Recordings

December 2012

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

MissionCDEditor's Choice

Cecilia Bartoli: "Mission"

spacer Music of Agostino Steffani. With Jaroussky; Conte, lute; Coro della Radiotelevisione Svizzera, I Barocchisti, Fasolis. Decca 478 4732 

Perfect Match

Cecilia Bartoli’s disc of music by Agostino Steffani is a highly impressive act of excavation — and an ideal vehicle for her gifts.



Opera and Oratorio

CarmenRattleCDBIZET: Carmen
spacer Kožená, Kühmeier; Kaufmann, Smoriginas, Van Horn, Schuen; Chorus and Children's Chorus of the Berlin Staatsoper, Berlin Philharmonic, Rattle. EMI 50999 4 40285 2 7 (2)
AlessandroCDHANDEL: Alessandro
Subscribers Only
spacer Gauvin, Lezhneva; Cencic, Sabata, Khoroshev, Sancho, Sim; Armonia Atenea, Petrou. Libretto and translation. Decca 478-4699 (3)
Recordings Schopfung boston cover 1212HAYDN: Die Schöpfung 
Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only
spacer Forsythe; Jameson, Deas; Boston Baroque, Pearlman. Linn Records 401 (2)
DonGiovCDMOZART: Don Giovanni
spacer Damrau, DiDonato, Erdmann; D'Arcangelo, Villazón, Pisaroni, Wolff, Kowaljow; Vocal Ensemble Rastatt, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Nézet-Séguin. Text and translation. Deutsche Grammophon 477 9878 (3)
Recordings Pierre Medicis COver 1212PONIATOWSKI: Pierre de Médicis (highlights)
Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only
spacer Buczek, Postrozna; Chang, Hollý, Sempey, Hirano. Szymanowski Philharmonic Festival Chorus, Krakow Festival Orchestra, Caldi. No libretto. SMP 201202
Rosenk_CDR. STRAUSS: Der Rosenkavalier
Subscribers Only
spacer Fleming, Koch, Damrau; Kaufmann, Hawlata, Grundheber; Theaterkinderchor am Helmholtz-Gymnasium Karlsruhe, Philharmonia Chor Wien, Münchner Philharmoniker, Thielemann. Notes, text and translations. Decca/Unitel Classica 478 1507

Choral and Song

Recordings Missa Solemnis Cover 1212BEETHOVEN: Missa Solemnis
Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only
spacer Schwanewilms, Jahns; Schukoff, Henschel; London Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, Eschenbach. Notes, text and translation. London Philharmonic Orchestra LPO 0061
Recordings Mahler CD Cover 1212MAHLER: Kindertotenlieder (arr. Schoenberg); Lieder eines Fahrenden Gesellen (arr. Riehn)
Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only
spacer Mingardo; Musici Aurei, Piovano. Texts and translations. Eloquentia EL 1233
Recordings Missa Cover 1212MOZART: Missa Solemnis; Vesperae Solennes de Dominica; Regina Caeli
Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only
spacer Russell, Markeby; Oxley, Wilson-Johnson; St. Paul's Cathedral Choir, St. Paul's Mozart Orchestra, Carwood. Texts and translations. Hyperion CDA67921

Recital

VonOtterSognoCDAnne Sofie von Otter: "Sogno Barocco"
spacer Music by Cavalli, Monteverdi, Provenzale, Rossi. With Piau, Sundberg; Ensemble Cappella Mediterranea, García Alarcón. Texts and translations. Naïve V 5286
GarancaRomCDElīna Garanča: "Romantique"
Subscribers Only
spacer Arias by Berlioz, Donizetti, Gounod, Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky, Vaccai et al. Filarmonica del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Abel. Deutsche Grammophon 479 0071
GauvinPrimaCDKarina Gauvin: "Prima Donna"
Subscribers Only
spacer Arias by Handel, Vinci and Vivaldi. Arion Orchestre Baroque, Weimann. Texts and translations. ATMA Classique 2 2648
Recordings Petersen Cover 1212Marlis Petersen and Jendrik Springer: "Das Ewig-Weibliche"
Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only
spacer Notes, texts and translations. Harmonia Mundi HMC 902094
PetibonNouvCDPatricia Petibon: "Nouveau Monde"
Subscribers Only
spacer La Cetra, Marcon. Texts and translations. Deutsche Grammophon 479 0079

Historical

Recordings Boris Cover 1212MUSSORGSKY: Boris Godunov
Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only
spacer Carlyle, Resnik, Veasey; Gostic, Lanigan, O. Kraus, Evans, Christoff, Rouleau, D. Kelly; Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Kubelik. No libretto. Myto 00312 (3)
Recordings Tosca Cover 1212PUCCINI: Tosca
Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only
spacer Crespin; Di Stefano, O. Kraus, Robinson; Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, E. Downes. No text or translation. MYTO 2 CD 00311
Recordings Vaughan Williams Cover 1212VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: On Wenlock Edge; Merciless Beauty; Prelude on Three Welsh Hymn-Tunes; Five Tudor Portraits 
Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only
spacer Rankin; Young, Anderson; Watson, piano; Sebastian String Quartet; the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Steinberg. Texts and notes. Extra feature: "Bach — The Great Bourgeois" (lecture by Vaughan Williams). Albion ALBCD 014
Recordings Gavazzeni Trovatore lg 1212VERDI: Il Trovatore
Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only
spacer Tucci, Simionato; Bergonzi, Cappucilli, Vinco; Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Gavazzeni. Text and translation. Skira Classica/La Scala Memories 8 (2)

Video

BolshoiDVDBolshoi: A Renaissance
spacer A film by Denis Sneguirev. Bel Air Classiques BAC075, 54 mins., subtitled
KoukourgiDVDCHERUBINI: Koukourgi
Subscribers Only
spacer Soyarslan; D. Prohaska, Chum; Chorus and Extra Chorus of the Stadttheater Klagenfurt, Kärntner Sinfonieorchester, Marschik. Production: Köpplinger. Arthaus Musik 101 638, 115 mins., subtitled
RomeoBluRyGOUNOD: Roméo et Juliette
Subscribers Only
spacer Machaidze, Kemoklidze; Secco, Borras, Rucinski, Giuseppini; Chorus and Orchestra of Arena di Verona, Mastrangelo. Production: Micheli. Bel Air Classiques BAC481 (Blu-ray) or BAC081 (2 DVDs), 177 mins., subtitled
Video Cage Cover 1212"How to Get Out of the Cage: A Year with John Cage"
Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only
spacer Directed by Frank Scheffer. EuroArts 2059168, 56 mins. (documentary), 92 mins. (bonus)
MacabreDVDLIGETI: Le Grand Macabre
spacer Hannigan, Moraleda, Puche, Liang; Asawa, Merritt, Van Mechelen, F. Olsen; Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Boder. Production: La Fura dels Baus. Arthaus Musik 101 643 (2 DVDs) or 108 058 (Blu-ray), 122 mins. (opera), 42 mins. (bonus), subtitled
Video Music Air Cover 1212"Music in the Air: A History of Classical Music on Television"
Online ExclusiveSubscribers Only
spacer A film by Reiner E. Moritz. Arthaus Musik 101 640, 85 mins., subtitled
FlemingStraussBluRyRenée Fleming: "Richard Strauss: Lieder, Eine Alpensinfonie"
Subscribers Only
spacer And "Mein Elemer!" from Arabella. Wiener Philharmoniker, Thielemann. Opus Arte OA BD7101 D (Blu-ray) or OA 1069 D (DVD), 84 mins., subtitled 
OtelloDVDVERDI: Otello
Subscribers Only
spacer Tebaldi; Beirer, Dooley; Chorus and Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Patanè. Production: H. Lehmann. Arthaus Musik 101 644, black and white, 150 mins., subtitled
WagnerDreamDVDWagner's Dream
spacer The Making of the Metropolitan Opera's New Der Ring des Nibelungen. Directed by Susan Froemke. Deutsche Grammophon 001735609 (DVD) or 001735559 (Blu-ray), 114 mins., subtitled 

 
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