• Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.33:1
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ Unrated (Not Rated)
• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.47 x 0.71 x 7.64 inches; 3.95 Ounces
• Director ‏ : ‎ David Pountney
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 12 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ March 11, 2016
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Johan Reuter, Niels Jorgen Riis, Ann Petersen, Michael Kristensen, The Royal Danish Orchestra & Opera Chorus
• Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Dacapo Classical
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

This DVD presents a spectacular new production of Carl Nielsen's dramatic debut opera, Saul & David from 1901 - a production marking the Royal Danish Opera s celebration of the composer's 150th anniversary in 2015. King Saul, bitterly jealous of young David, who won the favor of the people by defeating the giant Goliath, is staged in a highly original fashion by acclaimed English director and Nielsen enthusiast David Pountney, who updates the Biblical story to our own time, lending it psychological and political undertones. The performance is conducted by Nielsen expert Michael Schønwandt and presents an array of Denmark's leading singers with Johan Reuter in the demanding role of King Saul, Niels-Jorgen Riis as David and Ann Petersen as his beloved Mikal.

"Saul & David” by Carl Nielsen celebrates the 150th birthday of a Danish national saint in Copenhagen.

Every country has as many national operas as it can handle. Denmark, for example. One knows “Maskarade” and “Saul and David”, composed by Carl Nielsen. “If you start with both,” says the director of the Royal Opera in Copenhagen, Sven Müller, “you should bear in mind that you can’t cast them twice.” For more than two Danish national operas, the number of mother-tongue singers available in the country is certainly not sufficient. A performance of “Saul and David” had to be cancelled in April because two soloists were ill and could not be replaced.

Nielsen is considered the musical national shrine of his country. Not because of his operas or symphonies, but because of his nearly 300 extremely popular art folk songs. Danish children learn it already in the primary school. For a long time, attempts have been made to make Nielsen more popular worldwide. (cultural verse)

This performance caused an enormous stir in the opera press at home and abroad in 2015: Michael Schønwandt – for many the most important Nielsen conductor of the last 20 years – conducted Nielsen’s Opus Magnum: The Opera “Saul and David”. One can already be sure that this outstanding production will appear on reference lists. It couldn’t be better.