Opera
Reviews of full operas as well as collections and recitals of arias
Galuppi: L’Olimpiade (Dynamic)
(Déjà Review) A desirable acquisition for lovers of baroque opera [GF]
Stenhammar: Tirfing (Sterling)
Impressive performance of a neo-Wagnerian opera [NB]
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte (Pristine Audio)
A historical issue, the first Magic Flute to include dialogue, given a facelift and maintaining its significance after seventy years [PCG]
Janáček: The Makropulos Affair (SOMM Recordings)
A very fine and fitting centenary tribute to Sir Charles Mackerras [JQ]
Vivaldi: La Gloria e Imeneo (Naïve)
A revelatory addition to the ongoing series of the complete works of Vivaldi [MP]
Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro (Pristine Audio)
A classic recording, with a great conductor and stellar singers, gets the Pristine treatment [RMo]
Strauss R: Elektra (Solo Musica)
Listeners seeking a completely unabridged Elektra may want to give this haphazard ‘karaoke version’ a miss [SSc]
Bruch: Arminius (cpo)
(Déjà Review) This recording is very welcome [CF]
Chausson: Le roi Arthus (Erato)
Heavily derivative of its Wagnerian models, Chausson’s sole opera intermittently impresses but is overlong and somehow remains unmemorable [RMo]
Lawrence Brownlee (tenor), Erin Morley (soprano): Golden Age (Pentatone)
A superb recital which should find a welcome home under any Christmas tree [MP]
Strauss: Salome (Chandos)
(Déjà Review) Real emotional and sonic surge [DH]
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen (Testament)
Greater than the “Recording of the Century” [LD]
Janáček: The Makropulos Affair (SOMM Ariadne)
An invaluable release [DHa]
Verdi: La forza del destino (Naxos)
A great Callas performance in a wonderful Verdi opera [PBW]
Rossini: Il Turco in Italia (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Has some fine qualities, especially its leading lady [RJF]
Purcell: Dido and Aeneas (Château de Versailles Spectacles)
A new presentation, strong and full of woe, but only partially successful [PH]
Giacomelli: Cesare in Egitto (Alpha Classics)
Great talent and energy from all concerned for a Baroque rediscovery that might have been best left undisturbed [MP]
Gluck: Iphigénie en Tauride (Decca)
(Déjà Review) Fully in touch with Gluck’s keen sense of drama [ST]
Piazzolla: María de Buenos Aires (Brilliant Classics)
A fine, vigorous performance, but what a shame there are no texts [SB]
Prokofiev: The Gambler (Unitel Edition)
The Gambler arrives at the Salzburg Festival [PH]
2000 – An opera retrospective
by Philip Harrison
Offenbach: Les Contes d’Hoffmann (Unitel Editions)
A challenging production, but very rewarding if you give it a go, and the singing is sensational [ST]
Gassmann: Opera Overtures (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) A feel-good CD that will put a smile on one’s face [MMB]
Handel: Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Naxos)
A typically thought-provoking Calixto Bieito production of Handel’s masterpiece, well sung and played [DHa]
