CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Once Upon a Crime

starring: Joss Ackland, Alessandro Amen, Geoffrey Andrews, Francesco Angrisano, James Belushi

Release Date December 02, 2003
I laughed three times. The script was extraordinarily weak. John Candy could not have been that bad an actor. Richard Lewis was, again, playing Woody Allen. John Belushi was trying to be his brother. And the butler did it! Pathetic.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Verdi - Falstaff / Muti, Maestri, Frittoli, Florez, Frontali, Antonacci, Busseto Teatro Verdi

starring: Barbara Frittoli, Ambrogio Maestri, Juan Diego Florez, Roberto Frontali, Riccardo Muti

Release Date November 18, 2003
Famous Verdi`s operatic last words: "Tutto nel mondo e burla, l`uomo e nato burlone burlon" would translate in something like "Everything in this world is a tease. Human beings were born teasers". Everytime I listen at this opera I get the strange feeling that indeed, old Verdi has been teasing us with an opera that breaks every single stylistic paradigm, demonstrating to the hypercritical young composers of his times (including Arrigo Boito himself) that old Verdi could rule even on the territory of the verismo. If I should have to define Falstaff with a single word that would be: "Exquisite". The monumental darkness of Othello and the Requiem are left behind and Falstaff rises as a completely fresh, "young" and enlightened approach to the ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Rossini - Guglielmo Tell / Zancanaro, Merritt, Studer, Surjan, d¿Intino, Muti, La Scala Opera

starring: Giorgio Zancanaro, Chris Merritt, Riccardo Muti

Release Date June 15, 2004
I will say outright that although I'm not truly qualified to judge the quality of the performers due to my lack of musical training, I can honestly say from an amateurs perspective that the music (both vocal and instrumental elements) is outstanding. My critical eye drifts more towards the production than the music for this DVD.

I've bought a little over 12 opera performances on DVD and had yet to experience the cliché, melodramatic acting that has become anecdotal to how contemporary culture views opera until this production of Guglielmo Tell. The stage direction here is horribly cliché and pretentious. All those cheesy dramatic arm flourishes, self-pitying pouts, awkward embraces, and every other behavioural opera stereotype is present in abundance ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Mozart - Die Zauberflote

starring: Rene Pape, Diana Damrau, Paul Groves, Franz Grundheber, Christian Gerhaher
directed by: Pierre Audi

Release Date January 09, 2007
I've read so many bad reviews of the M/22 productions, I was totally surprised by this one. I loved it!!! The cast was super; the singing glorious! The special effects, colorful, modern art scenery and costumes were perfect for an otherworldly fantasy opera. I think this production would please Mozart!

I particularly enjoyed Genia Kuhmeier as Pamina and Diana Damrau as the Queen of the Night. I was not familiar with any of the cast except Paul Groves, whom I admire, and everyone else was a very pleasant surprise. I didn't think anyone could equal Natalie Dessay as the Queen of the Night, but Diana Damrau's performance was right on par. That is my highest compliment.

This production has everything. I recommend it!

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Verdi - Attila / Ramey, Studer, Zancanaro, Kaludov, Gavazzi, Muti, La Scala Opera

starring: Samuel Ramey, Cheryl Studer, Kaludi Kaludov, Riccardo Muti, Ernesto Gavazzi
directed by: Giorgio Zancanaro

Release Date January 18, 2005
It was good. I've received the product in according to my expectation time

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

New Year's Concert 2004 - Wiener Philharmoniker, Riccardo Muti

starring: The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Riccardo Muti

Release Date February 10, 2004
It was good. I've received the product in according to my expectation time

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Pergolesi - Lo Frate 'Nnamorato / Corbelli, Focile, Norberg-Schulz, di Nissa, D¿Intino, Felle, Muti, La Scala Opera

starring: Luciana D'Intino, Alessandro Corbelli, Amelia Felle, Bernadette Manca di Nissa, Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz
directed by: Nuccia Focile

Release Date August 17, 2004
Too late did I realize that this opera was baroque...which I really don't care for. I find the music monotonous! And, I would not normally review a baroque opera for that reason. Let those who enjoy and appreciate it influence the rest.

BUT, I have to comment on the wonderful performance of Alessandro Corbelli as Marcaniello. I love this guy!!! He deserves an academy award for his singing and acting. He was made to look like an old man with an artificial hooked nose, a ridiculous wig and a bad case of gout. He was hilarious! He's the only reason I watched the whole thing, which otherwise dragged on and on and on...every song sung four times at least. (I kept thinking, "Make it stop!")

In all fairness, everything about this pastel production was ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Mozart - Cosi fan Tutte / Dessi, Ziegler, Corbelli, Scarabelli, Kundlak, Desderi; Muti, La Scala Opera

starring: Daniela Dessi, Jozef Kundlak, Delores Ziegler, Alessandro Corbelli, Riccardo Muti
directed by: Adelina Scarabelli

Release Date September 21, 2004
In several of the scenes in Act Two, the conductor Muti, larger than life, is superimposed upon the stage action, in some cases completely blocking out the singers. I found this disconcerting, particularly distracting as the opera is ending. None of the reviewers have mentioned this; if I had known, I should never have purchased this DVD version of the opera. I have never seen such disrespect for the performers, nor such disregard for viewers like me who want to watch the performance, not the conductor.

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Mozart - Don Giovanni / Alvarez, Pieczonka, Antonacci, Kirchschlager, d'Arcangelo, Schade, Regazzo, Selig, Muti, Vienna Opera

starring: Anna Caterina Antonacci, Adrianne Pieczonka, Ildebrando d'Arcangelo, Riccardo Muti, Angelika Kirchschlager

Release Date June 21, 2005
This is a beautiful version of Don Giovanni with a very attractive and
talented cast of singers. Ildebrando D'Arcangelo is such a charming and
wonderful singer. Anna Caterina Antonacci is magnificent, as always.
She makes a strong and sympathetic Donna Elvira. Kirchshlager is
outstanding. Carlos Alvarez, as Don Giovanni, is quite believable!
It may not be "operatically correct" to say so, but he is Sexy!
A fabulous singer, a wonderful actor, and really handsome!
Many a soprano or mezzo would find this Don Giovanni hard to resist.
Also, I personally found the costume changes interesting and
fun. I don't know what all the fuss was about. Opera is entertainment,
and having different interpretations of classic work, can be great if
it ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Rossini - Moise et Pharaon / Frittoli, Ganassi, Abdrazakov, Schrott, Filianoti, Muzek, Giuseppini, Ceron, Surguladze, Muraro, Muti, La Scala Opera

starring: Ildar Abdrazakov, Erwin Schrott, Giuseppe Filianoti, Tomislav Muzek, Giorgio Giuseppini
directed by: Carlo Battistoni

Release Date November 15, 2005
Rossini reworked his Italian "Mose in Egitto" of 1818 into the French Grand Opera "Moise et Pharaon" in 1827 and produced a Grand operatic spectacle. Though some of the intimacy of "Mose" is lost, the overall effect of larger than life dramatic forces at work is overwelming. The La Scala production is right on target. The chorus does itself proud. I replay time and again the great choruses. WOW, what sound, what force, what excitement! The soloist are also very good. The Moise of Abdrazakov is commanding and believable as a leader of his people agaist all odds. The voice I would like to hear in more Rossini is that of the Amenophis, Giuseppe Filanoti. A sweet, subtle sound with bel canto ability. The Ballet is silly. That scarecrow prima should have retired decades ago; the men were athletic/good. I certainly hope La ... Read More: