It has been said that zarzuela means to Spain what operetta means to Vienna, Offenbach to Paris, Gilbert and Sullivan to London, and the musical to Broadway. Zarzuela is Spain's unique contribution to lyric theatre, a mixture of spoken and sung drama with a complex history extending over four centuries. The Zarzuela Companion is a comprehensive guide to zarzuela's most popular and romantic works written after 1850, with chapters devoted to the major Spanish zarzuela composers, writers and singers. Complete synopses of all sixty works selected are delivered at the level of detail necessary for non-Spanish speakers to follow along with ease. The book also features special sections on the history of the genre, and on the parallel Catalan and Cuban zarzuela traditions. A foreword by Placido Domingo, a selected discography with current catalog reference numbers, a brief bilingual bibliography and glossary of Spanish terms make this book indispensable for the newcomer and aficionado alike.

Of all operas in the standard repertory, none has had a more complicated genesis and textual history than Offenbach's Tales of Hoffmann. Based on a highly successful 1851 play inspired by the short stories by the German Romantic writer E.T.A. Hoffmann, the work occupied the last decade of Offenbach's life. When he died in October 1880, the work was being rehearsed at the Opera-Comique. At once cut and rearranged, the work was performed from the start in versions that ignored the composer's final intentions. Only a few decades ago, when previously unavailable manuscripts came to light, it became possible to reconstitute the score in its real form. Vincent Giroud and Michael Kaye's The Real 'Tales of Hoffmann' tells the full story for the first time in English. After discussing how the work of Hoffmann became known and influential in France, the book includes little-known sources for the opera, especially the complete Barbier and Carre play, in French and English. It describes the genesis of the opera. The annotated libretto is published in full, with the variants, for the two versions of the opera: with spoken dialogue or recitatives. Essays explain what was done to the opera after Offenbach's death, from the 1881 Opera-Comique production to more recent restoration attempts. There is also a survey of Les contes d'Hoffmann in performance from the 1970s to the present, and supplementary information, including discography, filmography, and videography. The Real 'Tales of Hoffmann' is intended to appeal to anyone interested in the work, specialists or non-specialists. Audiences, musicologists and students of French opera and opera-comique will find it of particular interest, as will opera houses, conductors, singers, directors, and dramaturgs involved in performances of the opera.

Of all operas in the standard repertory, none has had a more complicated genesis and textual history than Offenbach's Tales of Hoffmann. Based on a highly successful 1851 play inspired by the short stories by the German Romantic writer E.T.A. Hoffmann, the work occupied the last decade of Offenbach's life. When he died in October 1880, the work was being rehearsed at the Opera-Comique. At once cut and rearranged, the work was performed from the start in versions that ignored the composer's final intentions. Only a few decades ago, when previously unavailable manuscripts came to light, it became possible to reconstitute the score in its real form. Vincent Giroud and Michael Kaye's The Real 'Tales of Hoffmann' tells the full story for the first time in English. After discussing how the work of Hoffmann became known and influential in France, the book includes little-known sources for the opera, especially the complete Barbier and Carre play, in French and English. It describes the genesis of the opera. The annotated libretto is published in full, with the variants, for the two versions of the opera: with spoken dialogue or recitatives. Essays explain what was done to the opera after Offenbach's death, from the 1881 Opera-Comique production to more recent restoration attempts. There is also a survey of Les contes d'Hoffmann in performance from the 1970s to the present, and supplementary information, including discography, filmography, and videography. The Real 'Tales of Hoffmann' is intended to appeal to anyone interested in the work, specialists or non-specialists. Audiences, musicologists and students of French opera and opera-comique will find it of particular interest, as will opera houses, conductors, singers, directors, and dramaturgs involved in performances of the opera.

Leoncavallo: Life and Works is the first fully documented biography of the beloved and popular composer Ruggiero Leoncavallo (1857-1919), whose credits include Pagliacci and the operatic works Chatterton, Der Roland von Berlin, Zaza, Maia, Zingari, La boheme, and the incomplete trilogy Crepusculum. Author Konrad Dryden has amassed material from hundreds of unpublished letters and photographs, creating the most complete portrait of the composer to date. This book examines various facets of Leoncavallo's history: from his youth as the son of the Naples' judge who presided over the murder trial on which Pagliacci was based to his studies with the poet Giosue Carducci, and from his sojourn in France as a cafe-chantant pianist to his appointment in Egypt as music instructor to the Khedive. Careful documentation and plot synopses of Leoncavallo's numerous works are provided and his two U.S. tours are discussed. The biography also sheds new light on Leoncavallo's colleagues and contemporaries, including composers Mahler, Massenet, Puccini, Verdi, and Mascagni; singers Caruso, Ruffo, Tetrazzini, and Sanderson; and historical personalities like Toscanini, Hugo, Carducci, Wilhelm II, and Queen Victoria. A foreword by Placido Domingo, a photo spread featuring more than 25 photos, and an appendix offering the complete list of the composer's opus add to the bibliography and index, making this the ultimate reference on this important figure in music and opera history.

As a record producer and administrator, Peter Andry has worked with many of the 20th century's greatest classical music artists and performers. Through his work with Decca, his years as president of EMI Classics, and his creation and direction of Warner Classics, he has collaborated with high-caliber artists such as Maria Callas, Yehudi Menuhin, and Herbert von Karajan. He associated with them in close quarters through times of work, play, stress, and relaxation. He has admired their talent, dedication, and charisma, as well as coped with their foibles, idiosyncrasies, and egos. In Inside the Recording Studio: Working with Callas, Rostropovich, Domingo, and the Classical Elite, Andry recounts his experiences with these exceptional talents, with whom he worked as a musician, a record producer, and a company executive. Andry presents intimate portraits of brilliant artists-such as Luciano Pavarotti, Joan Sutherland, Sir Thomas Beecham, Otto Klemperer, Sir Simon Rattle, Mstislav Rostropovich, Jacqueline du Pre, and Maxim Vengerov-juxtaposed with the dramatic changes occurring in the recording business during this time, a period that began with 78s and saw successively the advent of LPs, stereo sound, quadraphonic sound, audio cassettes, video, CDs, DVDs, and the growing importance of the internet. A foreword by Placido Domingo and more than 30 photos of the artists are included along with a discography of Andry's recordings with the three labels. These memoirs will be fascinating and exciting to anyone interested in the classical music and recording industries.

Tony Palmer directs this documentary which examines the link between the character Parsifal from Wagner's opera, Indian Jones, portrayed in films by Harrison Ford, and Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler - all three were searching for the Holy Grail. The film includes footage of 'Parsifal' starring Plácido Domingo in the title role and an interview with Wagner's grandson Wolfgang Wagner.

Tony Palmer directs this documentary which examines the link between the character Parsifal from Wagner's opera, Indian Jones, portrayed in films by Harrison Ford, and Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler - all three were searching for the Holy Grail. The film includes footage of 'Parsifal' starring Plácido Domingo in the title role and an interview with Wagner's grandson Wolfgang Wagner.

Placido Domingo stars in Michal Znaniecki's 2009 production of Alfano's opera at Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia. Patrick Fournillier conducts the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana and the Cor de la Generalitat Valenciana.

Double bill of canine adventures. In 'Beverly Hills Chihuahua' (2008), when pampered chihuahua Chloe (voiced by Drew Barrymore) gets lost while holidaying in Mexico, she is forced to rely on the kindness of various dogs she befriends as she tries to get home before she is captured by a villainous dognapper. Also in pursuit of Chloe is male chihuahua Papi (George Lopez), who is in love with her, and evil Doberman Diablo (Edward James Olmos), who has his eye on her valuable diamond collar. In 'Underdog' (2007), after an accident in the mysterious lab of mad scientist Dr. Simon Barsinister (Peter Dinklage), an ordinary beagle named Shoeshine (voice of Jason Lee) finds himself with extraordinary powers, and the ability to talk. Armed with a fetching superhero costume, Underdog vows to protect the beleaguered citizens of Capital City and, in particular, a beautiful spaniel named Polly Purebred (voice of Amy Adams). When a diabolical plot by Barsinister and his overgrown henchman Cad (Patrick Warburton) threatens to destroy Capital City, only Underdog can save the day.

Collection of live performances by Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti who is joined onstage by various other classical musicians including fellow tenor and conductor Plácido Domingo, coloratura soprano Joan Sutherland and Australian conductor and pianist Richard Bonynge.

Placido Domingo is joined by Mariana Polavskaya, Joseph Calleja, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Jonathan Summers and Lukas Jakobski for this Royal Opera House production of Verdi's opera. Antonio Pappano conducts the Royal Opera House Orchestra and Chorus; Elijah Moskinsky directs.

Placido Domingo performs live in Prague with Angela Gheorghiu, with Eugene Kohn conducting the Czech Symphony Orchestra. Arias, duets and songs featured include excerpts from 'Tosca', 'Turandot', 'Candide' and 'La Traviata'.

Placido Domingo stars in Michal Znaniecki's 2009 production of Alfano's opera at Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia. Patrick Fournillier conducts the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana and the Cor de la Generalitat Valenciana.

Two gala concerts performed at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London. The 1993 Winter Gala saw soprano Kiri Te Kanawa take to the stage in a performance of 'Vocalise' by Rachmaninov as well as ballerina Darcey Bussell who danced to scenes from Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' and 'Sleeping Beauty'. The 1996 Gala Concert invited Plácido Domingo who treated the audience to a rendition of 'Gold und Silber' by Franz Lehár and was then joined on stage by Veronica Villarroel for the 'Cherry Duet' from Pietro Mascagni's 'L'amico Fritz'.

Recorded live at the Teatro Royal in Madrid in July 2006, this production by Emilio Sagi of Moreno Torroba's enduring 'zarzuela' stars Placido Domingo and Nancy Herrera and the Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Royal conducted by Jesus Lopez Cobos.

Live from the Vienna State Opera, Placido Domingo and Eva Martin star in a sumptuous production of Ponchielli's famous four act melodrama. Fillippo Sanjust directs.

Filmed at the Metropolitan Opera in 1983, Berlioz's masterpiece is a tragic tale of love and fate based on Virgil's 'Aeneid'. Under the baton of James Levine, Jessye Norman takes the part of Cassandra and Placido Domingo fills the role of Aeneas. This performance was hailed by both critics and audiences alike. Norman's role debut as Cassandra emerged as one her most significant and compelling performances, and this opera is also a stand-out release among Domingo's extensive filmography.

A double-bill of operas filmed by Franco Zeffirelli. 'Cavalleria Rusticana' features performances by Elena Obraztsova, Plácido Domingo, and Renato Bruson, while 'Pagliacci' again features Plácido Domingo, along with Teresa Stratas and Juan Pons. Georges Prêtre conducts the Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala.

A performance of Handel's three-act opera 'Tamerlano', staged by Graham Vick and recorded live at Madrid's Teatro Real in April 2008. The cast includes Placido Domingo, Monica Bacelli, Ingela Bohlin, Sara Mingardo and Jennifer Holloway, accompanied by the Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro Real conducted by Paul McCreesh.

The complete version of Verdi's Otello performed by Placido Domingo and Kiri Te Kanawa, at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Recorded live at the Teatro Royal in Madrid in July 2006, this production by Emilio Sagi of Moreno Torroba's enduring 'zarzuela' stars Placido Domingo and Nancy Herrera and the Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Royal conducted by Jesus Lopez Cobos.

Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti sing live at the Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium in 1994 in the biggest musical event ever. They perform a selection of famous arias including 'Candide', 'O Souverain, O Judge, O Pere', 'Quando le Sere al Placido', 'Pourquoi Me Reveiller', 'Granada', 'Non Ti Scordar di Me' and 'Vesta la Giubba'.