CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Mozart - Die Zauberflote [Blu-ray]

starring: Simon Keenlyside, Dorothea Röschmann, Will Hartmann, Diana Damrau, Franz-Josef Selig

Release Date April 29, 2008
There is a clever juxtaposition of avant garde staging/theatrical setting with period subject material. The Queen of the Night is downright hot, not to mention the 3 maids. Pappageno stole the ovation! Although a small part, Pappagena is delightful. Regrettably, I don't know what to say about Tamino and Pamina but I'm sure they were great.

The singing is superbly articulate and the acting is second to none. Not just standing there singing with cheap backdrops! The orchestra is strong and the chorus powerful. The sets are meticulously done, eye catching but not distracting. The fire and water sequence is very creative. Its quite a production. Be sure to watch the ovations after it ends. The accolades are appropriately ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Mozart - Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) / Keenlyside, Roschmann, Hartmann, Damrau, Selig, Allen, Sir Colin Davis, Covent Garden

starring: Mozart, Simon Keenlyside, Dorothea Roschmann, Diana Damrau, Thomas Allen
directed by: Sir Colin Davis, David McVicar

Release Date September 23, 2003
Sir Colin Davis has done it again! The genius has made another beautiful interpretation of the one of Mozart's final pieces. I may be biased since Die Zauberflote is my favorite opera, but this is a fantastic performance! The cast is magnificent, especially Diana Damaru as the Queen of the Night (my reason for the purchase). However Tamino and Pamina both give memorable performances. Papageno, however sticks out as one of the most memorable performances. He gives both humor and drama where needed, and has perfect control over all of his movements and voice.

Both the set and lighting design are stunning. The cinematography is tasteful, in that you see the production as both a movie and a staged opera (or Singspiel). I have no complaints ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Mozart - Le Nozze di Figaro

starring: Anna Netrebko, Dorothea Roschmann, Ildebrando d'Arcangelo, Bo Skovhus, Christine Schafer
directed by: Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Claus Gouh

Release Date June 12, 2007
If I had been in the audience at this performance I would have booed from the very beginning and throughout this horrible production. The singing was OK, the recits too slow and ponderous and WHAT was going on in the pit with all those pauses that added beats to pieces?
The Eros dancer was unnecessary; the Count wa a simpering idiot and I couldn't decide if he was sweating or had allergies or a nose bleed. Bartolo in a wheel chair? COME ON! It became about picking up papers and how he would get back in the chair! The "non piu andrai" was the worst travesty. I'm sorry the Salzburg audience had to be subjected to this at those prices. I will have a great deal of trouble watching the rest and THANK GOD I didn't buy it!

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Mozart - Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) [HD DVD]

starring: Simon Keenlyside, Dorothea Roschmann, Diana Damrau, Thomas Allen, Franz-Josef Selig
directed by: Sir Colin Davis, David McVicar

Release Date October 30, 2007
Sir Colin Davis has done it again! The genius has made another beautiful interpretation of the one of Mozart's final pieces. The cast is magnificent, especially Diana Damaru as the Queen of the Night (my reason for the purchase). Both the set and lighting design are stunning. The cinematography is tasteful, in that you see the production as both a movie and a staged opera (or Singspiel). I have no complaints at all about this dvd!

Excellent work!!!

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Le Nozze di Figaro [Blu-ray]

starring: Marie McLaughlin, Christine Schäfer, Anna Netrebko, Dorothea Röschmann, Bo Skovhus
directed by: Brian Large

Release Date November 18, 2008
Sir Colin Davis has done it again! The genius has made another beautiful interpretation of the one of Mozart's final pieces. The cast is magnificent, especially Diana Damaru as the Queen of the Night (my reason for the purchase). Both the set and lighting design are stunning. The cinematography is tasteful, in that you see the production as both a movie and a staged opera (or Singspiel). I have no complaints at all about this dvd!

Excellent work!!!

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Mozart: Betulia Liberata

starring: Jeremy Ovenden, Marijana Mijanovic, Julia Kleiter, Franz-Josef Selig, Irena Bespalovaite
directed by: Christoph Poppen, Stefan Aglassinger

Release Date February 13, 2007
Of all the 22 Mozart operas available through this M 22 DVD collection by Deutsche Gramophon, Betulia Liberata is the only one that is not staged. This is due to the fact that the piece itself is technically an oratorio, but its dramatic features (a city besieged, murder, starvation, religious conversion) generally assimilate the piece to an opera. And in a way it is a shame that Betulia is not staged since the music itself is not interesting enough to cope well with a concert version. The arias tend to drag along, the music is more serene, less expansive than Mitridate (the prior opera of young Wolfgang), and the musicians need to be seriously good to avoid their audience to fall into boredom.
The team in charge of the "Betulia" that night almost rises ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

The Magic Flute

starring: Willi Hartmann, Dorothea Röschmann, Diana Damrau, Franz-Josef Selig, Simon Keenlyside
directed by: Sue Judd

Release Date
Of all the 22 Mozart operas available through this M 22 DVD collection by Deutsche Gramophon, Betulia Liberata is the only one that is not staged. This is due to the fact that the piece itself is technically an oratorio, but its dramatic features (a city besieged, murder, starvation, religious conversion) generally assimilate the piece to an opera. And in a way it is a shame that Betulia is not staged since the music itself is not interesting enough to cope well with a concert version. The arias tend to drag along, the music is more serene, less expansive than Mitridate (the prior opera of young Wolfgang), and the musicians need to be seriously good to avoid their audience to fall into boredom.
The team in charge of the "Betulia" that night almost rises ... Read More: