Opera is as much a visual art form as it is musical, which is why we recommend discovering it through live performances or video before investing in audio recordings.
But when your local opera company isn’t available — or maybe it’s staging “La bohème” for the umpteenth time — what are some of the best opera videos worth committing two, three, even four hours or more of your precious time? Here are a few of our favorites:
“Tristan und Isolde”
Waltraud Meier, Isolde
Siegfried Jerusalem, Tristan
Daniel Barenboim, conductor
Bayreuth Festival Opera House
Waltraud. Meier. Almost nothing more needs to be said. She is one of the greatest Wagnerian sopranos of our time, and she is at her apex in this 1995 Bayreuth production conducted by Daniel Barenboim. The otherworldly costumes and sets may or may not be your thing, but it’s impossible to argue against the quality of musicianship on display here — and the most extraordinary “Liebestod” we’ve ever seen.
“Carmen”
Elīna Garanča, Carmen
Roberto Alagna, Don José
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Choir
As much as Waltraud Meier owns the role of Isolde, Elīna Garanča owns Carmen. Garanča exudes bad-girl seductiveness in a way that perfectly fits the title character without going over the top. We’ve never seen a more thrilling interpretation of this timeless heroine. Robert Alagna also delivers a sympathetic Don José, while Teddy Rhodes is as annoying an Escamillo as you will ever find. A sultry delight.
“The Magic Flute”
Josef Köstlinger, Tamino
Håkan Hagegård, Papageno
Birgit Nordin, Queen of the Night
Ingmar Bergman, director
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Choir
Opera purists look away, but Ingmar Bergman’s 1975 studio film of “The Magic Flute” is nothing but pure love and joy. Yes, there are significant cuts to get the libretto down to 135 minutes, and yes there is a certain amount of 1970s film cheesiness, but it all works – and works perfectly. We have to believe Mozart would be proud of how the magical spirit of his exceptional opera shines in Bergman’s hands.
What about you — what is your favorite opera video? Let us know in the comments.
