Opera Movies

Opus Arte presents this 2003 performance of Giuseppe Verdi's opera Aida by the Gran Teatre del Liceu. With a cast featuring such notables as Daniela Dessi, Fabio Armiliato, Elisabetta Fiorillo, Roberto Scandiuzzi, and Juan Pons, this production was also performed using the historic "trompe-l'oeil" paper sets of Josep Mestres Cabanes (made from 1936-1945). ~ Dana Rowader, Rovi

This production of Franz Shubert's opera Alfonso and Estrella features Eva Mei and Rainer Trost in the title parts. Gerard Korsten conducts the orchestra, while Paolo Vero leads the choir. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

A woman whose beauty is matched by her talent, Anna Netrebko has become one of the most acclaimed new talents in classical vocal music, and this special presentation features her performing a series of famous arias from the great operas. In Anna Netrebko: The Woman, the Voice, the diva performs highlights from Faust, Don Giovanni, La Sonnambula, La Bohème, and Rusalka is a series of set pieces staged by the noted director and choreographer Vincent Paterson. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Ariadne auf Naxos begins with a lengthy prologue involving the premiere of an opera based on the story of Ariadne. A conflict develops when the opera's composer discovers that a frivolous comedy has been added to the bill after his new masterpiece. Tensions increase when it is decreed that, because of time restrictions, both pieces are to be performed together so that there will be time for a fireworks display afterward. The cast and creators struggle to quickly come up with a way of making this impossible situation work, and the opera begins in earnest. Ariadne, discarded by her lover Theseus, is on the island of Naxos, awaiting death. A troupe of comedians arrives and tries to entertain her, but her grief is too great. Zerbinetta, leader of the troupe, tries to persuade her that she is foolish to want death in such a manner, and Ariadne leaves her in anger. Zerbinetta and her pals then cavort about, with various ones vying for Zerbinetta's attention, which she eventually gives to Harlekin. Ariadne is then told that a ship is approach; assuming it is Hermes coming to take her to her death, she awaits it. However, it turns out to be Bacchus, a beautiful, young god whom Ariadne at first takes to be Theseus. Bacchus, struck by Ariadne's beauty, tells her who he really is and takes her with him to live in the heavens. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

This performance of Verdi's opera, Attila features the vocal talents of Evgeny Nesterenko and Silvano Carroli. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi

Herman Melville's classic story of persecution and misplaced justice in the British navy is adapted for the operatic stage in this production, with libretto by E.M. Forster and Eric Crozier, and music by Benjamin Britten. Billy Budd stars Philip Langridge, Thomas Allen, Neil Howlett, and Richard Van Allen; David Atherton conducts the English National Opera Orchestra, and Tim Albery directs. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Leonard Bernstein's musical adaptation of the classic Voltaire comedy gets an impressive new staging with a stellar cast in this made-for-television semi-staged adaptation. Paul Groves stars as Candide, the illegitimate son of Baron Thunder-Ten-Tronck (Michael McCormick), who has been taught by the idealistic Dr. Pangloss (Sir Thomas Allen) that "all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds." However, Candide is sent away from his home in Westphalia when the baron learns that Candide has become romantically involved with his daughter Cunegonde (Kristin Chenoweth), and it isn't long before his experiences wandering the world put his optimistic views to a severe test. Leonard Bernstein's Candide also features Patti LuPone as The Old Lady, with Marin Alsop leading the New York Philharmonic Orchestra; this recording of Lonny Price's acclaimed production was originally created for the PBS series Great Performances. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

The Royal Opera House mounted this 2007 production of Georges Bizet's 1875 opera Carmen, starring Anna Caterina Antonacci, Jonas Kaufmann and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo. The Royal Opera Chorus and The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House provide musical accompaniment, with Antonio Pappano conducting. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

This performance of the Giovanni Targioni-Tozzeti opera Cavalleria Rusticana was filmed in at the Antiche Terme Romane in 2007, and features vocalists like Ildiko Komlosi, Sung Kyu Komlosi, and Cinzia De Mola in the leading roles. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi

German mezzo-soprano vocalist Christa Ludwig headlines this special classical concert, staged and performed in 1994 to commemorate her 70th birthday, and directed by Enrique Sanchez Lansch and Claus Viller. In it, Ludwig performs Franz Schubert's Die Winterreise, and a Lieder Recital with arias by Hugo Wolf, Gustav Mahler and others. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Celebrated stage director Peter Sellars supervised this unusual production of Mozart's beloved comic opera, with the action transferred to a diner near the seashore sometime in the '50s. In Cosi Fan Tutte, Ferrando (Frank Kelley) and Guilielmo (James Maddalena) are two bachelors who decide to find out how devoted their sweethearts Fiordiligi (Susan Larson) and Dorabella (Janice Felty) really are by disguising themselves as dashing visitors from overseas to see if the ladies will remain faithful. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

From the legendary stage of the Het Musiektheater Amsterdam comes a definitive production of Richard Wagner's landmark tetralogy performed on an astonishing, ring-shaped stage and featuring spot-on stage direction by Pierre Audi and awe-inspiring sets by George Tsypin. Guest conductor Hartmut Haenchen leads a orchestra that stretches from the pit all around the spectacular stage, with soloists John Bröcheler, Henk Smit, Graham Clark, Reinhild Runkel, Chris Merritt, and Anne Gjevang lending fantastic vocalization to a production worthy of revisiting whenever the spirit of the theater takes hold. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi