CD-Charts Position 1

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Strauss; Salome [2008]

starring: Nadja Michael, Michaela Schuster, Thomas Moser, Joseph Kaiser, Michael Volle
directed by: David McVicar (Stage Director);Philippe Jordan (Conductor)

Release Date September 01, 2008

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

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Mozart - Le Nozze Di Figaro [2006]

directed by: David McVicar

Release Date March 03, 2008
Cannot comment on the quality,
this DVD will not play on a PAL only system.
Perhaps I am a dinosaur, but should`nt this be made clear?

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

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Giulio Cesare - Handel (Glyndebourne Festival) [2006]

starring: William Christie, Sarah Connolly, Angelika Kirchschlager, Danielle De Niese, Christophe Dumaux
directed by: David McVicar

Release Date April 03, 2006
A first class performance of a much underrated masterpiece.
All the cast were on top form, and the desire on the part of
the production team to make Handel's music both seductive and
eternal was a success in every way.

I cannot think of a better operatic production on DVD.
Indeed, I would say that it is at least the equal of any
of the many Don Giovanni DVDs currently available.
Sarah Connolly's Cesare is a turly manly portrayal and
is the perfect partner for the Celopatra of Danielle de
Niese whose sheer sexual vivaciousness and sublime,
uninhibited singing reflect a rare talent, and after
viewing certain scenes in Act Three, I became convinced ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

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Mozart - Die Zauberflote [Blu-ray] [2003]

directed by: David McVicar

Release Date March 03, 2008
We are spoilt by many, many exceptional versions of Die Zauberflöte but this one is difficult to beat. Blu ray and opera is the most perfect combination! This disc alone is worth the purchase of a Blu ray player!!

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

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Verdi: Rigoletto [2002]

starring: Paolo Gavanelli, Marcelo Alvarez, Christine Schafer, Royal Opera Chorus, Royal Opera House Orchestra
directed by: David McVicar

Release Date March 04, 2002
Rigoletto is one of my favourite operas, yet I hadn't found a DVD version that really got to me, until this one. Everyone I know recommends it, with good cause.

The start is rather risquee, but not in such a way as to lose credibility. As McVicar explains, he has taken a fresh look at how to show what a seedy, misogynistic world is being portrayed. The nudity is with this in mind, rather than cheap titilation. Right, that's that out of the way, onto business.

Because this DVD is all about the superb acting, singing and orhestration that sets it above other Rigolettos. Throughout the acting is first class, particularly of Gilda and Rigoletto, and the show has one strong voice after another - it really is a dream cast. I was really ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

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Massenet Manon [2007]

starring: Natalie Dessay, Rolando Villazon, Samuel Ramey, Didier Henry, Victor Pablo Perez
directed by: David McVicar

Release Date January 21, 2008
This is a live performance from Barcelona in 2007 featuring two of the hottest names in opera at the moment - Natalie Dessay and Rolando Villazon - as the young lovers. It is a somewhat uneven performance, and the two are rather mismatched, but there are moments of absolute wonder which make this recording worth repeated viewing.

Dessay is a natural French speaker, Villazon is obviously not, and at times it sounds like they are almost singing in different languages, and his Italianate sound is sometimes too strong to overlook. And yet, his rendition of "En fermant les yeux" is so stunningly beautiful it could make grown men weep, and is the best moment on the whole disc. Just watch Dessay as she "acts" in response to his singing during this aria, and ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

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Georges Bizet - Carmen [Blu-ray] [2002]

directed by: David McVicar

Release Date September 29, 2008
This is a live performance from Barcelona in 2007 featuring two of the hottest names in opera at the moment - Natalie Dessay and Rolando Villazon - as the young lovers. It is a somewhat uneven performance, and the two are rather mismatched, but there are moments of absolute wonder which make this recording worth repeated viewing.

Dessay is a natural French speaker, Villazon is obviously not, and at times it sounds like they are almost singing in different languages, and his Italianate sound is sometimes too strong to overlook. And yet, his rendition of "En fermant les yeux" is so stunningly beautiful it could make grown men weep, and is the best moment on the whole disc. Just watch Dessay as she "acts" in response to his singing during this aria, and ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

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Mozart - Die Zauberflote [HD DVD] [2003]

directed by: David McVicar

Release Date August 28, 2007
This is a live performance from Barcelona in 2007 featuring two of the hottest names in opera at the moment - Natalie Dessay and Rolando Villazon - as the young lovers. It is a somewhat uneven performance, and the two are rather mismatched, but there are moments of absolute wonder which make this recording worth repeated viewing.

Dessay is a natural French speaker, Villazon is obviously not, and at times it sounds like they are almost singing in different languages, and his Italianate sound is sometimes too strong to overlook. And yet, his rendition of "En fermant les yeux" is so stunningly beautiful it could make grown men weep, and is the best moment on the whole disc. Just watch Dessay as she "acts" in response to his singing during this aria, and ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

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Verdi - Il Trovatore/Rigoletto/Falstaff

directed by: Graham Vick, David McVicar, Elijah Moshinsky

Release Date May 07, 2007
This is a live performance from Barcelona in 2007 featuring two of the hottest names in opera at the moment - Natalie Dessay and Rolando Villazon - as the young lovers. It is a somewhat uneven performance, and the two are rather mismatched, but there are moments of absolute wonder which make this recording worth repeated viewing.

Dessay is a natural French speaker, Villazon is obviously not, and at times it sounds like they are almost singing in different languages, and his Italianate sound is sometimes too strong to overlook. And yet, his rendition of "En fermant les yeux" is so stunningly beautiful it could make grown men weep, and is the best moment on the whole disc. Just watch Dessay as she "acts" in response to his singing during this aria, and ... Read More: