THE BRITTEN-PEARS COLLECTION

 

BENJAMIN BRITTEN / PETER PEARS

 

Mozart: Idomeneo

 

Peter Pears......Idomeneo

Anne Pashley......Idamante

Heather Harper......Ilia

Rae Woodland......Elektra

Robert Tear......Arbace

 

English Chamber Orchestra / Benjamin Britten

 

This DVD is part of the Britten-Pears DVD Collection. This collection features four historically and musically significant films from the BBC archives of works and performances by Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears, one of the greatest English tenors and Britten’s long-term partner and artistic inspiration. None of these films have been available before on any home video format.

 

This colour film recording of Mozart’s Idomeneo dates from a period when Mozart’s first ‘mature’ masterpiece was barely known. This may indeed be the first-ever film of the opera. Conducted by Benjamin Britten, using his own performing edition, the opera is sung in English with Peter Pears singing Idomeneo - the only film recording with Peter Pears in the title role.

 

The cast also includes renowned British soprano, Heather Harper, and a young Robert Tear. Each act begins with a spoken introduction from John Warrack, revered music historian and academic.

 

Extras: Britten – Pears trailer

Disc Format: NTSC DVD 9

Video Aspect Ratio: 4:3

Region Coding: 1-6 (0)

Colour Mode: Colour

Subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish, Chinese

 

Decca DVD 0743258