CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Handel - Rodelinda / Roschmann, Chance, Palmer, Nilon, Robson, Chiummo, Bolton, Munich Opera

starring: Dorothea Roschmann, Felicity Palmer, Michael Chance, Paul Nilon, Ivor Bolton
directed by: Umberto Chiummo

Release Date April 26, 2005
I love this opera, and recordings of it are in short supply, so I actually bought this DVD (and the Glyndebourne one as well) just to hear some different renditions of this wonderful music. Both DVDs are good, but Roschmann's singing is a revelation! Anna Caterina Antonacci, on Glyndebourne's DVD, is a bit stretched by the tessitura of the part, but Roschmann has the coloratura, volume, and luminous shimmering tone that sets her apart from any other voice I have heard in the role. Her acting is also less stilted, although I think that has more to do with the productions they are in (the Glyndebourne is set in a sort of 1920's silent film Hollywood milieu). The Glyndebourne production is better overall, and better cast overall (Scholl is ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Mozart - Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail

starring: Laura Aikin, Charles Castronovo, Valentina Farcas, Dietmar Kerschbaum, Franz Hawlata
directed by: Stefan Herheim

Release Date January 09, 2007
It'll probably enrage purists, so maybe not the best introduction to one of Mozart's best operas. But the singing and the acting is marvellous and there's not a boring moment in it. It'll maybe take a second or even third viewing to enjoy it as there are so many things happening at the same time but once you get it, it's great.
Deserves a positive review to the negative ones expressed here.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Opera Highlights Vol. II - Ariodante, Billy Budd, The Fiery Angel, Xerxes, Peter Grimes, Cunning Little Vixen, Giulio Cesare, Eugene Onegin, Ruslan and Lyudmlla

starring: Anna Netrebko, Galina Gorchakova, Philip Langridge, Thomas Allen, Ann Murray

Release Date June 26, 2007
Unfortunately Amazon.com has not listed as of this date the contents of this DVD, so I shall do so here:

All of the arias are staged, taken from full-length DVDs of the operas involved.

Purcell: Fairy Queen - 'O let me weep' - Yvonne Kenny
Handel: Giulio Cesare - 'Piangerò la sorte mis' - Yvonne Kenny
Handel: Ariodante - 'Take your pleasure'- Ann Murray
Handel: Xerxes - 'If you worship the man who has spurned you' - Ann Murray
Glinka: excerpts from 'Ruslan and Lyudmila', Act II - Larissa Diadkova, Vladimir Ognovenko, Konstantin Pluzhnikov
Glinka: 'Ruslan and Lyudmila' - Lyudmila's Act IV aria - Anna Netrebko
Tchaikovsky: 'Yevgeny Onegin' - 'No, there could never be another' (Letter Scene) - Orla Boylan ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Gluck - Orphee et Eurydice / Kasarova, Joshua, York, Bolton, Munich Opera

starring: Ivor Bolton, Vesselina Kasarova, Deborah York

Release Date September 28, 2004
I bought this DVD because I have heard Kasarova singing several times and I admired it, also I loved the productions in Munich opera house.
I have not seen this alive performance in Munich and was very exctited when I started to watch this DVD. Now I am listening the opera and wrtiting this review because I cannot take it any longer. I love this opera and it is hurtful to see what they did with it. Totally idiotic : angel turn to the clown with naked baby doll and so on... I am sorry but please, just buy CD an enjoy it, unless you close your eyes and listen...