Idoménée

Hippolyte et Aricie

Baldassarre Galuppi was considered the leading exponent of Venetian comic opera, if not the absolute creator. Though he was shortly forgotten after his death, opera buffa gave him international fame, and it's only recently that his serious operas have begun to receive serious attention. Composed according to tradition, with the use of new arias displaying various affetti (fury, contrast, outrage) as well as others borrowed from contemporary operas, this dramma per musica is a consistent work, where music and text are one, and the seven characters and their emotions are strongly portrayed. The opera takes place in Olimpia during the games, and focuses on a complicated love intrigue.

Francesco Cavalli, a natural successor to Monteverdi, was the most famous and influential Italian opera composer during the mid-17th century. Cardinal Mazarin, chief minister to the king, commissioned Cavalli to create a Parisian spectacle to celebrate the wedding of the ‘Sun King’ Louis XIV and the Infanta of Spain. Ercole amante (‘Hercules in Love’) was the flattering subject chosen for this regal extravaganza combining larger-than-life characters with mythology, and genuine human emotions with natural and cosmic phenomena. The result is a sumptuous Baroque spectacle, conceived on a vast scale in this lavish production by directors Valerie Lesort and Christian Hecq.

Nicholas McGegan conducts the Festspieleorchester Gottingen in this production of Handel's opera, recorded live at the Internationale Handel-Festspiele Gottingen, with performances from Tim Mead, Marie Arnet and Kirsten Blaise.

In Tamerlano, Handel defied rules both written and tacit—offering a main role to a mature tenor at a time when the castrato voice dominated; and not shying away from shocking scenes that other composers approached hesitantly, like suicide. Pierre Audi’s elegant, minimalist staging allows an all-star cast of singers to highlight the work’s many dramatic elements, proving that Baroque opera can still move and thrill us as it did 300 years ago!

The opera Arsilda, regina di Ponto by Antonio Vivaldi, staged at the Slovak National Theatre in Bratislava, by David Radok.

Like Handel’s Orlando (1732) and Ariodante (1734), Alcina derives from the narrative material in Ariosto’s Orlando furioso. The story of the sorceress Alcina, an initially hedonistic, manipulative woman who later finds herself a victim of love, fits into the genre of the ‘magical opera’ with numerous magical elements, but Handel achieved considerable emotional authenticity in his characterisations. This makes Alcina one of the most deeply felt and multifaceted operas. ‘You may despise what you like ; but you cannot contradict Handel,’ said the Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw. As in Tamerlano, Pierre Audi based this production on the stage at the baroque theatre at Drottningholm, for which he originally developed the directing concept. His set is thus based on the principles of perspective, with wings in the form of painted panels. The result is marvellous modern musical theatre in a historizing frame.

Before the opera begins, King Bertarido has been defeated in battle by Grimoaldo, who has usurped his throne. Bertarido has been able to escape and has allowed rumours of his death to circulate in the hopes of rescuing his wife Rodelinda, their young son Flavio and his sister Eduige, who he had to leave behind. Returning in secret he discovers that Grimoaldo, despite being pledged to marry Eduige, is pursuing Rodelinda relentlessly, determined to force her into marriage if she refuses to willingly love him. Handel wrote some of his most beautiful and characterful music for Rodelinda. Hatred and despair, thwarted love and resentment, and a fierce desire for revenge all combine to make a narrative of extraordinary power and potency. For Garsington Opera’s 2025 production, director Ruth Knight collaborated with designer Leslie Travers for this Handel masterpiece which was conducted by baroque specialist Peter Whelan.

Handel’s Rinaldo was presented at the 2018 Festival della Valle d’Itria in its rare Neapolitan version of 1718, reconstructed from historical sources by musicologist Giovanni Andrea Sechi. Created in Naples by Leonardo Leo and other composers after the opera’s success in London, this version incorporates additional music, comic characters and intermezzi, and was performed in modern times for the first time. Fabio Luisi conducted the baroque ensemble La Scintilla, with Teresa Iervolino as Rinaldo and Carmela Remigio as Armida. Giorgio Sangati’s colourful, rock-inspired production transformed the protagonists into pop-culture figures, including Rinaldo as Freddie Mercury and Armida as Cher.

Qing (i.e. Qin) Xianglian was the wife of a man named Chen Shimei, who won the first title of national examination and awarded as husband of the emperor's daughter. Then Qing (i.e. Qin) sues Chen as a murderer who plans to kill his wife and son. In spite of the royal power, gownsman Bao Zhen settles the lawsuit and sentences Chen to serve his head.

Born on a sharecropping plantation in Northern Florida, Ray Charles went blind at seven. Inspired by a fiercely independent mom who insisted he make his own way, He found his calling and his gift behind a piano keyboard. Touring across the Southern musical circuit, the soulful singer gained a reputation and then exploded with worldwide fame when he pioneered coupling gospel and country together.

*NSYNC performs their No Strings Attached Tour in Rio, Brazil

A crazy journey into the night.

Pietro Mascagni's opera recorded in 2009. Conductor Stefano Ranzani leads the orchestra and chorus of the Zurich Opera House, with performances by Argentinian tenor Jose Cura and soprano Pauletta Marrocu.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded live at Fuji Rock Festival 2006. Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata, Japan July 29, 2006.

Get to know the inspiring creative journey of the influential King of Reggae, as told by some of the closest people in his inner circle.

A look back at the days when the Beatles courted America through appearances on the Ed Sullivan TV show, as well as their album, “Meet the Beatles.”

The story of Bad Company, the British rock group who sold millions in the U.S. and abroad, and their reign at the top during the early to mid-1970s.

In the wake of legendary frontman Bon Scott’s death, a virtually unknown singer steps into the breach and helps AC/DC come back with a classic album.

In 1984, David Byrne put together a TV special on the Talking Heads for U.K. TV’s Channel 4, a 68-minute mix of live material filmed at Wembley Arena, interviews with the band, TV news clips, commercials and other various bits of found footage and sound.