Comte Ory - BLU-RAY

Gioachino Rossini was summoned to Paris in 1824 to breathe new life into it's opera culture, and one of his most exciting innovations in this period was the creation of an entirely new genre of opera comedy. The risqué tale of Le Comte Ory had it's origins in vaudeville theatre and is based on the story of a villainous Count who attempts the seduction of Countess Adele as she awaits the return of her husband from the Crusades. 'Le Comte Ory' is the last of Rossini's comic operas, making full use of the libretto's farcical disguises and humor in one of his most colorfully orchestrated scores. This production, staged by Linda Mallik, features the Malmo Opera Orchestra and Chorus with world renowned soloists Leonardo Ferrando as Count Ory and Erika Miklosa as Countess Adele. Linda Mallik made her directorial debut in 2012 and received unanimous praise in the Swedish and international press, making her one of the most sought-after opera directors in Sweden. She has also staged 'Le Nozze di Figaro' at NorrlandsOperan, 'M/S Aurora' at the Berwaldhallen, 'Faust' and 'Mayday Payday' at Folkoperan in Stockholm, among others.

Rossini's penultimate opera, premiered in 1828 at the Opéra National de Paris, is a musical comedy about a love triangle set during the Crusades. At the Opéra Comique it's plot is transported to the time of the works' creation with France's military expeditions to Algeria. It is staged by a first-rate creative team Stage director Denis Podalydès and costume designer Christian Lacroix provide stunning visuals, whilst conductor Louis Langrée leads the Orchestre des Champs-Élysées, the Chœur Les éléments and a stellar cast of soloists in this delightful fool's game. Mezzo-soprano Gaëlle Arquez shines with her Inchsuperlative techniqueInch (Le Monde) and Julie Fuchs's Adèle performance elicits Inchmore than just admiration, namely enthusiasm in the etymological sense of the word inspired by the divineInch (Le Monde). InchA masterpiece!Inch (Télérama), InchPure pleasure!Inch (Les Échos). Le Comte Ory at the Opéra Comique is Incha true musical and theatrical celebration where everything sparkles!Inch (Bachtrack)

Although posthumous, Les Contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann) is considered as the masterpiece of Jacques Offenbach's work. Inspired by E.T.A Hoffmann's, this opéra fantastique mixes love, pain and whim. It's an ôde to art and poetry.The intrigue settles around three stories about a broken love. Told by Hoffmann, narrator and hero, these tales paint a portrait of three feminine figures Olympia the automaton, Antonia the dying opera singer and Giulietta the courtesan. This triptych allows the development of very different universes, and color. It's also a declension of the image of the woman and of the evil.Christoph Marthaler signs this creation for the Teatro Real. This is Gerard Mortier's last commission for this stage. From Letzte Tage to King size, the Swiss director has proven his ease in many different registers. An essential capacity needed for a work as rich and subtle as The Tales of Hoffmann. Music is conducted by Sylvain Cambreling and the cast includes Eric Cutler, Anne Sofie von Otter, Measha Brueggergosman and Jean-Philippe Lafont.