| Label: EUROARTS
Catalog: 2054508
Format: DVD Michael Maertens, Dietmar König, Peter Maertens, Christoph Bantzer, Isabel Rey, Barbara Bonney, Birgit Remmert, Michael Schade, Oliver Widmer, Michael Maertens, Dietmar König, Peter Maertens, Christoph Bantzer
Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor; Concentus Musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Henry Purcell: King Arthur This acclaimed production of Henry Purcell’s best-known opera, “King Arthur” comes live from the Salzburg Festival 2004. Composed in 1691, the work can be described as the first ever musical – drama, music, dance and stage effects are all combined in one “Gesamtkunstwerk”. Drama is coupled with opera; courtly dance rhythms with a farcical, bucolic play and the myth of national grandeur is treated with biting satire, thus creating a brilliant synthesis of the arts or, as conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt describes it, “the first musical in history”. The world-famous baroque specialist gathered a musical dream-team made up of his own orchestra, the Concentus musicus Wien and the best singers on the baroque scene. Barbara Bonney, Isabel Rey and Michael Schade – all highly acclaimed artists – took on the singing while a set of eminent actors played out the story on the stage. Harnoncourt and stage director Jürgen Flimm created a surprisingly concise version of the complicated story of the British King Arthur and his opponent Oswald. This entertaining piece full of amazing sounds and bewitching images comes across vividly on DVD. |
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Price: $47.98