La forza del destino

A raging torrent of love, vengeance and redemption set against the backdrop of a world in flames, Verdi’s La forza del destino is one of the landmarks of 19th-century opera. In the right hands, it can be one of opera’s most cathartic experiences, and in 1998 few conductors in the world generated more electricity than Valery Gergiev at the helm of his rejuvenated Mariinsky forces, conducing the fascinating 1862 version of the score, as premiered in St Petersburg. With Galina Gorchakova as Leonora and supercharged emotional commitment from the whole cast, Elijah Moshinsky’s classic staging has rarely felt more vital – or more thrilling.

Bach, Matthäuspassion (St. Matthew’s Passion) BWV 244

Johann Sebastian Bach’s monumental St. Matthew Passion in a recording from Leipzig’s historic St. Thomas church, where it was first performed in 1729. Georg Christoph Biller, who was appointed the 18th “Thomaskantor” since J.S. Bach in 1992, leads Leipzig’s internationally acclaimed Gewandhaus Orchestra, the St. Thomas Choir and other distinguished artists such as Andreas Schmidt (Jesus), Olaf Bär (Pontius Pilate), Monika Frimmer, Bogna Bartosz and Martin Petzold

Parsifal

In the words of Opern Welt, Sinopoli “conjures up sounds of exquisite beauty and compelling poignancy.” Wolfgang Wagner’s production emphasizes the celebratory character of the libretto, which harmonizes superbly with Sinopoli’s insistence on the poetry and mystery of the music. A major role in the staging is played by the lighting, which is used to create stunning effects such as the diffuse play of light and shadow at the illumination of the Holy Grail. One of the production’s most striking moments occurs when the director has Kundry unveil the Grail instead of dying. She thus takes full part in the Grail ceremony, displaying a feminism which, in the Bayreuth context, is truly revolutionary.

Sir André Previn – The Kindness of Strangers

Sir André Previn’s success is phenomenal: from Berlin refugee to multi-Oscar-winning film score composer, from renowned jazz pianist to chief conductor of both the London Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras. This film was made with him as his first opera, A Streetcar Named Desire, was being staged at the San Francisco Opera. It follows the production from first rehearsals through to opening night and Previn talks candidly about the experience, relating it to his international life and career.

In Rehearsal: Pierre Boulez

Featuring some of today’s leading conductors in rehearsal, this series gives a unique insight into the process of creating great music. The conductors’ very different styles and methods; the dialogue between an orchestra and an inspired interpreter; the intensity of the preparations for a concert performance; and the struggle towards perfection are captured in these revealing audio-visual records. Most episodes include a full run-through of the work rehearsed. All include interviews with the conductor who is seen at work. Pierre Boulez rehearses the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for a performance of Alban Berg’s Three Pieces for Orchestra Op. 6 and his own composition Notations I-IV . Directed by Felix Breisach 57’

In Rehearsal: Christoph von Dohnanyi

Featuring some of today’s leading conductors in rehearsal, this series gives a unique

insight into the process of creating great music. The conductors’ very different styles and

methods; the dialogue between an orchestra and an inspired interpreter; the intensity of the

preparations for a concert performance; and the struggle towards perfection are captured in these

revealing audio-visual records. Most episodes include a full run-through of the work rehearsed.

All include interviews with the conductor who is seen at work. Pierre Boulez rehearses the Vienna

Philharmonic Orchestra for a performance of Alban Berg’s Three Pieces for Orchestra Op. 6 and his

own composition Notations I-IV . Directed by Felix Breisach 57’ R7117 Christoph von Dohnányi

rehearses Haydn’s Symphony No. 88 in G with the Philharmonia. Directed by Barrie Gavin 59’ R7116

Sir John Eliot Gardiner works with the Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists on J. S.

Bach’s Cantata No. 63. The soloists are Ann Monoyios (soprano), Sara Mingardo (alto), Rufus

Müller (tenor), and Stephan Loges (bass). Directed by Manfred Waffender 59’ R0759 Valéry Gergiev

works with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra on Prokofiev’s Scythian Suite Op. 20. Directed by

Rob van den Berg 59′ R7113 Mariss Jansons prepares Bartók’s Miraculous Mandarin Suite with the

Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. Directed by Morten Thomte 55′ R0756 Zubin Mehta rehearses the Israel

Philharmonic Orchestra for a performance of Richard Strauss’s Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche

Op. 28. Directed by Peter Berggren 55′ R7112 Esa-Pekka Salonen rehearses and performs Debussy’s

impressionistic orchestral piece, La Mer, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Directed

by Peter Berggren 56′ R7115

Beat Route – Around the World with Jools Holland

This 6-part BBC TV series, Beat Route, takes top music television presenter, Jools Holland (The Tube, Later with Jools Holland) and places him in six major cities around the world to delve ‘under the skin’ of each location. The result is a stunning mix of music, travel and culture, with each city revealed through Jools’ inimitable wit and personality. Jools meets many celebrated musicians, listens to their music and jams with the best of them. From the urban blues of Chicago, the flamenco of Seville and the folklore of Budapest, to the riverside bars of Dublin, 1950s Cadillacs in Havana and girl bands in Beirut, Beat Route paints a vivid and engrossing picture of urban identity. Whether it’s a brief encounter with a dating agency run out of the back of a Chicago cab, or a musical collaboration in an old square in Havana, Beat Route pays homage to some of the world’s most fascinating and diverse locations.