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Gould's valuable concerto performance
In this video, Gould plays Bagatelle Opus 26, No.3, the F major Variations, Opus 34 and Piano Concerto No.5, Emperor with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra conducted by Karel Ancerl. This video includes straightmusic only and no Gould�fs talk. You may feel a slight eccentric accent inthe very first cadenza. Other than this, performance is punchy and sharp.However, I am not sure that this Emperor, such a competitive pianoconcerto, is the best amongst numerous recordings. On the other hand, Ihave not seen his concerto performance other than one in this video. Thisis a definitely valuable film, if you are a Gould fan. Sound is mono, butgood. Quality of picture is also good. The performance seems to have beenfilmed in the TV studio. I wish that this performance had been in theconcert hall live. I think all works in this video are available on CDs,too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Music Video    4. Performance    5. Performing Arts - Concerts   

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Editorial Review

This ballet may be Tchaikovsky's grandest achievement, Read more

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Reviews (19)

Very good performance
I had never been very interested in Ballet till I found this video by the Royal Ballet of the Covent Garden.
Depressing
As always, the Royal dances in splendid form.The production and sets comes across as a maudlin pen and pencil sketch come to life. Dark, almost menacing, not a shred of joy or exuberance, at least to me. Durante is fabulous techincally, but she looks lost and has a strange look on her face the whole time. Solymosi looks grand and dances beautifully, but he towers over Durante. All in all a disappointment, but not entirely a waste of time.
Beauty Slumbering In Confusing Clutter
The dancing in this production of Sleeping Beauty is mostly delightful, but the staging is a disaster further compromised by the weird camera angles of the filming.
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Subjects:  1. Ballet    2. Ballet Video    3. Classical    4. Performing Arts    5. Performing Arts - Ballet/Dance   

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From the Back Cover:
While the world never seems to be in short supply of great guitarists, it's a rare artist whose approach to the instrument is so strikingly original as to make us step back and reexamine just what the guitar can do -- indeed, just what the guitar is. Indian slide guitarist Vishwa Mohan Bhatt has had such an impact, acknowledged by his 1993 World Music Grammy for A Meeting by the River, his collaboration with Ry Cooder. Since then, Bhatt has recorded several more cross-cultural albums blending Indian music with bluegrass and blues in the company of Taj Mahal, Jerry Douglas and Bela Fleck. But for concertgoers around the globe, Bhatt performs unadulterated Indian classical music on a modified archtop lap-style slide guitar, an instrument so uniquely personal in design that he has christened it the Mohan Vina ('vina' is a rather generic term for several plucked stringed instruments in India). If the Hawaiian guitar were crossbred with the sitar, their offspring would resemble Bhatt's Mohan Vina, replete with resonant sympathetic strings and vocally fluid slides. Bhatt's guru, Pandit Ravi Shankar has written: "The effect of his playing is unique . . . merging the sound and style of guitar and sarod." This video presents Bhatt, accompanied by tabla master Sukhvinder Singh Namadhari, performing four ragas and a folk tune, among them the majestic Yaman, a cornerstone of Hindustani (North Indian) classical music. Bhatt introduces each performance with detailed commentary about his musical life, as well as fascinating remarks about the Mohan Vina, including specifics of tunings and technique. Guitarists and Indian music aficionados alike will find much to admire, enjoy and study in this combined concert video and self-portrait of an artist who alerted the West to the guitar's radical and new possibilities within India's classical music tradition. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. India    2. Indian    3. Indian Classical    4. Int'l & World Music    5. Music Video - New Age    6. Pop   

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Reviews (10)

The Great Bach's youngest son again covers himself in ignominy
Most of PDQ Bach's operas are fairly short (Hansel and Gretel and Ted and Alice; The Stoned Guest). His really long one is mostly lost (Einstein on the Fritz). The Abduction of Figaro is a 3-act extravaganza, almost 2 1/2 hours long, set in Seville, North Africa, and Cuba. Somehow the Minnesota Opera Company was inveigled into performing it in 1984 and William Pierce was hijacked to do the commentary.
You Gotta Love Him
How Schickele can lovingly lampoon - with no intention to destroy - Mozart's greatest operas is a miracle. I couldn't stop laughing. The singers are great. And the dancers in the Corpse de Ballet are wonderful. I work for Peoria (IL) Ballet and I'm recommending this for all our dancers. Yes, it's broad. Yes, it's over the top. But every plaudit of the other reviewers is true. This "opera" is not to be missed, especially if you are a Schickele fan.

Coming out on DVD soon
I've been waiting a long time for this amazing spoof to come out on DVD, and it has finally been announced for early 2004. Read more

Subjects:  1. Comedy    2. Performing Arts - Concerts   

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Reviews (2)

Geraldine Farrar in DeMille's "Carmen"
By 1915, Metropolitan Opera soprano, Geraldine Farrar, had an international reputation. DeMille, looking for the perfect vehicle to introduce her to the screen, had to look no further than one of her mostsuccessful stage roles--Carmen. In fact, by 1915 Farrar had alreadyundertaken the role at the Met opposite none other than Enrico Caruso (whoalso sang opposite Farrar in the first American "MadamaButterfly" at the Met in 1908). Met Opera Star Farrar in DeMille's Carmen
By 1915, Metropolitan Opera soprano, Geraldine Farrar, had an international reputation. DeMille, looking for the perfect vehicle to introduce her to the screen, had to look no further than one of her mostsuccessful stage roles--Carmen. In fact, by 1915 Farrar had alreadyundertaken the role at the Met opposite none other than Enrico Caruso (whoalso sang opposite Farrar in the first American "MadamaButterfly" at the Met in 1908).Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Video    3. Classics (Silents/Avant Garde)    4. Opera / Operetta / Oratorio   

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Reviews (4)

Vissi d'arte incarnate!
Stumbling across this film, made in 1984 by Daniel Schmid, justifies my Netflix bill for an entire year. In today's youth-obsessed culture, where we are eager to shower even the least talented with untold wealth, it is poignant to see artists who have given their very lives for music enduring retirement at Casa di Riposo Verdi in Milan. But enduring on their own terms - you cannot hold an opera stage without a supreme sense of self. Their daily world is full of music and reminiscences of past glories.
Beautiful film!
A warm, bitter-sweet documentary. You have to watch it if you are a singer, you should watch it if you wish to understand what being a singer is about.
For opera fans a MUST, for those with memories a treat
Who wants to see a film about old people? asks director Daniel Schmid in a special feature to the DVD "Tosca's Kiss" on EMI label (7243 5 99785 9). Well, if those old people are retired opera stars living at the Casa Verdi, founded especially for them and those like them, you have a lovely 87-minute film that shows their daily lives, still devoted entirely to opera and sharing their memories. Also sharing their voices, many of which have lasted surprisingly well down through the years.
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The Ceremony of Innocence
Perhaps this film of Benjamin Britten's opera will be on DVD soon.It's the best of Peter Weigl's films of the five that I've seen, and the other four are already available in that format.Like those, 'The Turn of the Screw' is filmed in completely naturalistic settings, and actors replace the singers for the visual portion.It takes awhile to become accustomed to people in elaborate costumes running around the stately home singing the dialogue.The beauty of the scenery makes up for that, and the grossly phallic summer house adds a hint of how Weigl wants to interpret this opera. An extraordinary, beautifully acted and sung rendition
Filmed in Czechoslovakia, with a cast that seems perfectly suited physically to the James' novel's descriptions, Turn of the Screw has the added advantage of Britten's "regulars" (Peter Pears et al)providing the music to which the actors flawlessly lipsynch. The atmosphereevoked visually and musically does full service to both the intricacies andshading of the opera, and to the psychological ambiguities of the plot andcharacters. Truly one of the best filmed, sung, and acted opera videos inrecent memory. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Opera / Operetta / Oratorio    3. Performing Arts    4. Performing Arts - Opera   

Editorial Review

It would be hard to imagine a better performance of Donizetti's comic masterpiece. If there was one role that ideally suited Luciano Pavarotti's voice and stage personality, it was Nemorino, the impoverished and not-very-bright peasant who worships the village's prettiest and richest young woman from a distance, is swindled by a traveling vendor of "miracle" medicines, but wins her hand by dumb luck. The story has comedy, pathos, and a put-down of Wagner's Read more

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Reviews (17)

The Music is the Thing
Pavarotti voice flows through this great music. The kudos for both incredible voice AND saucy acting goes to the lovely Kathleen Battle, ever so spoiled in her role and generous with her upper register. Most funny was Dara as the doctor, I never doubted him for a moment. Luciano, for me, sometimes seems to be winking at us self-consciously, like this is not really me, see me act like a country peasant. Then his great and extended voice grabs me and I feel honored to be in the presence of his singing and Donizetti's music. Afterwards, I felt what a great night at the opera! I'm going back again.

Best Opera DVD ever!
This DVD is a must-have for every opera lover. Shows Pavarotti and Battle at their best on a Donizetti masterpiece. Music is wonderful and delightful to our senses, leting us enjoy every second of the show. Extraordinary!!

Excellente
This is probably the greatest opera production I have ever seen. The singing is first rate quality. Everyone is in fine voice and with this being an opera buffa the singers are throughly enjoying themselves. I would recommend this as an introduction to opera for anyone and for opera fans alike get this one. Mind you there are some flaws with the overall productions like Italians flags waving around when in truth Donizetti never was around for the establishing of an Italian country so that was totally out of place. (I have noticed that the Met has this annoying habit of throwing in flags of today in opera setting of centuries ago)Also there is Pavarotti wearing a green hospital band on his hand. However, this is opera and opera is about singing and I assure you that great singing is what you get in this production. Buy it!!!! WONDERFUL!!! Bravissimo!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Opera / Operetta / Oratorio    3. Performing Arts - Opera   

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Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Artists    3. Documentary    4. Performing Arts    5. V/a Compilations   

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A bright star in her early days
This is the video that influenced me as a performer more than anything else I had ever seen or heard. That liquid golden voice! That beautiful face! My God, that dress--it's hideous! But, who cares. Kiri could perform in a burlap sack and people would still love her. This art song recital is superb. She once again delivers gorgeous singing from beginning to end. Some might say there's nothing else besides beautiful sound; I say, give me something nice to listen to and let me use the text and my imagination. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Opera / Operetta / Oratorio    3. Performing Arts - Opera   

Editorial Review

A favorite of many Gilbert & Sullivan aficionados, Read more

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Reviews (7)

You may as well.
In discussing this BBC/PBS series--conceived to take all of Gilbert and Sullivan and get it over with--many reviewers fault the diction of the casts, but the obscurity is not their fault.The sound is simply not up to basic professional standards.The orchestral music, naturally offstage, is all very well; but, tragically, in this series, whenever anybody turns his head, takes a step either side, or stays where he is when somebody else walks away, he may as well be talking into a barrel. Or singing into one, which of course is even more disappointing.
Would have been 1 star without Anne Collins
Skip it.It falls on its own flat feet.Get the brilliant Douglas/Olsen/Warlow Australian Opera production instead. It's a live on-stage performance and hysterically perfect!

Very good traditional Gilbert & Sullivan
This is a very good and very traditional production of Patience. The singing is very good, the costumes & staging are very good, and were it not for the poor diction of some of the singers which makes the words hard to understand, I would have rated it 5 stars. ... Read more

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Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. How To - Musical Instruction    3. Movie    4. Performing Arts    5. Special Interest   

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Magnificent !
I am not very fond of opera but Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni is simply fantastic. I have seen this opera performed in Ribeir�o Preto, Brazil and I loved it. Then I decided to buy this video, with the opera recorded in Siena, Italy. Shirley Verrett as Santuzza is terrific. One of the best performance I have ever seen in my life. The orchestra is also wonderful. This video is one of my favorite ones and I recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Opera / Operetta / Oratorio    3. Opera/Operetta    4. Performing Arts - Opera   

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Diamond in the Rough
The "Inspired by Bach" video series builds a different video vignette around each of Bach's Six Cello Suites.This particular installment follows cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Japanese Kabuki dancer Tamasaburo Bando as they choreograph a Kabuki dance to Bach's Cello Suite No. 5.The video begins with a behind-the-scenes look at their collaboration, as they work both in tandem and in isolation on the project, and ends with an uninterrupted performance of the finished product. Ecstatic grief
This performance moved me to tears and held me there. The different facets and feelings of grief were portrayed in such beautiful purity that I felt the music and dance pierced through me, turning my own grief to art.Transformative.

Bach, Kabuki& a Cello
A wonderfully realized film, bringing two brilliant artists together with a visionary filmaker's sure touch.Ma is inspiring and inspired, and Tamasaburo Bando is incredible, in his (Onnagata) role.In my opionion thebest of this series.A great gift for any lover of Bach, Kabuki or highart fully exposed and realized.Full of spirit and discovery.Anintriguing path-of-discovery from all those involved.Highly recommended! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber Music & Recitals    2. Classical    3. Music Videos - Classical   

Editorial Review

Jonathan Miller set his well-known production of Read more

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Curse you, Jonathan Miller.
If you are new to the Mikado and do not know the story and the lyrics, please do yourself a favor and don't watch this until you have a thorough understanding of the plot. If you want to get the most out of this performance, read the libretto first. The performance is pretty much a parody of the original operetta, and if you don't already know what's going on, you're going to be very confused.
Not the best Mikado
The quality of this DVD is disappointing, both in video and audio. It IS a clever production, but the flaws are too great to make it a real joy, even with Eric Idle. The Stratford Festival production is a much better DVD.

Disappointing results, considering the quality of ingredients
You would think that it was a match made in heaven. After all, Gilbert & Sullivan were the 19th century version of Monty Python, with delightfully silly things that let you laugh at things that really didn't matter.
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Dame Joan explains Barber of Seville & Lucia di Lammermoor
Soprano Joan Sutherland introduces parents and children alike to a pair of famous operas, Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" and Donzetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor," in this third volume in the "Who's Afraid of Opera" series.Costumed as the characters of first Rosina and then Lucia, the diva explains the plot of each opera and sings some highlights, aided and abetted in this effort by her three puppet friends: Sir William the Goat, his nephew Little Billy and Lion Rudy.This is my favorite volume in the series because Dame Joan gets to talk about her most famous operatic role as Lucia, although I have to admit I was always surprised that this particular one was deemed appropriate as family fare; after all, Lucia is forced to abandon the love of her life to marry some rich guy to help her brother pay off family debts and then she kills the groom on the wedding night, goes insane, sings a couple of glorious arias, and then drops dead.Not even the comedy of "The Barber of Seville" can really balance out this particular pair of operas.It has been more than a quarter of a century since these programs were produced, and they still retain their charm. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Childrens    2. Classical    3. Classical Artists    4. Performing Arts    5. Performing Arts - Opera   

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Powerful but sparse production.
It may be important for you to know that this version does not contain Englsih subtitles. The staging is very sparse. The sound quality is excellent and the singers are powerful, but a libretto is necessary to study while you view. ... Read more

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Subjects:  1. Classical Video    2. Contemporary Instrumental    3. Music Video    4. Music Video - New Age    5. Neo-Classical    6. New Age / Meditation    7. Performance    8. Pop    9. Spiritual   

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A legendary production not to be missed
This video captured what is now generally regarded as a legendary production in Munich. Carlos Kleiber may well be the perfect conductor for this opera. His interpretation is not only full of lyrical beauty but isalso lively and energetic. It's an idiomatically endearing andwell-balanced reading that is enhanced by excellent orchestral playing.Otto Schenk's production is pleasing to the eye and the direction isunfussy and apt (nothing over-the-top), which allows the music and drama tounfold naturally. A real gem
A sumtuous performance of Strauss' most popular opera, well performed in Munich with the legendary Kleiber at the helm. Thevocally unreliable Jones is in fine form here singing and acting magnificently. ManfredJungwirth is a memorable Ochs and the old Benno Kusche leaves his mark asFaninal. The only drawback for me is Fassbaender who, although singingbrilliantly, swaggers a bit too much as the cocky Octavian.

A real gem
A sumtuous performance of Strauss' most popular opera, well performed in Munich with the legendary Kleiber at the helm. Thevocally unreliable Jones is in fine form here singing and acting magnificently. ManfredJungwirth is a memorable Ochs and the old Benno Kusche leaves his mark asFaninal. The only drawback for me is Fassbaender who, although singingbrilliantly, swaggers a bit too much as the cocky Octavian. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Performing Arts - Concerts