RICHARD STRAUSS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Strauss, (R.): Ariadne auf Naxos (Complete opera recorded in 1988) Metropolitan Opera / Jessye Norman, Kathleen Battle, Tatiana Troyanos / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon / DVD - released 29/Aug/2002 ] "This performance represents an above-average night at the Metropolitan in the late 1980s: three of its most popular stars, a generally distinguished cast, the house's musical director conducting its great orchestra in one of the works he does best." |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Berlioz: Beatrice et Benedict (Complete opera) Janet Baker, Robert Tear, Christiane Eda-Pierre, Thomas Allen, Helen Watts, London Symphony Orchestra. Sir Colin Davis [ Philips / 2 CD - released 5/May/2005 ] Dame Janet Baker and Robert Tear lead an outstanding cast in this classic recording of Berlioz' operatic setting of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, under the baton of the distinguished Berlioz conductor Sir Colin Davis. |
GIOVANNI PACINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Pacini Rediscovered Jennifer Larmore (mezzo), Majella Cullagh (soprano), Annick Massis (soprano), Bruce Ford (tenor), Geoffrey Mitchell Choir, David Parry, etc [ Opera Rara / CD - released 30/May/2006 ] Pacini himself claimed to have composed over 100 operas and, although modern estimates would be more conservative (since several of the works he listed were revisions, and some of them more strictly oratorios and cantatas than operas), even the most... |
GIOACHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: La Cenerentola [Cinderella] (Highlights from the opera) Jennifer Larmore, Raul Gimenez, Gino Quilico, Alessandro Corbelli / Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Carlo Rizzi [ Teldec / CD - released 14/Jun/2004 ] "What really makes a reading of Cenerentola stand out is the handling of the ensembles. In this respect Carlo Rizzi is outstanding." (MusicWeb July 2004) |
BENJAMIN BRITTEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Britten: Spring Symphony / Cantata Academica / Hymn to St Cecilia Jennifer Vyvyan, Norma Procter, Peter Peras / Royal Opera House Orchestra & Chorus, Benjamin Britten / London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, George Malc [ Decca / CD - released 10/Apr/1995 ] A great introduction to the choral works of Benjamin Britten |
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: Il Barbiere di Siviglia [The Barber of Seville] (Complete Opera recorded in 1992) Jerry Hadley, Bruno Praticò, Susanne Mentzer, Thomas Hampson, Samuel Ramey / Orchestra della Toscana, Gianluigi Gelmetti [ EMI Classics / 3 CD Box Set - released 10/Dec/1993 ] "..an absolutely complete text (the recent critical edition by Alberto Zedda is used) shorn of the accretions of nearly 200 years, and singers of the calibre of Thomas Hampson and Samuel Ramey." Classical-Music |
JESSYE NORMAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Jessye Norman - A Portrait Jessye Norman (soprano) with various accompaniments [ Deccal DVD / DVD - released 14/Mar/2008 ] An intimate and in-depth 90 minute portrait of the legendary soprano, including specially staged studio films of 12 bestloved pieces from Jessye Norman's repertoire. |
RICHARD STRAUSS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Strauss, (R.): Ariadne auf Naxos (Complete opera recorded in 1988) Jessye Norman, Julia Varady, Edita Gruberova / Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. Kurt Masur [ Philips / 2 CD Box Set - released 1/May/1989 ] "Jessye Norman's is a commanding, noble, deeply felt performance, ranging extraordinarily wide; she provides the perfectfocus for a cast as near ideal as anyone could assemble today." (Penguin Guide) |
LEO DELIBES
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Delibes: Lakme (Complete opera recorded in 1968 with complete libretto) Joan Sutherland, Alain Vanzo, Gabriel Bacquier / Orchestra and chorus of Monte Carlo National Opera, Richard Bonynge [ Decca / 2 CD - released 12/May/1989 ] "(Joan's) "Bell Song" is treasurable, with an ease of execution which is almost frightening and a sinuousness which reeks of oriental mystery. Bacquier's Nilakantha is magnificent." MusicWeb |
PUCCINI / VERDI / DELIBES / OFFENBACH / BERLIOZ / BELLINI / DONIZETTI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Great Operatic Duets Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Mario del Monaco, Mirella Freni. Christa Ludwig, April Cantelo, Hugette Tourangeau, Jane Berbié [ Decca Opera Gala / CD - released 5/Apr/1994 ] Decca's recorded legacy is dominated by the huge number of complete opera recordings and vocal recitals. These extracts are taken from complete recordings. |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: Turandot (Complete Opera with complete libretto) Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Montserrat Caballe, Nicolai Ghiaurov / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta [ Decca Records / 2 CD Box Set - released 17/Feb/2015 ] "Sutherland gives an intensely appealing interpretation, while Pavarotti gives a performance equally imaginative. Mehta directs a gloriously rich and dramatic performance. Still the best-sounding Turandot on CD." Penguin Guide |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: Turandot (highlights) Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Montserrat Caballe, Nicolai Ghiaurov / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta [ Decca Opera Gala / CD - released 17/Feb/2015 ] "Sutherland gives an intensely appealing interpretation, while Pavarotti gives a performance equally imaginative. Mehta directs a gloriously rich and dramatic performance. Still the best-sounding Turandot on CD." Penguin Guide |
PUCCINI / VERDI / BELLINI / DONIZETTI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Love Duets Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti / National Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge [ Decca Opera Gala / CD - released 5/Apr/1999 ] The ardour and passion of some of the best-known love duets from Italian Opera are brought out to the full by the stunning voices of two of the world's greatest singers. |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: La Traviata (Complete Opera recorded in 1981 with libretto) Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Matteo Manuguerra / National Philharmonic / Richard Bonynge [ Decca Records / 2 CD - released 27/Sep/2001 ] Classic 1981 recording, with full libretto and translations. |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: Rigoletto (Highlights from the opera) Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Sherrill Milnes, Huguette Tourangeau / London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge [ Decca / CD - released 27/Sep/1988 ] "[Pavarotti] is an intensely characterful Duke: an unmistakable rogue but a charmer, too...[Sutherland] is glowingly beautiful as well as supremely assured technically. Milnes makes a strong Rigoletto." Penguin Guide |
VERDI / BELLINI / PUCCINI / PONCHIELLI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Live From The Lincoln Centre Joan Sutherland, Marilyn Horne, Luciano Pavarotti / NYC Opera Orchestra / Richard Bonynge [ Decca / London / CD - released 30/Jun/1987 ] Three of operas greatest stars came together under the baton of Richard Bonynge for this sensational concert which took place in New York's Avery Fisher Hall in March 1981 and which first appeared as a 2-LP set later that year. |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: The Glories of Handel Opera Joan Sutherland, Renata Tebaldi, Emma Kirkby, Marilyn Horne, Teresa Berganza [ Decca Opera Gala / CD - released 7/Aug/2000 ] Greatest moments from Opera sung by the world's finest singers! |
PUCCINI / VERDI / HANDEL / DONIZETTI / MASCAGNI / DVORAK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Your Hundred best Opera Tunes II Joan Sutherland, Renata Tebaldi, Marilyn Horne, Teresa Berganza, Franoo Corelli, Giuseppe di Stefano [ Decca / CD - released 7/Aug/1991 ] Greatest moments from Opera sung by the world's finest singers! |
VERDI / BELLINI / DONIZETTI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Joan Sutherland: Verdi / Bellini / Donizetti Joan Sutherland (soprano), Orchestre de la Societe des concerts du Conservatoire, Paris, Nello Santi [ Decca Opera Gala / CD - released 10/Oct/1982 ] Original recordings from 1959 and 1960 |
JULES MASSENET
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Massenet: Werther (complete opera recorded in 2010) Paris National Opera / Jonas Kaufmann, Sophie Koch, Ludovic Tezier / Michel Plasson (cond) [ Decca Music Group DVD / 2 DVD - released 14/Oct/2010 ] Hard on the heels of a triumphant Lohengrin, Decca follows up with an equally astonishing debut performance from Jonas Kaufmann: Goethe's love-lorn hero Werther, in Massenet's romantic opera. |