Opera Documentaries

A 1970 Documentary Film directed by Pietro Merlini. Narration in English. Originally released as a motion picture in 1970. This is VHS released in 1990. Description of, and history behind Milan's grand opera house, La Scala. Includes original film footage and reinactments of events of the times as well as excerpts of performances from operas by Verdi, Bizet, Rossini and others. Featuring Mario del Monaco, Tito Gobbi, Ferruccio Tagliavini, Tito Schipa, Arturo Toscanini, La Scala Ballet and others. Performance Tracklist: Otello - Tempesta / Verdi (La Scala Chorus) Carmen - Toreador song / Bizet (Gino Bechi) Europa riconosciuta - La Scala's inauguration / Salieri (Margherita Carosio) Barbiere de Siviglia - Lindoro's serenade / Rossini (Tito Schipa) Norma - Casta diva / Bellini (Maria Caniglia) Don Sebastiano ballet - La Scala ballet / Donizetti (Nives Poli) Nabucco - Va, pensiero (La Scala Chorus) Rigoletto - La donna è mobile (Mario del Monaco) Trovatore - Il balen del suo sorriso (Tito Gobbi) La Traviata - Libiamo nei lieti calici (Mario del Monaco) Aida - Triumphal march Otello - Esultate! (Mario del Monaco) Falstaff - Quand'ero paggio (Vito de Taranto) L'arlesiana - Lamento di Federico / Cilea (Ferruccio Tagliavini) Andrea Chénier - Improvviso / Giordano (Mario del Monaco) Cavalleria Rusticana - Viva il vino spumeggiante / Mascagni (Mario del Monaco) Pagliacci - Prologo / Leoncavallo (Tito Gobbi) Nerone - Triclinium scene / Mascagni (Galliano Masini, Margherita Carosio, Arturo Toscanini) Invito al Valzer - La Scala ballet / Weber (Nives Poli)

I Am La Scala (Original title: La Scala - La storia segreta) is a 2016 Documentary Film directed by Angelo Bozzolini. Audio in English narrated by Rebbeca Front. The 200-year-old story of Milan's illustrious opera house, La Scala, home to the great tenor Placido Domingo, conductor Arturo Toscanini and acclaimed soprano Maria Callas. Participating: Mario Botta, Riccardo Chailly, Marco Contini, Plácido Domingo, Patti Smith and others.

DVD Bonus material

A 2020 Arte Documentary directed Patrick Cabouat. Audio in French with English subtitles. The elaborately beautiful Paris Opera, created by the architect Charles Garnier and named after him, is a marvel of architecture. This documentary focuses on how Garnier’s vision of a building that would bring together all the arts was realised amid the turbulent politics of 19th century France.

Tito Gobbi coaching Mani Mekler (soprano) and Wolfgang Lenz (bass), at his home in Rome, 1980, with Boldo Podic, piano. Excerpts from Don Carlo, Tosca and Simon Boccanegra. Audio in Italian with English subtitles (Click on CC).

A 2010 Arts Documentary written by Bruno Lussato narrated by John G. Deacon. This is an introduction to the world of symbols of Richard Wagner's "The Ring of the Nibelung". Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), often referred to as the Ring Cycle, Wagner's Ring, or simply The Ring, is a cycle of four German-language epic music dramas composed by Richard Wagner. The works are based loosely on characters from the Norse sagas and the Nibelungenlied. The documentary breaks down and reveals all the Leitmotiv’s: examples of the more than 50 leitmotivs that are part of the story; metaphors, mythology, scenes, plots, characters, and names in Richard Wagner’s “Der Ring des Nibelungen”. Discover the fascinating world of symbols of "The Ring of the Nibelung" - a coherent phantasmagoria of powerful word, fabulous image and astounding music. All 18 chapters in a chronological and logical order of events. The Monumental Ring Cycle’s four parts : Das Rheingold (The Rhinegold) Die Walküre (The Valkyrie) Siegfried Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods) The illustrations come from two famous artists, the English book illustrator the German painter Franz Stassen and Arthur Rackham; additional drawings by Polina Zinoviev. The music performed by “Orchestre Nationale de France,” conductor Jeffrey Tate.

An interview with French television presenter Bernard Gavoty, for the programme "Les grandes Interprètew, A Programme By Bernard Gavoty", coupled with superb performances of arias by Massenet, Bellini and Puccini. Audio in French & Italian with English subtitles. Conductor – Georges Prêtre Film Director – Gérard Herzog Interviewer, Presenter – Bernard Gavoty Orchestra – Orchestre National De L'ORTF Filmed at the ORTF, Paris, May 1965 Tracklist of Arias: - From Manon: Je Ne Suis Que Faiblesse - Adieu, Notre Petite Table Composed By – Jules Massenet Libretto By – Henri Meilhac, Philippe Gille - From La Sonnambula: Oh! Se Una Volta Sola - Ah, Non Credea Mirarti Composed By – Vincenzo Bellini Libretto By – Felice Romani - From Gianni Schicchi: O Mio Babbino Caro Composed By – Giacomo Puccini Libretto By – Giovacchino Forzano

In the second of two programmes, Maria Callas, the great soprano, talks to Lord Harewood about her approach to the major roles of her repertoire. Maria Callas in conversation with Bernard Gavoty & Three Arias: https://rumble.com/v4jjnjh-the-callas-conversations-maria-callas-in-conversation-with-bernard-gavoty-a.html

Maria Callas is without question the greatest opera legend of the 20th century. These unique films are a rare opportunity to view the celebrated and candid 1968 BBC interviews she gave with Lord Harewood, intimately filmed in her Paris apartment. Filmed in Paris, April 1968. Film Director – Barrie Gavin Film Producer – John Calshaw Interviewer, Presenter – Lord Harewood Part II: https://rumble.com/v4jj6zl-the-callas-conversations-maria-callas-talking-to-lord-harewood-part-ii.html