DELIBES / ADAM / TCHAIKOVSKY / MINKUS / OFFENBACH / MASSENET / etc
Richard Bonynge - Complete Ballet Recordings L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, English Chamber Orchestra, National Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge [ Decca / 45 CD Box Set - released 18/Dec/2020 ] 48 CDs compiled by Cyrus Meher-Homji, a long-time friend of Richard Bonynge, including familiar scores by Tchaikovsky & Delibes alongside works revived by Maestro Bonynge throughout his career. |
MAURICE RAVEL / CLAUDE DEBUSSY / IGOR STRAVINSKY
Ernest Ansermet and the Ballets Russes L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Ernest Ansermet [ Decca ABC Eloquence / 2 CD - released 1/Jun/2018 ] A generous collection of classic Decca stereo recordings, illuminating the idiomatic sympathy of the Swiss conductor Ernest Ansermet for ballet music and specifically the scores commissioned by Serge Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes. |
LEO DELIBES
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Delibes: Coppelia [Complete Ballet] (with Massenet - Le Carillon) L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, National Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge [ Decca Ballet Edition / 2 CD Box Set - released 28/Aug/2014 ] This recording of Coppelia with the L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the earlier of two made by Richard Bonynge, was the top recommendation when BBC Radio 3 compared different recordings in its programme Building a Library in 2010. |
GLINKA / BORODIN / MUSSORGSKY / PROKOFIEV
Ansermet In Russia (recorded 1952-54) L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, Ernest Ansermet [ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / CD - released 10/Oct/2018 ] Russian music was always a fundamental part of Ansermet's vast repertoire. Of course, he spent seven years as conductor with the famous Ballets Russes during a particularly glorious period for the company. Formed in 1907 by Serge Diaghilev, the... |
ALBINONI / VIVALDI / BRESCIANELLO / MATTEIS
Extra Time La Serenissima, Adrian Chandler Director [ Signum / CD - released 31/Jul/2020 ] This recording by La Serenissima began life when the ensemble were recording for an earlier release. An issue with budget for a previous release meant these gems had to be left out. |
GUISEPPE MARTUCCI
Orchestral Music, Vol. 2: Symphony No. 2 / Theme and Variations / Tarantella / Gavotta Lya de Barberiis (piano) / Rome Symphony Orchestra / Francesco La Vecchia [ Naxos / CD - released 1/May/2009 ] This is a not-to-be-missed series." (AudAud Five Stars Nov 2009) |
IGOR STRAVINSKY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Stravinsky: Symphony in E flat / Violin Concerto Lydia Mordkovitch (violin) / Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Neeme Jarvi [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 30/Jun/1993 ] |
BELLINI / DONIZETTI / GOUNOD
Mado Robin sings excerpts from Lucia and Mireille Mado Robin (soprano) with L´Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire de Paris, Richard Blareau, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Anatole Fi [ Decca Most Wanted Recitals Vol. 36 / CD - released 1/Aug/2014 ] A star of television and radio in the 1950s, Mado was well known in France. Among her roles were Lakmé, which she recorded for Decca Records in 1952 (with Georges Sébastian conducting), Lucia di Lammermoor, Olympia in The Tales of Hoffmann, Gilda in... |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: La Boheme (Complete Opera recorded in 1956) Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Rolando Panerai, Anna Moffo, Nicola Zaccaria / Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala Milan, Antonino Votto [ Warner Classics Maria Callas Remastered / 2 CD - released 20/Oct/2014 ] Callas never sang the role of Mimì on stage, but this did not prevent her recorded interpretation from being, as described by Philip Hope-Wallace in Gramophone, 'brilliantly realised … This Mimì comes alive and later haunts you in the most... |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Manon Lescaut (Complete Opera recorded in 1957) Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Giulio Fioravanti / Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala Milan, Tullio Serafin [ Warner Classics Maria Callas Remastered / 2 CD - released 10/Oct/2014 ] "In general this is Callas at her most girlish: light-voiced, lyrical and with the power to make the dramatic climaxes thrilling." MusicWeb |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: Manon Lescaut (Complete Opera with libretto) Maria Guleghina, José Cura, Lucio Gallo / Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala Milan, Riccardo Muti [ Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD Box Set - released 10/Oct/2000 ] "Maria Guleghina turns in a Manon with range, capturing both the delicate side of the singing role and the more gripping and grim moments, especially in the last act. She has a powerful voice when she wants to project it, but she can also deliver... |
GIOCOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Turandot (complete opera recorded in 2008) BLU-RAY Maria Guleghina, Marco Berti, Alexia Voulgaridou, Alexander Tsymbaluk / Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, Zubin Mehta [ C Major Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 10/May/2016 ] This 2008 production is staged by Chen Kaige, the film director of Farewell My Concubine and winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival. |
GEROGES BIZET / OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Carmen Jones [Soundtrack] Marilyn Horne, La Vern Hutcherson, Pearly Bailey, Olga JamesWynton Marsalis (trumpet) [ RCA / CD - released 1/Jan/1988 ] Carmen Jones is a 1954 American musical film starring Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte, produced and directed by Otto Preminger. In the film the voices of most of the singers were dubbed. |
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE - Rossini: Heros and Heroines Marilyn Horne (mezzo soprano) / L'Orchestre de la Suisse romande / Royal Philharmonic Orchetra / Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden [ Decca Opera Gala / CD - released 20/Jun/1998 ] 'Marilyn Horne's generously filled recital disc brings us one of the most cherishable among all Rossini aria records ever issued. The voice is in glorious condition, rich and firm throughout its spectacular range, and is consistently used with... |
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL & FRIENDS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mr Handel's Dinner: Music for the Handel opera intermissions Maurice Steger (recorder) and Ensemble La Cetra [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 26/Apr/2019 ] "Steger is brilliant when the music is lively. Into his fleetness he mixes zest, charm and impish humour, making you wonder how such artfulness, at such speed and with such nutty dexterity, is humanly possible." BBC Music |
VIVALDI
The Rise of the North Italian Violin Concerto 1690-1740: Volume Two: Virtuoso Impresario Mhairi Lawson (soprano) / La Serenissima / Adrian Chandler (violin and director) [ Avie / CD - released 23/Sep/2007 ] "An outstanding collection, vividly characterised and full of energy, of fine - but not over-familiar - music" (Recording of the Month MusicWeb Sept 2007) |
MONTEVERDI
Monteverdi: Arie e Lamenti / Madrigali Guerrieri e Amorosi Montserrat Figueras / Andrew Lawrence-King / Rolf Lislevand / Ton Koopman / La Capella Reial de Catalunya / Jordi Savall [ Alia Vox Heritage Series SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 26/Sep/2011 ] At this time, [Figueras] developed an innovative style of interpretation, characterised by great fidelity to historical sources, combined with an extraordinary creative and expressive power, that has exerted a decisive influence on the whole... |
ANONYMOUS / VARIOUS COMPOSERS
La voix de l'emotion [The voice of emotion] [2 CDs plus 272 page book] Montserrat Figueras / La Capella Reial de Catalunya / Hesperion XXI / Jordi Savall [ Alia Vox SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 1/Apr/2012 ] This album gathers highlights from Montserrat Figueras' career for the Astrée, DHM, EMI and Alia Vox labels. |
TRADITIONAL
Jeanne d'Arc: Batailles & Prisons [2 SACDs plus comprehensive book] Montserrat Figueras, Louise Moaty, René Zosso & Manuel Weber / La Capella Reial de Catalunya & Hesperion XXI, Jordi Savall [ Alia Vox SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 1/Aug/2012 ] "ambitious and sumptuous...this presentation has been fashioned by Savall as a piece of music theatre, and as a vivid attempt to commemmorate Joan's life it is unlikely to be bettered." (BBC Music) |
DINASTIA BORGIA
Dinastia Borgia: Chiesa e potere nel Rinascimento (3 SACDs, 1 DVD with large book) Montserrat Figueras, Pascal Bertin, Marc Mauillon / La Capella Reial de Catalunya / Jordi Savall [ Alia Vox SACD / 4 CD/DVD - released 20/Nov/2010 ] "One might expect that, with the Borgias, all roads would lead to Rome, but in this case most lead back to Catalonia...Savall's own presence, as both leader and principal viol player, can always be felt." Editor's Choice Gramophone Magazine, February... |