Stravinsky: The Rake's Progress - Glyndebourne Opera (2010) [Blu-ray]

2010 Glyndebourne performance revives David Hockney’s celebrated 1975 original production. The sets are avant-garde, in a good way, and the costumes, mostly true to period except for rag-mop wigs. Stravinsky’s 1951 Venice premiere featured some pretty darn good singers including Robert Rounseville (who was Leonard Bernstein’s first Candide) and the legendary Elisabeth Schwartzkopf. Unfortunately, The Rake’s Progress was not well received until it entered the Glyndebourne repertory in 1963. The current production is strongly cast with Swedish soprano Miah Persson (Anne), Finnish tenor Topi Lehtipuu (Tom), British baritone Matthew Rose (Nick) and Russian mezzo-soprano Elena Manistina (Baba). There is luxury casting in the minor roles with the ageless Graham Clark (Sellem) and Clive Bayley (Father Truelove). Vladimir Jurowski, the Festival’s music director, leads the Glyndebourne chorus and London Philharmonic Orchestra with aplomb.