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RICHARD WAGNER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Wagner: Tannhauser (highlights from the opera) Kiri Te Kanawa, Waltraud Meier, Hakan Hagegard, Rene Kollo / Ambrosian Singers, Philharmonia Orchestra, Marek Janowski [ Teldec / CD - released 17/Aug/1993 ] These excerpts, which come from the soundtrack of the film «Meeting Venus». They were recorded in St. Augustine's Church, London, May/June 1990. |
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SERGEI PROKOFIEV
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Prokofiev: Betrothal in a Monastery (complete opera) Kirov Opera & Ballet / Anna Netrebko, Larissa Diadkova, Nikolai Gassiev, Aleksander Gergalov / Valery Gergiev (conductor) [ Philips DVD / DVD - released 5/Jan/2006 ] 'The lively Kirov production.is a delight. What is most remarkable is the overall quality and consistency of the cast. Anna Netrebko was splendid as Louisa, singing with limpid, agile tone.' New York Times |
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GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: La Traviata (complete opera recorded in 1977 with libretto) Bayerisches Staatsorchester, Carlos Kleiber (conductor), Ileana CotrubaČ™ (soprano), Placido Domingo (tenor) etc... [ Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD - released 21/Nov/1985 ] Recorded in 1977 NOTE: Slightly damaged outer cardboard cover |
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KURT WEILL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Weill: Dreigroschenoper [Threepenny Opera] with other songs by Bertolt Brecht & Kurt Weill Kurt Gerron, Lotte Lenya, Willi Trenk-Trebitsch, Erika Helmke, Erich Ponto [ The International Music Company / CD - released 9/Nov/2000 ] Die Dreigroschenoper - or Threepenny Opera - epitomises the heady, but turbulent years of the Weimar Republic. Bertolt Brecht's biting satire and Kurt Weill's insistent, insinuating melodies remain as compelling today as they were at the premiere... |
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GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: I vespri Siciliani (complete opera recorded in 1990) La Scala Opera / Giorgio Zancanaro, Enzo Capuano, Chris Merritt, Cheryl Studer / Riccardo Muti (cond) [ Opus Arte / Rai Trade / La Scala Collection DVD / DVD - released 25/Dec/2015 ] Verdi's 1855 Paris opera which followed Rigoletto, Il trovatore and La Traviata is treated to a performance of blazing energy and intimate refinement with a superb cast which includes Cheryl Studer and Chris Merritt. |
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BENJAMIN BRITTEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Britten: Peter Grimes (complete opera with libretto) Philip Langridge, Janice Watson, Alan Opies, Anne Collins / Opera London, City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox [ Chandos / 2 CD Box Set - released 2/Feb/1997 ] "The casting of Philip Langridge in the title-role is central to the set's success. As on stage, he is unrivalled at conveying the character's moutning hysteria, and the result is chilling. Janice Watson makes a most touching Ellen Orford." Penguin |
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R. STRAUSS / VERDI / PUCCINI / BIZET / GERSHWIN / BERLIOZ / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: The Essential Leontyne Price Leontyne Price (soprano) / New Philharmonia Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Rome Opera Orchestra, with Placido Domingo & Marilyn Horne [ RCA Red Seal / CD - released 20/Sep/2009 ] Born in Laurel, Mississippi, Price attended Central State University and then Juilliard, where she had her operatic debut as Mistress Ford in Verdi's Falstaff. Having heard the performance, Virgil Thomson engaged her in Four Saints in Three Acts. |
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GIAN CARLO MENOTTI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Menotti: Amahl and the Night Visitors (Complete opera) Lora Haywood, John Dobson, Donald Maxwell, with James Rainbird as Amahl. Royal Opera House Covent Garden. David Syrus [ That's Entertainment / CD - released 1/Mar/2004 ] "Recorded under the supervision of the composer himself, this is a fresh and highly dramatic performance, very well sung and marked by atmospheric digital sound of striking realism." *** Three Stars Penguin Stereo Guide |
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DVORAK / JANACEK / SMETANA / PROKOFIEV / TCHAIKOSVKY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Slavonic Opera Arias Lucia Popp (soprano) / Munich Radio Symphony Orchestra, Stefan Soltesz [ EMI Redline / CD - released 18/Feb/2001 ] "...an unusual and attractive collection...Popp with her silvery tones is at her most seductive." (Gramophone) |
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W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart Opera Festival (Le Nozze di Figaro, Die ZauberflAte, CosA fan tutte, etc) (Rec 1971) Lucia Popp (soprano) Brigitte Fassbaender (mezzo-soprano) Werner Krenn (tenor) Tom Krause (baritone) / Wiener Haydn-Orchester / Istvan Kertesz [ Decca ABC Australian Eloquence / CD - released 13/Jul/2005 ] In 1971, István Kertész went into the studio with an array of opera singers he enjoyed performing with to make a recording of arias, duets and ensembles from Mozart's most popular operas. |
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PUCCINI / VERDI / GIORDANO / TCHAIKOVSKY / BIZET / GOUNOD / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Your Hundred best Opera Tunes 1 (features 'Nessun dorma') Luciano Pavarotti, Marilyn Horne, Mirella Freni, Joan Sutherland, Renata Tebaldi, Kiri te Kanawa, Nicolai Ghiaurov, etc [ Decca / CD - released 9/Jan/1991 ] Your Hundred Best Opera Tunes Features fifteen tracks of popular arias which we all know and love |
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W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: Zaide K344 (Complete opera) Lynne Dawson, Hans Peter Blochwitz,Olaf Bär, Herbert Lippert / The Academy of Ancient Music; Paul Goodwin-director [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 24/Jun/2004 ] Mozart began this masterpiece in 1780 for the new Viennese Singspiel company, but at their insistence on a comedy he switched to writing Idomeneo, and Zaide remained unfinished. |
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ANTONIO VIVALDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Vivaldi: Opera and Oratorio arias Magdalena Kozena (mezzo soprano) / Venice Baroque Orchestra, Andrea Marcon [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 18/Jun/2009 ] "Magdalena Kozená has almost become the Barack Obama of mezzo-sopranos. With that mesmerising voice, that magnetic personality, everybody wants a piece of her." The Times, 5th June 2009 *** |
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VERDI / DONIZETTI / BELLINI / DONIZETTI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Marcelo Alvarez - Bel Canto Marcelo Alvarez (tenor) / Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, Carlo Rizzi [ Sony Classical / CD - released 17/Sep/1998 ] Álvarez travels widely, performing with top singers in major opera houses and concert halls around the world. Since the beginning of his career in 1994, he has maintained an active touring schedule and debuted in 34 roles. |
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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... |
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GILBERT AND SULLIVAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gilbert & Sullivan: Ruddigore (complete operetta - original version) Marilyn Hill Smith, Gordon Sandison, Joan Davies, Alexandra Hann / Chorus and Orchestra of the New Sadler's Wells Opera / Simon Phipps [ Jay Productions / 2 CD - released 1/Jan/2001 ] The New Sadler's Wells Opera was formed in the mid-eighties, filling the void (or so it was thought) that was left by the closure of the original D'Oyly Carte. It has even been suggested that the Powers that Be pushed the old Company gently into the... |
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ARNOLD SCHOENBERG
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Schoenberg - Kaiserwalzer and Other Transcriptions (Reger, Strauss, Sioly & others) Markus Schafe (tenor) / Soloists of the Opera National de Lyon [ Erato Elatus / CD - released 7/Jun/2003 ] Recorded at the Opéra National de Lyon from 20-22 April 1994 |
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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 |
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GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera (complete opera recorded in 1991) Metropolitan Opera / Luciano Pavarotti, Leo Nucci, April Millo, Florence Quivar / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 30/May/2008 ] "The best justification for buying this issue is to see and hear Pavarotti nearer to his vocal peak in a role which his strong lyric voice and clear diction is ideally suited" (MusicWeb) |
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GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Tosca (Complete Opera recorded in 1976) Monserrat Caballe, Jose Carreras, Ingvar Wixell, Samuel Ramey / Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis [ Philips Duo / 2 CD - released 4/Sep/1993 ] The great Caballé at the height of her career sings with her protégé Carreras, his voice still vibrant with the golden glow of youth. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, is led by Sir Colin Davis. |