Blu-ray
Scarlett: Frankenstein (The Royal Ballet)
Federico Bonelli (Victor); Laura Morera (Elizabeth); Steven McRae (The Creature); Bennet Gartside (Alphonse Frankenstein); Christina Arestis (Caroline Beaufort); Elizabeth McGorian (Madame Moritz); Meaghan Grace Hinkis (Justine Moritz); Alexander Campbell (Henry Clerval); Thomas Whitehead (The Professor); Guillem Cabrera Espinach (William Frankenstein); Sacha Barber (Young Victor); Skya Powney (Young Elizabeth);
"McRae’s portrayal is brilliant; his dancing is eloquent in its anguish, and we sense every beat of his lonely, vengeful heart...." (The Observer)
Schumann: Twin Spirits (The Royal Opera)
Sting (Actor); Trudie Styler (Actor); Derek Jacobi (Narrator); Simon Keenlyside (Tenor); Sergej Krylov (Violin); Iain Burnside (Piano);
"Twin Spirits portrays the life and love of Robert and Clara Schumann through readings of their surviving letters. These are read by Sting and Trudie Styler, with Derek Jacobi authoritatively filling in any gaps in the story. In one sense it's a static productions, with everyone seated throughout, but it's actually quite engrossing - perfectly paced and beautifully filmed. It's impossible not to emerge with both a true empathy for the Schumanns and a renewed or awakened interest in their music. The acting stays just the right side of luvviness, with Sting and Styler delivering strong, subtly believable performances. They're supported by beautifully executed interludes from a top line-up of soloists. This is tender, moving, well put together, and supplemented by an enlightening bonus DVD." (Classic FM)
Schönberg: Gurre-Lieder (Dutch National Opera)
Burkhard Fritz (Waldemar); Emily Magee (Tove); Anna Larsson (Waldtaube); Markus Marquard (Bauer); Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke (Klaus Narr); Sunnyi Melles (Narrator );
"Financial Times" (An evening of both substance and beauty)
Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra (Royal Shakespeare Company)
Josette Simon (Cleopatra); Antony Byrne (Mark Antony); David Burnett (Pompey); James Corrigan (Agrippa); Ben Allen (Octavius Caesar); Andrew Woodall (Enobarbus); Patrick Drury (Lepidus); David Burnett (Pompey); Lucy Phelps (Octavia); Kristin Atherton (Iras); Paul Dodds (Menas); Aleed Elgadi (Alexas);
"Richly textured, with big saucy acting... Antony Byrne is the alpha male we’ve been looking for... Josette Simon’s historic Queen of the Nile epitomizes Iqbal Khan’s deluxe production... a lavish production – aided by Laura Mvula’s seductive score." (The Daily Mail ★★★★)
Shakespeare: As You Like It (Shakespeare's Globe)
Naomi Frederick (Rosalind); Jack Laskey (Orlando); Dominic Rowan (Touchstone); Tim McMullan (Jaques);
"Naomi Frederick's superb Rosalind is a woman of wit and intelligence...Laskey's Orlando is equally bewitched, bothered and bewildered, and the playfulness between the two is a pleasure." (The Guardian)
Shakespeare: Coriolanus (Royal Shakespeare Company)
Sope Dirisu (Coriolanus); James Corrigan (Aufidius); Paul Jesson (Menenius); Haydn Gwynne (Volumnia); Charles Aitken (Cominius); Ben Hall (Titus Lartius); Martina Laird (Junius Brutus); Hannah Morrish (Virgilia); Katherine Toy (Valeria);
"Strongly performed modern reframing of one of Shakespeare’s most political plays Dirisu is a formidable stage-filling presence striking visual moments strong support from Haydn Gwynne as his [Coriolanus'] intelligent, ambitious mother Volumnia and James Corrigan’s Aufidius, who reveals unexpected levels of affection and warmth towards Coriolanus that serve to make the ending all the more powerful." (The Stage)