Opera | TheaterByte

Puccini: Tosca [Pappano] (TheaterByte 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review)

December 30, 2017 By Lawrence D. Devoe, MD Leave a Comment

A 4K premiere for an evergreen Puccini masterpiece that features excellent vocals and a directorial approach that may not please traditional operagoers.

Schöenberg: Gurre-Lieder [Dutch National Opera/Albrecht] (TheaterByte Blu-ray Review)

March 1, 2017 By Lawrence D. Devoe, MD Leave a Comment

Opus Arte and the Dutch National Opera offer up an exciting video premiere of this major 20th century piece that is not to be missed.

Glass: Einstein on the Beach [Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris/Riesman] (TheaterByte Blu-ray Review)

November 18, 2016 By Lawrence D. Devoe, MD Leave a Comment

Théâtre du Châtelet put on a defining performance of Philip Glass’ signature, groundbreaking 1970s opera on this latest Opus Arte release.

Offenbach: Les Contes d’Hoffmann [Debus/Wiener Symphoniker] (TheaterByte Blu-ray Review)

October 9, 2016 By Lawrence D. Devoe, MD Leave a Comment

Offenbach’s ‘Tales of Hoffmann’ gets a fresh;y re-imagined production with strong singing, but some problematic staging from the Wiener Philharmoniker and co.

Wagner: Parsifal [Staatskapelle Berlin/Barenboim] (TheaterByte Blu-ray Review)

October 3, 2016 By Lawrence D. Devoe, MD Leave a Comment

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.

Britten: The Rape of Lucretia [London Philharmonic Orchestra/Hussain] (TheaterByte Blu-ray Review)

September 14, 2016 By Lawrence D. Devoe, MD Leave a Comment

The LPO capped 2015’s Glyndebourne festivities with this moving rendition of Britten’s early chamber opera, captured here on Blu-ray from Opus Arte.

Beethoven: Fidelio [Zurich Opera/Harnoncourt] (TheaterByte Blu-ray Review)

June 27, 2016 By Lawrence D. Devoe, MD Leave a Comment

An uneven performance from Zurich of Beethoven’s only opera is offered up by Arthaus Musik on Blu-ray.

Handel: Hercules [Les Arts Florissants/Christie] (TheaterByte Blu-ray Review)

June 11, 2016 By Lawrence D. Devoe, MD Leave a Comment

William Christie, Luc Bondy, and Les Arts Florissants offer up a fine production of Handel’s opera ‘Hercules’ on Blu-ray from BelAir Classiques.

Pepusch: The Beggar’s Opera [The English Baroque Soloists/Gardner] (TheaterByte Blu-ray Review)

June 8, 2016 By Lawrence D. Devoe, MD Leave a Comment

Arthaus Musik resurrects this 1983 performance of the 18th Century English music hall classic ‘The Beggar’s Opera,’ out on Blu-ray now.

Rossini: Mosè [Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano Orchestra and Chorus/Quattrocchi] (TheaterByte Blu-ray Review)

February 13, 2016 By Lawrence D. Devoe, MD Leave a Comment

An abridged performance in a beautiful space of Rossini’s opera Mosé is offered up from Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano on Blu-ray from C Major.