BACH / BRAHMS / MAHLER / SCHUMANN / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Kathleen Ferrier Edition (the complete recordings) Kathleen Ferrier (alto) with various orchestras and accompanists [ Decca Collector's Edition / 10 CD Box Set - released 2/Jul/2004 ] This collector edition now makes available in a compact form the 10 CDs which formed the Ferrier Edition which was first released just over 10 years ago; several of these CDs have not been available for some time now. |
VINCENCO BELLINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bellini: Zaira (complete opera recorded live in 1990) Katia Ricciarelli, Simone Alaimo, Ramon Vargas, Alexandra Papadjakou / Orchestra del Teatro Massimo Bellini di Catania, Paolo Olmi [ Nuova Era / 2 CD Box Set - released 4/Sep/2009 ] "(Katia Ricciarelli gives) a highly impressive portrayal of the title part. As Orosmane, Simone Alaimo's lean bass is also a further strength with his clear diction a welcome hallmark." MusicWeb |
CHARLES GOUNOD
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gounod: Faust (complete opera with full libretto recorded in 1986) Kiri te Kanawa, Francisco Araiza, Evgeny Nesterenko, Andreas Schmidt / Symphonie-Orchester & Chor Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Sir Colin Davis [ Philips / 3 CD Box Set - released 28/Aug/2014 ] "Let me say at the outset that this is the most satisfying performance of Gounod's favourite opera yet to appear in the LP/CD era...In the lyrical music Araiza manages a real pianissimo not found in his rival's assumptions." Gramophone |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Prokofiev: Betrothal in a Monastery (complete opera) Kirov Opera & Ballet / Anna Netrebko, Larissa Diadkova, Nikolai Gassiev, Aleksander Gergalov / Valery Gergiev (conductor) [ Philips DVD / DVD - released 5/Jan/2006 ] 'The lively Kirov production.is a delight. What is most remarkable is the overall quality and consistency of the cast. Anna Netrebko was splendid as Louisa, singing with limpid, agile tone.' New York Times |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: La Traviata (complete opera recorded in 1977 with libretto) Bayerisches Staatsorchester, Carlos Kleiber (conductor), Ileana Cotrubaș (soprano), Placido Domingo (tenor) etc... [ Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD - released 21/Nov/1985 ] Recorded in 1977 NOTE: Slightly damaged outer cardboard cover |
BENJAMIN BRITTEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Britten: Peter Grimes (complete opera with libretto) Philip Langridge, Janice Watson, Alan Opies, Anne Collins / Opera London, City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox [ Chandos / 2 CD Box Set - released 2/Feb/1997 ] "The casting of Philip Langridge in the title-role is central to the set's success. As on stage, he is unrivalled at conveying the character's moutning hysteria, and the result is chilling. Janice Watson makes a most touching Ellen Orford." Penguin |
VINCENCO BELLINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: I Capuleti E I Monteccchi (complete opera recorded in 1999 with libretto) Jennifer Larmore, Hei-Kyung Hong, Paul Groves, Robert Lloyd / Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Donald Runnicles [ Teldec Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 12/Oct/1999 ] "Donald Runnicles offers a fresh and sympathetic reading of Bellini's 'Romeo and Juliet' opera with an outstanding cast…Though the competition is strong, the Teldec set scores both in its casting and in its fullness of sound." (Penguin Guide *** Key |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: Aida (complete opera recorded in 1962) Leontyne Price, Jon Vickers, Rita Gorr, Robert Merrill / Orchestra e coro del Teatro dell'Opera di Roma / Sir Georg Solti [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 18/May/1999 ] "Solti motivates his account of Verdi's score with thrilling dynamism, fully displaying the music's grandeur and depth as well as deriving considerable refinement from his Roman forces." (BBC Music) |
GIAN CARLO MENOTTI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Menotti: Amahl and the Night Visitors (Complete opera) Lora Haywood, John Dobson, Donald Maxwell, with James Rainbird as Amahl. Royal Opera House Covent Garden. David Syrus [ That's Entertainment / CD - released 1/Mar/2004 ] "Recorded under the supervision of the composer himself, this is a fresh and highly dramatic performance, very well sung and marked by atmospheric digital sound of striking realism." *** Three Stars Penguin Stereo Guide |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: Tosca (Complete opera recorded in 1978) Metropolitan Opera / Luciano Pavarotti, Shirley Verrett, Cornell Macneil / James Conlon (cond) [ Decca Music Group DVD / DVD - released 7/Oct/2010 ] Luciano Pavarotti will always be associated with the role of the painter Cavaradossi in Puccini's Tosca. His interpretations of the arias 'Recondita armonia' and 'E lucevan le stelle' became two of his greatest hits, which he sang at all his concerts. |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: Zaide K344 (Complete opera) Lynne Dawson, Hans Peter Blochwitz,Olaf Bär, Herbert Lippert / The Academy of Ancient Music; Paul Goodwin-director [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 24/Jun/2004 ] Mozart began this masterpiece in 1780 for the new Viennese Singspiel company, but at their insistence on a comedy he switched to writing Idomeneo, and Zaide remained unfinished. |
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: Ermione (complete opera recorded in 1988) Cecilia Gasdia, Margarita Zimmermann, Ernesto Palacio / Orchestre Philharmonique De Monte-Carlo, Claudio Scimone [ Erato / Warner Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 12/Oct/2009 ] Ermione was first performed at the Teatro di San Carlo, Naples, on 27 March 1819. For reasons that are as yet unclear, the opera was withdrawn on 19 April after only seven performances, and was not seen again until well into the 20th Century. |
VINCENZO BELLINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bellini: La Sonnambula (complete opera, with libretto, recorded live 1955) Maria Callas, Cesare Valletti, Giuseppe Modesti, Gabriella Carturan / Teatro alla Scala, Leonard Bernstein [ EMI Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 1/Feb/1999 ] 1001 Classical recordings to hear before you die (1801-1850) |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: Manon Lescaut (Complete Opera with libretto) Maria Guleghina, José Cura, Lucio Gallo / Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala Milan, Riccardo Muti [ Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD Box Set - released 10/Oct/2000 ] "Maria Guleghina turns in a Manon with range, capturing both the delicate side of the singing role and the more gripping and grim moments, especially in the last act. She has a powerful voice when she wants to project it, but she can also deliver... |
GILBERT AND SULLIVAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gilbert & Sullivan: Ruddigore (complete operetta - original version) Marilyn Hill Smith, Gordon Sandison, Joan Davies, Alexandra Hann / Chorus and Orchestra of the New Sadler's Wells Opera / Simon Phipps [ Jay Productions / 2 CD - released 1/Jan/2001 ] The New Sadler's Wells Opera was formed in the mid-eighties, filling the void (or so it was thought) that was left by the closure of the original D'Oyly Carte. It has even been suggested that the Powers that Be pushed the old Company gently into the... |
RICHARD WAGNER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Wagner: Tristan und Isolde (complete opera recorded in 1983) Bayreuth Festival / Rene Kollo, Matti Salminen, Johanna Meier, Hermann Becht / Daniel Barenboim (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon / Unitel DVD / 2 DVD - released 25/Jun/2007 ] Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's celebrated Bayreuth production is filmed on the Festspielhaus stage with six cameras and in digital sound to recreate the unique intensity of a live performance in studio quality. |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: Il Trovatore (complete opera recorded in 2011) BLU-RAY Metropolitan Opera / Marcelo Álvarez, Sondra Radvanovsky, Dolora Zajick, Dmitri Hvorostovsky / Marco Armiliato (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 17/May/2012 ] "Hvorostovsky sang with superb, flawless line, total control and long, flowing, high notes … Zajick held down Azucena powerfully … The opera's end I have never seen staged or acted more convincingly" (Opera Today) |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: Tosca (Complete Franco Zeffirelli production recorded in March 1985) Metropolitan Opera / Hildegard Behrens, Placido Domingo, Cornell MacNeil, Italo Tajo, James Courtney / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 1/Aug/2006 ] "This production contains enough atmosphere for 20 Tosca's." (New York Magazine) |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera (complete opera recorded in 1991) Metropolitan Opera / Luciano Pavarotti, Leo Nucci, April Millo, Florence Quivar / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 30/May/2008 ] "The best justification for buying this issue is to see and hear Pavarotti nearer to his vocal peak in a role which his strong lyric voice and clear diction is ideally suited" (MusicWeb) |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: Ernani (complete opera recorded in 1983) Metropolitan Opera / Luciano Pavarotti, Leona Mitchell, Sherrill Milnes / James Levine (cond) [ Decca DVD / DVD - released 18/Jan/2008 ] " Mr. Pavarotti gave a splendid full-throated performance... He was also a sensitive partner in the many ensemble numbers... Miss Mitchell filled the house gloriously... " New York Times |