Opera
Reviews of full operas as well as collections and recitals of arias
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]
Macfarren: The Soldier’s Legacy (Retrospect Opera)
A highly melodic Victorian opera – good tunes, vivacious duets, trio and quartets [JF]
Lortzing: Der Waffenschmied (Capriccio)
By and large, a worthy reading of Der Waffenschmied, and it is good to see a brand-new recording of the work [GF]
A guide to the best recordings of Gluck’s operas
by Ralph Moore
Verdi: Aïda (Pristine Audio)
A superlative transfer of an Aida which should be in every serious opera collection [PSt]
Marina Rebeka (soprano) Voyage (Prima Classic)
An attractive programme of songs by French composers [MC]
Handel: Giulio Cesare (Harmonia Mundi)
Probably the best DVD version and one of the best in any format [BW]
Auber: Le Philtre (Naxos)
This light-hearted comedy is charming entertainment and the presentation is worthy [GF]
Rautavaara: The Gift of the Magi (Arthaus Musik)
(Déjà Review) An intelligent, small-scale opera well performed, and accompanied by a moderately interesting documentary [Gpu]
Donizetti: Signor Gaetano (Pentatone)
A welcome debut recital which promises much for the future of bel canto singing [MP]
Korngold: Die Kathrin (cpo)
(Déjà Review) Music of your most romantic dreams and packing a grand emotional punch [RB]
Verdi: Rigoletto (Opus Arte)
An imaginative and involving production, but flawed by some intrusive and insensitive vulgarities [PCG]
Handel: Eternal Heaven (Erato)
Music making of the highest order for anyone with an open mind for whom no borderlines exist [GF]
Verdi: Falstaff (Urania)
Though Sir Geraint Evans is rather gruff and dry-toned, this lavishly cast recording is worth anyone’s money [GF]
Sibelius: The Tempest (Naxos)
Kamu has the measure of Sibelius’s complete Tempest music [LW]
Verdi: Aida (Pristine Audio)
Pristine’s typically successful remastering into Ambient Stereo helps appreciate afresh the virtues of this classic recording [RMo]
Jonathan Tetelman (tenor) Arias (Deutsche Grammophon)
Tetelman will win many new admirers with this outstanding debut album [MC]
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen (Naxos)
An innovative and at times challenging production, with high calibre singing and playing [RWe]
Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia (Pristine Audio)
Pristine delivers this classic Barbiere in an airy and better-balanced revision, free of hiss and noise [MZ]
Macfarrren: The Soldier’s Legacy (Retrospect Opera)
Macfarren’s 1864 ballad-chamber-pastoral-Opera da Camera for four singers [JW]
Mozart: Cosi fan tutte (Pristine Audio)
A glorious documentation of the high standards of the ensemble at the Royal Stockholm Opera more than 80 years ago [GF]
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Featured Naxos review |
Featured Naxos review |
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