CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Strauss: Arabella

starring: Renee Fleming, Morten Frank Larsen, Julia Kleiter, Johan Weigel, Zurich Opera House Chorus & Orchestra
directed by: Gotz Friedrich

Release Date July 08, 2008
I dithered about acquiring this new DVD of Arabella; afterall I had KIri and Gundula, but most of the Zurich productions I have are very good and even though Renee (and Muff and Kallisch)was the only artist whose work I knew I thought it was worth the plunge. And as far as Fleming, I am glad I did. As an actor she has improved immensely since the taping of the Capriccio--a self-absorbed interpretation created to draw attention to herself at the expense of others. This is not the case with her Arabella, but what a pity that Morton Frank Larsen (a substitute for Thomas Hampson) was the only other Mandryka available. Here is a lyric baritone, seemingly young (and very good looking) who has no business singing this role. Yes, I know Hampson is a ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Mozart - Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute)

starring: Matti Salminen, Julia Kleiter, Christoph Strehl, Ruben Drole, Eva Liebau
directed by: Martin Kusej, Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Release Date February 12, 2008
As one who owns 15 different interpretations of this opera I find this one musically the best. Iagree with everything everyone else has said including the fact that Harnoncourt is the supreme star of the performance ... his interpretation of the music is ... in my opinion ... prerfection.

BUT there is one exception I have to make in my review ... THE THREE BOYS ... they were the VERY BEST EVER!!!! No one has eulogised over their stunning performances.

Each of their three very different voices blends to give a sublime harmony culminating in the sublime quartet contrasting with the female soprano of Parmina.

Buy this and you will never listen to any other interpretation. It would be wonderful to have a CD version ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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 4
Average Rating:

Mozart - La Finta Giardiniera / Eva Mei, Isabel Rey, Liliana Nikiteanu, Christoph Strehl, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Zurich Opera

starring: Tobias Moretti, Rudolf Schasching, Julia Kleiter, Gabriel Bermudez

Release Date September 26, 2006
This new version of Finta Giardiniera is one of the best performances I've seen on DVD of a lesser known Mozart opera. Although many people might find the production to be modern, I think it is very well conceived. It is set more or less in the 50's and the stage is always the same but there are a few changes with the lights and some props that are brought in that give you the idea of a garden in a big house. The acting of all the singers is impressive, specially because it is more difficult to make people laugh than to make them cry. They are all constantly doing things, although it is their key moment and this gives the performance a lot of action to look at. Harnoncourt is one of the best Mozart conductors and he makes the orchestra shine throughout the 3 hours. ... Read More: