Complete Espanol Course

This Harmonia Mundi DVD release of GIULIO CESARE from Denmark, recorded in 2005 is, quite simply, magnificent. Everything about this release signifies a major event, starting with the packaging. A beautifully produced gatefold DVD case, attractively and conveniently laid out. The booklet gives all the relevant information, with the synopsis synchronized with the tracks (the only drawback is that there are only 9 tracks for the first DVD, 15 for the second; given that Universal Classics painstakingly separates the recits from the arias {the Ponnelle film of COSI for example has over 35 tracks per DVD}, this is inconvenient, because you have to do more searching if you want to)…

Bellini - Norma (2007) [2DVD Set] {Deutsche Grammophon} [by Edita Gruberova, Friedrich Haider]
2xDVD -> 10.7 Gb | All Regions | NTSC 16:9 | Italiano (LinearPCM, 2 ch / DTS, 5 ch) | ~ 166m | ISO Images
Subs: Italiano, Deutsch, English, Francais, Espanol, Chinese
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 116 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2007 Deutsche Grammophon / Universal | 00440 073 4219
Classical / Opera

This new production of Bellini’s Norma by Jürgen Rose (sets, costumes, stage direction, and lighting) to honor Edita Gruberova’s first staged assumption of the title role was taped in January and February of 2006 in Munich. It does neither the opera nor the soprano any favors. In most ways, it’s a pretty gloomy affair.The sets are minimal angular wood constructions comprised of a step or two here and there and a not-very-high platform or two that the players can climb up and down. Everything is dark. The costumes are modern but only can be defined as such because they evoke no particular era; Norma’s rich blue outfit for the first scene, complete with scarf/hood that effectively covers everything but her apple-shaped face and hands, allows for little expressivity.