Daniel Barenboim and the Staatskapelle Berlin put on an unusually staged but powerfully sung performance of Wagner’s ‘Parsifal’ in this latest Blu-ray from BelAir Classiques.
Handel: Hercules [Les Arts Florissants/Christie] (TheaterByte Blu-ray Review)
William Christie, Luc Bondy, and Les Arts Florissants offer up a fine production of Handel’s opera ‘Hercules’ on Blu-ray from BelAir Classiques.
Reich: Rain [Ballet de l’Opera National de Paris] (TheaterByte Blu-ray Review)
Steve Reich’s score is granted a mesmerizing dance production by the Ballet de l’Opera National de Paris in this BelAir Classiques Blu-ray.
Wagner: Tannhauser [Staatskapelle Berlin/Barenboim] (TheaterByte Blu-ray Review)
Daniel Barenboim conducts a seriously revised version of Wagner’s Tannhauser out on Blu-ray from BelAir Classiques
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker [Staatsballett Berlin/Reimer] Blu-ray Review
Staatsballett Berlin gives us a traditional Nutcracker on Blu-ray certain to please audiences of all ages.
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake [The Bolshoi Ballet] Blu-ray Review
The Bolshoi Ballet delivers a beautiful performance of this famous work with outstanding contributions by its principals and corps de ballet.
Rimsky-Korsakov: The Tsar’s Bride [Staatskapelle Berlin/Barenboim] Blu-ray Review
An extremely well performed and seriously updated version of this Russian classic in which the musical values trump director Dmitri Tcherniakov’s efforts to overwhelm Rimsky-Korsakov’s original intentions.
Offenbach: Les Contes d’Hoffmann [Teatro Real Madrid/Cambreling] Blu-ray Review
A completely reconceptualized version of Offenbach’s masterpiece that is frequently senseless with stage devices that simply fall flat
Bizet: Carmen [Arena di Verona/Nanasi] Blu-ray Review
The largest staged Carmen to date receives competent rather than exciting performances from its Veronese cast.
Strauss: Elektra [Festival Aix-en-Provence/Salonen] Blu-ray Review
A manic but effective portrayal of Elektra’s heroine, and excepting the less than top-flight visuals, a compelling performance that demands our attention.
