Recordings

August 2012

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

TheodoraCDEditor's Choice

HANDEL: Theodora

spacer Upshaw, Hunt; Daniels, Croft, Olsen; Glynde­bourne Chorus, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, W. Christie. Text. GFOCD 014-96 (3) 

Dramatic Intensity

Glyndebourne's CD release of its 1996 Peter Sellars–William Christie Theodora is one of the most satisfying of all Handel recordings.



Opera and Oratorio

WarRequiemCDBRITTEN: War Requiem
spacer Cvilak; Bostridge, Keenlyside; London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Noseda. Text. LSO Live LSO 0719
Recordings Tobias Cover 612DOVE: Tobias and the Angel
Online Exclusive
spacer Lucas, Brathwaite, Nicholls; Ebrahim, Abrahams, Laing, West, Clarke; Choruses and Ensemble of the Young Vic, Abell. Text. Chandos CHAN 10606
RusalkaCDDVOŘÁK: Rusalka
spacer Nylund, Magee, Remmert; Beczala, Held; Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor, Cleveland Orchestra, Welser-Möst. 
No libretto. Orfeo C 792 113 D (3)
SchmiedCDSCHREKER: Der Schmied von Gent
spacer Dreissig, Kuhn; Zwarg, Riemer, Randall, Gäbler, Sawaley; Oper Chemnitz Choir and Children's Choir, Robert-Schumann-Philharmonie, Beermann. German text with English translation. CPO 777 647-2 (2)

Choral and Song

Recordings Britten Cover 812BRITTEN: Songs, Volume 2
Online Exclusive
spacer Atherton, Johnston; Clayton, Hulett, N. Spence, Tritschler, Nelson; Martineau, piano. Texts and translations. Onyx Classics 4079 (2)
Recordings Accentus cover 812MENDELSSOHN: Christus & Cantates Chorales
Online Exclusive
spacer Piau; Getchell, Butter, Slaars; Accentus, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Equilbey. Libretto and translations. Naïve 5265
Recordings Montsalvatge cover 812MONTSALVATGE: "Canciones & Conciertos"
Online Exclusive
spacer With Duchonová; NDR Radio Philharmonic, Antunes. No texts or translations. Hänssler Classic CD 98.642
Recordings Stile Antico Cover 812Stile Antico: "Tune Thy Musicke to Thy Hart"
Online Exclusive
spacer Tudor and Jacobean music for private devotion. Tomkins, Campion, Byrd, Tallis, Dowland, Gibbons. Fretwork. Texts and translations. Harmonia Mundi HMU 807554

Recital

CooteCDAlice Coote and Graham Johnson: "The Power of Love"
spacer English songs. Texts. Hyperion CDA67888
Recordings Avramson cover 812Ayelet Amots-Avramson and Jonathan Zak: "Von Ewiger Liebe"
Online Exclusive
spacer Lieder by Berg, Brahms and Mahler. Texts and translations. Roméo Records 7288
Recordings Schiavo Cover 812CHERUBINI: "Arias and Overtures from Florence to Paris"
Online Exclusive
spacer Schiavo; Auser Musici, Ipata. Texts and translations. Hyperion CDA 67893
GoerneSchwanCDMatthias Goerne and Christoph Eschenbach: "SCHUBERT: Schwanengesang"
spacer Texts and translations. Harmonia Mundi HMC 902139.40 (2)
Recordings Ryland Angel cover 812Ryland Angel: "Freud und Lust"
Online Exclusive
spacer Arias and Hymns by J. C. Bach, J. S. Bach and Buxtehude; Holy Trinity Bach Players, Erickson. Texts and translations. Deux Elles 1147
PiauAmourCDSandrine Piau: "Le Triomphe de L'Amour"
spacer Arias and orchestra music by Campra, M.-A. Charpentier, Favart, Grétry, Lully, Rameau, Rebel/Francoeur and Sacchini. 
Les Paladins, Correas. Texts and translations. Naïve OP 30532
Recordings Lemper cover 812Ute Lemper: "Paris Days, Berlin Nights"
Online Exclusive
spacer Songs by Maitrier, Emer, Weill, Eisler, Piazzolla, Bogolovsky, Alberstein, and Brel. The Vogler Quartet with Stefan Malzew. Texts and translations. Steinway & Sons 30009

Historical

Recordings Historic Thaïs Cover 812MASSENET: Thaïs
Online Exclusive
spacer Forti, Hussu; Scarlini, Bastianini, Massaria; Trieste Opera chorus and orchestra, Toffolo
Recordings Historic Thaïs Cover 812PUCCINI: Il Tabarro (finale only)
Online Exclusive
spacer De Rosa; Puma, Bastianini; Orchestra and Chorus of the Norddeutsche Rundfunk, Cordone. No texts or translations. Bongiovanni Historical Opera Collection HOC 003/4
Recordings Vestale CD Cover 812SPONTINI: La Vestale
spacer Callas, Stignani; Corelli, Sordello, Rossi-Lemeni, Zaccaria; Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala Milan, Votto. Text and translation. La Scala Memories 1 (2)

Video

AdrianaDVDCILÈA: Adriana Lecouvreur
spacer Gheorghiu, Borodina; Kaufmann, Corbelli; Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Elder. Production: McVicar. Decca B0016696-09 (2 DVDs) or B0016754-59 (Blu-ray), 150 mins. (opera), 23 mins. (bonus), subtitled
XerxesDVDHANDEL: Xerxes
spacer Murray, Masterson, Garrett, Rigby; Robson, Macann, Booth-Jones; Orchestra and Chorus of the English National Opera, Mackerras. Production: Hytner. Arthaus Musik 100 077, 186 mins., subtitled 
St.Matt.PassionJ.S. BACH: St. Matthew Passion
spacer Tilling, Kožená; Padmore, Gerhaher, Lehtipuu, Quasthoff; Rundfunkchor Berlin, Berliner Philharmoniker, Rattle. 
Production: Sellars. Berlin Philharmoniker BPH120011 (2 DVDs) or BPH120012 (Blu-ray), 195 mins. (concert), 51 mins. (bonus), subtitled
PoppeaDVDMONTEVERDI: L'Incoronazione di Poppea
spacer De Niese, Bonitatibus, Quintans; Jaroussky, Cencic, Abete; Les Arts Florissants, W. Christie. Production: Pizzi. Virgin Classics 07095191 (2 DVDs), 180 mins., subtitled
OneginDVDTCHAIKOVSKY: Eugene Onegin
spacer Stoyanova, Maximova; Skovhus, Dunaev, M. Petrenko; Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Jansons. Production: Herheim. Opus Arte OA 1067 D (DVD) or OA BD7100 D (Blu-ray), 151 mins. (opera), 30 mins. (bonus), subtitled
Video Tokyo Concerts cover 812"The Tokyo Concerts"
Online Exclusive
Franco Corelli: "The 1971 Tokyo Concert"
spacer Arias and songs by di Capua, Giordano, Massenet, Meyerbeer, Puccini, Tosti, Verdi and others. Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Ventura.
Alfredo Kraus: "The 1996 Tokyo Recital"
spacer Arias and songs by Cilèa, Donizetti, Gluck, Massenet, Obradors, Scarlatti, Sorozábal and others. With Suga. Polo, cello. Arnaltes, piano. Dynamic 33718 (2 DVDs), 114 mins., no subtitles
DonCarlo1965DVDVERDI: Don Carlos (in German)
spacer Lorengar, P. Johnson; J. King, Fischer-Dieskau, Greindl, Talvela; Chorus and Orchestra of Deutsche Oper Berlin, Sawallisch. Production: Sellner. Arthaus Musik 101 621, 155 mins., black and white, subtitled
TraviataDessayDVDVERDI: La Traviata
spacer Dessay; Castronovo, Tézier; Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, London Symphony Orchestra, Langrée. Production: Sivadier. Virgin Classics 730798 9 (DVD), 139 mins., subtitled

 
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