CD-Charts Position 1
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Tchaikovsky - Eugene Onegin / Fleming, Vargas, Hvorostovsky, Gergiev, Carsen [Metropolitan Opera 2007]

starring: Renee Fleming, Ramon Vargas, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Valery Gergiev, Jean-Paul Fouchecourt
directed by: Brian Large, Robert Carsen

Release Date December 18, 2007
This is a stellar performance by a superb cast and conducted expertly by Valery Gergiev. Hvorostovsky and Fleming are ideal as Onegin and Tatiana The stark set, indeed a "non-set", is at first disappointing, but does succeed in focusing attention on the human drama instead of toward lavish production elements. Color is used very effectively to saturate each scene and outline the singers. This production no doubt benefited from the close scrutiny of the camera because the performances were finely tuned and sublty nuanced. As an example, the usual "dance spectacle" accompanying the Polonaise which opens Act III is replaced here by Onegin attended to by his valet staff while changing from dueling attire to formal dress. Although I enjoy a lavish ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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Bizet - Carmen

starring: Anna Caterina Antonacci, Jonas Kaufmann, Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, Norah Amsellem, Antonio Pappano
directed by: Francesca Zambello

Release Date October 28, 2008
I am pleased that I could have seen this superb production. Chemistry between Carmen and Don José works at 100 %. And especially I must compliment performance of Jonas Kaufmann as Don José. He to perfection included the whole psychology of Don José - from amorousness and apprehension to jealousy and madness. I recommend this great DVD.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Orphée aux enfers

starring: Natalie Dessay, Yann Beuron, Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, Laurent Naouri, Martine Olméda
directed by: Yves-André Hubert, Ariane Adriani

Release Date
Natalie is the ultimate Euridice with marvelous acting and incredible singing. She generously sprinkles sparkling high G's throughout the show. If she couldn't sing she would have been a famous comedienne. The rest of the cast is delightful. Bethone's Cupid, Naouri's Jupiter, Beuron's Orphee, Olmeda'a Public Opinion, all singing the wonderful Offenbach music. The Fly Song, The Kissing Song...

I could do without the trasvestite dancers (maybe fast forward was invented for that)......but after all, its a French production.

I've converted Offenbach haters to Offenbach lovers with this video!!

CD-Charts Position 4
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Monteverdi - L'Incoronazione di Poppea / Delunsch, von Otter, Brunet, Hellekant, Fouchécourt, Sedov, Les Musiciens du Louvre, Minkowski, Gruber (Aix-en-Provence Festival)

starring: Marc Minkowski, Anne Sophie von Otter, Mireille Delunsch, Jean-Paul Fouchecourt, Sylvie Brunet
directed by: Klaus-Michael Gruber, Vincent Bataillon

Release Date September 12, 2006
I have been watching this DVD of L'incoronazione di Poppea - the Musiciens du Louvre / Marc Minkowski recording - this past weekend. I quite like this DVD version of the opera, in spite of the cuts. However! I do have the Les Talens Lyriques' DVD directed by Christopher Rousset - a complete (uncut) interpretation which I found profoundly satisfying. I also have the VHS video of the Nikolaus Harnoncourt / VCM recording of this opera - which I enjoyed immensely some years ago, in spite of its many idiosyncracies. Minkowski has some tough competition!

The cast includes:
Poppea - Mireille Delunsch
Nerone - Anne Sofie von Otter
Ottavia - Sylvie Brunet
Ottone - Charlotte Hellekant
Seneca - Denis Sedov
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CD-Charts Position 5
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Monteverdi - L'incoronazione di Poppea / Haymon · Balleys · Liang · Chance · van der Kamp · Grant Murphy · Fouchécourt · Visse · McFadden · Vink · Piau · Berg · Les Talens Lyriques · Rousset · Audi (Amsterdam Opera 1994)

starring: Cynthia Haymon, Brigitte Balleys, Ning Liang, Michael Chance (II), Harry van der Kamp
directed by: Hans Hulscher

Release Date September 20, 2005
MESMORIZING MONTEVERDI MARVELOUSLY PERFORMED


This opera has nine main characters and a few more less important and although there is a main story there are many other stories going on at the same time. Essentially the Emperor Nero (Brigitte Balleys) is having an affair with Poppea (Cynthia Hayman) and wants to make her Empress in place of his present wife Ottavia(Ling Liang). Meanwhile Ottone (Michael Chance) returns from the Wars and finds out that he has been rejected by POPPEA. He becomes enraged but gives it up and decides that he loves Druscilla(Catherine Bott), but he doesn't really!!!!Druscilla does love him and declares to help him in whatever he does. Ottavia calls Ottone to her bedroom and demands that he kill Poppea or she ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

L' Incoronazione di Poppea [Region 2]

starring: Cynthia Haymon, Brigitte Balleys, Ning Liang, Michael Chance (II), Harry van der Kamp
directed by: Hans Hulscher

Release Date
MESMORIZING MONTEVERDI MARVELOUSLY PERFORMED


This opera has nine main characters and a few more less important and although there is a main story there are many other stories going on at the same time. Essentially the Emperor Nero (Brigitte Balleys) is having an affair with Poppea (Cynthia Hayman) and wants to make her Empress in place of his present wife Ottavia(Ling Liang). Meanwhile Ottone (Michael Chance) returns from the Wars and finds out that he has been rejected by POPPEA. He becomes enraged but gives it up and decides that he loves Druscilla(Catherine Bott), but he doesn't really!!!!Druscilla does love him and declares to help him in whatever he does. Ottavia calls Ottone to her bedroom and demands that he kill Poppea or she will tell Nero ... Read More: