The latest releases reviewed

BELLINI: I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI Soloists: Patrizia Ciofi, Clara Polito, Danilo Formaggia, Federico Sacchi, Nicola Amodio. Orchestra Internazionale d'Italia. Conductor: Luciano Acocella Dynamic New DVD *****

Bellini wrote 10 operas before his untimely early death in 1835. This opera on the Romeo and Juliet story premiered in 1830, and while it may lack the dramatic and musical intensity of Bellini's masterpiece Norma, it is a work of real passion containing some lovely and powerful music. This is the only recording of the opera on DVD currently available. Patrizia Ciofi as Giuletta and Clara Polito as Romeo (both parts written for soprano) are convincing both dramatically and musically, and are backed by an enthusiastic supporting cast and chorus. This recording of a live performance at the Palazzo Ducale, Martina Franca in 2005, does full justice to a neglected masterpiece. www.dynamic.it COLMAN MORRISSEY

SCOTT WALKER - 30TH CENTURY MAN Verve Pictures ****

This is a terrific documentary about rock recluse Scott Walker, once of 1960s moptops The Walker Brothers and, from the 1980s onwards, a denizen of the avant-garde netherworld. It's a fascinating story of a fascinating journey, not least because Walker, who was filmed especially for the documentary, and who delivers his responses mostly hidden behind a baseball cap, was one of the few artists of vision who came out of the 1960s teen-scream pop scene (check out his quartet of superb solo albums for proof). The fact that he now releases quite unlistenable avant-garde records is beside the point - this is probably as revealing a portrait of an unapologetic (and erstwhile popular) artist as you're going to get. When you factor in the substantial archive footage and interviews with the likes of David Bowie, Jarvis Cocker and Marc Almond (the sole dissenting voice), it all adds up to an absorbing and rounded piece of work. TONY CLAYTON-LEA