BBC / Opus Arte - Da Ponte Operas [DIGITAL VIDEO DISC]

Mozart's trilogy of operas composed to librettos by Lorenzo Da Ponte delight and entertain audiences with their combination of sublime music and their mix of humor, romance and drama. Cosi Fan Tutte, also known as 'the school for lovers,' stars a cast of young rising stars, conducted by Semyon Bychkov, in this 2016 production playfully set in a theatre. Kasper Holten's production of Don Giovanni reveals the inner turmoil of the eponymous antihero, sung by Mariusz Kwiecien. Erwin Schrott, Miah Persson and Gerald Finley star in David McVicar's production of Le nozze di Figario, one of the world's most beloved operas."Kwiecien's eloquently sung Giovanni heads a strong cast. Particularly impressive is Malin Byström's Donna Anna, whose moving Non mi dir is addressed not to Don Ottavio but first to her dead father (via his bust) and then to Giovanni himself. Véronique Gens offers a sympathetic Donna Elvira, impassioned rather than hysterical in her inability to give up on Giovanni. Even in Leporello's Catalogue Aria she embraces Giovanni, willing it not to be true. Alex Esposito's resourceful Leporello also seems to be smitten by Giovanni, as is Elizabeth Watts's lively, engaging Zerlina. Nicola Luisotti draws sensuous playing from the ROH orchestra, he and Paul Wingfield generating daring and witty dissonances in their keyboard continuo." (The Evening Standard - Giovanni) "... This success is no doubt also down to a shining cast: Corinne Winters's rich-toned Fiordiligi contrasts with Angela Brower's lighter lyrical Dorabella; Daniel Behle fetchingly adopts gentle head-tone colouring in Un Aura Amorosa and Alessio Arduini is a virile Guglielmo. Sabina Puertolas exudes street-smart confidence as Despina and Johannes Martin Kranzle delights in his role as social architect. Semyon Byckow draws richly varied colours from the Royal Opera Orchestra, though occasionally favours slow tempos." (The Stage)