CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Mozart - Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute)

starring: Lucia Popp, Kurt Moll, Francisco Araiza, Edita Gruberova, Wolfgang Brendel
directed by: Wolfgang Sawallisch, August Everding

Release Date December 06, 2005
This is a very good performance of The Magic Flute. I must admit, the black-face Monostatos is a little off-putting (what? you can't find a good black tenor for the part?), but the singing is good, and in German (important to me). My favorite version of The Magic Flute is still that of the Düsseldorf Marionettentheater, but since that is not available on DVD, this will have to do.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Richard Strauss - Arabella / Thielemann, Te Kanawa, Brendel, Metropolitan Opera

starring: Kiri Te Kanawa, Wolfgang Brendel, Marie McLaughlin (II), David Kuebler, Helga Dernesch
directed by: Brian Large

Release Date June 19, 2001
i've never seen so many big names in one opera before ; also, nathalie dessay has a little role in act II, but that's not really highlighted ; it's definitely a must-have for anyone who wants 2 hours of not stop beautiful music

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

J. Strauss - Die Fledermaus

starring: Eberhard Wächter, Wolfgang Brendel, Pamela Coburn, Brigitte Fassbaender, Benno Kusche
directed by: Carlos Kleiber, Otto Schenk

Release Date January 11, 2005
BEING 89 YEARS OLD AND HANDICAPPED AND HAVING SEEN THE FLEDERMAUS PERFORMED IN THE VIENNA STAATSOPER IN PERSON IT BROUGHT BACK SPLENDID MEMORIES.IT ALSO BROUGHT BACK WALTER CRONCKITES YEARLY NEW YEARS DAY REPORT FROM VIENNA.
ALL IN ALL LOVELY!

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Saint-Saens - Samson et Dalila / Rudel, Domingo, Verrett, San Francisco Opera

starring: Plácido Domingo, Shirley Verrett, Wolfgang Brendel, Kevin Langan, Arnold Woketaitis
directed by: Kirk Browning

Release Date November 28, 2000
Well, I was very cuorious about this DVD but when i finally got it...what a disappointment!
The perfomance generally is very dull, the acting is boring and sometimes all lacks of director's work are obvious. They sing...rather good...but that's it. Better not see the video. When one watch the seduction scene it's rather hard to pick up how Dalila succeded to seduce Samson...kind of ridiculous. etc
More to this the sound direction of the opera is not really well-done - the voices are pulled straight very loud while the music is rather quite.

2 STARS only - better choose another video of this wonderful opera. For Verrett and Domingo fans only.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Wagner - Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg

starring: Wolfgang Brendel
directed by: Brian Large

Release Date April 20, 2004
I have quite a number of videos/CDs of this opera, which I never tire of hearing. I do like this cast and this production, however spare and updated. If I could only change one thing, I'd put Nicolai Gedda in as Walther. Yes, yes, I know, but Gedda is rather perfect in anything he does - voice, interpretation, language - and I realize he had retired by the time this was taped. So my preference makes no sense at all. So excuse me, please.

I read the best review, in my opinion, and found it was written by Scott Morrison, who invaribly hits the mark (also in my opinion).

This is a most satisfying Meistersinger and I beat Dr. Morrison - I saw it three times over a two-day period and have watched it a number of times since.

One ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Strauss - Die Fledermaus / Kleiber, Coburn, Perry, Bayerische Staatsoper

starring: Eberhard Wächter, Pamela Coburn, Josef Hopferwieser, Benno Kusche, Brigitte Fassbaender
directed by: Brian Large

Release Date June 19, 2001
I saw this opera several times on a vhs tape. Tape quality was poor due to wear. Seeing it on DVD was a huge visual improvement; and, with the audio connected to an external amplifier, I was able to hear the kettle drums reverberation.
Act-3 was boosted with satire to its extreme in this 1987 edition.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Evgeniy Onegin [Region 2]

starring: Mirella Freni, Sandra Walker, Wolfgang Brendel, Peter Dvorsky (II), Nicolai Ghiaurov
directed by: Kirk Browning

Release Date
This version of "Eugene Oneghin" is one of the best; sung on stage, in Russian by Russians with extraordinary voices (all of them), filled with emotion, this interpretation displays all the beauty and sensibility of Ceaikovski's most popular opera.