CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Verdi - Don Carlos

starring: Ramon Vargas, Iano Tamar, Nadja Michael, Alastair Miles, Bo Skovhus
directed by: Peter Konwitschny

Release Date October 30, 2007
A history of a French Don Carlos mirrors the failure of France to provide singers whose career is based on that language. The DVD under consideration reflects that deterioration in that not one singer can claim it as their first language. The Don is Mexican, Posa a Dane, Elizabeth a Georgian, Philip an Englishman,Eboli, a German. As a result we really don't anything resembling French production although Vargas, Miles and Skovhus are better at it than Tamar and Michael. Tamar, howeve, has a beautiful lyrico spinto voice and Michael are somewhat careless. Even with these criticisms I am thrilled that it is a complete text and unlikely to be challenged in the next few years.

What can be challenged and should be is the Konswitschy ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Verdi - Il Trovatore

starring: Carl Tanner, Iano Tamar, Zeljko Lucic, Marianne Cornetti, Giovanni Parodi
directed by: Robert Carsen

Release Date September 25, 2007
After reading Scott Morrison's very detailed review I was somewhat skeptical about purchasing this work. I trust Mr. Morrison's opinions and always check to see what he has written before making any purchase. However, in this instance I must beg to differ with the impression that his review creates. I have owned for some time the Opus Arte Royal Opera House Covent Garden version of the same opera which has, as expected, several very big name opera stars and a fine orchestra. This is very different from the Bregenz Festspiele version where the only person who might be known is the stage director Robert Carsen. As `Opera' the Covent Garden version rates (IMHO) 4 stars; but in terms of `Entertainment' the work would struggle to get 2 or 3 stars. This newest ... Read More: