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Summary:

Renée Fleming triumphs as the glamorous courtesan Thaïs in Massenet's romantic tragedy set in fourth-century Alexandria and the Egyptian desert. The timeless struggle between earthly desire and spiritual redemption finally destroys the resolve of the monk Athanaël (Thomas Hampson), just as the newly penitent Thaïs ascends heavenward. Jesús López Cobos gives a masterly performance of Massenet's sensuous score, with concert master David Chan contributing a ravishing "Méditation".

Contributors:

Gallet, Louis, 1835-1898 , librettist

López-Cobos, Jesús , conductor

Fleming, Renée , performer

Hampson, Thomas , performer

Schade, Michael , performer

Vernhes, Alain, 1944- , performer

Cambridge, Alyson , performer

Costa-Jackson, Ginger , performer

Scheunemann, Trevor , performer

Partridge, Leah , performer

Zifchak, Maria , performer

Smith, Daniel Clark , performer

Andrews, Roger , performer

Phinney, Kurt , performer

Pearson, Richard (Singer) , performer

Montgomery, Craig , performer

Hashemian, Zahra , performer

Chan, David (Violinist) , performer

Palumbo, Donald , performer

Halvorson, Gary

Cox, John, 1935 March 12-

Schuler, Duane

Slate, Sara Jo

France, Anatole, 1844-1924

Massenet, Jules, 1842-1912

Metropolitan Opera (New York, N.Y.) , performer, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prf

Decca Music Group

Languages:

French
Chinese
English
German
Spanish

Language Notes:

Sung in French; subtitles in English, French, German, Spanish, and Chinese.

Included Works:

Thaïs [by Massenet, J.]

Related Works:

Thaïs [by France, A.]

Related Series:

Metropolitan Opera HD live

Subjects:

Operas

Genres:

Operas

System Details:

DVD; region code 0; aspect ratio 16:9, anamorphic widescreen; NTSC; soundtracks in LPCM stereo., DTS 5.1 surround; high-definition.

Performers:

Renée Fleming (Thaïs) ; Thomas Hampson (Athanaël) ; Michael Schade (Nicias) ; Alain Vernhes (Palémon) ; Alyson Cambridge (Crobyle) ; Ginger Costa-Jackson (Myrtale) ; Trevor Scheunemann (Guard) ; Leah Partridge (La Charmeuse) ; Maria Zifchak (Albine) ; Daniel Clark Smith, Roger Andrews, Kurt Phinney, Richard Pearson, Craig Montgomery (Cenobite Monks) ; Zahra Hashemian, solo dancer ; David Chan, violin solo ; the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus, and Ballet ; Donald Palumbo, chorus master ; Jesús López-Cobos, conductor.

Production Credits:

Director, Gary Halvorson ; production, John Cox ; lighting designer, Duane Schuler ; choreographer, Sara Jo Slate ; music producer, Jay David Saks ; producers, Louisa Briccetti, Victoria Warivonchik.

General Notes:

c.2 from the collection of David Simmons
Opera in three acts and seven scenes.
Filmed Dec. 20, 2008.
Program notes and synopsis in English (14 p. : port. ; 18 cm.) in container.

Physical Description:

1 videodisc (138 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.

Physical Characteristics:

plastic; metal; polychrome

Audio Characteristics:

digital; optical; surround; stereo

Video Characteristics:

NTSC

Digital Characteristics:

video file; DVD video

Call Numbers:

MDVD 00933

Other Standard Numbers:

Universal Product Code: 044007433553
Publisher Number, Decca: B0013884-09

OCLC Numbers:

505718868