GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Rigoletto (Complete opera recorded in 1977) The Metropolitan Opera / Placido Domingo, Ileana Cotrubas, Cornell MacNeil / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 27/May/2004 ] "Yes, Rigoletto is a singer's opera, but Verdi also poured into it some of his most dramatic as well as melodic music. That said, the vivid colours of the production have come up amazingly well and the sound is clear." (MusicWeb Dec 2006) |
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOSVKY
Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin (complete opera recorded in 2007) Metropolitan Opera / Renee Fleming, Elena Zaremba, Ramon Vargas, Dmitri Hvorostovsky / Valery Gergiev (cond) [ Decca DVD / 2 DVD - released 28/Feb/2008 ] 'Miss Fleming's sympathetic, exquisitely sung Tatiana was a major achievement.' The New York Times |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Semele New Zealand Opera Chorus, Holy Trinity Cathedral Choir, New Zealand Opera Baroque Orchestra, Peter Walls [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 21/Jul/2023 ] "Amitai Pati is the pick of the bunch. The Samoan tenor is an outstanding Jupiter, bright-toned and fullvoiced, lyrical lines anchored by enough weight to make this reluctant smiter believable as both lover and thug." Gramophone |
FRANZ LEHAR
Lehar: The Merry Widow (complete operetta recorded in 1988) Opera Australia / Joan Sutherland, Ron Stevens, Ann-Maree McDonald / Richard Bonynge (cond) [ ABC Universal DVD / DVD - released 1/Mar/2011 ] The sparkling story concerns a national crisis in the picture-postcard country of Pontevedro, as the recently-widowed Hanna Glawari appears to be in danger of marrying a foreigner. |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
The Berlin Concert - Live From the 'Waldbuhne' Placido Domingo, Anna Netrebko. Rolando Villazon / Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin / Marco Armiliato [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 18/Jan/2007 ] "Three charming singing actors giving their audience a real treat, this concert is something to return to" (MusicWeb Feb 2007) |
JACQUES OFFENBACH
Offenbach: Les Contes D'Hoffman (The Tales of Hoffman) complete opera recorded in 1981 Placido Domingo / Ileana Cotrubas / Agnes Baltsa / Luciana Serra / Geraint Evans / Georges Pretre [ NVC Arts / Kultur DVD / DVD - released 6/Oct/2003 ] Placido Domingo leads an all-star cast in John Schlesinger's exciting production of Offenbach's opera. Performed at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Renee Fleming: Sacred Songs - Live from the Mainz Cathedral Renee Fleming (soprano) with the Mainzer Domchor & the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen conducted by Trevor Pinnock [ Decca Music Group Limited DVD / DVD - released 30/May/2006 ] On Sunday, 13 November 2005, the renowned American soprano, Renée Fleming, performed a selection of the world's best-loved sacred songs and arias in front of a packed audience in Mainz's beautiful Romanesque Cathedral. |
GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti: L'elisir d'amore (Complete opera recorded in 1996) Lyon Opera / Roberto Alagna, Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Scaltriti, Simone Alaimo, Elena Dan / Evelino Pido (cond) [ Decca / RM Associates DVD / DVD - released 20/Sep/2003 ] "Frank Dunlop's witty, unvarnished view of Donizetti's country comedy, updated to the 1930s, is delightful to see, wondrous to hear." Gramophone |
JOHANN STRAUSS II
Strauss, (J.): Die Fledermaus (compete opera recorded in 1984) The Royal Opera at Covent Garden / Dame Kiri Te Kanawa / Hermann Prey / Hildegard Heichele / Benjamin Luxon / Placido Domingo [ Warner Music Vision / NVC Arts DVD / DVD - released 13/Oct/2003 ] "An Austrian composer of Viennese waltzes; Johann Strauss is known as "the Waltz King." His almost 500 dance pieces are his crowning achievement, while his "Die Fledermaus" is the epitome of operetta." -ALLMUSIC |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: La Traviata (Complete opera recorded in 1994) Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Frank Lopardo, Angela Gheorghiu, Leo Nucci / Sir Georg Solti (cond) [ Decca Classics DVD / DVD - released 1/Jan/2017 ] "The singing is glorious, and this is one of the DVDs that should be the cornerstone in any collection. A superb stage spectacle." Penguin Guide Rosette Winner |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Macbeth (complete opera recorded in 2011) Royal Opera House / Simon Keenlyside, Liudmyla Monastryrska, Raymond Aceto / Antonio Pappano (cond) [ Opus Arte / BBC DVD / DVD - released 20/Apr/2012 ] "Lloyd's Covent Garden staging of Verdi's opera has a good deal going for it; there's plenty of atmosphere in Anthony Ward's aptly dark-toned sets...Keenlyside sings the title role with imagination and insight" (BBC Music) |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: Tosca (complete opera recorded in 2000) Teatro alla Scala / Maria Guleghina, Salvatore Licitra, Leo Nucci / Riccardo Muti (cond) [ EuroArts DVD / DVD - released 23/Jun/2011 ] "As Tosca, Maria Guleghina is in fine voice, and Muti supports her at every turn. Her great Act Two lament 'Vissi d'arte' is beautifully shaped, with phrases carefully structured so as not to peak too soon." MusicWeb |
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: Barber of Seville, The [Il barbiere di Siviglia] complete studio recording of the opera recorded in 1972 Teresa Berganza, Luigi Alva, Hermann Prey, Enzo Dara / Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 21/Jun/2005 ] In the 1970s, the era from which this production emanates, the director Jean Pierre Ponnelle was reaching the height of his powers. In his 1972 production at Milan's La Scala, Ponnelle designed a realistic set that still feels fresh. |
GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti: L'elisir d'amore (complete opera recorded in 2005) BLU-RAY Vienna State Opera / Anna Netrebko, Rolando Villazón, Leo Nucci, Ildebrando D´Arcangelo / Alfred Eschwé (cond) [ Erato / Warner Classics Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Nov/2015 ] Theatrical magic between Rolando Villazón and Anna Netrebko in Donizetti's delightful and ever-popular comedy L'elisir d'amore |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: La Traviata (complete opera recorded in 2005) Vienna State Opera / Anna Netrebko, Rolando Villazon, Thomas Hampson / Carlo Rizzi (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon / Unitel DVD / DVD - released 1/Jun/2006 ] Anna Netrebko, Rolando Villazón and Thomas Hampson captivated the world of opera in summer 2005 with sensational performances in the Salzburg Festival's new Traviata. |
JULES MASSENET
Massenet: Manon (complete opera recorded in 1983) Vienna State Opera / Edita Gruberova / Francisco Araiza / Pierre Thau / Adam Fischer (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 12/Dec/2006 ] "[Gruberova] has spoilt her audience with her irresistible high notes and crystalline coloratura...the casualness with which she played the coquette...culminating in her ensnarement of her beau, who was on the verge of entering the priesthood." |
CHARLES GOUNOD
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gounod: Faust (complete opera directed by Ken Russell in 1985) Vienna State Opera / Gabriela Benackova, Francisco Araiza, Ruggero Raimondi / Erich Binder (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / 2 DVD - released 23/Jun/2006 ] Gounod's crowning achievement Faust, first staged in 1859 at the Lyric Theatre in Paris, is a conflict of good and evil, love and hate. |
GILBERT and SULLIVAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gilbert & Sullivan: 12 Comic Operettas [Incls 'The Pirates of Penzance', 'The Mikado' & 'Iolanthe'] Ambrosian Opera Chorus with Clive Revill, Anne Collins, Donald Adams, Kate Flowers, John Fryatt, Keith Michell, Gillian Knight & others [ BBC / Vendetta / Umbrella DVD / 11 DVD Box Set - released 10/Aug/2014 ] Music by the London Symphony Orchestra, the Ambrosian Opera Chorus and a host of international stars including Peter Allen, William Conrad, Frank Gorshin, Joel Grey, Frankie Howerd, Peter Marshall, Keith Michell, Vincent Price and Clive... |
GILBERT and SULLIVAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gilbert & Sullivan: The Yeomen of the Guard Ambrosian Opera Chorus with Joel Grey, elizabeth Gale, Claire Powell, Alfred Marks, David Hillman & Elizabeth Bainbridge & others [ BBC / Umbrella DVD / DVD - released 10/Aug/2014 ] For more than 100 years the operas of Gilbert & Sullivan have played to packed audiences around the world. These two names have become synonymous with classic light opera - music that is timeless and tuneful lyrics that are witty, scathing and memorable. |
GILBERT and SULLIVAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gilbert & Sullivan: Ruddigore Ambrosian Opera Chorus with Vincent Price, Keith Michell, John Treleaven, Ann Howard, Sandra Dugdale, Donald Adams & Johanna Peters [ BBC / Umbrella DVD / DVD - released 10/Aug/2014 ] For more than 100 years the operas of Gilbert & Sullivan have played to packed audiences around the world. These two names have become synonymous with classic light opera - music that is timeless and tuneful lyrics that are witty, scathing and memorable. |