THREE 2021 VIDEOS

• Dynamic: 2 DVD 2021 recording of Alessandro Scarlatti’s Griselda featuring La Lira di Orfeo, conducted by George Petrou, with Carmela Remigio in the title role. A production recorded at the 47^th Valle d’Istria Festival.
• Opus Arte: DVD 2021 recording of Leoš Janáček’s Jenůfa in the Royal Opera production, featuring Asmik Grigorian in the title role, and Karita Mattila, Saimir Pirgu, and Nicky Spence in the cast, with Henrik Nanasi conducting, and Claus Guth’s stage direction.
• Unitel: DVD 2021 recording of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis in a Salzburg Festival performance, with Rosa Feola, Alisa Kolosova, Dmitry Korchk, and Ildar Abdrszakov, with Riccardo Muti conducting the Vienna Philharmonic and Chorus.

Three videos reached came on the mail recently, and their unique appeal varies from one to the other.  Alessandro Scarlatti’s Griselda is a rarity, and the Valle d’Istria Festival recording has as its main asset the presence of the Italian soprano Carmela Remigio in the title role.

Leoš Janáček’s Jenůfa’s somber tragedy would be a very hard sell were it not for the presence of a major star in the central role. In the case of the Royal Opera production that would be not one but two formidable female singers: the golden-voiced Lithuanian soprano Asmik Grigorian, and the Finnish soprano Karita Mattila as the Kostelnička Buryjovka.

Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis in a  Unitel release of a Salzburg Festival performance features a fine quartet: Rosa Feola, Alisa Kolosova, Dmitry Korchak, and Ildar Abdrszakov, led by Riccardo Muti conducting the Vienna Philharmonic and Chorus. I would just as soon listen to a sound recording and pass on this video.

What with ticket prices to the Opera and orchestral concerts going up in price day after day, and the difficulty for many music lovers to find high caliber performances outside the major European and American venues, video recordings have become a very good substitute. Enjoy!

Rafael de Acha © 2022