Amanda Majeski, Derek Welton & Marie Perbost lead New CD/DVD Releases
By Francisco SalazarWelcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world.
This week several complete recordings will be released, as well as a unique take on Beethoven ‘s Symphony No. 9.
Janáček: Katya Kabanova
The second release in LSO Live’s cycle of Janáček opera recordings is “Katya Kabanova.” The album’s cast includes the superb tenor Simon O’Neill, Amanda Majeski, and Katarina Dalayman. The recording was captured live at the Barbican in January 2023 under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle.
The Medway Hymn
The Medway Hymn is the rousing final chorus in Thomas Hewitt Jones’s “Regards from Rochester,” a work for choir and small orchestra written to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Rochester Choral Society. The hymn celebrates friendship and kindness, love and longevity, and also reflects on the nature of life in 2022.
“Regards from Rochester” was recorded at Henry Wood Hall and Rochester Cathedral in January 2024.
The Lady of Satis House
Jacques Cohen’s haunting operatic monodrama “The Lady of Satis House,” inspired by the story of Miss Havisham from Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, will be released on Meridian Records.
The recording stars soprano Marie Vassiliou as Miss Havisham and the Tippett Quartet.
Beethoven Symphony No. 9
Deutsche Grammophon releases a recording of the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra’s Warsaw performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. The Beethoven Symphony has a unique feature as its text, Schiller’s great poem of freedom “Ode to Joy” is performed in Ukrainian. Keri-Lynn Wilson conducts the recording.
Mademoiselle Duval: Les Génies, ou les Caractères de l’Amour
Recorded on March 6-8, 2023 at the Château de Versailles, this new recording features Marie Perbost, Florie Valiquette, Anna Reinhold, Etienne de Bénazé, Paco Garcia, Guilhem Worms, Matthieu Walendzik, and Cécile Achille. The Chœur de l’Opéra Royal and Ensemble Il Caravaggio are conducted by Camille Delaforge.
Wagner: Das Rheingold
Naxos releases the first installment of Wagner’s Tetralogy. Filmed on November 9 and 16, 2021 at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the recording stars Derek Welton, Thomas Blondelle, Markus Brück, Andrew Harris, Tobias Kehrer, Annika Schlicht, and Flurina Stucki. Sir Donald Runnicles conducts the production by Stefan Herheim.
