This release presents a rarely performed masterpiece: Gioachino Rossini's Mos� in Egitto at the Bregenz Festival staged by Lotte de Beer, who retrieves this hidden gem of opera literature for a spectacular staging. de Beer, one of the most sought-after stage directors of her generation (International Opera Newcomer Award 2015) teams up with the Dutch theatre collective Hotel Modern to tell the story of the Biblical Exodus. Their unique production concept for Mos� in Egitto revolves around the ingenuity of Hotel Modern. The theatre group conjures up it's own reality by using live animations to portray the mass scenes and the parallel narratives of the people and the slaves. Miniature cameras, thousands of puppets, models of villages and cities and a spectacular aquarium installation present the biblical tale of plagues and the parting of the Red Sea on the Bregenz stage - "a stroke of genius" (Der Standard).

This exceptional programme of highlights from Richard Strauss´s works Der Rosenkavalier, Feuersnot, Salome, Elektra, Die ägyptische Helena, Arabella, Die schweigsame Frau and Daphne was dedicated to Richard Strauss 150th birthday in Dresden. The reputation as »THE Strauss-Orchestra« of the Staatskapelle Dresden results from the special relation to Richard Strauss and his works, which started 130 years ago, performing many world premieres of Richard Strauss´s operas and orchestral works.

The DVD includes the documentary My Strauss with Christian Thielemann, including a lot of archival footage with Richard Strauss, rehearsals and concert excerpts of Elektra, Rosenkavalier, Frau ohne Schatten, Heldenleben, Four last songs and more.
RICHARD STRAUSS GALA

Gala Concert featuring highlights of these operas by Richard Strauss:

Der Rosenkavalier
Elektra
Feuersnot
Salome
Arabella
Intermezzo
Die Ägyptische Helena
Die schweigsame Frau
Daphne

Christine Goerke, soprano
Anja Harteros, soprano
Camilla Nylund, soprano

Dresden Staatskapelle
Christian Thielemann, conductor

MY STRAUSS
A documentary by Andreas Morell

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Picture format: NTSC 16:9
Sound format: PCM Stereo / DTS 5.1
Region code: 0 (worldwide)
Subtitles: German, English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Japanese
Running time: 101 mins (concert) + 45 mins (documentary)
No. of DVDs: 2 (x1 DVD 5 + x1 DVD 9)

Also available on Blu-ray

RICHARD STRAUSS – At the End of the Rainbow

A documentary by Eric Schulz

This documentary shows a new perspective on the personality and oeuvre of Richard Strauss, who saw himself as the last great composer at the end of an era, “at the end of the rainbow.” This carefully researched production presents spectacular hitherto unreleased pictures of Richard Strauss. Among others: a live recording of the premiere of the “Olympic Anthem” at the Berlin Olympic stadium in 1936. The very first performance of this piece ever to be heard, performed by the Berlin Philharmonic and a choir of 1000 singers conducted by Richard Strauss himself. These spectacular rare pictures are embedded in interviews with relatives, famous musicians and Strauss experts, such as Christian Strauss, Stefan Mickisch, and Brigitte Fassbaender. Director Eric Schulz is an acclaimed documentary film maker whos first two films, Carlos Kleiber Traces to Nowhere and Herbert von Karajan - The Second Life both attracted worldwide attention and were rewarded with various prizes, including the ECHO Klassik and the Gramophone Award.

Picture format: NTSC 16:9
Sound format: PCM Stereo / DTS 5.1
Region code: 0 (worldwide)
Audio Language: German
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Chinese
Booklet notes: English, German, French
Running time: 97 mins
No. of DVDs: 1 (DVD 9)

Also available on Blu-ray

Giacomo Puccini’s three act opera Turandot is set in China and tells the story of Prince Calaf who falls in love with the Princess Turandot. To obtain permission to marry her, a suitor has to solve three riddles, but any wrong answer results in death. Rebeka Lokar is a “commanding Turandot” (Bachtrack) and Jorge de León as the Princess’ suitor a “true giant” (Corriere della Sera) with his perfect rendition of “Nessun dorma”. Grammy Award nominee Gianandrea Noseda impressively conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro Regio “as modern as you have rarely experienced it. Chapeau!” (Operalounge) Stage director Stefano Poda dedicates himself to bring Puccini’s Ancient Chinese setting to life. To achieve an aesthetic and conceptual unity, his work also encompasses set and costume design as well as lighting and choreography. “Extraordinary Turandot” (La Repubblica), “unanimous applause at the end!” (La Stampa). “The icy Turandot inflames the Teatro Regio!” (Corriere della Sera)

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REVIEW:

Noseda will be missed at Turin, as this punchy and incisive performance reveals. Overall, speeds are brisk but there is plenty of atmospheric detail. Grimaldi’s Liù is really the true heroine here, given the production’s skewed emphasis. Still, it’s a pity that the Slovenian soprano Rebeka Lokar gets so little input into Turandot, as she attacks those murderous high notes in juicy and vibrant voice.

– Gramophone

Also available on Blu-ray

Performed on the Bregenz Festival's vast lakeside stage, this production of Turandot is captivating and spectacular. Giacomo Puccini's final opera is set in China and is an interesting love story that is sure to enrapture audiences. Puccini died before he completed the opera left instructions that Riccardo Zandonai should finish the work but Franco Alfano was the one to complete the third act. Paolo Carignani conducts the Wiener Symphoniker with the staging done by Marco Arturo Marelli. Leading the cast are Mlada Khudoley, Riccardo Massi, Guanqun Yu, and Michael Ryssov.

Giacomo Puccini
TURANDOT

Turandot - Mlada Khudoley
Altoum - Manuel von Senden
Timur - Michail Ryssov
Calaf - Riccardo Massi
Liù - Guanqun Yu
Ping - Andrè Schuen
Pang - Taylan Reinhard
Pong - Cosmin Ifrim
Un mandarino - Yasushi Hirano

Prague Philharmonic Chorus
(chorus master: Lukáš Vasilek)
Bregenz Festival Chorus
(chorus master: Benjamin Lack)
Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Paolo Carignani, conductor

Marco Arturo Marelli, stage director and set designer
Constance Hoffman, costume designer
Davy Cunningham, lighting designer

Recorded live at the Bregenz Festival, July 2015

Picture format: NTSC 16:9
Sound format: PCM Stereo / DTS 5.0
Region code: 0 (worldwide)
Subtitles: Italian, English, German, French, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Japanese
Booklet notes: English, German, French
Running time: 125 mins
No. of DVDs: 1 (DVD 9)

This Blu-ray Disc is only playable on Blu-ray Disc players and not compatible with standard DVD players.

Also available on standard DVD

Giacomo Puccini
MADAMA BUTTERFLY
(Sferisterio Opera Festival, 2009) (NTSC)

Cio-Cio-San (Butterfly) – Raffaella Angeletti
F.B. Pinkerton – Massimiliano Pisapia
Suzuki – Annunziata Vestri
Sharpless – Claudio Sgura
Goro – Thomas Morris
Il Bonzo – Enrico Iori
Kate Pinkerton – Nino Batatunashvili
Il principe Yamadori – Enrico Cossutta

Coro Lirico Marchigiano ‘V. Bellini’
Marchigiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Daniele Callegari, conductor

Pier Luigi Pizzi, stage director, set and costume designer
Recorded live from Arena Sferisterio, Macerata, Italy, 2009.

Picture format: 1080p High Definition
Sound format: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Region code: 0 (worldwide)
Subtitles: Italian, English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese, Korean
Booklet notes: English, German, French
Running time: 137 mins
No. of Discs: 1

R E V I E W:

Opera at Macerata, which is located between the rivers Potenza and Chienti in Italy’s Marche region, has several significant advantages over other summer opera festivals in that country. Unlike other venues, such as Torre del Lago, Bergamo and Pesaro, its activities are not restricted to presenting the operas of a composer who lived there, or was born nearby. It sports two venues: the lovely Teatro Lauro Rossi, as it happens named after a composer born in the town and whose operatic oeuvre is becoming more recognised and the open air Sferisterio Arena. The mighty curved Arena Sferisterio was built in 1829 and seats over three thousand. The Arena was once the venue for a handball game called pallone al bracciale involving ricochets off its long wall, a feature that has presented some directors with too great a challenge. The year of this performance, 2009, was the forty-fifth season of operas in Macerata.

In recent years the Macerata season has had its difficulties. Following the appointment of the vastly experienced Pier Luigi Pizzi as its director, it has returned to past glories. He sees the vast space of the stage area as a challenge and varies its use to suit the work being presented. In Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda he used the long wall to advantage. In this Madama Butterfly, a more intimate opera, he focuses on the central stage for the main action, using only the width to show the arrival of individuals or the passing of processions.

The set is focused on a small traditional Japanese home with its sliding windows allowing for rapid change of scene and space. In front of the house is an area of raised decking and there are long walkway approaches from each side. In other words it is a traditional set in the best meaning of the words, completely unlike that from Torre del lago in its fiftieth anniversary year when I could not place the venue and Butterfly had to live in the open air. Pizzi not only directs, but is responsible for the sets and traditional costumes to produce a fully integrated whole. In his composition Puccini was keen to convey Japanese culture via his music and went to a great deal of trouble to hear and integrate ethnic tunes into his creation. Daniele Callegari on the rostrum of the orchestra, who are placed in front of the stage and lower down, does full justice to the Japanese motifs as well as the lyrical and dramatic moments.

Despite taking care to represent the Japanese ambience, Puccini seemed not to take on board the age of Butterfly in David Belasco’s play that he had seen in London when visiting for the premiere of his Tosca in that city in 1900. The libretto, the third of a great trio created for him by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, clearly states Butterfly’s age at fifteen. Realistically, no light-toned soprano can sing the music he wrote for the part that needs a strong lyric soprano moving towards a spinto-sized voice; such voices rarely come associated with young faces and figures. In the title role of this production Raffaella Angeletti sings with bright forward lyric tone and with all the necessary heft to ride the dense orchestral colour that Puccini demands. Medium to tall and angular, her facial features are a little too old - for which she compensates by her convincing acting and expressive singing. Her un bel di, vedramo (CH.17) is well phrased and articulated whilst she brings a breadth of tonal colour to the dramatic last scene as Butterfly realises that Pinkerton has married and has come, with his wife, to take their child to a better life in America. The caddish Pinkerton of Massimiliano Pisapia benefits considerably by his smart white high-collared navy uniform. It disguises his rather plump figure and unappealing features. His tenor is strong, but without much grace of phrasing. The director highlights Pinkerton’s true character from the beginning when he has him pass dollar bills to all and sundry to facilitate the supposed marriage to Butterfly. This Pinkerton has few, if any, redeeming moral standards; he knows what he is doing and intends to do with his child bride, on the wedding night and in the future. Sharpless, the American Consul and the fall guy who has to try clear up the mess of the relationship is sung by Claudio Segura with strong expressive tone. His tall and physically imposing physique is a great benefit to his well thought out and realised characterisation. Annunziata Vestri's acting as Suzuki is a little understated at first, but comes into her own as she faces her duties in the final scene and particularly in the ultimate harrowing dénouement.

All the minor roles play a full and involved part in the realisation of Pier Luigi Pizzi’s vision of this work with the Goro of Thomas Morris scurrying about and Enrico Iori an imposing Bonze. The chorus and orchestra under Daniele Callegari are a tower of strength, whilst the video director is sensitive in his choice of angles whilst using close-ups with circumspection. The sets, production and video direction disguise the challenges posed by the venue and which are superbly overcome in this naturalistic production.

The singing and orchestral sound is clear and well balanced with the audience applause muted by their distance from the stage action in this open-air performance. The picture definition is first class.

-- Robert J Farr, MusicWeb International

This Blu-ray Disc is only playable on Blu-ray Disc players and not compatible with standard DVD players.

Also available on standard DVD

With an outstanding cast including Daniela Dessi, Fabio Armiliato, Alessandro Luongo, and Alida Berti, this incomparable performance is Puccini at his finest.; Directed by Ettore Scola, who has created a great number of award-winning films, this performance is from the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago.; One of the most represented operas in history, becoming the inspiration for many works to come, La Boheme is a rich, grandiose opera, which is wonderfully represented in this recording.

Picture Format: 1080i, 16:9
Sound Formats: PCM Stereo, DTS-HD MA 5.1
Subtitles: Italian, German, English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Japanese
Region: All
Total Running Time: 123 mins

Also available on Blu-ray

With an outstanding cast including Daniela Dessi, Fabio Armiliato, Alessandro Luongo, and Alida Berti, this incomparable performance is Puccini at his finest. Directed by Ettore Scola, who has created a great number of award-winning films, this performance is from the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago. One of the most represented operas in history, becoming the inspiration for many works to come, La Boheme is a rich, grandiose opera, which is wonderfully represented in this recording.

Picture Format: NTSC, 16:9
Sound Formats: PCM Stereo, DTS 5.1
Subtitles: Italian, German, English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Japanese
Region Code: 0 (Worldwide)
Total Running Time: 123 mins

Note: This Blu-ray Disc is playable only on Blu-ray Disc players, and not compatible with standard DVD players.

Also available on standard DVD

KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI – Paths Through the Labyrinth
(Blu-ray Disc Version)

A film by Anna Schmidt

Even at over 80 Krzysztof Penderecki is still an unflinching and active composer and conductor. Director Anna Schmidt followed Penderecki’s paths for a year—in the process interviewing such world-famous artists as Anne-Sophie Mutter, Julian Rachlin and Janine Jansen as well as Jonny Greenwood (“Radiohead”) and legendary film director Andrzej Wajda.

As a result, Paths Through the Labyrinth has become a comprehensive “work in progress” documentary, accompanying Penderecki from Kraków to Munich, from Vienna to Leipzig, and to his country estate in Luslawice. Throughout, the composer reflects on his beginnings, the turning points in his life and the world of his ideas.

Thoughts, dialogues, encounters and extracts from several famous Penderecki compositions coalesce into a fascinating, multi-layered portrayal of one of today’s most influential musicians.

Bonus:
- Interviews with Lorin Maazel and Jonny Greenwood.

Picture format: 1080i High Definition
Sound format: PCM Stereo
Region code: 0 (worldwide)
Subtitles: English, German, French, Korean
Booklet notes: English, German, French
Running time: 86 mins (documentary) + 18 mins (bonus)
No. of Discs: 1 (BD 25)

From the Palazzo Ducale Di Venezia. C Major Entertainment.

This new production of Les Contes D’Hoffman staged by Stefan Herheim has been praised for its “thoughtfulness and creativity” (NY Times) and is vastly different from other stagings that have come before. This production was recorded at the 2015 Bregenz Festival. “The opera visit of the year—Bregenz is showing a Tales of Hoffmann that makes you forget everything you saw before.” (FAZ) The production was devised by Herheim as a search for one’s true self in a dazzling drag show.

Also available on Blu-ray

Jacques Offenbach’s La Belle Hélène (1864) has always been one of its composer’s most successful works.

• Its first, slightly scandalizing performance in Paris was quickly followed by productions in Vienna, Berlin, London, Milan and New York.

• A satire of middle-class values, this opéra bouffe – told through the story of Paris and Helen, and her abduction by the Trojan prince disguised as a shepherd – pillories narrow-mindedness in society.

• Adopting a pro-active stance, director Renaud Doucet and designer André Barbe treat the piece as a “great show” with numerous choreographic elements, relocating the action of Offenbach's classical spoof and setting it on a cruise ship in the 1960s, when Flower Power, love and drugs were all the rage.

• “La Belle Hélène is a firework display for ears and eyes...” (Hamburger Morgenpost), “opulent and amusing” (Bild), and, in the title role, Jennifer Larmore convinces with her “fantastic vocal performance.” (Das Opernglas)

Subtitles: French (orig.), English, German, Spanish, Chinese Korean
Booklet: English, German, French
No. of Discs: 1
Run time: 117 minutes
Picture Format: NTSC, 16:9
Audio Format: PCM Stereo, PCM 5.1
Region Code: 0 (worldwide)

Also available on Blu-ray

“Nijinsky“ is the title of this “choreographic approach“ to a dance phenomenon that has been part of Neumeier‘s life ever since the beginning of his career. During his approximately ten years as a dancer, Vaslav Nijinsky (1889-1950) set a new standard both technically and expressively, while in his choreographic work he pointed the way towards modern dance. All three aspects - the dancer, the choreographer and the person Nijinsky - form the starting point for John Neumeier‘s latest creation. Neumeier, who as early as 1979 presented a short ballet, “Vaslav“, is regarded as one of the leading Nijinsky experts worldwide. Nevertheless, it was not without reluctance that he took up the task of honoring through dance a dance legend: “In creating a work about a historical person, what aspect should we concentrate on? Who was he truly: The man? The artist? Which witness, what information can we trust, which theories should one follow? What point of view can we take towards the complex puzzle Nijinsky? An instinctive choice must be made...“ Also included is an interesting interview with John Neumeier about Nijinksy.

Also available on Blu-ray

Mariss Jansons is one of the most influential conductors of our age. In 2012 the charismatic Latvian musician conducted his second New Year Concert in Vienna, an honour that very few conductors have enjoyed. For the present documentary portrait, the film maker Robert Neumüller observed Jansons at work in Amsterdam, Riga, St Petersburg, Vienna and Salzburg. The film shows Jansons working with his various orchestras, including rehearsals for the 2012 New Year Concert, and also explores his private life, resulting in a number of fascinating insights into Jansons’ artistic development and philosophy. By way of a bonus, this release features a complete performance of Mahler’s Second Symphony with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under Mariss Jansons.

Subtitles: G, E, F, Sp, Chin, Kor
Booklet: E, G, F
No. of Discs: 2
Run time: 145 minutes
Disc Format: DVD
Picture: NTSC, 16:9
Audio: PCM Stereo, PCM 5.1
Region Code: 0 (worldwide)

HERBERT VON KARAJAN
In Rehearsal and Performance

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K. 219 (Rehearsal and Performance)

Yehudi Menuhin, violin
Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan, conductor

Antonín Dvo?ák: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, "From the New World" (Rehearsal and Performance)

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan, conductor

Recorded in 1966.

Filmed by Henri-Georges Clouzot

Combining the forces of two of the 20th century´s greatest musicians – Yehudi Menuhin and Herbert von Karajan in their only recorded performance together – this magnificent programme marks a high point in filmed classical music. Both features, Mozart´s Violin Concerto No. 5 and Dvorák´s “New World” Symphony, were directed by master film-maker and long-time Karajan collaborator Henri-Georges Clouzot (The Wages of Fear).

bonus:
- Herbert von Karajan in conversation with Yehudi Menuhin (on Mozart, in English) and Prof. Joachim Kaiser (on Dvo?ák, in German)

Special bonus feature:
- Previously unreleased rehearsal session prior to Violin Concerto No. 5!

Picture format: NTSC 4:3 B/W (mastered from an HD source, original filmed in 35mm)
Sound format: PCM Stereo / PCM Mono (rehearsal)
Subtitles: English (Kaiser interview) / German (Menuhin interview)
Region code: 0 (worldwide)
Running time: 69 mins (performance) + 38 mins (rehearsal)
No. of DVDs: 1