After a week of no real releases, the Opera world is back in flux and this week will see a number of anticipated titles including DVDs and an album by Renee Fleming.

Rene Fleming returns

The People’s Diva is releasing her first solo album in three years. After taking a break from the studio Fleming is back with a unique program entitled “Distant Light.” The album, which is conducted by Sakari Oramo and played by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, features music by Samuel Barber, Anders Hillborg, and Björk Guðmundsdóttir. It is a program that shows the soprano experimenting with new works as well as with some of her favorite pieces.

A New Armida

Known as one of the most challenging roles in the bel canto repertoire, Armida is rarely performed. Dynamic is giving audiences a chance to see this rarely performed work in a new DVD version starring Bel Canto specialist Carmen Romeu and conducted by yet another specialist legendary Alberto Zedda. The production is from Opera Vlaanderen and it also features Enea Scala.

Jaroussky’s “Theodora”

And for Baroque lover there is a bonus this week. Alpha Classics is releasing a double disc of two of Handels most beloved works. The first is “Alcina” Sandrine Piau in the title role and the second is “Tamerlano,” stars Christophe Dumaux. Both productions are from La Monnaie de Munt and the productions were by Pierre Audi.