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BELA BARTOK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bartok: Duke Bluebeard's Castle (Complete Opera) Christa Ludwig, Walter Berry / London Symphony Orchestra, Istavan Kertesz [ Decca The Classic Sound / CD - released 1/Nov/2002 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) - "In 1965 Kertesz set new standards in his version of Bluebeard's Castle with Christa Ludwig and Walter Berry, not only in the playing of the LSO at its peak, in the firm... |
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RICHARD WAGNER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Wagner: Die Walkure (complete opera recorded in 1992) Daniel Barenboim / Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele / Harry Kupfer / Poul Elming / Nadine Secunde / Matthias Holle / etc. [ Warner Music Vision / Unitel DVD / 2 DVD - released 28/Oct/2005 ] "In many ways this is now the best bet for anyone wanting a DVD version of Die Walkure." (International Record Review) |
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ARNOLD SCHOENBERG
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Schoenberg: Moses und Aron [complete opera] David Pittman-Jennings, Chris Merritt / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Pierre Boulez [ Deutsch Grammophon / 2 CD Box Set - released 14/Sep/1996 ] Schoenberg's most comprehensive score, it represents the climax of his association with the dodecaphonic method of composition, described by Schoenberg himself as 'a method of composition with twelve notes related only to each other |
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BALFE / WALLACE / SULLIVAN / FARADAY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: The Power of Love - British Opera Arias Deborah Riedel (soprano) / Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra / Richard Bonynge [ Melba Recordings SACD / CD - released 20/Aug/2000 ] A beautiful recording of neglected British Opera arias... "Obviously this album is a work of great love and every attempt has been to do it right." |
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HECTOR BERLIOZ
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust, [The Damnation of Faust] Op. 24 Denés Gulyás, Maria Ewing, Robert Lloyd / Radio-Sinfonie Orchester Frankfurt, Kölner Rundfunkchor, Südfunk-Chor Stuttgart, Eliahu Inbal [ Brilliant Classics Opera Collection / 2 CD - released 10/Dec/2012 ] 'Inbal has a fine ear for Berlioz's orchestration, matched by sensitive recording, so that time and again details spring into dramatic life…a distinctive and intelligent performance… No lover of the work should miss hearing it.' Gramophone, July 1991 |
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SAINT-SAENS / GOUNOD / BERLIOZ / MASSENET / THOMAS / LALO / BIZET / DONIZETTI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Denyce Graves - French Opera Arias Denyce Graves (mezzo-soprano) / Orchestre Philhamonique de Monte Carlo, Marc Soustrot [ Virgin Classics / CD - released 28/Feb/2004 ] ""Connais-tu le pays" from Mignon, taken very slowly, is sung with a ravishing legato and beautifully shaded tone. Dalila is one of Graves' signature roles and she delivers both arias impressively...Sound is excellent" ClassicsToday |
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MODEST MUSSORGSKY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mussorgsky: Khovanshchina (complete opera recorded in 1978) Dimiter Petrov, Todor Kostov, Nicola Ghiuselev / Sofia National Opera Orchestra, Atanas Margaritov [ Brilliant Classics Opera Collection / 3 CD Box Set - released 11/Sep/2011 ] Khovanschina occupied the composer during 1872, as Boris was being 'adjusted' to suit the theatre authorities ahead of the premier. |
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GILBERT & SULLIVAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: The World of Gilbert & Sullivan D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, Isidore Godfrey, Royston Nash, Sir Malcolm Sargent [ Decca / CD - released 14/Jul/1990 ] "If you are looking for a CD to cheer you up on a dull day this Decca (recording) will serve admirably." Rosette Recording. Penguin Stereo Guide. |
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GILBERT AND SULLIVAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gilbert & Sullivan Favourites (from The Gondoliers, Iolanthe, Ruddigore, The Mikado & The Yeomen of the Guard) The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company / James Walker / Sir Malcolm Sargent [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 7/Jul/1995 ] 'all the performances are as good as they get' ClassicsToday.com |
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GILBERT and SULLIVAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gilbert & Sullivan: The Grand Duke (Complete), Henry VIII-Incidental Music, Overture di Ballo D'Oyly Carte Opera Company with John Reed, Meston Reid, Kenneth Sandford / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Royston Nash [ Decca Records / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2003 ] "This represents, perhaps the ideal way to sample Sullivan's least known major score. The recorded performance has both polish and vigour. The recording is characteristically brilliant." *** Three Stars. Penguin Stereo Guide. |
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GILBERT and SULLIVAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gilbert & Sullivan: The Grand Duke (Complete) / Henry VIII-Incidental Music / Overture di Ballo D'Oyly Carte Opera Company with John Reed, Meston Reid, Kenneth Sandford / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royston Nash [ Decca Records / 2 CD Box Set - released 1/Apr/1993 ] "This represents, perhaps the ideal way to sample Sullivan's least known major score. The recorded performance has both polish and vigour. The recording is characteristically brilliant." *** Three Stars. Penguin Stereo Guide. |
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GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Handel - Opera Arias Vol. 1 Drew Minter (countertenor) / Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, McGegan [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 19/May/2001 ] "Endowed with a beautiful voice, a fine technique, and sensitive musicality, Minter demonstrates the full scope of Handel's writing in the Italian style, from the brilliantly dramatic to the lyrically tender." - Stereo Review |
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GIUSEPPE VERDI / GAETANO DONIZETTI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Classic Recitals - Elena Souliotis sings Verdi and Donizetti Elena Souliotis (soprano) / Orchestra dell'Opera di Roma. Oliviero de Fabritiis [ Decca Classic Recitals / CD - released 10/Oct/2004 ] Greek-born Elena Souliotis enjoyed a short but meteoric career in the late 1960s and early 1970s. She had first appeared as Santuzza in Naples in 1964 and this was followed by her American debut two years later when she sang Helen of Troy... |
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W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: Cosi fan Tutte (Complete Opera recorded in 1963 with libretto) Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Christa Ludwig, Hanny Steffek / Philharmonia Orchestra / Karl Bohm [ EMI Classics / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Feb/1988 ] "The two sisters are gloriously sung - Schwarzkopf and Ludwig bring their immeasurable talents as Lieder singers to this sparkling score and overlay them with a rare comic touch." RECOMMENDED RECORDING (Classical Good CD Guide 2004) |
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FRANZ LEHAR
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Lehar: Die lustige Witwe [Merry Widow] / Das Land des Lachelns [Land of Smiles] (operettas) Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Erich Kunz, Nicolai Gedda / Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra / Otto Ackermann [ Warner Classics The Opera Series / 2 CD - released 1/Jul/2010 ] The Record Guide described Schwarzkopf in Die lustige Witwe as 'enchanting from end to end' and said that in Das Land des Lächelns it is her 'radiant loveliness of tone that enchants us first, but also the consummate, irresistible artistry' |
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W. A. MOZART / VERDI / LEHAR / J. STRAUSS II / RICHARD STRAUSS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Elisabeth Schwarzkopf - Opera arias Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (sop), with Karl Schmitt-Walter (bar) / Philharmonia Orchestra. Vienna Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan, Wilhelm Furtwangler [ EMI / CD - released 2/Feb/1990 ] Recordings from 1950, Le Nozze di Figaro, to, 1959, Capriccio. |
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WAGNER / WEBER / SMETANA / TCHAIKOVSKY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Elizabeth Schwarzkopf - Romantic Opera Arias Elizabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) / Philharmonia & London Symphony Orchestras, various conductors. with Christa Ludwig (mezzo) [ EMI Studio / 2 CD - released 1/Jun/1986 ] Original recordings from 1956 - 1958 |
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DOMENICO CIMAROSA
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Cimarosa: Il matrimonio segreto (Complete opera recorded in 1957) Eugenia Ratti, Graziella Sciutti, Ebe Stignati, Luigi Alva, Franco Calabrese / Teatro alla Scala, Nino Sanzogno [ EMI Classics / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/1997 ] Note: This is extremely rare. American websites are asking $43US. |
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RICHARD STRAUSS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Der Rosenkavalier (Complete opera recorded in 1976) Evelyn Lear, Frederica von Stade, Jules Bastin / Rotterdam Philharmonic Opera, Edo de Waart (conductor) [ Brilliant Classics Opera Collection / 3 CD - released 20/Feb/2012 ] Evelyn Lear as the Marschallin and Frederica von Stade as her lover Octavian lead a strong cast as Edo de Waart's complete recording of Der Rosenkavalier returns to the catalogue. |
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IGOR STRAVINSKY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Stravinsky: Oedipus Rex - Opera/Oratorio in two acts after Sophocles Franz Grundheber, Gabriele Schnaut, Gunter von Kannen, Peter Svensson / L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Neeme Jarvi [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 1/Feb/1993 ] Originally recorded June 1993 |