MASCAGNI
Cavalleria rusticana (complete opera recorded in 1953) Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Rolando Panerai, Anna Maria Canali, Ebe Ticozzi / Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala Milan, Tullio Serafin [ Warner Classics Maria Callas Remastered / CD - released 10/Dec/2014 ] In 1939, as a 15-year-old student in Athens, Maria Callas made her stage debut in the demanding role of Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana. Five years later she sang it professionally with the Greek National Opera Company. In 1953, when she was already... |
VERDI
Un ballo in maschera [A Masked Ball] (recorded 1956) Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tito Gobbi / Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala Milan, Antonino Votto [ Warner Classics Maria Callas Remastered / 2 CD - released 10/Nov/2014 ] Callas's first stage appearances in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera came at La Scala in 1957, a year in which Milan also saw her in La sonnambula and Anna Bolena. As in this recording, made the year before, she shared Verdi's most spectacular... |
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
Rossini: Il Turco in Italia (complete opera recorded 1954) Maria Callas, Jolanda Gardino, Nicolai Gedda, Piero de Palma / Milan La Scala Chorus / Milan La Scala Orchestra / Gianandrea Gavazzeni [ Warner Classics / 2 CD - released 1/Mar/2017 ] "The engineers have worked miracles with the sound. Early LP pressings well dull and dry but the remasterings for CD have a presence and, almost, a brilliance that perfectly complement the exceptionally subtle and spirited performance." (Gramophone... |
BELLINI
Norma (complete opera recorded in 1954) Maria Callas, Mario Filippeschi, Ebe Stignani, Nicola Rossi-Lemeni / Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala Milan, Tullio Serafin [ Warner Classics Maria Callas Remastered / 3 CD - released 1/Apr/2015 ] This is the first of Callas's two complete recordings of her signature role, the druid priestess Norma, in which she has remained unrivalled for 50 years. It captures her voice in its imposing early prime, while in the two famous duets for Norma and... |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Macbeth (complete opera remastered recorded live 1952) Maria Callas, Renata Scotto, Mirto Picchi, Miriam Pirazzini, Giuseppe Modesti / Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala Milan, Tullio Serafin [ Warner Classics Maria Callas Remastered / 2 CD - released 10/Aug/2018 ] This live recording of Macbeth perpetuates Callas' interpretation of a role that she only sang in one run of performances, at La Scala in 1952. There were plans for her to repeat it at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 1959, but they failed to come to... |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Aida (Complete Opera recorded in 1955) Maria Callas, Richard Tucker, Tito Gobbi, Fedora Barbieri / Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala Milan, Tullio Serafin [ Warner Classics Maria Callas Remastered / 2 CD - released 10/Oct/2014 ] The Diva's hits her powerful peak! |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Faramondo (complete opera) Max Emanuel Cencic, Philippe Jaroussky, Sophie Karthäuser, Marina de Liso / Choeur de la Radio Suisse, Lugano & I Barocchisti, Diego Fasolis [ Erato / Virgin Records / 3 CD Box Set - released 23/Mar/2003 ] "The cast is notable for the flamboyant contributions of the impressive young countertenors Max Emanuel Cencic and Philippe Jaroussky. Strongly recommend to diehard Handel fans." The Telegraph |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique / Overture: 'Le Corsaire' / Royal Hunt and Storm & Trojan March ('Les Troyens') (recorded 1957-59) Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Thomas Beecham [ Warner Classics Masters / CD - released 1/Feb/2012 ] Rosette Recording (highest rating) Penguin Stereo Guide - 'If you want a genuinely French Symphonie fantastique, wonderfully performed and superbly recorded, go out and get this release before it's snapped up by your neighbour.' (Gramophone) |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
The Art of Charles Dutoit (with bonus DVD of music of Prokofiev) Orchestre symphonique de Montreal / Philharmonia Orchestra / Orchestre National de France / L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Charles Dutoit [ Decca Budget Boxes / 7 CD/DVD - released 1/Nov/2006 ] This 6-CD orchestral spectacular features mainly recordings with the OSM but the Orchestra National de France is also included in Poulenc, while the Philharmonia is included with a popular tone-poem by Saint-Saëns (the earliest recording included... |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Nouveau Monde: Baroque Arias & Songs Patricia Petibon (soprano) / La Cetra Baroque Orchestra, Andrea Marcon [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 1/Nov/2012 ] "'Nouveau Monde' is a tightly thought-through and arranged and compelling programme, a tour de force for its performer/compiler, most atmospherically recorded. Compulsive, repeatable listening." Editor's Choice Gramophone Magazine, January 2013 |
GLUCK / J. C. BACH / JOMMELLI / HASSE / PICCINNI / etc
Philippe Jaroussky - Forgotten Arias Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor), Le Concert de la Loge, Julien Chauvin [ Erato / CD - released 27/Oct/2023 ] With Forgotten Arias countertenor Philippe Jaroussky pays tribute to composers of the late Baroque era and to the great librettist of the age, Pietro Metasasio. All ten arias on the album, written between 1748 and 1770 by nine composers, are heard in... |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Prima Donna in Paris Regine Crespin (soprano) / L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Wiener Volksopernorchester / Alain Lombard / Georges Sebastian [ Decca Originals / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2007 ] 'I am sure she enjoyed herself enormously, and on any count she stands very high in the list of Parisian prima donnas celebrated in this set ... she has been splendidly served by her accompanists, not to mention the recording engineers.' Gramophone... |
ROSSINI
La Donna Del Lago (complete opera recorded in 1994) Rockwell Blake / Giorgio Surjan / June Anderson / Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan / Riccardo Muti [ Decca Classic Opera / 2 CD Box Set - released 10/Sep/2009 ] |
STRAVINSKY
Petrouchka / Les Noces / The Rite of Spring / The Firebird L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Ernest Ansermet [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 10/Apr/2014 ] |
ROSSINI / VERDI / OFFENBACH / MOZART / BEETHOVEN / BELLINI / etc
100 Best Overtures & Preludes: Includes 'The Bartered Bride', 'William Tell' & 'The Barber of Seville') Philharmonia Orchestra, Stuttgart Radio Symphony, La Scala Opera Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, etc [ Emi Classics / 6 CD Box Set - released 10/Feb/2018 ] 100 Favourite overtures and preludes from all your favourite operas & ballets. |
ROSSINI / DONIZETTI / BIZET / BEETHOVEN / VERDI / WEBER / etc
50 Best Overtures & Preludes: Includes 'The Bartered Bride', 'William Tell' & 'The Barber of Seville') Philharmonia Orchestra, Stuttgart Radio Symphony, La Scala Opera Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, etc [ Warner Classics / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Jun/2012 ] 50 Favourite overtures and preludes from all your favourite operas & ballets. |
HECTOR VILLA-LOBOS
Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras Nos.1, 2, 5, 9 Victoria de los Angeles (soprano) / Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française, Heitor Villa-Lobos [ Warner Classics Original Jacket Reissues / CD - released 20/Apr/2015 ] "In Bachianas Brasileiras No.5, the sheer seductive sound of de los Angeles is way ahead of her competitors and the other suites can be recommended without reserve." (Gramophone) |
Vidres A La Sang
Endins [ Xtreem / CD - released 3/Nov/2017 ] |
GIUSEPPE ANTONIO BRESCIANELLO
Behind Closed Doors, Brescianello, Vol. 1 Adrian Chandler (director/violin) / La Serenissima [ Signum / CD - released 19/Nov/2021 ] "The performances by this accomplished ensemble are polished and invigorating. Chandler's solo violin playing is articulate, warm toned and communicative." BBC Music Five Stars |
GIUSEPPE ANTONIO BRESCIANELLO
Brescianello Unlocked Adrian Chandler (director/violin) / La Serenissima [ Signum / CD - released 27/Oct/2023 ] This album features the second half of Brescianello's Opus 1; works 1 - 6 were released as Behind Closed Doors in 2022. La Serenissima passionately believe that Brescianello is a composer who deserves greater recognition with the result that many of... |