Edward Watson takes the role of Crown Prince Rudolf in Kenneth MacMillan's compelling ballet which lives out the final eight years of Rudolf’s life with its relentless downward spiral of political intrigue, drugs and murder. It culminates with the suicide pact at the hunting lodge - known as Mayerling - between Rudolf and his 17-year-old mistress, Mary Vetsera (Mara Galeazzi). Filmed in high definition and recorded in true surround sound.

Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary: Edward Watson
Baroness Mary Vetsera: Mara Galeazzi
Princess Stephanie: Iohna Loots
Emperor Franz Josef of Austria-Hungary: William Tuckett
Empress Elisabeth: Cindy Jourdain
Countess Marie Larisch: Sarah Lamb
Baroness Helene Vetsera: Elizabeth McGorian

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Conductor: Barry Wordsworth
Choreographer: Kenneth MacMillan

Recorded live at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, October 2009.

Edward Watson takes the role of Crown Prince Rudolf in Kenneth MacMillan's compelling ballet which lives out the final eight years of Rudolf’s life with its relentless downward spiral of political intrigue, drugs and murder. It culminates with the suicide pact at the hunting lodge - known as Mayerling - between Rudolf and his 17-year-old mistress, Mary Vetsera (Mara Galeazzi). Filmed in high definition and recorded in true surround sound.

Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary: Edward Watson
Baroness Mary Vetsera: Mara Galeazzi
Princess Stephanie: Iohna Loots
Emperor Franz Josef of Austria-Hungary: William Tuckett
Empress Elisabeth: Cindy Jourdain
Countess Marie Larisch: Sarah Lamb
Baroness Helene Vetsera: Elizabeth McGorian

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Conductor: Barry Wordsworth
Choreographer: Kenneth MacMillan

Recorded live at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, October 2009.

Translucence, transparency – warmth’ are the qualities identified by Bernard Haitink as necessary for an ideal sound performance of Beethoven’s only opera, and all are present in this fantastic recording of Katharina Thalbach’s new production for Opernhaus Zurich. Haitink conducts the Zurich Opera Orchestra in a magnificent performance in which Leonore Overture No. 3 provides an interlude between the two scenes of the second act, following a tradition started by Gustav Mahler. German soprano Melanie Diener, in the role of Leonore, leads a brilliant cast including Alfred Muff as Rocco, Roberto Saccà as Florestan, Sandra Trattnigg as Marzelline and Christoph Strehl as Jaquino. This High Definition recording with true surround sound marks the start of an exciting new collaboration between Opus Arte and Opernhaus Zurich.

Don Fernando: Krešimir Stražanac
Don Pizarro: Lucio Gallo
Florestan: Roberto Saccà
Leonore: Melanie Diener
Rocco: Alfred Muff
Marzelline: Sandra Trattnigg
Jaquino: Christoph Strehl
First Prisoner: Bogusław Bidziński
Second Prisoner: Morgan Moody

Zurich Opera Orchestra
Zurich Opera Chorus
Conductor: Bernard Haitink
Director: Katharina Thalbach

Recorded live at the Zurich Opera House, Germany, in October 2008.

Translucence, transparency – warmth’ are the qualities identified by Bernard Haitink as necessary for an ideal sound performance of Beethoven’s only opera, and all are present in this fantastic recording of Katharina Thalbach’s new production for Opernhaus Zurich. Haitink conducts the Zurich Opera Orchestra in a magnificent performance in which Leonore Overture No. 3 provides an interlude between the two scenes of the second act, following a tradition started by Gustav Mahler. German soprano Melanie Diener, in the role of Leonore, leads a brilliant cast including Alfred Muff as Rocco, Roberto Saccà as Florestan, Sandra Trattnigg as Marzelline and Christoph Strehl as Jaquino. This High Definition recording with true surround sound marks the start of an exciting new collaboration between Opus Arte and Opernhaus Zurich.

Don Fernando: Krešimir Stražanac
Don Pizarro: Lucio Gallo
Florestan: Roberto Saccà
Leonore: Melanie Diener
Rocco: Alfred Muff
Marzelline: Sandra Trattnigg
Jaquino: Christoph Strehl
First Prisoner: Bogusław Bidziński
Second Prisoner: Morgan Moody

Zurich Opera Orchestra
Zurich Opera Chorus
Conductor: Bernard Haitink
Director: Katharina Thalbach

Recorded live at the Zurich Opera House, Germany, in October 2008.

Created by Frederick Ashton for a film in 1971, Tales of Beatrix Potter brings alive, with rich characterisation and invention, the famous images and stories of Beatrix Potter. John Lanchbery’s music (incorporating mostly forgotten Victorian melodies) is utterly captivating, inspiring spirited playing from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Paul Murphy. Christine Edzard's designs conjure up a lost England of field mice and Berkshire black pigs, of foxgloves and shady groves. Swept up in the ballet’s childlike exuberance, the entire cast delivers outstanding portrayals of such colourful figures as Jemima Puddle-Duck, Jeremy Fisher, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and the irrepressible Peter Rabbit. Ashton's warm and witty, yet demanding, choreography creates a piece of charm and grace for all ages.

Mrs Tittlemouse: Victoria Hewitt
Johnny Town-Mouse: Ricardo Cervera
Mrs Tiggy-Winkle: Jonathan Howells
Jemima Puddle-Duck: Gemma Sykes
The Fox: Gary Avis
Pigling Bland: Bennet Gartside
Pig-Wig: Laura Morera
Aunt Pettitoes: David Pickering
Mr Jeremy Fisher: Zachary Faruque
Tom Thumb: Giacomo Ciriaci
Hunca Munca: Iohna Loots
Peter Rabbit: Joshua Tuifua
Squirrel Nutkin: Steven McRae

The Royal Ballet
Royal Ballet Sinfonia
Choreographer: Frederick Ashton
Conductor: Paul Murphy

Recorded live at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on 23rd & 27th December 2007.

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