"Actor: Paata Burchuladze"

• Verdi: Aida -- Metropolitan Opera | DVD | (20/11/2000) from £15.73   |  Saving you £1.26 (8.01%)   |  RRP £16.99

  A star-studded production from New York's Metropolitan Opera with Aprile Millo and Placido Domingo in the lead roles supported by the Metropolitan Opera Chorus and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; conducted by James Levine. Please note: This is a NTSC disc please ensure the compatibility of your TV.

• Verdi: Nabucco -- La Scala/Muti | DVD | (26/04/2004) from £20.00   |  Saving you £-2.01 (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

  This magnificent production of Verdi's biblical epic Nabucco marked the return of Riccardo Muti as Musical Director of La Scala Milan Italy's greatest opera house. Nabucco was Verdi's first real success. This vast opera has great scenes for the chorus most famously in 'Va pensiero' the hymn of longing sung by the Hebrew slaves on the banks of the Euphrates. This DVD is a marvellous opportunity to hear La Scala's famous Chrous on top form.

• Verdi: Aida -- La Scala | DVD | (28/08/2000) from £3.51   |  Saving you £17.74 (788.44%)   |  RRP £19.99

  La Scala went all-out for its 1986 production of this grandest of grand operas, with a strong cast and--most important for a video recording--a larger-than-life staging. The Triumph Scene in Act II is by no means Aida's only attraction, but it is the part that makes the strongest and most lasting impression and it is the visual and musical climax of this production. Stage director Ronconi brings on a procession to dwarf all processions: looted treasures, heroic statuary, miserable captives struggling under the lash of whip-bearing slave-drivers. On par with these visuals is Lorin Maazel's first-class performance of the popular "Grand March" with the outstanding La Scala chorus and orchestra. In Act III, the contrasting tranquillity of the Nile Scene also gets a visual treatment to match the music's qualities.When it is not an epic spectacle, Aida is a tragic story of love, jealousy and horrible revenge. The shifting focus between vast spectacle and intimate moments-sometimes awkward in a live performance onstage--presents special opportunities and challenges for a video recording. In this Aida, the camera work shows an acute awareness of those opportunities and challenges. The soloists have a variety of strengths that outweigh a few small weaknesses. Luciano Pavarotti sings one of his signature roles in superb voice, but his weight problems are visually evident and detract from his impact as the dashing hero Radames. Maria Chiara has moments of vocal imperfection but gives a dramatically compelling performance. Ghena Dimitrova sings powerfully and the supporting cast is excellent throughout. --Joe McLellan, Amazon.com

• Mozart: Don Giovanni -- Von Karajan | DVD | (16/10/2000) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  A performance of Mozart's opera 'Don Giovanni' performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the Vienna State Opera Choir; conducted by Herbert Von Karajan. Singers include: Samuel Ramey and Julia Varady; directed by Michael Hampe. Recorded live at the Festpiele Salzburg in 1987.

• Puccini: Turandot -- Vienna PO/Gergiev | DVD | (23/06/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Puccini's 'Turandot' as directed by David Pountney. His production is based on the idea of fear of civilisation: the fear that the fatal combination of rapid technological progress gradually spinning out of control and inhuman political systems poses a fundamental threat to all human values.

• Mussorgsky: Khovanshchina (Munich 2007) (Paata Burchuladze/ Anatoly Kotscherga/ Camilla Nylund/ Bayerisches Staatsorchester/ Dmitri Tcherniakov/ Kent Nagano) (Euroarts: 2072424) | Blu Ray | (17/09/2012) from £12.19   |  Saving you £17.80 (146.02%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Khovanshchina

• Nabucco - Verdi | DVD | (28/11/2005) from £12.98   |  Saving you £12.01 (92.53%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Verdi's breakthrough work which spurred his ascension to becoming the master of Italian opera during his lifetime Nabucco marks his achievement of the linguistic and expressive goals that he had so striven for. Premiering in Milan in 1842 the opera was an immediate success. The story tells of the Israelites led by high priest Zaccaria and their invasion by Assyrian king Nabucco. Daniel Oren conducts.