Notable DVD and CD releases for the month of October

The month of October sees the release of many new DVDs and CDs including two Toscas and more early Verdi to celebrate his 199th birthday.

A second DVD of Un Giorno di Regno is released with a cast that includes Anna Caterina Antonacci, Bruno 

Practico, Paolo Coni, and Cecilia Gasdia.The production from 1997 is directed by Pier Luigi Pizzi and conudcted by Maurizio Benini.   

Il Postino on DVD

It looks like Sony has finally decided to release Il Postino from the LA opera. The opera by Daniel Catan stars legendary Placido Domingo and Charles Castronuvo as well as Christina Gallardo Domas and Nancy Fabiola Herrea. No news on the release date.

Don Giovanni Preview 2012-2013

Michael Grandage's dull production of Don Giovanni returns to the Met after a sold out run with Ildar Abdrazakov, Erwin Schrott and a cast of up and coming singers.

The Production

Last year Michael Grandage made his awaited Met debut with this Don Giovanni production. Grandage promised an innovative and theatrical experience that would bring new insight to the work. However the result was the complete opposite. The production is made up of a unit set of  towers with balconies that close to form claustrophobic alleys and swing open for the ballroom and banquet scenes. Critics complained about the unfocused nature and its dullness. The problem is that the opera becomes rather bland and predictable. There is no play on any of the characters' ambiguities. Critics also stated that "There is a certain restraint in the violence, sex, and intrigue. This is a Don Giovanni that we have seen again and again. This lack of insight or depth makes me wonder where Grandage's attention was when directing this production, especially when one looks at the production's main attraction and greatest gimmick: the high walls filled with rows and rows of doors that open and close without any really method or direction." Last year the cast brought life to the production and in order for the production to succeed this year the cast must be spectacular as well. With young singers it will be interesting to see how they enliven this static production.