CD-Charts Position 1

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The Blu-ray Experience: Opera & Ballet Highlights [2008] (NTSC)

starring: Pamela Armstrong, Cecilia Bartoli, Alessandro Corbelli, Felicity Palmer, Anne Sofie Von Otter

Release Date October 27, 2008

CD-Charts Position 2

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Gluck - Alceste (Gardiner, Monteverdi Choir) [2000]

starring: John Eliot Gardiner, Anne Sofie von Otter, Paul Groves, Yann Beuron, Ludovic Tezier
directed by: Robert Wilson

Release Date November 24, 2008

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

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Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier -- Vienna/Kleiber [1994] (NTSC)

starring: Felicity Lott, Kurt Moll, Anne Sofie von Otter, Gottfried Hornik, Barbara Bonney
directed by: Horant H. Hohlfeld

Release Date March 12, 2001
I got this with great anticipation after reading all the fantastic reviews it has got. Unfortunately, the sound is recessed which means that one must play it fairly loud in order to get a sumptuous Straussian sound. I have a high-end system with electrostatic hybrid speakers, so I am fairly sensitive to sound.The sound needs to be opulent for Strauss. In fact, I have the Karajan DVD which has better sound. Morover, the picture perspective is from a seat fairly back.
Otherwise, the singing and acting are excellent.Kurt Moll is even better in the Karajan Version.

CD-Charts Position 4
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Handel: Messiah - The 250th Anniversary Performance [1992]

starring: Sylvia McNair, Anne Sofie von Otter, Michael Chance (II), Jerry Hadley, Robert Lloyd
directed by: Barrie Gavin, Tony Boland

Release Date October 06, 2003
I bought three copies of this DVD and they all stuck in different places but mostly 5 minutes into the part II. So, I bought a new DVD machine, and still they stuck. I assumed that there was a manufacturing fault. I would love a good copy of this but I will not buy another one, I'd be mad to. On the performance side, this is as good as it gets. Wonderful performances, especially Sylvia McNair and the conductor. Watch him smile just as they start Unto Us A Child is Born! You need to ignore the fact that Ann-Sophie decided to wear her living-room curtains, she has no dress-sense at all, she never does. Great singer of course. If Amazon could get me a working copy that would be great. But I do not trust this DVD.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

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Carmen [2002]

starring: Anne Sofie von Otter, Marcus Haddock, Laurent Naouri, Lisa Milne, Mary Hegarty
directed by: Sue Judd

Release Date February 03, 2003
I completely surrendered during the ouverture, as conceived by young Swiss conductor Jordan. There is much at stake here, and darker hues are being brought to the fore. Not a natural Carmen, one would have thought, Swedish mezzo von Otter is a devastatingly sexy, saucily sung gypsy, quite traditional in the way it is acted, but fascinating none the less. Haddock's Don José is of commanding vocal presence, but Carmen's real amour of this production is the suave Escamillo of Naouri. I had initial misgivings about badboy director McVicar in this work, but every reservation melted away, when I was confronted with his very urgent and compelling mise-en-scene. Nothing is contrived, but organic and intelligent. We get the folksiness that is also inherent ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

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Offenbach Gala [2001]

starring: Anne Sofie Von Otter, Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre, Stephanie d'Oustrac, Gilles Ragon
directed by: Oliver Becker

Release Date March 05, 2007
I completely surrendered during the ouverture, as conceived by young Swiss conductor Jordan. There is much at stake here, and darker hues are being brought to the fore. Not a natural Carmen, one would have thought, Swedish mezzo von Otter is a devastatingly sexy, saucily sung gypsy, quite traditional in the way it is acted, but fascinating none the less. Haddock's Don José is of commanding vocal presence, but Carmen's real amour of this production is the suave Escamillo of Naouri. I had initial misgivings about badboy director McVicar in this work, but every reservation melted away, when I was confronted with his very urgent and compelling mise-en-scene. Nothing is contrived, but organic and intelligent. We get the folksiness that is also inherent ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

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A Concert of Music by Offenbach / Les Musiciens du Louvre, Marc Minkowski [Théâtre du Châtelet 2001]

starring: Anne Sofie von Otter, Magali Leger, Stephanie d'Oustrac, Gilles Ragon, Marc Minkowski
directed by: Oliver Becker

Release Date December 02, 2002
I completely surrendered during the ouverture, as conceived by young Swiss conductor Jordan. There is much at stake here, and darker hues are being brought to the fore. Not a natural Carmen, one would have thought, Swedish mezzo von Otter is a devastatingly sexy, saucily sung gypsy, quite traditional in the way it is acted, but fascinating none the less. Haddock's Don José is of commanding vocal presence, but Carmen's real amour of this production is the suave Escamillo of Naouri. I had initial misgivings about badboy director McVicar in this work, but every reservation melted away, when I was confronted with his very urgent and compelling mise-en-scene. Nothing is contrived, but organic and intelligent. We get the folksiness that is also inherent ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

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La Damnation De Faust - Berlioz [1989]

starring: Anne-Sofie Von Otter, Keith Lewis, Jose Van Dam, Peter Rose, Chicago Symphony Chorus
directed by: Rodney Greenberg

Release Date November 28, 2005
I completely surrendered during the ouverture, as conceived by young Swiss conductor Jordan. There is much at stake here, and darker hues are being brought to the fore. Not a natural Carmen, one would have thought, Swedish mezzo von Otter is a devastatingly sexy, saucily sung gypsy, quite traditional in the way it is acted, but fascinating none the less. Haddock's Don José is of commanding vocal presence, but Carmen's real amour of this production is the suave Escamillo of Naouri. I had initial misgivings about badboy director McVicar in this work, but every reservation melted away, when I was confronted with his very urgent and compelling mise-en-scene. Nothing is contrived, but organic and intelligent. We get the folksiness that is also inherent ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

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L' Incoronazione di Poppea [2006]

starring: Mireille Delunsch, Anne Sofie von Otter, Sylvie Brunet, Charlotte Hellekant, Jean-Paul Fouchécourt
directed by: Vincent Bataillon

Release Date September 12, 2006
I completely surrendered during the ouverture, as conceived by young Swiss conductor Jordan. There is much at stake here, and darker hues are being brought to the fore. Not a natural Carmen, one would have thought, Swedish mezzo von Otter is a devastatingly sexy, saucily sung gypsy, quite traditional in the way it is acted, but fascinating none the less. Haddock's Don José is of commanding vocal presence, but Carmen's real amour of this production is the suave Escamillo of Naouri. I had initial misgivings about badboy director McVicar in this work, but every reservation melted away, when I was confronted with his very urgent and compelling mise-en-scene. Nothing is contrived, but organic and intelligent. We get the folksiness that is also inherent ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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Offenbach in Paris [2002] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Anne Sofie von Otter, Magali Léger, Stéphanie d'Oustrac, Gilles Ragon, Jean-Christophe Keck
directed by: Oliver Becker

Release Date March 16, 2004
I completely surrendered during the ouverture, as conceived by young Swiss conductor Jordan. There is much at stake here, and darker hues are being brought to the fore. Not a natural Carmen, one would have thought, Swedish mezzo von Otter is a devastatingly sexy, saucily sung gypsy, quite traditional in the way it is acted, but fascinating none the less. Haddock's Don José is of commanding vocal presence, but Carmen's real amour of this production is the suave Escamillo of Naouri. I had initial misgivings about badboy director McVicar in this work, but every reservation melted away, when I was confronted with his very urgent and compelling mise-en-scene. Nothing is contrived, but organic and intelligent. We get the folksiness that is also inherent ... Read More: