Giuseppe Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (Arthaus DVD)  

Plácido Domingo‘s triumphant “return” to his baritone roots (his first debut with the Mexican National Opera, in 1959, was as a baritone), is captured in this stunning DVD of the Teatro alla Scala’s 2010 production of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra. Domingo is joined by Anja Harteros, Ferruccio Furlanetto and Fabio Sartori in this Daniel Barenboim conducted performance, directed by Federico Tiezzi.
Plácido Domingo’s intention had been to bring down the curtain on his career in the (baritone) role of Simon Boccanegra. One can only hope – for our sake as well as his – that this truly great tenor of the modern era reneges on his promise and remains a unique vocal and dramatic presence on the opera stage long after the 70th birthday celebrations that were held in his honour on 21 January 2011.

LIVE RECORDING FROM THE TEATRO ALLA SCALA, MILAN 2010
Simon Boccanegra PLÁCIDO DOMINGO
Amelia Grimaldi (Maria) ANJA HARTEROS
Jacopo Fiesco FERRUCCIO FURLANETTO
Gabriele Adorno FABIO SARTORI

TEATRO ALLA SCALA
Conducted by DANIEL BARENBOIM
Stage Directed by FEDERICO TIEZZI
Set Design by PIER PAOLO BISLERI