Opera
Reviews of full operas as well as collections and recitals of arias
Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer (Decca)
A fine Dutchman whose focus is firmly centred upon Lise Davidsen’s radiant Senta [RMo]
Flury: Casanova e l’Albertolli (Toccata Classics)
An opera from the byways of Flury’s lighter output, to be enjoyed as a communal experience [EJW]
Verdi: Il trovatore (Pristine Audio)
Pristine elevates the sonic experience of hearing two great artists in their Met debuts [RMo]
Vivaldi: Arsilda (Naïve)
An important addition to Naïve’s ongoing series of the complete works of Vivaldi [MP]
Meyerbeer: Le prophète (LSO Live)
An excellent performance of an unjustly neglected opera [RMas]
An Inter-war Chronology of Opera
by Philip Harrison
The less-well-known operas of Richard Strauss
by Ralph Moore
Ponchielli: I Lituani (Accentus Music)
I Lituani may not be on the same level as La Gioconda, but it shows that Ponchielli wasn’t a one-work composer [GF]
Donizetti: Alfredo il Grande (Naxos)
No masterwork but an interesting find reawakened after two centuries [GF]
Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (Opera Rara)
This must now become first choice for the original version [RMo]
Vaughan Williams: The Poisoned Kiss (Chandos)
Undemanding delight, witty repartee, romantic enchantment [RB]
R Strauss: Arabella (Naxos)
A disappointing version of a disappointing work [SB]
Puccini: Tosca (Deutsche Grammophon)
The best Tosca released in the past half-century [GF]
Rameau: Castor et Pollux (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) A good place to start if you do not know Rameau’s fascinating operas [RH]
Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (Opera Rara)
Revelatory and thoroughly engrossing [DF]
Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer (Decca)
A tour de force from the leading dramatic soprano of the modern age [PH]
Boito: Nerone (Dynamic)
A valiant effort all-around but the cast is largely disappointing in vocal accomplishment [MP]
Gounod: Romeó et Juliette (Pristine Audio)
This issue must now be the top recommendation for this classic historic performance [GF]
Antheil: Venus in Africa (cpo)
A late satiric opera by Antheil, splendidly realised, devoid of Bad Boy but not devoid of spice and wit [JW]
Donizetti: Francesca di Foix (Opera Rara)
(Déjà Review) All lovers of the bel canto genre will want to add this well-packaged and presented performance to their collection [RJF]
Tippett: New Year (NMC)
Utopia, dreams, rituals: the essence of Tippett in his final opera [PH]
Blodek: V studni (Supraphon)
A comic Czech opera recorded in 1959 heard for the first time in stereo [JW]
Puccini: Turandot (Pristine Audio)
A thrilling live performance, worth hearing, if not the last word in Nilsson/Corelli versions of Turandot [PT]
Puccini: La bohème (Decca; Warner Classics)
Quite similar recordings, both with many but different strengths, so difficult to choose between [RMo]
