Recordings

Reviews of the latest opera CDs and DVDs — both remastered reissues of the greats and new recordings by today's most notable artists.

• Opera and Oratorio
• Choral and Song
• Recital
• Historical
• Video
• Musical Theater

Opera and Oratorio

RUDERS: Kafka's Trial Subscribers Only Stille, Rørholm; van Hal, Henning-Jensen; Royal Danish Opera Chorus and Orchestra, Søndergård. DACAPO 8.226042-43

A. SCARLATTI: La Giuditta Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only Ricci, Fernandez; Oro, Di Donato, Rostand; Le Parlement de Musique, Gester. Texts and translations. Ambronay AMY1004

GOSSEC: La Triomphe de la République Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only Haller, Balducci, Laurens; Sakurada, Danuser, Marzorati, Huttenlocher; Coro della Radio Svizzera and Coro Calicantus, I Barocchisti, Fasolis. Text and translation. Chandos Chaconne CHAN 0727

VIVALDI: Motezuma Subscribers Only Invernizzi, Kalna, Beaumont, Basso, Mijanovic; Priante; Il Complesso Barocco, Curtis. Text and translation. Archiv B0006490-02 (3 CDs)

HAYDN: Orlando Paladino Subscribers Only Petibon, Hartelius, von Magnus; Schade, Güra, Schäfer, Gerhaher, Kalpers, Boesch; Concentus Musicus Wien, Harnoncourt. Sony BMG 82876 HAYDN: The Seven Last Words of Our Savior on the Cross Piau, Sandhoff; Getchell, van der Kamp; Accentus, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Equilbey. Naïve V5045

HANDEL: Saul Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only Argenta, Reviol; Varcoe, Chance, LeBrocq, Berner; Die Hannoversche Hofkapelle, Maulbronner Kammerchor, Budday. No text or translations. K&K Verlagsanstalt LC 11277 (2)

MEYERBEER: Semiramide Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only Riedel, Peretyatko, Janes; Adami, Silva, Gierlach; Altensteig Rossini Choir, Württemberg Philharmonic Orchestra, Bonynge. No text or translation. Naxos 8.660205-06

HANDEL: Solomon Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only Wolak, E. Scholl, Wemyss; Schoch, Vieweg; Junge Kantorei, Frankfurt Baroque Orchestra, Martini. Texts available online. Naxos, 8.557574-75

SALLINEN: The King Goes Forth to France Subscribers Only Rantanen, Paasikivi, Palo, Nykänen, Thum; Hakala, Korhonen, Anttila, Wallén, Kinnunen; Finnish Philharmonic Chorus, Tapiola Chamber Choir, Helsinki Philharmonic, Kamu. Text and translation. Ondine ODD-1066-2D (2)

GLASS: The Voyage Subscribers Only Robertson, Bormann, Lichter, Vasar, Ratzenböck; Lerche, Lettner, Diaz, Mason; Chorus of the Landestheater Linz, Bruckner Orchester Linz, Davies. English text. Orange Mountain Music omm0017 (2)

Choral and Song

MONTEVERDI: Il Sesto Libro de Madrigali Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only Concerto Italiano, Alessandrini. Naïve OP30423

MONTEVERDI: Vespers Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only Sampson, Outram; Auchincloss, Mulroy, Daniels, Gilchrist, Harvey, Evans, Macdonald; The King's Consort and Choir, King. Texts and translations. Hyperion CDA67531/2 (2)

Recital

Felicity Lott and Roger Vignoles: "Fallen Women and Virtuous Wives" Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only Songs by Brahms, Coward, Fauré, Poulenc, Strauss, Wolf and others. Texts and translations. Wigmore Hall Live WHLive004

James Bowman and Kenneth Weiss: "Songs for Ariel" Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only Songs by Dowland, Purcell, Handel, Rubbra, Vaughan Williams, Britten, Warlock, Tippett, Howells and Gant. Texts. Satirino Records SR 052

Joyce DiDonato and Julius Drake: "A Journey Through Venice" Subscribers Only Songs and arias by Fauré, Hahn, Handel, Head and Rossini. Texts and translations. Wigmore Hall Live WHLIVE0009

Renée Fleming and Brad Mehldau: "Love Sublime" Subscribers Only Songs by Brad Mehldau. Texts. Nonesuch 79952-2

Historical

R. STRAUSS: Arabella Subscribers Only Della Casa, Trötschel, Malaniuk, Nentwig, Michaelis; Uhde, Fehenberger, Proebstl, Klarwein, Hoppe, Peter; Chorus and Orchestra of the Bavarian State Opera, Kempe. Notes; libretto can be downloaded from website. Testament SBT2 1367

Russell Oberlin: "Music of John Blow and Henry Purcell" Subscribers Only With Bressler, countertenor, and chamber ensemble. No libretto. VAI Audio 1258

Video

WAGNER: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Subscribers Only Häggander, Schiml; Jerusalem, Weikl, Prey, Schenk, Clark, Hölle; Bayreuth Festival Orchestra and Chorus, Stein. DG B0006780-09, 268 mins., subtitled

PUCCINI: Gianni Schicchi Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only Matthews, Schalaewa, McLaughlin, Palmer; Giordano, Corbelli, Roni, Novaro; London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jurowski. Opus Arte OA 0918 D, 74 mins., subtitled

György Kurtág: The Matchstick Man Peter Eötvös: The Seventh Door Subscribers Only Juxtapositions DVD DVD9DS16 (Naxos, dist.) 137 mins.

BELLINI: I Capuleti e i Montecchi Subscribers Only Farcas, Gardina; Patti, Tagliavini; Orchestra Lirica i Pomeriggi Musicali, Mianiti. Production: C. Muti. Kicco Classics KCOU 9012 (VAI, dist.), 141 mins., subtitled

ROSSINI: La Gazzetta Subscribers Only Forte; Praticò, Workman, Spagnoli; Orchestra Academy of the Gran Teatre del Liceu and Intermezzo Choir, Barbacini. Production: Fo. Opus Arte OA 0953 D, 156 mins., subtitled

VERDI: La Traviata Subscribers Only Amsellem; Bros, Bruson; Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Real, López-Cobos. Production: Pizzi. Opus Arte OA 0934 D, 175 mins., subtitled

Montserrat Caballé and Marilyn Horne: "Two Gala Concerts: Evviva Belcanto & Le Grande Primadonne" Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only Arias and duets by Vivaldi, Handel, Rossini, Mercadante, Meyerbeer, Offenbach, Puccini. Munich Radio Orchestra, Rescigno. Kultur D4049, 88 mins., subtitled

ADÈS: Powder Her Face Subscribers Only Plazas, Buck; Norman, Broadbent; Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Adès. Production: M. Williams. Digital Classics DC 10002 (Kultur, dist.), 110 mins., subtitled

"The Salzburg Festival" Subscribers Only Documentary directed and edited by Tony Palmer. Isolde Films. ORF Digital Classics DVD DC10016 (Kultur, dist.), 195 mins., subtitled in part

Musical Theater

"Highlights from Musicals and Operettas" Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only Excerpts from works by Benatzky, Coward, Cuvillier, Gershwin, Fraser-Simson, Friml, Herbert, Kerker, Kern, Lehár, Monckton, Novello, Norton, Romberg, Stolz, Straus, Strauss, Sullivan, Tate, Wright & Forrest, Youmans, etc. EMI Classics for Pleasure 335 9482 through 9922 (various numbers)

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BREAKING News

• 
  June 09
  Bruno Bartoletti, Longtime Artistic Director of Lyric Opera of Chicago, Has Died
• June 03
  Devastating Floodwaters Force Cancellation of Halle's Handel Festival
• 
  May 31
  Claramae Turner, 92, Great American Contralto, Has Died
• 
  May 16
  Andris Nelsons Appointed Boston Symphony Orchestra Music Director