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PROKOFIEV / TCHAIKOVSKY / MINKUS / MOZART
Ballets: Romeo & Juliet / The Sleeping Beauty / Don Quixote / Le Corsaire / The Lovers' Garden (Blu-ray) Teatro Alla Scala Ballet, with Natalia Osipova, Leonid Sarafanov, Nicoletta Manni, Roberto Bolle, Misty Copeland, etc [ C Major Blu-ray / 5 Blu-ray Box Set - released 12/Nov/2021 ] Five outstanding ballets from the legendary Teatro Alla Scala. |
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GIOACHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: La Cenerentola (complete opera.recorded in 1981) Teatro alla Scala / Frederica von Stade, Margherita Guglielmi, Laura Zannini, Francisco Araiza, Claudio Desderi, Paolo Montarsolo / Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon / Unitel DVD / DVD - released 8/Nov/2005 ] Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's staging of this classic fairy tale, originally created for the San Francisco Opera in 1969, has been one of the most successful opera stagings of the 20th century |
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GIOACCHINIO ROSSINI
Rossini: L'Italiana in Algeri [An Italian in Algeries] (complete opera recorded in 2013) Teatro Comunale di Bologna / Anna Goryachova, Alex Esposito, Yijie Shi & Mario Cassi / José Ramón Encinar [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 20/Aug/2014 ] Pesaro's new offering in 2013 was an off-the-wall production of Rossini's popular comedy, 'The Italian Girl in Algiers', presented as a Swinging Sixties, James Bond adventure, set in the desert oil fields of the North African coast. Davide... |
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ENNIO PORRINO
Porrino: I Shardana (Complete opera recorded in 2013) BLU-RAY Teatro Lirico di Cagliari / Manrico Signorini, Angelo Villari, Gianpiero Ruggeri, Domenico Balzani / Anthony Bramall (cond) [ Dynamic Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Aug/2015 ] Porrino's drama mirrors a period in archaeology when Nuragic Sardinia was discussed even in non-specialist circles, with the island's bronze statuettes and megaliths recalling a primeval society at the origins of European civilization. |
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PHILIP GLASS
Glass: The Perfect American (complete opera recorded in 2013) BLU-RAY Teatro Real / David Pittsinger, Donald Kaasch, Christopher Purves, Janis Kelly / Dennis Russell Davies (cond) [ Opus Arte Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Oct/2013 ] "The dark tone is set from the beginning...Purves impresses conveys the complex and ultimately flawed character of Walt...Opus Arte's production is excellent...and brings The Perfect American - such as it is - very vividly to life." Gramophone |
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LEOS JANACEK
Janacek: Jenufa (complete opera recorded in 2009) BLU-RAY Teatro Real Madrid / Amanda Roocroft, Deborah Polaski, Nikolai Schukoff / Ivor Bolton (cond) [ Opus Arte Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/Aug/2011 ] "Something in the composer's writing brings out the best in [Roocroft's] creamy voice and committed acting, and here she's superb as a young woman who forgives her stepmother for committing a terrible crime." (ClassicFM) |
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JULES MASSENET
Massenet: Thais (complete opera recorded in 2009) BLU-RAY Teatro Regio Torino / Barbara Frittoli, Lado Ateneli, Alessandro Liberatore / Gianandrea Noseda (cond) [ Arthaus Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 10/Oct/2012 ] "Ataneli gives a strong performance but the highly stylised nature of the staging doesn't allow for much subtlety of expression. Gianandrea Noseda conducts with... sensitivity for Massenet's style" (Gramophone) |
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GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti: Il Borgomastro di Saardam (complete opera recorded in 2017) BLU-RAY Teatro Sociale di Bergamo / Giorgio Caoduro, Juan Francisco Gatell, Andrea Concetti, Irina Dubrovskaya / Roberto Rizzi Brignoli (conductor) [ Dynamic Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Jul/2015 ] Having fallen into oblivion following performances in 1839, this attractive, rare opera buffa was revived in 1973 in the Dutch city of Zaanstad (the Saardam of the libretto). It's staged on this recording at Bergamo's Teatro Sociale. |
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ANNA AKHMATOVA
Anna Akhmatova: Three Works Terence ONeill-Joyce (narrator) wih Alexander Ivashkin (cello) [ Ode Records / CD - released 9/Jun/2008 ] For the people of Russia Anna Akhmatova (1889-1966) is a legend. She was one of the Great Russian poets, a real link between the culture of the so called Silver Age (1900-1914) - and the Soviet era. During the Soviet Era her books were almost... |
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GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: Barber of Seville, The [Il barbiere di Siviglia] complete studio recording of the opera recorded in 1972 Teresa Berganza, Luigi Alva, Hermann Prey, Enzo Dara / Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 21/Jun/2005 ] In the 1970s, the era from which this production emanates, the director Jean Pierre Ponnelle was reaching the height of his powers. In his 1972 production at Milan's La Scala, Ponnelle designed a realistic set that still feels fresh. |
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GIOACHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: La Cenerentola [Cinderella] (complete opera recorded in 1972) Teresa Berganza, Luigi Alva, Renato Capecchi, Paolo Montarsolo / Scottish Opera Chorus / London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon Opera House / 2 CD - released 1/Jan/2013 ] "One of the great classic opera recordings of a work that balances farce with touching romance." (BBC Music) |
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EDWIN CARR / LARRY PRUDEN / ANTHONY RITCHIE / JOHN ELMSLY / etc
La Belle Alliance Tessa Petersen (violin) John van Buskirk (piano) [ Ode Records / CD - released 1/Jul/2012 ] La Belle Alliance is an instrumental duo featuring New Zealand violinist Tessa Petersen and American pianist John Van Buskirk. |
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GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia [The Barber of Seville] (complete opera recorded in 2017) BLU-RAY Theatre Des Champs-Elys / Florian Sempey, Catherine Trottmann, Michele Angelini, Péter Kálmán [ Naxos Unitel Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 7/Jul/2020 ] "The period orchestra is technically impressive and admirable in its range of colour. Jérémie Rhorer is a spirited conductor, conveying the score's sophistication in lithe, witty fashion." Opera |
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TRADITIONAL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Carols from the Old and New Worlds Theatre of Voices, Paul Hillier [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 23/Oct/2004 ] On this volume of Carols from the Old and New Worlds, Paul Hillier and the Theatre Of Voices celebrate the festive season with a wide-ranging mixture of new and traditional carols. |
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W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: Don Giovanni (complete opera) Thomas Allen, Robert Lloyd, Sharon Sweet, Karita Mattila, Francisco Araiza / Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner [ Philips Trio / 3 CD Box Set - released 11/Jan/2008 ] "The playing of Sir Neville's Academy is exemplary, with perfect articulation in the string figures and spicy winds-and aside from a vocal moment or two, the solo singing is impressive." ClassicsToday |
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BRIDGE . STANFORD / IVES / ROREM / BERNSTEIN / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: To The Soul: Thomas Hampson Sings The Poetry Of Walt Whitman Thomas Hampson (baritone) Craig Rutenbery (piano) [ EMI Classics / CD - released 1/Aug/1996 ] "The performances throughout are exceptionally fine, intimately and subtly expressive but opening out nobly to expressions of passionate idealism." Gramophone |
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BRIDGE / STANFORD / IVES / ROREM / BERNSTEIN / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: To The Soul: Thomas Hampson Sings The Poetry Of Walt Whitman Thomas Hampson (baritone) Craig Rutenbery (piano) [ EMI Classics / CD - released 1/Aug/1997 ] TO THE SOUL is a collection centered on a poet rather than a composer. Walt Whitman's words have inspired over a thousand song settings, whose range is suggested here. |
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FRANZ SCHUBERT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Complete Schubert Edition: Schubert and the Classics Thomas Hampson (baritone) Graham Johnson (piano) [ Hyperion Schubert Edition Vol 14 / CD - released 31/Jan/2008 ] 'The readings, with Johnson's piano at its probing best, are constantly enlightening and carry the absorbed listener into a rarefied world of word and music. The disc lasts an incredible 80 minutes, but the time flies by in such perceptive company'... |
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CHARLES IVES
Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Ives Thomas Hampson (baritone) / San Francisco Symphony orchestra & Chorus, Michael Tilson Thomas, Richard R. Webster (organ) [ Sony Classical ./ RCA / 4 CD Box Set - released 17/May/2002 ] Rosette (highest rating) Penguin Stereo Guide |
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JOSEF HAYDN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Haydn: Italian Arias Thomas Quasthoff (bass-baritone) Genia KAhmeier (soprano) / Freiburger Barockorchester / Gottfried von der Golz [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 10/Dec/2008 ] Gramophone Award Finalist 2009: Recital - "Quasthoff does Haydn's neglected operatic music proud in a fine recital." (Gramophone Editor's Choice April 2009) |