Requiring 38 soloists, chorus and large orchestra, 'Palestrina', Hans Pfitzner's (1869-1949) "most important work" (Süddeutsche Zeitung), is a challenging opera to stage. Written in a lush late-Romantic idiom, the masterpiece weaves a fictitious tale around Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, one of the most important Renaissance composers and renovators of sacred music, who fears losing his creative powers and his role in society.

In Munich, the city in which it was given its world premiere in 1917, the Bavarian State Opera succeeded – director Christian Stückl, best known for his staging of the Oberammergau Passion Play and the Salzburg Festival's "Jedermann", transformed the monumental work into an optical pop art event.

Conductor Simone Young maintains a silky, organic orchestral texture, and expertly holds the reins of the many vocal and instrumental parts. Heading the many outstanding soloists are the imposing Christopher Ventris as Palestrina, Bayreuth regular Falk Struckmann and baritone Michael Volle.

"Who would have thought that Pfitzner could be such fun?" - Die Abendzeitung

"The music flows blissfully hour after hour..." - Süddeutsche Zeitung

Directed for stage by Christian Stückl

Recorded live at the Nationaltheater, Munich, 10 & 14 July 2009.

Picture format Blu-ray: 1080i Full HD
Sound format Blu-ray: PCM Stereo, DTS-HD Master Audio
Region code: All (Worldwide)
Booklet notes: English, German, French
Running time: 197 mins Performance + 9 mins Bonus
Available Worldwide, excluding Korea