Naxos Audiovisual Division September 2023

Following their success with Korngold’s Das Wunder der Heliane (2.110584-85/NBD0083V) at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, director Christof Loy and conductor Marc Albrecht teamed up again to revive another neglected opera from the early 20th century, Schreker’s Der Schatzgräber (The Treasure Hunter). A triumph at its premiere in 1920, this new Naxos release is a rare audiovisual recording of the work. Two audiovisual issues from the Opus Arte label are linked by their comic vein: Shakespeare’s play All’s Well That Ends Well and Donizetti’s comic opera Don Pasquale, written some two centuries later. Finally, and somewhat unusually, there’s Zubin Mehta’s audiovisual recordings on the Dynamic label of Beethoven’s Complete Symphonies, recorded in live performances with the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.


2.110761 [DVD]
[Naxos]

Franz SCHREKER (1878–1934)
Der Schatzgräber
Opera in a prologue, four acts and an epilogue (1918)

Elisabet Strid, Soprano
Daniel Johansson, Michael Laurenz, Tenors
Thomas Johannes Mayer, Baritone
Tuomas Pursio, Bass-baritone • Doke Pauwels, Actor
Deutsche Oper Berlin Chorus and Orchestra
Marc Albrecht, Conductor • Christof Loy, Stage director

Franz Schreker’s career was cut short by the events of 1933 in Germany but he achieved real fame with his operas, and the huge success of Der Schatzgräber (The Treasure Hunter) in the 1920s was the high point of his career. In a complex and ultimately tragic tale of destructive greed, desire and toxic social hierarchy, the innkeeper’s daughter Els is forced to confront the consequences of her murderous intent in what conductor Marc Albrecht considers ‘a work of exceptional quality, concentration and significance’. Following the huge success of Korngold’s Das Wunder der Heliane (Naxos DVD 2.110584-85 / Blu-ray NBD0083V), director Christof Loy continues his exploration of strong female characters and neglected 20th-century masterpieces with this highly acclaimed Deutsche Oper Berlin production.

Also available on Blu-ray Video (NBD0173V)


DYN-37950 [DVD]
[Dynamic]

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770–1827)
Beethoven Complete Symphonies

Orchestra e Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Zubin Mehta, Conductor

Beethoven’s symphonic cycle is one of the most quintessential in the Western classical canon. They chart a course from the influence of Haydn and Classical models in the early symphonies, through works of startling innovation and the birth of Romanticism, to his monumental Ninth Symphony for soloists, chorus and orchestra. Zubin Mehta conducts the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in these live recordings from 2021/22.

Also available on Blu-ray Video (DYN-57950), Disc and Streaming (CDS7950.05)


OA1369D [DVD]
[Opus Arte]

‘Love all. Trust a few. Do wrong to none.’

Helena is convinced that she and wealthy Bertram are #CoupleGoals. He’s not so sure.

After engineering their betrothal, Helena will go to any length to bring her idealised version of romance to life. But what happens when the reality of their relationship doesn’t match up to the fantasy? And do the ends always justify the means?

Director Blanche McIntyre’s offbeat anti-romcom explores the modern resonance of Shakespeare’s enduring dark comedy.


OA1315D [DVD]
[Opus Arte]

Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797–1848)
Don Pasquale

Bryn Terfel • Ioan Hotea • Markus Werba • Olga Peretyatko
Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House • Royal Opera Chorus
Evelino Pidò, Conductor • Damiano Michieletto, Director

Royal Opera favourite Bryn Terfel heads the cast for this exhilarating production of Donizetti’s comedy of domestic drama across two generations. Don Pasquale is the witty story of a middle-aged man whose supposed young wife runs rings around him – with her own ulterior romantic purpose in mind – and has long delighted and surprised audiences, not least as presented with the sparkle of its music and the virtuoso skill of its performers. Damiano Michieletto’s production shows how contemporary the characters still are and how immediate and touching the story remains.

Also available on Blu-ray Video (OABD7274D)


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