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CARL MARIA von WEBER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Weber: Der Freischutz (complete opera with libretto) Hermann Prey, Elisabeth Grummer, Lisa Otto, Rudolf Schock / Berlin Philharmonic, Joseph Keilberth [ EMI Studio / 2 CD - released 6/Mar/1989 ] "All soloists in this effort shine like the stars. Particularly the lovely (as always) Elisabeth Grummer...my God this lady was wonderful, and is, I am sure, greatly missed by all the great German opera houses today." (review) |
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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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ETIENNE-NICOLAS MEHUL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mehul: Stratonice (complete opera recorded in 1996) Patricia Petibon, Yann Beuron, Étienne Lescroart, Karl Daymond / Capella Coloniensis & Corona Coloniensis, William Christie [ Erato / Warner Classics The Opera Collection / CD - released 12/Oct/2009 ] "William Christie brings out all the nuances in Méhul's score; and the dialogue is admirably spoken and paced by all - obviously well produced and intelligently performed." Gramophone |
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ANDRE PREVIN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Previn: A Streetcar Named Desire (complete opera) Renee Fleming, Rodney Gulfry, Elizabeth Futral / San Francisco Opera, Andre Previn [ Deutsche Grammophon / 3 CD Box Set - released 21/Mar/1998 ] "The greater part of Previn's success has to do with his respect for, and understanding of, the music of Williams's text. Librettist Philip Littell has done an excellent job of adapting it, condensing it, mindful of how opera, by its very nature,... |
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FRIEDRICH SMETANA
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Smetana: The Bartered Bride (Highlights recorded in German in 1962) Pilar Lorengar, Gottlob Frick, Fritz Wunderlich / Bamberger Symphoniker / Rudolf Kempe [ EMI Classics Electrola Collection / CD - released 24/Aug/1987 ] "There, as elsewhere, Pilar Lorengar is better than in any other recording I have heard. Her quick vibrato, which later in her career tended to widen and give a feeling of unsteadiness, is here beautifully controlled and she sings warmly." MusicWeb |
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VERDI / DONIZETTI / BIZET / BELLINI / ROSSINI / THOMAS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Opera Gala Placido Domingo, Thomas Hampson, Ruth Ann Swenson / Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra, Eugene Kohn [ EMI Classics / CD - released 1/Aug/1996 ] 'An opera gala with a difference. Instead of cherry-picking the usual highlights, it gives us arias and duets in the context of complete scenes, which affords the added novelty of the stars taking on supporting roles they would never usually sing' |
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PUCCINI / VERDI / MASCAGNI / MOZART / BOITO / HANDEL / GOUNOD / MEYERBEER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Placido Domingo: Opera Classics Placido Domingo, various orchestras and conductors [ EMI Classics / CD - released 20/Dec/1993 ] This CD brings together an unrivalled selection of the most popular tenor arias, performed by the popular Placido Domingo |
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RICHARD WAGNER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Wagner: The Mastersingers Of Nuremberg (Complete opera in English) Norman Bailey, Derek Hammond-Stroud, Noel Mangin, Sadler's Wells Chorus & Orchestra, Reginald Goodall [ Chandos Opera in English / 4 CD Box Set - released 30/Jun/2008 ] "An ensemble singing an ensemble opera: that is perhaps the performance's greatest strength, but there are many moments when it rises far above that… Whether you were around or not, do listen to this supremely humane account of a supremely humane... |
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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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ALFREDO CATALANI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Catalani: La Wally (complete opera recorded in 1960 with libretto) Renata Tebaldi, Giacinto Prandelli, Dimitri Lopatto, Jolanda Gardino / Orchestra Sinfonica Di Roma Della RAI, Arturo Basile [ Hommage / 2 CD Box Set - released 16/Jan/1979 ] Recorded Rome 1960 |
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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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JACQUES OFFENBACH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Offenbach: La Perichole (Highlights) Regine Crespin, Alain Vanzo, Jules Bastin, Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra, Rhine Opera Chorus, Alain Lombard [ Erato Opera Collection / CD - released 14/Jun/1996 ] "It is 67 minutes of unalloyed joy. I strongly recommend it" MusicWeb July 2004 |
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FREDERICK DELIUS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Delius: A Village Romeo and Juliet (complete opera recorded in 1971) Robert Tear, Elizabeth Harwood, John Shirley-Quirk, Benjamin Luxon / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, John Alldis Choir, Meredith Davies [ EMI / 2 CD - released 1/Feb/2002 ] "Elizabeth Harwood and Robert Tear are both excellent as Vreli and Sali, winningly characterful and clearly focused...[Shirley-Quirk] is firm and forthright with an apt hint of the sinister" Penguin Guide, 2010 edition *** |
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HECTOR BERLIOZ
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Berlioz: Opera Arias & Songs plus La Marseillaise Roberto Alagna (tenor) / Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Le Choeur de l'Armee Francaise / Bertrand de Billy [ EMI / CD - released 1/Jun/2006 ] "There are few tenors, from any era, who could embrace the many and varied challenges presented here and do so with such success." Editor's Choice - Gramophone Magazine (March 2003) |
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W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: Cosi Fan Tutte (complete opera recorded in 2002 at the Deutschen Staatsoper Berlin) Dorothea Roschmann, Katharina Kammerloher, Hanno Muller-Brachmann, Werner Gura / Daniel Barenboim (cond) [ TDK/Euroarts DVD / 2 DVD - released 1/Nov/2008 ] "It is very well performed. All the singers are on good form, and work well together in this most ensemble-based of Mozart operas. The picture quality and sound quality are both excellent, and there are loads of index points." (MusicWeb) |
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JOHANN STRAUSS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Strauss (J.): Die Fledermaus (operetta in English) Rosemarie Arthars, Paul Barnhill, Lynton Black, David Fieldsend, Ade Grummet, Deborah Hawksley / D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, John Owen Edwards [ Sony music / 2 CD Box Set - released 20/Jan/1995 ] "John Owen Edwards never forces the tempo but allows the melodies to unfold naturally, and eases gently into the big waltz tunes. " Gramophone |
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GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: Aida (Complete opera) Ruggero Raimondi, Elena Obraztsova, Katia Ricciarelli, Placido Domingo, Nicolai Ghiaurov / Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala / Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon Opera House / 2 CD - released 1/Jul/2005 ] 'None is better or more thoroughly and thoughtfully conducted - and in Verdi, that is of the essence.' Gramophone |