Manuel de Falla: La Vida Breve – A National Monument in Spanish Opera (DVD Video)

Product Information

Key Details

• UPC: 0814337011079
• Product Type: DVD
  
• Title: Manuel de Falla – La Vida Breve
• Composer: Manuel de Falla
• Genre: Opera (A tragic zarzuela blending verismo, Andalusian colour, and French Impressionism)
• Venue: Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, Valencia, Spain
• Conductor: Lorin Maazel
• Stage Director & Set Designer: Giancarlo del Monaco
• Production: Unitel Classica in co-production with Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía and Classica©
• Total Running Time: 81 minutes
• Picture Format: NTSC, 16:9
• Sound Formats: PCM Stereo and DTS 5.1
• Subtitles: Spanish (original), English, German, French
• Region Code: D (Worldwide)

Overview

For the very first time on DVD and Blu-ray, experience Manuel de Falla’s La Vida Breve—a national monument of Spanish opera. Hailed by Opera Viva as "simply a stroke of genius" and by El País with high praise for Lorin Maazel’s triumphant orchestral leadership, this production captures the emotional depth and vibrant cultural tapestry of one of Spain’s greatest operatic works. With a minimalist yet powerful staging by Giancarlo del Monaco, La Vida Breve tells the tragic tale of a poor gypsy and her ill-fated love, set against the backdrop of societal constraints and passionate desire.

Product Features

Format & Presentation

• Media: High-definition DVD and Blu-ray release, mastered from an HD source
• Visuals: Captivating dynamic visuals in NTSC 16:9, bringing the stage to life
• Audio: Immersive sound experience delivered in both PCM Stereo and DTS 5.1
• Packaging: A refined design that reflects the artistic excellence of the production

Cast & Crew Highlights

• Principal Soloists:
  • Cristina Gallardo-Domàs (Chilean soprano)
  • Jorge de León
  • María Luisa Corbacho
• Supporting Artists:
  • A stellar ensemble that brings the tragic and passionate narrative to vivid life
• Musical Ensemble:
  • Cor de la Generalitat Valenciana and Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana
• Creative Team:
  • Conductor: Lorin Maazel, celebrated for his spellbinding performance
  • Stage Director & Set Designer: Giancarlo del Monaco, whose austere, minimalist vision has been lauded for its dramatic impact
  • Costume Designer: Jesús Ruiz
  • Lighting Designer: Wolfgang von Zoubeck
  • Choreographer: Goyo Mantoro
  • Video Director: Tiziano Mancini

Interesting Facts

• Cultural Masterpiece:
  Considered perhaps the greatest opera ever written in the Spanish language, La Vida Breve unites the verismo spirit with the rich local colour of Andalusia and the shimmering nuances of French Impressionism.
• Aesthetic Brilliance:
  Giancarlo del Monaco’s innovative staging at Valencia’s Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía has redefined the visual narrative of this opera, offering audiences a powerful, austere interpretation that enhances the dramatic tension.
• Critical Acclaim:
  Praised by Spain’s Opera Viva as “simply a stroke of genius” and lauded by El País for Lorin Maazel’s exquisite orchestral leadership, this production marks a triumph in modern opera presentation.

Synopsis

Written in 1905, La Vida Breve tells the heartrending story of a poor gypsy woman and her lover, who is tragically engaged to a wealthy woman. This opera, often described as a “tragic zarzuela,” encapsulates the struggle between love and societal expectation, weaving together themes of passion, loss, and the inevitable clash of fate and desire. The score, vibrant with reminiscences of French Impressionism, underscores the emotional turmoil and fleeting beauty of life.

Publishers

This DVD and Blu-ray release is a production by Unitel Classica and Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, in co-production with Classica©. With the intendant Helga Schmidt at the helm, this edition brings together artistic excellence and state-of-the-art technical production to deliver a truly unforgettable operatic experience.

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Hashtags

English:

#LaVidaBreve #DeFallaOpera #SpanishOpera #OperaticMasterpiece #UnitelClassica #PalauDeLesArts #LorinMaazel #GiancarloDelMonaco