Opera
Reviews of full operas as well as collections and recitals of arias
Bizet: Carmen (Pristine Audio)
Pristine Audio newly preserves Le Conte’s achievement in making Carmen as crisp and light as a freshly made churro [MP]
Janáček: Jenufa (Erato)
(Déjà Review) A fine record of a great series of performances, particularly memorable for Karita Mattila in the title role and the playing of the Royal Opera House Orchestra [RH]
Paer: Sofonisba (Opera Rara)
A wholly admirable performance of a significant opera composer who was active immediately before Rossini [RJF]
Teatro La Fenice Opera Collection Vol 1 (Dynamic)
A mixed bag of operatic performances from La Fenice contains some unexpected riches, but the choice of repertoire is unusual [PCG]
Martinů: Julietta (Supraphon)
(Déjà Review) Surreal music drama defying operatic convention, illuminated by Martinů’s gorgeous yet poetically fastidious palette [RB]
Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) A superb rendition of the opera [RMg]
Massenet: Grisélidis (Bru Zane)
An admirable revival of one of Massenet’s most varied, inventive, yet neglected scores [RMo]
Donizetti: Il diluvio universale (Dynamic)
A strong cast is sabotaged by a pointless production which is visually distracting in the extreme [MP]
Zandonai: Francesca da Rimini (Urania)
A classic vintage account of a complex, absorbing, yet neglected opera in excellent mono sound, sung by a stellar cast [RMo]
Amelita Galli-Curci (soprano): Operatic arias Vol. 1 (Nimbus Records)
A truly great lyric coloratura soprano of the early 20th century, showcased in first-rate transfers [RMo]
Handel: Arias (Sony Classical)
Another highly attractive addition to my already impressive collection of present-day mezzos [GF]
Weber: Der Freischütz (C Major)
An extravagant, gothic horror funfest from beginning to end [MP]
Donizetti: L’aio nell’imbarazzo (Naxos)
Not a forgotten masterwork but an early comedy worth rescuing from almost total oblivion for 200 years [GF]
Donizetti: Grand Seigneur – Baritone Arias (Dynamic)
A valuable collection of rarely heard scenes from Donizetti’s operas [GF]
Busoni: Doktor Faust (Naxos)
A new recording of Busoni’s operatic masterpiece which falls short of expectations in a number of aspects [PCG]
Britten: Gloriana (Arthaus Musik)
The closest recorded representation of the full operatic experience [MG]
Corfield Godfrey: Blithe Spirit (Prima Facie)
A fascinating and entertaining black comedy bordering on surrealism; maybe not for listeners with weak hearts [GF]
Puccini: Turandot (Pristine Audio)
A thrilling – though not flawless – performance enhanced by Pristine’s remastering [RMo]
Tchaikovsky: Pique Dame (RCA)
A fine testament to five great singers at the top of their game in this beautifully engineered live recording [MP]
Puccini: Love Affairs (Sony Classical)
Not a great recital disc, but of enough quality and interest to make it worth considering [PSt]
Rihm: Jakob Lenz (Oehms Classics)
A good performance of an uningratiating work [SB]
Bellini: Norma (Divina Records)
Simply one of the greatest ‘bel canto’ performances on record [MBu]
Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel
A survey by Lee Denham
Erlanger: La sorcière (B Records)
A tremendous performance of an unexpectedly compelling French rarity [PSt]
