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BENJAMIN BRITTEN
The Prince of the Pagodas, Op. 57 (complete ballet) Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Benjamin Britten [ Decca Ballet Edition / 2 CD - released 16/Apr/2012 ] The first recording of The Prince of the Pagodas at the Royal Opera House, with Britten himself conducting. The Prince of the Pagodas is Britten's only full-length ballet - a glittering score full of the oriental harmonies and instrumental colour... |
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FERDINAND HEROLD / CHARLES LECOCQ
Herold: La Fille Mal Gardee / Lecocq: Mam'zelle Angot (Complete Ballets) Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, John Lanchbery / National Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 20/May/2007 ] "Here, with sound of spectacular Decca digital fidelity, Lanchbery conducts a highly seductive account of the complete ballet with an orchestra long familiar with playing it in the theatre." (Rosette Penguin Stereo Guide) |
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ADOLPHE ADAM
Adam: Giselle (Complete Ballet) Orchestre National de l'Opera de Monte-Carlo, Richard Bonynge (cond) [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 20/May/2007 ] "This may not be the greatest ballet music ever, but it is tuneful and enjoyable and the performance and recording more than adequate, especially at such a reasonable price" (MusicWeb Aug 2007) |
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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
The World of Ballet [2 CD set] Paris Conservatoire, New Symphony Orchestra, Royal Opera House Orchestra, Anatole Fistoulari [ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 10/Nov/2011 ] "I soon found my attention held with delight. This is Strauss as Strauss is played in Vienna" (Gramophone) |
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BENJAMIN BRITTEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Britten: Curlew River Peter Pears, John Shirley-Quirk, Harold Blackburn, Bryan Drake, English Opera Group, Benjamin Britten [ Decca Records / CD - released 2/Jan/1989 ] "Curlew River - A Parable for Church Performance (Op. 71) is an English music drama, with music by Benjamin Britten to a libretto by William Plomer. |
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BENJAMIN BRITTEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Britten: Tthe Burning Fiery Furnace Peter Pears, John Shirley-Quirk, Robert Tear, Stafford Dean / English Opera Group, Benjamin Britten [ Decca / London / CD - released 18/Nov/1990 ] This recording remains unique and carries that special authority only the composer himself can bring to his recordings. |
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RICHARD WAGNER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Wagner: Parsifal (Complete Opera recorded in 1973) [4 CDs + Blu-ray audio] Rena Kollo, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Christa Ludwig, Zoltan Kelemen, Gottlob Frick / Wiener Philharmoniker [Vienna Philharmonic], Sir Georg Solti [ Decca Records / 5 CD/Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Apr/2018 ] This recording of Parsifal was the first studio recording of the work. A stellar cast is assembled with René Kollo as Parsifal, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau as Amfortas and Christa Ludwig as Kundry. |
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GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: La Boheme (Highlights from the opera) Renata Tebaldi, Carlo Bergonzi, Gianni d'Angelo / Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Tullio Serafin [ Decca Opera Gala / CD - released 28/May/1988 ] "it still sounds astonishingly vivid,with a very convincing theatrical atmosphere. Vocally the performance achieves a consistently high standard, with Tebaldi as Mim the most affecting." Penguin Guide |
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GIACOMO PUCCINI / GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Great Love Duets Renata Tebaldi, Franco Corelli, Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Leontyne Price, Frano Corelli, Carlo Cossutta. Margaret Price [ Decca Opera Gala / CD - released 5/Apr/1988 ] Decca's recorded legacy is dominated by the huge number of complete opera recordings and vocal recitals. These extracts are taken from complete recordings. |
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GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini - Madama Butterfly (Highlights from the complete opera) Renata Tebaldi, Giuseppe Campora, Nell Rankin, Giovanni Inghilleri / Orchestra dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome, Alberto Erede [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 20/Mar/2016 ] "Tebaldi rises to every climax with opulent, unforced tone..Giuseppe Campora appeared regularly at the Met between 1955 and 1965. He sings naturally and musically, with no forcing of his attractive, lightish voice at climaxes." MusicWeb |
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MOZART / DONIZETTI / LEHAR / DVORAK & OTHERS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Renee and Bryn - Under the Stars Renee Fleming, Bryn Terfel / The Orchestra of Welsh National Opera / Gareth Jones / Paul Gemignani [ Decca DVD / DVD - released 24/Mar/2003 ] Filmed 'live' in the magical mountains of Wales at Bryn Terfel's Faenol Festival, this exclusive 'Under The Stars' DVD is released to co-incide with the CD of the same title. |
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GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (complete opera recorded in 1991) Royal Opera, Covent Garden / Kiri Te Kanawa, Alexandru Agache, Sylvesyer, Roberto Scandiuzzi / Sir Georg Solti (cond) [ Decca DVD / DVD - released 9/Nov/2007 ] A well-received, stylish 1991 Royal Opera production staged by Elijah Moshinsky and premiered with Kiri Te Kanawa and Sir Georg Solti. |
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W.A. MOZART
Le Nozze di Figaro [The Marriage of Figaro] (complete opera directed by Peter Sellars. Recorded in 1990) Sanford Sylvan / James Maddalena / Susan Larson / Jeanne Ommerle / Wiener Symphoniker / Craig Smith (cond) [ Decca Records / 2 DVD - released 14/Jun/2005 ] Sung in the original Italian but relocated to contrasting worlds of late 20th century USA, 'Le nozze di Figaro' takes place in the ersatz elegance of Fifth Avenue. |
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RICHARD STRAUSS
Strauss, (R.): Ariadne auf Naxos (complete opera recorded in 2012) Staatskapelle Dresden / Renée Fleming, Robert Dean Smith, Sophie Koch / Christian Thielemann (cond) [ Decca DVD / DVD - released 21/Jul/2013 ] "...Fleming's sense of the Straussian line cannot be faulted...Robert Dean Smith has a voice that lacks an individual stamp but his absolute security and tirelessly make his Bacchus...a success." (International Record Review) |
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PUCCINI / VERDI / LEONCAVALLO / WAGNER / GOUNOD / etc
Grand Opera Choruses (Madama Butterfly, Fidelio, Lohengrin, Carmen, etc) Vienna State Opera / London Opera Chorus / Coro dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome / Ambrosian Opera Chorus [ Decca Opera Gala / CD - released 1/Jan/1988 ] All the great opera choruses on one CD |
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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
The Very Best of Relaxing Classics Various Artists (Including I Musici, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Academy St Martins, Heinz Holliger, Takacs Quartet, Renee Fleming and Monteverdi Choir) [ Decca Music Group / 2 CD - released 21/May/2003 ] Over 2 hours of the most beautiful classical melodies to soothe and relax. |
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ENGLEBERT HUMPERDINCK
Humperdinck: Konigskinder (complete opera recorded in 2010) Zurich Opera / Jonas Kaufmann, Isabel Rey, Oliver Widmer / Jens-Daniel Herzog (cond) [ Decca DVD / DVD - released 20/Dec/2012 ] Tenor superstar Jonas Kaufmann leads the cast in the first-ever DVD release of the beautiful fairytale opera from the composer of Hänsel und Gretel. The German tenor is "the fairytale prince of most opera-goers' dreams - young, reckless,... |
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ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK
Humperdinck: Konigskinder (complete opera recorded in 2010) BLU-RAY Zurich Opera / Jonas Kaufmann, Isabel Rey, Oliver Widmer / Jens-Daniel Herzog (cond) [ Decca Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/Apr/2014 ] Tenor superstar Jonas Kaufmann leads the cast in the first-ever Blu-ray release of the beautiful fairytale opera from the composer of Hänsel und Gretel. |
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BRITTEN
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Complete Opera) Alfred Deller / Peter Pears / Thomas Hemsley / Owen Brannigan / Benjamin Britten [ Decca Records / 2 CD - released 2/Jan/2002 ] *** Three Stars. Penguin Stereo Guide |
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ROSSINI
Matilde di Shabran (complete opera) Annick Massis / Juan Diego FlArez / Prague Chamber Choir / Orquesta SinfAnica De Galicia / Riccardo Frizza [ Decca / 3 CD - released 19/Sep/2006 ] "The opera itself is a joy. Typically pacey and tuneful, it was originally composed in a mad hurry, though revised at leisure. On this evidence it deserves to be, if not a mainstay, then at least a regular visitor to opera houses." Recording of the... |