Verdi: Il trovatore; Rigoletto; Falstaff (The Royal Opera)

José Cura (Manrico); Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Count di Luna); Bryn Terfel (Falstaff); Roberto Frontali (Ford); Christine Schäfer (Gilda); Marcelo Alvarez (Il Duca);

Bringing together three of Verdi's most popular operas, this 3 DVD box set presents some of the world's leading artists in outstanding productions, all from the stage of the world famous Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London.Bryn Terfel takes the title role in Graham Vick's riotous production of Falstaff conducted by Bernard Haitink; David McVicar's hedonistic production of Rigoletto stars Marcello Alvarez, Paolo Gavanello and Christine Schäfer under the baton of Sir Edward Downes; José Cura andDmitri Hvorostovsky lead the cast in Elijah Moshinsky's blazingly passionate Il Trovatore conducted by Carlo Rizzi.

Reviews

"All four are in excellent voice. Cura...supports Naef with beautiful quiet singing...Hvorostovsky is formidable...There are two other filmed Trovatores available at present, for a combination of musical excellence and intelligent production neither comes close to this one." (International Record Review)

"Elijah Moshinskys staging offers splendid mid-19th-century visuals (the Risorgimento provides the inspiration) in designs by Dante Ferretti, including enormous cannons, an iron foundry and a railway station." (BBC Music Magazine - Il trovatore)

Extra features

Each opera has an illustrated synopsis, various documentaries and interviews with members of the creative team.