DVD/VIDEO TOSCA, RIGOLETTO, HANSEL AND GRETEL, LAKME, MARTHA, ELIXIR OF LOVE, THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, DON PASQUALE

Now performances of some of the outstanding Bel Canto Opera productions of the past few years are available to the public and can be ordered in DVD or video in both PAL and NTSC formats, produced by MCW Video Productions
Sung in English in new versions by Tom Boyd

The Bel Canto Orchestra conducted by William Bell

Productions directed by Tom Boyd

TOSCA by Puccini 1998

"Puccini enthusiasts should certainly see this spirited production" Glos. ECHO

"a production to live in the memory."Wilts & Glos STANDARD

Susan Black (Tosca); Cato Fordham (Cavaradossi); David Purcell (Scarpia)

RIGOLETTO by Verdi 1999

"another triumph with this well-paced production of Verdi's masterpiece in Tom Boyd's vigorous new translation". Glos. ECHO

"Bel Canto Opera Company's production of Verdi's Rigoletto is great art. And, perhaps more importantly, marvellous entertainment". Wilts & Glos STANDARD

David Purcell (Rigoletto) Maria Lancaster (Gilda); Michael Powell (The Duke); Susan Black (Maddelena) Edward Harper (Sparafucile)

HANSEL AND GRETEL by Humperdinck 1999

"This delightful new production by producer/librettist Tom Boyd, conducted by William Bell, is the best English version I have ever seen." Glos. ECHO

"an evening to savour for adults and children alike" Wilts & Glos STANDARD

Catherine Benson (Gretel); Erin Johnson (Hansel); Maria Moll (the witch);Claire Bartram (Mother);Niall Hoskin (Father) Susan Black (Sandman); Jeanette Gallant (Dew Fairy)

LAKME by Delibes 2001

"Lakme's beauty shines through...the famous flower duet is as good as you are ever likely to hear and is remarkably beautiful." Glos ECHO

"Tom Boyd's sparkling libretto complementing Delibes' enchanting melodies" Wilts & Glos STANDARD

Nicola-Jane Kemp (Lakme); Lynton Atkinson (Gerald); David Purcell (Nilakantha); Susan Black (Mallika); Joan Self (Miss Benson); Neil Baker (Frederick); Katie Felix (Ellen); Catrine Kirkman (Rose)

MARTHA by Flotow 2002

"Bel Canto's Martha captivates the audience. This witty Bel Canto Opera production by Tom Boyd teems with vitality... Amanda Boyd Bailey in the title role captivates everyone with her fine voice.." Glos. ECHO

Amanda Boyd Bailley (Martha); Susan Black (Nancy); Stephen Crook (Lionel); Stephen Wells (Plunkett)

THE ELIXIR OF LOVE by Donizetti 2003

"Tom Boyd's production works a treat... twice as witty as Gilbert and Sullivan..." Glos. ECHO

"Super singing... Tom Boyd's libretto fits the music like a glove... a very entertaining production" Oxford TIMES

"another sumptuous Bel Canto production ... a vintage of the highest quality..." Wilts & Glos STANDARD

Amanda Boyd Bailley (Adina); Phillip O’Brien (Nemorino); Stephen Wells (Dr. Dulcamara); Paul Sheehan (Sgt Belcore); Susan Black (Giannetta)

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR by Nicolai 2004

"Hilarious comedy....an uproarious opera... Tom Boyd's production returns the action to its English roots.." Glos. ECHO

"Tom Boyd's splendidly witty and suitably irreverent new English translation" Oxford TIMES

"An evening of delight and laughter... the singing and acting were excellent..." Wilts & Glos STANDARD
Not available until later in 2005

Susan Black (Alice Ford); Maria Jagusz (Meg Page); Martin Lamb (Falstaff); Robert Bateman (Frank Ford); Deryck Hamon (George Page); Pamela Hay (Anne Page); Paul Badley (Fenton); David Bennett (Slender); Tim Cranmore (Dr Caius)

DON PASQUALE by Donizetti 2005

"... a more satisfactory production than the recent effort at Covent Garden" Glos ECHO

"a broad and broadly witty adaptation" OPERA Magazine

" The libretto is Tom Boyd at his best, full of witty rhymes and amusing quips. ..an evening of laughter and rich entertainment". Wilts & Glos STANDARD

"Bel Canto comes with a special weapon: Boyd's ability to fashion sparkling new English versions of the operas he stages..." OXFORD TIMES

Graham Stone (Don Pasquale); Pamela Hay (Noreen); Paul Carey Jones (Dr. Malatesta); Stephen Brown (Ernesto)

THE MAGIC FLUTE by Mozart

"...inspired production by Bel Canto...Tom Boyd's clever and reverential adaptation bristles with topical witticisms, pomp, sparkle....a stirring pageant which Emanuael Schikaneder and Wolfgang Amadeus would have doubtless approved. Delightful! " BBC Gloucestershire Theatre and Arts

"...director Tom Boyd has once again supplied his own brand-new, sparkling English libretto...spiced with plenty of humour...a refreshing take on Mozart and Schikaneder's masterpiece." OXFORD TIMES

Tom Boyd's production, like his topical libretto, is both accessible and full of imaginative flourishes. Gloucestershire ECHO

"Tom Boyd's new English libretto was a particular delight...a splendidly light-hearted version...Tom and musical director William Bell are much to be congratulated on their polished, talented and very clever production which kept the audience greatly entertained." Wilts. and Glos. STANDARD

Tamino - Alexander Anderson-Hall;Pamina - Pamela Hay; Papageno - Eamonn Dougan;Sarastro - Deryck Hamon; Queen of the Night - Mandy Watsham; First Lady, Sue Black; Second Lady, Claire Johnson; Third Lady, Maria Jagusz; Monostatos - Michael Powell;Papagena - Kate Bennett; Archdruid (aka the Speaker) -Robert Bateman; First Boy- Georgia Frances; Second Boy- Charlotte Sommers; Third Boy- Dan Holley; First Knight-John Milford; Second Knight- Edward Harper; Chief Ovate- Tim Johnson; Chief Bard- Tim Cranmore

Price: PAL or NTSC £20 which includes an A5 booklet of Tom Boyd’s new English libretto + p & p

orders from belcanto.opera@btinternet.com

*TOSCA* by Puccini 1998 "Puccini enthusiasts should certainly see this spirited production" Glos. ECHO "a production to live in the memory."Wilts & Glos STANDARD	Susan Black (Tosca); Cato Fordham (Cavaradossi); David Purcell (Scarpia)
*RIGOLETTO* by Verdi 1999 *"another triumph with this well-paced production of Verdi's masterpiece in Tom Boyd's vigorous new translation".* Glos. ECHO** "Bel Canto Opera Company's production of Verdi's Rigoletto is great art. And, perhaps more importantly, marvellous entertainment". Wilts & Glos STANDARD	David Purcell (Rigoletto) Maria Lancaster (Gilda); Michael Powell (The Duke); Susan Black (Maddelena) Edward Harper (Sparafucile)
*HANSEL AND GRETEL* by Humperdinck 1999 "This delightful new production by producer/librettist Tom Boyd, conducted by William Bell, is the best English version I have ever seen." Glos. ECHO "an evening to savour for adults and children alike" Wilts & Glos STANDARD	Catherine Benson (Gretel); Erin Johnson (Hansel); Maria Moll (the witch);Claire Bartram (Mother);Niall Hoskin (Father) Susan Black (Sandman); Jeanette Gallant (Dew Fairy)
*LAKME* by Delibes 2001 "Lakme's beauty shines through...the famous flower duet is as good as you are ever likely to hear and is remarkably beautiful." Glos ECHO *"Tom Boyd's sparkling libretto complementing Delibes' enchanting melodies"* Wilts & Glos STANDARD	Nicola-Jane Kemp (Lakme); Lynton Atkinson (Gerald); David Purcell (Nilakantha); Susan Black (Mallika); Joan Self (Miss Benson); Neil Baker (Frederick); Katie Felix (Ellen); Catrine Kirkman (Rose)
*MARTHA* by Flotow 2002 "Bel Canto's Martha captivates the audience. This witty Bel Canto Opera production by Tom Boyd teems with vitality... Amanda Boyd Bailey in the title role captivates everyone with her fine voice.." Glos. ECHO	Amanda Boyd Bailley (Martha); Susan Black (Nancy); Stephen Crook (Lionel); Stephen Wells (Plunkett)
*THE ELIXIR OF LOVE* by Donizetti 2003 "Tom Boyd's production works a treat... twice as witty as Gilbert and Sullivan..." Glos. ECHO "Super singing... Tom Boyd's libretto fits the music like a glove... a very entertaining production" Oxford TIMES "another sumptuous Bel Canto production ... a vintage of the highest quality..." Wilts & Glos STANDARD	Amanda Boyd Bailley (Adina); Phillip O’Brien (Nemorino); Stephen Wells (Dr. Dulcamara); Paul Sheehan (Sgt Belcore); Susan Black (Giannetta)
*THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR* by Nicolai 2004 "Hilarious comedy....an uproarious opera... Tom Boyd's production returns the action to its English roots.." Glos. ECHO "Tom Boyd's splendidly witty and suitably irreverent new English translation" Oxford TIMES "An evening of delight and laughter... the singing and acting were excellent..." Wilts & Glos STANDARD *Not available until later in 2005*	Susan Black (Alice Ford); Maria Jagusz (Meg Page); Martin Lamb (Falstaff); Robert Bateman (Frank Ford); Deryck Hamon (George Page); Pamela Hay (Anne Page); Paul Badley (Fenton); David Bennett (Slender); Tim Cranmore (Dr Caius)
*DON PASQUALE* by Donizetti 2005 "... a more satisfactory production than the recent effort at Covent Garden" Glos ECHO "a broad and broadly witty adaptation" OPERA Magazine " The libretto is Tom Boyd at his best, full of witty rhymes and amusing quips. ..an evening of laughter and rich entertainment". Wilts & Glos STANDARD "Bel Canto comes with a special weapon: Boyd's ability to fashion sparkling new English versions of the operas he stages..." OXFORD TIMES	Graham Stone (Don Pasquale); Pamela Hay (Noreen); Paul Carey Jones (Dr. Malatesta); Stephen Brown (Ernesto)
*THE MAGIC FLUTE* *by Mozart* "...inspired production by Bel Canto...Tom Boyd's clever and reverential adaptation bristles with topical witticisms, pomp, sparkle....a stirring pageant which Emanuael Schikaneder and Wolfgang Amadeus would have doubtless approved. Delightful! " BBC Gloucestershire Theatre and Arts "...director Tom Boyd has once again supplied his own brand-new, sparkling English libretto...spiced with plenty of humour...a refreshing take on Mozart and Schikaneder's masterpiece." OXFORD TIMES Tom Boyd's production, like his topical libretto, is both accessible and full of imaginative flourishes. Gloucestershire ECHO "Tom Boyd's new English libretto was a particular delight...a splendidly light-hearted version...Tom and musical director William Bell are much to be congratulated on their polished, talented and very clever production which kept the audience greatly entertained." Wilts. and Glos. STANDARD	Tamino - Alexander Anderson-Hall;Pamina - Pamela Hay; Papageno - Eamonn Dougan;Sarastro - Deryck Hamon; Queen of the Night - Mandy Watsham; First Lady, Sue Black; Second Lady, Claire Johnson; Third Lady, Maria Jagusz; Monostatos - Michael Powell;Papagena - Kate Bennett; Archdruid (aka the Speaker) -Robert Bateman; First Boy- Georgia Frances; Second Boy- Charlotte Sommers; Third Boy- Dan Holley; First Knight-John Milford; Second Knight- Edward Harper; Chief Ovate- Tim Johnson; Chief Bard- Tim Cranmore