HDVD Arts

Here we review high-definition video recordings of opera, ballet, plays, classical music, painting, sculpture, and fine-art documentaries. The Golden Age of Home Theater has arrived!

Alphabetical List and Other Info

You can now buy 192 fine-art HDVD titles. See them all on our alphabetical list of titles. (Each title is a link to more information.) View our Hit Parade winners with tips on the very best fine-art HDVDs. Find out what each publisher is doing at What's Available Now? and What is Coming?

New . . .

The NHK Ozawa Beethoven Symphony No. 7 & Mahler Symphony No. 9 video is pitifully obsolete with DVD-grade performances shot in 1989 and 2002. The stereo sound is unlistenable to one who is used to the 96 kHz/24 bit 5.0 PCM sound provided by NHK on recent HDVD recordings like their Brahms Symphony No. 2 & Shostakovich Symphony No. 5. The NHK Ozawa Beethoven Symphony No. 7 & Mahler Symphony No. 9 might be of interest to a fan of the Boston Symphony Orchestra---but this is legacy material that has no place on our website. We have removed these titles from the main alphalist and noted this in the footnotes to the alphalist. [August 27]

Opus Arte has announced two new opera titles to be released November 1: Elektra by Strauss, and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg by Wagner. Both titles are available for pre-order in the UK. [August 27]

The Glyndebourne Fairy Queen gets the grade of "B." We also have posted a short thumbnail about this strange mashup of Shakespeare, baroque opera, and silly sex. [August 25]

The Beethoven opera Fidelio from the Zurich Opera gets the grade of "B." [August 23]

We give the Kenneth Branagh Hamlet the grade of "A+" and have posted a short thumbnail. It appears this title is region free, but the publisher has not made this clear. It plays in Region A. Let us know if you have played this in Region B or C. [August 21]

We just got a report from a friend that the Anne-Sophie Mutter Brahms: The Violin Sonatas offered by amazon.co.uk as ASIN B003OCM4AK is all regions (not Region 2) as stated on the amazon website. Further, it does have HD video of the entire performance. You should still be careful, however, because we think other vendors may still be confusing the DVD and the HDVD in their sales announcements. [August 18]

We just gave the Opus Arte Lulu the grade of "B." This is a tough opera to perform, watch, and evaluate. We need an expert on Berg and Lulu to write a thumbnail on this title. [August 18]

Finally Arthaus Musik comes up with an "A+" grade! We just awarded that rare distinction to their Poulenc Dialogues des Carmélites. [August 15]

What Is HDVD?

HDVD stands for three related form factors for rendering high-definition video and sound: High-Definition Video Disc, High-Definition Video Download, and High-Definition Video Device. Learn more about HDVD.

Reviews

When we post a title, we give factual information. Our goal is to have a thumbnail review of each title. Also, we may link to a full review or other information.

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About HDVD Arts

HDVD Arts is run by Henry C. McFadyen, Jr.
  • The address is 7817 La Sobrina, Dallas, Texas 75248.
  • 972.387.1828 (office also doubles as a law firm)
  • Email: hank@hdvdarts.com

    • This homepage last updated August 27, 2010.

    Copyright 2010 by Henry C. McFadyen, Jr. All rights reserved.