mp
Mike Parr
Strauss: Salome & Elektra (Pristine Audio)
Straussian excellence from seven decades ago silences any of the more recent competition [MP]
Passages: French Cello Music (Bridge)
Louise Dubin brings her talents to this recital of cello delights [MP]
Dédé: Morgiane, ou, Le sultan d’Ispahan (Delos)
The first opera by a Black American turns out to be revelatory, despite forces unequal to the composer’s imagination [MP]
Respighi: Maria Egiziaca (Naxos)
A more than respectable recording of Respighi’s pallid, mystic hybrid of opera and oratorio [MP]
Vivaldi: Il Bajazet (Naxos)
Naxos offers a real performance with warmth and life which compensates for some blemishes among the voices [MP]
Johann Strauss II: Waldmeister (cpo)
An enthusiastic cast is featured in the first recording of Strauss’s final operetta [MP]
Rossini: Adina (Naxos)
The ongoing Rossini Wildbad series acquires a new and exquisite addition to its ranks [MP]
Mozart: Mass in C minor (AliaVox)
An intriguing new performing version of Mozart’s great unfinished Mass [MP]
Donizetti: Songs (Naxos)
A lively and rewarding collection of 19th century song [MP]
Humperdinck: Das Mirakel (Capriccio)
It is a modern miracle to welcome to disc this forgotten worldwide sensation from 1911 [MP]
Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier (Pristine Audio)
Pristine delivers a top notch refurbishment of this classic recording [MP]
Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor (EuroArts)
This is chiefly of interest to fans of the star soprano who want a souvenir of her in this role [MP]
Smyth: Der Wald (cpo)
A really successful recording which can’t get the better of this somewhat thorny opera [MP]
Mozart: L’Enlèvement du sérail (Château de Versailles Spectacles)
A mixed bag of achievements for the first recording in French of Mozart’s singspiel [MP]
Talbot: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Opus Arte)
Alice remains a sheer delight 15 years later, and is now available in high definition [MP]
Bizet: The Fair Maid of Perth (Pristine Audio)
Beecham gives a classic account of this gem of a score [MP]
Vivaldi: La Gloria e Imeneo (Naïve)
A revelatory addition to the ongoing series of the complete works of Vivaldi [MP]
Lawrence Brownlee (tenor), Erin Morley (soprano): Golden Age (Pentatone)
A superb recital which should find a welcome home under any Christmas tree [MP]
Giacomelli: Cesare in Egitto (Alpha Classics)
Great talent and energy from all concerned for a Baroque rediscovery that might have been best left undisturbed [MP]
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]
Bembo: L’Ercole Amante (cpo)
A fine, newly discovered Baroque opera receives a confident debut recording [MP]
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 di Granata (Dynamic)
A classy production of an unfamiliar opera with a more than respectable cast of singers [MP]
