Bruson, Renato

Leoncavallo - I Pagliacci / Mascagni - Cavalleria Rusticana / Domingo, Stratas, Pons, Bruson, Obraztsova, Pretre

Verdi - Giovanna d'Arco / Susan Dunn, Vincenzo La Scola, Renato Bruson, Pietro Spagnoli, Riccardo Chailly, Bologna Opera

Stage and television director Werner Herzog, one of the most highly acclaimed German film makers of all time, joins forces with the great Italian conductor Riccardo Chailly to effect a masterful rendition of this rarely-performed opera involving spectacular scenes of alternating light and dark, pageantry and intimacy. The production is further complemented by the great Italian baritone Renato Bruson as Giacomo, the American soprano Susan Dunn as Giovanna and the outstanding tenor Vincenzo La Scola as the Dauphin. The magnificent Teatro Comunale di Bologna provides an intimate yet ornate setting for this production of Verdi's seventh opera, the story of the Maid of Orleans. "Certainly the success of this production is due to Herzog … a marvellous and extraordinary production" CORRIERE DELLA SERA. Teatro Comunale di Bologna. Giacomo: Renato Bruson. Giovanna D'Arco: Susan Dunn. Carlo VII: Vincenzo La Scola. Delil: Pierre Lefebvre. Talbot: Pietro Spagnoli. Orchestra And Chorus Of The Teatro Comunale Di Bologna; Conductor Riccardo Chailly. Program language: Italian. Subtitles in English / French / German / Italian / Portuguese / Spanish / Japanese.

Verdi - Ernani / Domingo, Freni, Bruson, Ghiaurov, Muti, La Scala Opera

In this thrilling performance at La Scala, Plácido Domingo and Mirella Freni show why, when they were in the prime of their careers, they could carry even the most melodramatic of Verdi vehicles on their shoulders. As Donna Elvira, whom a trio of men has designs on for various honest and sordid reasons, Freni is a wellspring of ardent passion that sweeps the audience along, while Domingo's title hero is an equally inspired creation; their singing during the tragic finale underscores its worth as one of Verdi's most moving denouements.

Luca Ronconi's functional production isn't particularly inspired yet manages to conjure the necessary atmosphere. Obviously, it's Verdi's vivid music that carries the day, with Riccardo Muti conducting the score to a fare-thee-well, from the subdued and mood-setting prelude to the crackling choruses and the beautifully handled ending. Ably abetting Freni and Domingo with their full-throated portrayals are the other male leads, Renato Bruson (Don Carlo) and Nicolai Ghiaurov (Don Ruy), creating a quartet of masterly Verdi singers not often seen and heard on the same stage. --Kevin Filipski

This outstanding production of Verdi's tragic opera stars four of the world's great Verdi singers; Placido Domingo, Renato Bruson, Nicolai Ghiaurov and Mirella Freni as the gentle heroine desired by these three rivals. They have been described as "possibly the best quartet of singers any opera house has managed to assemble this year" - The Times. The cast give an impassioned performance under the baton of Riccardo Muti, an acclaimed interpreter of Verdi. Based on Victor Hugo's play, this violent and sombre story of frustrated passion, and ambition thwarted and rewarded, is set by the composer to a succession of irresistible tunes, unsurpassed even in his mature works. The opera's dramatic impetus is simply unstoppable.

Verdi - Nabucco / Muti, Bruson, Dimitrova, Burchuladze, Becaria, Pierotti, La Scala

Roberto de Simone's production of Verdi's epic opera recorded at the Teatro alla Scala. Starring Renato Bruson, Ghena Dimitrova, and Paata Burchuladze.

Donizetti - Lucia di Lammermoor / Devia, La Scola, Bruson, Colombara, Berti, Ranzani, La Scala Opera

Verdi - Il Corsaro / Bruson, Michailov, Sburlati, Damato, Palumbo, Parma Opera

Verdi - Nabucco / Bruson, Dimitrova, Petkov, Balioni, Garaventa, Arena, Verona Opera

Nabucco is the opera which made Verdi the voice of the Italian people. Its theme of an oppressed people's yearning for freedom touched a responsive chord in the Italy of 1842. The stirring passion of Verdi's score proved irresistible in a country increasingly resentful of Austrian rule. "Va pensiero," the great chorus of longing, sung by the exiled Hebrews on the banks of the Euphrates, has become one of the best-loved of operatic melodies, and for Italian patriots in the middle of the 19th century, the chorus quickly became an anthem. The background to the opera is historical: set during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar (Nabucco), King of Babylon. The fictitious characters are Nabucco's daughters, Abigaille and Fenena, who are rivals for the love of Ismaele, nephew of the King of Jerusalem. There is also a powerful bass role for Zaccaria, a Hebrew priest, who brings about the conversion of Nabucco. This performance was recorded at Verona, where the huge open-air Roman Arena provides a magnificent setting for this well-loved and spectacular epic. "Renato Bruson…brought out the many different facets of this complex character, the violence, the madness, the terror and finally the love, giving an absolutely unforgettable Dio di Guida" OPERA

Mozart - Don Giovanni / Renato Bruson, Stefano de Peppo, Anna Longo, Amarilli Nizza, Michael Halasz, Rome Opera

Shot in 2001 at the Teatro Argentina in Italy this performance of Mozart's DON GIOVANNI is brought to life by some talented performers including the Rome Philharmonic Orchestra Stefano de Peppo and Renato Bruson as the infamous don.System Requirements:Running Time 180 Mins.Format: DVD AUDIO Genre: MUSICALS/MUSICALS Rating: NR UPC: 842977002034 Manufacturer No: FMG-DV-203

Verdi - La Traviata / Norah Amsellem, Jose Bros, Renato Bruson, Maria Espada, Jesus Lopez Cobos, Madrid Opera

Mozart - Don Giovanni / Renato Bruson, Stefano de Peppo, Anna Laura Longo, Amarilli Nizza, Alessandro Battiato, Michael Halasz, Rome Opera