Opera
Reviews of full operas as well as collections and recitals of arias
Martinů: Julietta (Supraphon)
(Déjà Review) Surreal music drama defying operatic convention, illuminated by Martinů’s gorgeous yet poetically fastidious palette [RB]
Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) A superb rendition of the opera [RMg]
Massenet: Grisélidis (Bru Zane)
An admirable revival of one of Massenet’s most varied, inventive, yet neglected scores [RMo]
Donizetti: Il diluvio universale (Dynamic)
A strong cast is sabotaged by a pointless production which is visually distracting in the extreme [MP]
Zandonai: Francesca da Rimini (Urania)
A classic vintage account of a complex, absorbing, yet neglected opera in excellent mono sound, sung by a stellar cast [RMo]
Amelita Galli-Curci (soprano): Operatic arias Vol. 1 (Nimbus Records)
A truly great lyric coloratura soprano of the early 20th century, showcased in first-rate transfers [RMo]
Handel: Arias (Sony Classical)
Another highly attractive addition to my already impressive collection of present-day mezzos [GF]
Weber: Der Freischütz (C Major)
An extravagant, gothic horror funfest from beginning to end [MP]
Donizetti: L’aio nell’imbarazzo (Naxos)
Not a forgotten masterwork but an early comedy worth rescuing from almost total oblivion for 200 years [GF]
Donizetti: Grand Seigneur – Baritone Arias (Dynamic)
A valuable collection of rarely heard scenes from Donizetti’s operas [GF]
Busoni: Doktor Faust (Naxos)
A new recording of Busoni’s operatic masterpiece which falls short of expectations in a number of aspects [PCG]
Britten: Gloriana (Arthaus Musik)
The closest recorded representation of the full operatic experience [MG]
Corfield Godfrey: Blithe Spirit (Prima Facie)
A fascinating and entertaining black comedy bordering on surrealism; maybe not for listeners with weak hearts [GF]
Puccini: Turandot (Pristine Audio)
A thrilling – though not flawless – performance enhanced by Pristine’s remastering [RMo]
Tchaikovsky: Pique Dame (RCA)
A fine testament to five great singers at the top of their game in this beautifully engineered live recording [MP]
Puccini: Love Affairs (Sony Classical)
Not a great recital disc, but of enough quality and interest to make it worth considering [PSt]
Rihm: Jakob Lenz (Oehms Classics)
A good performance of an uningratiating work [SB]
Bellini: Norma (Divina Records)
Simply one of the greatest ‘bel canto’ performances on record [MBu]
Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel
A survey by Lee Denham
Erlanger: La sorcière (B Records)
A tremendous performance of an unexpectedly compelling French rarity [PSt]
Handel: Fernando, Re di Castiglia (Erato)
(Déjà Review) A delightful score, fortunate here in being both sensitively and expressively performed [IB]
Verdi: Don Carlo (Orfeo)
The best live Italian version in the best sound available [RMo]
Donizetti: Pia de’ Tolomei (Dynamic)
The whole production is effective both visually and dramatically [RJF]
Wagner: Tannhäuser (Warner Classics)
After 64 years this recording remains a major contender despite a couple of flaws in the casting [MP]
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Featured Naxos review |
Featured Naxos review |
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