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

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

Don Giovanni - Mozart / De Nederlandse Opera

Wit and astute theatrical awareness are the hallmarks of this exceptional vision of Mozart's and Da Ponte's famous masterpiece, directed by the duo Jossi Wieler and Sergio Morabito.

Don Giovanni is a breathtaking, sinister game of voyeuristic intimacy and brutal violence. Ingo Metzmacher and a sparkling ensemble and cast underscore this unique vision of a kaleidoscope of human emotions with commitment and vitality.

Sung in Italian with subtitles in English.

This is a 2-DVD set!

Pietro Spagnoli

Mario Luperi

Myrtò Papatanasiu

Marcel Reijans

Charlotte Margiono

José Fardilha

Roberto Accurso

Cora Burggraaf

Netherlands Chamber Orchestra

Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera

Musical Director Ingo Metzmacher

Mozart - The Salzburg Festspiele Opera Boxset

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 - Die Entfuhring aus dem Serail / Nielsen, Watson, van der Walt, Magnusson, Moll, Tobias, Solti, Covent Garden Opera

Mozart's comic masterpiece is set in a Turkish palace and tells the story of the 'escape from the harem'. In Elijah Moshinsky's production, the Turkish atmosphere is created by Timothy O'Brien's set of garden and crumbling palace, strikingly complemented by Sir Sidney Nolan's colourful front and backcloths. The story tells of Belmonte, a Spanish nobleman (played by Deon van der Walt), who arrives at the palace of Pasha Selim (a speaking role taken by actor Oliver Tobias), seeking his beloved Konstanze (sung by Inga Nielsen). It is an exciting and amusing plot, interwoven with the themes of social decorum, the rights of women, honour and justice, and young love. Solti "made the comic numbers sparkle and dance, and brought a romantic, emotional weight to the serious music". SPECTATOR

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