Opera & Classical Blu-ray from Deutsche Grammophon/Universal

[mx2004]

Hi all

I did a quick search and couln't find reference to these upcoming releases here. No information on territories, although I would expect there to be no region coding in line with their DVD releases. My apologies if I've missed this somewhere else and I am repeating information. All are scheduled for August or September release, and feature Anna Netrebko.





All appear to be in somthing called 'Blu-ray disc 60i' and contain PCM 5.1 and 'DTS-HD 5.1' (no mention of Master Audio).

Link to DG website

[yspkrk]

Sounds very good!
I would get Manon, The Berlin Concert and The Opera Gala.
Btw, what is 'Blu-ray disc 60i'?

[assur191]

This is spectacular news. I just wish I knew what 'Blu-ray disc 60i' meant as well.

[GJN]

60i refers to the frame rate. Normal HD and SD TV is broadcast at a refresh rate of 24 frames per second (24p). 60i is a higher rate at which video is filmed which can then be readily converted down to 24p. As I understand it, it reduces blurring due to motion and as such should result in sharper images. I'll look forward to these DG releases and probably get all of them. DG partners with the Met so hopefully many of the Met's high-def performances will eventually make their way to Blu-ray.

[Wilche]

This is spectacular news. I hope Blu-ray proves to be highly successful for DG.

[alexakajeff]

Too much to buy, not enough money.

[Russell_L]

Fabulous news! Glad to see that DG (Universal Music) has jumped on the BD bandwagon. (Note that they're the second 'studio' to release operas on BD, the first being Opus Arte.) Let's hope others follow as well (Decca, Philips, Euroarts and Arthaus Musik in particular).

Russell

[Kilian]

Originally Posted by GJN

60i refers to the frame rate. Normal HD and SD TV is broadcast at a refresh rate of 24 frames per second (24p). 60i is a higher rate at which video is filmed which can then be readily converted down to 24p.

That's incorrect.

[mx2004]

I guessed the 60i referred to 60fps interlaced - which I guess will be at 1080 lines(?) although there is no reference to this on the DG website.

Hopefully Decca will follow this up with the MET Eugene Onegin (Dmitri Hvorostovsky/Renée Fleming) and LA Opera La Traviata (Renée Fleming/Rolando Villazón) that were both shot in HD and released on DVD.

[Konrad]

This is great news! I own them all on DVD already but this is the surest double-dip there is! I am happy and I am even more happy that it is 60i as my American Panasonic doesn't play 1080i/50 but 1080i/60 it sure does (e.g. Ganges). I guess as it was already with DVD-players US machines don't play European frame rates whereas the European models of the same players play both standards. So that's probably why DG went for 60i. Presumably, European machines play the NTSC frame rate, too, so these discs can be sold worldwide.

[mx2004]

Originally Posted by Konrad

This is great news! I own them all on DVD already but this is the surest double-dip there is! I am happy and I am even more happy that it is 60i as my American Panasonic doesn't play 1080i/50 but 1080i/60 it sure does (e.g. Ganges). I guess as it was already with DVD-players US machines don't play European frame rates whereas the European models of the same players play both standards. So that's probably why DG went for 60i. Presumably, European machines play the NTSC frame rate, too, so these discs can be sold worldwide.

That makes lots of sense, as opera/classical DVD in Europe is almost overwhelmingly all regions/NTSC. There has been very little released in PAL. I am quite surprised at Panasonic not being able to play 50fps material - these kind of compatability issues belong in the 1970s with VHS. I suppose it's the sort of problem that presents itself once in a blue moon, though.

[Konrad]

Originally Posted by mx2004

I am quite surprised at Panasonic not being able to play 50fps material - these kind of compatability issues belong in the 1970s with VHS. I suppose it's the sort of problem that presents itself once in a blue moon, though.

Yes, it is strange as my first BD-Player, the Samsung 1000 (also the American model), had no problem playing 50i. It played the region-free Italian release of 'Memoirs of a Geisha' which is 50i perfectly fine. My BD30 however just plays the sound, the screen remains dark. It is also stated in the user manual that it won't play 50i. I was really surprised about that, too.

[Konrad]

As great as this is and I am thrilled, I am a bit surprised that DG didn't include the 2005 Salzburg Traviata which they also have in their catalog. It was a truly outstanding performance and Anna at her absolute very best. Anyway, what they are going to release is fantastic and one shouldn't be immodest!

[Heart&Soul]

Good news. I'm looking forward to seeing them.

[mx2004]

There also seems to be a bit more going on at Opus Arte...(I couldn't find these releases here on blu-ray.com)

Link to Opus Arte website



They all seem to be PCM 5.0 or 5.1, with PCM 2.0 as well and 1080i

I'm starting to find this all rather exciting!

[Teazle]

Put me down for Figaro. Nice to see these releases happening.

[mx2004]

Apologies here for my rampant enthusiasm!

http://www.universalmusicclassical.c....aspx?nid=3603

Blu-Ray Arrives!

Deutsche Grammophon and Decca introduce the new Blu-ray format

• Deutsche Grammophon and Decca are launching simultaneously the first 12 Blu-ray titles on the market in October 2008

• Both labels have chosen top titles from their respective catalogues to launch this new format, most of them are existing releases apart from Manon (DG), Spartacus (DECCA) and Carmen (DECCA) which are new titles

• Packaging: the Blu-ray discs will come in a Blu-ray box – the format is slightly smaller then the exisiting DVD format

• Note that a Blu-ray player is required to play Blu-ray discs, however Blu-rays can also be played on Sony’s Playstation 3. Blu-ray players are rapidly becoming no more expensive than existing top-end DVD players and prices are expected to keep falling in the run-up to Christmas. The Blu-ray players will still play traditional DVDs too, and in fact the picture and sound quality is better than on conventional DVD players

• In addition to the greater audio and video quality, the extra storage capacity also means there is plenty of space for additional content and special features. Blu-ray will bring sharper graphics and easier-to-use pop-up menus, which work in a similar way to the pop-up menus on an iPod. You can continue to watch the performance whilst scrolling through the various
menus to access another part of the disc. This is a real bonus compared to traditional DVDs, where you had to stop watching mid-play and go back to the menu screens at the start.


7/8/2008

[yspkrk]

Good Good Good...

Now...all I have to do is make more money.

I'd be even more excited if Euroarts went blu with their quality live classical concert titles!

[Yeha-Noha]

That is much welcomed news. The Le Nozze di Figaro is pretty tempting. I will be looking forward to reading the reviews that follow the BD release. I hope the DG BDs have excellent SQ as does Opus Arte. We'll see. Anyway, the Covent Garden Royal Opera House performance is my favorite Le Nozze di Figaro. I am waiting for Opus Arte to release it on BD, if they ever do. If not, then I'll get DG's Salzburg 2006 BD release.

[GJN]

And Harmonia Mundi in France has released the Rene Jacobs production of Don Giovanni on Blu-ray. It's going to be an expensive Christmas.

http://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B00176I93G