Simon Keenlyside Movies

This musical release from the Vienna State Opera compiles over 40 of the best and most memorable performances recorded at the stage, during the reign of artistic director Ioan Holender, who oversaw the facility from 1991 to 2010. Some of the performers featured in the program include Franz Welser-Most, Antonio Pappano, and others. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi

The Royal Opera House mounted this 2008 production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 1787 operatic masterpiece Don Giovanni, starring Simon Keenlyside in the title role, Kyle Ketelsen as Leporello and Eric Halfvarson as Commendatore. Francesca Zambello directs for the stage, while The Royal Opera Chorus and The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House provide musical accompaniment under the baton of Charles Mackerras. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

This release captures a live performance of the tragic modern opera Twin Spirits, by a chamber ensemble of actors and singers, bringing to life the story of composer Robert Schumann and his wife, pianist Clara Wieck. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi

From EMI Classics comes this performance of composer Ambroise Thomas' operatic adaptation of William Shakespeare's immortal Hamlet. Starring Simon Keenlyside in the title role, Hamlet also features the vocal talents of Natalie Dessay as Ophelie and Beatrice Uria-Monzon as Le Reine Gertrude. The 2003 production was recorded at Barcelona's Gran Teatre del Liceu. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

The German classical composer Richard Strauss (1864-1949) penned his final opera, the 1942 Capriccio, as a one-act "conversation piece," set to music - a reference to the work's heavy reliance on long monologues. The narrative, which unfolds in a salon on the outskirts of the City of Lights, follows The Countess as she weighs the value of words (represented by her suitor Oliver, the poet) against the value of melody (represented by her suitor Flamand, the composer). As Oliver and Flamand prepare for The Countess's birthday celebrations, their discussion concerns literature versus music on the surface, but on a deeper level represents their attempts to vie with one another for The Countess's heart. The home video release Capriccio constitutes a filmed performance of the work, as mounted and performed by The San Francisco Opera in 1993. The cast includes Kiri Te Kanawa, Hakan Hagegard, Tatiana Troyanos, and Victor Braun. Eleanor Fazan choreographs, Stephen Lawless directs, and The San Francisco Opera Orchestra provides musical accompaniment. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi