MUL 1010: Music Appreciation / Music in the Humanities: Watch - Opera

Humorous and informative video series on all things opera!

Aida was acclaimed at its first performance in 1871 and has grown in stature ever since to become one of the best-loved and most-performed grand operas of all time. Filmed at the Royal Opera House, Elijah Moshinsky’s 1994 production of Giuseppe Verdi’s extravagant and magnificent Egyptian opera features Cheryl Studer in the title role and a cast that includes Dennis O’Neill and Luciana D’Intino. One of the 20 most-performed operas in North America, as cited by OPERA America! (Italian, 151 minutes)

Based on Book IV of Virgil’s Aeneid, Henry Purcell’s opera Dido and Aeneas contrasts both musically and dramatically the supernatural with personal tragedy. This performance—a collaboration between the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet—spotlights Sarah Connolly and Lucas Meachem, who play out the epic story of love and despair between Dido, queen of Carthage, and the Trojan demigod Aeneas. The onstage action is directed and choreographed by Wayne McGregor, and Christopher Hogwood conducts the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. (61 minutes)

An introduction by conductor Antonio Pappano sets the stage for this Francesca Zambello production of Carmen, one of the world’s best-loved operas—a tale of passion, betrayal, and revenge featuring the perennially popular and dramatic music of Georges Bizet. Anna Caterina Antonacci and Jonas Kaufmann in the roles of Carmen and Don José head a cast of more than 140 supported by the Royal Opera House Orchestra and the Royal Opera Chorus. (Opera in French with English subtitles, 2 hours 39 minutes)

This modern retelling of Humperdinck’s fairy tale opera—described by Richard Strauss as “a masterpiece of the highest quality”—combines Romanticism, lyricism, and exuberant playfulness in a rich orchestration. Director Laurent Pelly places the siblings in a cardboard shack, and the iconic gingerbread house has been reenvisioned as shelves of child-enticing junk food. (German with English subtitles, 1 hour 47 minutes)

Known for his daring interpretations of other Mozart operas, Scottish director David McVicar offers viewers a fresh and energetic version of Le Nozze di Figaro in this 2006 Royal Opera House production.The Royal Opera House Orchestra is conducted by Antonio Pappano, dubbed the “lightning conductor” and praised for overturning the company’s “old regime” by Peter Conrad in The Guardian. Tanya McCallin’s departure from traditional 18th-century period design is also noteworthy. (Italian, 3 hours 2 minutes)

In what many believe to be the finest production of Verdi’s Otello in modern times, Plácido Domingo and Kiri Te Kanawa lead a world-class cast under the forceful and sensitive musical direction of Sir Georg Solti. This is an outstanding performance of the first of the composer’s two late Shakespearean operas, widely regarded as masterpieces of the form. (Italian, 2 hours 26 minutes)

Once regarded as a “lost” opera because of early censorship and controversy, Stiffelio has now established its rightful place in the Verdi canon. In this cherished recording from the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, José Carreras delivers a stirring performance as the Protestant minister whose faith is shattered when he discovers his wife’s adulterous liaison with a family friend. Carreras leads a fine cast that includes Catherine Malfitano, Gregory Yurisich, Gwynne Howell, and Robin Leggate under the baton of Edward Downes. (Italian, 2 hours)

Peter Hall’s magnificent production of Strauss’s opera Salome features sensational acting from Maria Ewing—who, as the sinister and ruthless heroine named in the title, ultimately leaves nothing to the imagination in her Dance of the Seven Veils. The orchestra, in excellent form, is conducted by Sir Edward Downes, whose memorable and rewarding career with the Royal Opera House will no doubt be appreciated by the classical music community for decades to come. Contains nudity. (German, 1 hour 52 minutes)

Svetla Vassileva, Massimo Giordano, And Vladimir Stoyanov sing the leading roles in this version of Guiseppe Verdi's opera. The characters are based on Dame Aux Camelias written by Alexandre Dumas. Yuri Temirkanov conducts the Teatro Regio di Parma Orchestra. Music only. (2 hours, 12 minutes)

DVD The story of a beautiful courtesan dying of consumption and her love for a poor nobleman.
Sung in Italian with English and French subtitles and English captions. Opera film.

DVD Puccini's tragic love story is set in the Latin Quarter of Paris among the bohemian students whose hectic gaiety only partially masks the despair and pain that threaten their lives. It remains one of the most popular of all operas with its stark contrasts of lively humour and poignant tragedy.
Sung in Italian, with subtitles in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, or Japanese.

DVD An opera by Mozart, in which a handsome young man is enlisted to rescue the Queen of Night's daughter from an evil sorcerer.
In Swedish with optional English subtitles.

DVD A heart-rending story about a sweet-natured Japanese girl and the caddish American lieutenant who marries then deserts her.

DVD Count Almaviva, in love with Rosina, the ward of Dr. Bartolo, succeeds, with the help of the barber, Figaro, in defeating the doctor’s attempts to separate them.

DVD A battle of the sexes, loaded with confusion, mixed identities, a boy dressed up as a girl, and hilarious dialogue with plenty of double entendre.

DVD A performance of Mozart's comedy of manners.

DVD Live performance of Verdi's opera about a down on his luck knight looking to earn some money by romancing the wives of rich men.
In Italian with Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, or Spanish subtitles.
Closed-captioned. Based on The Merry Wives of Windsor and Henry IV by William Shakespeare.

DVD Luciano Pavarotti in his first Met Ballo heads an illustrious cast in the revolutionary production of Verdi's opera. His portrayal of the ill-fated Riccardo is 'peerless Pavarotti.' Also stars Aprile Millo.
Sung in Italian with subtitles in English, German, French, Spanish and Chinese.

DVD- Placido Domingo accomplishes the rare feat of singing both lead roles on the same night in opera s most popular double bill. James Levine conducts the tenor in Franco Zeffirelli's classic production, opposite the superb singing actors Tatiana Troyanos, Teresa Stratas and Sherrill Milnes. Taken from the April 5, 1978 live performance.

DVD- The story begins with Napoleon Bonaparte, political enemy of Scarpia advancing upon Rome. Cavaradossi a painter and Angelotti an escaped prisoner are political allies and see Napoleon as a hero. Angelotti has taken refuge in a chapel of a church in Rome in which Cavaradossi is painting a portrait of the Madonna. Cavaradossi has as his lover a famous singer Floria Tosca who attempts to enter the church and finds the door locked. She becomes jealous and demands to know why the door is locked. Angelotti and Cavaradossi engineer an escape plan for Angelotti. Various twists and turns develop involving these major players.
Sung in Italian; subtitles in Chinese, English, French, German, Italian & Spanish.

DVD - Special features: interviews with Ileana Cotrubas, James Levine, Plácido Domingo & Cornell MacNeil ; picture gallery ("Rigoletto") at the Met.
Sung in Italian with subtitles in Italian, English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese; interviews in English. Opera in three acts.

DVD- Set against the epic backdrop of ancient Egypt, Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida (1871) is an intimate love story about one man and two women who get caught between their personal feelings and the fate of their nations. The great Triumphal Scene at the center of Act II ranks among opera’s most celebrated moments.

DVD- Set in mythical Peking, Princess Turandot declares she will marry any man of royal blood who can solve three riddles she sets him. Failure to solve the riddles will result in execution. Prince Calaf, in spite of many entreaties not to do so, wishes to seek the hand of Turandot. Calaf solves the riddles, but gives Turandot another chance to be rid of him. Ultimately, Turandot discovers that love is the answer she needs.
Sung in Italian; optional subtitles in Italian, English, German, French, Spanish or Chinese.

DVD-An effervescent comedic opera which includes Viennese dance music and an escapist plot.
Sung in German, with German and English dialogue; optional English, German, Spanish and Japanese subtitles.
Comic opera in three acts.