GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Manon Lescaut (Complete Opera recorded in 2016) Anna Netrebko, Yusif Eyvazov, Armando Piña, Carlos Chausson / Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor, Marco Armiliato [ Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD - released 2/Dec/2016 ] "Netrebko's Manon soars over the rest of the cast, framed attentively, eloquently and imaginatively by Marco Armiliato and the Munich Radio Orchestra." BBC Music |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
La Tarantella Christina Pluhar, L' Arpeggiata, Marco Beasley, Lucilla Galeazzi [ Alpha / CD - released 4/Nov/2002 ] Traditional music from the Kingdom of Naples. In 1630 a strange disease called "Tarantism" struck Italy. It was attributed to a spider's bite with alternating symptoms of exaltation and prostration. Tarantella are enchanting songs and dances meant... |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (Complete Opera recorded at the New Zealand Festival 2000) Gordon Hawkins, Vladimir Vaneev, Yaron Windmuller, Nuccia Focile / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus, Marco Guidarini [ Trust / 2 CD Box Set - released 25/Feb/2006 ] Verdi's sombre and powerful operatic masterpiece, with its themes of love, hate, treachery and reconciliation, is brought to life in this production from the 2000 New Zealand Festival, featuring the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Chapman... |
UMBERTO GIORDANO
Giordano: Andrea Chenier (Blu-ray) Bayerische Staatsoper, Jonas Kaufmann, George Petean, Anja Harteros / Marco Armiliato (cond) [ BSO Recordings / Blu-ray - released 18/Aug/2023 ] First performed in 1896, Andrea Chénier is rightly regarded as one of the key works of verismo. With his melodrama about the historical poet André Chénier during the upheavals of the French Revolution, the composer Umberto Giordano created an... |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
The Berlin Concert - Live From the 'Waldbuhne' Placido Domingo, Anna Netrebko. Rolando Villazon / Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin / Marco Armiliato [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 18/Jan/2007 ] "Three charming singing actors giving their audience a real treat, this concert is something to return to" (MusicWeb Feb 2007) |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64 (complete ballet recorded in 2017) BLU-RAY Teatro alla Scala / Roberto Bolle, Misty Copeland, Antonino Sutera, Mick Zeni, Marco Agostino / Patrick Fournillier (cond) [ C Major BLU-RAY / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Dec/2017 ] This classic choreography of Romeo and Juliet by Kenneth MacMillan, set to the immortal notes of Prokofiev, is legendary in La Scala´s repertoire. In this ballet the choreographer MacMillan deals with the matter paying great attention to human... |
IVAR HALLSTROM
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Hallstrom: Duke Magnus & the Mermaid (complete opera) Lars Johansson, Robin Svanvik, Marco Stella, Jonas Olofsson, Emelie Sigelius, Ingela Bohlin, Eva Marklund / Vadstena Academy Choir, Niklas Willen [ Marco Polo / 2 CD Box Set - released 17/Feb/2003 ] Although he learnt the piano, Hallström was self-taught as a composer. He studied law in Uppsala and in 1853 was appointed librarian to Prince Oscar which assisted him in advancing his career as a composer. His operas in collaboration with the... |
GAETANO DONIZETTI
DonizettI: Lucia di Lammermoor (complete opera recorded in 2009) Metropolitan Opera / Anna Netrebko, Piotr Beczala, Mariusz Kwiecien / Marco Armiliato (conductor) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / 2 DVD - released 16/Nov/2009 ] "Director Mary Zimmerman's…offers a Victorian gloss on the drama… which adds a fresh and fascinating resonance. This is reinforced by the filming, often steeply angled from front stage, and enjoys uncommonly strong choral and orchestral support." BBC |
ALEXANDER BORODIN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Borodin Edition [10 CD set includes Symphonies, Chamber Works & Prince Igor] Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra / Moscow Trio / Nikolai Okhotnikov (baritone) / Marco Rapetti (piano) / etc [ Brilliant Classics / 10 CD Box Set - released 20/Oct/2012 ] "This set remains uniquely valuable for letting us hear so much of the composer's music that is otherwise scarce or simply unobtainable. For that reason, and at Brilliant's price, these recordings are an essential acquisition" (MusicWeb) |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Tosca (complete opera recorded in 2010) Daniela Dessì (Tosca), Fabio Armiliato (Mario Cavaradossi) & Claudio Sgura (Scarpia), Teatro Carlo Felice, Marco Boemi (conductor) [ Arthaus Musik / DVD - released 10/Apr/2012 ] "Sgura possesses a timbre rather warmer than usual for Scarpia - it's nice to hear 'Va, Tosca' sung rather than roared...The conductor, Marco Boemi, has the idiom solidly in hand and extracts full-blooded, sumptuous sound from the Genoa players" |