Opera
Reviews of full operas as well as collections and recitals of arias
Mozart: La clemenza di Tito (Deutsche Grammophon)
(Déjà Review) May not outdo the competition completely but belongs up there among the best [GF]
The Last Castrato, Arias for Velluti (Château de Versailles)
Valuable both for the singing of Fagioli and for the rare repertoire that has been rescued for posterity after two centuries of neglect [GF]
Busoni: Doktor Faust (Dynamic)
This production does not quite support the opinion that Doktor Faust is one of the great operas [RWe]
Wolf-Ferrari: Il segreto di Susanna (Oehms Classics)
Wolf-Ferrari’s charming one act opera in an excellent performance which will do very nicely [PT]
Bellini: Norma (Pristine Audio)
By general consensus, the essential Norma recording, now in a superior transfer [RWe]
Cavalli Statira (Opus 111)
(Déjà Review) A dramatically vivid performance of the Neapolitan version of Cavalli’s opera [RH]
Bellini: Norma (Pristine Audio)
Five stars for Pristine’s sound rejuvenation but apart from Callas, the performance doesn’t live up to the quality of the transfer [MP]
Puccini: Madama Butterfly (Opus Arte)
This complements but does not replace Opus Arte’s 2018 filmed performance [RWe]
Dvořák: Rusalka (Arthaus Musik)
(Déjà Review) A very welcome DVD release of one of English National Opera’s finer achievements [JL]
Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (Opera Rara)
A great recording of a classic of the Verdi canon in its original version [PH]
Massenet: Hérodiade (Naxos)
An exciting and well sung account of Massenet’s biblical opera [RWe]
Boito: Nerone (Dynamic)
A fine presentation of Boito’s unjustly neglected opera [WK]
Massenet: Le mage (Bru Zane)
This revival of a rare Massenet opera is compromised by a lack of melodic memorability and some less than ingratiating singing [rmo]
Mozart: Mitridate, Re di Ponto (C Major)
Very high musical standards are let down by a disappointing production [MP]
Handel: Lotario (Naxos)
A thoroughly enjoyable, very well sung and played – if rather small-scale – performance of a neglected Handel opera [RMo]
Weber: Overtures (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) Delicate contrasts of mood and bright clear recording [RW]
Gluck: Iphigénie en Aulide (Alpha Classics)
A very fine new account of a neglected great opera [RWe]
Handel: Ópera Viva (IBS Classical)
Underwhelming singing compromises the attractiveness of this medley of Handel numbers from his operas played in strict period style [RMo]
Turnage: Greek (Decca)
(Déjà Review) Whether uncomfortable or not this remains essential listening for lovers of contemporary music theatre [TH]
Verdi: Il trovatore (Pristine Audio)
This Pristine remastering is now the best option for hearing a classic, vintage account [RMo]
Donizetti: Roberto Devereux (Naxos)
The cast as a whole makes this the best set so far [GF]
Saimir Pirgu (tenor): Saimir (Opus Arte)
A recital of popular mostly verismo arias, but the singing leaves a great deal to be desired [PT]
Getty: Goodbye, Mr. Chips (Pentatone)
A touching opera, finely sung, permeated by deep humanity [GF]
Telemann: Ino (cpo)
Telemann’s dramatic cantata “Ino” alongside an attractive selection of his opera arias [CRo]
