Opera
Reviews of full operas as well as collections and recitals of arias
Martinů: Le Jour de Bonté (Arco Diva)
(Déjà Review) Charming and interesting, and leaves you hungry for more [ST] One of the highlights and discoveries of the Martinů celebrations [RB]
Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) A starry cast, with a classic performance from Gottlob Frick, achieving not quite the sum of its parts [DBe]
The recordings of Ewa Podleś
A survey by Ralph Moore
de Hartmann: Esther (Pentatone)
The first recording of de Hartmann’s only opera, finely sung and played, in first-rate sound [EJW]
Puccini: Heroines (Pentatone)
An impressive, if not vocally perfect, recital from an experienced Puccini singer [DJa]
The Story of Janáček’s Jenůfa (Moravské Zemské Muzeum)
A comprehensive, beautifully assembled and illustrated history of the genesis and first performances of one of the most performed operas in the world [JW]
Bizet: Carmen (Château de Versailles Spectacles)
Two decent principal singers adrift in a sea of poor voices – a dispiriting issue [RMo]
Strauss: Elektra (Chandos)
Wonderful orchestral playing but variable singing [SB]
Cilèa’s L’Arlesiana – A survey of the recordings
by Ralph Moore
Dédé: Morgiane, ou, Le sultan d’Ispahan (Delos)
The first opera by a Black American turns out to be revelatory, despite forces unequal to the composer’s imagination [MP]
Bellini: Norma (Decca)
Admirable in many regards [DBe]
Respighi: Maria Egiziaca (Naxos)
A more than respectable recording of Respighi’s pallid, mystic hybrid of opera and oratorio [MP]
Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (Prima Classic)
A one-dimensional Boccanegra, no match for Abbado’s classic [ST]
Verdi: La traviata (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) An excellent bargain which competes with the very best versions on record [DBe]
Richard Strauss: Electra (Chandos)
An orchestrally fine Elektra, but the singing is not up to scratch [ST]
Verdi: La traviata (ICA Classics)
(Déjà Review) An enormously subtle creation enshrined for posterity [RMo]
Donizetti: Roberto Devereux (Dynamic)
A fine production of one Donizetti’s strongest operas [RWe]
Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier (Opus Arte)
(Déjà Review) This live recording has a great deal to offer [GF]
Puccini: La fanciulla del West (Walhall)
Tebaldi’s best Minnie, well-partnered, too – but in mono [RMo]
R Strauss: Elektra (Warner Classics)
(Déjà Review) A sensible and impressive performance with no significant weak links [DH]
Vivaldi: Il Bajazet (Naxos)
Naxos offers a real performance with warmth and life which compensates for some blemishes among the voices [MP]
Pacini: Il convitato di pietra (Naxos)
A different take on a well-known story is accompanied by a Pacini’s sure composition and an enjoyable first public performance [RJF]
Giordano’s Fedora – A survey of the recordings
by Ralph Moore
Keiser: Der Carneval von Venedig (cpo)
A first recording which benefits from splendid engineering but some of the singing lacks the final degree of polish [MP]
