Recommended Opera on Video/DVD- A Passion for Opera - Will Kent, instructor, Santa Rosa Junior College

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	As with recordings, the video catalog of complete opera performances, recitals/concerts is changing rapidly. Many videos are being transferred to DVD. I have used excerpts from videos and DVDs in my classes for some years. Below is a basic opera library that I feel visually and vocally represents these operas in defining ways. In addition to these commercial releases, many "pirated" DVD's are now available (from TV broadcasts, in house cameras etc.) and are visually and vocally splendid. I think the best place to order these is from the extensive catalog at Berkshire Records. They are reliable, and I have been pleased with their products. I will indicate when a DVD comes from that source. Berkshire Record Outlet: http://www.berkshirerecordoutlet.com
	1.	TOSCA'S KISS ( Il bacio di Tosca). A film by Daniel Schmid. Not an opera but as touching as any you'll ever see. The great Sara Scuderi tells us about dedication and giving one's life to this grand art form. VAI 69022, 1985.
	2.	LA BOHEME. Puccini. Baz Luhrmann and Australian Opera show us how "updating" can work wonders and still stay true to Puccini and his music. A visual feast! London, 1993.
	3.	DON CARLOS. Verdi. Original French version with magnificent cast: Mattila, Alagna, Hampson, van Dam. Theatre du Chatelet, Paris. Kultur, 1996
	4.	MANON LESCAUT. Puccini. From the Metropolitan Opera. Renata Scotto, in relative young voice, shines and brings this plum opera to life. Scotto/Domingo Elvira /Levine. Bel Canto, Paramount. 1980.
	5.	ELEKTRA. Strauss. Birgit Nilsson and Leonie Rysanek with Mignon Dunn. Exciting Classic from the Met. Bel Canto, Paramount. 1980
	6.	TURANDOT. Puccini. The astounding Turandot of our time, Eva Marton and the outstanding tenor of our time, Placido Domingo in this huge and glorious Zeffirrelli production from the Met. Deutsche Grammophon, 1987.
	7.	MADAMA BUTTERFLY. Puccini. The best Butterfly on Video/DVD is from Italian T.V. with a superb Anna Moffo as Cio Cio San. VAI, 1956.
	8.	ANDREA CHENIER. Giordano. From Covent Garden. Well sung if not great but the best video account there is of this opera that should be produced a great deal more. Placido Domingo, Anna Tomowa-Sintow. Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Home Vision, 1985.
	9.	IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA. Rossini. Cecilia Bartoli makes an early debut..all that is required. ART Haus. 1988.
	10.	NORMA. Bellini. Jon Vickers and Montserrat Caballe brave the French mistral in this outdoor performance at Orange. Caballe's performance is beyond words! Bel Canto Society, 1974.
	11.	LA TRAVIATA. Verdi. In 1993, with this performance, Italian newspapers hailed Tiziana Fabbricini as the new Callas. She is hauntingly so in this video, not only looking like but sounding like the great soprano. Most disturbing, she crashed vocally shortly thereafter, cutting short a very promising career. Roberto Alagna also shines. Teatro alla Scala. 1993.
	12.	OTELLO. Verdi. Definitive performances for Placido Domingo as Otello and Renee Fleming as Desdemona. A must have from the Met. Deutsche Grammophon. 1996.
	13.	LA CENERENTOLA. Rossini. Great staging with Cecilia Bartoli as Angelina (Cenerentola), but the supporting cast more than shines and Enzo Dara as Don Magnifico steals the show. Decca 1996.
	14.	LA BOHEME. Puccini. Rolando Villazon created a sensation when he appeared on T.V. in 1995 as Rodolfo from New York City Opera. This is a phenomenal video record of the beginning of an amazing career. Villazon has since become opera’s primo tenore. With Maria Kanyova as Mimi. From Berkshire Records.
	15.	L'ELISIR D'AMORE. Donizetti. Anna Netrebko & Rolando Villazon prove why they are the most exciting pairing in opera in this performance from Berlin in 2005. With Leo Nucci & Idlebrando D'Arcangelo. From Berkshire Records.
	16.	ANNA NETREBKO & ROLANDO VILLAZON IN CONCERT, MOSCOW, 2002. The chemistry and artistry of these two performers is amazing both separately and together. From Berkshire Records.
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