CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

.

Bridget Jones 2: The Edge of Reason [2004]

starring: Renée Zellweger, Gemma Jones, Jim Broadbent, James Faulkner, Celia Imrie
directed by: Beeban Kidron

Release Date July 03, 2006
Unfortunately, this is miles away from being as good as the books or the first film. They changed the plot so they could shoe-horn Hugh Grant into the film (and a not very good fight scene with Colin Firth as well). But so much worse is the sense that Bridget has been made into a figure of fun, rather than someone who was funny because we related to her. Not funny, not romantic, even Colin Firth is less lovely in this film.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

.

Bryn Terfel - Don Giovanni - Mozart [2000] (NTSC)

starring: Bryn Terfel, Solveig Kringelborn, Paul Groves, Hei-Kyung Hong, John Relyea
directed by: Gary Halvorson

Release Date March 14, 2005
This is one of the best versions of Mozart's masterpiece presently available in DVD. Its greatest attraction is obviously the presence of Renée Fleming and Bryn Terfel. Ms Fleming's interpretation of Donna Anna is truly exceptional: the candor and purity of her voice make a perfect expression of the pain and suffering of that noble woman who's father has been killed by the man who tried to rape her. Bryn Terfel is undoubtely a great singer, but he is not a credible Don Giovanni. His voice lacks that touch of evil that makes of the Don the seductor that everybody admires and fears at the same time, specially when he seduces Zerlina and sings below Donna Elvira's balcony. Mr. Terfel's physical appearance is the other factor that prevents us ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

.

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Eugene Onegin / Fleming, Hvorostovsky, Vargas, Gergiev, Carsen [Metropolitan Opera 2007]

starring: Renee Fleming, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Ramon Vargas, Valery Gergiev, Elena Zaremba
directed by: Robert Carsen

Release Date February 04, 2008
This is a quite lovely DVD that rightly places Onegin at the heart of the opera, when frequently the whole focus is on Tatiana. While the latter is understandable given the importance of the Letter Scene to the drama of the work - and it was the musical kernel around which the recurring motifs of the opera are based - by focussing so centrally on Onegin himself the final scenes pack a real punch.

The staging is minimalist, the action taking place within the huge white cube of the bare Metropolitan stage, with no scenery. The different scenes are picked out by the simple use of a few judicious pieces of stage furniture - a single table for the opening scene in the Larin's garden, a bed and bureau for Tatiana's room and so on - and ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

.

Strauss - Arabella [1984]

starring: Renee Fleming

Release Date June 09, 2008
This may not be the definitive Arabella but it has more than enough going for it. Reservations I had when I bought it were unfounded. After an overly-schmaltzy Capriccio and indications, from her Met Opera interview stint, that Fleming had taken on the mannerisms of a talk-show host, I was not expecting great things from her. But here she is at her formidable best. The voice is in peak condition, burnished but not lacking characterization. Her acting is not quite at today's top level but very accomplished nevertheless. This time she does not overdo the toothpaste smile and gives us the many facets of a character who, let's face it, stands alone in this ship of fools. Despite her age she manages to convince as a young woman in love with the idea of love. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

.

Otello - Verdi [1995]

starring: Plácido Domingo, Renée Fleming, James Morris (IX), Jane Bunnell, Richard Croft (II)
directed by: Brian Large

Release Date April 12, 2004
Another great production from the Met. I bought this DVD without the benefit of a review. I was not disappointed.This is a typically traditional production from the Met but imaginitive lighting and colour creates a sense of modernity. Placido Domingo, Renee Fleming and the dasterdly James Morris are in fine form as is the Met orchestra under James Levine. The picture and sound quality of the DVD are excellent. This is one of the best of my growing collection of operas on DVD- now over 70, and I can recommend it without hesitation.

CD-Charts Position 6
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 7
Average Rating:

.

Rusalka [2002]

starring: Renée Fleming, Sergej Larin, Larissa Diadkova, Franz Hawlata, Eva Urbanová
directed by: François Roussillon

Release Date February 17, 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 8
Average Rating:

.

Massenet: Manon -- Paris Opera/Lopez-Cobos [2001]

starring: Renée Fleming, Marcelo Álvarez, Jean-Luc Chaignaud, Michel Sénéchal, Alain Vernhes
directed by: François Roussillon

Release Date January 30, 2006
And a very satisfying one too!

Massenet's music is sublime; the satin-voiced Renee Fleming portrays a charming Manon and Marcelo Alvarez, a convincing Des Grieux (although no one can live up to my childhood memories of seeing the great Brazilian soprano Bidu Sayao and Giuseppe Di Stefano in the leading roles at the Metropolitan Opera). The highlight for me was Alvarez's heart-breaking rendition of "Ah, fuyez, douce image!" as Des Grieux waits to take his vows at Saint Sulpice. The red-haired Fleming is stunning in the title role, but she presents such a picture of health that I had to suspend my disbelief when she is supposed to be dying on the rode to Le Havre. This is partly the fault of the costumer, who dressed her in shiny peacock blue satin ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

.

Dvorak: Rusalka -- Paris Opera/Conlon

starring: Renee Fleming, Eva Urbanova, Larissa Diadkova, Sergej Larin, Franz Hawlata
directed by: Robert Carsen

Release Date November 03, 2003
Rusalka is a lush, late-Romantic, almost Wagnerian (particularly in its moments of brassy grandeur and use of leitmotifs) lyric opera. Here the singing and acting are nigh on perfect. Rusalka has become a signature role for Renée Fleming and what familiarity with this opera there is in the UK probably comes from the frequent repetition of her famous rendition of the "Hymn to the Moon" on Classic FM. Here it's sung with far greater urgency, intensity and huge passion at the end. Her whole performance is quite enthralling and the reverses she suffers are therefore deeply moving. But hers is far from the only exquisitely lyrical moment in the piece: I'm thinking in particular of the Prince's questioning (but lyrical) outbursts to Rusalka at the end of Act I ("Vidno ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

.

Renee Fleming And Bryn Terfel - Under The Stars [2003]

starring: Renee Fleming, Bryn Terfel, Welsh National Opera Cho And Orch

Release Date April 07, 2003
Nothing negative can be said about this disc apart from you are left wanting more. There is a real chemistry between Renee and Bryn and the quality of the singing throughout is superb, but most particularly in the duets - 'Not while I'm around' sends shivers. The scenery around the stage of the Faenol festival also adds to the presentation. Great photography, fabulous singing, what else could you ask for?