Opera - Classical Explorer

Beethoven

Beethoven's “Fidelio” at the Barbican

Laurence Equilbey left us in no doubt as to the power of this piece

18th century

La Captive du Sérail: Turqueries Galantes à l'Opéra Comique

This disc is a showcase for Florie Valiquette, but also a. reminder of the richness of this repertoire

Donizetti

Donizetti's Three Queens: Sondra Radvanovsky triumphs

The "Three Queens" in relation to the operas of Donizetti refers to three operas: Anna Bolena (ill-fated wife of King Henry VIII of England), Maria Stuarda and Roberto Devereux (Queen Elizabeth I). There is a fourth queen, incidentally, but the opera is seen as "second-drawer" Donizetti (which sounds like an

Opera

Zemlinsky's Der König Kandaules

A veritable feast of Zemlinsky!

Verdi

Rigoletto from Florence, with Camarena & Salsi

One of Verdi's greatest works, Rigoletto can and should leave an undelbile mark on the listener

Mozart

Mo3art arias, Lady Gaga-ish, from soprano Elsa Dreisig

Released today, this is double celebration of three triplicities: three "Da Ponte" operas (Cosí fan tutte, Le nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni) and three "opera serie" (Idomeneo, Lucio Silla and La clemenza di Tito). If you're wondering about the "Lady Gaga" reference in the title, watch this short introductory

Beethoven

Fidelio from Covent Garden

Beethoven's only opera, as we have seen previously, exists in a number of versions. What we have here is, broadly, the Fidelio everyone knows and loves (some of the dialogue might be unfamiliar though. to those who grew up, like myself, with the famous Klemperer recording), This is a staging,

Hindemith

Hindemith's opera Mathis der Maler, complete from Vienna

Whether you go for sound-only, or the visual experience, this is simply unmissable

Opera

Es war einmal ... the fairytale magic of Zemlinsky

"Es war einmal" is the perfect place to start one's explorations of Zemlinsky's operas

Mozart

A Magic Flute returns to Covent Garden ...

Terrific filming of a great production with a fine cast

Vocal

Repost: I Am Hera: The delights of soprano Hera Hyesang Park

This singer, more than most, achieves a level of purity of utterance that is to be cherished

Opera

Introducing baritone George Gagnidze

Gagnidze is a major baritone, and this is a great showcase of his core talents and repertoire

Opera

Soprano Hila Fahima in Donizetti and Verdi

An excellent debut disc, and I for one look forward to the next

Opera

Giordano's Andrea Chénier in Milan: Netrebko and Eyvazov

This is Netrebko's show ... arguably her perfect partner here is the conductor, Riccardo Chailly, whose command of the orchestra is total

Opera

Malcolm Arnold: The Dancing Master

Utterly gobsmacked: a revelation!

Opera

Puccini La bohème at Covent Garden

A Bohème for the ages, then. Get it while you can; and if you've seen it at Covent Garden, this is the finest of momentos

Opera

Cav & Pag at Dutch National Opera; plus, the "other" Bohème

Oversized trousers, a dead chicken and broom-as-phallus ... it's got it all

Beethoven

A tale of "two" operas: when is a Fidelio not a Fidelio?

So, when is a Fidelio not a Fidelio?: an updated post

Opera

A Devilish Pact: Gounod's Faust from the Royal Opera

A performance and staging that never fails to stimulate

Opera

Mascagni's Iris: a verismo gem

It is impossible not to be pulled into Mascagni's world ...

Opera

Es gibt ein Reich: Ariadne auf Naxos in Vienna

An act of pure joy as well as compositional virtuosity, Richard Strauss' opera Ariadne auf Naxos almost guarantees enjoyment

Opera

A handful of Salieri operas

Salieri opera, I hear you say? He of Amadeus fame? I'm not really one for populist links, but that film did bring to the public's awareness the name of Antonio Salieri. Christophe Rousset has long believed in the importance of Salieri's music, and his most recent release of Salieri's opera

Donizetti

Opera Rara and Donizetti: Il Paria

An international release through Warner Classics, this Donizetti Il Paria on the Opera Rara label was recorded in the studio - BBC Maida Vale, June 1-6, 2019 - prior to a performance at London's Barbican Centre. Il paria (The Pariah) was Donizetti's 20th full-length opera; it is, astonoishingly, Opera Rara's

Opera

Hymns of Love: tenor Dmytro Popov's recital disc

Making a splash at London's Covent Garden as Rodofo Bohème in 2013, Dnytro Popov enjoys an international career. Notably, he was solo tenor in Teodor Currentzis' Verdi Requiem performances around Europe in 2019, but he has been active in many, many operatic roles, the most famous of which appear on

Opera

Tchaikovsky Queen of Spades

A salutary reminder of the greatness of Tchaikovsky's operatic works