This set of two of Mahler’s most popular symphonies features some excellent vocalism and strong musical leadership from conductor Paavo Järvi.
Mozart: Don Giovanni [Fondazione Orchestra Regionale delle Marche/Frizza] Blu-ray Review
A reconceptualization of this classic Mozart opera that gets done in by excessive raunchiness and minimalist sets.
Verdi: Il Trovatore [Staatsoper Berlin/Barenboim] Blu-ray Review
A thoroughly reinvented Trovatore on a postage-stamp stage and harlequin costumes that features vocal luminaries Anna Netrebko and Placido Domingo.
Anna Netrebko: Live from the Salzburg Festival Blu-ray Review
While not the first choices for any of these three operas, Netrebko fans will enjoy watching this consummate artist at work with excellent supporting casts.
Rossini: L’Italiana in Algeri [Teatro Communale di Bologna] Blu-ray Review
An upbeat and updated production of a classic comic opera, this Rossini Festival production of L’Italiana in Algeri on Blu-ray offers many smiles, outright guffaws, and nonstop shtick.
Tchaikowsky: The Merchant of Venice [Wiener Syhmphoniker/Nielsen/Bregenzer Festpiele] Blu-ray Review
Merchant of Venice would have benefited from the revisions that Tchaikowsky would have made had he lived long enough to make them.
Richard Strauss: Capriccio [Wiener Staatsoper/Eschenbach] Blu-ray Review
Somewhat perverse staging and bizarre costumes coupled with some vocal disappointments lets down what could have been a stellar Wiener StaatsOper production.
Verdi & Wagner: The Odeonsplatz Concert [Villazon/Hampson] Blu-ray Review
The Odeonsplatz Concert is a nicely done outdoor concert with a star tenor and baritone and superb musical direction and videography.
Verdi: Aida [Oren/Arena di Verona] Blu-ray Review
With the exception of soprano Hui He in the title role, a less than stellar Aida that also suffers from subpar visuals.
Rossini: Matilde di Shabran [Martone/Teatro Comunale di Bologna] Blu-ray Review
The Blu-ray premiere of one of Rossini’s least performed operas gets the star-treatment with luxurious casting and excellent videography.
