Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus

Mozart - Don Giovanni / Maazel, Raimondi, Te Kanawa, Paris Opera

Set in Seville in the 1600s, young nobleman Don Giovanni is a well-known philanderer with a long list of amorous conquests. After he attempts to seduce the beautiful Donna Anna, her father's battle to protect her ends in tragedy. A film version of Mozart's greatest opera, directed by Joseph Losey (The Servant), with music direction by Lorin Maazel. 177 minutes. Cast:

Ruggero Raimondi: Don Giovanni
John Macurdy: The Commendatore
Edda Moser: Donna Anna
Kiri Te Kanawa: Donna Elvira
Kenneth Riegel: Don Ottavio
José van Dam: Leporello
Teresa Berganza: Zerlina
Malcolm King: Masetto
Eric Adjani: A Valet in Black

Mozart - Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) / Levine, Battle, Serra, Metropolitan Opera

Mozart - Le Nozze di Figaro / Te Kanawa, Cotrubas, von Stade, Luxon, Skram, Fryatt; Pritchard, Glyndebourne Opera

Le Nozze di Figaro, Mozart's timeless opera buffa, is one of the greatest of all operatic masterpieces. It is based on Beaumarchais' comedy Le Marriage de Figaro and tells the tale of the servant Figaro, who is about to marry the maid Susanna. Count Almaviva, keeping an eye on Susanna himself, tries to prevent this marriage with the help of Bortolo, the doctor, but is continually thwarted.

This exquisite production by Peter Hall, Director of the National Theatre, features a host of renowned opera singers lead by Kiri Te Kanawa as the Countess, the role that made her an international superstar. Knut Skram's charming and likeable take on the character of Figaro works very well with Cotruba's gentle Susanna. Also noteworthy is the outstanding Frederica von Stade, elebrated for her performance in the trouser role of Cherubino.

From the Glyndebourne Festical Opera 1973.
Picture Format: 4:3 • Subtitles: I, D, F, GB, SP
Sound Format: PCM Stereo

Mozart Opera Glyndebourne Collection: Cosi fan Tutte, Don Giovanni, Le Nozze di Figaro, Die Entfuhhrung aus dem Serail, Idomeneo, Die Zauberflote (6 DVDs)

Mozart - Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) / Jean-Pierre Vincent · Paolo Olmi - G. Furlanetto · Szymtka - Opéra National de Lyon

The Marriage of Figaro, as this elegant 1994 production brilliantly reminds us, was a French bedroom comedy before it became a Mozart opera. It is a classic of French literature, and it is still enjoyable as a spoken play after more than two centuries of existence. Its literary quality gives this production a special flavor. The music--some of Mozart's finest--is beautifully presented by a carefully chosen international cast (including Giovanni Furlanetto, Elzbieta Szymtka, Janice Watson, and Ludovic Tezier), but what sets this production apart is its theatrical flavor, cultivated by a director who is an expert on classic French theater. The standards of spoken theater are upheld in timing, body language, the inflection of punch lines. These qualities are more important here than in most operas; style is both crucial and elusive. Fortunately, the Opera de Lyon, one of most imaginative companies in Europe, shows an impressive sense of style. --Joe McLellan

This acclaimed production by the former actor and director Jean-Pierre Vincent is infused with a real knowledge and understanding of Beaumarchais and da Ponte and is entirely faithful to the spirit of Mozart's immensely popular, vivacious amorous intrigue. Set in the eighteenth century, the subtly stylized stage designs by artist Jean Paul Chambas recreate the age of enlightenment with a Spanish flavor. Giovanni Furlanetto's Figaro is beautifully musical and well-acted, capturing all the gaiety, grace, goodwill and optimism of the part. Elzbieta Szmytka is a lively, natural and commanding Susanna. Vincent's exceptional production of Mozart's incomparable masterpiece is a spectacularly theatrical and musical experience. 193 minutes, with English subtitles.

Mozart - Don Giovanni / Gilfry, Polgar, Bartoli, Rey, Nikiteanu, Salminen, Widmer, Harnoncourt, Zurich Opera

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 - Don Giovanni / Alvarez, Pieczonka, Antonacci, Kirchschlager, d'Arcangelo, Schade, Regazzo, Selig, Muti, Vienna Opera

Mozart - Cosi Fan Tutte / Harnoncourt, Bartoli, Nikiteanu, Zurich Opera

Mozart's third and final opera with librettist Lorenzo da Ponte, the hugely ambitious dramatic comedy Così fan Tutte (roughly translated as "They're All Like That"), is brought passionately to life in a first-class production conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt and featuring one of the great starring roles for Cecilia Bartoli. Filmed live at the Zurich Opera House in February 2000 on a set that visualizes the subtitle "The School for Lovers," the plot revolves around two army officers arguing about the fidelity of their brides, then setting out to test their chastity. Despite the often playful humor, this not only is psychologically telling music-making, but reveals Mozart exploring the structure of opera, discarding convention to mix large ensemble sections with arias for as many different combinations of singers as possible. With Liliana Nikiteanu attractively contrasted with Bartoli, and thoroughly convincing performances by Roberto Sacca (Ferrando) and Oliver Widmer (Guglielmo), this Così has a freshness and flow that, coupled with the timeless romantic themes, feels very contemporary. --Gary S. Dalkin

Cast list:

Cecilia Bartoli: Fiordiligi
Liliana Nikiteanu: Dorabella
Agnes Baltsa: Despina
Roberto Saccà: Ferrando
Oliver Widmer: Guglielmo
Carlos Chausson: Don Alfonso

In 18th century Naples, Don Alfonso wagers that the two girls, Fiordiligi and Dorabella, are no more trustworthy in matters of love than any other women. The girls sing of their love, before Don Alfonso tells them that their lovers are to be called away to the war. Despina, bribed by Don Alfonso, urges the girls to find other lovers, but they declare their constancy. Guglielmo and Ferrando return, disguised as Albanians, but the girls remain firm. They agree to Despina's suggestion of harmless flirtation, each unwittingly choosing the other's partner. The success of the two Albanians, in spite of Fiordiligi's more prolonged resistance, leads to a wedding. The men now appear as themselves and pretend shock and horror at what is afoot, before revealing their plot. All ends happily, as Don Alfonso urges the power of reason in these circumstances. This production by the Zurich Opera House had it premiere in Febuary 2000. The renowned soprano Cecilia Bartoli made her debut here as Fiordiligi, after having sung the two other Cosi roles, Despina and Dorabella, previously.

Mozart - Mitridate, re di Ponto / Daniels, Ford, Kowalski, Royal Opera

This opera seria was written when Mozart was 14 years old. The style was already old-fashioned (it had been used for more than a century), but Mozart's music, though not comparable to his mature operas, has a freshness, vitality, and spontaneity that transcend the rigid, traditional forms and conventions. The Covent Garden cast sings beautifully, give or take a few pinched high notes (not unusual in a live performance), and the primary question posed by this production is whether or not you can accept the minimal sets and lavishly exotic (vaguely oriental) makeup and costumes. The plot is absurd, but we take that for granted.

Historically, Mithridates was the ruler of a kingdom in the Middle East that was a serious military threat to Rome in the first century B.C.--a fact that has little to do with the plot (two sons struggling for the love of their father's fiancée). Lovely music triumphs over twisted plot and weird visuals. --Joe McLellan

An opera series in three acts: by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A spectacular Royal Opera performance of Mozart's great operatic work, starring Bruce Ford in the title role. Sung in Italian, Subtitled in English.

Cast - Arbate, Governor of Nymphaea - Jacquelyn Fugelle
Sifare, Mitridate's younger son - Ann Murraye
Aspasia, betrothed to Mitridate - Luba Orgonasovae
Farnace, Mitridate's elder son - Jochen Kowalskie
Marzio, Roman Tribune - Justin Lavendere
Mitridate, King of Pontus - Bruce Forde
Ismene, daughter of the King of Parthia - Lillian Watson