MASSENET Thais
Renée Fleming (Thaïs)
Thomas Hampson (Athanaël)
Michael Schade (Nicias)
Orchestra & Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera, New York
Conductor: Jesús López-Cobos
Stage Director: John Cox
Renée Fleming triumphs as the glamorous courtesan Thaïs in Massenet’s romantic tragedy set in fourth century Alexandria and the Egyptian desert. The timeless struggle between earthly desire and spiritual redemption finally destroys the resolve of the monk Athanaël (Thomas Hampson), just as the newly penitent Thaïs ascends heavenward. Jesús López-Cobos gives a masterly performance of Massenet’s sensuous score, with concert master David Chan contributing a ravishing ‘Méditation’.
SUBTITLES: English, French (sung language), German, Spanish, Chinese
PICTURE FORMAT: 16:9 (anamorphic widescreen), Colour, NTSC, Region code 0 (worldwide)
SOUND FORMAT: LPCM Stereo & DTS 5.1 Surround
BONUS FEATURE: 'Backstage at the MET', presented by Plácido Domingo, featuring interviews with Fleming and Hampson
Decca DVD 0743355