"Actor: Maria Ewing"

• Le Nozze Di Figaro - Mozart | DVD | (09/05/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £21.99

  This luxuriously cast film of Mozart's beloved opera buffa features a host of legendary interpretations including Kiri Te Kanawa's exquisite Countess Almaviva Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau as her philandering husband Hermann Prey as the wily title character Mirella Freni a delight as his no less savvy bride Susanna and Maria Ewing hilarious as the lovesick page Cherubino. Director Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's imaginative camera-work tellingly emphasizes character and mood of this immortal story of love intrigue and class struggle set against the historical background of ancien regime Europe sliding inexorably towards revolution.

• Monteverdi: L'Incoronazione di Poppea -- Glyndebourne | DVD | (26/04/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Peter Hall's lavishly staged L'Incoronazione di Poppea celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Glyndebourne in 1984 with a performance of Monteverdi's most celebrated and also most controversial opera. The score is conductor Raymond Leppard's "enhanced" edition, which he had premiered at Glyndebourne back in 1962, fully scored for a large orchestra. Much debate circles around the forces appropriate for performing Monteverdi's decidedly minimalist work, but one thing at least is certain: it didn't sound anything like this in the 17th century! Never mind, however inauthentic it may be, Leppard's big and beefy orchestral updating--including a fulsome continuo group with pairs of harpsichords, organs and cellos, as well as lute, guitar and harp--supports the weighty melodrama nicely. The singers, too, are full-bodied, led by a fruity Maria Ewing as Poppea (in various revealing outfits) sounding suitably seductive, and Dennis Bailey, oddly lovely of voice as Nero (one of the opera's controversial aspects is the heroic central role accorded to these two thoroughly wicked characters). Perhaps best of all is Robert Lloyd as Seneca, who not only boasts a profound, reverberant bass, but also looks the part under beard and toga. With an onstage chorus to lament him, Seneca's death scene is the most moving in the opera. Peter Hall's clever staging keeps the Olympians--Love, Fortune and Virtue--permanently watching from above as the venal humans below act out this tragedy of poisoned love. The no-frills DVD has subtitles in English, French, German and Spanish. --Mark Walker

• Rossini: Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) -- Glyndebourne | DVD | (26/04/2004) from £6.59   |  Saving you £12.66 (237.52%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Funny fast and furious Rossini's masterpiece Il Barbiere di Siviglia is one of the most popular of comic operas with its sparkling and stylish score. John Cox's innovative production for Glyndebourne Festival Opera with good looking authentic designs by William Dudley put plenty of fizz into this old favourite and was a real hit with the critics. The usual Glyndebourne hallmarks of team work and extended rehersal paid handsome dividends in this production filmed in 1982.

• Maria Ewing - Dido And Aeneas | DVD | (10/11/2008) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Purcell''s much-loved tragic masterpiece is an intense tale of heroism passion betrayal and ultimate tragedy played out against a backdrop of fiery rituals evil spells and pageantry. This film was first shown on television in 1995 to celebrate the tercentenary of Purcell''s death. The American soprano Maria Ewing stars as Dido with Karl Daymond as Aeneas. They head an excellent British cast including Rebecca Evans as Belinda Sally Burgess as the Sorceress Patricia Rozario as the First Enchantress and James Bowman as the Voice of Mercury. The Collegium Musicum 90 is conducted by Richard Hickox and the film was directed by Peter Maniura. This production of Dido & Aeneas was filmed entirely on location at Hampton Court House in 1995 where spectacular settings were created in the house and grounds by the Dutch designer Niek Kortekaas. Director Peter Maniura said of the production ''Purcell''s masterpiece is a miracle of dramatic compression. Inspired by the paintings of the 17th Century I have tried to recreate a rich filmic world which places a classical love story with its heroes and heroines magic and intrigue in a Baroque setting''.

• Mozart - Requiem | DVD | (13/11/2006) from £21.49   |  Saving you £-4.50 (N/A%)   |  RRP £16.99

• Carmen | DVD | (07/03/2005) from £16.07   |  Saving you £-10.08 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Bizet's powerful opera staged at London's Earls Court in Steven Pimlott's production....

• Salome | DVD | (09/09/2002) from £20.00   |  Saving you £17.99 (89.95%)   |  RRP £37.99

  A one-act production performed at The Royal Opera House Covent Garden with Maria Ewing in the lead role ably supported by Michael Devlin and Kenneth Riegel. The Orchestra of The Royal Opera House is conducted by Edward Downes. Directed by Derek Bailey. English subtitles.

• Bizet - Carmen | DVD | (07/03/2005) from £26.98   |  Saving you £-18.99 (N/A%)   |  RRP £7.99

  Bizet's powerful opera staged at London's Earls Court in Steven Pimkott's production.

• Carmen - Glyndebourne Festival Opera | DVD | (24/10/2005) from £24.28   |  Saving you £-6.29 (-35.00%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Bernard Haitink conducts Maria Ewing and Barry McCauley in an interpretation of Bizet's Carmen. Maria Ewing's electric portrayal of the gypsy Carmen is one of the finest in recent memory. Her dark alluring looks and feline grace are exactly suited to playing the hot-blooded Spanish temptress who charms men with her sensuous wild spirit. Peter Hall's production filmed in 1985 reveals Bizet's opera as a torid drama of passion blood and squalor with sets by John Bury that capture the earthy warmth of Spain in an unglamorised view of the factory girls of Seville. Barry McCauley is a thrilling Don Jose Micaela is sung by Marie McLaughlin with Bernard Haitink conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

• Highlights From Glyndebourne - Various Artists | DVD | (30/10/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Featuring extracts from Carmen Idomeneo La Cenerentola Orfeo ed Euridice Il Barbiere di Siviglia and L'Incoronazione di Poppea.

• Prima Donna | DVD | (26/10/2009) from £20.23   |  Saving you £-7.98 (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.25

  Prima Donna