Opera

(Déjà Review) A great recording of a great opera with especially marvellous conducting and singing [VM]

(Déjà Review) An exceptionally powerful musical and dramatic experience [GPJ]

A magnificent and comprehensive testament to the supremacy of the greatest singing actress of the 20C [RMo]

A benchmark production of Offenbach’s opéra bouffe, subtle yet full of colour [RW]

by Ralph Moore

The old Leinsdorf recording with Bergonzi and Price will never be redundant, but this is an admirable newcomer [GF]

An excellent production of a much-recorded opera that vies with the best [GF]

Stunning singing from a great dramatic soprano who might have done more but chose otherwise [RMo]

A French baroque opera exhumed in a tasteful and satisfying first recording [MP]

Two fine Berlioz performances from John Nelson [JQ]

The ace that trumped Solti [LD]

A winner in almost every respect featuring a new edition with an entire Act of previously unperformed music [MP]

A modern-dress production that plays it pretty straight, and a very strong singing team [ST]

(Déjà Review) This issue will be prized by admirers of the two principals, but there are drawbacks [CH]

A timely issue to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Caruso’s birth [GF]

A fine transfer of Flagstad’s farewell to the Metropolitan in a performance of great dignity [RMo]

(From the Archive) A conspectus in four parts by Bob Farr

Enjoyably tuneful music, a delight in these attractive accounts [RMay]

A classic staging and superlative cast return to the catalogue, newly minted on Blu-ray [MP]

A neglected baroque opera providing a surfeit of beauty, best enjoyed over a couple of days [NF]

Probably the most charming comic Italian opera since Falstaff in a fizzing studio performance [GF]

A gramophone stereo classic from the 50s is given yet more lustre by this splendid remastering [RMo]

Rousset’s lively new version of Psyché offers the listener much pleasure [MP]

A splendid way to explore some of the composer’s lesser-known operettas [MC]