Classical TV Announces Line-Up for August and September

Since launching in July, Classical TV has been captivating audiences worldwide with its extensive library of full-length opera, ballet, drama, jazz, pop and documentary videos.  These recordings come from the music world’s brightest stars and from the most prestigious stages and are available for streaming online to home computer and entertainment systems.   Classical TV offers unprecedented on-demand access to the richest array of free and pay-per-view performing arts online with both an exclusive library of videos available for unlimited free streaming along with frequent pay-per-view special events.

This month, Classical TV will add several new videos to its library of over 300 hours of content currently available including two rare concerts, normally offered as pay-per-view special events, that Classical TV will be making available FREE OF CHARGE during Classical TV launch weekends.

From August 20^th-23^rd viewers will be able to access an exclusive free preview of the Best of the Montreux: Three Legends. This production offers classic performances from the world renowned Jazz Festival by James Brown (from 1981), Johnny Cash (1994) and Ray Charles (1997).  Pavarotti – The Duets: The Best of Pavarotti and Friends will be available free from September 3^rd-7^th and features the celebrated tenor performing with Elton John, Bono, Andrea Bocelli, Sting, Mariah Carey, and Celine Dion.  Normally $4.99-9.99 each for a 72 hour stream, both of these presentations will be offered to viewers free on these Classical TV launch weekends.

Other pay-per-view specials, available in August and September include two Puccini operas from the Metropolitan Opera starring Angela Gheorghiu one of opera’s most intriguing sopranos. La Bohème with Ramòn Vargas will be available on August 27^th while La Rondine with Gheorghiu’s real-life love Roberto Alagna will be offered starting September 10^th.   Spartacus from the Bolshoi Ballet featuring superstar Carlos Acosta will start Thursday, September 17.

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More information on Classical TV Special Offerings – August and September 2009

“The Best of Montreux: Three Legends”

Musical legends James Brown, Johnny Cash, and Ray Charles are heard in historical, live performances at the world’s most famous jazz festival.

Thursday, August 20 through Sunday, August 23: FREE (Normally $9.99 each)

Despite its name, the Montreux Jazz Festival runs the gamut of all styles of music. Situated on the Swiss Riviera, the festival started out in 1967 as a three-day jazz event and has evolved into a multi-week festival featuring music from all popular genres. Featured in Classical TV’s mini-festival of “The Best of Montreux” are three legendary videos:  James Brown, who performed there in 1981; Johnny Cash, in a concert from 1994; and Ray Charles, from 1997.

Puccini’s La Bohème, Metropolitan Opera

The world’s favorite opera, starring Angela Gheorghiu as Mimi and Ramón Vargas as Rodolfo

Starting Thursday, August 27: $9.99

 “Pavarotti--The Duets: The Best of Pavarotti & Friends”

The world’s favorite classical music artist, the late Luciano Pavarotti, sings thrilling duets with pop and rock legends: Elton John, Bono, Andrea Bocelli, Sting, Mariah Carey, and Celine Dion, and many more.

Labor Day Special: Thursday, September 3 through Monday, September 7  FREE

Thereafter, $9.99

The late, great tenor Luciano Pavarotti annually hosted the “Pavarotti and Friends” charity concerts in his home town of Modena in Italy, joining with singers from all parts of the music industry, including Eric Clapton, Elton John, Sting, Bono, Andrea Bocelli, Sheryl Crow, Celine Dion, and Jon Bon Jovi, to raise money for several UN causes.  Concerts were held for War Child, and victims of war and civil unrest in Bosnia, Guatemala, Kosovo, and Iraq.  This 70-minute special presents the most emotional and world-famous pieces of the entire “Pavarotti and Friends” series, featuring such classics as “Live Like Horses,”  “Miss Sarajevo,” “The Magic Of Love,” “It’s A Man’s World,” and “O sole mio.”

Puccini’s La Rondine, Metropolitan Opera

A stylish new production starring the real-life couple sometimes referred to as “Mr. and Mrs. Opera,” Angela Gheorghiu and Roberta Alagna

Starting Thursday, September 10 $9.99

The Bolshoi Ballet’s Spartacus

Direct from Russia, the iconic 20^th-century modern ballet, Spartacus, starring male superstar Carlos Acosta

Starting Thursday, September 17: $9.99

One of the greatest male dancers of our time, Carlos Acosta has performed with all the major ballet companies of the world including American Ballet Theatre, Royal Ballet, and Houston Ballet, as well as the Bolshoi. Spartacus, choreographed by Yuri Grigorvich, is a major vehicle for the male lead, to which Acosta brings a wealth of talent and energy to this formidable role.

This is the first major release of Spartacus since the Bolshoi's production in the 1970s. Following sensational performances of the ballet in Moscow and London in 2007, the Bolshoi's production was re-staged and filmed in January 2008 in the Paris Opera's Palais Garnier.

Contact:

Rebecca Davis

Rebecca@rebeccadavispr.com

347.432.8832