Schwetzingen is a tiny town near Heidelberg which has a famous palace with magnificent gardens, not unlike those at Versailles. The Schwetzingen Festival is held every Spring in the palace and commissions a small-scale opera for the palace's…

In 1827, a year before his death, Franz Schubert wrote one of his most important works: the Winterreise. In the song cycle the Austrian composer set the 24 poems of Wilhelm Müller to music and depicted the haunted soul and landscape of the state of…

The impressive and breathtaking scenery of the wild-romantic Roman quarry of St. Margarethen provides the perfect and unique backdrop for these live-recording of a colourful open-air staging of Georges Bizet's Carmen - one of the most popular works…

Widely accepted as a leading authority on Baroque music, Ton Koopman conducts J.S. Bach's Magnificat BWV 243. Performed by the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir joined by soloists Deborah Yorck (soprano), Bogna Bartosz (alto), Jörg Dürmüller…

The action of the opera takes place in Naples and tells the story of the cynical Don Alfonso who convinces the officers Ferrando and Guglielmo that no women can be trusted.

This modern and imaginative "Magic Flute" was recorded at the Ludwigsburger Schloßfestspiele in 1993. A plain black and white stage, colourful and extravagant costumes and a special light design make this "Magic Flute" a feast for the eyes. Stage…

With this festive concert the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden under the baton of Fabio Luisi celebrates the moving event of the re-opening of the Frauenkirche in Dresden. After the Bombing of Dresden on February 13, 1945, the church burnt out and…

The Arts Ensemble of Chicago has become one of the world's most successful Black American ensembles. The group which includes trumpeter Lester Bowie, together with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie and two young composers, have experienced a journey…

An austere but atmospheric stage and tasteful costumes draw the attention of the viewer to the story and the beautiful voices of the singers. Recorded live at the Ludwigsburger Schloßfestspiele in 1990. Costumes by Dagmar Niefind, stage direction and…

Little Red Riding Hood begins, like all fairy tales, with: "Once upon a time..." For children of all ages the composer Georges Aperghis imagined a tale in music and movement: he chose the very first version written by Charles Perrault almost 300…