Hippolyte et Aricie
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!
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.
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.
Elvis Presley & Pat Boone were two of the hottest forces on the early rock ‘n’ roll music scene in the 1950’s. In this toe-tapping documentary, the good-nature chart-topping rivalry between the duo is explored through rare footage and newsreels. Interviews include Dick Clark, Tom Jones, Kenny Rogers, Glen Campbell, Phyllis McGuire, Bill Medley, Arlene Dahl, Joe Esposito, Shirley Jones and others.
Filmed during summer 2019, Jesus Is King brings Kanye West’s famed Sunday Service to life in the Roden Crater, visionary artist James Turrell’s never-before-seen installation in Arizona’s Painted Desert. This one-of-a-kind experience features songs arranged by West in the gospel tradition along with new music from his forthcoming album.
Two of the best fishermen in the city, umrui aka Dj Mafia and dj bullins, went to the deepest waters of the ocean and fished for sounds never heard before. Converting electronic music to simple and humble Portugueseness, we talk about our great battles, the love that people feel for great legends, and even the most ridiculous moments of the pandemic.
The Spirit of Christmas
MyGO!!!!!'s fourth solo live concert.
The Streamers: Live in GelreDome (deel 1)
The Streamers: Live in GelreDome (deel 2)
The struggles of a group of outcasts living in "Yentown", in an alternate-future Japan.
Mark Hunter, a lonely high school student, uses his shortwave radio to moonlight as the popular pirate DJ "Hard Harry." When his show gets blamed for a teen committing suicide, the students clash with high school faculty and the authorities.
Mélanie Prouvost, a ten-year-old butcher's daughter, is a gifted pianist. That is why she and her parents decide that she sit for the Conservatory entrance exam. Although Mélanie is very likely to be admitted, she unfortunately gets distracted by the president of the jury's offhand attitude and she fails. Ten years later, Mélanie becomes her page turner, waiting patiently for her revenge.
2012 was an epic year for the return of Australian stalwarts Cold Chisel, playing a massive sold out tour and releasing their first studio album, No Plans, in 14 years. There is no better way to commemorate and preserve this period of time by releasing The Live Tapes Vol. 1: Live At The Hordern Pavilion. Hard to believe it’s the first live release since Ringside 10 years ago. Two CDs and a DVD (or BluRay) makes for an awesome package with all the hits such as Flame Trees, Khe Sanh, Cheap Wine and Choir Girl, plus a taster of newer material also.
Tigran Hamasyan, Jan Bang & guest Eivind Aarset - The Punkt Festival
Istvan Varju a.k.a. Kanya is a track driver. He drives alone on the roads and listens to the radio. We're In the middle of seventies, the radio broadcasts hungarian beat music. He is convinced that interesting and significant events in the life happen on the roads, so we should go, go and go in order not to miss something.
In Benidorm, a mecca for impersonators of live singers, Dani doesn't want to be just a cover. He will meet Sandra and discover authenticity, love and what it means not to be one more.