BIZET
Bizet: Les Pêcheurs de perles [The Pearl Fishers] (Complete opera recorded in 1960) Janine Micheau, Nicolai Gedda, Ernest Blanc / Chœurs et Orchestre du Théâtre National de l'Opéra Comique, Pierre Dervaux [ Warner Classics The Home of Opera / 2 CD - released 1/Sep/2016 ] "Ernest Blanc, in the difficult role of the alternately jealous and forgiving Zurga, is in superb voice, showing a real understanding of the right style and of character." (Gramophone) |
Mado Robin, Agnes Disney, Libero de Luca. Orchestre et choeur de l'Opera-Comique, Paris. Georges Sebastian
Delibes - Lakme (Highlights from the opera) [ Decca Heritage / CD - released 25/Aug/2004 ] "Another very recommendable 'highlights' disc from Decca...the recording is perfect." Gramophone April 1955 |
DELIBES
Lakme (complete opera) Mado Robin (soprano) / Agnes Disney (mezzo) / Libero de Luca (tenor) / Paris Opera-Comique Chorus and Orchestra / Georges Sebastien [ Naxos Historical / 2 CD - released 4/Mar/2007 ] The great soprano Mado Robin made her début at the Paris Opéra in 1945 as Gilda, and gave her first performance as Lakmé, which was to become her most famous rôle, the following year at the Opéra-Comique. |
LEO DELIBES
Delibes: Lakme (Complete Opera recorded in 1971) Mady Mesple, Charles Burles, Roger Soyer / Opera-Comique , Alain Lombard [ Erato The Home of Opera / 2 CD - released 25/Apr/2018 ] "Mady Mesplé's very French, light girlish tone admirably suggests the virginal character and innocence of the heroine: her intonation is impeccable, her coloratura seemingly effortless" Gramophone |
GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (Complete Opera recorded in June 2009) Opéra Comique, Paris / Anna Caterina Antonacci, Andrew Richards, Nicolas Cavallier, Monteverdi Choir / John Eliot Gardiner (cond) [ Naxos DVD / DVD - released 14/May/2021 ] On 3 June 1975, the day after the 33rd performance of Carmen - indicating limited success as the receipts were meagre - he died from a heart attack, at the age of 36, like Mozart. |
FRANCESCO CAVALLI
Cavalli: Ercole Amante (complete opera recorded in 2019) BLU-RAY Opera Comique / Nahuel di Pierro, Anna Bonitatibus (mezzo-soprano), Giuseppina Bridelli, Francesca Aspromonte / Ensemble Pygmalion, Raphaël Pichon [ Naxos Unitel Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 12/Feb/2021 ] A sumptuous Baroque spectacle, conceived on a vast scale in this lavish production by directors Valerie Lesort and Christian Hecq. |
LEO DELIBES
Delibes: Lakme (complete opera recorded in 2022) Opera Comique, Paris / Sabine Devieilhe, Grederic Antouni, Stephane Degout, Ambroisine Bre / Pygmalion, Raphael Pichon [ Naxos DVD / DVD - released 20/Oct/2023 ] "Laurent Pelly transforms Delibes's opera into an exploration of colonialism and cultural appropriation...Raphaël Pichon, conducting Pygmalion on original instruments, relishes Delibes's lush orchestration." BBC Music DVD of the Month Jan 2024 |
JEAN CASSANEA de MONDONVILLE
Mondonville: Titon et l'Aurore (complete opera recorded in 2021) BLU-RAY Opéra Comique / Reinoud van Mechelen, Gwendoline Blondeel, Emmanuelle de Negri, Marc Mauillon / Les Arts Florissants, William Christie [ Naxos FRA Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 3/Dec/2021 ] Recorded at the Opéra Comique, Paris, France, 18-19 January 2021 |
HENRY PURCELL
Purcell: Dido and Aeneas (complete opera recorded in 2008) Opéra Comique / Malena Ernman, Christopher Maltman, Judith van Wanroij, Hilary Summers / Les Arts Florissants William Christie [ Naxos DVD / DVD - released 21/Jan/2022 ] Recorded at the Opéra Comique, Paris, France, 7 and 9 December 2008 |
HENRY PURCELL
Purcell: Dido and Aeneas (complete opera recorded in 2008) Blu-ray Opéra Comique / Malena Ernman, Christopher Maltman, Judith van Wanroij, Hilary Summers / Les Arts Florissants William Christie [ Naxos Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 21/Jan/2022 ] Recorded at the Opéra Comique, Paris, France, 7 and 9 December 2008 |
BIZET
Carmen (complete opera recorded in 2009) Opéra Comique, Paris / Anna Caterina Antonacci / Andrew Richards / Anne-Catherine Gillet / Nicolas Cavallier / John Eliot Gardiner (conductor) [ FRA Musica / 2 DVD - released 10/Oct/2010 ] Anna Caterina Antonacci is now acknowledged as a major artist, and her extraordinary vocal timbre and great acting skills have enabled her to perform a vast and varied repertoire in the world's most important theatres. She made her Covent Garden... |
REYNALDO HAHN
Hahn: Ciboulette (Complete Operetta recorded in 2013) Opéra Comique, Paris / Julie Fuchs, Jean-François Lapointe, Julien Behr, Eva Ganizate / Accentus Chamber Choir / Laurence Equilbey (cond) [ Naxos DVD / DVD - released 10/Oct/2021 ] Even if Ciboulette, with its fresh and spruce title, depicts the dawning of sentiments between two young people - the urban aristocrat and the little farm girl - it was written by an experienced and scrupulous composer of almost 50 years of age. |
REYNALDO HAHN
Hahn: Ciboulette (Complete Operetta recorded in 2013) BLU-RAY Opéra Comique, Paris / Julie Fuchs, Jean-François Lapointe, Julien Behr, Eva Ganizate / Accentus Chamber Choir / Laurence Equilbey (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 10/Oct/2021 ] Even if Ciboulette, with its fresh and spruce title, depicts the dawning of sentiments between two young people - the urban aristocrat and the little farm girl - it was written by an experienced and scrupulous composer of almost 50 years of age. |
CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
Monteverdi: L'Orfeo (Complete Opera recorded in June 2021) Blu-ray Opéra Comique, Paris / Luciana Mancini, Marc Mauillon, Sara Mingardo / A Capella Reial de Catalunya, Le Concert des Nations, Jordi Savall [ Naxos Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 9/Sep/2022 ] Monteverdi's L'Orfeo was premiered in 1607 and is the oldest opera still performed today. The narrative is based on the Greek legend of Orpheus who, armed only with the weapons of music and love, descends into Hades. |
JEAN PHILIPPE RAMEAU
Rameau; Hippolyte et Aricie (complete opera recorded in 2020) Opéra Comique / Reinoud van Mechelen, Elsa Benoit, Sylvie Brunet-Grupposo, Séraphine Cotrez / Raphaël Pichon (cond) [ Naxos DVD / DVD - released 19/Nov/2021 ] Recorded at the Opéra Comique, Paris, France, 12 and 14 November 2020 |
JEAN PHILIPPE RAMEAU
Rameau; Hippolyte et Aricie (complete opera recorded in 2020) BLU-RAY Opéra Comique / Reinoud van Mechelen, Elsa Benoit, Sylvie Brunet-Grupposo, Séraphine Cotrez / Raphaël Pichon (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 19/Nov/2021 ] Recorded at the Opéra Comique, Paris, France, 12 and 14 November 2020 |
JEAN CASSANEA de MONDONVILLE
Mondonville: Titon et l'Aurore (complete opera recorded in 2021) Opéra Comique / Reinoud van Mechelen, Gwendoline Blondeel, Emmanuelle de Negri, Marc Mauillon / Les Arts Florissants, William Christie [ Naxos FRA DVD / DVD - released 3/Dec/2021 ] Recorded at the Opéra Comique, Paris, France, 18-19 January 2021 |
CHARPENTIER / FRANCK / LALO / MASSENET
Fete a la Francaise [incls 'Rhapsodie Norvegienne' & Phedre - Overture] Paris Conservatoire Orchestra & Orchestre de l'Opéra-Comique Paris, Albert Wolff [ Australian Decca SBS Eloquence / 2 CD - released 20/Dec/2010 ] "beautifully warm and clear orchestral sound … a most excellent recording" Gramophone Magazine (Liszt) // "played with finesse and recorded with clarity" Gramophone Magazine (Massenet) |
GIACOMO PUCCINI / GIUSEPPE VERDI / GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (complete opera recorded in 1950) Michel Dens, Martha Angelici, Germaine Chellet, Frederic Leprin / Paris Opéra-Comique Chorus & Orchestra, André Cluytens [ Naxos Historical Great Opera Recordings / 2 CD - released 3/Mar/2003 ] "The singers are first rate, the orchestral musicians spirited and wholly committed and Cluytens' direction, with its pace and sense of theatre, is second to none." MusicWeb. |
Paris Opera-Comique/Cluytens
Offenbach: Les Contes D'hoffma [ Naxos Historical / 2 CD - released 2/Sep/2002 ] |