Opera
Reviews of full operas as well as collections and recitals of arias
Tchaikovsky: The Queen of Spades (Opus Arte)
(Déjà Review) Tells the story compellingly with excellent singing and playing from everyone [ST]
Leonard Bernstein Conducts Wagner (Gala)
Extended extracts from three Wagner operas showcasing Bernstein and a trio of great American Wagner singers in top form [RMo]
Giordano: Marina (Decca)
A taut, highly dramatic and skilfully crafted verismo melodrama, which certainly justifies its revival [RMo]
Gounod: Faust (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) This Rizzi set trumps its competitors in many ways, not least the singing of Hadley and Gasdia [GF]
The Republic of Love. Opera and Political Freedom (Oxford University Press)
A philosopher takes a thought-provoking and timely look at opera [DHa]
Salieri: Il mondo alla rovescia (Dynamic)
(Déjà Review) A fascinating work in a pleasing debut recording [GPu]
Wagner: Operatic Excerpts (Naxos Historical)
(Déjà Review) Reference pointers to incandescent live performances which, incredibly, take the drama and even the sound to a higher level [DH]
Vaughan Williams: Riders to the Sea (EMI Classics)
RVW’s dark, atmospheric Irish tragedy and two works lamenting and celebrating the power of love [RMo]
Mozart: Arias (Deutsche Grammophon)
One of the most thrilling bass recitals that has come my way [GF]
Mozart: Cosi fan tutte (C Major)
A rehearsal-room Così fan tutte that doesn’t ignite [DHa]
Rossini: Il turco in Italia (Philips)
One of the best in a limited field [SW]
Wagner: Die Walküre (Pristine Audio)
This reissue may still have sound issues, but Amy Shuard’s performance alone makes it a worthy addition to anyone’s collection [SGa]
Handel: Ariodante (Erato)
(Déjà Review) Performed with stylish affection [JW]
Beethoven: Fidelio (Profil)
Defying its sixty-six years the sound quality of Keilberth’s Fidelio is certainly remarkable for its age [MC]
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde (C Major)
A fine achievement which is decidedly more than the sum of its parts [MP]
Beethoven: Fidelio (Decca)
(Déjà Review) This Fidelio will surely be one of the most important releases of 2011 [JQ]
Rangström: Kronbruden (Sterling)
A fine first recording of Rangström’s most important opera [WK]
Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia (Pristine Audio)
A classic Barber returns to the catalogue in better sound than ever [ST]
Montserrat Caballé (soprano): Rossini, Donizetti, Verdi: Rarities (RCA)
A classic recording which as a collection represents a repository of all that was best about Caballé’s art [RMo]
Mozart: Don Giovanni (Channel Classics)
This new, spirited version of the opera, while not really standing out, is well worth considering [DJa]
Martin: Der Sturm (Hyperion)
(Déjà Review) Magically re-imagined and brought to harvest [RB]
Puccini: Heroines (Pentatone)
Sondra Radvanovsky demonstrates that she shares in Puccini’s gift for dramatic expression [MC]
Andrew Kennedy (tenor): Arias by Gluck, Mozart and Berlioz (Signum)
(Déjà Review) Andrew Kennedy does Berlioz proud [GF]
Halévy: La Juive (Naxos)
A warhorse in excellent performance but problematic production [SB]
