Opera

Reviews of full operas as well as collections and recitals of arias

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]

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Remembering Tebaldi (Pentatone)

A lovely recital presenting Melody Moore as a worthy inhabitant of the pantheon of the present generation of sopranos [GF]

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Lully: Acis et Galatée (Dynamic)

A premiere filming of Lully’s major stage work: intelligent production, convincing performance [RWe]

Stravinsky Oedipus Rex Gatti Dynamic DVD 37981

Stravinsky: Oedipus Rex (Dynamic)

A decent concert performance of Stravinsky’s great work, with a rarity to precede it [SB]

Weill Propheten Capriccio C5500

Weill: Propheten (Capriccio)

An interesting world premiere and a masterly reading of the Whitman songs [GF]

Leoncavallo’s Zazà

A survey by Ralph Moore

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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]

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Monologues (Prospero)

An outstanding album, groundbreaking in repertoire and programming, beautifully performed and recorded [GPu]

HERRMANN Wuthering Heights chandos

Herrmann: Wuthering Heights (Chandos)

Cathy finally comes home in Herrmann’s magnum opus superbly performed [NB]

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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 CDS796702

Refice: Cecilia (Dynamic)

Excellent orchestral playing, choral singing and conducting compromised by sub-par solo voices and thus a missed opportunity [RMo]

Caldara Bass Arias Pan PC10447

Caldara: Arias for Bass (Pan Classics)

It is good to have almost a dozen never before recorded arias from Caldara in excellent readings [GF]

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Handel: Tamerlano (Avie)

(Déjà Review) A great work which deserves to be discovered or rediscovered through this fine set [KM]

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Franck: Hulda (Bru Zane)

This splendid recording reveals Franck’s opera to be a work of power and beauty [SB]

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Donizetti: La Favorita (Pristine Audio)

Donizetti sung boldly, but not always stylishly [MP]

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Handel: Arminio (Erato)

All Handel lovers will want to own this, the first recording of Arminio [KM]

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Mattheson: Boris Goudenow (cpo)

Anyone with an interest in baroque opera should contemplate the acquisition of this premiere recording [GF]

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Berlioz: Les Troyens (LSO Live)

(Déjà Review) The finest opera CD I have heard this year [MB]

Puccini: Turandot (C Major)

A dazzling Turandot that spectacularly misses the point [LD]

wagner fliegende hollander deutsche grammophon

Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer (Deutsche Grammophon)

(Déjà Review) An unusual and challenging interpretation with exceptional performances by the two leads [AO]

HERRMANN Wuthering Heights chandos

Herrmann: Wuthering Heights (Chandos)

Extracts from an almost unknown superb opera raise hopes for a new complete recording [PCG]