The master of musical parody, Professor Peter Schickele, brings US a complete opera by P.D.Q. Bach, a man who has been called a "pimple on the face of music", "the worst musician ever to have trod organ pedals", and "the most dangerous musician since Nero".

SCHUMANN'S GENOVEVA - A MODERN-DAY DRAMA OF THE SOULOn 25th June 1850, Schumann, Robert's only opera, Genoveva, received it's first performance at Leipzig State Theatre. It was a much-awaited event, as Schumann, widely regarded as the leading German instr

Packed with Adventures on the High Seas, This Comic Swashbuckling Pirate Tale Was Originally Produced in the 1980's As Part of the Old Opera Series of Gilbert and Sullivan Works. As Several Pirates Wait for Their Favorite Apprentice, Frederick, to Come of Age-And Become Legally Able to Leave Their Nefarious Band-Frederick Struggles with the Clash Between His Loyalty to the Group and His Desire to Do Something with His Life Besides Pirating. When the Pirates Run Into a Group of Young Beach Beauties and Frederick Falls Madly in Love with the Beauteous Mabel, Things Get Quite Out of Hand, and the Results Include a Full-Blown Fight with the Members of the Local Police Constabulary. Special Features: Full Frame Format 115 Minutes.

Established as one of Virgin Classics bestselling artists, Philippe Jaroussky, who has been described as the Apollo of countertenors by Germany s Die Zeit, stands out among his many talented contemporaries as much for the sopranolike beauty of his tone as for the elegance and insight of his interpretations and his adventurous and erudite approach to repertoire whether unearthing neglected scores by little-known composers or venturing beyond the Baroque into the 19th and 20th centuries. Jaroussky s diverse achievements are celebrated in two new collections on Virgin Classics the 2-CD set The Voice and the DVD La Voix des reves. Greatest moments in Concert. Displaying the breadth of his repertoire from Vivaldi, Handel and lesser-known masters of the Baroque to Faure, Hahn and even Tango King Astor Piazzolla these two releases prove once again that there is much more to Jaroussky than the voice of an angel.

'La Boheme' is one of the most bewitching of operas, with it's smooth lines, poignant libretto, and sheer musicality. One of Puccini's masterpieces, of course. This is the version featuring Maria Callas as Mimi, supported by a fine cast. Giuseppe Di Stefano sang Rodolfo, Rolando Panerai took the role of Marcello, and Anna Moffo sang Musetta. The key to whether or not 'La Boheme' satisfies, of course is the quality of the singing and orchestral support. The coupling of Di Stefano and Callas in this recording is close to perfection. Anna Moffo's voice is in it's glorious youthful richness and with an excellent La Scala Orchestra under the baton of Antonino Votto this is one of the most interesting recorded versions of 'La Boheme' ever!

First release of the original recording. What makes this Teatro del Maggio Musicale CD with Riccardo Muti particularly precious, is it's "documentary" value: it is in itself a document in the history of interpretation. Exceptional as far as it's protagonist Richard Tucker is concerned; "work in progress" as regards to the young conductor.

I Puritani is the last great masterpiece of the exceptional Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini. The intelligently conceived and thoroughly thrilling historical drama, written by the Italian librettist Conte Carlo Pepoli (1796-1881), concerning the fiery romantic intrigue between Elvira, the daughter of a Puritan and the royalist Arturo - Bellini's rapturous music, full of melancholic intensity, is a delight to listen to, as performed by Lisette Oropesa and Lawrence Brownlee. The opera is considered a showcase piece for soprano and tenor and holds it's own in the rich operatic landscape of the 19th century, especially with it's high-pitched passages and bel canto pleasure at it's finest, to this day.

Zarzuela was born as a court genre in the 17th century, and became a mass spectacle in the mid-19th century, spreading throughout the whole of Spain. The success of zarzuela was in having sprung from Hispanic society, addressing an immense public of diverse social levels. It has made Hispanics laugh, cry, yearn and dream, with a musical language that arose from the very heart of the people. Zarzuela embraces Hispanic and European music, urban and rural, popular song and bel canto, traditional and urban dances. Zarzuela filled hundreds of theatres throughout Spain and America. This magnificent album is masterfully interpreted by Lisette Oropesa who carries this music in her heart. Her multi-faceted voice masters even the most demanding vocal passages with impressive ease.