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. |
TAN DUN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Tan Dun - Tea, A Mirror of Soul (complete opera recorded in 2002) Tokyo Opera / Haijing Fu, Nancy Allen Lundy, Christopher Gillett, Ning Liang / Tan Dun (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 2/Feb/2005 ] "Tea's real accomplishment, however, comes in the music...the vocal writing is in another league entirely, relying on neither Peking Opera references nor extended Western techniques but instead harking back to almost bel canto-like lyricism" Gramopho |
IVAR HALLSTROM
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Hallstrom: Duke Magnus & the Mermaid (complete opera) Lars Johansson, Robin Svanvik, Marco Stella, Jonas Olofsson, Emelie Sigelius, Ingela Bohlin, Eva Marklund / Vadstena Academy Choir, Niklas Willen [ Marco Polo / 2 CD Box Set - released 17/Feb/2003 ] Although he learnt the piano, Hallström was self-taught as a composer. He studied law in Uppsala and in 1853 was appointed librarian to Prince Oscar which assisted him in advancing his career as a composer. His operas in collaboration with the... |
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. |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Don Giovanni (Highlights from the complete opera) William Shimell, Cheryl Studer, Samuel Ramey / Vienna Philharmonic / Riccardo Muti [ EMI Encore / CD - released 22/Feb/2005 ] Combining comedy and drama, Don Giovanni is one of the most well-known and often praised operas ever written. First performed in 1787, it has been appealing to audiences ever since with its multitude of moral, as well as musical themes. |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rachmaninov: Complete Operas (Aleko; Francesca da Rimini; The Miserly Knight) Sergei Aleksashkin, Sergei Larin, Sergei Leiferkus, Ilya Levinsky, Anne Sofie von Otter / Gothenburg Opera Chorus & Orchestra. Neeme Jarvi [ Deutsche Grammophon Trio / 3 CD Box Set - released 21/Jun/2004 ] "Fine version" (Alexo)..."recording quality quite outstanding" (Francesca)..."A most desirable set" (Miserly Knight) (Penguin Guide) |
FRANCESCA CACCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Caccini: La liberazione di Ruggerio dall'isola di Alcina (complete opera) Allabastrina, La Pifarescha / Elena Sartori (harpsichord/direction) [ Glossa / CD - released 13/Jan/2016 ] With this production of Francesca Caccini's 'La liberazione di Ruggerio dall'isola di Alcina', directed by Elena Sartori, an important stepping-stone in the development of 17th-century opera receives a superb new recording from Glossa. For much of... |
ARRIGO BOITO
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Boito: Mefistofele (Complete opera recorded in 1995 with Libretto) Ambrosian Opera Chorus / London Symphony Orchestra / Norman Treigle (bass), Placido Domingo (tenor), Montserrat Caballe (soprano) etc... [ EMI / 2 CD - released 1/Aug/1987 ] Inspired by the Faust legend, Arrigo Boito's Mefistofele is an imaginative work which is also faithful to Goethe's original conception. |
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: Trial By Jury & Cox and Box Ambrosian Opera Chorus with Kate Flowers, Frankie Howard, Ryland Davies, Russell Smythe, Thomas Lawlor & others [ BBC / Umbrella DVD / DVD - released 10/Aug/2014 ] Music by the London Symphony Orchestra, the Ambrosian Opera Chorus and a host of stars including Alexander Oliver, Thomas Hemsley, Anne Collins and Kate Flowers. 112 minutes. |
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. |
RICHARD STRAUSS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Strauss, (R.): Der Rosenkavalier, Op.59 (complete opera recorded in 1985) Ana Pusar-Joric, Theo Adam, Ute Walther, Rolf Haunstein / Staatskapelle Dresden, Hans Vonk [ Denon / 3 CD Box Set - released 10/Apr/1995 ] "The Denon set of Der Rosenkavalier was recorded at the re-opening of the Semperoper...In almost every way I find the interpretation superior to the much-vaunted Karajan on DG. It is very much a young man's reading as compared with an old man's" Gram |
MASCAGNI / MASSENET / DONIZETTI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Duets & Arias Angela Gheorghiu (soprano) Roberto Alagna (tenor) / Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Richard Armstrong [ EMI Music / CD - released 1/Dec/2000 ] An ideal gift - a delightful collection of opera duets |
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. |
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. |
BERLIOZ / BELLINI / DONIZETTI / DVORAK / GOUNOD / MOZART / PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Anna Netrebko - Opera Arias Anna Netrebko (soprano) / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Gianandrea Noseda [ Deutsche Grammophon First Choice / CD - released 15/Mar/2012 ] "This solo recital, conducted by an old colleague from the Kirov, Gianandea Noseda, makes a fine portrait of a lovely singer." (Gramophone) |
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 |
BELA BARTOK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bluebeard's Castle (complete opera) Anne Sofie von Otter, John Tomlinson / Berliner Philharmoniker, Bernard Haitink [ EMI Classics / CD - released 1/Apr/1996 ] Originally recorded in February 1996 |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust (The Damnation of Faust) - From the Royal Albert Hall 1989 Anne Sofie Von Otter, Keith Lewis, Jose Van Dam, Peter Rose / The Chicago Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti [ AWD DVD / DVD - released 20/Jan/2006 ] Sir Georg Solti conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in a magnificent performance of Berlioz's concert cantata. |