Description
Nicholas Maw - Sophie's Choice (DVD) - Opus Arte
UPC: 809478010241
Product Features
- Title: Sophie's Choice by Nicholas Maw (1935-2009)
- Format: 2x DVD Set
- Performance by: Royal Opera Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
- Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle
- Director: Trevor Nunn
- Main Cast:Language: Sung in English
- Angelika Kirchschlager (Sophie)
- Gordon Gietz (Stingo)
- Rod Gilfry (Nathan)
- Dale Duesing (Narrator)
- Subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian
- Audio: DTS Surround, Digital Stereo
- Extras:Running Time: Approx. 223 minutes
- Exclusive interviews with Simon Rattle
- Region: All regions (NTSC format)
- Aspect Ratio: Not specified (likely widescreen)
- Publisher: Opus Arte, in collaboration with BBC and Royal Opera House
Overview
Nicholas Maw’s Sophie's Choice, based on William Styron’s acclaimed novel, was first performed at the Royal Opera House in 2002. This two-disc DVD set captures that landmark performance, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle and directed by Trevor Nunn. The story follows Sophie, a Holocaust survivor, who recounts her harrowing past to Stingo, a young writer. Her tale unfolds with emotional intensity as the complexities of love, guilt, and survival are explored in this powerful opera.
Angelika Kirchschlager delivers a heart-wrenching performance as Sophie, supported by Gordon Gietz as Stingo and Rod Gilfry as Nathan. The work was praised internationally and later staged in Washington, Berlin, and Vienna, solidifying its status as a modern operatic masterpiece. Maw’s adaptation, blending the personal and the historical, is perfectly matched by Rattle’s conducting of the Royal Opera House’s orchestra, bringing out the rich emotional texture of the score.
Interesting Facts
- Sophie's Choice is based on the 1979 novel by William Styron, which was later adapted into a film starring Meryl Streep. Maw's opera was the first adaptation of the story in an operatic form.
- This production was the world premiere of Sophie's Choice as an opera, commissioned by the Royal Opera House and BBC Radio 3.
- The opera took Nicholas Maw six years to complete, with Maw drawn to the emotional complexity of Styron’s narrative.
- Trevor Nunn, renowned for his work in both theater and opera, crafted a visually and emotionally gripping production, with designs by Rob Howell that enhance the dark and poignant atmosphere of the opera.
- Sir Simon Rattle, a long-time champion of Nicholas Maw’s music, was pivotal in bringing the project to fruition and led the orchestra in one of the most critically acclaimed opera performances of the early 2000s.
- The BBC's live broadcast of the opera was watched by audiences across the world, and the DVD now allows new viewers to experience this powerful production.
Track Listing
Main Characters:
- Sophie – Angelika Kirchschlager
- Stingo – Gordon Gietz
- Nathan – Rod Gilfry
- Narrator – Dale Duesing
Publishers
- Label: Opus Arte
- Production: BBC, in association with the Royal Opera House
Hashtags
#NicholasMaw #SophiesChoiceOpera #SimonRattle #AngelikaKirchschlager #TrevorNunn #RodGilfry #GordonGietz #RoyalOperaHouse #BBC #ModernOpera #HolocaustOpera #OpusArte #ClassicalMusicDVD
