CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

.

Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) -- Glyndebourne [1994]

starring: Gerald Finley, Alison Hagley, Renée Fleming, Andreas Schmidt, Mandred Röhrl
directed by: Derek Bailey

Release Date October 25, 1999
If it were not for the poor sound quality, this would be five stars; but in the modern age, there is an expectation that a DVD should produce quality sound and this does not. This opera is one of the greatest artistic achievements in the world ever; the music is simply stunning; its ecstatic music that makes one rejoice in simply being.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

.

Adams - Doctor Atomic (Netherlands Po) [2007]

starring: Gerald Finley, Jessica Rivera, Eric Owens, Richard Paul Fink, James Maddalena
directed by: John Adams;Peter Sellars (Stage Director);Lawrence Renes (Musical Director)

Release Date July 28, 2008
I've held off writing about Dr. Atomic. I've now watched it for the third time and haven't changed my mind. It's a masterpiece. There's no denying some of the power of the score, but it is in the many more introspective moments that I find its most arresting beauty and power.

Gerald Finley - a singer I went nuts for as Papageno nearly 20 years ago, still has a marvelously appealing boyish handsomeness that suits this role to a tee. This could be the role of his career so far. The voice is in absolutely peak condition, one of the most beautiful baritones singing today (in my opinion) with a winning combination of brightness, mellowness, one of the most even-sounding vibratos of any singer today and a light rich quality that simply gleams. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

.

L'Amour De Loin - Saariaho [2004] (NTSC)

starring: Dawn Upshaw, Gerald Finley, Monica Groop, Finnish National Opera Orchestra
directed by: Peter Sellars

Release Date August 15, 2005
Performed for the first time approximately a century after the first performance of Pelleas and Melisande this fascinating opera by Kaija Saariaho has a very modern affinity to the Debussy.

The plot is of the simplest, Jaufre Rudel (Gerald Finley) Prince de Blaye and a troubadour lives in Aquitane in a castle represented by a towering metal spiral staircase on the left of the stage. Jaufre yearns for an impossibly perfect woman he can love at a distance, and learns from a pilgrim (Monica Groop) of Clemence, Countess of Tripoli (Dawn Upshaw) whose citadel is represented by a matching staircase on the right of the stage.

They communicate with each other via the Pilgrim sailing in a glass boat.

Uniquely the floor of ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

.

Britten: Death In Venice [1989]

starring: Robert Tear, Alan Opie, Michael Chance, Peter Snipp, Gerald Finley
directed by: Robin Lough

Release Date April 02, 2001
Robert Tear's greatest operatic achievement has been miraculously caught in this superb DVD.The previous reviewer obviously didn't have a very good TV and DVD player because my equipment had no problems or drawbacks and I didn't need to adjust the brightness and contrast etc in order to actually see what was going on . The sound is in perfectly good stereo. There are no English surtitles which is a pity but it is not difficult to make out the words of even the minor characters. The original stage production has been well captured in the way it was filmed. The vocal acting is superb and so very little attempt to suggest specific locations is required.It should not be missed.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

.

Britten: Owen Wingrave - Berlin/Nagano

starring: Gerald Finley, Peter Savidge, Hilton Marlton, Anne Dawson, Elizabeth Gale
directed by: Margaret Williams

Release Date November 24, 2003
Robert Tear's greatest operatic achievement has been miraculously caught in this superb DVD.The previous reviewer obviously didn't have a very good TV and DVD player because my equipment had no problems or drawbacks and I didn't need to adjust the brightness and contrast etc in order to actually see what was going on . The sound is in perfectly good stereo. There are no English surtitles which is a pity but it is not difficult to make out the words of even the minor characters. The original stage production has been well captured in the way it was filmed. The vocal acting is superb and so very little attempt to suggest specific locations is required.It should not be missed.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

.

Carols For Christmas (1985)

starring: Aled Jones, Gerald Finley, David Willcocks

Release Date
Robert Tear's greatest operatic achievement has been miraculously caught in this superb DVD.The previous reviewer obviously didn't have a very good TV and DVD player because my equipment had no problems or drawbacks and I didn't need to adjust the brightness and contrast etc in order to actually see what was going on . The sound is in perfectly good stereo. There are no English surtitles which is a pity but it is not difficult to make out the words of even the minor characters. The original stage production has been well captured in the way it was filmed. The vocal acting is superb and so very little attempt to suggest specific locations is required.It should not be missed.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

.

Le Nozze di Figaro [1994] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Gerald Finley, Alison Hagley, Renée Fleming, Andreas Schmidt, Mandred Röhrl
directed by: Derek Bailey

Release Date September 16, 2003
If it were not for the poor sound quality, this would be five stars; but in the modern age, there is an expectation that a DVD should produce quality sound and this does not. This opera is one of the greatest artistic achievements in the world ever; the music is simply stunning; its ecstatic music that makes one rejoice in simply being.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Carols for Christmas [1985] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Gerald Finley, Aled Jones, David Willcocks
directed by: Christopher Swann

Release Date September 28, 2004
If it were not for the poor sound quality, this would be five stars; but in the modern age, there is an expectation that a DVD should produce quality sound and this does not. This opera is one of the greatest artistic achievements in the world ever; the music is simply stunning; its ecstatic music that makes one rejoice in simply being.

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

.

The Jackals [1986]

starring: Wilford Brimley, Robert Covarrubias, Rosanna de Soto, Jack Dunlap, Greg Finley
directed by: Gary Grillo

Release Date September 28, 2004
If it were not for the poor sound quality, this would be five stars; but in the modern age, there is an expectation that a DVD should produce quality sound and this does not. This opera is one of the greatest artistic achievements in the world ever; the music is simply stunning; its ecstatic music that makes one rejoice in simply being.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

.

Le Nozze Di Figaro - Glyndebourne Festival Opera [1994]

starring: Gerald Finley, Alison Hagley, Renee Fleming, Andreas Schmidt, London Philharmonic Orchestra
directed by: Stephen Medcalf

Release Date May 13, 1996
Once again the singers have been let down by the producer of this opera. All the cast are first class but the scenery and costumes leave a lot to be desired. This sort of penny-pinching spoils what otherwise could have been a very fine performance.