This week’s CD releases are full of some rather exciting offerings. On one hand, you get a chance to check out a Donizetti opera that seems to be getting some noteworthy re-evaluation from a number of festivals around the world, while the other major offering centers on a work by a modern master. Finally, a unique soprano will present music of Leonard Bernstein.

Il Castello di Kenilworth

Donizetti’s first Tudor opera gets an anticipated release on DVD, Blu-Ray, and CD. The new DVD marks the opera’s world premiere video recording and features a formidable cast. Jessica Pratt and Carmela Remigio headline the cast that also includes Stefan Pop and Xabier Anduaga. Riccardo Frizza conducts the opera, which was directed by Maria Pilar Pérez Asp. OperaWire noted of the performance at Bergamo, “A first-class cast, with an imaginative production team, under the musical direction of Riccardo Frizza, have been assembled, and it is not an exaggeration to say that together they have produced a compelling case for “Il Castello di Kenilworth” to be given further consideration.”

 Kaija Saariaho

Ondine releases a record dedicated to a trio of works by the Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho highlighted by her orchestral song cycle of 2014, “True Fire.”  The work, which was written for Canadian bass-baritone Gerald Finley, is performed by the baritone and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchesta under its chief conductor, Hannu Lintu.

It’s Gotta Be Bad To be Good: Songs of Leonard Bernstein

Soprano Amy owns joins forces with pianist and music director Michael Barrett for an album of 26 songs by Bernstein, including a number of never-before-released songs and even some unpublished works.