Opera
Reviews of full operas as well as collections and recitals of arias
Britten: Albert Herring (Opus Arte)
An unmatchable and irreplaceable video makes a welcome return to the catalogues [PCG]
Atterberg: Aladin (cpo)
A decent performance of Atterberg’s last opera, a tuneful rendition of a fairy tale in an exotic musical setting [EJW]
Handel: Acis and Galatea (Dorian)
A delightful recording that captures the energy of a live performance [KM]
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (Opus Arte)
Sir Bryn Terfel triumphs in Mussorgsky’s original vision of his conscience-stricken Tsar [PCG]
Graun: Silla (cpo)
A premiere recording that is mainly of interest to Opera Seria completionists [MP]
Rossini: Il turco in Italia (C Major)
A delightfully entertaining modern take on Rossini brings overtones of Fellini to the action [PCG]
Handel: Theodora (Opus Arte)
A radical feminist staging for a very well-sung account of Handel’s late masterpiece [RWe]
Mozart: Arias for Aloysia Weber (Glossa)
An attractive collection no lover of Mozart will regret acquiring [GF]
d’Albert: Die Toten Augen (cpo)
(Déjà Review) You will want to luxuriate in this fine score [RB]
Remembering Tebaldi (Pentatone)
A lovely recital presenting Melody Moore as a worthy inhabitant of the pantheon of the present generation of sopranos [GF]
Lully: Acis et Galatée (Dynamic)
A premiere filming of Lully’s major stage work: intelligent production, convincing performance [RWe]
Stravinsky: Oedipus Rex (Dynamic)
A decent concert performance of Stravinsky’s great work, with a rarity to precede it [SB]
Weill: Propheten (Capriccio)
An interesting world premiere and a masterly reading of the Whitman songs [GF]
Leoncavallo’s Zazà
A survey by Ralph Moore
Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (Morrison Music Trust)
(Déjà Review) With the frisson of live recording and none of the drawbacks, this set can confidently be recommended on all counts [TH]
Albéniz: Henry Clifford (Decca)
(Déjà Review) Recommended for those looking for a vivid unfamiliar score to get their teeth into [LF]
Verdi: Un ballo in maschera (Pentatone)
In no way does this new recording displace its illustrious predecessors except in terms of the clarity of its digital sound [RMo]
Monologues (Prospero)
An outstanding album, groundbreaking in repertoire and programming, beautifully performed and recorded [GPu]
Herrmann: Wuthering Heights (Chandos)
Cathy finally comes home in Herrmann’s magnum opus superbly performed [NB]
Puccini: Manon Lescaut (Deutsche Grammophon)
(In Memoriam Déjà Review) Forget the limitations of this early video transcript and glory in Puccini’s music and the committed acting and singing [RJF]
Refice: Cecilia (Dynamic)
Excellent orchestral playing, choral singing and conducting compromised by sub-par solo voices and thus a missed opportunity [RMo]
Caldara: Arias for Bass (Pan Classics)
It is good to have almost a dozen never before recorded arias from Caldara in excellent readings [GF]
Handel: Tamerlano (Avie)
(Déjà Review) A great work which deserves to be discovered or rediscovered through this fine set [KM]
Franck: Hulda (Bru Zane)
This splendid recording reveals Franck’s opera to be a work of power and beauty [SB]
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Featured Naxos review |
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