Ann Murray Movies
One of Georg Friedrich Handel's later operas (which also includes ballet sequences), Airodante is the story of a young woman whose father is the King of Scotland. Her life and reputation are tainted through no fault of her own when she's accused of sexual impropriety prior to her marriage. This video preserves a 1996 production of Handel's work by the English National Opera, which in turn was based on their enthusiastically received 1993 staging. The cast includes Ann Murray, Joan Rodgers, and Gwynne Howell. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ann Murray
Under the direction of conductor Charles Mackerras, the Orchestra and Chorus of the English National Opera performs this 1988 production of Handel's Xerxes. In the Persian Empire in 475 B.C., Emperor Xerxes I (Ann Murray) and his brother Arsamenes (Christopher Robson) are both in love with Romilda (Valerie Masterson), while she and her sister Atalanta (Lesley Garrett) are both in love with Arsamene. Meanwhile, Xerxes rejects Amastris (Jean Rigby) even though he was betrothed to her, so she goes undercover in disguise and seeks her revenge. Original Italian dialogue is performed in English. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
- 1988
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This witty production of the classic Cinderella fairy tale, La Cenerentola, by Gioacchino Rossini, is performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus at the Salzburg Festival. Under the direction of Michael Hampe, the story unfolds with unexpected twists and turns. There is a stellar performance by soprano Ann Murray in the title role, with her prince played by Francisco Araiza. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ann Murray, Francisco Araiza, (more)
- 1987
One of Mozart's most popular operas receives a stellar production from the respected La Scalla company as preserved in this video, starring British baritone Thomas Allen in the title role. The supporting cast includes Edita Gruberova, Ann Murray and Francisco Araiza. Don Giovanni is performed in the original Italian, with English subtitles. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 1986
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Astonishingly, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart penned his first opera, Mitridate, Re di Ponto, at the tender age of 14. The work plunges into the dark heart of the inner circle of Mithridates, king of Pontus, the dark tower of a nemesis who dwarfed and tried to stamp out the Roman empire. This Jean-Pierre Ponnelle stage production of the work, which Ponnelle mounted and staged at Vicenza's Teatro Olimpico in 1986, stars Gosta Winbergh as Mithridates, Yvonne Kenny as Aspasia, Ann Murray as Sifare, Anne Gjevag as Farnace, and Joan Rodgers as Ismene. The Concentus Musicus Wien, conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt, provides musical accompaniment. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gosta Winbergh, Yvonne Kenny, (more)
- 1983
Michael Hampe mounted Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera Così fan tutte at the Kleines Festspielhaus in Salzburg c. August 1983; a film of that live production appears in this home video release. Margaret Marshall performs as Fiordiligi, Ann Murray as Dorabella, James Morris as Guglielmo, Francisco Araiza as Ferrando, Kathleen Battle as Despina, and Sesco Bruscantini as Don Alfonso. The Wiener Philharmoniker, under the baton of Riccardo Muti, and the Konzertvereinigung Wienerstaatsopernchor, led by chorus master Walter Hagen-Groll, provide musical accompaniment. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Morris, Francisco Araiza, (more)
- 1982
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The Wiener Philharmoniker mounted this 1982 production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 1791 Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute, a unique interpretation in the sense that it was created expressly with children in mind. It stars Kurt Rydl as Sarastro, Peter Schreier as Tamino, Zdzislawa Donat as Königin der Nacht, Ileana Cotrubus as Pamina, and Edda Moser as Erste Dame. The Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor and the Wiener Philharmoniker provide accompaniment with Walter Hagen-Groll serving as chorus master, and the eminent James Levine conducting. Christian Boesch authored the concept and the script, adapting an earlier production by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle; both Ponnelle and Boesch are on hand to present. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kurt Rydl, Peter Schreier, (more)
