Since you are interested in Mefistofele (complete opera recorded in 1973), here is a list of other items that you may find interesting.
GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (Complete Opera recorded in 1958 & 1959) Victoria de los Angeles, Nicolai Gedda, Janine Micheau / French National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham [ Warner Classics Legendary Opera Recordings / 3 CD Box Set - released 23/Sep/2016 ] "a spacious recording in which the atmospheric off-stage effects are vividly caught. What is so individual is the way that Beecham points rhythms to captivate the ear, as well as his persuasive moulding of phrases." (Gramophone) |
JACQUES OFFENBACH
Offenbach: Orphee aux Enfers [Orpheus in the Underworld] (Complete Opera recorded in 1997) Natalie Dessay, Laurent Naouri, Yann Beuron / Lyon Opera, Marc Minkowski [ Warner Classics The Home Of Opera / 2 CD - released 1/Jul/2011 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1801-1850) - "Marc Minkowski makes a compelling case for the original two act 1858 version, and his fine cast just about clinches it. Natalie Dessay is such a nagging wife that it is difficult... |
JACQUES OFFENBACH
Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffmann [The Tales of Hoffmann] (Complete Opera) (recorded 1964-65) Nicolai Gedda, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Victoria de los Angeles, Gianna d'Angelo, Nicola Ghiuselev, Ernest Blanc / Concerts du Conservatoire, Andre Cluy [ Warner Classics The Opera Series / 2 CD - released 1/May/2010 ] 'In a celebrated cast, Gedda, as Hoffmann, sings beautifully and with dramatic feeling, Victoria de los Angeles is a delightful Antonia, Schwarzkopf brings sumptuous creamy tone to Giulietta, Blanc is a splendid Dapertutto, and the smaller parts,... |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte [The Magic Flute] (Complete Opera recorded in 1964) Nicolai Gedda, Gundula Janowitz, Walter Berry, Lucia Popp / Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer [ Warner Classics Legendary Opera Recordings / 2 CD Box Set - released 23/Sep/2016 ] "I have never heard The Magic Flute sound so magical and the complete ease and seeming rightness of this performance is a wonder. The cast, chorus and orchestra are inspired under Klemperer, whom I here salute as a real genius" (Gramophone) |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Don Carlo (Complete Opera recorded in 1970) Placido Domingo, Montserrat Caballe, Shirley Verrett, Ryland Davies / Royal Opera, Carlo Maria Giulini [ Warner Classics Home of Opera / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Feb/2016 ] "Under Giulini's commanding and searching direction, the huge canvas is held together with unerring control" (Gramophone) |
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Debussy: Pelleas and Melisande (Complete Opera recorded in 1978) Richard Stilwell, Frederica von Stade, Josa van Dam. Berlin Philharmonic / Herbert von Karajan [ Warner Classics Home of Opera / 3 CD Box Set - released 20/Jan/2017 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) - "a very characteristically Karajan performance, deeply committed and full of beautiful things. The casting is excellent." (Gramophone) |
PUCCINI
La Rondine (Complete opera recorded in 1996) [with Le Villi - Highlights] Roberto Alagna / Angela Gheorghiu / London Symphony Orchestra / Pappano [ Warner Classics The Opera Series / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2011 ] "An almost ideal account of Puccini's least-performed mature work, with both Alagna and Gheorghiu at their peak. Valuable extras from Alagna in Le Villi, too." (BBC Music) |
GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti: Don Pasquale (complete opera recorded in 1982) Sesto Bruscantini, Mirella Freni, Leo Nucci, Gosta Winbergh / Philharmonia Orchestra, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, Riccardo Muti [ Warner Classics Home of Opera / 2 CD - released 2/Sep/2016 ] "The charm of this recording lies in the ensemble work, the elegance of Gösta Winbergh's tenor, and the excellence of the orchestral playing. It is also a genuine production, with a sense of occasion: a sparkling occasion too and a pleasure to... |
WAGNER
Parsifal (Complete opera recorded in 1985) Sir Donald McIntyre, Waltrud Meier, Phillip Joll, Warren Ellsworth, Chorus and orchestra of the Welsh National Opera / Reginald Goodall [ EMI The Opera Series / 4 CD Box Set - released 1/Jul/2011 ] Parsifal was Wagner's last and many say most accomplished opera, the culmination of the development of the emotional intensity of the German Romantic movement. |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Der Fliegende Hollander [The Flying Dutchman] Theo Adam, Anja Silja, Martti Talvela / BBC Chorus, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer [ EMI Classics / 3 CD - released 8/Mar/2010 ] "The most remarkable aspect of the performance… remains the empathy between Klemperer, Silja and Adam. Adam's Act 1 monologue seizes the dramatic high ground, but Silja raises the stakes still further with an electrifying account of Senta's Ballad,... |