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Classical Music

Alban Berg: Lulu Blu-ray Review

Posted August 25th, 2010 by Lawrence Devoe

Alban Berg: Lulu Blu-ray Review

This atonal 20th century opera deals with the fatal dissolution of a young woman at the hands of her many lovers. Minimalist sets and monochromatic costumes do little to clarify the characters or their situations for first-time viewers. This is unfortunate as the singing and musical direction is consistently first-rate.

Richard Strauss: Salome Blu-ray Review

Posted August 25th, 2010 by Lawrence Devoe

Richard Strauss: Salome Blu-ray Review

The biblical account of Salome and her attraction to John the Baptist is transported to 1930’s Germany. The famous Dance of the 7 Veils is considerably downplayed while the elements of sex, sadism, and incest are overplayed. Vocal performances and music direction are generally quite good.

Giacomo Puccini: La Boheme Blu-ray Review

Posted August 17th, 2010 by Lawrence Devoe

Giacomo Puccini: La Boheme Blu-ray Review

Opus Arte puts forth a young and lively addition to the La Boheme catalogue on Blu-ray.

TRONDHEIMSOLISTENE – In Folk Style Pure Audio Blu-ray +SACD Review

Posted June 27th, 2010 by Brandon DuHamel

TRONDHEIMSOLISTENE – In Folk Style Pure Audio Blu-ray +SACD Review

We want the folk, give us the folk! And 2L shall provide in glorious high-res with this marvelous Grieg-inspired outing from the Norwegian label.

Chamber Music Palisades: Shostakovich/Debussy/Brockman Blu-ray Review

Posted June 25th, 2010 by Brandon DuHamel

Chamber Music Palisades: Shostakovich/Debussy/Brockman Blu-ray Review

Beautifully recorded music played with authority mark label AIX’s entrance into the multichannel Blu-ray arena.

Ole Bull: Violin Concertos Pure Audio Blu-ray + SACD Review

Posted April 4th, 2010 by Brandon DuHamel

Ole Bull: Violin Concertos Pure Audio Blu-ray + SACD  Review

Can there be any word other than “spectacular” to describe the Pure Audio Blu-ray recordings of Norwegian label 2L? This set of violin pieces by romantic virtuoso Ole Bull continues the label’s standard setting trend.

Handel: Acis and Galatea [Royal Opera/Hogwood] Blu-ray Review

Posted April 2nd, 2010 by Brandon DuHamel

Handel: Acis and Galatea [Royal Opera/Hogwood] Blu-ray Review

Handel’s pastorale “masque” comes to life in a refreshing interpretation from Christopher Hogwood and the Royal Opera in an excellent high definition capture from Opus Arte.

Verdi: Otello (Muti/Wiener Philharmoniker) Blu-ray Review

Posted March 19th, 2010 by Brandon DuHamel

Verdi: Otello (Muti/Wiener Philharmoniker) Blu-ray Review

Riccardo Muti and the Wiener Philharmoniker were more than up to the task in 2008 for this staging of Verdi’s Otello at the Salzburg Festival, the first since Karajan and the orchestra’s in 1970 — see and hear it in hi-res from Unitel Classica.

Schumann: Symphony No. 4/Piano Concerto [Argerich/Chailly] Blu-ray Review

Posted March 12th, 2010 by Brandon DuHamel

Schumann: Symphony No. 4/Piano Concerto [Argerich/Chailly] Blu-ray Review

Bravo to this all-Schumann night of exhilarating performances, but why is this Blu-ray utilizing 48kHz/16-bit PCM audio?

Cavalli: Ercole Amante [Concerto Köln/Bolton] Blu-ray Review

Posted March 9th, 2010 by Brandon DuHamel

Cavalli: Ercole Amante [Concerto Köln/Bolton] Blu-ray Review

De Nederlandse Opera and Opus Arte bring this lavish and humorous revival of Francesco Cavalli’s baroque opera to Blu-ray in a superb high definition production.