What's Coming?

All titles here are Blu-ray. Everything could change. Titles without specific day dates may still be in "planning."

Opus Arte will probably publish the following titles:

  1. February 1, 2009 (in England). Adams Doctor Atomic with Gerald Finley, Jessica Rivera, and Eric Owens directed by Peter Sellers at De Nederlandse Opera.
  2. February 1, 2009 (in England). Hérold La fille mal gardée with Marianela Nuñez, Carlos Acosta, and William Tuckett at the Royal Ballet.
  3. February 1, 2009 (in England). Dove The Adventures of Pinocchio featuring Victoria Simmonds, Jonathan Summers, and Mary Plazas with David Parry conducting Opera North.
  4. March 2009. Handel Giulio Cesare produced by David McVicar at Glyndebourne.
  5. March 2009. Handel Tamerlano with Paris Opera Ballet.
  6. March 2009. Torroba Luisa Fernanda at Madrid Teatro Real.
  7. April 2009. Chopin La Dame aux Camelias at Madrid Teatro Real.
  8. April 2009. Wagner Lohengrin at Baden-Baden.
  9. April 2009. Adam Giselle with the Royal Ballet.

Deutsche Grammophon has announced the following titles:

  1. January 20, 2009 (in England). Gounod Roméo et Juliette staring Nino Machaidze and Rolando Villazón with the Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg directed by Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
  2. January 2009. Verdi La Traviata staring Netrebko and Villazón with the Wiener Philharmoniker conducted by Carlo Rizzi.

Decca has announced the following titles with estimated release dates:

  1. January 26, 2009 (in England). Pavarotti---The Tribute Concert with Prague Philharmonia at Petra conducted by Eugene Kohn.
  2. February 9, 2009 (in England). Verdi La Traviata featuring Renée Fleming, Rolando Villazón, and Renato Bruson with the Los Angeles Opera conducted by James Canlon.
  3. February 9, 2009 (in England). Handel Semele with Cecilia Bartoli at Opernhaus Zürich.
  4. February 9, 2009 (in England). 2009 New Year's Concert with Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Daniel Barenboim.

EuroArts, Arthaus, harmonia mundi, BelAir Classiques, and TDK have many other recently-shot opera, ballet, concert titles that would make terrific HDVDs. Indications are that all of them will be publishing HDVDs in 2009.

AIX Records hopes to publish several titles soon. AIX is a high-end media label that specializes in high definition, surround audio recordings presented on discs and via downloads (iTrax.com). Up until now, they have been releasing their recordings on DVD-Audio/Video discs. Because they shoot their sessions using HD video equipment, it seems a perfect next step to move to HDVD with state-of-the-art video and sound.

The New York Met, the San Francisco Opera, La Scala (plus other Italian opera houses), and the Royal Opera House all intend to show operas in movie theaters in 2008-2009. The Met is now engaged in an to stream opera titles, including high definition shows, over the Internet.

Last revised January 5, 2009