Some great new arrivals in Arts include latest releases in opera, pop, rock, classical music and film soundtracks in various audio and video formats such as CD, DVD, Blu-Ray and online database.
Opera on Sydney Harbour : Aida by Giuseppe Verdi.
William Walton : London Concert.
Arthaus Musik, 2015
Aida is a lavish production in Opera Australia’s Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour series, that captures the grandeur and majesty of Ancient Egypt as never before. Performed in March 2015, Verdi’s thrilling music ranges from the soaring ‘Celeste Aida’ aria to the splendour of the ‘Triumphal March’, with Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and Harbour Bridge as a backdrop and fireworks lighting up the night sky.
Sir William Walton is of one of Britain’s best-loved twentieth-century composers. He wrote music in several classical genres and styles, from film scores to opera. This 1982 concert was recorded live at London’s Royal Festival Hall, in Walton’s presence, and features the celebrated André Previn conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus. Korean violinist, Kyung-Wha Chung and one of the best lyric baritones of the late 20th century, Thomas Allen, also perform.
These and other DVDs and audio-visual material, can be requested via the online catalogue and viewed in the AV Centre in the Library, during normal opening hours.
Rosemary’s Baby : music from the motion picture : limited edition. Composed by Christopher Komeda.
La-La Land Records, 2015, 1954.
Rosemary’s Baby is the remastered limited editon release of the soundtrack by Polish composer and jazz musician, Christopher (Krzysztof) Komeda, for Roman Polanski’s classic 1968 psychological horror film based on Ira Levin’s best-selling novel of the same name. The Main Opening Title – Lullaby From Rosemary’s Baby, with a haunting vocal by the films star, Mia Farrow, is the standout track on the disc and in the film. Rosemary’s Baby made a huge impact when first released, and remains both a critical and popular audience favourite. In 2014, The Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry.
The Egyptian is also a remastered release of the soundtrack composed and conducted by legendary Hollywood composers, Alfred Newman and Bernard Herrmann, for the 1954 epic drama film, based on Mika Waltari’s best selling novel of the same name.
All of these CDs are currently available on the Listening Posts in Arts. The online catalogue indicates which Listening Post the CD is available on. There are eight jukebox listening posts in the Arts Reading Room, where you can listen to CDs from the audiovisual collection.
Group of people uing Listeing Post in Arts Reading Room. (c) Andrew Lloyd
Nixon in China. Composed and conducted by John Adams.
Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Written and Directed by Derek Jarman.
Nixon in China is the Metropolitan Opera production of the opera composed by John Adams, inspired by US President Richard Nixon’s visit to China in 1972. This dual DVD & Blu-Ray release is the Live HD transmission of a performance at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, on February 12, 2011. It is very spectacular and colourful on a grand scale.
The Tempest is a remastered edition of the 1979 film adaptation by Derek Jarman of Shakespeare’s play of the same name.
Nessun Dorma : the Puccini Album by Jonas Kaufmann.
Two “box office draw” superstar tenors feature on two new releases. Jonas Kaufmann : Nessun Dorma : the Puccini album is dedicated to the most popular Italian composer of all time, Giacomo Puccini. The album includes the most loved aria of all time, ‘Nessun Dorma’, alongside stunning pieces from Manon Lescaut, La Boheme, Tosca and many more.
Cinema is the fifteenth studio album by Andrea Bocelli. It includes songs and music from classic film soundtracks and scores, including Maria from West Side Story, Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany’s and many others.
Peter Allen : not the boy next door.
Les Miserables : a film by Bille August.
Peter Allen : not the boy next door is the recently televised series inspired by the success of the Tony Award-winning stage musical, The Boy From Oz. It charts Peter Allen’s rise to fame from a childhood spent in the Australian bush to an Oscar and Grammy winner as a singer-songwriter superstar.
Les Miserables : a film by Bille August, is just one of a dozen versions of Les Miserables the Library acquired on DVD and Blu-Ray as a result of our Victor Hugo exhibition a few years ago. Other versions held include Les Miserables : 10th anniversary concert and Les Miserables at Windsor Castle. This version is a 1998 dramatic film that features Liam Neeson and Geoffrey Rush in the lead roles.
The Great Wave by Skipping Girl Vinegar.
Two releases by local rock bands include The Great Wave, the latest title by Skipping Girl Vinegar, inspired by life in a Victorian coastal village. Tracks such as Dance Again and West Coast are highlights.
Comes-Autumn…is a remastered rerelease on the Melbourne based Aztec music label, by 60s-70s rock-pop group, Autumn. Highlights include Day Tripper – a great Beatles cover, Get it Down and Miracles.
The following album featuring Easy Listening Piano Classics by Leopold Godowsky is also available through the Naxos Music Library database. It is available free online in the Library, or from home if you are one of our Victorian registered users.
Easy Listening Piano Classics : Godowsky.
