Opera

A pleasure to be reacquainted with Callas’s Norma in this remastering of her second studio recording [PT]

An under-rated, somewhat overlooked recording featuring an array of superb voices, very well conducted [RMo]

Wilson and his colleagues do full justice to this Broadway masterpiece [JQ]

Langgaard’s richly iconoclastic opera undermined and subverted by an over-rich iconoclastic staging [PCG]

Pristine’s splendid enhancement of this recording into Ambient Stereo further minimises the differences between this and Callas’ recording seven years later [RMo]

For all that I thoroughly enjoy this recording, the less textually correct Bonynge still retains its places in the affections [RMo]

De los Ángeles is a winning Butterfly in this classic set, now reissued by Pristine [PT]

A valuable Penderecki rediscovery undermined by problems of preparation and presentation [PCG]

(Déjà Review) I will treasure this disc as a record of a fine singer at a wonderful peak in her career [RH]

A stunning new high resolution transfer of this classic recording [MP]

(Déjà Review) This is a recording which instilled in me a love of the opera which has so far not died; it will surely do the same for many new listeners [CH]

A marvellous restoration of an old and half-forgotten recording [GF]

A beautiful, subtle, yet fully effective portrait of grief [MBu]

An attractive programme, very well sung, with several rarities [GF]

An interesting and enterprising recital but a question mark over the suitability of the voice for some of the material [PT]

The best new Parsifal recording since Kubelik [SSc]

A survey by Ralph Moore

Sound, solid singing does not compensate for a lack of tonal variety, elegance and refinement [RMo]

An interesting Billy Budd, but not a library choice [ST]

Not only die-hard Verdians but all serious opera lovers should give it a try [GF]

(Déjà Review) I enjoyed the fluency and vibrancy of this live performance [RJF]

This third instalment of the Knappertsbusch Ring will not disappoint enthusiasts [SB]

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]

An uneven opera but it’s presented in a performance that crackles with electricity [JQ]