Musicals on DVD - Discounted Musical DVDs

Groundbreaking on several counts, not the least of which was an innovative use of animation and stereophonic sound, this ambitious Disney feature has lost nothing to time since its release in 1940. Classical music was interpreted by Disney animators, resulting in surreal fantasy and playful escapism. Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra provided the music for eight segments by the composers Tchaikovsky, Moussorgsky, Stravinsky, Beethoven, Ponchielli, Bach, Dukas, and Schubert. Not all the sequences were created equally, but a few are simply glorious, such as "Night on Bald Mountain," "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," and "The Nutcracker Suite." The animation ranges from subtly delicate to fiercely bold. The screen bursts with color and action as creatures transmute and convention is thrust aside. The painstaking detail and saturated hues are unique to this film, unmatched even by more advanced technology. <i>--Rochelle O'Gorman

Rossini's classic take on the "Cinderella" story is a comic opera full of thrilling arias, beautiful melodies and lots of laughs. The Metropolitan's charming production was revived in 2009 for star mezzo, Elı¯na Garancˇa. The mezzo triumphs in the role and dispatches vocal fireworks throughout. She is joined by American tenor Lawrence Brownlee and a cast of bel canto singers. BONUS FEATURE: Interviews by Thomas Hampson

From its 1951 premiere to the present day, <em>I Love Lucy has never been off the air! You’ll see why in this hilarious five-disc DVD collection, containing the show’s entire second season. Laugh out loud at such gems as “Job Switching”—in which Lucy and Ethel do unforgettable battle with a chocolate factory conveyor belt; “ The Handcuffs”—in which Lucy cuffs herself to Ricky and then loses the key; and “The Operetta”—in which Lucy’s money problems bring down the curtain on her role as “Queen of the Gypsies.” This collection also includes the groundbreaking “pregnancy shows,” including the touching moment at the Tropicana when Lucy breaks the news to Ricky that they are going to have a baby; and “Lucy Goes to the Hospital”—the record-setting episode that garnered the highest rating in the history of television!

This visually stunning, all-new production of Nutcracker,<br>choreographed by Helgi Tomasson (artistic director of the San<br>Francisco Ballet) is a graceful and timeless adventure on a grand
scale. The scenic design by Michael Yeargan, setting the tale at<br>the time of the 1915 San Francisco World Fair, is sensational.
From the lovely Waltz of the Flowers to the crystalline beauty of
the stunning Snowflake Waltz, each scene is more breathtaking<br>than the last, bringing to life all the well-known and beloved<br>characters with fresh sparkle and compelling originality.<br>Recorded in High Definition video and true surround sound,
this age-transcending production offers a dazzling magical<br>journey which has received critical acclaim throughout the<br>world. Illustrated synopsis & cast gallery.<br>Interviews with Helgi Tomasson, Michael Yeargan and Martin<br>Pakledinaz.<br>Documentary: 1915 World's Fair.
Recorded live at the War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco,
California, on 19th & 20th December 2007.

Renée Fleming finally appears on DVD in one of her greatest roles--the Marschallin, in Richard Strauss's magnificent comedy of ever-changing love, Der Rosenkavalier. Her peerless performance is supported by "a galactic cast" (conductor Christian Thielemann), which includes Diana Damrau, Sophie Koch, Franz Hawlata and Jonas Kaufmann as the Italian Tenor. Filmed in January 2009 at the Baden-Baden Festival, the production features a stylish pastiche of vast mirrors, Viennese Baroque decorations, Hollywood-esque staircases and early 20th century evening wear. Renée's eminent Strauss collaborator on her recent Four Last Songs album, Christian Thielemann, joins her once again, conducting the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. "...this performance with Christian Thielemann and the Münchner Philharmoniker is luscious, supremely confident, lived-in and well thought out...Fleming is in glorious voice, pouring out Strauss's long phrases with voluminous generosity and fearless commitment to the extremes of range." --Opera News on Four Last Songs

A trusted, award-winning musical banquet for little eyes and ears!
-- Exposes babies to the brilliance of Mozart's music
-- Provides captivating visual stimulation<BR> As your baby grows, and the world beckons with amazing things to see, hear and do, every moment of every day provides a brand-new opportunity for discovery. It's an incredible journey you'll embark on together, and to accompany you along the way there's BABY MOZART™ MUSIC FESTIVAL. Acclaimed by parents, this vibrant, award-winning musical feast for little eyes and ears exposes babies to the splendor and delight of classical music. Treat yourself and your little one to mesmerizing, multi colored images accompanied by enchanting versions of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's most popular compositions. It's a fun way to share the joy of discovering music -- and the world -- together!

DVD Features
-- Repeat play<BR> -- Language tracks (Spanish, French and English)
-- Discovery cards<BR> -- Puppet shows<BR> -- Toy chest

Gilbert and Sullivan's raucous operatic tale is captured in all its fun and glory in this production, recorded live at Central Park's Delacorte Theater. Kevin Kline sparkles as the swashbuckling and libidinous Pirate King while Linda Ronstadt makes her theatrical debut as the lovely and virginal Mabel. When Mabel and Frederic, a young pirate bound to serve the Pirate King, fall in love, complications arise and high spirited antics ensue. The incomparable cast offers the best in this boisterous romp. END

Tenor superstar Juan Diego Flórez adds the role of Prince Ramiro in Rossini's sparkling comedy La Cenerentola to his rapidly growing catalog of performances on Decca DVD. In Joan Font's strikingly colorful, toy-town staging, he is joined by one of today's great Cinderellas, the American mezzo-soprano, Joyce DiDonato. The two have wowed audiences with their virtuoso performances in the Metropolitan Opera's Il Barbiere di Siviglia which was broadcast live in HD to movie theaters and on PBS.