“With this lavish colour production of Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffman, we are in more conventional, though never dull, territory. It is a handsome, well sung version which stands up well to the contemporary BBC 2 version that graced our screens a Christmas or two ago. (This, too, was a Christmas-time, prestige production). The production and adaptation is by Václav Kaslic, who has produced the opera many times on stage: here he makes imaginative use of the new medium to overcome difficulties inherent in some stories. He has a fine cast, including Jon Piso as a robust Hoffman[,] Sylvia Geszty, Thomas Tipton and Herold Kraus. The orchestra and chorus are from the Bavarian State Opera.” - Brian Baxter, for the BFI.

The Tales of Hoffman

1970

8.0

Eine Nacht in Venedig (A Night in Venice) is an operetta in three acts by Johann Strauss II. Its libretto was by F. Zell and Richard Genée based on Le Château Trompette by Eugène Cormon and Richard Genée. The farcical, romantic story involves several cases of mistaken identity. The piece premiered in 1883 in Berlin and then Vienna. It became one of Strauss's three most famous stage works and has been seen in New York, London and elsewhere, and has been adapted for film.

Eine Nacht in Venedig

1974

No artwork available

No synopsis available yet.

Viktorka

1954

No artwork available

No synopsis available yet.

Peer Gynt

1984

No artwork available

No synopsis available yet.

Peer Gynt

1984

7.5

The water fairy Rusalka falls in love with an earthly prince. In vain, Father Aquarius warns her. Her sincere feelings are met with human treachery...

Rusalka

1963

7.5

The water fairy Rusalka falls in love with an earthly prince. In vain, Father Aquarius warns her. Her sincere feelings are met with human treachery...

Rusalka

1963

Bedrich Smetana Edvard Grieg The Moldau • Peer Gynt Suite Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Libor Pesek Bedrich Smetana The Moldau Source of the Moldau Forest Hunt Peasant Wedding Nymph's Dance St. John's Rapids The Moldau flows broadly to Prague Bedrich Smetana The Bartered Bride Overture Why shouldn't we be happy Furiant Dance of the Comedians Edvard Grieg Peer Gynt Suite Solveig's Song "The Abduction" and "Ingrid's Complaint" Morning In the Hall of the Mountain King Aase's Death Arabian Dance Anitra's Dance Peer Gynt's Homecoming

Bedrich Smetana: The Moldau / Edvard Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite

1985

7.0

This vivid film of Wagner's romatic opera succeeds in conveying what has famously been called "the wind that blows out at you whenever you open the score", including Daland's boat anchoring against the Sandwike cliffs, the red-sailed phantom ship, and the ghost crew rising from the dead. "Scenes that recall classic horror films... Brilliantly successful" (Nürnberger Nachrichten), "Captures the works' essence" (Süddeutsche Zeitung). With a superb cast; conducted by Wagner authority Wolfgang Sawallisch.

Der Fliegende Holländer

1975

No artwork available

No synopsis available yet.

Mam'zelle Nitouche

1955

9.0

Set in a South Bohemian village, this faithful film version of Smetana’s opera follows farmer Krušina’s plan to marry his daughter Mařenka to wealthy Vašek. Mařenka loves Jeník, a stranger. Through matchmaking schemer Kecal’s plots and revealed identities, true love triumphs in a festive village wedding.

Prodaná nevěsta

1976

9.0

Prodaná nevěsta

1976

No artwork available

No synopsis available yet.

Popelka

1953

8.0

France, 1792. Chenier is an idealistic poet, in love with the aristocratic Maddalena. While Chenier supports such notions as "liberte, fraternite egalite," his sympathies do not extend to the current Reign of Terror. Likewise, the Revolutionary Tribunal has no need for poets or their girlfriends, especially those judged to be an Enemy of the State. Heads will roll.

Andrea Chenier

1973