"Actor: Piotr Beczala"

• Johann Strauss: Simplicius -- Zurich Opera/Welser-Most | DVD | (21/02/2003) from £6.07   |  Saving you £18.92 (311.70%)   |  RRP £24.99

  This is a superb performance of excellent, long-forgotten music. Simplicius was lost for more than a century, but when it was recovered (including a few patches for missing parts), the Zurich Opera House welcomed it back with a production worthy of a historic event. Johann Strauss II, like most comic geniuses, had a lifelong wish to produce something deeply serious. Parts of Simplicius come close to that goal, but then a delectable tune in 3/4 time pops up and we are back in the realm of the waltz king, enjoying it all the more because of the contrast. In both styles, the music is wonderful and Franz Welser-Most conducts with exactly the right touch. The absurdist set designs of Johann Engels and the stage direction of David Pountney sometimes call Hieronymus Bosch to mind. This production puts detailed plot summaries on the screen during the overture and at other strategic point--a good idea because the plot is complicated and slightly absurd. It is set during the Thirty Years War and is full of hidden identities, unreasonable rules and sudden plot twists. Besides various tangled love pairings, and the idiocies of war, the plot centres on the figure of Simplicius, a holy simpleton like Candide or Parsifal, and his comic encounters with the realities of love and war. The story is full of colourful characters, all sung and acted with distinction. Michael Volle is a hermit who has raised his son Simplicius (Martin Zysset) in isolation from humanity until, at age 20, he is abducted by soldiers and comes into contact with reality. Other vivid performances are given by Rolf Haunstein as a rather absurd general, Elizabeth Magnuson as his silly daughter, Oliver Widmer as an astrologer, and Louise Martini as Schnappslotte, who sells liquor to the soldiers. Martina Jankova steals the show as her daughter Tilly, and Liliana Nikiteanu makes much of a small role as a Swedish spy. --Joe McLellan

• Eugene Onegin: Metropolitan Opera (Gergiev) | Blu Ray | (24/02/2014) from £18.89   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

• Opera Night 2007 - Deutsche Oper Berline - For The German Aids Foundation | DVD | (03/03/2008) from £21.58   |  Saving you £-1.59 (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Chorus Of The Deutsche Oper Berlin Orchestra Of The Deutsche Oper Berlin Conducted By Lawrence Foster Live from the Deutsche Oper Berlin

• Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor | Blu Ray | (18/06/2013) from £16.00   |  Saving you £5.99 (37.44%)   |  RRP £21.99

  NOTICE: Polish Release, cover may contain Polish text/markings. The disk DOES NOT have English audio and subtitles.

• Rigoletto: Metropolitan Opera (Mariotti) | DVD | (03/06/2013) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £16.99

  The sought-after lyric tenor Piotr Beczala, is the womanizing Duke in this new production of Verdi's Rigoletto from the Metropolitan Opera. Zeljko Lu�i� sings the title role and Diana Damrau sings Rigoletto's daughter Gilda. This DVD and Blu-ray release appears in the Verdi year 2013, as music lovers around the world celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of Italy's beloved composer. Director Michael Mayer has placed his new production of Verdi's towering tragedy in Las Vegas in 1960 - an i...

• Ioan Holender Farewell Concert: Live From the Vienna State Opera | DVD | (01/11/2010) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  A star-studded benefit concert to celebrate Ioan Holender's farewell after 19 years as the director of one of the world's leading and most famous opera houses. The highly acclaimed cast was headed by brilliant singers such as Diana Damrau, Natalie Dessay, Angelika Kirchschlager, Waltraud Meier, Anna Netrebko, Pjotr Beczala, Plcido Domingo, Thomas Hampson, Leo Nucci, Thomas Quasthoff, Ramon Vargas and many others. No fewer than twelve conductors including Marco Armiliato, Bertrand de Billy, Fabio Luisi, Zubin Mehta, Antonio Pappano and Franz Welser-Mst led the way through a program lasting over four hours at the fully-packed Wiener Staastoper.

• Rigoletto: Metropolitan Opera (Mariotti) | Blu Ray | (03/06/2013) from £20.61   |  Saving you £2.64 (13.64%)   |  RRP £21.99

  NOTICE: Polish Release, cover may contain Polish text/markings. The disk DOES NOT have English audio and subtitles.

• Verdi: Rigoletto (Zurich Opera 2006) (Leo Nucci/ Elena Mouc/ Piotr Beczala/ László Polgár/ Gilbert Deflo/ Nello Santi) (Arthaus: 108057) | Blu Ray | (17/09/2012) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £8.99

  ARTH 108057; ARTHAUS MUSIK - Germania; Classica Lirica

• Mozart - Don Giovanni (Welser-Moest) | DVD | (24/09/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £13.99

  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Don Giovanni - Live From The Opernhaus Zurich.

• Mozart - Die Entfuhrung Aus Dem Serail (Konig, Zurich Oo) | DVD | (05/06/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £22.99

  The opera Die Entfuhrung aus dem serail in three acts composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• Verdi - Rigoletto (Santi, Orch. of the Zurich Opera House) | Blu Ray | (27/10/2008) from £30.05   |  Saving you £-0.06 (N/A%)   |  RRP £29.99

  A powerful and stirring performance of Verdi's Rigoletto recored at the Zurich Opera House.

• Mozart: Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) -- Zurich/Welser-Most | DVD | (27/09/2002) from £25.00   |  Saving you £4.99 (19.96%)   |  RRP £29.99

  L's Bop' is the first work of the 'Very Special Concert' and at once points the was for the evening. Joe Henderson shows himself to be a wizard with his saxophone; Chick Corea displays his piano virtuosity and Stanley Clarke and Lenny White demonstrates their multi-rhythmical talents on double bass and drums.'Why Wait' begins with an obstinate rhythm form which Henderson develops his interpretation. The music reaches out to ever-widening realms and Henderson chances on three openings for solo's to give himself free rein for his interpretation. A dialogue follows between Corea and Clarke with the latter amply demonstrating his creativity on the double bass in the closing sequence. As a finale the four instruments again form an ensemble and for a second time we begin to recognise the theme of 'Why Wait .In the introduction of his composition '500 Miles High' Corea reveals his musical foundation with his typically classical idiom. The intensifying drive of the rhythmical power inspires White Clarke and Corea to peak form. A veritable pyrotechnics of musical ideas ignites and the composition ends on an open note so to speak .

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Mozart 22 - Don Giovanni | DVD | (19/03/2007) from £40.48   |  Saving you £-15.49 (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Popular American baritone Thomas Hampson stars as the amoral Don who is dragged to hell at the end of Mozart's great operatic dramma giocoso. In Martin Kusej's production Mozart's darkest opera is presented as a 20th Century morality tale set in a world where images of female sexuality constantly surround us. A cast of leading interpreters of the major roles includes Ildebrando D'Arcangelo as the Don's servant Leporello and Christine Sch''fer and Melanie Diener as the wronged Donna Anna and vengeful Donna Elvira. The Vienna Philharmonic is conducted by Daniel Harding. Tracklist includes: Mozart: Don Giovanni - Opening Credits Overture Notte e giorno faticar Leporello ove sei? Ma qual mai s'offre o Dei Fuggi crudele fuggi! Ors'' spicciati presto Ah! chi mi dice mai - Udisti? qualche bella Chi '' l''? Madamina il catalogo '' questo In questa forma dunque Giovinette che fate all'amore Manco male '' partita Ho capito signor s''! Alfin siam liberati L'' ci darem la mano Fermati scellerato! Ah fuggi il traditor Mi par ch'oggi il demonio si diverta Non ti fidar o misera Povera sventurata! Don Ottavio... son morta! Or sai chi l'onore Come mai creder deggio Dalla sua pace Io deggio ad ogni patto Fin ch'han dal vino Masetto... senti un po'... Batti batti o bel Masetto Guarda un po' come seppe questa strega Presto presto... pria ch'ei venga Bisogna aver corragio Riposate vezzose ragazze

• Rigoletto - Verdi | DVD | (01/10/2007) from £23.44   |  Saving you £1.55 (6.20%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Giuseppe Verdi: Rigoletto (Live Recording from the Zurich Opera House 2006)