This week audiences will get to listen to three solo recitals from some rising stars and one of opera’s leading lieder singers. There are also two full opera DVDs starring leading singers.

Here is a look at the new releases of the week.

Mirages: The Art of French Song

Champs Hill Records releases baritone Roderick Williams’ new album with acclaimed pianist Roger Vignoles. The two offer a recording inspired by their critically acclaimed Wigmore Hall recital of French Song. Williams and Vignoles guide the listener through much-loved songs by the most celebrated French song composers, and others perhaps less well-known to English audiences. Among the composers included in the album are Honegger, Ravel, Faure, Poulenc, Debussy, and Caplet.

Women Composers

Solo Musica releases the second CD recording by Swiss soprano Franziska Heinzen and pianist Benjamin Mead. The album will present 24 songs by as many female composers.

Ignacy Friedman

Acte Prèalable releases Szymon Chojnacki, Sen Acar and Jakub Tchorzewski new album dedicated Ignacy Friedman’s songs. It is the first complete recording of these compositions and also a world premiere.

Halka 

The rarely staged masterwork by Stanisław Moniuszko’s is set to be released on DVD by C Major Entertainment. The production from Vienna’s Theater an der Wien in December 2019 stars Corinne Winters, Tomasz Konieczny, and Piotr Beczala. Conductor Lukasz Borowicz leads the ORF Radiosymphonieorchester Wien. The opera is directed by Mariusz Trelinski.

Rigoletto

Dynamic releases the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino’s production of “Rigoletto” from February 2021. The new production by Davide Livermore stars Javier Camarena, Luca Salsi, and rising star Enkeleda Kamani. Riccardo Frizza conducts the ensemble which also includes Alessio Cacciamani and Caterina Piva.