Stars: Monica Bacelli, Thomas Randle, Graham Pushee, Anna Bonitatibus, Elisabeth Norberg-Schulz, Antonio Abete, The English Consort, Trevor Pinnock

Director: Jonathan Miller

Summary: A joint production by the directors of the Handel festival, the Goethe Theatre in Bad Lauchstadt, the theatre des Champs-Elysees in Paris and Sadlers Wells Theatre, London.

Handel's timeless opera TAMERLANO, whose model is NIcholas Pradon's Tamerlan ou La Mort de Bajazet, is brought to life in this live recording from the 50th Handel-Festipiele 2001 at the world famous Halle on the Saale. Conducted by Trevor Pinnock and with exquisite direction by Jonathan Miller, Tamerlano stands as one of Handel's masterworks.

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Handel's 1724 opera Tamerlanofollowed the success of his previous year's Giulio Cesarewith another colourful historical costume drama. This time the setting is the court of "Timur the Tartar", who has just defeated the Turkish Sultan Bajazet at the battle of Angora. There are, naturally enough, romantic complications when both Tamerlano and his ally, the Greek Prince Andronico, fall in love with Bajazet's daughter Asteria. She, however, has plans to revenge her father's defeat.

This production was directed by Jonathan Miller and staged in the intimate surroundings of the Goethe Theatre of Bad Lauchstadt as part of the 2001 Halle Handel Festival. Miller's sparse gold-draped sets, as well as the video direction, always lead the eye towards the singers and their splendidly decorative costumes. Mezzo Monica Bacelli looks a little too pretty beneath her moustache to be convincingly threatening as Tamerlano; soprano Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz is a full-blooded, perhaps overripe Asteria; and Thomas Randle tackles the very demanding tenor role of Bajazet. None of the voices are necessarily "authentic", but thanks to the musical direction of Trevor Pinnock--an experienced and sensitive Handelian--the performance always feels completely natural. In the pit Pinnock's English Concert are, as always, a delight. Anyone who has not yet discovered the sometimes arcane delights of Baroque opera will find much to encourage them here; seasoned opera seriabuffs should not hesitate.

On the DVD:Tamerlanocomes handsomely packaged in a two-disc set with a colourful and informative booklet. The extra features put most other ArtHaus releases to shame. To begin with the "Score Plus" facility, which superimposes the score over the picture, will provide hours of joy (all DVD operas should have this as standard). There are subtitles in English, German, French or Spanish. There's a lengthy (40-minute) "Making of" documentary, which takes us behind the scenes with Jonathan Miller, Trevor Pinnock and their team at Sadler's Wells then in Halle. More material about the Handel Festival can be found in the "Interviews" section, the selection of "Historical Film Footage" from previous Festivals, and the illustrated "Interactive Chronolgy". The 16:9 picture is perfectly adequate, and the sound options are good PCM Stereo and Dolby 5.1. --Mark Walker

Aspect Ratio:	16:9 Wide Screen
Main Language:	German
Region:	Region 0
Special Features:	Score Plus, The Making Of, Interviews, Historical Footage, Interactive Chronology
Subtitles:	English, French, German, Spanish
Year:	2001
Release Date:	April 29, 2002
Runtime:	192 minutes
Certification:	Exempt.
Catalogue Number:	100 702
Keywords:	Music, Opera, Two, Wide, Screen, Handel, Works, Stage, Classical, Performing, Operetta, 50th, Discs, Arts, Tamerlano, Festipiele, Halle, Saale
Genre:	Music/Performing Arts