Opera
Reviews of full operas as well as collections and recitals of arias
Cesare Siepi (bass) (Nimbus Prima Voce)
Hearing Cesare Siepi in his mature youth is a treat indeed [GF]
Handel: Semele (Opus Arte)
A modern take on a Handelian opera which for once makes dramatic sense, and is good fun as well [PCG]
Mascagni: L’amico Fritz (Dynamic)
The Pavarotti- Freni recording still reigns, but this newest version is a worthy competitor [GF]
Puccini: Turandot (Pristine Audio)
Revitalised sound permits us to re-appreciate the manifest virtues of this recording, despite its flaws [RMo]
Alwyn: Miss Julie (Lyrita)
(Déjà Review) Difficult to imagine a more focused or fervent performance [CC]
Gevorg Hakobyan (baritone): Arias of Love and Sorrow (Delos)
Uncertain singing, but honest music-making and interesting repertoire [GF]
Donizetti: La favorita (Pristine Audio)
Superbly remastered, a second-rank Donizetti opera blighted by Poggi’s unattractive contribution [RMo]
Amate Stelle (Glossa)
Baroque opera enthusiasts should snap up this disc [GF]
Porpora: L’Angelica (Dynamic)
This world premiere recording is an appetising taster for more Porpora [GF]
Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail
A survey by Ralph Moore
Josephine Barstow (soprano) Final Scenes (Decca)
For me, the two outer tracks alone make this anthology of final scenes compulsory [RMo]
Puccini: Turandot (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) The pleasure that Caballé’s beautiful tone and imaginative approach gives is enormous [JS]
Schreker: Irrelohe (Sony Classical)
Exotically scored but melodically diffuse, this melodrama is given the best possible advocacy [RMo]
Szymanowski: Hagith (Polish Ministry of Culture)
A reissue of a unique and valuable recording undermined by catastrophic failures of presentation [PCG]
Cherubini: Les Abencérages (Bru Zane)
This first studio recording of Cherubini’s Les Abencérages is especially valuable [MC]
Mozart: Die verstellte Gärtnerin (CPO)
The new reference recording of Mozart’s Die verstellte Gärtnerin [DF]
Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro (Arthaus)
(Déjà Review) Technically dated and sung in German, but with a cast that sing and act to the manner born [GF]
Strauss: Elektra (Sterling)
A thrilling piece of live theatre commemorating the career of a great singer, despite cuts [RMo]
Puccini: Turandot (Warner Classics)
A fine entry to the Turandot discography with the original conclusion by Alfano [LD]
Mozart’s Idomeneo
A survey by Ralph Moore
Tchaikovsky: Iolanta/Stravinky: Mavra (Bayerische Staatsoper)
A marriage made in hell does no favours to either partner – perhaps we might hope for a divorce? [PCG]
Gomes: Salvator Rosa (Regis)
(Déjà Review) One can but thank Dorset Opera for their enterprise [CF]
Vivaldi: La Senna festeggiante (Château de Versailles Spectacles)
If you have no recording of this work in your collection, this is a good choice [JV]
Wagner: Golden Ring (Decca)
A sampler for the newly remastered Decca/Solti Ring demonstrates that the improvements are more than simply cosmetic [PCG]
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Featured Naxos review |
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