Two CDs headline the week ahead. One comes from a well-regarded mezzo, while the other comes from an instrumentalist experimenting with operatic music. Each release should have something appealing to opera lovers.

Julia Lezhneva

Julia Lezhneva experiments in her latest album as she continues to explore her operatic repertoire. The young mezzo has a new CD out for Decca that includes opera arias from Carl Heinrich Graun. Among the operas included from the composer are “Rodelinda,” “L’Armida,” “L’Orfeo,” “Coriolano” and “Il Mithridate.” The CD marks her third solo album for Decca for whom she has recorded “Alleluia” and “Handel arias.” Overall, it is her fourth album for the company. The album will launch first on digital platforms this Friday as well as on CD in Europe. The US gets the CD at the end of the month.

Cello at the Opera 

For classical music lovers interested in discovering opera in a different way, cellist Sally Maer’s has a new album that is dedicated to the opera world. The album includes arias from “Rusalka,” “The Pearl Fishers,” “Gianni Schichi” and “Turandot.” It may very well be a great introduction to opera or just a new way of listening to popular arias. The album is set for both US and European release.