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 several world premieres, rarities, and several complete opera recordings.

Giacomo Puccini: Manon Lescaut

C Major releases Puccinios’ breakthrough opera with a cast that includes Liudmyla Monastyrska, David Bizic, Gregory Kunde, and Carlos Chausson. The Gran Teatre del Liceu’s 2018 production is conducted by Emmanuel Villaume and directed by Davide Livermore.

Regarding the production OperaWire said, “Liudmyla Monastyrska, in Magnificent Voice, Dominates The Evening”

Carl Nielsen: Maskarade

Naxos releases the comic opera in three acts by Nielsen. Filmed on Dec. 2 and 4, 2021 at Oper Frankfurt the opera stars Alfred Reiter, Susan Bullock, Michael Porter, Liviu Holender, Samuel Levine, Michael McCown, Monika Buczkowska, and Barbara Zechmeister. Titus Engel conducts the production by Tobias Kratzer.

Wagner: Die Walküre

Filmed on Nov. 10 and 17, 2021 at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the recording by Naxos stars Brandon Jovanovich, Elisabeth Teige, Tobias Kehrer, Iain Paterson, Annika Schlicht, and Nina Stemme. Sir Donald Runnicles conducts Stefan Herheim’s production.

Reza Vali: The Being of Love

Janna Baty and Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen join Fawzi Haimor for music by Reza Vali a native Iranian composer. There are three world premieres on the album.

Yes!

Alpha releases the Operetta by Maurice Yvain with lyrics by Albert Willemetz. The recording features Les Frivolités Parisiennes and Clément Rochefort.