GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Requiem (recorded in 2012) BLU-RAY Anja Harteros, Elina Garanca, Jonas Kaufmann, Rene Pape / Orchestra e coro del Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Daniel Barenboim [ Decca Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/May/2015 ] "It's a 'through-composed' linked-up performance, paced withy a dramatic curve that makes even the punchiest Italian-led ones..feel like number opera...The non-Italian soloists are in good fearless voice and aurally well integrated into this concept" |
MAYR / ROSSINI / MOSCA / COCCIA / PAER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Arias for Marietta Marcolini - Rossini's first muse Ann Hallenberg (mezzo-soprano) / Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Fabio Biondi [ Naive / CD - released 20/Sep/2012 ] "Hallenberg is up to all the acrobatics Marcolini seems to have revelled in, her warm mezzo managing the writing's difficulties with assurance and articulating text and notes with flair...The accompaniments are well-managed under Fabio Biondi." BBC |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Schubert: Complete Songs - Schubert and his Friends (I) Ann Murray (mezzo soprano), Graham Johnson (piano) [ Hyperion / CD ] 'In Ann Murray we have a worhy successor in the Ferrier/Baker line, a lovely voice used with great sensitivity' (Which CD) |
ANONYMOUS / TRADITIONAL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: The Last Rose of Summer Ann Murray (mezzo-soprano), Graham Johnson (piano) [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 12/Jul/2005 ] 'Not in the profoundest Schubert, the most exquisite Fauré, has either of them performed with more delicacy and refinement, more tenderness, humour, and ... passion, than they do here' - Gramophone |
CAVALLI
Cavalli: La Didone (complete opera recorded in 2011) BLU-RAY Anna Bonitatibus, Kresimir Spicer, Xavier Sabata, Maria Streijffert / Les Arts Florissants, William Christie (cond.) & Clément Hervieu-Léger (dir.) [ Opus Arte Bluray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/Feb/2013 ] "Christie's direction can almost be taken to guarantee a fine performance and that's the case here...If you wish to have only one Cavalli recording in your collection, this would vie strongly for that honour" MusicWeb International, October 2012 |
GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (complete opera filmed in 2006) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / Jonas Kaufmann, Anna Caterina Antonacci, Ildebrando D'Arcangelo / Antonio Pappano (conductor) [ Decca Music Group Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 25/Jan/2017 ] BLU-RAY - 'Kaufmann and Antonacci are that rare breed: superb singers who can also act with subtlety and passion' The Guardian |
HOWARD / RICHTER / ARAKELYAN / ZIMMER / PRICE / ESENVALDS
Anna Lapwood - Luna Anna Lapwood (organ) [ Sony Classical / CD - released 10/Nov/2023 ] "The organist, choir leader and TikTok star's wonderful new album provides a compelling showcase for the organ's ability both to be barely there and to swallow a concert hall whole...The results are illuminating and inspiring." The Sunday Times |
ANTHONY RITCHIE
New Zealand Poets in Song Anna Leese (soprano) Matthew Leese (piano) [ Ode Records / CD - released 20/Oct/2008 ] New Zealand Poets In Song is the latest release featuring the music of Anthony Ritchie. The songs on this recording span 26 years, and signify many happy collaborations between Anthony Ritchie and various New Zealand poets. |
GAETANO DONIZETTI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Donizetti: Don Pasquale (complete opera recorded in 2010) BLU-RAY Metropolitan Opera / Anna Netrebko, Matthew Polenzani, John Del Carlo / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophone Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 26/May/2011 ] A red hot ticket at the Metropolitan Opera in 2010/2011 was Donizetti's comic gem, Don Pasquale, with Anna Netrebko reviving Norina, the part that made her a star in New York. |
JULES MASSENET
Massenet: Manon (Complete opera recorded in 2007) Staatsoper unter den Linden, Berlin / Anna Netrebko / Rolando Villazon / Alfredo Daza / Christof Fischesser / Daniel Barenboim (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / 2 DVD - released 7/Aug/2008 ] Following the artistic success of their last DVD project, La Traviata from the 2005 Salzburg Festival, opera superstars Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón bring their combined talents to Jules Massenet's Manon. |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: La Traviata (Arias and Duets) Anna Netrebko / Rolando Villazon / Thomas Hampson / Wiener Philharmoniker / Carlo Rizzi [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 13/Nov/2005 ] "With talent and looks to burn, she has the world at her feet... she is such a singing actress, you thought mainly of Violetta, not of Anna Netrebko." (New York Sun) |
VERDI / BELLINI / DONIZETTI / PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Anna Netrebko - Sempre Libera Anna Netrebko (soprano) / Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, conductor [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 15/Aug/2004 ] "Few sopranos sing bel canto with the natural beauty she supplies." BBC Music Magazine, September 2006 |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: The Mozart Album - All-new recordings of Mozart's most popular opera arias and duets Anna Netrebko (soprano) Thomas Quasthoff, Bryn Terfel (baritones) Rene Pape (bass) / various orchestras and conductors [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 1/Aug/2006 ] A celebratory vocal feast to honour one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time: that's the aim of this gala of international stars. |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Prokofiev: Ivan the Terrible / Alexander Nevsky (with Rachmaninov-The Bells) Anna Reynolds, Sheila Armstrong, Robert Tear / London Symphony / Andre Previn [ EMI Double Forte / 2 CD - released 1/May/1999 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) |
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Debussy: Etudes (LP) Anne Queffelec (piano) [ Warner Classics / LP - released 7/Jul/2023 ] Anne Queffélec is consistently notable for her insight and eloquence. Gramophone magazine has described her recordings thus: 'Delicious playing …', 'Outstanding … thoughtful, poetic …', 'Articulate, clear-textured and vivacious … |
MAURICE RAVEL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Ravel: The Works for Solo Piano Vol 2 Anne Queffelec (piano) [ Erato / Warner Classics / CD - released 20/Aug/1993 ] Recorded at St Martin's Church, East Woodhay, Newbury, September 1990 |
SCHUMANN / LEKEU / FRANCK / PROKOFIEV / D'INDY / SATIE
Catherine Collard: The Complete Erato, EMI & Virgin Classics Recordings Anne Queffelec (piano) with Catherine Courtois (violin) & Anna Queffelec (piano) / Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Marek Janowski [ Erato / Warner Classics / 7 CD Box Set - released 13/Sep/2024 ] "No pianist understands the atmosphere of this music or can sharpen its wit more tellingly than Anne Queffelec...she is joined spiritedly by Catherine Collard in the four-handed Trois morceaux en forme de poire." (Gramophone on the Satie) |
JEAN-PHILIPPE RAMEAU / MARC-ANTONIE CHARPENTIER / MICHEL LAMBERT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Anne Sofie von Otter - Ombre de Mon Amant: French Baroque Arias Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo) / Chœur et orchestre Les Arts florissants, William Christie [ Deutsche Grammophon Archiv / CD - released 25/Jan/2010 ] "Von Otter sounds utterly wretched in Medea's lament for her lost love; then she intensifies her tone as she summons up demons and monsters...[she] conveys Phaedra's various emotions with consummate ease." Gramophone Awards 2010 Finalist - Recital |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Schubert: Lieder Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo soprano), Bengt Forsberg (piano) [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 1/Jan/1997 ] Original recording from 1996 |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart Gardiner Operas Anne Sofie von Otter, Bryn Terfel, Alison Hagley, Rodney Gilfrey, Michael Schade, Gerald Finley,etc / John Eliot Gardiner (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon Archiv / CD - released 9/Jun/2011 ] This superbudget box contains some of the most famous Mozart Operas all on 18 CDs. With starring roles from Ann Sophie Von Otter, Bryn Terfel, the English Baroque Soloists and the Monteverdi Choir all under the baton of Sir John Eliot Gardiner. |