Opera
Reviews of full operas as well as collections and recitals of arias
Verdi: Noble Renegades – recital (Delos)
Sound, solid singing does not compensate for a lack of tonal variety, elegance and refinement [RMo]
Britten: Billy Budd (Orfeo)
An interesting Billy Budd, but not a library choice [ST]
Verdi: Don Carlo (Orfeo)
Not only die-hard Verdians but all serious opera lovers should give it a try [GF]
Rossini: Guillaume Tell (Orfeo)
(Déjà Review) I enjoyed the fluency and vibrancy of this live performance [RJF]
Wagner: Siegfried (Pristine Audio)
This third instalment of the Knappertsbusch Ring will not disappoint enthusiasts [SB]
Pene Pati (tenor): Nessun Dorma (Warner Classics)
That Pene Pati is a talented tenor far beyond the ordinary is obvious, and I hope he isn’t tempted to take on heavier roles too early [GF]
Adams: Girls of the Golden West (Nonesuch)
An uneven opera but it’s presented in a performance that crackles with electricity [JQ]
Sommernachtskonzert Schönbrunn 2024 (Sony Classical)
An excellent souvenir [RWe]
Bizet: Carmen (Pristine Audio)
An authentically French, operetta-style Carmen of the kind you will not hear today – but over-refined and lacking punch [RMo]
Sonya Yoncheva (soprano) The Courtesan (SY11 Productions)
A captivating album of arias on a courtesan theme [MC]
Roberto Alagna (tenor): Roberto Alagna 60 (Aparté)
A vital and compelling celebration of Roberto Alagna’s 60th birthday [GF]
Gerhard: La Dueña (Chandos)
An opera with patches of real brilliance in a more than acceptable recording [MP]
Huw Montague Rendall (baritone): Contemplation (Erato)
A debut recital that every lover of great singing should treasure [GF]
Donizetti: Don Pasquale (Warner Classics)
A good alternative choice recording featuring some very winning performances among the cast [MP]
Hindemith: Die Harmonie der Welt (Wergo)
An excellent performance and recording of this magnificent, all but unknown opera [PSh]
Verdi: Noble Renegades – Scenes & Arias (Delos)
A stimulating and well-sung programme with lots of atmosphere from the stage [GF]
Mozart: Idomeneo (Archiv Produktion)
Idomeneo tastefully presented but takes the risk of being too often over-refined [MP]
Meyerbeer: Le prophète (LSO Live)
It is pleasing to see Meyerbeer operas receiving attention and this live recording is first-class [MC]
Raff: Samson (Schweizer Fonogramm)
Raff’s Biblical epic is splendidly served by this premiere recording [JW]
Rimsky-Korsakov: Kashchey the Immortal (Philips)
A decent representation of Rimsky-Korsakov’s rarely staged opera [MP]
Günther Groissböck (bass) I live alone in my heaven (Gramola)
A profile of the singer Günther Groissböck – no revelations, but there’s always the voice [ST]
Wagner: Die Walküre (Pristine Audio)
This second instalment of Knappertsbusch’s 1956 Ring is very acceptable [SB]
Wagner: Siegfried (Profil)
Superlative singing whose impact is somewhat compromised by the disappointingly cavernous mono sound [RMo]
Christine Brewer (soprano) Great Operatic Arias (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) Chandos’s faith in Brewer has been justified, completely and utterly [CC]
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