La Belle Hélène

Jacques Offenbach’s La Belle Hélène has always been one of its composer’s most successful works. Its first performance in Paris was quickly followed by productions in Vienna, Berlin, London, Milan and New York. A satire of middle-class values, this opéra bouffe pillories narrow-mindedness in society. Adopting a pro-active stance, director Renaud Doucet and designer André Barbe treat the piece as a “great show” with numerous choreographic elements, relocating the action of Offenbach’s classical spoof and setting it on a cruise ship in the 1960s, when Flower Power, love and drugs were all the rage.

“La Belle Hélène is a firework display for ears and eyes” (Hamburger Morgenpost), “opulent and amusing” (Bild), and in the title role Jennifer Larmore convinces with her “fantastic vocal performance” (Das Opernglas)

I AM FROM AUSTRIA

I AM FROM AUSTRIA, das Erfolgsmusical der Vereinigten Bühnen Wien mit den Hits von Rainhard Fendrich beeindruckt durch eine witzig-rasante Geschichte, ein fantastisches Bühnenbild, schillernde Kostüme, mitreißende Choreographien und ein großartiges Ensemble. In der vom Publikum geliebten und von der Presse hochgelobten Original-Inszenierung von Andreas Gergen live aus dem Raimund Theater blicken wir hinter die Kulissen eines Wiener Luxushotels, wo ein prominenter Stargast für Trubel und Hollywood-Flair sorgt – eine Story voller Romantik, Überraschungen und Situationskomik! In ausverkauften Theatern in Wien und Japan begeisterte das Stück von Titus Hoffmann & Christian Struppeck bisher insgesamt mehr als eine dreiviertel Million Menschen. Jetzt gibt es das Musical I am from Austria mit über 20 Hits von Rainhard Fendrich (Macho Macho, Blond, Tango Korrupti und viele mehr) endlich auch auf DVD und Blu-ray mit Surround Sound!

Turandot

Mention Giacomo Puccini’s name and opera-lovers all over the world will think of grand opera and passionate love stories. One of the world’s most famous arias comes from the composer’s final opera, Turandot: “Nessun dorma” – none shall sleep because by morning the Chinese princess is determined to have discovered the name of the unknown prince. The work is remarkable for ist Chinese local colour, ist opulent crowd scenes, ist powerful choruses and ist characters overwhelmed by their emotions. Enthusiastically acclaimed by ist audiences, the present production combines spectacular and touching scenes on the Bregenz Festival’s vast lakeside stage.

A John Williams Celebration

For the 2014/15 Opening Night Concert and Gala, the Los Angeles Philharmonic paid loving tribute to composer John Williams, long a champion and close friend of the LA Phil. Gustavo Dudamel, an awestruck fan of the musical icon, led the orchestra in a crosssection of Maestro Williams’ matchless canon.

Bruckner Symphony No. 2

Thielemann‘s brilliant interpretation of Bruckner´s Symphony No. 2 is performed wonderfully by the Staatskapelle Dresden, completing their critically acclaimed Bruckner cycle with a concert at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. “In the Elbphilharmonie Thielemann once again proved to be the unrestricted Ruler on his ancestral territory, German Romantic repertoire” (Hamburger Abendblatt) and critics praised how lucent and with how much musical intensity Thielemann conducted this symphony in the acoustics of this hall – an exceptional positive example for subsequent conductors and orchestras.

Mahler Symphonies Nos. 9 & 10

Gustav Mahler spent 1909 and 1910 working on his final two symphonies. The Ninth has gone down in history as the culmination of his symphonic output and a prophetic anticipation of musical modernism. But owing to his declining health, he had to stop work on the Tenth after a few months and was unable to resume it before his death. Only the first movement,

included here, was orchestrated to a point where it can be performed without non-authorial additions. – The Mahler cycle by the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra under Paavo Järvi is appearing complete on DVD and Blu-ray on the C Major label and has already been internationally acclaimed as one of the most important Mahler projects of the new millennium.

“If I knew Mahler only from his music, I would say that he has a huge heart and a deep connection with the soul and humanity.” – PAAVO JÄRVI

Richard Strauss: At The End Of The Rainbow

Eric Schulz reveals in his latest music film a new perspective on the personality and oeuvre of Richard Strauss, who saw himself as the last great composer at the end of an era, “at the end of the rainbow”. This carefully researched production presents spectacular hitherto unreleased pictures of Richard Strauss. Among others: a live recording of the premiere of the “Olympic Anthem” at the Berlin Olympic stadium in 1936. The very first performance of this piece ever to be heard, performed by the Berlin Philharmonic and a choir of 1000 singers conducted by Richard Strauss himself. These spectacular rare pictures are embedded in interviews with relatives, famous musicians and Strauss experts, such as Christian Strauss, Stefan Mickisch and Brigitte Fassbaender.

Richard Strauss Gala

This exceptional programme of highlights from Richard Strauss´s works Der Rosenkavalier, Feuersnot,

Salome, Elektra, Die ägyptische Helena, Arabella, Die schweigsame Frau and Daphne was dedicated to Richard

Strauss 150th birthday in Dresden. The reputation as »THE Strauss-Orchestra« of the Staatskapelle

Dresden results from the special relation to Richard Strauss and his works, which started 130 years ago,

performing many world premieres of Richard Strauss´s operas and orchestral works.

The DVD includes the documentary My Strauss with Christian Thielemann, including a lot of archival

footage with Richard Strauss, rehearsals and concert excerpts of Elektra, Rosenkavalier, Frau ohne

Schatten, Heldenleben, Four last songs and more.

Salzburg Opening Concert

With Pierre Boulez, Daniel Barenboim and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra you are assured of a

concert of superlatives.

“Unsurpassable in terms of the delicacy of its sonorities.” – Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

„An ideal combination“ Kronenzeitung

“Boulez at his most responsive and insightful in all three works. And a grandiose orchestra – the Wiener

Philharmoniker in top form” (Kurier).

Mahler Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6

Symphonies Nos. 5 + 6 will continue the release of the complete Mahler cycle with Paavo Järvi and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, which since the 80s became a “powerful Mahler orchestra” (Frankfurter Rundschau)

Bonus: Introductions to Symphonies Nos. 5 + 6 with Paavo Järvi