This week two of the great Divas of today will see DVDs released. The first work will be from Wagner while the other one will be by Offenbach.

Lohengrin 

After months of waiting, Anna Netrebko’s debut as Elsa in “Lohengrin” will be released by Deutsche Grammophon. The DVD from the Dresden Semperoper also stars Piotr Beczala in the title role and Evelyn Herlitzius as Ortrud with Christian Thielemann, one of today’s leading Wagner conductors, leading the ensemble. When it premiered last year critics were ecstatic and said, “The results were flabbergasting—this was a ridiculously good performance.” The DVD will be released first in Europe and will be followed by an American release later this month.

Les Contes d’Hofmann

Sonya Yoncheva stars as Antonia in Sony Classical’s upcoming release, which also stars Vittorio Grigolo and Thomas Hampson. The performance from the Royal Opera House received rave reviews when it premiered earlier last season as critics noted, “Yoncheva has voice and charisma to spare. When she and Grigolo are going at full throttle, the performance soars.” Sony Classical releases the DVD first in the U.K before heading to the States.

Rusalka 

Polnisch releases a new version of Dvorak’s “Rusalka” from the Opera Nova in Bydgoszcz. The DVD stars Magdalena Polkowska, Tadeusz Szlenkier, and Jacek Greszta. It will be released first in Europe and later in the U.S.