PLÁCIDO DOMINGO

My Greatest Roles Volume 3 – French Opera

Carmen / Samson & Delilah / The Tales of Hoffmann

NVC Arts/Warner Classics is delighted to announce the release of the third volume of DVD boxed sets showcasing some of the greatest recordings of Plácido Domingo’s career on stage.

This volume features full-length performances of French operas, including Carmen from Vienna State Opera, Samson and Delilah from San Francisco Opera, and The Tales of Hoffmann from The Royal Opera, Covent Garden.

Bonus: This volume is complemented by a 1-hour bonus DVD in which Plácido Domingo speaks at length, with passion and fervour, about each of the roles he sings in these three operas.

CARMEN (Bizet) – Vienna State Opera

This famous staging of Carmen from Vienna State Opera in 1978 was by the great Franco Zeffirelli, who not only directed the production but also the television broadcast. It is also a rare chance to witness the musical genius of conductor Carlos Kleiber, who made very few video recordings. Together they created a thrilling and dramatic production, which Domingo says was “very special”, and “will live in my mind forever.” Plácido Domingo was in his prime at the time of this performance. He considers the role of Don José to be very close to his heart because his mother, like Don José, was from the Basque country, and this empathy shows in his stunning portrayal. He is joined by Elena Obraztsova as a strong, but wonderfully natural Carmen, Isobel Buchanan as Micaëla, and Yuri Mazurok as Escamillo.

“The applause threatened to last as long as a full-length opera” SÜDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG

Picture format: NTSC 4:3 FF

Audio: Dolby 2.0 Stereo

Duration: 153 mins

Subtitles: Eng / Fr / Ger / It / Sp

SAMSON AND DELILAH (Saint-Säens) – San Francisco Opera

Plácido Domingo and Shirley Verrett star in the title roles in this live recording of the 1981/82 Season premiere from the San Francisco Opera, with Wolfgang Brendel as the High Priest of Dagon. The colourful and evocative sets and costumes reflect Saint-Säens’ melodic and sensual score, here conducted by Julius Rudel. Samson is one of Domingo’s favourite roles, partly for the profound beauty of the music, but also because of the character’s battle between duty to his people and his love of Delilah. “Plácido Domingo and Shirley Verrett…incomparable in the title roles” SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

Picture format: NTSC 4:3 FF

Audio: L-PCM Stereo

Duration: 116 mins

Subtitles: Eng / Fr / Ger / It / Sp

THE TALES OF HOFFMANN (Offenbach) – The Royal Opera

This stunning 1980 Royal Opera production is by film director John Schlesinger and conducted by Georges Prêtre. The spectacular designs by Maria Björnson and William Dudley vividly bring Hoffmann’s nightmare world to life. Plácido Domingo sings the role of Hoffmann, in one of his towering portrayals. The all-star cast also includes Luciana Serra as Olympia, Agnes Baltsa as Giulietta, Ileana Cotrubas as Antonia, Robert Lloyd as Lindorf, Geraint Evans as Coppélius, Nicola Ghiuselev as Dr Miracle, and Siegmund Nimsgern as Dappertutto. Domingo very much enjoyed singing this most ‘complete’ of roles with the huge range of characterisation required.

“Plácido Domingo, surely the most compelling Hoffmann of his generation. The most stylish vocally, too” BBC Music Magazine

Picture format: NTSC 4:3 FF

Audio: Dolby 2.0 Stereo

Duration: 150 mins

NVC Arts 4DVDs 5249814112