CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Verdi - Don Carlos (Original French Version) / Pappano, Alagna, Hampson, Theatre du Chatelet

starring: José van Dam, Roberto Alagna, Thomas Hampson, Karita Mattila, Waltraud Meier
directed by: Yves-André Hubert

Release Date September 16, 2003
I have a problem with this DVD on a technical level. The performances from all is top-notch, with the possible exception of Meier's Veil Song. She ducks all the coloratura throughout the whole aria, which is really a shame. She is otherwise excellent. It is so great hearing Alagna singing French. He is really great as Don Carlos, as is Jose van Dam as the king. Antonio Pappano's conducting is also really great.
But the sound on this DVD is really bad. I don't have anything like a high end sound system, just a cheapest Denon receiver with HDMI (AVR 2308) and five speakers that are 10 to 15 years old in the same price range, but I was truly disappointed with the sound quality on the DVD. This is a long opera, so it puzzles me why Warner ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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 3
Average Rating:

Verdi - Don Carlos / Pappano, Alagna, Hampson, Theatre du Chatelet

starring: José van Dam, Roberto Alagna, Thomas Hampson, Karita Mattila, Waltraud Meier
directed by: Yves-André Hubert

Release Date April 27, 1999
I have a problem with this DVD on a technical level. The performances from all is top-notch, with the possible exception of Meier's Veil Song. She ducks all the coloratura throughout the whole aria, which is really a shame. She is otherwise excellent. It is so great hearing Alagna singing French. He is really great as Don Carlos, as is Jose van Dam as the king. Antonio Pappano's conducting is also really great.
But the sound on this DVD is really bad. I don't have anything like a high end sound system, just a cheapest Denon receiver with HDMI (AVR 2308) and five speakers that are 10 to 15 years old in the same price range, but I was truly disappointed with the sound quality on the DVD. This is a long opera, so it puzzles me why Warner didn't ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Don Carlos [Region 2]

starring: José van Dam, Roberto Alagna, Thomas Hampson, Karita Mattila, Waltraud Meier
directed by: Yves-André Hubert

Release Date
I have a problem with this DVD on a technical level. The performances from all is top-notch, with the possible exception of Meier's Veil Song. She ducks all the coloratura throughout the whole aria, which is really a shame. She is otherwise excellent. It is so great hearing Alagna singing French. He is really great as Don Carlos, as is Jose van Dam as the king. Antonio Pappano's conducting is also really great.
But the sound on this DVD is really bad. I don't have anything like a high end sound system, just a cheapest Denon receiver with HDMI (AVR 2308) and five speakers that are 10 to 15 years old in the same price range, but I was truly disappointed with the sound quality on the DVD. This is a long opera, so it puzzles me why Warner didn't have the opera ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Offenbach - Les Brigands / Gibault, Trempont, Chevalier, Lyon Opera

starring: Colette Alliot-Lugaz, Valérie Chevalier, Monique Barscha, Michel Trempont, Jean-Luc Viala
directed by: Yves-André Hubert

Release Date April 16, 2002
Yes, a couple of glasses of champagne make the perfect accompaniment to this 5 star production, but try not to drink the whole bottle like I did (ouch).

Let's get the negatives out of the way first. It has been commented in the previous review that the transposition to 1920s Chicago doesn't work, as the dialogue still refers to mountain passes and dark tunnels etc. This is a spot on observation. However, in it's favour is that all the female characters are dressed in 1920s style, and mighty elegant they look to.

Other than that, not to mention an improbable plot, this production positively sparkles. Michel Trempont is superb as always, not only does he sing well but he also has a very distinctive speaking voice. But the real stars of this production ... Read More: