mp
Mike Parr
Żeleński: Janek (Naxos)
A buttoned–up attempt to transfer verismo opera to Poland, simply misses the point [MP]
Graun: Silla (cpo)
A premiere recording that is mainly of interest to Opera Seria completionists [MP]
Soaked in Colour (Fuga Libera)
There are a few winners here, but no consistency [MP]
Caplet: Le Miroir de Jésus (BR Klassik)
This illuminating performance is worth investigating [MP]
Fatma Said (soprano) (Warner Classics)
A ravishing debut album that heralds a great future for this artist [MP]
Donizetti: La Favorita (Pristine Audio)
Donizetti sung boldly, but not always stylishly [MP]
Spontini: La Vestale (Bru Zane)
Rousset and his team breathe new life into what is now the top choice recording for Spontini’s greatest opera [MP]
Verdi: Don Carlo (C Major)
A splendid memento of a magnificent production, despite too many cuts having been inflicted on the score [MP]
von Tilzer: Into Eternity (trptk)
This includes a handful of important compositions that provide a deeply touching experience [MP]
Ave Maria (Decca)
A feast of gorgeous singing and despite a few odd inclusions, his legions of fans will love it [MP]
Desmarest: Circé (Château de Versailles Spectacles)
A French baroque opera exhumed in a tasteful and satisfying first recording [MP]
Offenbach: La Vie Parisienne (Naxos)
A winner in almost every respect featuring a new edition with an entire Act of previously unperformed music [MP]
Atlantic Crossings (Gramola)
An offbeat concept produces a very rewarding album [MP]
Verdi: Falstaff (C Major)
A classic staging and superlative cast return to the catalogue, newly minted on Blu-ray [MP]
Lully: Psyché (Château de Versailles Spectacles)
Rousset’s lively new version of Psyché offers the listener much pleasure [MP]
Stravinsky: The Soldier’s Tale (Hallé)
A fine achievement all around [MP]
Verdi: Aïda (Pristine Audio)
In vocal terms this is arguably the finest complete recording of Aïda in the catalogue, in a sterling new transfer [MP]
Bellini: Bianca e Fernando (Dynamic)
A first video release of Bellini’s early work features some attractive singing and an elegant, if quirky, production [MP]
Wolf-Ferrari: Das Himmelskleid (Naxos)
A fine performance of an opera that may be best left forgotten [MP]
Donizetti: Signor Gaetano (Pentatone)
A welcome debut recital which promises much for the future of bel canto singing [MP]
Mattheson: Boris Goudenow (CPO)
A long hidden operatic version of Boris Godunov gets its first recording with a respectable cast of young performers [MP]
Rimsky-Korsakov: Christmas Eve (Naxos)
A superlative cast in a crisply modern, but relatively faithful production of a rarely performed opera [MP]
Verdi: French Rarities (Dynamic)
One new Verdi discovery combined with some previously released material, all neatly performed [MP]
Mozart & Salieri: Requiem (Chateau Versailles)
A very interesting pairing on a single CD but the performance achieves mixed results [MP]
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