La Fanciulla del West [The Girl of the Golden West] (complete opera recorded in 2009) BLU-RAY

"What we see is an updated parable of the American dream...in the final scene [Minnie] appears, like Jean Harlow, at the top of a glittering staircase to be carried off to a Hollywood happy ending...Does it all make sense? Not really; but the characters are vividly portrayed and the settings look spectacular."
(Gramophone)

"From her first entrance...Westbroek is captivating. She boasts the wonderfully meaty instrument required for Minnie (especially in the all-important middle voice), plus the right wholesome, strawberry-blonde appearance...This endearing portrayal will surely take its place in the great line of sopranos who have excelled as Minnie...Carlo Rizzi leads a highly passionate reading"
(International Record Review)

Nikolaus Lehnhoff's Hollywood-style production updates this Wild West story to the capitalist culture of Wall Street, perfectly reflecting Puccini's innovatory spirit. In a new angle on the age-old love triangle theme, corrupt Sheriff Jack Rance (Lucio Gallo) and charismatic criminal Dick Johnson (Zoran Todorovich) vie for the love of glamorous blonde and devout Christian Minnie (Eva-Maria Westbroek), finding her way in a man's world. Carlo Rizzi's idiomatic conducting draws excellent singing from the large cast and fine playing from The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra. Filmed in High Definition and recorded in true surround sound.

Extra features:

Cast gallery

Documentary on Eva-Maria Westbroek

"...a high-powered show throughout..." The Financial Times

"...The Netherlands Opera's spirited and inventive new production..." New York Times

Running time 160 mins