Ji-Min Park, Takesha Meshe Kizart, Jose Carbo, Taryn Fiebig, David Parkin, and Shane Lowrencev star in this Australian Opera production of the Puccini opera conducted by Shao-Chia Lu and directed by Gale Edwards.

La Traviata, one of the world's best-loved romantic operas is performed under the stars on a floating, mirrored stage in Sydney Harbor, with the city, Opera House and Harbor Bridge acting as a stunning backdrop. Giuseppe Verdi's captivating music is performed with the orchestra concealed in a studio beneath the stage to ensure the finest amplified sound combines with the superlative singing of the cast.

Don Giovanni, a libertine, a rake with a devil-may-care attitude, is portrayed magnificently by Rhodes in this production, where he first appears on stage in a costume where less is definitely more! Charismatic and sexy, Rhodes' acting and singing are magnificent. His misused servant, Leporello, is played by Coad, who skillfully promotes the opera's comic elements whilst delivering a thumping bass full of drama. The classic stage designs of Oberle form the backdrop to the drama of Don Giovanni's last day on earth, before he is hurled in to Hell's flames by the Commendatore, Sumegi, whose basso profundo is befittingly momentous. A triumphant production from the director, Goran Jarvefelt.

Der Rosenkavalier, the most successful opera of Strauss and von Hofmannsthal's partnership, is a story of love, lust and human frailty. The story is not complicated but it soars and dips on Strauss' music with Hofmannsthal's expressive libretto. With Barker in the role of the Marschallin, who can fail to be moved by her poignant portrayal of facing the final loss of youth and her young lover? Count Octavian, (Carby), is a young man who has his life to enjoy with no thought of anything but pleasure and the Marschallin's company - until he meets the beautiful and innocent Sophie von Faninal (Pearson). The boorish Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau is superbly exposed by Hemm, his Viennese accent lending authenticity. Led by conductor Litton and staged by Oberle.

Puccini: La Bohème

Lakme, Delibes greatest opera, is performed by Opera Australia in all it's oriental glory. Starring the exquisite coloratura soprano Emma Matthews as the innocent girl priestess Lakme, and superb tenor Aldo Di Toro as the love-struck Gerald, the story tackles religion and cross-cultural love against a backdrop of British rule in India in the mid-19th century. French conductor Emmanuel Joel-Hornak brings out the full depth of the lush, dramatic score, with familiar high points being the beautiful renditions of the well-known Flower Duet and Bell Song. Dominica Matthews adds her rich voice as Mallika and Stephen Bennett is darkly dominating as Brahmin priest Nilakantha, Lakme's father, while Roxane Hislop is a consummate Mistress Bentson.

Fiery and full-blooded, Verdi's Il Trovatore is a masterpiece of obsession. Recorded live at the Sydney Opera House, Dame Joan Sutherland magnificently portrays tragic heroine Leonora, supported by shining performances from Kenneth Collins as troubadour Manrico and Jonathan Summers as the Count Di Luna - the two men who love her.

One of Opera Australia's best-loved productions, Elijah Moshinsky's retelling of Rigoletto draws Verdi's dark melodrama into a modern day mafioso underworld, inspired by Federico Fellini's all-time classic La Dolce Vita. A classic opera for purists and first-timers alike.

Susan Foster sings the role of the cruel daughter of the Chinese emperor who demands her suitors correctly answer three riddles, on pain of death, in this Opera Australia production of Puccini's masterpiece. A fabulous production directed and choreographed by Graeme Murphy with a strong cast headed by Australia's answer to Pavarotti, Rosario La Spina.

Der Rosenkavalier, the most successful opera of Strauss and von Hofmannsthal's partnership, is a story of love, lust and human frailty. The story is not complicated but it soars and dips on Strauss' music with Hofmannsthal's expressive libretto. With Barker in the role of the Marschallin, who can fail to be moved by her poignant portrayal of facing the final loss of youth and her young lover? Count Octavian, (Carby), is a young man who has his life to enjoy with no thought of anything but pleasure and the Marschallin's company - until he meets the beautiful and innocent Sophie von Faninal (Pearson). The boorish Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau is superbly exposed by Hemm, his Viennese accent lending authenticity. Led by conductor Litton and staged by Oberle.

Also available on Blu-ray

One of Opera Australia's best-loved productions. Inspired by Fellini's classic film La dolca vita, Verdi's dark melodrama is transposed into the world of modern day mafiosi. 'A classic production' (Sydney Morning Herald) 'A significant triumph' (The Opera Critic).
Recorded in 2010

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

Also available on standard DVD

One of Opera Australia's best-loved productions. Inspired by Fellini's classic film La dolca vita, Verdi's dark melodrama is transposed into the world of modern day mafiosi. 'A classic production' (Sydney Morning Herald) 'A significant triumph' (The Opera Critic).
Recorded in 2010

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

Also available on standard DVD

Violetta Valéry – Emma Matthews
Alfredo Germont – Gianluca Terranova
Giorgio Germont – Jonathan Summers
Flora Bervoix – Margaret Plummer
Doctor Grenvil – John Bolton Wood
Annina – Sarah Sweeting
Gastone – Martin Buckingham
Baron Douphol – James Clayton
Marquis D’Obigny – Christopher Hillier

Opera Australia Chorus
(chorus master: Michael Black)
Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra
Brian Castles-Onion, conductor

Francesca Zambello, stage director
Brian Thomson, set designer
Tess Schofield, costume designer
John Rayment, lighting designer
Stephen Baynes, choreographer

Recorded live on Sydney Harbor, Mrs. Macquaries Point, Royal Botanic Gardens on 10 and 12 April, 2012

Bonus:
- Cast Gallery
- Interviews with Francesca Zambello and Tess Schoefield
- Pre-production clips

Picture format: 1080i High Definition
Sound format: LPCM Stereo / DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Region code: 0 (worldwide)
Subtitles: English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Italian
Running time: 141 mins
No. of Discs: 1 (Blu-ray)

Also available on Blu-ray

With Rosario La Spina cast as Calaf, Susan Foster as the icy princess and Hyeseoung Kwon as the loyal slave girl Liù, the singing throughout is superlative. The choreography and direction of Graeme Murphy is visionary, add the set and costume designs of Kristian Fredrikson, and the lighting of John Drummond Montgomery and this production is glorious in its beauty.

Giacomo Puccini
TURANDOT

Turandot – Susan Foster
Calaf – Rosario La Spina
Liù – Hyeseoung Kwon
Timur – Jud Arthur
A Mandarin – Shane Lowrencev
Ping – Andrew Moran
Pong – David Corcoran
Pang – Graeme Macfarlane
Altoum – Benjamin Rasheed

Opera Australia Children’s Chorus
(chorus preparation: Anthony Hunt)
Opera Australia Chorus
(chorus master: Michael Black)
Orchestra Victoria
Andrea Licata, conductor

Graeme Murphy, stage director, choreographer
Kristian Fredrikson, set and costume designer
John Drummond Montgomery, lighting designer

Recorded live at the Arts Centre Melbourne, on 20 and 25 April 2012
Bonus:
- Cast gallery

Picture format: NTSC 16:9
Sound format: LPCM Stereo / DTS 5.1
Region code: 0 (worldwide)
Subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Korean
Booklet notes: English, French, German
Running time: 124 mins
No. of DVDs: 1 (DVD 9)

Also available on Blu-ray

This sensational new production of La Boheme, the inspired concept of director Gale Edwards, is set in early 1930s Berlin, a city of liberal indulgence, glittering Spiegeltents and glitzy cabaret clubs, where no excess is considered too much. But the world of the Bohemians, romantically playing at being poor, forgets the truth of real poverty and its consequences. Charismatic Ji-Min Park gives a stunning performance as Rodolfo, the poet who falls in love with Mimi, played by Takesha Meshe Kizart, who delivers a dazzling version of the impoverished working girl. In the Cafe Momus Taryn Fiebig sings seductively as the beautiful Musetta. Renowned conductor Shao-Chia Lu draws from the orchestra and chorus a magnificent performance of Puccini's lush score.

Featuring:

Ji-Min Park (Rodolfo), José Carbó (Marcello), David Parkin (Colline), Shane Lowrencev (Schaunard), Takesha Meshé Kizart (Mimi), Taryn Fiebig (Musetta), John Bolton Wood (Benoit), Adrian Tamburini (Alcindoro), Benjamin Rasheed (Parpignol), Malcolm Ede (Customs Sergeant), Clifford Plumpton (Customs Officer)

Opera Australia Chorus, Michael Black (Chorus Master), Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, Huy-Nguyen Bui (Associate Concertmaster), Shao-Chia Lü (Conductor), Gale Edwards (Director)

Format: LPCM Stereo, DTS 5.1
Subtitles: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Korean
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Number of DVDs: 1