Opera

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]

Great sound, conducting, choral singing and orchestral playing, but only one principal singer who really comes up to scratch [RMo]

An overview by Jack Lawson

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

A welcome sound première recording for one of Cavalli’s more dramatically involving operas [PCG]

Cavalieri’s pioneering work given a modern interpretation with mixed results [PCG]

Welcome first appearance on disc of Joseph Bologne’s only surviving opera [CRo]

Netrebko’s star shines brightly in the otherwise dull Salzburg night’s sky [LD]

(Déjà Review) Both performance and engineering are of the highest quality [GD]

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

In vocal terms this is arguably the finest complete recording of Aïda in the catalogue, in a sterling new transfer [MP]

(Déjà Review) Verdi singing does not come much better than this [RJF]

A spectacular staging of a visually impressive and finely performed Ring from Bulgaria [GT]

(Déjà Review) There are plenty of reasons for having this as well as the Callas/De Sabata [CH]

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