WOLF-FERRARI / VERDI / PONCHIELLI
Overtures and Ballet Music (Recorded 1958-1960) Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Charles Mackerras [ Testament / CD - released 20/Apr/2011 ] Recorded 1958-1960, some tracks mono |
GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti: Lucia Di Lammermoor (complete opera recorded in 1972) Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Sherrill Milnes, Nicolai Ghiaurov / Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Richard Bonynge [ Decca / 2 CD - released 24/Oct/2011 ] "Though some of the girlish freshness of voice which marked the 1961 recording had disappeared by the 1971 set, Sutherland's detailed understanding was intensified. Power is there as well as delicacy, and the rest of the cast is first-rate." Penguin |
MAURICE RAVEL
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe (complete ballet) / Rapsodie espagnole / etc Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / London Symphony Orchestra / Pierre Monteux [ Decca Historic / CD - released 10/Apr/1990 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) "There is only one word for this work, this performance, and this recording, and that is - ravishing." Gramophone |
GILBERT and SULLIVAN
Gilbert & Sullivan: Ruddigore (Complete opera) coupled with Sullivan's Cox and Box D'Oyly Carte Opera Company with John Reed; Kenneth Sandford; Jean Hindmarsh / Orchestra of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Isidore Godfrey [ Decca Records / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2003 ] *** Three Stars. Penguin Stereo Guide. |
LIAM SCARLETT / LOWELL LIEBERMANN
The Royal Ballet's Frankenstein Federico Bonelli, Laura Morera, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Koen Kessels (cond.) [ DVD - released 22/Sep/2017 ] Inspired by Mary Shelley's Gothic masterpiece, Frankenstein is the world premiere of Liam Scarlett's new full-length ballet. A story of betrayal, curiosity, life, death and, above all, love, exploring the very depths of human nature. Federico... |
W. A. MOZART
Fernando Corena: Arias for Bass Fernando Corena (bass) / Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino / Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 20/Sep/2015 ] "'Corena sings with a fine, resonant, clean tone. His production is easy and completely natural, and his diction, phrasing and general musicianship are most praiseworthy" (Gramophone) |
DEBUSSY
Pelleas et Melisande (Complete opera recorded in 1970) George Shirley, Elisabeth Söderström & Yvonne Minton / Royal Opera House Chorus and Orchestra, Pierre Boulez [ Sony Opera House / 3 CD Box Set - released 20/Feb/2010 ] "Boulez's sharply dramatic view of Debussy's atmospheric score is a performance which will probably not please the dedicated Francophile but it rescues Debussy from the lanquid half-tone approach which for long has been accepted as authentic. He is... |
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: The Pilgrim's Progress (Complete Opera) Gerald Finley, Rebecca Evans / Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Hickox [ Chandos Classics / 2 CD - released 21/Sep/2001 ] Rosette (Penguin Stereo Guide) - "The Chandos recording is superb, spacious and atmospheric, with the many onstage effects beautifully balanced, yet with words always clear…(an) overpowering recording." |
VERDI / DONIZETTI / GOUNOD / ARDITI
La Stupenda Joan Sutherland (soprano) / Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden & Paris Conservatoire Orchestra [ Alto / CD - released 10/Aug/2013 ] (* Penguin Guide Rosette on Art of Prima Donna vol.2) "this 1959 recital** at once put her on the map as one of the greatest recording artists of all time" "most cherishable of all operatic recital records" (Penguin Guide) "breathtaking display" re... |
DONIZETTI
La Fille du Regiment [daughter of the Regiment] (complete opera recorded in 1968) Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Monica Sinclair / Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House / Richard Bonynge [ Decca Originals / 2 CD Box Set - released 2/Feb/2009 ] "...a sizzling performance ... can confidently be recommended both for comedy and for fine singing. Recorded in Kingsway Hall, the CD sound has wonderful presence and clarity of focus." Penguin Guide to Compact Discs |
VINCENZO BELLINI
Bellini: I Puritani (complete opera) Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Piero Cappuccilli, Nicolai Ghiaurov / Royal Opera House Covent Garden / London Symphony Orchestra / Richard Bonyng [ Decca / 3 CD - released 10/Aug/2006 ] 1001 Classical recordings to hear before you die (1801-1850) -- Building a Library First Choice - January 2005 |
MOZART / WAGNER / DONIZETTI / SPOHR
The Golden Age of Covent Garden Joan Sutherland (soprano) Jon Vickers (tenor) / Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Rafael Kubelik / with Richard Bonynge (piano) [ Pearl / CD - released 1/Jan/2005 ] Joan Sutherland and Jon Vickers in roles they never recorded commercially, at the very peak of their powers in 1957 and 1958. |
VERDI
Un Ballo in Maschera (The Masked Ball) Complete Opera Jose Carreras, Montserrat Caballa / Royal Opera House / Colin Davis [ Philips Compact Opera / 2 CD - released 1/Nov/2002 ] Compact Opera - Great opera recordings repackaged |
JULES MASSENET
Massenet: Cendrillon [Cinderella] (the complete opera, recorded in 2011) Royal Opera House / Joyce DiDonato, Alice Coote, Eglise Gutierrez, Ewa Podles / Bertrand de Billy (conductor) [ Virgin Classics DVD / 2 DVD - released 11/May/2012 ] "Bertrand de Billy leads a highly sympathetic reading of the score...revelling in the pomposity of the court dances while conjuring magic in the duets." (International Record Review) |
GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti: L'Ange de Nisida (complete opera) Joyce El-Khoury, David Junghoon Kim, Laurent Naouri, Vito Priante / Royal Opera Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Sir Mark Elder [ Opera Rara / 2 CD Box Set - released 20/Mar/2019 ] Opera Rara presents, 179 years after it was written, the world premiere recording of a Donizetti 'lost' masterpiece, restored and brought thrillingly back to life. Written in 1839 for the Theâtre de la Renaissance in Paris, rehearsals started but the... |
KIRI te KANAWA
I Could Have Danced all Night (Concert & Portrait) Kiri Te Kanawa (soprano) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, John Hopkins / Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Stephen Barlow [ Arthaus DVD / DVD - released 1/Oct/2015 ] The Portrait Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's story has all the best elements of an operatic fairytale. Coming from a part-Maori background she went on to become one of the world's most famous opera stars. In this exciting portrait, Kiri Te Kanawa talks about... |
TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Cherevichki [The Slippers] (complete opera recorded in 2009) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / Larissa Diadkova, Maxim Mikhailov, Vladimir Matorin, Olga Guryakova, Vsevolod Grivnov / Alexander Polianichko (cond) [ Opus Arte Royal Opera House Collection Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Aug/2011 ] "…this expensive-looking production that combines the forces of the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet…" The Guardian |
TCHAIKOVSKY
Cherevichki (The Slippers) (complete opera recorded in 2009) Larissa Diadkova / Maxim Mikhailov / Vladimir Matorin / Olga Guryakova / Vsevolod Grivnov / Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Alexander Polianichko [ Opus Arte Royal Opera House Collection DVD / DVD - released 19/Dec/2010 ] |
GIAN CARLO MENOTTI
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
Puccini: Tosca (complete opera remastered recorded live 1964) Maria Callas, Renato Cioni, Tito Gobbi, David Sellar / Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Carlo Felice Cillario [ Warner Classics Maria Callas Live Remastered / 2 CD - released 1/Feb/2019 ] There are obvious parallels between Tosca - the passionate, but vulnerable Roman diva - and Maria Callas. 'Vissi d'arte' (I lived for art), the character's moving Act II aria, has acquired a particular symbolism since the soprano's death in 1977.... |