Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world.

This week, audiences will get to hear two Strauss recordings and a complete recording of Lalo’s famed work.

Jewish Vienna 

Chen Reiss and Daniel Grossmann team up with the Jewish Chamber Orchestra Munich for an album which highlights Vienna at the turn of the 20th century as the cutting edge of artistic and musical creativity with a sizeable and flourishing Jewish artistic community. The works on this album bring together some of the composers of this age, including lesser-known names such as Josephine Winter, who was murdered by the Nazis in 1943, and Alfred Grünfeld.

Lente

Berlin Classics presents the Concerto Copenhagen and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir in Lente, an unconventional interpretation of Arvo Pärt’s music.

Nikolaj de Fine Licht, General Manager of Concerto Copenhagen said, “Arvo Pärt’s music calls to be performed on Baroque instruments—so that’s exactly what Concerto Copenhagen and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir have done.”

Jenůfa

LSO Live releases Janáček’s opera featuring Agneta Eichenholz, Aleš Briscein, Nicky Spence, and Katarina Karnéus. Conductor Emeritus Sir Simon Rattle and the LSO continue exploring the works of the Czech composer.

TYE, SHEPPARD, TAVERNER

Navona Records releases the Choir of Trinity College’s new album featuring music by John Sheppard, John Taverner, and Christopher Tye. Christopher Watson conducts the album.

Édouard Lalo: Le Roi d’Ys

Bru Zane releases Lalo’s work starring Judith van Wanroij, Kate Aldrich, Cyrille Dubois, Jérôme Boutillier, Nicolas Courjal, and Christian Helmer. György Vashegyi conducts the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra and Hungarian National Choir.

Richard Strauss: Elektra

Solo Musica releases Strauss’ work with Barbara Krieger in the title role, Sotiris Charalampous, Sanja Anastasia, Astrid Weber, and Jochen Kupfer. The Orchestre Experience will be conducted by Julien Salemkour.

The recording is also notable for being a complete rendering of the score, including passages that are usually left out in performance.

Richard Strauss: Salome

Chandos Releases a performance of Strauss’ famed work with Malin Byström, Gerhard Siegel, Katarina Dalayman, and Johan Reuter. The  Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Edward Gardner.

The live recording is from the Edinburgh International Festival in August 2022.

Gaetano Donizetti: Lucie de Lammermoor

Naxos will release the French version of Donizetti’s masterpiece from the Donizetti Opera Festival. The recording features Caterina Sala, David Astorga, Julien Henric, Patrick Kabongo, Vito Priante, and Roberto Lorenzi. The Coro dell’Accademia Teatro alla Scala and Orchestra Gli Originali are conducted by Pierre Dumoussaud.