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 high anticipated album debuts by two celebrated performers. There are also reissues and the completion of an acclaimed Ring Cycle.

O Sole Mio – Reissue

Decca Classics reissues Luciano Pavarotti’s classic album.  The album showcases the Italian tenor in an entirely different style: performing a variety of Neapolitan songs, beautifully arranged for voice and orchestra. This recording won the 1980 Grammy Award for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album and the turquoise hues of the original album artwork are now tastefully replicated in the vinyl.

This release is LP only.

Beyond the Years

Soprano Karen Slack and pianist Michelle Cann release unveil “Beyond the Years: Unpublished Songs of Florence Price” on Azica Records. Produced by Azica’s Alan Bise and ONEcomposer, the album features 19 unpublished songs by Price, including 16 world premiere recordings.

Ester, Liberatrice de Popolo Ebreo

The groundbreaking Roman composer Alessandro Stradella’s neglected oratorio gets a new release from Navona Records. Exploring themes of courage, self-acceptance, ambition, justice, and power album stars Jessica Gould as Ester, Sonia Tedla as Speranza Celeste, José Lemos as Mardocheo, Gabriele Lombardi as Aman, Salvo Vitale as Assuero, Anna Piroli as Ebrea I, Maria Dalia Albertini as Ebrea II & Act II Testo, and Guglielmo Buonsanti as Testo.

Aigul

Decca Classics releases mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina first album.

The album features arias from several major operas, including “Carmen,” Akhmetshina’s signature role, and one that she has performed around the world. The album includes arias from “I Capuleti e I Montecchi,” “La Cenerentola,” “Werther,” and “Il Barbiere di Siviglia.”

Francesco Antonio Boerio (attr.): Bello Tiempo Passato

Dynamic releases the rarely performed work with a cast that includes Pino De Vittorio, Giuseppe Naviglio, Olga Cafiero, and Rosario Totaro. The Orchestra Cappella Neapolitana is conducted by Antonio Florio and teh production is directed by Pino De Vittorio.

Grace Williams (1906–1977) Songs: Y Deryn Pur, Lights Out, Cariad Cyntaf

Baritone Jeremy Huw Williams and piano Wendy Hiscocks record music by female composer, Grace Williams. The original works are heard in their premiere recordings. Naxos releases.

Sorabji – Vocal and Chamber Works

BIS releases an album dedicated to the works of Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji, who is renowned for the length and complexity of his compositions. The American collective Wild Beautiful Orchestra is led by conductor Chappell Kingsland and is joined by flutist Sharon Bezaly.

Billy Budd

Orfeo releases a 2001 recording of Benjamin Britten’s Billy Budd. The recording features Neil Shicoff, Bo Skovhus, Eric Halfvarson, Robert Bork, Wolfgang Bankl, David Cale Johnson, John Dickie, Geert Smits, Alfred Šramek, and John Nuzzo. Donald Runnicles conducts the legendary performance which received a 30-minute ovation when it premiered.

Richard Wagner: Siegfried

Unitel Classica releases the Staatsoper Unter den Linden’s 2022 recording of “Siegfried” with Andreas Schager, Stephan Rügamer, Michael Volle, Anja Kampe, Anna Kissjudit, and Johannes Martin Kränzle. The Staatskapelle Berlin is conducted by Christian Thielemann and Dmitri Tcherniakov directs.

Richard Wagner: Götterdämmerung

Unitel Classica releases the final installment of Wagner’s Tetraolgy recorded in October 2022 from Berlin with a cast that includes Anja Kampe, Andreas Schager, Mika Kares Lauri Vasar, Mandy Fredrich, and Violeta Urmana. The Staatskapelle Berlin is conducted by Christian Thielemann and Dmitri Tcherniakov directs.