Hector Berlioz: Les Troyens (Opus Arte DVD)

Sir John Eliot Gardiner conducts the Monteverdi Choir, Choeur du Théâtre du Châtelet and Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique in a landmark triple disc of Berlioz's towering opera. Recorded in High Definition at Le Châtelet, Paris. A tragic tale of love and fate, war and peace and the intertwined destinies of two cities, the opera is based on Virgil's imperial vision of the founding myth of Rome. The American tenor Gregory Kunde as Aeneas and the Italian mezzo-soprano Anna Caterina Antonacci lead an international cast in this stunning new production.

Susan Graham, Anna Caterina Antonacci, Gregory Kunde, Renata Pokupic, Ludovic Tézier, Nicolas Testé, Laurent Naouri
Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique and the Monteverdi Choir / Sir John Eliot Gardiner
Stage Director Yannis Kokkos

Plus


THE TROJANS - A MASTERPIECE - includes interviews with Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Yannis Kokkos, Susan Graham, Gregory Kunde, Anna Caterina Antonacci, Ludovic Tézie and Renata Pokupoic
Cast Gallery


Reviews
'What an overwhelming experience watching The Trojans is. In Gardiner's hands the music is gloriously performed - and what a superb cast he has gathered around him'
Chris Smith, former MP and Minister for Culture, Media and Sport

'Combine an imaginative director, a Berliozian conductor of high repute, two arrestingly dramatic mezzos (quasi-sopranos both), a dedicated chorus and orchestra and you have a recipe for an electrifying performance of Berlioz's noble if sprawling masterpiece. This coming-together of so much talent occurred in 2003 at the Châtelet in Paris. It was duly televised under the experienced eye of Peter Maniura, and has been rightly accorded acclaim from all who have seen and heard it.
Yannis Kokkos's imaginative staging in his own sets may have weak moments - he rather fudges the Trojan Horse in Part 1 with mirrors, and the Royal Hunt and Storm is a bit confusing - but he manages to combine the work's epic quality with thoughtful direction of the principals and marvellously alert control of the choruses, so that the eye is constantly held by pertinent images.
With his aptly named period-instrument orchestra and his own choir complemented by a French one, Gardiner gives an incandescent reading of the score, highlighting Berlioz's original and daring orchestration and his potent use of choirs. In their hands the score glows and glints with a wholly radiant amalgam of vitality and sensibility. While the playing is acute and fiery when need be, there is an aptly plangent timbre for the love scenes and final tragedy at Carthage.
In 'The Capture of Troy', Anna Caterina Antonacci gives a performance, as Cassandre, of Callas-like intensity and histrionic force. Giving her all in the service of Berlioz's tragic anti-heroine, she sings her heart out in the character's baleful utterances. In Part 2, Susan Graham's at once imperious and vulnerable Didon is sensual in love, sombre and heart-rending in her final sorrow and death. If Gregory Kunde's Enée is not of a Vickers calibre, he manages to create a presence through his easy vocalisation, particularly in the love duet. Ludovic Tézier's approriately upright and throughly idiomatic Chorèbe, Renata Pokupi´c's attractive Anna, Mark Padmore's suitably poetic Iopas and, above all, Topi Lehtipuu's handsome, lyrically glorious Hylas stand out in a cast that has very few weaknesses. Add excellent sound and picture quality and you have a potential classic.'
Alan Blyth

‘a performance that is now the best available on DVD. …an unforgettably dramatic experience… a superb authentic instrument performance… The magnificent high-definition recording does it ample sonic and visual justice.’
The Gramophone

‘a credible, accessible and essential addition to one's library… The DVD is lavish with extremely clear images, bright colouring and DTS sound… an extremely beautiful set.’
Classics Today

‘Four hours of musical delight’
Diapason

‘magnificent singers… Gardiner, brilliant as always…’
Le Monde de la Musique

‘an inspired performance… marvellous cast… spectacular and innovative stage set…’
www.new-classics.co.uk

‘the most important operatic document in years’
Bay Area Reporter

Awards & Accolades:
Gramophone Award (2005)

The Classical Internet Award 2004 DVD Category, sponsored by: ClassicsToday.com, Klassik-Heute.com, ClassicstodayFrance.com

Vienna TV Awards 2004 Best film in the category Performance

RelayAward for "Best Music Production of the Year" by French Music Critic Union (2004)

Grand Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros (presented 18th November at Radio France)

Grand Prix de l'Académie Lyrique (presented 18th November at Radio France)

ffff télérama (2004 France)

ffff télérama (Oct 2006)

10 de Classica Répertoire (December)

DVD Choice of the Month - The Gramophone (December)

Diapason d'Or Diapason (November)

Four Stars - Le Monde de la Musique (November)

Timbre de platine Opéra International (October)

DVD of the Month classicstodayfrance.com (October)

Xmas selection in the Lions Club review. (France)

CAT NO: OA 0900 D
FORMAT: All Formats
REGIONS: All Regions
PICTURE FORMAT: 16:9
LENGTH: 5 HOURS
SOUND: SOUND DTS SURROUND / LPCM STEREO
SUBTITLES: EN/F/D/ES
RELEASED: 01/09/2004
NO OF DISCS: 3