Opera Ballet
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- DirectorFranco ZeffirelliStarsTeresa StratasPlácido DomingoCornell MacNeilVioletta meets Alfredo and quickly falls for him. After the lovers run away together, they live in bliss for a short time. However, Alfredo's father, Giorgio, starts to interfere, concerned that Violetta's bad reputation will affect the marriage prospects of Alfredo's sister. Violetta reluctantly leaves Alfredo, but his love is so strong that it leads him to actions that have tragic consequences.
- DirectorJean-Pierre PonnelleStarsIngvar WixellEdita GruberovaLuciano PavarottiThe Duke lives the high life. The court jester taunts too well. Revenge has unintended consequences both times it is attempted.
- DirectorMichael PowellEmeric PressburgerStarsMoira ShearerRobert RounsevilleLudmilla TchérinaA melancholy poet reflects on three women he loved and lost in the past: a mechanical performing doll, a Venetian courtesan, and the consumptive daughter of a celebrated composer.
- DirectorEmile ArdolinoStarsDarci KistlerDamian WoetzelKyra NicholsOn Christmas Eve, a little girl named Marie falls asleep after a party at her house and dreams of a fantastic world where toys become larger than life.
- DirectorBrian LargeStarsKiri Te KanawaPlácido DomingoThomas AllenA story of doomed romance between a chivalrous noble man, Chevalier Des Grieux and his working class lover, Manon Lescaut.
- DirectorClaus VillerStarsGeorgine ResickBarbara DanielsDavid KueblerFor the public of music lovers talking about Domenico Cimarosa means, essentially, talking about just one of his operas, the Matrimonio segreto which, first staged in Vienna on 7th February 1792, was also one of the greatest successes in the history of eighteenth-century opera. At the time of the Matrimonio segreto Cimarosa had already some fifty operas to his credit. With Giovanni Paisiello he was the most prestigious and authoritative representative of Neapolitan opera. Il matrimonio segreto, is universally recognised as Cimarosa's masterpiece and the only one of his operas to have survived in the regular repertoire to this day. The reasons for its success are quite simple: the opera is practically perfect, splendidly balanced, accompanied from start to finish by an unfailing vein of felicitous melodic invention, orchestrated with unwonted attention, rich in irresistible arias and ensembles, always amusing but never farcical, and based on a libretto of good quality: "a sweet fable, not even lightly touched by the suspicion of its improbability", as Francesco Delgado has justly defined it. The opera contains memorable passages, once heard never forgotten, like the beautiful overture wholly worthy of Mozart, Paolino's aria Pria che spunti in ciel l'aurora, and the formidable duet between the Count and Geronimo in the second act Se fiato in corpo avete, that was soon to become a landmark in Italian comic opera, destined to survive to Rossini and beyond. In the nineteenth century, Il matrimonio segreto was to find illustrious admirers including Stendhal.
- DirectorBenoît JacquotStarsAngela GheorghiuRoberto AlagnaRuggero RaimondiBenoit Jacquot reinvents the way we view opera in this magnificent production of Puccini's story of Tosca's love for the painter Cavaradossi and the intervention of Scarpia.
- DirectorJean NegulescoStarsBallet Russe de Monte CarloLéonide MassineMilada MladovaIn a Paris nightclub setting, the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo performs to the music of Jacques Offenbach.
- DirectorPaul CzinnerStarsElisabeth SchwarzkopfOtto EdelmannSena JurinacAn opera about jealousy and duplicity among the elite classes of the Austro-Hungarian empire.
- DirectorMatthias LeutzendorffStarsMarc MinkowskiLes Musiciens du LouvreAnja HarterosAlsina, the Witch Queen of the Magic Island transforms her lovers into rocks and trees when she tires of them. At the opening of this opera, however, she is experiencing a new emotion: love. But Alcina is too tough to die for love, though her magic powers disappear when she falls in love with a man. Now she is forced to deal with the infections of doubt, jealousy and mortality.
- DirectorMatteo RicchettiStarsZachary StainsMary-Ellen NesiLaura ChericiSingers of great renown were called upon for the first performance of Ercole sul Termodonte by Antonio Vivaldi in Rome, "in the hall of Signor Federico Capranica", on 27th January 1723. An exclusively male singing cast, as was the custom on Roman stages, to tell the tale of the battle between Hercules, accompanied by the heroes Theseus, Telamon and Alceste, and the Amazons led by Antiope. The story, which is based on the ninth of the legendary labours of Hercules, and which concludes with the traditional happy ending here decreed by Diana, who proclaims the nuptial unions of Hippolyte with Theseus, prince of Athens, and of Martesia with Telamon, king of Ithaca, was arranged by the "regular canon of La Carità of Venice" Don Giacomo Francesco Bussani, on a libretto that had already been performed in 1678 at the San Salvatore theatre in Venice. The opera was successful, winning appreciation and at the same time astonishment through its introduction of many passages written in a new "manner", with an exciting, incisive rhythmic gait. This style so excited the Romans that from then on they demanded it almost exclusively in melodramas. After the success of 1723, however, Ercole did not circulate widely and at a certain point the score was thought to have been lost. It has only recently been reassembled thanks to the precious rediscovery of some thirty arias and two duets in various archives, and has been reconstructed in its recitative passages by Alessandro Ciccolini. The daring direction of John Pascoe for the Spoleto Festival presents a statuary Hercules appearing on stage completely naked. On the podium, conducting the Complesso Barocco, an expert of the stature of Alan Curtis.
- DirectorMarc StoneStarsColin AinsworthCyril AuvityLuciana CalvetIn his position as the king's composer, Jean Baptiste Lully (1632-1687) created the opera Persée for Louis XIV. The opera was considered the crowning achievement of 17th century French music theatre and was widely recognized as Lully's greatest work. Filled with dancing, fight scenes, monsters and special effects, this truly spectacular music drama recounts the thrilling story of Perseus, son of Zeus and heroic vanquisher of the snake-haired Gorgon Medusa. More than half a century after its premiere, Louis XV chose "Persée" to open the new Royal Opera House at the Chateau de Versailles, an event that formed part of the celebrations for the future Louis XVI's marriage to Marie Antoinette. Recorded live at the Elgin Theatre, Toronto in April 2004, this staging is a dazzling spectacle of gods and goddesses, dancing scenes, flying machines and monsters with fight scenes and special effects inspired by designs from the original 17th century performance. The excellent singer-actors and the "Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir" are leading specialists in early music.
- DirectorPetr WeiglStarsMagda VásáryováMilan KnazkoPremysl Kocí
- DirectorJean-Pierre PonnelleStarsMirella FreniPlácido DomingoChrista LudwigA young Japanese geisha clings to the belief that her arrangement with a visiting American naval officer is a loving and permanent marriage.
- DirectorStéphane VéritéStarsRaphaël PichonPygmalionKarina Gauvin
- DirectorFrançois RoussillonStarsBernard RichterStéphanie d'OustracEmmanuelle de NégriAtys is a 'tragédie en musique' in a prelude and five acts. It was premiered at the royal court in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, January 10, 1676. Although this opera was met with indifference by the Parisian audience, it became known as "the king's opera" because of King Louis XIV's love for it.
- DirectorKirk BrowningStarsJames LevineÉva MartonPlácido Domingo
- DirectorDon KentStarsPaul AgnewMireille DelunschYann Beuron
- DirectorBrian LargeStarsIleana CotrubasNeil ShicoffMarilyn Zschau
- DirectorBrian LargeStarsJosé CuraDmitri HvorostovskyYvonne Naef
- DirectorClaus VillerStarsGino QuilicoCecilia BartoliDavid Kuebler
- 1977– 2h 29m8.4 (31)TV EpisodeDirectorBrian LargeStarsKatia RicciarelliWilliam WildermannJudith BlegenRiccardo, governor of Boston at the end of the 17th century, falls in love with Amelia, wife of Renato, his secretary and intimate friend. Amelia returns Riccardo's love, but is discovered by her husband. At a masked ball Renato kills Riccardo, who, as he lies dying, declares Amelia's innocence and forgives Renato. An opera in 3 acts.
- DirectorFranco ZeffirelliStarsYelena ObraztsovaPlácido DomingoRenato BrusonTurridu is spotted by his wife, Santuzza, returning from the home of his lover, Lola. He is also seen on the road by Lola's husband, Alfio. While he suspects nothing, Santuzza knows exactly what's happened. Ever loyal, though, she decides to confront her husband instead of telling Alfio.
- DirectorFranco ZeffirelliStarsTeresa StratasPlácido DomingoJuan PonsThe story is set in southern Italy and recounts the tragedy of Canio, the lead clown in a commedia dell'arte troupe, his wife Nedda, and her lover, Silvio.
- DirectorKarina FibichStarsAnna NetrebkoRolando VillazónLeo Nucci
- 20002h 40m8.2 (17)TV Movie
- DirectorTiziano ManciniStarsAlex EspositoMariangela SiciliaRaffaella LupinacciMustafà, the Bey of Algiers, is fed up with his wife and resolves to discard her for someone with more exotic charms: an attractive Italian girl would be just the ticket.
- DirectorMyriam HoyerStarsDmitry KorchakCarlo LeporeNino Machaidze
- DirectorFrançois RoussillonStarsRobin TicciatiSally MatthewsEdgaras MontvidasKostanze and 2 servants are captive of the Pasha, with Osmin as overseer. Pasha resists taking Kostanze by force. Belmonte nearly retrieves the captives. When Pasha learns Belmonte's father exiled Pasha from his homeland, things look dire.
- DirectorClaus VillerStarsAngela DenningDaphne EvangelatosWalter BerryWhen the Prince changes places with his valet, Dandini, so he can discover the true nature of the ladies' hearts, he meets Cenerentola and they fall in love at first sight.
- DirectorCorentin LeconteStarsMax Emanuel CencicAleksandra Kubas-KrukPavel KudinovGermanian chieftain Arminio plans to repel a Roman invasion of his country, alongside his wife Tusnelda, and sister Ramise.
- StarsGary AvisFederico BonelliAlexander CampbellRecorded live from the Royal Opera House, 2016
- DirectorBrian LargeStarsPlácido DomingoLuciana SerraAgnes BaltsaWhile waiting for Stella to conclude her performance in the opera house next door, Hoffman recounts his 3 tragic loves: Olympia the mechanical doll, Giulietta the courtesan, and Antonia the young consumptive.
- DirectorPeter JonesStarsWilliam BracewellBennet GartsideFumi KanekoDrosselmeyer, a timeless magician and creator of mechanical toys and clocks, was once employed in a royal palace where he invented a trap that killed off half the mouse population. In revenge the wicked Queen of the Mice cast a spell over Drosselmeyer's nephew, Hans-Peter, which transformed him into an ugly Nutcracker Doll. The only way to break the spell was for the Nutcracker to defeat the Mouse King, thereby committing an act of great bravery, and for a young girl to love and care for him in spite of his awful appearance. When Drosselmeyer is invited to entertain the guests at a Christmas party that his friends, the Stahlbaums, are giving, he decides that this could well be the opportunity he has been looking for. Their daughter, Clara, is a little younger than Hans-Peter imprisoned in the Nutcracker, and what better time than Christmas, when the mice are busy stealing the leftovers, for a confrontation between the Mouse King and the Nutcracker? He decides to put the Nutcracker in the tender care of Clara and makes a special Christmas Angel to guide her through her task. When all the guests have departed and the house is asleep, Clara, in search of the Nutcracker, creeps downstairs and discovers Drosselmeyer waiting for her. He draws her into his own special world of fantasy where time is suspended, and exerts all his powers to transform the living room into a great battlefield and summons the Mouse King. In the ensuing fight between the mice and the toy soldiers the Nutcracker defeats the Mouse King, but only through the intervention of Clara, who, out of compassion, saves the Nutcracker's life. Transformed into his real self, he dances with Clara and they find themselves in the Land of Snow. Drosselmeyer then sends them on a magic journey to the Sugar Garden in the Kingdom of Sweets where they meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince. Freed at last from his imprisonment inside the Nutcracker, Hans-Peter recounts to the Sugar Plum Fairy his great adventure and how Clara saved his life. They then join in a magnificent entertainment put on by Drosselmeyer to honour them for their bravery. Returning to reality, Clara runs out into the street in search of Drosselmeyer and encounters a strangely familiar young man, while back in his workshop Drosselmeyer prays that his efforts will be rewarded. His nephew returns; the spell has indeed been broken.