DVORAK / MOZART / BRITTEN / GOUNOD / VERDI / R. STRAUSS / etc
Renée Fleming - Greatest Moments at the Met Renée Fleming, with Cecilia Bartoli, Susan Graham, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Samuel Ramey, Bryn Terfel & more [ Decca / 2 CD - released 27/Jan/2023 ] This first-ever, specially remastered collection compiles highlights chosen by Renée of her "most magical experiences", captured live on stage in this pinnacle of opera houses. Produced by GRAMMY-winning David Frost, the collection features duets... |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Booming Bass & Baritone: Best Loved Opera Arias Lado Ataneli (Baritone), Matthias Goerne, (Baritone), Carlo Colombara (Bass), Samuel Ramey (Bass) [ Naxos / CD - released 23/Apr/2021 ] From the jack-of-all-trades, Figaro, to the impotent jester Rigoletto, and from the heroic William Tell to the mischievous Méphistophélès, these larger-than-life characters for baritone and bass represent the grandeur of great music. |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Riccardo Muti - The Verdi Collection Luciano Pavarotti, Samuel Ramey, Daniela Dessi, Matteo Manuguerra, Renata Scotto, Montserrat Caballé, Placido Domingo / Riccardo Muti [ Warner Classics / 29 CD/DVD Box Set - released 25/Jul/2016 ] Riccardo Muti is the greatest living interpreter of Verdi's music, applauded by the critics and audiences all over the world. This collection includes 11 complete operas, the Requiem and the Four Sacred Pieces. |
LEONARD BERNSTEIN
Bernstein: On The Town Frederica von Stade, Tyne Daley, Thomas Hampson, Samuel Ramey, Cleo Laine / London Symphony Orchestra, London Voices, Michael Tilson Thomas [ Deutsche Grammophon First Choice / CD - released 1/Aug/2014 ] "The energy and fun make this irresistable" (Five Stars BBC Music) |
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: Operas (Includes 'Il barbiere di Siviglia' & 'La Cenerentola') [9 CD set] Hermann Prey, Luigi Alva, Teresa Berganza, Margherita Guglielmi, Agnes Baltsa, Frank Lopardo, Samuel Ramey, Claudio Abbado (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon Collector's Edition / 9 CD Box Set - released 20/Jun/2012 ] Here - in a single box-set for the first time - are Claudio Abbado's celebrated recordings of four great Rossini comic operas, featuring fine singers and first-rate orchestras and choruses. |
GIOACHINO ROSSINI
Rossini: Maometto Secondo (Complete opera recorded in 1985) June Anderson, Margarita Zimmermann, Ernesto Palacio, Samuel Ramey / Ambrosian Opera Chorus / Philharmonia Orchestra, Claudio Scimone [ Decca Grand Opera / 3 CD - released 20/Jun/2012 ] "... the performance is exemplary in its fidelity to the letter of the score and the style of the composer ... Scimone directs with an acute ear for Rossini's imaginative use of orchestral sonority...the recording is excellent" Gramophone (June 1985) |
JOSEF HAYDN
Operas (Armida / L'incontro improvviso / L'infedelta delusa / L'isola disabitata / etc) Elly Ameling, Arleen Auger, Ileana Cotrubas, Jessye Norman, Samuel Ramey, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Frederica von Stade / Antal Dorati (cond) [ Decca / 20 CD Box Set - released 10/May/2012 ] Haydn's operas are still something of a rarity both in the theatre and on record. Antal Dorati's advocacy of Haydn's music during the 1970s resulted in numerous award-winning recordings including his legendary cycle of all the symphonies as well his... |
W.A. MOZART / VERDI / CILEA / DONIZETTI / ROSSINI / PUCCINI / PEERGOLESI
La Scala Collection: 11 DVD set of the world's most popular operas Teatro alla Scala / Daniela Dessi, Delores Ziegler, Alessandro Corbelli, Mirella Freni, Renato Bruson, Thomas Allen, Samuel Ramey, etc [ Opus Arte / Rai Trade / La Scala Collection / 11 DVD Box Set - released 1/Aug/2011 ] Soloists include Thomas Allen, Placido Domingo, Renato Bruson, Daniela Dessì, Alessandro Corbelli, Giorgio Zancanaro, Chris Merritt, Cheryl Studer and Sara Mingardo |
PUCCINI
Turandot (complete opera recorded in 2009) BLU-RAY Metropolitan Opera / Maria Guleghina, Marcello Giordani, Marina Poplavskaya, Samuel Ramey / Andris Nelsons (cond) [ Decca Music Group Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 28/Jul/2011 ] Franco Zeffirelli's magnificent staging of Puccini's final opera - a fairy tale set in a mythical China - is one of the most popular in the Met repertory. |
JOSEF HAYDN
Haydn: The Creation (recorded in 1990) Lucia Popp, Francisco Araiza, Samuel Ramey, Olaf Bär & Iris Vermillion Wiener Philharmoniker & Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor, Riccardo Mut [ Arthaus Musik DVD / DVD - released 1/Jul/2010 ] "There is plenty of glamour, and Muti is excitingly dramatic." BBC Music |
MUSSORGSKY
Boris Godunov (Complete Opera recorded in 1994) Anatoly Kocherga, Marjana Lipovsek, Samuel Ramey, Sergei Larin / Rundfunkchor Berlin & Tölzer Knabenchor, Claudio Abbado [ Sony Opera House / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Apr/2010 ] Release includes a booklet with a three language synopsis [English / French / German], full cast list and detailed track list. |
JULES MASSENET
Massenet: Manon (complete opera recorded in 2007) Gran Teatre del Liceu / Natalie Dessay/ Rolando Villazon / Samuel Ramey / Victor Pablo Perez (cond) [ Virgin Classics DVD / 2 DVD - released 4/Apr/2008 ] G : - "Natalie Dessay and Rolando Villazón bring to their characters the generosity of their commitment...the French soprano Natalie Dessay is poised to succeeding brilliantly her evolution towards the repertoire of lyric sopranos" www.forumopera.com |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Macbeth (feature film of the opera recorded in 1987) Leo Nucci / Samuel Ramey / Shirley Verrett / Veriano Luchetti / Teatro Comunale di Bologna / Riccardo Chailly [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 9/Nov/2007 ] G - "Practically everything has already been said about the quality of Shirley Verrett´s voice: she plays Lady Macbeth magnificently. On the other hand, her partner Leo Nucci, new to the role of Macbeth, seems like a fresh discovery." (Le Figaro) |
VERDI
I due Foscari (Complete opera) Piero Cappuccilli, JosAFAC Carreras, Katia Ricciarelli, Samuel Ramey / ORF Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Vienna / Lamberto Gardelli [ Decca / Philips / 2 CD - released 1/Sep/2007 ] "The cast here is first rate, with Ricciarelli giving one of her finest performences in the recording studio to date and with Carreras singing tastefully as well as pwerfully. The crispness of discipline among the Austrian Radio forces is... |
DONIZETTI
Anna Bolena (complete opera) Joan Sutherland / Samuel Ramey / Susanne Mentzer / Jerry Hadley / Welsh National Opera Chorus & Orchestra / Richard Bonynge [ Decca Classic Opera / 3 CD - released 1/Oct/2006 ] The story of England's King Henry VIII, the demise of his second wife Anne Boleyn, and the rise of her rival Jane Seymour fascinated a wide 19th Century audience. With the opera Anna Bolena Donizetti brought his art to a new height and created what... |
PUCCINI
Tosca (complete opera) Monserrat Caballa / Josa Carreras / Ingvar Wixell / Samuel Ramey / Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Sir Colin Davis [ Pentatone SACD / 2 SACD - released 26/Sep/2006 ] The blissfully melodic drama full of delicate weaknesses, La bohème, was followed by the chamber of horrors which was Tosca. Giacomo Puccini demonstrated the artistic acrobatics of which he was capable in two of his most successful works. |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Don Giovanni (Highlights from the complete opera) William Shimell, Cheryl Studer, Samuel Ramey / Vienna Philharmonic / Riccardo Muti [ EMI Encore / CD - released 22/Feb/2005 ] Combining comedy and drama, Don Giovanni is one of the most well-known and often praised operas ever written. First performed in 1787, it has been appealing to audiences ever since with its multitude of moral, as well as musical themes. |
GIOACCHINIO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLETCABLE: Rossini: L'italiana In Algeri (highlights from the opera] Marilyn Horne, Samuel Ramey, Kathleen Battle / I Solisti Veneti, Claudio Scimone [ Teldec Apex / CD - released 24/Jan/2005 ] "Absolutely enchanting!" - MusicWeb Feb 2005 |
HANDEL
Semele (Complete Opera) Kathleen Battle, Marilyn Horne, Samuel Ramey, English Chamber Orch., John Nelson [ Deutsche Grammophon / 3 CD - released 11/Nov/2000 ] Handel's grand opera with the cream of a cast |
GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (complete opera recorded in 1988) Metropolitan Opera / Agnes Baltsa, Jose Carreras, Leona Mitchell, Samuel Ramey / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 3/Jun/2000 ] Georges Bizet's Carmen, which takes place in and around Seville, Spain tells of the downfall of a soldier, Don José, seduced by the wiles of the fiery gypsy, Carmen. José abandons his sweetheart and his military duties for Carmen. |