Opera

A collection of 101 posts

Wagner

Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer from Bayreuth

Dark, oppressive, strangely compelling

Opera

A new production of Verdi's Aida at the Royal Opera House

There is a lot to celebrate here, vocally and instrumentally. The production itself will have to percolate ...

Opera

Mozart's Flûte enchantée: Hervé Niquet and a French flute

Unless you count Hoffmeister’s Magic Flute (which one shouldn’t, obviously) this is Classical Explorer’s second post on Mozart's masterwork, his opera Die Zauberflöte: previously, we had a look at David McVicar’s production at Covent Garden. A recent performance of Zauberflöte under Christophe Rousset at

Live Performance

Sir Bryn Terfel and Verdi's Falstaff in Lerici: the triumph of youth

This was a fascinating display of talent ... and there is no doubting Bryn Terfel is the Falstaff of today

19th Century

Weber Der Freischütz from Freiburg

This is the most significant of modern performances of Freischütz

Verdi

La traviata: Lisette Oropesa triumphs

This is Oropesa's Traviata, a truly fine document of her excellence in this opera

Opera

Concert review: Andrea Chénier from Chelsea Opera Group

One fervently hopes that COG’s sterling work will bring the operatic power of Chénier back into our consciousness

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&

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 andDon Giovanni) and three "opera serie" (Idomeneo, Lucio Silla and La clemenza di Tito). If you're wondering about the "Lady Gaga" reference

Beethoven

Fidelio from Covent Garden

Beethoven's only opera, as we have seen previously [https://www.classicalexplorer.com/when-is-a-fidelio-not-a-fidelio/], 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

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