Opera

Reviews of full operas as well as collections and recitals of arias

Alvarez VerdiTenor Decca

The Verdi Tenor: Marcelo Alvarez (Decca)

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

Tippett: A Child of Our Time (London Philharmonic Orchestra)

An outstanding performance [JQ]

Verdi nizza CDS7721

Verdi: This is my Verdi (Dynamic)

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

Rossini: Adina (C Major)

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

Wagner: Lohengrin (Unitel)

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

Castor Alpha 1148

Rameau: Castor et Pollux (Alpha Classics)

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

Gluck ferrier ALC1034

Gluck: Opera Highlights (Alto)

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

Donizetti LElisirDAmore OpusArte

Donizetti: L’elisir d’amore (Opus Arte)

The elixir of love conquers all [PH]

operacomiquecollection naxos

Adam, Hahn & Offenbach: Operas (Naxos)

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

Mozart: Idomeneo (BR Klassik)

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

Donizetti: L’Elisir d’amore (VAI)

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

billybudd virginclassics

Britten: Billy Budd (Virgin Classics)

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

Offenbach Orphee WarnerClassics

Offenbach: Orphée aux Enfers (Warner Classics)

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

strauss salome opusarte

Strauss: Salome (Opus Arte)

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

Strauss: Elektra (Capriccio)

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

Bembo: L’Ercole Amante (cpo)

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

Mozart: Die Zauberflöte (Pristine Audio)

With Pristine’s remastering, this becomes a worthy alternative to more modern recordings [GF]

Weldon: The Judgment of Paris (AAM)

A vivacious and engaging competition-winning masque performed with real style [JW]

Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer (Naxos)

Vocally flawed and dramatically inert; you can do much better with either a vintage recording or the recent Decca issue [RMo]

Ravel: L’Enfant et les sortilèges & L’heure Espagnole (Deutsche Grammophon)

A sparkling pair of Ravel’s contrasting operas, justifying their status as “gramophone classics” [RMo]

mozart idomeneo brklassik

Mozart: Idomeneo (BR Klassik)

A new Idomeneo and another excellent release from Rattle and the Bavarians [PH]

Purcell DidoandAeneas Erato

Purcell: Dido and Aeneas (Erato)

An enjoyably theatrical recording [SWe]

d’Orléans: Suite d’Armide ou Jérusalem délivrée (Château de Versailles)

A Baroque masterpiece that has been skillfully prepared but is compromised by irritating microphone placement [MP]

Donizetti Zoraida 58068

Donizetti: Zoraida di Granata (Dynamic)

A classy production of an unfamiliar opera with a more than respectable cast of singers [MP]