Opera
Reviews of full operas as well as collections and recitals of arias
Weber: Oberon (Philips)
(Déjà Review) Playing and singing beautifully tailored to the score; an endless kaleidoscope of subtle colours [MC]
Spontini: La Vestale (Bru Zane)
Rousset and his team breathe new life into what is now the top choice recording for Spontini’s greatest opera [MP]
Verdi: Don Carlo (C Major)
A splendid memento of a magnificent production, despite too many cuts having been inflicted on the score [MP]
Britten: Noye’s Fludde (Pristine Audio)
Two world première Britten recordings remastered by Pristine make an enticing offering [PCG]
Lincke: Frau Luna (cpo)
A rare example of German operetta, well performed but flawed yet again by inadequate documentation [PCG]
Mozart: …che cosa è amor… (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) I have derived much pleasure from this disc and I expect many opera lovers will like it too [GF]
Handel: Cleofida, Königin von Indien (cpo)
Enriches the Händel discography and provides insight into Telemann’s talents as an arranger [DF]
Gounod: Faust (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Some of the most glorious tenor singing ever recorded [GF]
Mascagni: L’amico Fritz (Dynamic)
A very good way to discover the attractions of Mascagni’s second opera [RWe]
Handel: Serse (Linn)
Highlights the variety of Handel’s invention and showcases a superb lead singer [RMo]
Bizet: Carmen (DG)
(Déjà Review) A great evening at the opera, crowned by Grace Bumbry’s great performance of Carmen [CH]
Offenbach: La Périchole (Apex)
(Déjà Review) 67 minutes of unalloyed joy [RJF]
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde – An Orchestral Passion (Oehms Classics)
A brisk and brusque compendium of the main Tristan themes for the impatient, would-be Wagnerian [RMo]
Scarlatti G: I portentosi effetti della Madre Natura (Deutsche Harmonia Mundi)
A totally forgotten opera that every lover of 18th century opera should hasten to acquire [GF]
Rossini: Elisabetta regina d’Inghilterra (Opera Rara)
An interesting alternative to the older Philips set, with another excellent cast [RMo]
Springtime in Amsterdam (Naxos)
An enjoyable and intriguing film that’s well worth seeking out [RMay]
Herrmann: Wuthering Heights (Chandos)
A great and extremely effective recording drenched in splendour [RB]
Korngold: Violanta (Sony Classical)
(Déjà Review) A great recording of a great opera with especially marvellous conducting and singing [VM]
Britten: The Turn of the Screw (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) An exceptionally powerful musical and dramatic experience [GPJ]
La Divina Maria Callas in all her roles (Warner Classics)
A magnificent and comprehensive testament to the supremacy of the greatest singing actress of the 20C [RMo]
Offenbach: La Périchole (Naxos)
A benchmark production of Offenbach’s opéra bouffe, subtle yet full of colour [RW]
Three Harder-to-find Rossini Operas
by Ralph Moore
Verdi: Un ballo in maschera (Pentatone)
The old Leinsdorf recording with Bergonzi and Price will never be redundant, but this is an admirable newcomer [GF]
Monterverdi: L’Orfeo Château de Versailles
An excellent production of a much-recorded opera that vies with the best [GF]
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