Gruberova, Edita

Mozart - Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute)

Strauss: Arabella

A classic, historic and faithful account of Strauss s comedy of manners, the only film version available of this opera. Subtitles available: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese

Bellini - Norma

Mozart - Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail [Abduction from the Seraglio]

R. Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos

Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos premiered in 1916, was something new, a startling blend of comedy and tragedy, both a frothy entertainment and a serious dip into the big issues--life, death, art, and love. It succeeds as a musical and theatre experience, especially in a production as respectful of the composer's intentions as this one, which more than fulfills his considerable musical demands on the performers. Strauss and his librettist, Hugo von Hoffmannsthal, fuse the tale of an opera company and a team of comedians hired to provide entertainment for a dinner party at the palatial home of Vienna's "richest man." The two groups of artists are forced at the last moment to combine their incompatible talents in a hastily rewritten opera which follows the Prologue--the familiar story of Ariadne abandoned by Theseus on the Greek island. This DVD of Ariadne is a 1978 film based on Filippo Sanjust's Vienna State Opera production. The bustling Prologue is set in the backstage area of the mogul's palace and the 18th century costumes fit neatly. In the opera proper, the stage is transformed into a very stagey desert island with an improbable set of stairs leading to the heroine's cave, the action spilling over into the theatre's side boxes at times. While there's nothing particularly imaginative about the production, it never distracts from the main event--the music. Strauss was profligate in his melodic gifts, his ability to make a reduced orchestra sound big, and his wonderful obsession with the female voice, which yields many glorious moments in the opera. Lavish casting helps.

Gundula Janowitz is the prima donna who sings the title role, her fresh voice and musicality make her lament moving, but the coloratura soprano, Edita Gruberova, all but steals the show as Zerbinetta, providing both singing and acting splendor. Her coloratura is flawless, the trills in the aria "Grossmächtige Prinzessin," effortless. The harassed Composer, seen only in the Prologue, is Trudeliese Schmidt, whose singing is first-rate and whose acting in the pants role suits the part admirably, the veritable archetype of the ardent, impetuous artist. Among the men, veteran Walter Berry is a fine Musicmaster, the voice of reason amid all the madcap goings-on, while the comedians are a feisty bunch with good voices. Special mention is due baritone Barry McDaniel's Harlequin and lyric tenor Heinz Zednik's Dancing Master (in the Prologue) and Brighella. The role of Bacchus is a thankless part and if René Kollo is sometimes stiff and blustery, so too, are most tenors in that role. Pacing and orchestral playing could not be bettered as the Vienna Philharmonic is led by the great Strauss conductor, Karl Böhm. John Vernon's video direction is efficient, but his discreet use of fades and tight closeups may strike some as too much of a good thing. Filmed to a prerecorded soundtrack, lip-synching is smoothly done. There's a fine 1988 MET production led by James Levine with Jessye Norman and a similarly starry cast, but you can't go wrong with either--or both--of these versions of Strauss's opera. -- Dan Davis

Ariadne auf Naxos is an all-regions DVD in color and 4:3 ratio. Sound options include PCM Stereo and DTS 5.1 Surround. Sung in German with subtitles in English, French, Spanish, and Chinese.

Mozart - Cosi fan Tutte

Humperdinck - Hansel und Gretel (1981)

Verdi - La Traviata / Gruberova, Shicoff, Zancanaro, Rizzi, La Fenice

La Traviata was recorded at what was one of Venice's most exquisite 18th-century opera houses, La Fenice, tragically destroyed by fire in 1996, and now rebuilt. This glorious house is where La Traviata was premiered in 1853. In this memorable performance with the orchestra and chorus of La Fenice and Balletto di Toscana, Slovak soprano Edita Gruberova takes the leading role of Violetta, the tragic heroine, persuaded by Alfredo's father, Giorgio, to sacrifice her happiness with Alfredo (Neil Shicoff) for the sake of family honor.

Mozart - Don Giovanni / Allen, Gruberova, Murray, Araiza, Desderi, Mentzer, Muti, La Scala Opera

This 1987 performance of Don Giovanni is director Giorgio Strehler's interpretation of this opera, which presents the characters from a psychological standpoint, has been lauded as one of the most important Mozart productions yet. The British baritone Thomas Allen stars as the famous rapscallion.

Picture Format: 4:3
Sound Format: Dolby Stereo
Subtitles: GB
Sung in Italian

Mozart - Die Zauberflote / Gruberova, Talvela, Schreier, Cotrubas, Berry, Moser, Boesch, Murray, Mayr, Levine, Salzburger Festspiele Opera