Richard Wagner - Lohengrin

Simon Rattle conducts the Berliner Philharmoniker in Stepháne Braunschweig's production of Richard Wagner's Die Walküre. A Festival d'Aix-en-Provence 2007 production, in coproduction with Osterfestspiele Salzburg. Directed for HDTV and video by Don Kent.

This production from Covent Garden is set in Stockholm, and not Boston. With Reri Grist (Oscar), Placido Domingo (Gustavus), Katia Ricciarelli (Amelia), Piero Cappucili (Renato), Patricia Payne (? - the booklet or DVD fails to credit the singer) (Ulrica) and Claudio Abbado in the pit: all at their peak, you just simply cannot go wrong when purchasing this DVD. This performance made me realise why I had fallen in love with opera: beautiful (today one should be thankful) and convincing sets and costumes, and fiery conducting and singing from all the above soloists which leaves you breathless. Domingo as the King (not the Governor of Boston) is simply ravishing! He is so convincing and dashing as Gustavus - I think very few tenors nowadays can even attempt such a convincing vocal and dramatic performance.

The oratorio concerns the Christian martyr Theodora and her Christian-converted Roman lover, Didymus.

Envy played only one show after the worldwide release of their critically acclaimed new album, The Fallen Crimson. In February 2020 – before COVID-19 effectively halted all live music worldwide, Envy performed a crazy, sweaty, sold-out hometown show at LIQUIDROOM, the Tokyo venue that has become sort of an extended living room for the legendary band. “We were lucky that we were able to play this one gig before all live shows were canceled“, says vocalist Testu Fukagawa. “The performance itself is a bit rough and we could probably have performed better, but we wanted to send our fresh feelings to our fans by means of this performance, while they can't see Envy live.”

Elijah Moshinsky’s witty production deftly walks the line between the lighthearted humor and the profound philosophical underpinnings of Strauss and Hofmannsthal’s opera, masterfully conducted here by Met Music Director James Levine. Deborah Voigt stars as Ariadne, the mythical heroine abandoned on the island of Naxos by her lover, and Richard Margison is Bacchus, the young god who eventually takes her away to a new life. The spectacular Natalie Dessay as Zerbinetta leads the troupe of comedians who unsuccessfully try to cheer Ariadne up. Susanne Mentzer is delightful as the young Composer of the opera-within-the-opera, and Wolfgang Brendel sings the Music Master.

John Dexter’s brilliant production of Britten’s searing opera stars Dwayne Croft in the title role of the handsome young sailor whose kindness and innocence cause his downfall. The great James Morris is Claggart, master-at-arms on the 18th-century warship Indomitable, who falsely accuses Billy of inciting a mutiny. Philip Langridge sings Captain Vere, the honest commander who knows that Billy is innocent but finds himself unable to save him. Steuart Bedford, Britten’s close collaborator during the last years of the composer’s life, is on the podium.

In celebration of her upcoming new album Hymn, best-selling soprano Sarah Brightman is in cinemas with an incredible performance. HYMN: Sarah Brightman In Concert was captured live for the big screen from the Festspielhaus in the enchanted Bavarian Alps, known for the historic and captivating Neuschwanstein Castle. Staged in two acts, the performance is a hybrid of a musical film, a classical-crossover program and a large-scale concert production. Brightman is accompanied by her band, the Munich orchestra, a 50-voice choir and the Ludwig Ensemble of dancers. The concert was conceived and created by Sarah Brightman, Anthony Von Laast (Mamma Mia, Beauty and the Beast), and Frank Peterson (Enigma, Andrea Bocelli). Filmed using state-of-the-art video and audio technologies, cinema audiences will also enjoy an exclusive “making of” feature.

La Belle Hélène

Tracklisting: 01. Broken Girl 02. We're Alright 03. World Of Hurt 04. Livin'on Love 05. I Still Cry 06. When We Don't Talk 07. Flying Blind 08. Sister Golden Hair 09. I'd Be Yours 10. Heavenless 11. Fall 12. Have A Little Faith 13. Stuck In The Middle 14. Love Won't Hide 15. Pirate Of Your Soul 16. Puzzle Me 17. Sharp Dressed Men 18. The Other Side 19. Miracle 20. The Great Escape 21. I'm Not So Tough 22. I Love You 23. So Incredible Extra's: *** Music Video’s - So incredible - Miracle - Puzzle me *** Backstage Footage

"Live At Lyon" Recorded at the Vienne Ampitheatre, Lyon, France on July 17, 2006 This bonus DVD was available from The Who's Endless Wire limited edition album

Mozart's Marriage of Figaro is a comedy whose dark undertones explore the blurred boundaries between dying feudalism and emerging Enlightenment. Herman Prey's Figaro is admirably sung in a firm baritone and aptly characterized. So too, is his antagonist, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau as the Count perpetually frustrated by the scheming wiles of Figaro and Susanna, here the perky Mirella Freni, who sings and acts like a dream. The Countess is creamy-voiced Kiri Te Kanawa, and the Cherubino, Maria Ewing, looks just like the horny, teenaged page she's supposed to be. The all-star leads are complemented by worthy supporting singers, the Vienna Philharmonic at the top of its form, and the experienced Mozartian, Karl Böhm conducting a stylishly fleet performance.

Verdi’s grand opera “Aida” is given an intimate treatment in Busetto, Italy, in 2001, in a staging with young singers, all coached by the legendary tenor Carlo Bergonzi and staged by Franco Zeffirelli. The result is an astonishing musical and dramatic piece of theater, proving that with the right mix of ingredients, an opera can be staged in a small theater and still achieve a thrilling and moving effect.

Presented by Theatre Support Fund+, The Shows Must Go On! and National Theatre Live, the world’s most iconic musicals return to the West End stage with a stunning concert performance live from the Palace Theatre. With a multi award winning creative team, a cast of over 50 West End stars and an orchestra made up of the best musicians the West End has to offer, enjoy the biggest celebration of musicals this summer.

Svea hund, complete title Svea Hund på Göta Lejon (Svea Dog at Göta Lejon), was a Swedish variety show produced by AB Svenska Ord. It was written by Hans Alfredsson and Tage Danielsson, commonly known as Hasseåtage and directed by Tage. The show premièred on 15 February (although it had a sneak première on 9 February) 1976 on the theater Göta Lejon in Stockholm. It was the last of the three "Dog-revues"; the first was Gröna hund (Green Dog) the second being Gula Hund (Yellow Dog). Both Hasse and Tage starred in various roles. Other cast members were Gösta Ekman, Monica Zetterlund, Lena Nyman, and Tommy Körberg. The song quartet EBBA (Lena Eriksson, Lars Bagge, Kersint Bagge and Bo Andersson) and Gunnar Svenssons Bandhundband.

Multi-Platinum selling country superstar George Strait is captured for the first time on video in this dynamic concert performance shot at the Dallas Reunion Arena on New Years night 1986/1987.

Following a sold-out 2013 tour, three Olivier Award nominations and over 10 million YouTube hits for Cheap Flights (their infamous anthem to budget air travel), Dillie Keane, Adele Anderson and Liza Pulman continue to celebrate over 30 years of Fascinating Aïda with their terrific new show Charm Offensive. Expect topical new songs hot off the press, plus some outrageous old favourites, as Fascinating Aïda continue to grow old disgracefully!

Fishmans' legendary final live performance under the Fishmans name before frontman Shinji Sato's passing. The show was recorded and filmed at Akasaka Blitz, a Japanese music venue based in Minato, Tokyo, on December 28, 1998, and released as an album nine months later. The album title roughly translates to "A Men's Farewell: December 28th, 1998", a reference to the tour name to bassist Yuzuru Kashiwabara's departure and to signal an "end of an era" for the band's three piece era.

Experience Claudio Monteverdi's three-act opera in the environment it was meant to be seen with this release of a filmed performance captured live during a 2000 production staged at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence in France. Mireille Delunsch, Anne Sofie Von Otter, and Sylvie Brunet star, and conductor Marc Minkowski leads the Les Musiciens du Louvre, Grenoble. Klaus Michael Grüber directs for stage.

Live performance, part of Monteverdi cycle staged by Oper Zürich with Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducting the Zürich Opera House Monteverdi Ensemble. Staged and directed by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle

Live performance, part of Monteverdi cycle staged by Oper Zürich with Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducting the Zürich Opera House Monteverdi Ensemble. Staged and directed by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle