Opera

The Gambler arrives at the Salzburg Festival [PH]

by Philip Harrison

A challenging production, but very rewarding if you give it a go, and the singing is sensational [ST]

(Déjà Review) A feel-good CD that will put a smile on one’s face [MMB]

A typically thought-provoking Calixto Bieito production of Handel’s masterpiece, well sung and played [DHa]

Once again, Pristine breathes new life into an imperishable classic of the gramophone [RMo]

Prokofiev’s masterly opera about greed and desperation is presented in brilliant performances and a fine if somewhat controversial production [RC]

The Holy Grail available complete at last: The 1938 Met Parsifal [PH]

(Déjà Review) A worthy survey of Alvarez’s Verdi career [ST]

An outstanding performance [JQ]

A pleasing Verdi program, but the singer herself falls short [SV]

A sprightly, colourful rendition of a little-known opera, essential for all Rossini fans [CRo]

Fully cooked singing in a half-baked production [ST]

An accomplished and stylistically faithful account of Rameau’s third opera [RMo]

Ferrier brings real passion, classical purity and strength of line [RH]

The elixir of love conquers all [PH]

A collection of Parisian delicacies served in fine style [MP]

This new Idomeneo is almost the one we have all been waiting for [MP]

(Déjà Review) Strictly for opera addicts interested in how it used to be done [RJF]

(Déjà Review) Has changed the whole way I listen to Billy Budd (AO]

(Déjà Review) Singers who know how to sing Offenbach and to act it [JPJ]

(Déjà Review) I’ll be coming back to this again and again [ST]

(Déjà Review) Varnay and Fischer are superb, alas in compromised sound [DH]

A fine, newly discovered Baroque opera receives a confident debut recording [MP]