourne's wartime history as a home for evacuee children is the ingenious context for a new production of this unclassifiable entertainment in which low comedy and high tragedy compete for our attention, 'borne aloft by Strauss's divine music nd Hofmannsthal's visionary poetry'. At the centre of this production from Katharina Thoma is the noble, tragic figure of the abandoned Ariadne herself, in a haunting performance from Soile Isokoski, 'with brilliant support from the pit' (The Independent).
Peter Hall's magnificent 1992 production of Strauss's opera Salome features sensational acting from Maria Ewing who, as the sinister, monstrous heroine of the title, ultimately leaves nothing to the imagination in her Dance of the Seven Veils . She leads a fine cast including Michael Devlin as a strong-voiced Jokanaan, Kenneth Riegel as a devilish Herod, Gillian Knight as the depraved Herodias and Robin Leggate as the infatuated Narraboth. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, in excellent form, is conducted by Edward Downes.
David McVicar's powerful 2008 production of Oscar Wilde's bible-based drama takes the controversially disturbing film Salo as its visual reference, setting it in a debauched palace in Nazi Germany. Strauss's ravishing and voluptuous score adds to the sexual alchemy conjured by an international cast led by Nadja Michael in the title role.
WARNING: Contains nudity and scenes of violence.
Bonus features:
- Documentary – David McVicar: A work in process .
- Illustrated Synopsis
WARNING: Contains nudity and scenes of violence.
Bonus features:
- Documentary – David McVicar: A work in process .
- Illustrated Synopsis
Lewis Carroll's ever-popular story provides the basis for Christopher Wheeldon's spectacular new work, starring Royal Ballet Principal Lauren Cuthbertson. Captivating designs by Bob Crowley, an engaging and passionate score by Joby Talbot, and Wheeldon's breathtaking choreography combine to produce, in the words of The Times, "spectacular family entertainment brought to life with enormous theatrical verve."
Royal Ballet Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon magically captured the twists and turns of Lewis Carroll's classic story, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland , in his 2011 ballet. Bob Crowley's vivid sets and costumes take us down the rabbit hole into a colourful world full of curious creatures and captivating characters. Joby Talbot's original score is full of sweeping melodies and contemporary sounds. Lauren Cuthbertson stars as the inquisitive Alice, with Federico Bonelli as the charming Knave of Hearts, Steven McRae as the tap-dancing Mad Hatter and Laura Morera as the formidable Queen of Hearts. This exuberant and engaging ballet is spectacular entertainment for the whole family.
Joby Talbot's complex, theme-driven score - coruscatingly orchestrated with the help of Christopher Austin - is full of magical surprises. Expertly aided and abetted by lighting guru Natasha Katz, designer Bob Crowley has had an absolute field day too, exploiting every means at his disposal - from puppetry to projection - to send us down the rabbit-hole with the heroine. Wheeldon, meanwhile, absolutely matches his collaborators contributions. This is a ballet that eloquently and respectfully reflects his Royal Ballet heritage (from its three-act structure, reliance on mime, and alternation...
Joby Talbot's complex, theme-driven score - coruscatingly orchestrated with the help of Christopher Austin - is full of magical surprises. Expertly aided and abetted by lighting guru Natasha Katz, designer Bob Crowley has had an absolute field day too, exploiting every means at his disposal - from puppetry to projection - to send us down the rabbit-hole with the heroine. Wheeldon, meanwhile, absolutely matches his collaborators contributions. This is a ballet that eloquently and respectfully reflects his Royal Ballet heritage (from its three-act structure, reliance on mime, and alternation...
From the prestigious Royal Ballet at world-famous Covent Garden comes this Shakespearean adaptation by choreographer Christopher Wheeldon , already considered a modern-day classic! Building on the success of his ballet version of Alice in Wonderland , Wheeldon brought the Bard to the ballet stage in 2014 to rapturous acclaim from critics and audiences alike, who praised its intelligent and emotionally potent story, told through exquisite dance.
The story follows the destruction of a marriage through consuming jealousy, the abandonment of a child and a seemingly hopeless love. Yet, through remorse and regret - and after a seemingly miraculous return to life - the ending is one of forgiveness and reconciliation. With powerful designs by Bob Crowley, atmospheric music by Joby Talbot , and brilliant work from the soloists and the corps de ballet, Wheeldon's The Winter's Tale is a masterful modern narrative ballet, "lighting up the stage like a shaft of sunlight" (The Independent, in a five-star review); "Christopher Wheeldon's 2014 ballet is one of his finest, with complex storytelling and ecstatic dances."
The story follows the destruction of a marriage through consuming jealousy, the abandonment of a child and a seemingly hopeless love. Yet, through remorse and regret - and after a seemingly miraculous return to life - the ending is one of forgiveness and reconciliation. With powerful designs by Bob Crowley, atmospheric music by Joby Talbot , and brilliant work from the soloists and the corps de ballet, Wheeldon's The Winter's Tale is a masterful modern narrative ballet, "lighting up the stage like a shaft of sunlight" (The Independent, in a five-star review); "Christopher Wheeldon's 2014 ballet is one of his finest, with complex storytelling and ecstatic dances."
In Marco Polo , an opera within an opera, composer Tan Dun portrays the Venetian explorer's travels to the Far East as a journey of both inner and physical discovery, a voyage depicting spiritual experiences as well as a geographical expedition. At the same time the work, on a libretto by Paul Griffiths, can be seen as a compositional adventure of the composer himself, unifying the various cultural worlds he occupies: a blend of Western avant garde and Oriental traditions. Pierre Audi's mythical staging and Jean Kalman's fabulous set design complement the composer's own musical direction, forging the dazzlingly versatile soloists, the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra and Capella Amsterdam to a stunning symbiosis of elements across time and space, a true testimony to cultures intertwined in globalisation.
Bonus features :
- Synopsis - Cast gallery
- The Music of Tomorrow - A documentary by Reiner E. Moritz, including interviews with the creative team and principal members of the cast.
Bonus features :
- Synopsis - Cast gallery
- The Music of Tomorrow - A documentary by Reiner E. Moritz, including interviews with the creative team and principal members of the cast.
Paper, normally a utilitarian material, becomes a solo instrument in Tan Dun's ingenious and inventive Paper Concerto , fusing orchestral music and organic sounds to create accessible, even melodious, music that is almost beyond imagination. Intriguing sounds are created by all manner of different papers, so that they appear elemental rather than simplistic, tapping into something basic in the fabric of our lives. In a remarkable and unforgettable concert experience, Tan Dun directs the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and soloist Haruka Fujii in a vivid demonstration of his belief that orchestral music, far from being static and traditional, still has the capacity for experimentation and the power to stimulate in extraordinary ways.
Bonus features :
- Paper: The Song of Nature
- Tan Dun demonstrates Paper Music
- Tan Dun teaches Paper Instruments
Bonus features :
- Paper: The Song of Nature
- Tan Dun demonstrates Paper Music
- Tan Dun teaches Paper Instruments
Tan Dun's hypnotic three-movement Water Concerto is intoxicating, both visually and aurally. Using water as a musical instrument, this extraordinary piece uses innovative techniques to explore the musicality of the sounds of water. Virtuoso percussionist and soloist David Cossin displays remarkable genius as he deftly creates unique, sensuous, organic and sometimes celestial sounds using a range of water-based instruments. Conducted by the composer, the distinctive accompaniment of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, reflecting Dun's personal combination of Chinese and Western musical traditions, is carefully interwoven and combined with the water percussion to produce a uniquely enchanting performance.
Tan Dun has made an indelible mark on the world's music scene with a creative repertoire that spans the boundaries of classical, multimedia, Eastern and Western musical systems. His score for Ang Lee's film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon received Academy and Grammy Awards in 2000 and an Oscar Award for best original score in 2001. In 2008 he was selected by the International Olympic Committee to write the logo and award ceremony music for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and composed Internet Symphony No. 1, "Eroica," commissioned by Google/YouTube as the focal point...
Tan Dun has made an indelible mark on the world's music scene with a creative repertoire that spans the boundaries of classical, multimedia, Eastern and Western musical systems. His score for Ang Lee's film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon received Academy and Grammy Awards in 2000 and an Oscar Award for best original score in 2001. In 2008 he was selected by the International Olympic Committee to write the logo and award ceremony music for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and composed Internet Symphony No. 1, "Eroica," commissioned by Google/YouTube as the focal point...
The Choir sings John Tavener's hauntingly beautiful unaccompanied choral music in a stunning virtual reality restoration of the ancient St. Sophia church in Constantinople. Orthodox ikons enrich the visual tapestry, enhancing the full richness of Tavener's mystic inspiration.
Bonus features:
- Manifestations of God - Sir John Tavener on his choral music and the parents of Athene talk about the inspiration behind Song for Athene
- The ikon chooses you - Robert J. Roozemond on a ikonographic art
Bonus features:
- Manifestations of God - Sir John Tavener on his choral music and the parents of Athene talk about the inspiration behind Song for Athene
- The ikon chooses you - Robert J. Roozemond on a ikonographic art
World premiere performance of Sir John Tavener's epic work written for the new millennium, recorded in St Paul's Cathedral, London, in January 2000. Richard Hickox conducts the City of London Sinfonia with Patricia Rozario, Michael Chance and Stephen Richardson, in a work which came to Tavener in a vision. The composer makes full use of the remarkable acoustics of St Paul's.
Bonus features:
- Introduction and interview with Sir John Tavener by Stephanie Hughes.
- The Eye of the Heart - Sir John Tavener talks about his beliefs and music.
Bonus features:
- Introduction and interview with Sir John Tavener by Stephanie Hughes.
- The Eye of the Heart - Sir John Tavener talks about his beliefs and music.
Tchaikovsky's The Sleeping Beauty is one of the best loved of classical ballets, combining in a single work all the enchantment and virtuosity that ballet has to offer. The royal court, the panoramic journey of the Prince to the overgrown castle, and the great celebratory dances of the happy ending (in which other famous fairytale figures appear) are all brought to life by the luscious designs of this celebrated production, created in 1946 for the The Royal Ballet. The inspired performances of its revival for the 75th anniversary of the Company in 2006 make this a superb tribute to The Royal Ballet's unique style and visual splendour.
Based on Gogol's fantastical and comic story of the Devil's antics on Christmas Eve, this magical blend of opera and ballet is brought to vivid life in Francesca Zambello's colourful production. Magnificent set designs (Mikhail Mokrov) and costumes (Tatiana Noginova), and an excellent, largely Russian cast provide authenticity. Splendid dancing by The Royal Ballet and Cossack dancers completes the spectacle.
Described by Tchaikovsky as "lyric scenes", Eugene Onegin receives a spectacular reinterpretation from the Norwegian director Stefan Herheim. His productions create controversy and excitement around Europe, and here he takes Pushkin's story of illusion, disaffection and frustrated love, and places the protagonists ?EUR" world-weary Onegin and nave, passionate Tatyana ?EUR" in a triple temporal perspective, referencing the theatrical present, the period of the work's composition, and the pageant of Russia's history. Mariss Jansons, renowned for his mastery of Tchaikovsky's symphonies, conducts this performance from Amsterdam's Muziektheater.
This all-time ballet favourite, in which young Clara is swept into a fantasy adventure when one of her Christmas presents comes to life, is at its most enchanting in Peter Wright's glorious production ?EUR" as fresh as ever in its 25th year. Tchaikovsky's ravishing score, period designs by Julia Trevelyan Oman (including an ingenious magical Christmas tree), an exquisite Sugar Plum Fairy (Miyako Yoshida) and chivalrous Prince (Steven McRae), the mysterious Drosselmeyer (Gary Avis) and vibrant dancing by The Royal Ballet make for a captivating performance.
This visually stunning, all-new production of Nutcracker , choreographed by Helgi Tomasson (artistic director of the San Francisco Ballet) is a graceful and timeless adventure on a grand scale. The scenic design by Michael Yeargan, setting the tale at the time of the 1915 San Francisco World Fair, is sensational. From the lovely Waltz of the Flowers to the crystalline beauty of the stunning Snowflake Waltz, each scene is more breathtaking than the last, bringing to life all the well-known and beloved characters with fresh sparkle and compelling originality. This age-transcending production offers a dazzling magical journey which has received critical acclaim throughout the world.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis.
- Interviews with Helgi Tomasson, Michael Yeargan and Martin Pakledinaz.
- Documentary: 1915 World's Fair .
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis.
- Interviews with Helgi Tomasson, Michael Yeargan and Martin Pakledinaz.
- Documentary: 1915 World's Fair .
The Royal Ballet's The Nutcracker is the quintessential Christmas ballet. When her nutcracker toy comes to life, young Clara is transported by the magician Drosselmeyer to a magical world of excitement and delight. Lauren Cuthbertson and Federico Bonelli dance the exquisite Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince; Francesca Hayward and Alexander Campbell take the roles of Clara and the Nutcracker, and Gary Avis is the mysterious, kindly Drosselmeyer. This performance celebrated Peter Wright's 90th birthday and a production that has been in The Royal Ballet's repertory for more than thirty years. With sumptuous period designs, spellbinding stage effects and of course Tchaikovsky's iconic score, The Nutcracker continues to enchant audiences of all ages.
Peter Wright's timeless and enchanting interpretation of The Nutcracker has been in The Royal Ballet's repertory for over thirty years. Presented in a festive period setting, this charming and magical production features Marianela Nunez as the exquisite Sugar Plum Fairy and Vadim Muntagirov as her charming Prince.
Vivid designs and spellbinding stage effects which include authentic Christmas tree decorations that magically come to life, and Tchaikovsky's sumptuous, iconic score combine to create the quintessential Christmas ballet - an opulent treat for the senses for audiences of all ages.
Vivid designs and spellbinding stage effects which include authentic Christmas tree decorations that magically come to life, and Tchaikovsky's sumptuous, iconic score combine to create the quintessential Christmas ballet - an opulent treat for the senses for audiences of all ages.
Obsessive in gambling and in love, the soldier Hermann is the protagonist of Tchaikovsky's Pique Dame , based on a story by Pushkin. He is smitten with the aristocratic Lisa and fixated on learning the winning secret of "the three cards" from her grandmother, the Countess, played by iconic contralto Ewa Podles. This opulent production from Barcelona's Liceu captures St Petersburg in the era of Catherine the Great, while the house's Music Director Michael Border conducts a large and impressive cast.
Marius Petipa's demanding but enchanting choreography of Tchaikovsky's romantic fairytale The Sleeping Beauty is one of the best-loved of all classical ballets. This recording of Anthony Dowell's gloriously romantic 1994 production, with charming, dreamlike designs by Maria Bjornson, features an all-star cast led by Viviana Durante as a charismatic Princess Aurora, Zoltan Solymosi as a delightful Prince Florimund and Anthony Dowell as a wonderfully dishevelled Carabosse. The Royal Ballet, in exceptionally fine form, is beautifully accompanied by the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, conducted by Barry Wordsworth.
Royal Ballet Principal Marianela Nunez delights as Princess Aurora, with Vadim Muntagirov as her Prince Florimund, in this performance of a timeless classic. Marius Petipa's The Sleeping Beauty holds a special place in The Royal Ballet's repertory, with its vibrant sets and glittering costumes and featuring such iconic moments as the Rose Adage, the Vision pas de deux, the exuberant wedding celebration and the charming fairy-tale guests, all dances to Tchaikovsky's richly layered music - one of the most beloved ballet scores of all time. This Sleeping Beauty captures all the magic and virtuosity that ballet has to offer.
Agnes Letestu, a feminine and warm Odette, and Jose Martinez, a convincing, pale, vulnerable prince Siegfried, are the stars of this deeply passionate, 'dream' version of Swan Lake . Rudolf Nureyev's interpretation of Tchaikovsky's lyrical ballet, far from being a cliched stereotype of this celebrated masterpiece, is an expose of astonishingly powerful and recognisable human emotions. Under the inspired and clear-cut musical direction of Vello Pahn, this production of one of the jewels of the Paris Opera Ballet's repertoire brilliantly displays the meticulous precision, technical prowess and pure, unmannered style of the company's unrivalled female corps de ballet, eliciting an ethereal, intense beauty.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis.
Yolanda Sonnabend's Faberge-inspired designs evoke a world of Imperial Russia in Anthony Dowell's acclaimed production for The Royal Ballet of one of the world's best-loved ballets. Marianela Nuez as Odette/Odile and Thiago Soares as Prince Siegfried bring new vitality to a compelling story of tragic romance. The Russian conductor Valeriy Ovsyanikov directs the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House in Tchaikovsky's lush romantic score.
In a tragic-comic take on the extremes of celebrity culture, composer Mark Anthony Turnage, librettist Richard Thomas and director Richard Jones add Anna Nicole Smith to opera's gallery of bad, sad girls. A pneumatic Playboy model who married an octogenarian billionaire, she achieved grotesque fame before her destitute, drug-riddled death. With its jazz-coloured score and Eva-Maria Westbroek's starry performance, this is, as the New York Times said: "an engrossing outrageous, entertaining and, ultimately deeply moving opera".
Filmed at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, Daniela Dessi, Elisabetta Fiorillo, Fabio Armiliato, Juan Pons and Roberto Scandiuzzi lead the cast in the renowned period production filmed in 2003 against the historic paper trompe-l'oeil sets painted between 1936-45 by Josep Mestres Cabanes, the last representative of the old Catalan school of scenography. Mestres Cabanes worked on his Aida vision for eight years. The opulent staging he created in 1945 is here in every detail. The seven magnificent sets he painted for Aida in 1945 have been subtly and painstakingly restored by Jordi Castells and his team - revealing the palaces, temples and surroundings of Memphis and Thebes which the set designer had wanted to evoke in his historical yet also fantasy-like vision.
These fascinating sets are not just realistic - but also magical in the theatrical sense. Mestres Cabanes loved the theatre which he had been exploring for over a quarter of a century. His sets are dramatic and visceral, conceived for stage action, conveying the dynamic tensions proper to each part of the work ?EUR" intimate, epic, severe, sensual, troubled and tragic.
Bonus features:
- Scenographer Josep Mestres Cabanes at the Liceu
- Illustrated synopsis
These fascinating sets are not just realistic - but also magical in the theatrical sense. Mestres Cabanes loved the theatre which he had been exploring for over a quarter of a century. His sets are dramatic and visceral, conceived for stage action, conveying the dynamic tensions proper to each part of the work ?EUR" intimate, epic, severe, sensual, troubled and tragic.
Bonus features:
- Scenographer Josep Mestres Cabanes at the Liceu
- Illustrated synopsis
Cheryl Studer, in the title role, leads an excellent cast in Elijah Moshinsky's 1994 production of Verdi's extravagant and magnificent Egyptian opera. Aida was acclaimed at its first performance in 1871 and has grown in stature ever since to become one of the best-loved and most-performed grand operas of all time.
Teatro Regio's 2013 revival of their highly successful 2006 production of Verdi's Don Carlo celebrates the 40th anniversary of the theatre's reopening in 1973. With traditional staging and lavish costume design, the production garnered high acclaim in the national and international press, with GB Opera commending the 'sumptuous' setting and French online music magazine ResMusica praising director Hugo de Ana's decision to revive the show 'in all its splendour'.
Shown here in the four-act version, Don Carlo is the fascinating tale of father-son power struggles, adultery and love that borders on incest. The cast - under the powerful baton of Gianandrea Noseda - is headed by renowned Mexican tenor Ramon Vargas, and also features Ludovic Tezier, who has been hailed as 'one of the best Verdian singers of our time' (ResMusica).
Shown here in the four-act version, Don Carlo is the fascinating tale of father-son power struggles, adultery and love that borders on incest. The cast - under the powerful baton of Gianandrea Noseda - is headed by renowned Mexican tenor Ramon Vargas, and also features Ludovic Tezier, who has been hailed as 'one of the best Verdian singers of our time' (ResMusica).
Black, red, cream and gold are the colours that define Phyllida Lloyd's Royal Opera House staging of Verdi's robust, yet penetrating setting of Shakespeare's Scottish play. Manipulated by a whole coven of cunning, scarlet-turbanned witches, the characters often evoke figures in a splendid Gothic fresco. With Simon Keenlyside making his British debut, as an athletic, brooding Macbeth and Liudmyla Monastyrska as his Lady, both imperious and subtle, this performance, masterfully conducted by Antonio Pappano, goes far beyond mere sound and fury.
Bonus features:
- Interview with Liudmyla Monastryrska, Simon Keenlyside, Raymond Aceto
- Rehearsing Macbeth with Antonio Pappano
Bonus features:
- Interview with Liudmyla Monastryrska, Simon Keenlyside, Raymond Aceto
- Rehearsing Macbeth with Antonio Pappano
Verdi's first published opera, written in his 20s, already shows the instinctive melodic gift and heightened sense of drama which was to make him a giant among composers of grand opera. Set in 13th century Italy, Oberto was first performed at La Scala, Milan in 1839 - 54 years before his last opera was premiered there - and prepared the way for a lifetime's work which would culminate in some of the finest music ever written.
Bonus feature:
- Interview with Yves Abel
Bonus feature:
- Interview with Yves Abel
Verdi's drama of revenge, in its stunning new production by David McVicar, is filled with some of the composer's most celebrated music. Edward Downes conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House with a cast which includes Marcelo Alvarez, Christine Schfer and Paolo Gavanelli. Contains nudity.
Bonus features :
- Illustrated synopsis
- Verdi through the looking glass - a BBC documentary
- Director David McVicar talks about his production of Rigoletto
Bonus features :
- Illustrated synopsis
- Verdi through the looking glass - a BBC documentary
- Director David McVicar talks about his production of Rigoletto
Verdi's best-loved work is performed here by a star cast in a revival of Richard Eyre's highly acclaimed 1994 production. Music Director Antonio Pappano conducts La traviata for the first time at Covent Garden. American soprano Rene Fleming returns to Covent Garden to sing Violetta for the first time with The Royal Opera. La traviata was first performed at the Teatro La Fenice, Venice in March 1853.
A gigantic blood-red monster, made of steel and flames, floating on the still waters of Lake Constance - this is Robert Carsen's unconventional vision of the setting of Verdi's masterpiece Il Trovatore for the 60th anniversary of the Bregenz Festival. In this threatening set of fire and metal, designed by Paul Steinberg, the characters burn with the passions they experience ?EUR" love, hatred, sexual desire and revenge ?EUR" and which eventually destroy them. The live recording of this most spectacular outdoor production combines astonishing images, relevant reflections on today's world and superb musical expression from the soloists and the world-renowned Wiener Symphoniker Orchestra, inspired by musical director Thomas Rosner.
Bonus features:
- A Stage on a Lake - a documentary including interviews with the stage director and set designer
- Illustrated Synopsis
Bonus features:
- A Stage on a Lake - a documentary including interviews with the stage director and set designer
- Illustrated Synopsis
Jose Cura leads the star cast of Verdi's blazingly passionate opera in Elijah Moshinsky's new Royal Opera House production co-produced with Teatro Real Madrid, with sets by the noted Italian film designer Dante Ferretti. With Dmitri Hvorostovsky as Count di Luna, Veronica Villarroel as Leonora, and Yvonne Naef as Azucena, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, is conducted by Carlo Rizzi.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis
- The cast and their characters
- Designing Il Trovatore
- All about Schlger duelling
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis
- The cast and their characters
- Designing Il Trovatore
- All about Schlger duelling
Les vpres siciliennes , like the similarly epic Don Carlos , was conceived as a grand opra for Paris and is driven by the tensions between private passions and public politics. Originally set during Sicily?EUR(TM)s 13th-century uprising against French rule, in Christof Loy?EUR(TM)s staging for the Netherlands Opera the action is transposed to a 1940s world of sudden violence and shadowy double-dealing. Imaginatively cast and idiomatically conducted, the performance presents this magnificent score in its entirety, including the allegorical ballet The Four Seasons .
The spectacular opening production of London's newly restored Royal Opera House, first broadcast live on BBC television in December 1999, brings a riot of colour to Verdi's great Shakespearean masterpiece. Bryn Terfel as Sir John Falstaff and Barbara Frittoli as Alice Ford lead a star cast with the Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House under the direction of Bernard Haitink, in a spectacular new production by Graham Vick.
Once regarded as Verdi's lost opera because of early censorship and controversy, Stiffelio has now established its rightful place in Verdi's canon. In this 1993 recording from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Jose Carreras, as the Protestant minister whose faith is shattered when he discovers his wife's adulterous liaison with a family friend, leads a fine cast that includes Catherine Malfitano, Gregory Yurisich, Gwynne Howell and Robin Leggate under the baton of Edward Downes.
Many consider Claude Vivier the greatest composer Canada has yet produced. Gyorgy Ligeti once called him 'the finest French composer of his generation'. A pupil under Gilles Tremblay and Karlheinz Stockhausen, he soon created his own dazzling vocal and orchestral language, profoundly marked by his travels to the Far East. The interweaving of his personal and professional life, of the real and the imaginary, reveals a compelling global awareness, deep human compassion and a universal quest for ultimate enlightenment. Vivier himself pursued this journey of discovery, until his tragic murder in Paris at the age of thirty-four.
The two parts of Reves d'un Marco Polo are like shadow and light, forming a dreamlike ritualistic experience and encompassing stage productions of his finest compositions. Pierre Audi's superb and moving staging is complemented by refined, passionate musical direction from Reinbert de Leeuw, leading the soloists, the Asko Ensemble and the Schonberg Ensemble to great heights.
Bonus features:
- Claude Vivier - a spellbinding and insightful 60-minute documentary by Cherry Duyns, from his acclaimed contemporary composer portrait series, on the life and work of Claude Vivier, including rare footage, interviews with conductor Reinbert de Leeuw and people...
The two parts of Reves d'un Marco Polo are like shadow and light, forming a dreamlike ritualistic experience and encompassing stage productions of his finest compositions. Pierre Audi's superb and moving staging is complemented by refined, passionate musical direction from Reinbert de Leeuw, leading the soloists, the Asko Ensemble and the Schonberg Ensemble to great heights.
Bonus features:
- Claude Vivier - a spellbinding and insightful 60-minute documentary by Cherry Duyns, from his acclaimed contemporary composer portrait series, on the life and work of Claude Vivier, including rare footage, interviews with conductor Reinbert de Leeuw and people...
Austrian director Martin Ku?ej's pioneering vision brings a challenging and provoking insight to Wagner's opera of love and redemption, with his singular ability to connect characters and their actions to the score. Martin Zehetsgruber's spacious, multi-layered sets define the settings through which Daland (Robert Lloyd), Senta (Catherine Naglestad), The Dutchman (Juha Uusitalo) and the chorus move to great effect fulfilling the fine conducting of Hartmut Haenchen, who elicits from the orchestra an unmatchable performance of detail and clarity.
Ostensibly Richard Wagner's opera Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg tells a humorous tale about artistically inclined craftsmen. Goldsmith Veit Pogner promises his daughter Eva's hand in marriage to the winner of a song contest, to which three men are potentially eligible. But upon closer inspection, what is at first glance a harmless farce in a middle-class setting emerges as a profound social analysis. Wagner uses his protagonists to show how a community deals with tradition and those who break with it and just how much innovation and deviation from the norm it can tolerate ?EUR" as well as to examine what value society places, and should place, on art.
Bonus features :
- The Making of Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg
Bonus features :
- The Making of Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg
Audiences around the world have always found Die Meistersinger to be a life-enhancing celebration of wisdom, art and song. So it proves in David McVicar's production - the first at Glyndebourne - which is updated to the early 19th century of Wagner's childhood. At the centre of a true ensemble cast is Gerald Finley, a 'gleamingly sung', 'eminently believable' Sachs (The Independent Sunday), supported by the dynamic conducting of Vladimir Jurowski which like McVicar's production, uses Glyndebourne's special intimacy to bring sharp focus to bear on the subtlely of Wagner's musical and dramatic counterpoint.
Richard Wagner's tetralogy Der Ring des Nibelungen , in which Power and Love are presented as mutually exclusive ideas, is always a huge challenge for any opera house. Das Rheingold is the opening of this extraordinary production of The Ring from Het Muziektheater Amsterdam, with the orchestra taking its place both in the pit and on the astonishing stage.
The fantastic stage direction by Pierre Audi succeeds in forging a profound unity combining the lyrical, mythical and philosophical qualities of Wagner's work. Breathtaking sets by George Tsypin, superb costumes by Oscar-winner Eiko Ishioka and the passionate performances of the soloists and Residentie Orchestra under the inspired guest conductor Hartmut Haenchen all contribute to an intense total experience that will leave a permanent impression. This production of The Ring of the Nibelungen is based on the new collected works of Richard Wagner.
Bonus features:
- The forging of the Ring - a documentary introduction to Wagner's Ring from Het Muziektheater Amsterdam, including interviews with Hartmut Haenchen, Pierre Audi and the principal cast
- Illustrated Synopsis
The fantastic stage direction by Pierre Audi succeeds in forging a profound unity combining the lyrical, mythical and philosophical qualities of Wagner's work. Breathtaking sets by George Tsypin, superb costumes by Oscar-winner Eiko Ishioka and the passionate performances of the soloists and Residentie Orchestra under the inspired guest conductor Hartmut Haenchen all contribute to an intense total experience that will leave a permanent impression. This production of The Ring of the Nibelungen is based on the new collected works of Richard Wagner.
Bonus features:
- The forging of the Ring - a documentary introduction to Wagner's Ring from Het Muziektheater Amsterdam, including interviews with Hartmut Haenchen, Pierre Audi and the principal cast
- Illustrated Synopsis
In the third part of the epic cycle, Der Ring des Nibelungen , Siegfried pursues his path to manhood. As parental love dissipates and is replaced by romantic love and desire, Wagner reflects on the experience of human life and the fact of mortality. This remarkable production of The Ring , from Het Muziektheater Amsterdam, in which Pierre Audi places the orchestra on the symbolically ring-shaped stage, blends the lyrical, mythical and philosophical qualities of Wagner's work into a profound unity. Astonishing sets by George Tsypin and fabulous costumes by Oscar-winning Eiko Ishioka, combined with passionate singing from the soloists and dramatic playing from the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra under the rigorous control of Hartmut Haenchen, create an intense and highly memorable experience. This production of The Ring of the Nibelung is based on the new Complete Edition of the works of Richard Wagner.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis
- Introduction to Siegfried - with presenter Michael Zeeman, composer Peter-Jan Wagemans and pianist Stefan Mickisch
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis
- Introduction to Siegfried - with presenter Michael Zeeman, composer Peter-Jan Wagemans and pianist Stefan Mickisch
Recorded live at the Bayreuth Festival in Summer 2009, this production marks the beginning of an exciting new long-term partnership between the Bayreuth Festival and Opus Arte. The prestigious music festival takes place each year in Northern Bavaria, Germany in a theatre for which Wagner personally supervised the design and construction. The festival has become a pilgrimage destination for Wagner enthusiasts, who often have to wait up to ten years to obtain a ticket! Katarina Wagner, the great-granddaughter of Richard Wagner, is currently co-director of the festival together with her sister Eva Wagner-Pasquier.
Tristan und Isolde was first performed in 1865 and provided inspiration to many composers, including Mahler, Strauss, Szymanowski and Berg. It is widely acknowledged as one of the peaks of the operatic repertoire and has been performed regularly since is premiere. This production by renowned director Christoph Marthaler stars leading Wagner exponents Robert Dean Smith and Irne Theorin in the title roles, and they are supported by the Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra conducted by Peter Schneider.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated synopsis
- Cast gallery
- Kinder, macht was Neues! - The making of Tristan und Isolde
Tristan und Isolde was first performed in 1865 and provided inspiration to many composers, including Mahler, Strauss, Szymanowski and Berg. It is widely acknowledged as one of the peaks of the operatic repertoire and has been performed regularly since is premiere. This production by renowned director Christoph Marthaler stars leading Wagner exponents Robert Dean Smith and Irne Theorin in the title roles, and they are supported by the Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra conducted by Peter Schneider.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated synopsis
- Cast gallery
- Kinder, macht was Neues! - The making of Tristan und Isolde
Christian Thielemann, "by common consent the leading Wagner conductor of our time" (Die Presse), returns to Bayreuth for this radiant account of Die Walkre filmed at the 2010 Festival. Appearing on video for the first time, it provides the only audio-visual document of Tankred Dorst's Ring production, and follows the hugely successful release of the whole cycle on CD. Two new singers join the cast: Johan Botha as Siegmund, who was showered with praise by the press ("ideal vocal casting" in the words of the critic on the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung) and Edith Haller, with her "beautiful, strong soprano voice" (Sddeutsche Zeitung) as his sister and lover Sieglinde.
Die Walkure is the second part of Richard Wagner's gargantuan tetralogy, Der Ring des Nibelungen, concerning the irreconcilable struggle between Power and Love. The originality of this production from Het Musiktheater Amsterdam more than meets the perennial challenge of staging The Ring. Pierre Audi's stage direction, in which the orchestra is placed on the ring-shaped stage, succeeds in forging a profound unity between the lyrical, mythical and philosophical qualities of Wagner's work, complemented by George Tsypin's astonishing sets and wonderful costumes by Oscar-winning Eiko Ishioka. Impassioned singing and intensely dramatic playing by the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra under the energetic baton of Hartmut Haenchen create a vigorous, almost intimate performance that will leave an indelible impression. This production of The Ring is based on the new collected works of Richard Wagner.
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis
- Introduction to Die Walkure - with presenter Michael Zeeman, composer Peter-Jan Wageman and pianist Stephan Mickisch
Bonus features:
- Illustrated Synopsis
- Introduction to Die Walkure - with presenter Michael Zeeman, composer Peter-Jan Wageman and pianist Stephan Mickisch
Opulent and intimate, this enchanting chamber piece combines dance, text and music in a fascinating exploration of the life and loves of Queen Elizabeth I . Choreographer Will Tuckett and playwright and librettist Alasdair Middleton co-direct this special performance, which brings together Royal Ballet Principals Zenaida Yanowsky and Carlos Acosta with actors Laura Caldow, Sonya Cullingford and Julia Righton in an atmospheric and nuanced tribute to the remarkable nature of this extraordinary woman. Martin Yates's original score recalls the structures and harmonies of Elizabethan music, in a modern reimagining of a typical Tudor-period ensemble, deftly performed by world-renowned cellist Raphael Wallfisch and acclaimed baritien David Kempster.