Famous Operas

Order No: 81000
 
 
Carmen
 
Aida
 
Nabucco
 
The Magic Flute
 
Recorded live at the
Opera Festival St. Margarethen
 
The impressive scenery of the Roman quarry in St. Margarethen provides the perfect backdrop for the colourful open-air performances documented here. The Opera Festival St. Margarethen in Austria counts among Europe’s most important open-air festivals and is visited by almost 100.000 spectators per year.
The DVD box in hand presents a collection of four operas recorded live on the occasion of the festival:
In 1997, the ensemble presented Verdi’s „Aida“, initially a commissioned work for the Egyptian viceroy Ismael Pascha that was meant for the festivities on the occasion of the Sues Canal’s inauguration.  Due to the adversities of the Franco-Prussian War, the premiere had to be postponed to December 1871. Giuseppe Verdi himself did not attend this event but enjoyed only in February 1872 the triumph of the European premiere at La Scala where he took  32 curtains.
In 1998 another opera classic followed: Bizet’s „Carmen“,  one of the most popular works in the history of opera. Melodies like the famous „Habanera“ sung by Carmen or Escamillo’s Torero Song are well known tunes until today. Love, jealousy and  death – George Bizet’s  „Carmen“ includes all accessories for a successful opera.
1999 the festival turned away from big drama and devoted itself to a more „ fantastic“ mise-en-scène: Mozart’s „Zauberflöte“ (The Magic Flute) was put on the programme. Staged as fairy tale about love in its countless forms and varieties, the DVD offers the audience a truly „magic“ experience.
The turn of the millenium, once again, was dominated by Giuseppe Verdi. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his death the ensemble staged the most expensive and lavish production to date. It was a great popular success and got excellent reviews: “The miracle of St. Margarethen” (Täglich Alles, Wien), “Nabucco goes beyond all previous standards. Unique.” (Münchner Abendzeitung).
Several Special Features such as Interviews and Making Of complete the box set.
Technical Details
  • Interactive Menu in several languages
  • Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1.+ Digital Stereo
  • Region Code: world wide
  • Picture Format: 4:3
    • Specials
  • Interviews
  • Making Of
  • Georges Bizet Film Documentary
    • Conductors: Giorgio Croci, Michael Lessky
    Orchestras: Stagione d’Opera Italiana, Junge Philharmonie Wien, Junge Bundesländer Philharmonie
    Opera Box