mp

Mike Parr

wagner rheingold karajan deutsche grammophon

Wagner: Das Rheingold (Deutsche Grammophon)

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

Gerhard: La Dueña (Chandos)

An opera with patches of real brilliance in a more than acceptable recording [MP]

Donizetti: Don Pasquale (Warner Classics)

A good alternative choice recording featuring some very winning performances among the cast [MP]

Mozart Idomeneo Gardiner Archiv 4316742

Mozart: Idomeneo (Archiv Produktion)

Idomeneo tastefully presented but takes the risk of being too often over-refined [MP]

Rimsky-Korsakov: Kashchey the Immortal (Philips)

A decent representation of Rimsky-Korsakov’s rarely staged opera [MP]

Monteverdi: Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria (Sony Classical)

An audio treasure trove of fine performances, in an orchestration contrary to modern period performance dictates [MP]

Rossini: Ermione (Naxos)

A happy release due to Fogliani’s impressive conducting, although there are a few reservations about the singing [MP]

meyerbeer prophete lso live

Meyerbeer: Le prophète (LSO Live)

A welcome release that promises much but doesn’t always deliver [MP]

Verdi: Rigoletto (Warner Classics)

A powerful recording with much to commend it in spite of a few failings among the cast [MP]

Meyerbeer: L’Africaine (Naxos)

A welcome chance to reassess Meyerbeer’s posthumous opera in a new critical edition [MP]

Rossini: Le Siège de Corinthe (C Major)

A fine cast of singers are thrown out to sea by a pointless, dismal production [MP]

Wagner: Lohengrin (RCA)

There is much to savour in this 59 year-old set [MP]

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Tchaikovsky: None But The Lonely Heart (Naxos)

The singing is especially good from some impressive young singers but the staging… [MP]

Donizetti Maria de Rudenz Inbal Warner Fonit 2564698616

Donizetti: Maria de Rudenz (Warner Fonit)

Coarse at times, but often exciting, as one would expect a bleeding nun to be [MP]

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Mozart: Così fan tutte (Deutsche Grammophon)

Despite cuts and a less than perfect ensemble, the sense of being a part of an exciting occasion is boldly realized here [MP]

Le Berger Innocent – recital (Ricercar)

This fills a gap in the musical repertoire of the French Rococo [MP]

Mademoiselle Duval: Les Génies (Château de Versailles Spectacles)

A Baroque opera rarity is one of CVS’s happiest releases of recent years [MP]

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R Strauss: Intermezzo (Warner Classics)

The only studio recording of Strauss’s biographical opera is a complete winner on all front [MP]

janacek katya kabanova lso live

Janáček: Káťa Kabanová (LSO Live)

A good cast and excellent sound are featured on Rattle’s challenge to the Mackerras hegemony [MP]

Massenet Le Cid Domingo Bumbry Sony 88697454942

Massenet: Le Cid (Sony Classical)

This version of Massenet’s opera is somewhat marred by the coarse recording, but there are a few thrills to be encountered nonetheless [MP]

wagner tristan isolde warner

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde (Warner Classics)

Beautiful sonorities throughout but the conductor’s approach is an emotional letdown and hampers the stellar cast [MP]

Stravinsky: The Nightingale (Sony Classical)

Stravinsky’s own recording is a flawed yet pleasurable account of this little opera [MP]

J Strauss II Der Zigeunerbaron Philharmonia Ackermann EMI 5675352

J Strauss II: Der Zigeunerbaron (EMI Classics)

Johann Strauss’ Hungarian operetta truly sparkles in a performance that commands the field in spite of its age [MP]

Wagner: Die Feen (Orfeo)

A very fine cast and excellent sound makes this a decent version of Wagner’s difficult first opera [MP]