With the holiday season approaching, this will be filled with numerous DVDs and CDs to choose from. Many of opera’s top star in the releases including Sonya Yoncheva, Rolando Villazón and Renée Fleming. Norma Bel Canto fans will be treated to a new Norma from the Royal Opera House with a stellar cast. Sonya Yoncheva stars in the Mount Everest {…}
On Nov. 17, 2017, American Modern Recordings will release the world premiere recording of Robert Paterson’s “Three Way.” The new record features Nashville Opera conducted by Dean Williamson, and the original cast including Eliza Bonet, Melisa Bonetti, Samuel Levine, Wes Mason, Danielle Pastin, Courtney Ruckman, Jordan Rutter, and Matthew Trevino. The recording was produced by multi-Grammy winning producer Blanton Alspaugh {…}
On Nov. 14, 2017, BMOP/sound will release the debut recording of David Del Tredici’s Complete Song Cycle “Child Alice.” The release will mark the world premiere of the piece. The rarely-heard, neo-Romantic masterpiece explores Del Tredici’s Lewis Carroll-inspired fantasy world and is presented as a 135-minute two-disc hybrid-SACD set. The work is led by conductor Gil Rose with Boston Modern Orchestra {…}
Holiday shopping hasn’t started but there are a number of DVD selections to choose from. This week Diana Damrau has two DVDs while such stars Philippe Jaroussky and Anja Hateros are featured on new releases. Find out what you can buy this week. Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” The first big release of the week stars Diana Damrau in her {…}
This week,two unmissable DVDs land in stores. The first stars one of today’s acclaimed Puccini divas while the other stars one of the greatest tenors of his generation. Check it out! Tosca Kristine Opolais highlights Euroarts’ new “Tosca” from Baden-Baden. The production, which opened during the Easter Festival to mixed reviews, showcases the soprano at the top of her powers and also {…}
After a week full of high-profile releases, the offerings are rather sparse. The main offering highlights the work of a famed conductor and his operatic legacy. Another highlights a production of one of the greatest operas of all time. Claudio Abbado: The Opera Edition Also available throughout Europe is a 60-disc set entitled “Claudio Abbado: The Opera Edition.” Among the operas {…}
Decca Classics has announced “Der Rosenkavalier” from the Metropolitan Opera. The historical performance features Renée Fleming’s farewell to her signature role as the Marschallin and Elīna Garanča’s final performance in a pants role. The cast also includes Gunther Groissböck and Erin Morley in Robert Carsen’s new prosuction. Regarding Fleming’s performance, OperaWire noted, “Her overall interpretation of the character was to depict the Marschallin {…}
A week after superstar tenor Jonas Kaufmann released his latest album, the other major stars of the opera world will unveil their latest recordings. It’s a big week with too many incredible choices. Here we go. Mozart Juan Diego Flórez’s first album fully dedicated to Mozart is conducted by Riccardo Minasi and features music from “Idomeneo,” “Die Zauberflöte,” “Don Giovanni,” {…}
There aren’t as many releases this week, though there is undeniably one that will have everyone’s attention, especially since it comes from the world’s greatest tenor. L’Opera Jonas Kaufmann’s new album, his first fully dedicated to the French repertoire is sure to be one of the hot holiday purchases. The tenor sings arias from Bizet, Meyerbeer, Massenet, Thomas, Berlioz, and {…}
After a week of releases dominated by Maria Callas, European opera lovers are getting a ton of options for quality recordings from the world’s greatest artists. In the US, one major CD release will steal headlines. Duets Rolando Villazón and Ildar Abdrazakov’s new duets, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin will arrive on shelves in the US this week and features duets {…}
We are not even going to beat around the bush here. This week’s releases come down to one artist – Maria Callas. Arguably THE singular most important opera singer of all time will get yet another re-release from Warner Classics, but with a major twist. The company is releasing a whopping 42-CD release of 20 complete operas, a Blu-Ray disc {…}