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An incandescent central performance heads an excellent ensemble cast under Mackerras’ renowned leadership [MP]

A pleasing but hardly essential recording of Rossini’s opera, noteworthy for being the first recorded in stereo [MP]

A touchstone recording which is hard to beat for its general excellence and superbly detailed sound [MP]

A pleasant romp through the realm of French patriotic music and beyond [MP]

Perhaps not the finest La Gioconda recording but a deeply satisfying one nonetheless [MP]

Not ideal in every respect, this recording is a fine achievement nonetheless [MP]

A recording of power and presence, but with some really disfiguring cuts to the music [MP]

An important album. One which may surprise those who admire this tenor’s Mozart recordings [MP]

The most authentically French recording of Carmen from the stereo era [MP]

Sign me up for this regiment: this recording is as good as it gets [MP]

Be sure this makes it under your next Christmas tree [MP]

Beautiful sounds in big-boned arrangements which are best sample piecemeal rather than all at once [MP]

This remains a powerful experience 49 years after its initial release [MP]

An exciting, red-blooded performance, captured live in the clearest sound of any available version [MP]

A feast of stylish bel canto singing for the two stars but the rest of the cast can only struggle though [MP]

A near total success that still wins the day among available recordings [MP]

Massenet’s opera is superbly rejuvenated in a recording which sweeps the field of all other versions [MP]

A dazzling achievement all around [MP]

Pleasant music in good but not exceptional performances [MP]

A movingly immersive experience [MP]

Impressive and likely to remain unchallenged for a very long time [MP]

A real Winner! [MP]

An interesting operatic curiosity featuring lush writing for the orchestra and chorus [MP]

A jewel of a recording, splendidly remastered by Pristine [MP]