DVD Film Collection

Lewis Carroll's ever-popular story provides the basis for a spectacular new work from the Royal Ballet, which features an engaging and passionate score as well as breathtaking choreography.

Originally produced as episodes of a television program, broadcast on Dance in America in 1978-1979.
A collection of selected Balanchine ballets.

A danced performance of the Baroque opera Dido and Aeneas. Dido, the noble queen of Carthage, has fallen in love with the Trojan Prince Aeneas. While the court celebrates the imminent union of the two monarchs, the evil sorceress with her coven of witches plots their downfall. Romance leads to hearbreak and tragedy.

A performance of Frederick Ashton's ballet La fill mal gardeé by the Royal Ballet.

The ballet takes its inspiration from the Slavic legend of the "Wilis" as described in the poems of Heinrich Heine. Giselle, a simple peasant girl driven to madness and death through an unhappy love, becomes a ghost ordered to destroy the man who betrayed her, yet seeks to sustain him because of her undying love.

In this production, live from the Festspielhaus, Baden Baden, John Neumeier creates and performs in the ballet of St Matthew Passion with the music of Johann Sebastian Bach.

In The Little Mermaid, Hamburg ballet director and chief choreographer John Neumeier blends dance, dramatic storytelling and spectacle into a stunning interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen's fable.

Televised performance of George Balanchine's ballet of A Midsummer Night's Dream recorded live at the Sadler's Wells Theatre, London, February 1999. Based on the play by William Shakespeare and featuring the music of Felix Mendelssohn.

Maurice Béjart's compelling staging of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony has been enchanting audiences worldwide since its inception and its idea of universal brotherhood remains highly topical. "Alle Menschen werden Brüder" (All men will be brothers) is the powerful message communicated by the unforgettable music and choreography.The 250 dancers and musicians send this message out into the world. "It is a 'manifestation', in the deepest sense of the word." Maurice Béjart The Béjart Ballet Lausanne constantly tours the world, surprises, moves and attracts the most diverse audiences since 1987 and for twenty-five years, the Béjart Ballet Lausanne has brought Maurice Béjart's choreography to the attention of a worldwide audience. Thirty-nine dancers from 15 countries, strongly dedicated to the Maestro's style, and who, due to hundreds of performances, are experiencing the appreciation from an ever-changing audience, receiving applause each year, from country to country, from one theatre to another: La Fenice, the Royal Albert Hall, Bolchoï or Colôn... with a repertoire of about twenty choreographies every season. Piazza San Marco in Venice, Boboli Gardens in Florence, Baths of Caracalla in Rome, and the Herod Aticus Amphitheatra. Recorded live on 9th November 2014 NHK Hall in Tokyo"

The plot takes place in Spain during the occupation of Napoleon's army. The heroine is the young gypsy girl, Paquita. Unbeknownst to Paquita, she is really of noble birth, having been abducted by gypsies when she was an infant. She saves the life of a young French officer, Lucien d'Hervilly, who is the target of a Spanish governor who desires to have him killed by Iñigo, a gypsy chief. By way of a medallion she discovers that she is of noble birth, being in fact the cousin of Lucien. As such, she and the officer are able to wed.

Anna I and Anna II set out on a seven year journey that takes them through a series of varied life experiences while their parents and two brothers remain behind.

A mesmerizing performance combining ballet and acrobatics to Tchaikovsky's classic.

When Mozart arrives at the court of Emperor Joseph II, court composer Antonio Salieri is horrified to discover that the godlike musical gifts he desires himself have been bestowed on a bawdy joker. Mad with envy, he plots to destroy Mozart by any means.

Adapted from Shaffer's play, the film presents the life of Antonio Salieri, a mediocre 18th century Viennese composer obsessed with and jealous of the musical genius of the age, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Art Pepper, notes from a jazz survivor is an intensely personal, painfully revealing portrait of one of jazz' greatest alto saxophonists, a remarkably expressive jazz soloist and composer who also was an addict, thief, alcoholic, womanizer and wildman.

Tango maestro : the life and music of Astor Piazzolla / written and narrated by Mike Dibb (1:46:00) -- Tango nuevo / produced and directed by Tony Staveacre (45:37) -- Bonus track. Milonga del Angel : rehearsal take (6:50) -- Piazzolla : the man and his music (53:55).

The first disc is a documentary film including interviews and performances by several musicians, musicologists, and researchers about Bach. The second disc consists of complete performances of Bach compositions from the film.

Set in 1717, Johann Sebastian Bach's boss, Duke Wilhelm has given him a servant that Bach thinks is a spy. However, the temperamental composer soon realizes that his new assistant, 10-year-old Frederick, also knows what it is like not to be able to follow your dreams.

This intimate portrait of modern jazz pianist Barry Harris becomes an historic walk with some of the best known jazz musicians of the 1950s and 60s.

San Francisco Symphony's music director, Michael Tilson Thomas, retraces Beethoven's steps through Vienna's aristocratic ballrooms and Austria's rustic villages, exploring how Beethoven channeled his fears of deafness, his admiration for Napoleon, and his obsession to prove himself the greatest composer of his time and to write the Eroica. Includes a live performance of Beethoven's Eroica by the San Francisco Symphony conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas.

Documentary of Bob Benedetto including a complete biography, interviews with family, friends, players and industry professionals, archtop guitar construction/innovations, and his relationship with Fender Musical Instruments and The Benedetto Players.

A comprehensive documentary covering Goodman's career, this biography includes rare performance footage from the '20s and '30s, studio rehearsal footage from the '50s, home movies, rare audio tracks, and video footage of Goodman recounting his own life. Includes interviews with family, friends, and jazz contemporaries.

Twelve-year-old Michelle Marin doesn't like her piano teacher. Monsieur Bizet is irritable, forgetful, aloof-- distracted by a failing marriage and the rigors of composing his new opera. But as the composer begins to tell Michelle the story of the gypsy, Carmen, her imagination is captured. For, just as in Bizet's opera, her soldier father is stationed in Seville ... and she fears he will never return. Set in Paris, in 1875, the video is the story of an unusual friendship between two people who share the ability to feel life deeply and a beautifully filmed testament to the power of music to set those feelings free.

Bucky Pizzarelli instructs Tyler Unger (son of MU Productions co-founder Dale Unger) in guitar. Then, in two segments from the "World of Guitar" television series, Bob Miles plays guitar with Bucky and interviews him. Terence M. Ripmaster, author of a book about Bucky, joins the program to discuss the guitarist's career.

This documentary spans the life and career of Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballé, one of the very best ever - a legend, arguably the "queen" of all divas still singing. In locations throughout the world where Ms. Caballé sang, we hear interviews with Ms. Caballé, her family, and by opera and music giants like Claudio Abbado, José Carreras, Giuseppe Di Stefano, Plácido Domingo, Renée Fleming, Dame Joan Sutherland, and Zubin Mehta, also appearing often in clips showing joint collaborations. Of these, the film includes passages from Caballé's most acclaimed roles such as "Norma"', "Tosca" , "Turandot" and her earliest recorded live performance (1966) as "Anne Boleyn," in addition to poignant and powerful live concert duets with fellow Spaniards Plácido Domingo, Juan Pons, and José Carreras.

In film clips, photos, and interviews, Parker's life is traced from Kansas City to the New York jazz scene of the 1950's.

The first comprehensive documentary of Afro-American jazz bassist, bandleader and composer Charles Mingus who led a tumultuous life filled with trauma and frustration, joy and creativity. Nine years in the making and exhaustively researched, virtually everything used in the film is extraordinarily rare. Abundant clips of Mingus in performance in the 1960s and 1970s perfectly illustrate the many faces and tortured heart of a musical genius.

A biographical look at Charlie Christian, an influential jazz guitarist.

The story of Loretta Lynn, who rose from the poverty-stricken Appalachian area to become one of the biggest country singers of all time.

Chronicles the life and music of the famed jazz guitarist. Much attention is given to his groundbreaking work with the Oscar Peterson Trio of the 1950s, his days with Ella Fitzgerald, his work with the Great Guitars, and his many friends in jazz.

Portrait of the artist as a young man. In spring, 1965, Bob Dylan a 23 year-old, pixyish troubador, spent three weeks in England. Follows him from airport to hall, from hotel room to public house, from conversation to concert. Joan Baez and Donovan, among others, are on hand. It's the period when Dylan is shifting from acoustic to electric, a transition that not all fans, including Baez, applaud. From the opening sequence Dylan is playful and enigmatic.

This definitive look at the "The First Lady of Song" chronicles Ella's entire career, from her amateur night appearance at the Apollo Theater in New York to her unparalleled success on the stage and screen. The film includes never-before-seen performance footage and interviews with many of the great musicians who worked with and admired this truly amazing performer.

Impressed with how European music could have a "German sound", a "French sound", and so on, Aaron Copland returned from his years in Paris to New York City, intent on capturing the essence of the "American sound." This documentary presents an artful blending of the life and music of one of America's great modern composers. The many milestones in Copland's long career are discussed by his biographer, Howard Pollock, while stirring images of Copland's native city are set to selections of his music as performed by the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra. FRSO conductor Hugh Wolff provides astute commentary. Many interviews with Copland are included, along with a historic recording of "Clarinet Concerto" with Benny Goodman playing and Copland conducting.

A documentary on the life and music of Frederic Chopin.

This DVD uncovers the life and career of [Billie Holiday], including many bonus tracks with rare TV and movie clips.

Based on the incredible life story of the Godfather of Soul, this film gives a fearless look inside the music, moves and moods of Brown, taking audiences on the journey from his impoverished childhood to his evolution into one of the most influential figures of the 20th century.

Covering the years from 1801-1825, this is the story of how Beethoven falls in love with one of his students, Juliette, but she loves another, so he throws himself into his work. His hearing fails him off and on, and he plans to marry Therese, another student who is devoted to him, but he cannot. He loves Juliette. His hearing gone for good, he is very poor, and in the end he dies a pauper.

With his career failing, Handel needed a big hit. A young thief with a wonderful voice lands in jail and Handel secures his release so that the boy can perform in the first performance of "Messiah.

Based on the life of composer Ludwig Beethoven. A letter found after his death leads to efforts to uncover the mystery of who was his immortal beloved.
Mystery based on the tumultuous real life of composer Ludwig van Beethoven, the passionate, volatile genius who inspired love and hatred in equal measure. Whether seducing regal followers or criticizing the ruling class, Beethoven made many enemies. But he also had one true love - the unnamed "Immortal Beloved" mentioned in an enigmatic letter discovered upon his death. The thrilling search for the identity of this mystery woman leads us into Beethoven's dark past, his hidden passions, and ultimately, into the unparalleled genius of his music.

This DVD uncovers through video clips and rare photos the life and career of one of America's leading cultural figures. Lena Horne personifies both the glamour of Hollywood and the reality of a lifetime spent battling racial and social injustice.

A film following the life, career, and decline of legendary bass guitarist Jaco Pastorius, featuring interviews with friends, family, and other artists. Bonus materials include outtakes and stories from Joni Mitchell, Flea, Carlos Santana, Mike Stern, and others.

Explores the life and music of Jim Hall.

Documentary on jazz singer Jimmy Scott, featuring concert footage, interviews, and archival photos.

This new documentary from Oscar-nominated director Robert Dornhelm is the most ambitious attempt yet to illuminate the life and art of legendary conductor Herbert von Karajan. With extensive archive footage, some never before seen, and interviews with - among others - Anne-Sophie Mutter, Gundula Janowitz, René Kollo, Christa Ludwig, Seiji Ozawa, Simon Rattle, Christian Thielemann, and Helmut Schmidt, here is a unique, revealing portrait of this complex and sometimes controversial figure.

In this in-depth portrait of one of the world's superstars of jazz, painist Keith jarrett talks about the range of his music, the importance of improvisation, the great artists he has worked with, and about the highs and lows of his life.

This sparkling documentary features rare TV and movie clips, along with commentary by a stellar group of jazz instrumentalists and singers who knew her well.

Portrait of Eric Dolphy, with focal point his final recording session in Hilversum on June 2, 1964, his youth in Los Angeles and his successes in New York.

Through conversations with Konitz and a sampling of his work, this film gives a portrait

In-depth view into the life and music of Nat King Cole. Includes video and television clips (especially from The Nat King Cole Show), rare early photos, and scenes from movies The blue gardenia and Small town girl.

The story of music librarian Dena Epstein, who labored 25 years to document the musical of contribution of African slaves to the New World. Her work proved that the banjo was a slave instrument, and sparked a revival of black string band music.

Liszt feels something is missing in his life. When he meets Josy, a naturally gifted young Gypsy street musician, he wagers that he can turn Josy into a world-class musician. The bet turns into a mighty struggle of wills.

In his 1985 BBC televsion essay examining the roots of Mahler's inspiration, Leonard Bernstein talks, plays, and conducts the London Symphony, Vienna, and Israel Philharmonic orchestras.

Biographical portrait of twentieth century French composer, Olivier Messiaen and his music. Features interviews with Messiaen filmed between 1967 and 1987, and excerpts of various musical performances of his works.

Michael Tilson Thomas returns to the provincial Austro-Hungarian city of Mahler's childhood. He traces Mahler's rise as a young conductor, and show how his stormy inner life inspired new heights of creativity.

Presents a rare, behind-the-scenes look at Jackson as he developed, created, and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts at London's 02 Arena. Drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage, the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, creative genius, and great artist at work is captured in raw and candid detail as he created and perfected his planned final London shows.

A definitive look at the man and his music, interweaving rare interviews with Miles and insights and memories of his family, friends, and many of the great musicians who played with him during his long career.

Discusses Miles Davis' music of the late 1960s-early 1970s, with commentary from musicians Chick Corea, Carlos Santana, Joni Mitchell and others; also includes Davis's complete Aug. 29, 1970 performance at the Isle of Wight.

The true story of a young teacher who fights against the board of education in her bid to teach underprivileged kids in a Harlem school the beauty of music through the violin.

Biography of a great female singer, Nancy Wilson.

Presents a celebration of the life and work of jazz pioneer Dizzy Gillespie. Captures notable musical moments from his trip to Cuba, as well as quiet reflections on the importance of Afro-Cuban music to his art and sense of self. Includes performances of Blues, Con alma, Gee baby, Manteca, A night in Tunisia, and Swing low, sweet Cadillac.

Filmed at the peak of his career, this serves as perhaps the most revealing and intimate portrait of the artist ever recorded. Gives an unobtrusive look inside the colorful and transient world of the American Jazz legend, exposing the key elements that characterize and define him. Ellington as the artist performing, composing and ruminating about his life and career.

This program traces four decades of the career of Oscar Peterson from his early days as Montreal's teenage Boogie-woogie sensation through his rise to international celebrity with the ground-breaking jazz at the philharmonic and beyond.

The story of one of America's true musical geniuses, Ray Charles, from his humble beginnings in the South through his meteoric rise to the top of American musical charts.

This is a fascinating, intimate portrait of a truly creative artist who broke all the rules by refusing to compromise his musical vision or his personal integrity.

Little Reliana finds herself transported through time back to Rossini's theater where she is invisible to everyone but the composer. She watches in alarm as one of the singers puts a curse on the production and everything begins to go wrong.

The Divine one recounts Sarah Vaughan's career from her beginnings in Newark to her world-wide pre-eminence in nightclubs, concert halls, and jazz festivals.

With over a dozen of his classic performances ranging from 1932 to the late sixties, Satchmo includes excerpts from Pennies from Heaven, Betty Boop cartoon, Going places, Jam session, New Orleans with Billie Holiday, High Society with Bing Crosby, and Hello Dolly with Barbra Streisand. Also included are live concerts with Dizzy Gillespie, and Jack Teagarden and the All Stars. The film also presents on-camera interviews with Arvell Shaw, Tony Bennett, Wynton Marsalis, Dave Brubeck and other musicians.

In the early 1970s, Sixto Rodriguez was a Detroit folksinger who had a short-lived recording career. Unknown to him, his musical story continued in South Africa where he became a pop music icon. Long rumored there to be dead, two fans, record store owner Stephen Segerman and journalist Craig Bartholomew-Strydom, decided to seek out the truth of his fate.

The violinist tells his own story of a 77-year career with various musicans; contains all known footage of Django Reinhardt.

In 1987, five young men, using brutally honest rhymes and hardcore beats, put their frustration and anger about life in the most dangerous place in America into the most powerful weapon they had: their music. Taking viewers back to where it all began, the film tells the true story of how these cultural rebels-armed only with their lyrics, swagger, bravado and raw talent-stood up to the authorities that meant to keep them down and formed the world's most dangerous group, N.W.A.

Haunted by the constant pressure to outdo himself with each new composition, composer Johann Strauss, Jr., meets Nicholas, a humble stable boy who fears his brutal stepfather. To their surprise, the composer and the boy discover the healing bond of trust and embark on a collaboration that will be music to the world's ears.

Music director Michael Tilson Thomas and the musicians of the San Francisco Symphony go from the salons of St. Petersburg to the villages where Stravinsky found inspiration in the earthy power of Russian folk music and dance. Thomas then retraces Stravinsky's journey to the cultural crossroads of pre-war Paris, where the composer collaborates with the great impresario Diaghilev and his star dancer Nijinsky to develop the shocking, erotic, and violent evocation of pagan Russia that became The Rite of Spring. Includes a live performance of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring and music from The Firebird by the San Francisco Symphony, with Thomas conducting.

A documentary on the life and work of jazz saxophonist Illinois Jacquet. Features interviews and performances by Jacquet and many important jazz musicians of the 20th century.

A fully rounded portrait of the musician and composer, Thelonious Monk, including clips of international performances and interviews with artists and producers.

A wide-ranging documentary that aims to put Monk's status into context and perspective. It blends the history of Monk's early career in Harlem with archival black-and-white footage of the pianist performing his own compositions for Norwegian and French TV.

An entertaining film about Leon Theremin, a Russian émigré, who pioneered the field of electronic music four decades before the rise of electronic rock music, and then mysteriously vanished, not to be seen again for over 50 years. Includes rare film clips from classic Hollywood films and soundtracks.

This biographical film of American Broadway pioneer Jerome Kern features renditions of his most famous songs. A condensed version of his most famous play, Showboat is included.

Tōru Takemitsu (1930-1996), well-known Japanese composer, wrote the scores for some of the most celebrated, seminal works of Japan's New Wave movement, and collaborated with Akira Kurosawa, Nagisa Oshima, Masahiro Shinoda, and Hiroshi Teshigahara--some very obsessive directors. Takemitsu emphasized the sound, images, and textures of natural living things, as he scored power struggles, paranoia, fractured family relations, and the two big subjects that often dominate the films his work accompanies: murder and suicide. Takemitsu's scores feature Japanese instruments and musical concepts, but he also used musician's performance techniques, engineering tweaks, and sometimes specific sound effects, which were performed, recorded, and edited into sharp musical statements for Japanese films that addressed issues heretofore rarely depicted in Japanese cinema. Interviews with Takemitsu, Teshigahara, Shinoda, Kobayashi and Oshima are illustrated with copious clips from their films.

Concert footage, video clips, interviews, and rare photos uncover the life and career of tenor and soprano saxophonist John Coltrane.

They are the voices behind the greatest rock, pop and R&B hits of all time, but no one knows their names. Now, in this award-winning documentary, director Morgan Neville shines the spotlight on the untold stories of such legendary background (backup) singers as Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, Judith Hill, and more. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, vintage live performances, and interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder, and Bette Midler.

The turbulent relationship of Ike and Tina Turner eventually forces Tina to leave and find the courage to believe in herself.

Traces John Coltrane's musical growth from his roots in the black church and rhythm and blues through his forty years of life and beyond, culminating in a musical meeting between Roscoe Mitchell and dervish musicians in Morocco's Western Sahara desert. The film also includes extensive performance footage of Coltrane.

Aaron Shearer's extraordinary life is told while [he is] being honored as a guest at Manuel Barrueco's guitar master class. Many of the finest guitarists of our time offer insights into Mr. Shearer's contributions to study and performance of the classic guitar. Enjoy performances of Bach, Vivaldi, Tarroba, Barrios, Villa-Lobos, and Brouwer. In a private recital for the class, Maestro Barrueco performs Scarlatti, Nazareth, and Rodrigo.

In 1980, Motorhead released their fourth album, Ace Of Spades. The trio talks about writing and recording the album and the goings on inside the Motorhead camp at the time.

In Afghanistan you risk your life to sing. After thirty years of war and five devastating years of Taliban rule, pop culture is beginning to return to the country. Since 2005, millions have been tuning in to Tolo TV's wildly popular American idol-style series, Afghan star. Like its Western predecessors, people compete for a cash prize and record deal. More surprisingly, the contest is open to everyone across the country despite gender, ethnicity, or age.

Host, Sir Simon Rattle, with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra ; leader, Peter Thomas ; conductors, John Carewe, Daniel Harding ; narrator, Franz Mazura ; tenor, Anthony Rolfe Johnson ; soprano, Amanda Roocroft.

A joyous cinematic exploration of music's capacity to reawaken our souls and uncover the deepest parts of our humanity. Filmmaker Michael Rossato-Bennett chronicles the astonishing experiences of individuals around the country who have been revitalized through the simple experience of listening to music.

Tells the story of black South African freedom music and the central role it played against apartheid. Specifically considers the music that sustained and galvanized blacks for more than 40 years. Focuses on the struggle's spiritural dimension named for the Xhosa word for "power". An uplifting story of human courage, resolve and triumph.

This program focuses on young American composers who learned from the music of the past and from the music of other cultures. Works by Gershwin, Copland, Bernstein, Ives, Cage and others are included.

Charts how the Grateful Dead evolved from the albums "Anthem of the sun" to "American beauty" and examines how these records were made. Includes rare footage of the Dead from TV appearances and recording sessions to home videos and interviews with the band.

Alan Lomax takes the viewer to Appalachia and shows how Southern mountain music grew and how different strains have come together to create its unique sound.

Documentary about the "talking drums" of Ghana, featuring the commissioning, construction, and ceremonial use of a set of Ashanti drums. Also shown are some of the dances performed to the beat of the drums.

The story of The Band and their classic eponymous album are told through interviews, live performances and rare home movies.

Michael Rapaport goes on tour with A Tribe Called Quest in 2008, when they reunite to perform sold-out concerts across the country, almost ten years after the release of their last album, The Love Movement. Rapaport captures the story of their tenuous relationship as personal differences and unresolved conflicts continue to threaten their creative cohesion. Get a behind-the-scenes look at their journey and contributions as a band, and what currently is at stake for these long-time friends.

A look into the deep and harsh world of high-profile hip-hop battles and beefs, as told by the artists themselves.

This DVD captures the battles that often rage behind the scenes in the music business. The true Hip Hop battle is no longer a fight to prove one's skills, but a fight to survive in this Billion Dollar Hip Hop Industry.

Beef III covers the high profile feuds in hip-hop culture. This time the featured beefs are between 50 Cent and The Game, Lil Flip and TI, Nelly and Chingy, Twista and Bone Thugz, Lil Scrappy and the Orlando Police, and many more.

A look into the deep and harsh world of high-profile hip-hop battles and beefs, as told by the artists themselves.

The blues is a seven-part documentary film series exploring the evolution of the blues, featuring rare archival performance footage of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon ... et al., also including over 100 newly-filmed performances by contemporary artists such as B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Beck ... et al. singing classic blues songs.

Painting and poetry became more abstract during the latter part of the 19th century, and music was not slow in following. This program looks at music's movement away from melody toward a greater emphasis on tone color or timbre-- the warm palette of sound an orchestra can create.

Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony explore the music of Copland and the cityscapes, landscapes, and social and political developments that shaped it.

Behind the scenes documentary of the presence of Afro-Cuban music in the daily life and cultural identity of Cubans. Brings the viewer into the heart and soul of Havana through a vibrant mosaic of street musicians, big bands, dancers, religious rituals and classic cars. Shows Afro-Cuban music in New York City through the music and commentary of jazz and Afro-Cuban legends Billy Taylor, Candido Camero, and Chico O'Farrill. Director Gary Keys' style is raw and sensual, drawing out the warmth of Old Havana and the beat of the clave.

This program describes a great musical culture in decline in turn-of-the-century Vienna, and discusses how that decline led to the musical revolution whose reverberations are still felt today. The works of Schoenberg, Webern and Berg are included.

A track-by-track review of the making of the Def Leppard's album Hysteria.

Tells the story behind the conception and recording of the 1967 album Disraeli gears. Features brand new interviews with band members, acoustic performances, original studio tracks and archival live footage.

A film celebrating the music from the movie O Brother, where art thou? featuring the Cox family, Fairfield Four, Emmylou Harris, John Hartford, Chris Thomas King, Alison Krauss, Colin Linden, David Rawlings, Peasall Sisters, Dan Tyminski, Gillian Welch, and The Whites. Includes interviews, rehearsal and concert segments.

Through performance and rehearsal footage, and through interviews with composer Philip Glass and designer/director Robert Wilson, this film examines the opera Einstein on the Beach.

For over three decades, there's been one singular sensation: A chorus line, the groundbreaking hit musical inspired by the emotional lives of dancers during the audition process. Now the story comes full circle and offers a revealing, unprecedented look at the auditions for the Broadway revival of the perennial classic. The music, the moves and the real-life drama, bringing you closer to the footlights than you ever thought possible.

Those who believe great art comes out of conflict can point to an unlikely example in Fleetwood Mac's album Rumours, widely considered their best album and certainly their most popular. While the album was recorded at a time when the band was poised on the verge of their greatest success, the group was in frequent conflict while it was recorded, and two marriages among band members broke up in the wake of its success. This edition of Classic Albums examines how Fleetwood Mac created a musical masterpiece in the midst of personal turmoil.

Documentary follows the impact of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony on people's lives around the world.

Tells the inside story of the making of this classic album. Features new and archive performances and interviews with Elton John, his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, band members Davey Johnstone and Nigel Olsson, producer Gus Dudgeon, engineer David Hentschel, and arranger Del Newman.

A great day in Harlem tells the story of Art Kane's famous 1958 group photograph of the jazz greats of the period. Includes home movie footage of that day of the musicians arriving and greeting each other the morning of the shoot. Also includes conversations with musicians and archival performance footage.

In the 1920s, African-American literature, art, music, dance, and social commentary flourished in Harlem, in uptown New York City. This cultural movement, which redefined African-American expression, became known as the Harlem Renaissance. Music became the centerpiece that this movement was built around, launching an artistic awakening rather than a social revolt. Featuring commentary from historians and the performers themselves, this program traces the roots of the music, its social impact on society and its eventual acceptance in mainstream culture.

An important document is made available here for the first time worldwide on DVD: Herbert von Karajan working on Schumann's fourth symphony-- the only visual record we have of the maestro rehearsing an entire work. Together with the recording of Beethoven rehearsal, it provides a rare insight into the way in which "das wunder Karajan" fashioned his unique style.

Examines the representation of manhood in hip-hop culture and explores the related issues of race, gender violence and corporate explotation of hip-hop.

Inspired by a former homeless teen, a group of New York City kids try to write music about what is affecting their lives. After years of struggling, they finally record and produce their album, with the help of some very generous celebrities. The Hip Hop Project was launched by Chris "Kazi" Rolle at Art Start, a non-profit outreach organization in New York City.

Pays tribute to the composers who defined this distinctive musical style, with its roots planted firmly in 19th century classical music: Max Steiner, Alfred Newman, Erich Korngold, Franz Waxman, David Raksin and Dimitri Tiomkin. Features John Mauceri leading the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in a tribute to Hollywood's best loved scores, including Gone with the wind, Casablanca, The Adventures of Robin Hood, How green was my valley, Red river and Laura. Includes film clips from films like The bride of Frankenstein, The half naked truth, The Palm Beach story, The informer, The hunchback of Notre Dame, and Johnny Belinda.

A number of the top executives in hip-hop sit down with host Fatman Scoop to discuss the popular music genre from a business standpoint. This film provides an informative view of the profitable industry from high-level executives who discuss the challenges and achievements that brought them to the top of their field. This is a portrait of the rap business through the eyes of the "movers and shakers" that make it all happen behind-the-scenes.

A film on the music & rituals of the Hindu temples that are the center of the Balinese village. The folksongs, orchestras and dance dramas of Bali are an integral part of life in this Indonesian island.

Jazz is born in New Orleans at the turn of the century emerging from several forms of music including ragtime, marching bands, work songs, spirituals, creole music, funeral parade music and above all, the blues. Musicians profiled here who advanced early jazz are Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet, Freddie Keppard, and musicians of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.

From 1917 through 1924, the "Jazz Age" begins with speakeasies, flappers and easy money for some. The story of jazz becomes a tale of two cities, Chicago and New York, and of Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, whose lives and music will span three-quarters of a century. This episode also follows the careers of jazz greats James Reese Europe, King Oliver, Willie Smith, Fletcher Henderson, Paul Whiteman and James P. Johnson.

By 1924 to 1928, jazz is everywhere in America and spreading abroad. For the first time, soloists and singers take center stage, transforming the music with their distinctive voices. This episode traces the careers of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw, Sidney Bechet, Bessie Smith, Earl Hines, Ethel Waters, Bix Beiderbecke, the first great white jazz artist and Benny Goodman, the son of Jewish immigrants.

Amid the hard times of the Depression, new dances, the Lindy Hop and Swing, caught on at the dance halls of New York even as the jobless lined the streets and drought ruined Midwest farms. Jazz, during 1929 through 1935, lifted the nation's spirit. Record sales boomed while Armstrong became a major entertainer as singer, trumpeter, band leader, radio and film performer. Ellington's elegance, compositions, brilliant band films and recordings created a huge following in America and abroad. This segment also visits the careers of Fletcher Henderson, Benny Goodman, Billy Rose, Chick Webb, Fats Waller, Art Tatum and the record producer, John Hammond.

In the mid 1930s, as the Great Depression refuses to lift, Benny Goodman finds himself hailed as the "King of Swing" and becomes the first white bandleader to hire black musicians. He has a host of rivals among them, Chick Webb, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmie Lunceford, Glen Miller and Artie Shaw. Louis Armstrong heads a big band of his own, while Duke Ellington continues his independent course, but great black artists still can't eat or sleep in many of the hotels where they perform. Billie Holiday emerges from a childhood of tragedy to begin her career as the greatest of all female jazz singers.

In the late 1930s, as the Great Depression deepens, jazz thrives. The saxophone emerges as an iconic instrument of the music; this segment introduces two of its masters, Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. Young migrates to Kansas City, where a vibrant music scene is prospering with musicians such as trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison and drummers Jo Jones and Chick Webb. Out of this ferment emerges pianist Count Basie, who forms a band that epitomizes the Kansas City sound. Billie Holiday cuts recordings while other women musicians, including pianist Mary Lou Williams and singer Ella Fitzgerald emerge on the jazz scene. Benny Goodman holds the first-ever jazz concert at Carnegie Hall while Duke Ellington tours Europe.

When America enters WWII in 1941, swing becomes a symbol of democracy and entertainers like Dave Brubeck, Glenn Miller and Artie Shaw take their music to the armed forces overseas. In Nazi-occupied Europe, gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt blends jazz with his own musical traditions. In New York, Billie Holiday is unofficial queen despite a growing addiction to narcotics. Duke Ellington, assisted by the gifted young arranger, Billy Strayhorn, brings his music to ever-greater heights. After dark, a small underground of gifted young musicians led by the trumpet virtuoso Dizzy Gillespie and saxophonists Charlie Parker and Ben Webster begin to develop a new, fast and intricate way of playing, developing a new music called bebop. Meanwhile in 1945, black soldiers return home to the same racism they fought against, and a growing unrest sets the seeds for future rebellions.

Between 1945 and 1955, jazz splinters into different camps: cool and hot, East and West, traditional and modern. One by one, the big bands leave the road, but Duke Ellington keeps his band together, while Louis Armstrong puts together a small group, the "All-Stars." Promoter Norman Granz insists on equal treatment for every member of his integrated troupes on his Jazz at the Philharmonic Tours. Meanwhile, bebop musicians Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker are creating some of the most inventive jazz ever played but a devastating narcotics plague sweeps through the jazz community, ruining lives and changing the dynamics of performance. And a number of great performers, including Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Gerry Mulligan, Thelonious Monk, Paul Desmond, Bille Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and John Lewis, find new ways to bring new audiences to jazz.

Between 1955 and 1960, rhythm and blues and rock ' roll erode jazz' audiences but the music still enjoys tremendous creativity. Saxophonist Sonny Rollins and trumpeter Clifford Brown make their marks while Duke Ellington emerges stronger than ever and Miles Davis and John Coltrane make legendary albums. Louis Armstrong jeopardizes his career when he condemns the government for its failure to act on racism in Little Rock, Ark. Drummer Art Blakely and others attempt to win back R & B audiences to jazz. As stars such as Billie Holiday fade out, others such as Sarah Vaughan burn brightly and newcomers such as Ornette Coleman begin to push the music into uncharted territories.

In the 1960s, jazz fragments into the avant-garde and many divided schools of thought. Many jazz musicians like Dexter Gordon are forced to leave America in search of work while other use the music as a form of social protest: Max Roach, Charles Mingus, and Archie Shepp make overtly political musical statements. John Coltrane appeals to a broad audience before his untimely death. Saxophonist Stan Getz helps boost a craze for bossa nova music, but in the early 1970s, jazz founders Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington pass away. Miles Davis leads a movement of jazz musicians who incorporate elements of rock and soul into their music and "fusion" wins listeners. By the mid-1980's, jazz begins to bounce back led by Wynton Marsalis and a new generation of musicians. Now as it approaches its centennial, jazz is still alive, still changing and still swinging.

A critical examination of the Jimi Hendrix Experience's album Electric ladyland. Features excerpts of performances and interviews with rock music critics.

The story of the making of this album is told via interviews, archive footage, and rare live performances.

Historic filmed performances of women blues singers from 1929 through the 1950s. Singers are Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters, Billie Holiday, Ida Cole, Sister Rosetta Tharp, Connee Boswell, Dinah Washington, Ruth Brown, Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughn, Helen Humes and Peggy Lee. Includes background information on the singers as well as the performances.

Traces the history of a burial song of the Mende people brought by slaves to the rice plantations of the Southeast coast of the United States over two hundred years ago, and preserved among the Gullah people there. In the 1930s a pioneering Black linguist, Lorenzo Turner, recognized its origin, and in the 1990s scholars Joe Opala and Cynthia Schmidt discovered that the song was still remembered in a remote village in Sierra Leone. Dramatically demonstrates how African Americans retained links with their African past, and concludes with the visit of the Gullah family which had preserved the song to the Mende village, where villagers re-enact the ancient burial rites for them.

Featuring Count Basie, Big Joe Turner, Lester Young, Paul Quinichette, Charles McPherson & Jay McShann.

The Last Song Before the War is a feature-length documentary that captures the inspiring rise and uncertain future of Mali's annual Festival in the Desert. The festival history is told from the perspective of the co-founder and festival director, Manny Ansar, the musicians who perform and the intrepid travelers from around the world who make the long journey to attend the festival. Against the backdrop of stunning musical performances, the film subtly reveals the challenges and triumphs of creating an artistic event in such challenging economic and political circumstances. After 12 years of success and unforgettable musical moments, the Festival in the Desert came to a halt in 2012 when separatist rebels and Islamic militants seized control of Northern Mali. The Last Song Before the War chronicles the 2011 Festival--arguably the last edition that still captured its original goals--a global display of peace, reconciliation, and the healing power of music.

Featuring performances by Deep Purple as they recorded the album Machine Head, interviews with band members and music technicians, footage from American concert performances, TV performances and promotional videos.
Machine Head footage recorded in the Grand Hotel, Montreux, Switzerland, in Dec. 1971.

Queen: The Making Of A Night At The Opera" tells the track by track story of the album through new interviews with Brian May, Roger Taylor and producer Roy Thomas Baker along with archive interviews with Freddie Mercury and contributions from photographer Mick Rock, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry and Ian Hunter from Mott The Hoople amongst others. Illustrated by classic live footage, much of it from the Hyde Park free concert in 1976, and in depth studio analysis the film gives an intimate portrait of the making of a true classic album and is a worthy addition to our acclaimed and highly successful Classic Albums series.

Includes a documentary hosted by the San Francisco Symphony's music director Michael Tilson Thomas, who discusses the drama, pathos, elation, and despair embodied in Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony; the documentary features interviews with musicians as it takes the viewer behind the scenes to experience the preparation that goes into a performance of the piece. Also includes a live performance of the complete Tchaikovsky 4th by the San Francisco Symphony, with Thomas conducting.

This film looks inside the world of MCs, exploring the issues and concerns that define Hip Hop, todays most popular musical form. The MC started out as a mere introducer of musical acts, but when DJs began spinning tracks at block parties in the Bronx in the late 1970s, the MC began to rap along to the beats, emerging as the focal point of an emerging art form. The film investigates the origins of MC'ing, as well as the environmental, spiritual, and moral aspects of the art. As Hip Hop turns 25 years old, MC's consider the past, present and future of their music, giving unique insights into the forces that drive these artists to continue spitting rhymes.

It has sold millions and is responsible for the birth of grunge. This documentary looks at the story behind how Nirvana came to record Nevermind and the effect it was to have on the music world. Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl and Butch Vig share their memories and give us an insight into the genius of Kurt Cobain.

Tells the full story behind the making of the Number of the Beast album, includes interviews with the entire band. An insight into how this album propelled Iron Maiden into international superstar status and how it came to be a classic album. Features footage from the 1982 Hammersmith Odeon show with a preview of the DVD shot at Rock in Rio in Jan. 2001.

Paris Reunion Band performs jazz in imitation of that of the expatriate jazz scene of Paris during the late 1950s and 1960s.

This film documents Gustavo Dudamel preparing his Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela in Caracas for their upcoming concert at the Beethovenfest in Bonn, 2007. Following different musicians in their day-to-day lives, the film shows how classical music is changing the individual and their environment. The climax of the film is the Bonn concert, which includes Beethoven's complete "Eroica" symphony and two pieces from the orchestra's Latin American homeland.

Acclaimed director Don Letts explores the music, fashion, and attitude that came to define 'Punk' and the impact it had on pop culture. Music from the New York Dolls, MC5, The Stooges, The Clash, Sex Pistols, Ramones and many more.

This program examines 20th-century music from the perspective of its most fundamental force-- rhythm. It shows how western orchestral music has freed itself from the domination of melody and explored the richness of musical pulse.

In the late 1930's musicians of the House of God Keith Dominion Holiness-Pentacostal Church began playing their worship music on electric steel guitars. Taking the words from Psalm 150:4 "praise Him with stringed instruments" and Psalm 149:3 "let them praise His name in the dance," the guitarists developed unique styles, tunings, repertoires, and techniques. Filmed on location in several House of God, Which is the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth Without Controversy, Inc., Keith Dominion churches.

This film tells the story, song by song, of the making of the Sex Pistols' only studio album, "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols." Interviews with band members, their manager, producers, and graphic designer, as well as journalists and technicians present unique insights on the band as musicians. Along with concert footage, home movie footage, promotional videos, and early demo recordings, this film examines the music of the Sex Pistols, as opposed to their place in the social, economic, political, or cultural history of Britain. The Sex Pistols created something that, despite countless imitators, remains a phenomenon unprecedented in the annals of rock music.

Stars was released in 1991 and is regarded as the classic Simply Red album, with outstanding hit tracks including "Something got me started," "Your mirror," "For your babies," and the title track "Stars." This program takes a look at the classic songs from the album and includes bonus tracks, archival footage, and promotional clips. Features exclusive interviews with the album's producer, Stewart Levine, Motown legend Lamont Dozler, and members of the band.

This program profiles, with first-hand observation and historical detail, the pivotal people and places in American jazz. Includes archive footage of performances by Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, and many other important artists.

A history of the anti-lynching protest song made famous by Billie Holiday. Includes footage of Billie Holiday performing the song.

Thelonious Monk revolutionized jazz with his innovative musical approach and these performances, filmed in Norway and Denmark in 1966, allow viewers the rare opportunity to experience Monk's genius up close.

Part of a series in which Sir Simon Rattle and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra present an overview of 20th century orchestral music, with examples from the works of important composers of the period. This segment presents an eclectic selection of works by living composers to illustrate the rich variety of new musical trends that Rattle believes pave the way to the future. Works by Berio, Henze, Gubaidulina, Kurtag, Turnage, Knussen, and Birtwistle are included.

'Throw down your heart' follows American banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck on his journey to Africa to explore the little known African roots of the banjo and record an album. Béla's boundary-breaking musical adventure takes him to Uganda, Tanzania, The Gambia, and Mali, and provides a glimpse of the beauty and complexity of Africa. Using his banjo, Béla transcends barriers of language and culture, finding common ground and forging connections with musicians from very different backgrounds.

A depiction of the transformative and uplifting potential of music and dance in the lives of children. Dominic, Rose, and Nancy are three children of the Acholi tribe, living in the war zone displacement camp in Patongo, Uganda. As war refugees, their families have been decimated, their homes lost, and they have been burdened with vivid memories of violence. However, the children are at least able to attend a camp school that offers them inspiration, as they participate in music, song and performance. When they are invited to compete in an annual music and dance festival in their nation's capitol, an opportunity for which all 20,000 Ugandan schools compete, they are given the chance to regain hope and success in their lives.

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the public and private lives of rising pop stars Jason and deMarco, who are gay, Christian, and in love. The two charismatic singers perform all over the country in dance clubs, at pride events, and even in churches. But their openness about their sexuality often pits them against evangelical Christianity, while their faith at times meets with resistance from the gay community. As they prepare to release a new album to appeal to a wider audience, We're all angels turns the spotlight on their struggle to integrate their sexuality and spirituality within their relationship and professional careers.

The entire performance of every artist was filmed at Woodstock. This footage has been archived since that history-making weekend and has only recently been re-discovered. Never before has the complete performance been shown, before now.

Presents the romantic adventures of a carefree young artist in post-WWII Paris.

Annie is a young, happy foster kid who's also tough enough to make her way on the streets of New York. Originally left by her parents as a baby with the promise that they'd be back for her someday, it's been a hard knock life ever since with her mean foster mom Miss Hannigan. But everything's about to change when the hard-nosed tycoon and New York mayoral candidate Will Stacks, advised by his brilliant VP, Grace and Guy, makes a thinly-veiled campaign move and takes her in.

Fading movie musical star Tony Hunter, down and out in Hollywood, decides to try his luck on the Broadway stage.

Based on Jane Austen's classic novel, Pride and Prejudice, with a Bollywood twist. In Ammritsar, the determined Mrs. Bakshi sets out to find matches for her four daughters. Second sister, Lalita, meets American Will Darcy - is it love?

This documentary series details the razzle-dazzle history of a unique American art form. Each episode chronicles a different era and features the Broadway shows and songs that defined the period. The series draws on feature films, rare television moments, archival news footage, original cast recordings, still photos, diaries, journals, first person accounts, and on-camera interviews with many of the principals involved in creating the American musical.

An egocentric American girl dreams of becoming a star while working in a third-rate Berlin cabaret.

Filmed at New York's Winter Garden Theater in 1982, the classic story of King Arthur and the love triangle between him, his wife, Queen Guenevere, and his best friend Lancelot.

Joe, a military policeman about to make officer, is infatuated with the flirtatious and sexy Carmen Jones. Their ill-fated romance comes to a grisly end by the conclusion of the drama but not before their liaison has wreaked havoc with their lives and all who cross their paths.

The story of a romantic triangle between two top players, an American and a Russian, in a world chess championship, and a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other, all in the context of the Cold War struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union.

At a time when crimes of passion result in celebrity headlines, nightclub sensation Velma Kelly and spotlight-seeking Roxie Hart both find themselves on Chicago's famed Murderess Row. They also share Billy Flynn, the town's slickest lawyer with a talent for turning notorious defendants into local legends.

Company is a funny, sophisticated exploration of love and commitment as seen through the eyes of a charming perpetual bachelor questioning his single state and his enthusiastically married, slightly envious friends.

Live recording from Châtelet Théâtre Musical de Paris in 1995.

Bubbles loves to dance. But she also likes to eat. Her friend Judy may choose to suffer for her art, but not Bubbles. She swaps her ballet shoes for a G-string-- and turns patrons' fantasies into dollars as burlesque sensation Tiger Lily White.

Story about students at the High School of Performing Arts, New York. Dance sequences include an audition, classes, a ballet solo by Antonia Franceschi, and the ensemble numbers "Fame" and "I sing the body electric.

Tevye is a poor Jewish milkman with five unmarried daughters to support in a village in Czarist Russia. With a sharp tongued wife at home and growing anti-Semitism in the village, Tevye talks to God about his troubles. His people's traditions keep him strong when his existence is as precariously balanced as a fiddler on the roof.

With a theatrical and cinematic legacy that includes "Damn Yankees," "The Pajama Game," "Sweet Charity," "Pippin," "Chicago," and "Dancin'," the genius of Bob Fosse will always cast a long shadow over Broadway and Hollywood. The all-dancing, all-singing "Fosse" was created by those who worked most closely with him, including co-director and co-choreographer Ann Reinking and Fosse's wife, the late Gwen Verdon. This video presents the award-winning musical, recorded live in performance from Broadway. Celebrating Fosse's brilliance with the most important dance numbers from his greatest shows, movies, and early television work, From Broadway: "Fosse" is a showstopping tribute to one of the past century's most influential forces on Broadway.

A musical set in Paris in which a girl trained as a high society courtesan falls in love with a rich and handsome boulevardier.

Film adaptation of the off-Broadway musical based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew. Set in contemporary New York City, the film features a cast drawn from both the original New York and various stage companies.

A musical comedy film about an aspiring songwriter, four single actresses, and the staging of a new musical play on Broadway. Includes dances choreographed by Busby Berkeley.

It's love when a greaser falls for a good girl in this classic musical depicting young life in the fifties.

A lively, good-natured spoof of "Beatlemania" portraying a frantic 36 hours in the lives of the rock group.

A famous movie star, visiting a Middle Eastern country, becomes involved in the intrigue surrounding an attempted assassination and becomes romantically involved with a beautiful Arabian princess.

Hi-De-Ho: Big band sensation Cab Calloway (as himself) becomes the interest of two women's desires: his steady girlfriend, Minnie, and his manager, Nettie. Jealous of Nettie's maneuvers, Minnie approaches gangster Boss Mason for help in persuading Cab to perform at Mason's rival nightclub. Violence results when Cab refuses.

A modern twist on several of the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests. This humorous and heartfelt musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel, all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife, their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch who has put a curse on them.

A couple of bush pilots find themselves grounded in Seattle at the annual World's Fair. One thing leads to another and they help an abandoned girl and make the acquaintance of a beautiful nurse.

A young man is sent to prison when he accidentally kills a man in a barroom brawl. While behind bars he takes up singing and is helped in the record business by a beautiful young woman.

The story of four young men from the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey who came together to form the iconic 1960s rock group The Four Seasons.

Film version of the musical stage play, presenting the last few weeks of Christ's life, told in an anachronistic manner.

The King of Navarre and his friends think that they cannot love again. When the Princess of France and her attendants arrive for a visit, their plans are completely turned upside down.

In Saint Louis before the 1904 World's Fair, Alonzo Smith threatens to uproot his family and move to New York, which greatly upsets his wife and four daughters.

In early 19th century France the paroled prisoner Jean Valjean seeks redemption, regains his social standing, and rises to the rank of mayor. He encounters a beautiful but desperately ill woman named Fantine and cares for her daughter, Cosette, after her death. All the while he is obsessively pursued by the policeman Javert, who vows to make him pay for the crimes of his past.

Silver-tongued con artist Harold Hill hoodwinks the stubborn townsfolk of River City, Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a boy's band, but his game ultimately and romantically backfires.

A Cockney waif is transformed by a linguistics professor into an elegant lady.

Nick, the proprietor of a Bourbon Street gambling joint, an artistic haven for African-American musicians who gather and jam from dusk til dawn, falls in love with an opera-singing socialite. After losing his nightclub Nick tries over the course of many years to get jazz the respect and audience it deserves.

This notoriously erotic stage musical playfully challenged taboos by representing the sexual revolution in a series of uproarious skits, dance, and naughty musical numbers performed mostly in the nude. Writers included John Lennon and Sam Shepard.

A labor/management dispute at the Sleeptite Pajama Factory is the subject of this musical comedy.

In 19th century Italy, handsome soldier Giorgio is embroiled in a steamy affair with lovely, and married, Clara. Giorgio is transferred from Milan to a remote military outpost, where he comes in contact with the ailing, homely Fosca, his commanding officer's cousin. Fosca falls instantly and deeply in love with Giorgio, who resists her affections. Gradually, she reveals, and Giorgio learns to appreciate, what is truly beautiful about herself.

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera, based on the story of a disfigured musical genius who lives under the Paris Opera House lives and uses music to win the love of a beautiful opera singer.

Using the medieval legend of Charlemagne's son, Pippin, heir apparent to the Holy Roman Empire, this musical pageant is a parable about a young man's search for meaning and truth.

Centers on the dilemma of a young ballerina torn between the composer who loves her and the impresario determined to fashion her into a great dancer.

This film captures the last Broadway performance of the long running rock musical RENT. Loosely based on Puccini's opera "La Bohème," it tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York's Lower East Side in the thriving days of Bohemian Alphabet City, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. Roommates, friends, lovers, at times enemies, the struggles of documentary filmmaker Mark, musician Roger, dancer Mimi, performance artist Maureen, public interest lawyer Joanne, teacher/anarchist Tom Collins and his drag queen lover Angel, with their sell-out land lord Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III revolve around the rent. As a year unfolds, they face a host of personal trials and begin coming to terms with the limits of their aspirations and relationships.

Vince Lombardi High School is the wildest, most rockin' high school around! That is, until a thug of a principal comes along and tries to make the school a totalitarian state. With the help of the Ramones, the students battle the principal's iron-fisted rule and take their battle to a truly rockin' conclusion.

Actors are caught in the bumpy transition to talking pictures; a Spoof of the early days of "talkie" films.

Tony-award winning Broadway musical presenting the music of Hall of Fame writers, Leiber and Stoller.

As Nazism takes over Austria, a governess and a widowed father fall in love and escape the country with his large family of musically-talented children.

He's a race car driver with nerves of steel and a heart of gold.

Elvis plays a singer-race car driver who has a single-minded desire to remain single. Pursuing him is a trio of lovelies with an itch to get hitched, but they have a lot more than each other as rivals. They have to compete with the sleek curves and shiny good looks of a high-powered Cobra 427.

Dancing great Bill Williamson takes a look back on the beginnings of his career and his romance with fellow rising star Selina. Their romance is brief because Selina does not want to settle down. The movie includes an all-star show hosted by Cab Calloway.

Romance blooms during the summer in New England when Jane Falbury's sister shows up with a theatrical troupe and convinces her to let them stage a musical in the barn.

Broadway musical loosely based on the life of artist Georges Seurat.

Fred Astaire plays a gambler intent on raising $25,000 in New York in order to marry his fiance back home. Romantic complications occur when he meets dancing teacher, Ginger Rogers. Memorable songs include "The Way you look tonight".

Concert performance with members of the original Broadway cast, filmed at the Theatre Royal in Brighton, England on June 25, 2009. Michael York narrates segments filmed on location in London and Paris.

Includes That's Entertainment Parts 1, 2, 3 and a bonus disc that features more than five hours of exciting extras including three documentaries, premiere night coverage and salutes to the great behind-the-scenes talents, TV specials and much more.

Showman Jerry Travers is working for producer Horace Hardwick in London. Jerry demonstrates his new dance steps late one night in Horace's hotel, much to the annoyance of sleeping Dale Tremont below. She goes upstairs to complain and the two are immediately attracted to each other. Complications arise when Dale mistakes Jerry for Horace.

A woman singer working on the cabaret circuit pretends to be a man pretending to be a woman. Things get even more complicated when she meets the man of her dreams. Set in Paris, France, in 1934.

A poverty-stricken singer in Depression-era Paris becomes convinced that the only way she can earn a living on the nightclub circuit is to masquerade as a man who impersonates women. Then she meets the man of her dreams.
Filmed on the Broadway stage in 1995 (and based on the 1982 film).

Lucky Jackson arrives in town with his car literally in tow ready for the first Las Vegas Grand Prix. At least, he will be ready to race once he has the money to buy an engine. He gets the cash easily enough, but loses it when a pretty swimming pool manager takes his mind off things. It seems he will lose both the race and the girl. His problems don't get any easier when rival Elmo Mancini, a fellow racer and womaniser, gets in the way.

This musical sets the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet against a backdrop of the rivalry of two street gangs, the Sharks and the Jets, in New York of the 1950s. A young woman who is sister to the Sharks leader has her first taste of love with the former head of the Jets.

The Wiz: Dorothy is a 24-year-old Manhattan kindergarten teacher who is whisked away from her inner-city neighborhood via a snowstorm to the mysterious land of Oz. Oz is a sprawling, decaying, nightmarish, and dangerous megalopolis that resembles the physical characteristics of New York City.
The Wiz live: Staying true to the groundbreaking Broadway show that put a vivid urban spin on the land of Oz. Winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the original hit Broadway show became a cultural touchstone that also spawned the classic film. Here a Tony-winning creative team has brought together the imaginative acrobats of Cirque du Soleil and a cast of extraordinary singers and dancers to create an exciting new version of the show unlike anything seen before.

A rousing musical depicting the life of George M. Cohan--playwright, entertainer, and composer.

Shirley Verret, Plácido Domingo, Ruth Ann Swenson, Justino Díaz, Michael Devlin, Philip Skinner, Chorus, Ballet and Orchestra of the San Francisco Opera.

Véronique Gens (Agrippina) ; Philippe Jaroussky (Nerone) ; Ingrid Perruche (Poppea) ; Thierry Gregoire (Ottone) ; Nigel Smith (Claudio) ; Bernard Deletré (Pallante) ; Fabrice Di Falco (Narciso) ; Alain Buet (Lesbo) ; Le Grande Ecurie et la chambre du roy ; Jean-Claude Malgorie, conductor.

Leyla Gencer, soprano ; Fiorenza Cossotto, mezzo-soprano ; Carlo Bergonzi, tenor ; Anselmo Colzani, baritone ; Franco Pugliese, Bonaldo Giaiotti, basses ; supporting singers ; Orchestra e coro dell'Arena di Verona ; Franco Capuana, conductor.
Director, Herbert Graf.
Recorded Aug. 9, 1966, Arena di Verona.

Verdi's opera set in ancient Egypt, and originally written to commemorate the opening of the Suez Canal, tells the story of the love between the Ethiopian slave girl, Aida, and the Egyptian soldier, Radames, and of the jealousy of Amneris, the daughter of the Egyptian king. Margaret Price, soprano ; Stefania Toczyska, mezzo-soprano ; Luciano Pavarotti, tenor ; Simon Estes, Kevin Langan, Kurt Rydl, basses ; San Francisco Opera Chorus ; San Francisco Opera Orchestra ; Garcia Navarro, conductor.

An Egyptian soldier falls in love with his Ethiopian captive. Aprile Millo, Plácido Domingo, Dolora Zajick, Sherrill Milnes, Paata Burchuladze, Dimitri Kavrakos ; Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra.Produced at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, Oct. 1988.

Tells the story of love between the Ethiopian slave Aida and the Egyptian soldier Radames. Violeta Urmana (Aida) ; Roberto Alagna (Radames) ; Ildiko Komlosi (Amneris) ; Carlo Guelfi (Amonasro) ; Marco Spotti (The King) ; Giorgio Giuseppini (Ramfis) ; Antonello Ceron (Messenger) ; Sae Kyung Rim (Priestess) ; Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala ; Corps de ballet of theTeatro alla Scala ; pupils of the Accademia Teatro alla Scala ; Riccardo Chailly, conductor.

Catherine Naglestad, Catriona Smith, Claudia Mahnke, sopranos ; Alice Coote, mezzo-soprano ; Helene Schneidermann, contralto ; Rolf Romei, tenor ; Michael Ebbecke, baritone ; Heinz Gerger ; Staatsorchester Stuttgart ; Alan Hacker, conductor.

Gerald Finley (Jaufré Rudel, Prince de Blaye) ; Dawn Upshaw (Clémence, Comtessse de Tripoli) ; Monica Groop (Le Pèlerin) ; Finnish National Opera Orchestra ; Finnish National Opera Chorus ; Esa-Pekka Salonon, conductor.

Charles Workman (Le prince) ; Barry Banks (Trouffaldino) ; Philippe Rouillon (Le roi de Trèfle) ; Jean-Luc Ballestra (Pantalon) ; Aleksandra Zamojska (Ninette) ; José van Dam (Tchélio) ; Béatrice Uria-Monzon (Fata Morgana) ; Victor van Halem (La cuisinière) ; Guillaume Antoine (Léandre) ; Hannah Esther Minutillo (La princesse Clarice) ; Lucia Cirillo (Sméraldine) ; Jean-Sébastien Bou (Farfarello) ; Letitia Singleton (Linette) ; Natacha Constantin (Nicolette) ; David Bizic (Le héraut) ; Nicolas Marie) ; Orchestre et Chœurs de l'Opéra national de Paris ; Sylvain Cambreling, conductor.
Recorded live at the Opéra national de Paris, Bastille, December 2005.

Set before and during the French Revolution, Andrea Chénier is an idealistic poet, caught in the political violence, and Maddalena is the woman he loves. Plácido Domingo, Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Giorgio Zancanaro, Cynthia Buchan, Patricia Johnson, Jonathan Summers, John Dobson ; Royal Opera Chorus ; Orchestra of the Royal Opera House ; Julius Rudel, conductor.

Kiri Te Kanawa, Marie McLaughlin, Helga Dernesch, sopranos ; David Kuebler, tenor ; Wolfgang Brendel, Donald McIntyre, baritones ; Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra ; Christian Thielemann, conductor.

Gundula Janowitz (Primadonna/Ariadne) ; Rene Kollo (Tenor/Bacchus) ; Walter Berry (Musiklehrer) ; Trudeliese Schmidt (Komponist) ; Edita Gruberova (Zerbinetta) ; Heinz Zednik (Tanzmeister/Brighella) ; supporting soloists ; Wiener Philharmoniker ; Karl Böhm, conductor.

Jessye Norman, Primadonna/Ariadne; Kathleen Battle, Zerbinetta; Tatiana Troyanos, the Composer; James King, Tenor/Bacchus; Franz Ferdinand Nentwig, Music teacher; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; James Levine, conductor.
Peter Gelb, executive producer; Brian Large, video director; Jay David Saks, audio producer; producer, Samuel J. Paul.
Produced at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, March 1988.

Ann Murray ; Joan Rodgers ; Gwynne Howell ; Christopher Robson ; Lesley Garrett ; Paul Nilon ; Marq Le Brocq ; English National Opera Orchestra and Chorus ; Ivor Bolton, conductor.

Gwyneth Jones ; Catherine Malfitano ; Jerry Hadley ; Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna ; conductor, Dennis Russell Davies ; Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor ; chorus master, Winfried Maczewski.

Luciano Pavarotti (Gustav III) ; Leo Nucci (Renato Anckarström) ; Aprile Millo (Amelia) ; Florence Quivar (Ulrica Arfvidsson) ; Harolyn Blackwell (Oscar) ; Terry Cook (Count de Horn) ; Jeffrey Wells (Count Ribbing) ; Charles Anthony (Chief justice) ; Gordon Hawkins (Christiano) ; Richard Fracker (Amelia's servant) ; Antoinette Peloso, Marcus Bugler, Joseph Corman, solo dancers ; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus ; James Levine, conductor.

Luigi Alva ; Enzo Dara ; Teresa Berganza ; Hermann Prey ; Paolo Montarsolo ; Renato Cesari ; Stefania Malagú ; Coro e Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala ; Claudio Abbado, conductor.

Edita Gruberova (Beatrice di Tenda) ; Michale Volle (Filippo Maria Visconti) ; Stefania Kaluza (Agnese del Maino) ; Raúl Hernández (Orombello) ; Miroslav Christoff (Anichino) ; Bogusław Bidzinski (Rizzardo del Maino) ; Orchestra and Chorus of the Zürich Opera House ; Marcello Viotti, conductor.

A ballad opera set among London's 18th century criminal classes, full of satirical jibes about corruption in high places. Roger Daltrey (MacHeath) ; Bob Hoskins (Beggar) ; Stratford Johns (Peachum) ; Patricia Routledge (Mrs. Peachum) ; Carol Hall (Polly Peachum) ; Peter Bayliss (Lockit) ; Rosemary Ashe (Lucy Lockit) ; Graham Crowden (The player) ; Gary Tibbs (Filch) ; English Baroque soloists ; John Eliot Gardiner, conductor.

Dramatizes the moral dilemma of Captain Vere when, in accordance with Admiralty regulations, he must demand the court martial to sentence to death by hanging the innocent seaman who was provoked to strike and kill the villanous master-at-arms.homas Allen, baritone ; Philip Langridge, tenor ; Richard Van Allan, bass ; English National Opera Chorus and Orchestra ; David Atherton, conductor.

The story of an ill-fated love affair between an idealistic poet and a comsumptive flower-maker. eresa Stratas, Renata Scotto, sopranos ; José Carreras, tenor ; Richard Stilwell, baritone ; Allan Monk, James Morris, bass-baritones ; Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra ; James Levine, conductor.

Puccini's bittersweet opera of high-spirited bohemians and the doomed love between Rodolfo, the idealistic poet and Mimi, the consumptive flower-maker, is a beautifully balanced series of tableaux depicting the infectious joie de vivre of youth and the tragic waste of disease and separation. Cheryl Barker (Mimi) ; David Hobson (Rodolfo) ; Roger Lemke (Marcello) ; Christine Douglas (Musetta) ; Gary Rowley (Colline) ; David Lemke (Schaunard) ; The Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra ; Julian Smith, conductor.

The action takes place between 1598 and 1605. It concerns the reign of Tsar Boris Godunov who has murdered the Tsarevich Dmitri in order to obtain the succession, and the challenge made to it by the Pretender Dmitri. Robert Lloyd, Olga Borodina, Alexei Steblianko, Sergei Leiferkus ; supporting singers ; Orchestra and Chorus of the Kirov Opera ; Valery Gergiev, conductor.

Recorded live at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, on Mar. 2, 9, and 13, 2007.
Laura Aikin (Manon Lescaut) ; Pär Lindskog (Armand Des Grieux) ; Tom Fox (Lescaut) ; Hubert Delamboye (Lilaque le père) ; Pauls Putniņš (Lilaque le fils) ; Marc Canturri (Francis) ; Cor de Cambra del Palau de la Música Catalana (chorus master: Jordi Casas i Bayer) ; Cor Vivaldi (chorus master, Óscar Boada) ; Orquestra Simfónica del Gran Teatre del Liceu (conductor, Zoltán Peskó).

Two rival suiters, one a poet the other a composer vie for the love of a beautiful woman who must decide which one she loves. Kiri Te Kanawa (Countess) ; Håkan Hagegård (Count) ; Tatiana Troyanos (Clairon) ; Victor Braun (La Roche) ; David Kuebler (Flamand) ; Simon Keenlyside (Olivier) ; Michel Sénćhal (Monsieur Taupe) ; Dale Travis (Major-domo) ; San Francisco Opera Orchestra ; conducted by Donald Runnicles.

Maria Ewing is the fiery, seductive gypsy who dares to love as she chooses, regardless of the cost. Luis Lima is the tragic Don José, whose obsessive desire for Carmen destroys them both.

In 19th century Seville, the lusty, tempestuous Carmen seduces a naive Army corporal, Don Jose. Jose abandons his career, his fiancee and even his dying mother for the love of this sultry gypsy. Carmen, however, soon spurns Jose for the love a toreador, Escamillo. Crazed with jealousy, Jose begs Carmen to return to him, but her taunting declaration of independence results in tragedy.ans Voschezang ; Lisa Milne ; Marcus Haddock ; Jonathan Best ; Anne Sofie von Otter ; Mary Hegarty ; Christine Rice ; Anthony Wise ; Laurent Naouri ; Quentin Hayes ; Colin Judson ; Franck Lopez ; Chorus of Stoke Brunswick School, East Grinstead ; Glyndebourne Festival Opera ; London Philharmonic Orchestra ; The Glyndebourne Chorus ; Philippe Jordan, conductor.

Tragic opera about the tempestuous relationship between the Gypsy Carmen and the soldier Don José. Anna Caterina Antonacci, Norah Amsellem, sopranos ; Jonas Kaufmann, tenor ; Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, bass ; Royal Opera Chorus ; Orchestra of the Royal Opera House ; Antonio Pappano, conductor.

Shirley Verrett (Santuzza) ; Krjstian Johannson (Turridu) ; Ettore Nova (Alfio) ; Ambra Vespasiani (Mama Lucia) ; Rosy Orani (Lola) ; Philharmonic Orchestra of Russe ; Baldo Podic, conductor.

Gioachino Rossini's operatic version of the folk tale Cinderella. Cecilia Bartoli, Enzo Dara, Raúl Giménez, Alessandro Corbelli, Michele Pertusi, Jill Grove, Laura Knoop ; Houston Grand Opera Chorus: Richard Bado, chorus master ; Houston Symphony: Bruno Campanella, conductor ; Christoph Eschenback, music director.

In this performance of Mozart's last opera, Nicholas Hytner's staging for the Glyndebourne Festival Opera sheds new light on a story of passion that overrides loyalty and integrity that is tested to the extreme.hilip Langridge (Tito) ; Ashley Putnam (Vitellia) ; Diana Montague (Sesto) ; Martine Mahe (Annio) ; Elzbieta Szmytka (Servilia) ; Peter Rose (Publio) ; Roy Ashby, Andy Burke, Rowland Collins, Danny Edwards, Christopher Gallagher, Stephen Gressieux, Stuart Hulse, Stefan Lander, actors ; Joyce Fieldsend, harpsichord continuo ; London Philharmonic ; The Glyndebourne Chorus ; Andrew Davis, conductor.

Diana Damrau, soprano ; Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano ; Juan Diego Flórez, tenor ; Stéphane Degout, baritone ; Michele Pertusi, bass ; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus ; Maurizio Benini, conductor.

Patricia Neway, Dan Merriman, Maria DiGerlando, Ruth Kobart, Arnold Voketaitis, Maria Marlo, Norman Kelley, Leon Lishner, Regina Sarfaty, Evelyn Sachs, Chester Ludgin.

Placido Domingo (Hoffmann), Luciana Serra (Olympia), Agnes Baltsa (Giulietta), Ileana Cotrubas (Antonia), Geraint Evans (Copprlius), Siegmund Nimsgern (Dappertutto), Nicola Ghiuselev (Miracle), Robert Lloyd (Spalanzani), other soloists.
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, leader, Meyer Stolow; The Royal Opera Chorus, chorus master, John Barker; Conductor, Georges Pretre.

Opera in three acts.
Albert Schagidullin (King Dodon) ; Ilya Levinsky (Prince Guidon) ; Andrei Breus (Prince Afron) ; Ilya Bannik (General Polkan) ; Elena Manistina (Amelfa) ; Barry Banks (Astrologer) ; Olga Trinfonova (Queen of Shemakha) ; Yuri Maria Saenz (Golden Cockerel) ; Chorus of the Marinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg ; Orchestre de Paris ; Kent Nagano, conductor.

Daniela Dessi (Fiordidligi) ; Delores Ziegler (Doraballa) ; Alessandro Corbelli (Guglielmo) ; Jozef Kundlak (Ferrando) ; Adelina Scarabelli (Despina) ; Claudio Desderi (Don Alfonso) ; Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala ; Riccardo Muti, conductor.

Amanda Roocroft (Fiordiligi) ; Rosa Mannion (Dorabella) ; Rodney Gilfry (Guglielmo) ; Rainer Trost (Fernando) ; Eirian James (Despina) ; Claudio Nicolai (Don Alfonso) ; Monteverdi Choir ; English Baroque Soloists (on authentic instruments) ; John Eliot Gardiner, conductor.

Dorothea Röschmann (Fiordiligi) ; Katharina Kammerloher (Dorabella) ; Hanno Müller-Brachmann (Guglielmo) ; Werner Güra (Ferrando) ; Daniela Bruera (Despina) ; Roman Trekel (Don Alfonso) ; Chor des Detuschen Staatsoper Berlin ; Staatskapelle Berlin ; Daniel Barenboim, conductor.

Vesselina Kasaraova (Marguerite), Paul Groves (Faust), Willard White (Méphistophèlés) ; Sylvain Cambreling, conductor ; Staatskapelle Berlin ; Orfeón Donostiarra de San Sebastian ; Tölzer Knabenchor.
Director of photography, Vincent Bataillon ; stage direction, Alex Olle, Carlos Padrissa.
Filmed during a live performance at the Salzburg Festival in 1999.

Yvonne Howard, Susan Bickley, mezzo sopranos ; Tom Randle, tenor ; Sanford Sylvan, Christopher Maltman, Kamel Boutros, Leigh Melrose, baritones ; Emil Marwa, actor ; supporting soloists ; London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus ; John Adams, conductor.

Anne-Sophie Schmidt (Blanche de la Force), Hedwig Fassbender (Mere Marie), Patricia Petibon (Constance), Didier Henry (Le Marquis de la Force), Laurence Dale (Le chevalier de la Force), Nadine Denize (Madame de Croissy), Valerie Millot (Madame Lidoine) ; Jan Latham-Koenig, conductor ; Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg ; Choeurs de l'Opéra national du Rhin.

Gerald Finley (J. Robert Oppenheimer) ; Sasha Cooke (Kitty Oppenheimer) ; Eric Owens (General Leslie Groves) ; Meredith Arwady (Pasqualita) ; Richard Paul Fink (Edward Teller) ; Thomas Glenn (Robert Wilson) ; Earle Patriarco (Frank Hubbard) ; Roger Honeywell (Captain James Nolan) ; the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet ; Alan Gilbert, conductor.

In the 16th century, with the aftermath of war between Spain and France, Don Carlo, the heir to the Spanish throne, comes to France to meet with his beloved Elizabeth de Valois. Inevitably politics divide the lovers, and while Rodrigue falls in with Flemish rebels, the Inquisition is determined to be the power behind the peace.

The story of a young nobleman who is obsessed with amorous conquests and his encounters with Donna Anna, who seeks revenge for her father's murder. Thomas Allen (Don Giovanni) ; Sergej Koptchak (Il commendatore) ; Edita Gruberova (Donna Anna) ; Francisco Araiza (Don Ottavio) ; Ann Murray (Donna Elvira) ; Claudio Desderi (Leporello) ; Natale de Carolis (Masetto) ; Susanne Mentzer (Zerlina) ; Orchestra and chorus of Teatro alla Scala ; Riccardo Muti, conductor.

Eva Mei (Norina) ; Alessandro Corbelli (Don Pasquale) ; Antonino Siragusa (Ernesto) ; Roberto De Candia (Dottor Maatesta) ; Giorgio Gatti (Notaro) ; Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro Lirico, Cagliari ; Gérard Korsten, conductor.

June Anderson, soprano ; Martine Dupuy, mezzo-soprano ; Rockwell Blake, Chris Merritt, tenors ; Giorgio Surjan, baritone ; Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro alla Scala ; Riccardo Muti, conductor.

The story of the violent revenge of Elektra, mourning the murder of her father by his wife and her lover. irgit Nilsson (Elektra) ; Leonie Rysanek (Chrysothemis) ; Mignon Dunn (Klytämnestra) ; Robert Nagy (Aegisth) ; Donald McIntyre (Orest) ; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus ; James Levine, conductor.

Adina, a beautiful village heiress, is admired by a young peasant, Nemorino, who is afraid to show his love. Louise Wohlafka (Giannetta) ; Luciano Pavarotti (Nemorino) ; Judith Blegen (Adina) ; Brent Ellis (Sergeant Belcore) ; Sesto Bruscantini (Doctor Dulcamara) ; Nicola Rescigno, conductor ; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet.

The celebrated three-act opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart comes to life in this dynamic performance at the world-famous Salzburg Festival. Director Francois Abou Salem brings a modern Middle Eastern sensibility to this journey into Arabian and Muslim culture, filtering the comic tale of abduction for today's audiences. Soprano Christine Schafer portrays Constanze, a woman whose heart is torn between her fiance, Belmonte (Paul Groves), and her new master, Pasha Selim (Akram Tillawi). A sensual and resoundingly modern experience, this new interpretation casts new light on a classic musical work and infuses it with aching human emotion.

Tatiana falls in love with Onegin who urges her to forget him. Onegin kills a man in a duel and travels abroad. Six years later he meets Tatiana again, but she is married.

Opera based on Shakespeare's play, A midsummer night's dream.
Yvonne Kenny (Titania) ; Thomas Randle (Oberon) ; Simon Rice (Puck) ; Richard Van Allan (Theseus/Hymen) ; Arthur Pita (Indian boy) ; Orchestra and Chorus of the English National Opera ; Nicolas Kok, conductor.

Raina Kabaivanska (Alice Ford), Janet Perry (Nannetta), sopranos ; Christa Ludwig (Mrs. Quickly), Trudeliese Schmidt (Meg Page), mezzo-sopranos ; Giuseppe Taddei (Falstaff), Rolando Panerai (Ford), baritones ; other soloists ; Ballettschule Salzburger Landestheater ; Wiener Staatsopernballett ; Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor ; Wiener Philharmoniker ; Herbert von Karajan, conductor.

Adapted from Shakespeare's Merry wives of Windsor and Henry IV.
Bryn Terfel (Sir John Falstaff) ; Roberto Frontali (Ford) ; Kenneth Tarver (Fenton) ; Robin Leggate (Dr. Caius) ; Peter Hoare (Bardolph) ; Gwynne Howell (Pistol) ; Barbara Frittoli (Alice Ford), Desirée Rancatore (Nannetta), Bernadette Manca di Nissa (Mistress Quickly) ; Royal Opera Chorus and Orchestra ; Bernard Haitink, conductor.

Italian opera set in California during the Gold Rush. It features such Western characters as a sheriff, a Wells Fargo agent, miners, and a bandit. Barbara Daniels, soprano ; Plácido Domingo, Anthony Laciura, tenors ; Sherrill Milnes, baritone ; Julien Robbins, bass ; supporting soloists ; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus ; Leonard Slatkin, conductor ; chorus master, Raymond Hughes.

Ana Maria Gonzalez, Alfredo Kraus, Nicola Ghiuselev, Roberto Coviello, Ambra Vespasiani, Wilma Colla, Tito Turtura, vocal soloists ; Coro del Teatro Regio della Cooperativa "Artisti de Coro" di Parma ; Orchestra sinfonica dell'Emilia Romagna "Arturo Toscanini" ; Alain Guingal, conductor.

Opera in two acts, after Jean-Nicholas Bouilly's Léonore, ou l'amour conjugal.René Kollo (Florestan), Gundula Janowitz (Leonore), Hans Helm (Don Fernando), Hans Sotin (Don Pizzaro), Manfred Jungwirth (Rocco), Lucia Popp (Marzelline), Adolf Dallapozza (Jaquino), Karl Terkal (Erster Gefangener), Alfred Šramek (Zweiter Gefangener), Wiener Staatsoper Orchestra and Chorus, Leonard Bernstein (conductor).
Produced at the Vienna Opera House, January 29, 1978.

Opera in two acts, after Jean-Nicholas Bouilly's Léonore, ou l'amour conjugal. Karita Mattila (Leonore) ; Jennifer Welch-Babidge (Marzelline) ; Ben Heppner (Florestan) ; Matthew Polenzani (Jaquino) ; Falk Struckmann (Don Pizzaro) ; René Pape (Rocco) ; Robert Lloyd (Don Fernando) ; supporting soloists ; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus ; James Levine, conductor.

Ewa Podles (Marquise) ; Bruno Praticó (Sulpice) ; Paul Austin Kelly (Tonio) ; Mariella Devia (Marie) ; Edoardo Borioli (Duchesse) ; Nicolas Rivenq (Hortensius) ; Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala ; Donato Renzetti, conductor.

An effervescent comedic opera which includes Viennese dance music and an escapist plot. Kiri Te Kanawa ; Hermann Prey ; Hildegarde Heichele ; Benjamin Luxon ; Royal Opera, Covent Garden ; Placido Domingo, conductor.

Glyndebourne's new production of the Waltz King's much-loved comic operetta takes its inspiration from Eisenstein's final words in the opera: 'Rosalinde!' Features Pamela Armstrong, Thomas Allen, Ragnar Ulfung, and Hakan Hagegard.

One of the most acclaimed Wagner productions of the postwar period, this electrifying, revolutionary Bayreuth staging of 'The flying Dutchman" catapulted the German director Harry Kupfer to international fame. Kupfer's psychologically acute production presents the entire story as a hallucination, in which Senta's yearning for the eternally wandering Dutchman sends her into a trance-like state.

The story of two lovers who are separated, then pursued by her brother who is convinced that they are responsible for her father's death. This tragic story of love, honor and vengence is based on the premise that fate is inexorable, that there is no free choice.

An 18th-century commedia musicale that presents a tale of mismatched lovers and rival suitors, and provides a wealth of arias and ensemble pieces displaying a variety of melodies.

The story of Lisetta, and of her father's attempts to find a husband for her through an ad in the newspaper La gazzetta.

This video is the adaptation of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera stage production of the Gershwins' classic musical drama Porgy and Bess, which portrays the lives of the occupants of Catfish Row.

In this new production, filmed live at the Glyndebourne Opera House, Alessandro Corbelli takes the title role in Annabel Arden's whirlwind production of Puccini's compact opera.

Shakespeare's tragedy of ambition, murder, madness and revenge in medieval Scotland as set to music by Giuseppe Verdi.

Olga Guryakova (Natasha Rostova) ; Nathan Gunn (Prince Andrei Bolkonski) ; Robert Brubaker (Count Pierre Bezoukhov) ; Anatoli Kotcherga (Field Marshall Mikhail Koutouzov) ; Elena Obratztsova (Maria D. Akhrossimova) ; Vassili Gerello (Napoleon) ; supporting soloists ; Orchestra and Choirs of the Opéra national de Paris ; Gary Bertini, conductor.

Humperdinck's charming opera based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. The story features a gingerbread house, a wicked old witch, and a young brother and sister who get lost in the woods and trapped by the witch. With a little help from on High and their own pluck and courage they manage to save themselves as well as all the children who were previously victims of the witch.

Judith Blegen, soprano ; Frederica von Stade, Jean Kraft, Rosalind Elias, mezzo-sopranos ; Michael Devlin, baritone ; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra ; Metropolitan Opera Chorus ; Thomas Fulton, conductor.

Angelika Kirschschlager (Hänsel) ; Diana Damrau (Gretel) ; Elizabeth Connell (Gertrud) ; Thomas Allen (Peter) ; Anja Silja (Witch) ; Tiffin Boys' Choir and Children's Chorus ; Orchestra of the Royal Opera House ; Colin Davis, conductor.

Dame Joan Sutherland's farewell performance to the operatic stage, often referred to as "The Night of the Seven Stars", this production, captures the horror and tragedy of the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, as well as the splendor and romance of 16th century France.

Yvonne Kenny (Ilia) ; Jerry Hadley (Idamante) ; Carol Vaness (Electa) ; Thomas Hemsley (Arbace) ; Philip Langridge (Idomeneo) ; Anthony Roden (High Priest) ; Roderick Kennedy (Voice of Neptune) ; the Glyndebourne Chorus ; the London Philharmonic Orchestra ; Bernard Haitink, conductor.

L'incoronazione di Poppea was Monteverdi's last opera, writtenwhen he was 75, and first performed in Venice in 1642. The opera tells the amoral story of the Roman Emperor Nero's love affair with the scheming and seductive Poppea, with evil triumphing over good, while the allegorical figures from the Prologue - Fortune, Virtue and Love look on.

At the center of this hugely ironic opera stands the character Isabella, who uses her womanly guile to entrance no fewer than three men. As the mood swings from comic to serious, Rossini gives her free reign to explore the many facets of her femininity. But this Italian girl in Algiers is at all times fully aware of the narrow path she treads between coquettish diversion and true love.

A tale of passion, betrayal, and the transfiguring power of love. The embittered widow, Kostelnička, drowns her infant grandson to save her beloved stepdaughter Jenůfa from the shame and hardship of raising an illegitimate child.

When the mill owner dies, all of his fortune goes to Steva, leaving Jenufa snd Laca nothing.

Ivan Momirov, Veronica Villarroel, Federica Bragaglia, Alain Fondary, Carlo Colombara.
Music by Giuseppe Verdi ; libretto by Alphonse Royer & Gustave Vaëz ; choreography by Mauro Bigonzetti ; director, Piergiorgio Gay ; production manager, Claudio Fizzardi ; editing, Marco Denna.

A studio performance of one of Handel's best known operas by the English National Opera. The Opera, a tale of love and power based on Shakespeare's play, was first performed in 1724 at the Haymarket Theatre in London using castrati singers in the heroes roles. This lavish production follows modern practice in using women in these parts, and in particular, Dame Janet Baker creates the virtuoso role of Julius Caesar.

An epic of immense power and humanity, set at the time when Peter the Great became czar of Russia. Political intrigue, religious persecution, and the tragedy of a nation form the backdrop against which intense personal dramas are played out.

Vladimir Ognovenko (Prince Ivan Khovansky) ; Vladimir Galouzine (Prince Andrei Khovansky) ; Robert Brubaker (Prince Vasily Golitsyn) ; Nikolai Putilin (Shaklovity) ; Vladimir Vaneev (Dosifei) ; Elena Zaremba (Maria) ; supporting soloists ; Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu ; Michael Boder, musical director.

Eva-Maria Westbroek (Katerina Lvovna Ismailova) ; Christophe Ventris (Sergey) ; Carole Wilson (Aksinya & female convict) ; Vladimir Vaneev (Boris Timofeyevich Ismailov & old convict) ; Lani Poulson (Sonyetka) ; Ludovít Ludha (Zinovy Borisovich Ismailov) ; Alexandre Kravets (shabby peasant) ; Nikita Storojev (chief of police) ; Alexander Vassiliev (Priest & guard) ; Valentin Jar (Teacher) ; Martin Vijgenboom (Steward) ; Jan Polak (Porter) ; Ruud Fiselier (1st foreman) ; Jan Majoor (2nd foreman) ; Leo Geers (3rd foreman) ; Harry Teeuwen, (Millhand) ; Cor de Wit (Coachman) ; Wojtek Okraskra (Sentry) ; John van Halteren (Drunken guest) ; Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera ; Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra ; Mariss Jansons, conductor.

Leonard Bernstein's brilliant comic operetta is based on the classic Voltaire tale of an innocent young man's journey through a life filled with colorful characters and unexpected life lessons.

Edita Gruberova (Linda) ; Deon van der Walt (Carlo) ; Jacob Will (Marchese dei Boisfleury) ; Armando Ariostini (Antonio) ; Cornelia Kallisch Oerotto) ; Lászlo Polgár Prefetto) ; Nadine Asher (Maddalena) ; Miroslav Christoff Intendente) ; Chorus and Orchestra of the Zurich Opera House ; Adam Fischer, conductor.

Based on Louisa May Alcott's popular novel, Mark Adam's opera Little Women has been performed in more than 70 international and national engagements since its 1997 première.

José Carreras (Ortnoe) ; Ghena Dimitrova (Giselda) ; Silvano Carroli (Pagano) ; Carlo Bini (Arvino) ; Luisa Vannini (Viclinda) ; Luigi Roni (Pirro) ; Gianfranco Manganotti (Priore) ; Giovanni Foiani (Acciano) ; Laura Bocca (Sofia) ; Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan ; Gianandrea Gavazzeni, conductor.

The love for three oranges tells the story of a doleful hypochondriac Prince, who can only be cured through laughter. When he breaks into hysterics at the expense of the evil witch Fata Morgana, she curses him. His fate is to fall in love with three oranges.

Joan Sutherland, Alfredo Kraus, Pablo Elvira, Paul Plishka, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus.
Conductor, Richard Bonynge ; staged by Bruce Donnell ; set and costume designer, Attilio Colonnello ; libretto by Salvatore Cammarano.
Based on Sir Walter Scott's novel The bride of Lammermoor.

This presentation of Donizetti's tale of 16th-century opulence and decadence tells the story of the powerful Borgia family, led by Cesare Borgia and his sister Lucretia.

June Anderson, Taro Ichihara, Eduard Tumagian, Paul Plishka, Romuald Tesarowicz, Susanna Anselmi; Lyon Opera Orchestra and Chorus; Montpellier Opera Chorus; Maurizio Arena, conductor; Jacques Lassalle, stage director; Claus Viller, video director.

Christine Schäfer (Lulu) ; Kathryn Harries (Countess Geschwitz) ; Patricia Baron (Wardrobe Mistress, Schoolboy, Groom) ; Jonathan Veira (Doctor, Theatre Manager, Banker, Professor) ; Stephen Drakulich (Painter, Negro) ; Wolfgang Schöne (Dr. Schön, Jack the Ripper) ; David Kuebler (Alwa) ; Norman Bailey (Schigolch) ; Donald Maxwell (Animal Trainer, Athlete) ; Neil Jenkins (Prince, Man Servant, Marquis) ; supporting soloists ; London Philharmonic Orchestra ; Andrew Davis, conductor.

Yasuko Hayashi (Madama Butterfly) ; Hak-Nam Kim (Suzuki) ; Peter Dvorsky (Pinkerton) ; Giorgio Zancanaro (Sharpless) ; Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan ; Giulio Bertola, chorus master ; Lorin Maazel, conductor.

Cheryl Barker (Madama Butterfly) ; Martin Thompson (B.F. Pinkerton) ; Catherine Keen (Suzuki) ; Richard Stilwell (Sharpless) ; Anneleen Bijnen (Kate Pinkerton) ; Peter Blanchet (Goro) ; supporting soloists ; Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera ; Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra ; Edo de Waart, conductor.

Patricia Racette (Cio-Cio-San) ; Maria Zifchak (Suzuki) ; Marcello Giordani (B.F. Pinkerton) ; Dwayne Croft (Sharpless) ; Greg Fedderly (Goro) ; Keith Miller (Imperial Commissioner) ; Christian Jeong (The registrar) ; Dean Peterson (Cio-Cio San's uncle) ; David Won (Yamadori) ; Edyta Kulczak (Kate Pinkerton) ; supporting soloists ; the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet; Patrick Summers, conductor ; host, Renée Fleming.

The Makropulos case focuses on the issue of longevity - the pros and cons of living for 337 years, as happens to the mysterious Emilia Marty, the sexually irresistible prima donna who's seen it all and done it all.

The Chevalier des Grieux meets and seduces the young Manon when she is being escorted by her brother to a convent. Manon lives with des Grieux in Paris, but leaves him for a rich admirer. She is later arrested, charged with prostitution, and deported to Louisiana. Des Grieux accompanies her and during an escape attempt she dies in his arms.

Anna Netrebko (Manon) ; Rolando Villazón (Chevalier des Grieux) ; Christof Fischesser (Comte des Grieux) ; Alfredo Daza (Lescaut) ; Rémy Corazza (Guillot de Morfontaine) ; Arttu Kataja (Brétigny) ; Hanan Alattar (Pousette) ; Gal James (Javotte) ; Silvia de la Meula (Rosette) ; Matthias Vieweg (Innkeeper) ; Staatskapelle Berlin ; Staatsopernchor ; Daniel Barenboim, conductor.

Anna Maria Alberghetti, Beverly Dame, sopranos ; Belva Kibler, mezzo-soprano ; Marie Powers, contralto ; Donald Morgan, baritone ; Leo Coleman, mute ; Symphony Orchestra of Rome Radio Italiana ; Thomas Schippers, conductor.

James Morris (Hans Sachs) ; René Pape (Veit Pogner) ; Thomas Allen (Sixtus Beckmesser) ; Ben Heppner (Walther von Stolzing) ; Matthew Polenzani (David) ; Karita Mattila (Eva) ; Jill Grove (Magdalene) ; John Relyea (Ein Nachtwächter) ; supporting soloists ; Metropolitan Opera and Chorus ; James Levine, conductor.
Produced at the Metropolitan Opera House, December 2001.

David Wilson-Johnson (Merlin) ; Eva Marton (Morgan le Fay) ; Stuart Skelton (Arthur) ; Carol Vaness (Nivian) ; supporting soloists ; Coro y Orquesta Titular del Teatro Real de Mardid ; Coro de Niños de la Comunidad de Madrid ; José de Eusebio, conductor.

Joan Sutherland ; Ronald Stevens ; Anne-Maree McDonald ; Anson Austin ; Gordon Wilcock ; Graeme Ewer ; Australian Opera Chorus and Ballet ; Elizabethan Philharmonic Orchestra ; Richard Bonynge, conductor.
Taped live at the Sydney Opera House, Feb. 23, 1988.

John Tomlinson (The Minotaur) ; Johan Reuter (Theseus) ; Christine Rice (Ariadne) ; Andrew Watts (Snake Priestess) ; Philip Langridge (Hiereus) ; The Royal Opera Chorus ; The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House ; Antonio Pappano, conductor.

Jacquelyn Fugelle, Ann Murray, Luba Orgonasova, Jochen Kowalski, Justin Lavender, Bruce Ford, Lillian Watson.
Director, Graham Vick ; conductor, Paul Daniel ; producer, Revel Guest ; director Derek Bailey.

Dale Duesing (Moses) ; Andreas Conrad (Aron) ; supporting soloists ; ChorWerk Ruhr ; Bochumer Symphoniker ; Michael Boder, conductor.

Set during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar (Nabucco), King of Babylon, tells the tale of Nabucco's fictitious daughters, Abigaille and Fenena, who are rivals for the love of Ismaele, nephew of the King of Jerusalem. The opera includes the "Va, Pensiero," regarded by Italians in the nineteenth century as their national song.

Cecila Bartoli (Nina) ; Jonas Kaufmann (Lindoro) ; László Polgár (Il conte) ; Juliette Galstian (Susanna) ; Angelo Veccia (Giorgio) ; Chorus and Orchestra of the Opernhaus Zürich ; Adam Fischer, condutor.

Bellini's opera about the Druid priestess in Roman-occupied France.

Hermann Prey (Figaro) ; Mirella Freni (Susanna) ; Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Il Conte di Almaviva) ; Kiri Te Kanawa (La Contessa di Almaviva) ; Maria Ewing (Cherubino) ; Paolo Montarsolo (Bartolo) ; Heather Begg (Marcellina) ; John Van Kesteren (Basilio) ; Hans Kraemmer (Antonio) ; Janet Perry (Barbarina) ; Willy Caron (Don Curzio) ; Wiener Philharmoniker ; Karl Böhm, conductor.

Ann-Christine Biel, Per-Arne Wahlgren, Mikael Samuelsson, Erik Saeden, Torbjörn Lilliequist, Karl-Robert Lindgren, Bo Leinmark, Sylvia Lindenstrand, Georgine Resick, Karin Mang-Habashi, Birgitta Larsson ; The Chorus and Baroque Orchestra of the Drottningholm Court Theatre ; conducted by Arnold Östman.
Recorded at the Drottningholm Court Theatre [1981].

Figaro, Sanford Sylvan ; Susanna, Jeanne Ommerlé ; Count Almaviva, James Maddalena ; Contessa Almaviva, Jayne West ; Cherubino, Susan Larson ; Barbarina, Lynn Torgove ; Don Basilio, Frank Kelley ; Don Bartolo, David Evitts ; Marcellina, Sue Ellen Kuzma ; Antonio, Herman Hildebrand ; Don Curzio, William Cotton ; Arnold-Schönberg-Chor ; Wiener Symphoniker ; Craig Smith, conductor.

Giovanni Furlanetto, Elzbieta Szymtka, Janice Watson, Ludovic Tezier, Francesca Provisionato, Rebecca Hoffmann, Tiziana Tramonte, Marcello Lippi, Sergio Bertocchi, Jorge Anton, Gerard Theruel, Lyon National Opera Chorus, Lyon National Opera Orchestra.

Janet Baker (Orfeo) ; Elisabeth Speiser (Euridice) ; Elizabeth Gale (Amore) ; London Philharmonic Orchestra ; Glyndebourne Festival Chorus ; Raymond Leppard, conductor.

Montserrat Figueras, La Musica ; Furio Zanasi, Orfeo ; Arianna Savall, Euridice ; Sara Mingardo, Messaggiera ; Cécile van de Sant, Speranza ; Antonio Abete, Caronte ; Adriana Fernández, Proserpina ; Daniele Carnovich, Plutone ; Fulvio Bettini, Apollo ; Mercedes Hernández, Ninfa ; Marília Vargas, Eco ; Gerd Türk, Pastores ; Francesc Garrigosa, Carlos Mena, Iván García, espíritus ; Le Concert des nations ; La Capella Reial de Catalunya ; Jordi Savall, musical director.

The grieving musician of Greek myth follows his beloved wife to the depths of Hades in an attempt to bring her back from the dead.

Plácido Domingo (Otello) ; Kiri Te Kanawa (Desdemona) ; Sergei Leiferkus (Iago) ; Roderick Earle (Montano) ; Robin Leggate (Cassio) ; Ramon Remedios (Roderigo) ; Claire Powell (Emilia) ; Christopher Lackner (a herald) ; Mark Beesley (Lodovico) ; Orchestra of the Royal Opera House ; Royal Opera Chorus ; Sir Georg Solti, conductor.

Plácido Domingo (Otello) ; Renée Fleming (Desdemona) ; James Morris (Iago) ; Jane Bunnel (Emilia) ; Richard Croft (Cassio) ; supporting soloists ; Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra ; James Levine, conductor.

Plácido Domingo (Otello) ; Leo Nucci (Iago) ; Cesare Catani (Cassio) ; Antonello Ceron (Roderigo) ; G. Battista Parodi (Lodvico) ; Barbara Frittoli (Desdemona) ; Rossana Rinaldi (Emilia) ; Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro alla Scala ; Riccardo Muti, conductor.

Pagliacci / Ruggero Leoncavallo -- La rosa di Stambul : O rosa di Stambul / Leo Fall -- Carmen : La fleur que tu m'avais jetée / George Bizet -- Aida : Celeste Aida ; Il trovatore : Ah! Si ben mio ; Di quella pira / Giuseppe Verdi -- Cavalleria rusticana : Addio alla madre / Pietro Mascagni -- La messa di requiem : Ingemisco / Giuseppe Verdi.

Sung in Spanish, with optional subtitles in Italian, English, French, Spanish and German.
Roberto Alagna (Canio) ; Svetla Vassileva (Nedda) ; Alberto Mastromarino (Tonio) ; Enrico Marrucci (Silvio) ; Francesco Piccoli (Beppe) ; Orchestra and chorus of the Arena di Verona ; Vjekoslav Šutej, conductor.

François Girard's stunning post-apocalyptic production of Wagner's last opera Parsifal trailblazed the way for the Metropolitan Opera's centennial celebrations of the great composer.

Alison Hagley, Neill Archer, Donald Maxwell, Kenneth Cox, Penelope Walker, Samuel Burkey, Peter Massocchi ; Orchestra and Chorus of Welsh National Opera, Pierre Boulez, conductor.

Jon Vickers (Peter Grimes) ; Heather Harper (Ellen Orford) ; Norman Bailey (Captain Balstrode) ; supporting soloists ; Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House ; Colin Davis, conductor.

Jonathan Best (Trulove) ; Dawn Upshaw (Anne Trulove) ; Jerry Hadley (Tom Rakewell) ; Monte Pederson (Nick Shadow) ; Linda Ormiston (Mother Goose) ; Jane Henschel (Baba the Turk) ; Barry Banks (Sellem) ; Peter Tuff (Keeper) ; Vienna State Opera Chorus ; Dietrich D. Gerpheide, chorus master ; Camerata Academica ; Sylvain Cambreling, conductor.

Matti Salminen (Grigory Yefimovich Rasputin) ; Lilli Paasikivi (Alexandra Fyodorova) ; Jorma Hynninen (Tsar Nicholas) ; Jyrki Anttila (Felix Yusupov) ; supporting soloists ; Finnish National Opera Chorus and Orchestra ; Mikko, Franck, conductor.

Plácido Domingo (Il Duca di Mantova) ; Cornell MacNeil (Rigoletto) ; Ileana Cotrubas (Gilda) ; Justino Díaz (Sparafucile) ; Isola Jones (Maddalena) ; Ariel Bybee (Giovanna) ; John Cheek (Il Conte di Monterone) ; supporting soloists ; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus ; James Levine, conductor.

Željko Lučić (Rigoletto) ; Diana Damrau (Gilda) ; Juan Diego Flórez (Duca di Mantova) ; Christa Mayer (Maddalena) ; Georg Zeppenfeld (Sparafucile) ; supporting soloists ; Male voices of the Chor of the Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden ; Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden ; Fabio Luisi, conductor.

David Walker, Deborah York, David Daniels, Axel Köhler, Eglis Silins, Noëmi Nadelmann, Charles Maxwell ; other soloists ; Bavarian State Orchestra ; Harry Bicket, conductor.

Donald McIntyre (Wotan, Der Wanderer) ; Gwyneth Jones (Brünnhilde) ; Peter Hofmann (Siegmund) ; Matti Salminen (Hunding) ; Manfred Jung (Siegfried) ; Hanna Schwarz (Fricka) ; Heinz Zednik (Loge, Mime) ; Jeannine Altmeyer (Sieglinde, Gutrune) ; Hermann Becht (Alberich) ; Fritz Hübner (Fafner, Hagen) ; Franz Mazura (Gunther) ; Gwendolyn Killebrew (Waltraute) ; Bayreuth Festival Orchestra ; Bayreuth Festival Chorus.
Centenary production filmed at Bayreuth, Unitel c1980.

Poul Elming (Siegmund) ; Matthias Hölle (Hunding) ; John Tomlinson (Wotan) ; Nadine Secunde (Sieglinde) ; Anne Evans (Brünnhilde) ; Linda Finne (Fricka, Siegrune) ; Eva Johansson (Gerhilde) ; Ruth Floeren (Ortlinde) ; Shirley Close (Waltraute) ; Hitomi Katagiri (Schwertleite) ; Eva-Maria Bundschuh (Helmwige) ; Birgitta Svendén (Grimgerde) ; Hebe Dijkstra (Rossweisse) ; Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele ; Daniel Barenboim, conductor.
Staged and directed by Harry Kupfer ; stage design, Hans Schavernoch ; costume design, Reinhard Heinrich ; video director, Horant H. Hohlfeld ; artistic supervision, Wolfgang Wagner.
Filmed at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus in June and July 1992.

Thomas Allen (Ulisse) ; Kathleen Kuhlmann (Penelope) ; James King (Giove) ; Manfred Schenk (Nettuno) ; Delores Ziegler (Minerva) ; Alejandro Ramirez (Telemaco) ; Robert Tear (Eumete) ; Tölzer Boys' Choir ; Ensemble Spinario ; ORF Symphony Orchestra ; Jeffrey Tate, conductor.

Anna Caterina Antonacci (Rodelinda) ; Kurt Streit (Grimoaldo) ; Umberto Chiummo (Garibaldo) ; Louise Winter (Eduige) ; Andreas Scholl (Bertarido) ; Artur Stefanowicz (Unulfo) ; Tom Siese (Falvio) ; Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment ; William Christie, conductor.

Dorothea Röschmann (Rodelinda) ; Felicity Palmer (Eduige) ; Michael Chance (Bertarido) ; Paul Nilon (Grimoaldo) ; Umberto Chiummo (Garibaldo) ; Christopher Robson (Unulfo) ; Elias Maurides (Flavio) ; Das Bayersiche Staatsorchester ; Ivor Bolton, conductor.

Robert Alagna, Romeo ; Leontina Vaduva, Juliette ; other soloists ; Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House.

Rosanna Carteri, Ornella Rovero, Giuseppe Gismondo, Giuseppe Valdengo, Gino Sinimberghi, Mario Frosini, Antonio Pomposelli, Silvio Santarelli, Giulietta Pulissi, Carla Schlean, Anna Di Stasio, Raffaele Bisogni, Teresa Rossi, Tina Quagliarella, Fiorella Ortis, Gianni Avolanti ; Orchestra e Coro del Teatro di San Carlo Napoli ; Maestro Concertatore e direttore, Vincenzo Bellezza.
Regia teatrale e televisiva: Enrico Colosimo ; Recorded on Jan. 26th, 1958 in Naples.

Filmed in 1979, this delightful staging by Otto Schenk features outstanding singers Gwyneth Jones and Lucia Popp as well as a rare chance to watch legendary Carlos Kleiber conduct one of his trademark operas. Strauss is the composer.

Felicity Lott (The Marschallin) ; Kurt Moll (Baron Ochs) ; Anne Sofie von Otter (Octavian) ; Gottfried Hornik (Faninal) ; Barbara Bonney (Sophie) ; Olivera Miljakovic, Heinz Zednik, Anna Gonda, Peter Wimberger, Waldemar Kmentt, Franz Kasemann, Wolfgang Bankl, Peter Jelosits, Keith Ikaia-Purdy, supporting soloists ; Vienna State Opera Chorus and Orchestra ; Carlos Kleiber, conductor.

Renée Fleming (Feldmarschallin) ; Sophie Koch (Octavian) ; Diana Damrau (Sophie) ; Franz Hawlata (Baron Ochs) ; Jonas Kaufmann (Ein Sänger) ; Franz Grundheber (Faninal) ; Irmgard Vilsmaier ((Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin) ; Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke (Valzacchi) ; Jane Henschel (Annina) ; Münchner Philharmoniker ; Philharmonia Chor Wien ; Theaterkinderchor am Helmholtz-Gymnasium Karlsruhe ; Christian Thielemann, conductor.

Getting into his grandfather's pottery workshop at night, a little boy finds an unusually large vase. Fascinated, the child feels the still-warm material, which - whether by a miracle or the hand of a magician, who knows? - at once changes into a magnificent piece of Chinese porcelain. Presently, from behind the great blue-enamelled trees, there appears a fisherman in his sampan....That's how the story of The nightingale, told all in music, begins, as the waking dream of a child in the land of Chinese art - and of mobile phones and webcams.

Renée Fleming (Rusalka) ; Piotr Beczała (The Prince) ; Dolora Zajick (Ježibaba) ; John Relyea (Water Gnome) ; Emily Magee (The Foreign Princess) ; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus, and Ballet ; Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor.

Maria Ewing (Salome) ; Michael Devlin (John the Baptist) ; Kenneth Riegel (Herod) ; Gillian Knight (Herodias) ; Robin Leggate (Narraboth) ; Orchestra of the Royal Opera House ; Edward Downes, conductor.

Plácido Domingo ; Olga Borodina ; Sergei Leiferkus ; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus, and ballet ; conductor, James Levine.

Riccardo Muti conducting Berliner Philharmoniker ; in part with Violeta Urmana, soprano.
Recorded live at the Teatro di San Carlo, Naples on May 1, 2009.

June Anderson (Semiramide) ; Marilyn Horne (Arsace) ; Stanford Olsen (Idreno) ; Samuel Ramey (Assur) ; Young Ok Shin (Azema) ; John Cheek (Oroe) ; Michael Forest (Mitrane) ; Jeffrey Wells (ghost of Ninus) ; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus ; John Keenan, chorus master ; James Conlon, conductor.

Die Enführung aus dem Serail. Overture / W.A. Mozart -- Aladdin. Oriental festive march ; Negro dance / C. Nielsen -- Sheherazade / N. Rimsky-Korsakov -- Peer Gynt. Suite no. 1. Anitra's dance ; Peer Gynt. Suite no. 2. Solveig's song ; Arabian dance / E. Grieg -- Thaïs: Meditation / J. Massenet -- Introduction et rondo capriccioso / C. Saint-Saëns -- Florentiner Marsch / J. Fučik -- Frau Luna. Berliner Luft / P. Lincke.

Kiri Te Kanawa, soprano ; Plácido Domingo, tenor ; Vladimir Chernov, baritone ; Robert Lloyd, bass ; supporting soloists ; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus ; James Levine, conductor.

Plácido Domingo (Simon Boccanegra) ; Marina Poplavskaya (Amelia) ; Ferruccio Furlanetto (Fiesco) ; Joseph Calleja (Gabriele Adorno) ; Jonathan Summers (Paolo) ; Lukas Jakobski (Pietro) ; with supporting singers ; Royal Opera Chorus ; Orchestra of the Royal Opera House ; Antonio Pappano, conductor.

Michael Volle, Martin Zysset, Rolf Haunstein, Elizabeth Magnuson, Piotr Beczala, Oliver Widmer, Louise Martini, vocalists ; other vocalists ; Chorus of the Zurich Opera ; Children's Choir of the Zurich Opera ; Orchestra of the Zurich Opera ; Orchestra of the Zurich Opera Franz Welser-Möst, conductor.

Anna Moffo, Danilo Vega, Plinio Clabassi, Gianna Galli, Anna Maria Anelli, Guido Mazzini, Giuseppe Nessi, orchestra and chorus of Milano Radiotelevisione Italiana ; Bruno Bartoletti, conductor.

"Street scene" is a portrait of life in a New York tenement block in the 1930s. With roles for thirty principal players, the characters are working-class people from a multiplicity of ethnic backgrounds struggling to realize the "American Dream."

Il tabarro: Juan Pons (Michele) ; Teresa Stratas (Giorgetta) ; Plácido Domingo (Luigi) ; Charles Anthony (Il Tinca) ; Federico Davià (Il Talpa) ; Florence Quivar (La Frugola) ; Philip Creech (Venditore di canzonette) ; Yvonne Gonzales, Tony Stevenson (Due amanti). Pagliacci: Luciano Pavarotti (Canio) ; Teresa Stratas (Nedda) ; Juan Pons (Tonio) ; Kenn Chester (Beppe) ; Dwayne Croft (Silvio) ; John Hanriot, Glenn Bater (Due contadini). In both: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus ; James Levine, conductor.

Monica Bacelli (Tamerlano), Tom Randle (Bajazet), Graham Pushee (Andronicus), Anna Bonitatibus (Irene), Elisabeth Norberg-Schulz (Asteria), Antonio Abete (Leone) ; English Concert Orchestra, Trevor Pinnock, conductor.
Recorded live from the 50th Händel-Festspiele 2001, Halle on the Saale.

Günther Groissböck (Landgraf Hermann) ; Peter Seiffert (Tannhäuser) ; Markus Eiche (Wolfram von Eschenbach) ; Vicente Ombuena (Walther von der Vogelweide) ; Lauri Vasar (Biterolf) ; Francisco Vas (Heinrich der Schreiber) ; Johann Tilli (Reinmar von Zweter) ; Petra Maria Schnitzer (Elisabeth) ; Béatrice Uria-Monzon (Venus) ; supporting soloists ; Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Gran Teatre Del Liceu ; Sebastian Weigle, conductor.

Eva Mei (Thaïs) ; Michele Pertusi (Athanaël) ; William Joyner (Nicias) ; Christophe Fel (Palémon) ; Christine Buffle (Crobyle) ; Elodie Méchain (Myrtale) ; Tiziana Carraro (Albine) ; Anna Smiech (La Charmeuse) ; Enrico Masiero (A servant) ; Orchestra e Coro del Teatro La Fenice di Venezia ; Marcello Viotti, conductor.

Renata Tebaldi, soprano ; Claudia Hellmann, alto ; Eugene Tobi, Hubert Buchta, tenors ; George London, baritone ; Gustav Grefe, Siegfried Fischer-Sandt, basses ; Orchestra and Chorus of the Staatsoper, Stuttgart, conducted by Franco Patane.
Recorded in Stuttgart, Germany, June 3, 1961.

Angela Gheorghiu (Floria Tosca) ; Roberto Alagna (Mario Cavaradossi) ; Ruggero Raimondi (Baron Scarpia) ; Maurizio Muraro (Angelotti) ; Enrico Fissore (Le Sacristan) ; David Cangelosi (Spoletta) ; Sorin Coliban (Sciarrone) ; Gwynne Howell (Le Geolier) ; James Savage-Hanford (Le Patre) ; Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden ; Tiffin Boys' Choir ; Antonio Pappano, conductor.

Teresa Stratas (Violetta) ; Placido Domingo (Alfredo) ; Cornell MacNeil (Germont) ; Alan Monk (Baron) ; Axelle Gall (Flora) ; Pina Cei (Annina) ; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus ; James Levine, conductor.
Video disc release of the 1982 movie.

Angela Gheorhiu, soprano ; Frank Lopardo, tenor ; Leo Nucci, baritone ; Richard Van Allan, Robin Leggate, Roderick Earle, Mark Beesley, Leah-Marian Jones, Gillian Knight ; Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden ; Sir Georg Solti, conductor.

Stefania Bonfadelli (Violetta Valery); Annely Peebo (Flora Bervoix) ; Flora Leroni (Annina) ; Scott Piper (Alfredo Germont) ; Renato Bruson (Giorgio Germont) ; Christian Ricci (Gastone) ; Ezio Maria Tisi (Barone Douphol) ; Andrea Snarsky (Marchese d'Obigny) ; Gastone Sarti (Dottor Grenvil) ; Luca Casalin (Giuseppe); Orchestra and chorus of Fondazione Arturo Toscanini ; Plácido Domingo, conductor ; Marco Faelli, chorus master.

Angela Gheorghiu (Violetta Valéry) ; Ramón Vargas (Alfredo Germont) ; Roberto Frontali (giorgio Germont) ; supporting soloists; Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala with the participation of Corpo di gallo del Teatro alla Scala ; Lorin Maazel, conductor.

René Kollo (Tristan) ; Matti Salminen (König Marke) ; Johanna Meier (Isolde) ; Hermann Becht (Kurwenal) ; Robert Schunk (Melot) ; Hanna Schwarz (Brangäne) ; Helmut Pampuch (Ein Hirt) ; Martin Egel (Ein Steuermann) ; Bayreuth Festival Chorus ; Norbert Balatsch, chorus master ; Bayreuth Festival Orchestra ; Daniel Barenboim, conductor.
Set design, costumes, staging and direction, Jean-Pierre Ponnelle ; artistic supervision, Wolfgang Wagner.

Jane Eaglen (Isolde) ; Ben Heppner (Tristan) ; Katarina Dalayman (Brangäne) ; Hans-Joachim Ketelsen (Kurwenal) ; René Pape (King Marke) ; other soloists ; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus ; James Levine, conductor.
Produced at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, Dec. 1999.

Il tabarro: Alberto Mastromarino (Michele) ; Amarilli Nizza (Giorgetta) ; Rubens Pelizzari (Luigi) ; Suor Angelica: Amarilli Nizza (Suor Angelica) ; Annamaria Chiuri (La zia principessa) ; Elisa Fortunati ( La badessa) ; Gianni Schicchi: Alberto Mastromarino (Gianni Schicchi, 50 anni) ; Amarilli Nizza (Lauretta, 21 anni) ; Annamaria Chiuri (Rinuccio, nipote di Zita, 24 anni) ; Coro lirico Amadeus ; Orchestra Della Fondazione Arturo Toscanini ; Julian Reynolds, conductor.

Mary Hegarty, soprano ; Stephanie Novacek, mezzo-soprano ; Thomas Randle, tenor ; Karl Daymond, Toby Stafford-Allen, baritones ; City of London Sinfonia, Paul Daniel, conductor.
Filmed in 2001.

Eva Marton (Leonora) ; Dolora Zajick (Azucena) ; Luciano Pavarotti (Manrico) ; Sherrill Milnes (Il Conte di Luna) ; Jeffrey Wells (Ferrando) ; Loretta di Franco (Ines) ; Mark Baker (Ruiz) ; The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus ; James Levine, conductor.
Produced October 15th, 1988 at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York.

Eva Marton (Turandot) ; Jose Carreras (Calaf) ; Katia Ricciarelli (Liù) ; Waldemar Kmentt (Altoum) ; Robert Kerns (Piang) ; Helmut Wildhaber (Pang) ; Heinz Zednik (Pong) ; Chor der Wiener Staatsoper ; Wiener Sängerknaben ; Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper ; Lorin Maazel, conductor.

Set in mythical Peking, Princess Turandot declares she will marry any man of royal blood who can solve three riddles she sets him. Failure to solve the riddles will result in execution. Prince Calaf, in spite of many entreaties not to do so, wishes to seek the hand of Turandot. Calaf solves the riddles, but gives Turandot another chance to be rid of him. Ultimately, Turandot discovers that love is the answer she needs.

Set in Peking, Princess Turandot will become the bride of the royal suitor who can successfully answer three riddles. Unsuccessful suitors lose not only the hand of the princess, but their heads as well.

Cheryl Studer; Chris Merritt; Giorgio Zancanero; Ferruccio Furlanetto; supporting soloists; ballet, orchestra & chorus of Teatro alla Scala; Riccardo Muti, conductor; Pier Luigi Pizzi, stage director; Christopher Swann, TV director.
Originally recorded live at Teatro alla Scala, Dec. 7, 1989.

Peter Dvorsky (Werther) ; Brigitte Fassbaender (Charlotte) ; Magdaléna Vášáryová (Sophie) ; Magdaléna Hajóssyová (Sophie, vocals) ; Michal Dočolomanský (Albert) ; Hans Helm (Albert, vocals) ; František Zvarík (Amtmann) ; Peter Mikuláš (Amtmann, vocals) ; Orchestre syphonique de Prague FOK ; Libor Pešek, conductor.

Cheryl Studer (Matilda), Amelia Felle (Jemmy), soprano ; Luciana d'Intino (Edwige), mezzo-soprano ; Chris Merritt (Arnold), tenor ; Giorgio Zancanaro (William Tell), baritone ; Giorgio Surjan (Walter Furst), Luigi Roni (Gessler), bass ; Corps de Ballet, Orchestra and Chorus of The Teatro alla Scala ; Riccardo Muti, conductor.

Dale Duesing (Wozzeck) ; Ronald Hamilton (Drum Major) ; Barry Banks (Andres) ; Dieter Bundschuh (Captain) ; Frode Olsen (Doctor) ; Kristine Ciesinski (Marie) ; Linda Ormiston (Margaret) ; supporting soloists ; Frankfurter Museumsorchester ; Choir and Children's Choir of the Frankfurter Oper ; Sylvain Cambreling, conductor.

Ann Murray, Xerxes ; Valerie Masterson, Romilda ; Christopher Robson, Arsamenes ; Jean Rigby, Amastris ; Lesley Garret, Atalanta ; Christopher Booth-Jones, Elviro ; Rodney Macann, Ariodates ; Chorus and Orchestra of the English National Opera ; Sir Charles Mackerras, conductor.

Kathleen Battle, Luciana Serra, Francisco Araiza, Manfred Hemm, Kurt Moll, Barbara Kilduff, Heinz Zednik, Andreas Schmidt, soloists ; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, James Levine, conductor.

The internationally renowned Mozart interpreter Sir Colin Davis conducts the chorus and orchestra of the Royal Opera House in David McVicar's production of Mozart's last opera recorded live at Covent Garden with Simon Keenleyside and Dorthea Rochmman.