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Conductor Fabrizio Maria Carminati and Director and costume designer Francesco Esposito present this Donizettian masterpiece, recorded live in 2001. This very high quality production by Teatro Donizetti di Bergamo features Carmela Remigio (Maria Stuarda) and Sonia Ganassi (Elisabetta)in the roles of the two queens, making a fine display of their excellent vocal and acting skills. Francesco Esposito's direction and costumes, and Italo Grassi's sets are very effective and superbly highlighted by the filming.DVD Features:Region 0Keep CaseFull Frame - 1.33Audio: Dolby Digital StereoAdditional Release Material: Interviews - 1. Francesco Esposito - Director and costume designer.








2. Fabrizio Maria Carminati - Conductor

Often eclipsed in the opera canon by Weber's masterpiece, DER FREISCHUTZ, EURYANTHE is a stunning, experimental work, highly representative of the composer's romantic nature. Inspired by a 13th Century legend, the story tells of a virtuous title character who is wrongly accused of betraying her lover. Entirely set to music and devoid of the Italianisms glimpsed in Weber's other works, the opera seeks to overcome the traditional opposition of spoken and sung parts, as well as recitative and closed numbers. Truly original and often breathtakingly beautiful, this quintessential romantic opera is presented here under the eminent direction of Pier Luigi Pizzi, and interpreted by a cast of specialists in German opera.DVD Features:Region 0Keep CaseFull Frame - 1.33Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 DTS PCM Stereo

Among the first of the Romantic composers, Franz Shubert's prolific output was under-appreciated during his lifetime, due to his harmonically untraditional and thoroughly innovative sound. ALFONSO UND ESTRELLA was no exception; finished in 1922, it was not performed until 1854, upon the insistence of Franz Liszt. The opera is a story about the love of Alfonso and Estrella, which is threatened by advances, both military and amorous, of Alfonso's rival Adolfo. Soprano Eva Mei's pure, clean interpretation of the multiple beautiful arias of the opera is stunning and affecting. This exceptionally creative opera is representative of the work of one of the most adept composers of the lied, as well as the characteristic sound of the Romantic period.DVD Features:Region 0Keep CaseAnamorphic WidescreenAudio: Dolby Digital 5.1 DTS PCM Stereo ODS

Verdi's breakthrough work, which spurred his ascension to becoming the master of Italian opera during his lifetime, NABUCCO marks his achievement of the linguistic and expressive goals that he had so striven for. Premiering in Milan in 1842, the opera was an immediate success. The story tells of the Israelites, led by high priest Zaccaria, and their invasion by Assyrian king Nabucco. This interpretation was staged at the Carlo Felice Theater in Genoa and features a young and talented cast, including Susan Neves as the treacherous Abigaille; Alberto Gazale in a convincing turn as Nabucco; and Orlin Anastassov as a charismatic Zaccaria.DVD Features:Region 0Keep CaseAnamorphic WidescreenAudio: Dolby Digital 5.1 DTS PCM Stereo

Widely remembered as the composer of one of the most popular operas of all time, CARMEN, Georges Bizet was also responsible for this lesser-known gem. Written when he was only 25, the work was not well-recieved upon its initial performance in 1863, but has since come to be appreciated for its beauty and orchestral subtlety. The libretto deals with two men, King Zurga of Ceylon and his friend Nadir, who are both in love with a high priestess, Leila. Though each claim to be over Leila, when Nadir recognizes her in the temple he cannot deny his feelings, which are returned; though she has vowed celibacy, they meet in secret, and are discovered. The jealous Zurga condemns Leila to death, but when he realizes she intervened on his behalf years ago, he changes his mind with catastophic results. This production of the only Bizet opera to remain in the repertoire was performed in Venice, with an extraordinary Annick Massis as Leila, while the staging was executed by Pier Luigi Pizzi. Highlights of the show include Leila's aria, Comme autrefois, dans la nuit sombre, and the stunning duet between Leila and Nadir, Ton coeur n'a pas compris le mien.DVD Features:Region 0Keep CaseAnamorphic WidescreenAudio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Linear PCM 2.0

Recorded live at the Teatro Perez Galdos in Las Palmas in 1995, this concert documents the great talents of Spanish tenor Alfredo Kraus. Always careful to choose songs and roles that were suited to his particular vocal range, Kraus maintained a youthful sound through the years leading up to his death, in 1999. Despite his age, Kraus gives a solid performance and proves that his talents only ripened with time. Performing arias by Serrano, Gounod, Cilea, Verdi, Donizetti, Offenbach, and Massenet, Kraus demonstrates why he was a leading opera singer of his generation.DVD Features:Region 0Keep CaseAudio: Linear PCM 2.0

In these two films director Christopher Nupen draws on some lauded names from the classical music world to perform in tribute to Franz Schubert. The first focuses on the early quintet
The Trout,
and features a group of celebrated musicians--including Itzhak Perlman, Jacqueline du Pri, and Pinchas Zukerman--running through rehearsals for the piece, then performing it. In
The Greatest Love & the Greatest Sorrow,
Schubert`s final months are reenacted, using music from the composer`s last works and featuring the great bass-baritone Andreas Schmidt.

The Salzburg Festival played host to an awesome reworking of Verdi`s UN BALLO IN MASCHERA ( The Masked Ball ) during 1989 and 1990. Herbert Von Karajan had meticulously prepared the opera for public consumption, but after he sadly passed away in `89, Sir George Solti took over the conductor`s mantle, and with the aid of performers such as Placido Domingo, Josephine Barstow, and Florence Quivar, managed to produce an incredible piece of work. Captured for posterity by Austrian television, the full performance is presented here.