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THOMAS ADES
Ades: The Exterminating Angel (complete opera recorded in 2017) BLU-RAY Metropolitan Opera / Audrey Luna, Amanda Echalaz, Sally Matthews, Sophie Bevan, Alice Coote, Christine Rice, Iestyn Davies / Thomas Ades (cond) [ Erato Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 20/Feb/2019 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD NOMINATION 2019 - Contemporary |
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RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Die Walkure (Complete opera recorded in 2012) BLU-RAY Metropolitan Opera / Bryn Terfel, Jonas Kaufmann, Jay Hunter Morris, Deborah Voigt / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/May/2015 ] This award-winning and ground-breaking production has been seen by over 150,000 people at the Metropolitan Opera in New York |
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GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: La Fanciulla del West [Girl of the Golden West] (complete opera recorded in 2011) BLU-RAY Metropolitan Opera / Deborah Voigt, Marcello Giordani, Tony Stevenson / Nicola Luisotti (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 17/Nov/2014 ] Deborah Voigt stars in the title role of Puccini's wild west opera - in a spectacular performance seen live in cinemas worldwide as part of the Metropolitan Opera 'Live in HD' series. Giancarlo Del Monaco's richly authentic production, with... |
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GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti: Maria Stuarda (complete opera recorded in 2013) BLU-RAY Metropolitan Opera / Joyce DiDonato, Elza van den Heever, Matthew Polenzani, Matthew Rose / Maurizio Benini (cond) [ Erato / Warner Classics Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 16/Nov/2015 ] On New Year's Eve 2012 Joyce DiDonato became the first singer to take the title role in Donizetti's Maria Stuarda at New York's Metropolitan Opera. With her at its heart, the production became, in the words of Opera magazine, "a high point of the... |
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VINCENZO BELLINI
Bellini:Norma (complete opera recorded in 2017) Metropolitan Opera / Joyce DiDonato, Sondra Radvanovsky, Joseph Calleja, Matthew Rose / Carlo Rizzi (cond) [ Erato DVD / 2 DVD - released 15/Nov/2018 ] In the Met's 2017-18 season, powerhouse soprano Sondra Radvanovsky tackled one of opera's most fearsome roles, the title druid priestess of Bellini's Norma, who wrestles with love and betrayal before making the ultimate sacrifice on a funeral pyre. |
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VINCENZO BELLINI
Bellini:Norma (complete opera recorded in 2017) BLU-RAY Metropolitan Opera / Joyce DiDonato, Sondra Radvanovsky, Joseph Calleja, Matthew Rose / Carlo Rizzi (cond) [ Erato Blu-ray / 2 Blu-ray Disc - released 15/Nov/2018 ] To open the Met's 2017-18 season, powerhouse soprano Sondra Radvanovsky tackled one of opera's most fearsome roles, the title druid priestess of Bellini's Norma, who wrestles with love and betrayal before making the ultimate sacrifice on a funeral... |
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ALBAN BERG
Berg: Lulu (complete opera recorded in December 2016) BLU-RAY Metropolitan Opera / Marlis Petersen, Susan Graham, Daniel Brenna, Paul Groves, Johan Reuter / Lothar Koenigs [ Nonesuch Classics Blu-Ray+DVD / 2 Blu-ray Disc/DVD - released 10/Mar/2017 ] "conducting, singing, direction: they're all of a piece, working to domesticate Berg's feral beast, and making it the funniest, least absurd and most approachable Lulu on film" Gramophone |
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RICHARD STRAUSS
Strauss, (R.): Der Rosenkavalier (complete opera recorded in 2017) BLU-RAY Metropolitan Opera / Renee Fleming, Elina Garanca, Gunther Groissbock, Erin Morley / Sebastian Weigle (cond) [ Decca Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 26/Jan/2018 ] "The dramatic chemistry between Ms. Fleming and Ms. GaranĨa came through in their every exchange" New York Times |
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RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen [The Ring of the Nibelungen] (recorded in 2012) BLU-RAY Metropolitan Opera / Deborah Voigt, Bryn Terfel, Jonas Kaufmann / James Levine, Fabio Luisi (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon Blu-ray / 5 Blu-ray Box Set - released 18/Oct/2012 ] The most famous, the most performed, the most thrilling, and the most recorded opera cycle in music history. |
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HANDEL / RAMEAU / VIVALDI / CAMPRA / PURCELL / etc
The Enchanted Island (complete opera recorded in 2012) Metropolitan Opera / Joyce DiDonato, David Daniels, Danielle de Niese, Placido Domingo / William Christie (cond) [ Virgin Classics DVD / 2 DVD - released 19/Oct/2012 ] "The singing from Danielle de Niese, David Daniels and Joyce DiDonato is stellar...William Christie conducts magisterially." (The Observer) |
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GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti: Don Pasquale (complete opera recorded in 2010) Metropolitan Opera / Anna Netrebko, Matthew Polenzani, John Del Carlo / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophone DVD / DVD - released 26/May/2011 ] A red hot ticket at the Metropolitan Opera in 2010/2011 was Donizetti's comic gem, Don Pasquale, with Anna Netrebko reviving Norina, the part that made her a star in New York. |
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RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Die Walkure (The Valkyries) (complete opera recorded live in 1941) Astrid Varnay / Helen Traubel / Lauritz Melchior / Kerstin Thorborg / Friedrich Schorr / Alexander Kipnis / Metropolitan Opera Orchestra / Erich Leins [ Naxos Great Opera Performances / 3 CD - released 1/Jan/2007 ] Saturday 6th December 1941 was a momentous afternoon in the history of the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, The opera - Die Walkure - was well enough known to the theatre and radio audiences that day, but this particular performance was eagerly... |
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WAGNER
Die Walkure (complete opera recorded in 1968) Birgit Nilsson, Thomas Stewart, Leonie Rysanek / Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, Berislav Klobucar [ Sony Metropolitan Series / 3 CD - released 20/May/2011 ] The first of two Wagner operas, Die Walküre, boasts a cast of fine Wagnerian singers, including Birgit Nilsson, considered one of the greatest Brünnhildes, and iconic performances by Thomas Stewart as Wotan, Leonie Rysanek as Sieglinde, Jon Vickers... |
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VERDI
La Traviata (Complete Opera recorded in 1992) Cheryl Studer, Luciano Pavarotti, Juan Pons / Metropolitan Opera Chorus & Orchestra, James Levine [ Deutsche Grammophon Grand Opera / 2 CD - released 20/Jun/2012 ] "Here is Cheryl Studer...The voice is full-blooded and warm, yet flexible enough to encompass the difficulties of Act 1...beautifully focused in the succeeding aria, with a nicely differentiated treatment of the second verse (happily included)."... |
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GOUNOD
Romeo et Juliette (complete opera recorded live in 1935) Eide Norena / Charles Hackett / Leon Rothier / Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera / Louis Hasselmans [ Naxos Great Opera Performances / 2 CD - released 1/Jan/2007 ] Norena characterizes Juliette as a real teenager: her singing is full of wide-eyed wonder and hope until the tragic dénouement. Hackett declaims Roméo’s music with a beauty of legato tone and an amplitude of phrasing which is rarely heard today.... |
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VERDI
La Traviata (complete opera recorded live in 1949) Eleanor Steber / Giuseppe d Stefano / Robert Merrill / Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera / Giuseppe Antonicelli [ Naxos Historical Great Opera Performances / 2 CD - released 1/Jan/2007 ] "For the most part, a vocal feast awaits you, broadcast live from the Met on January 22, 1949... The principals in this marvelous La Traviata are captured in their exultant primes." |
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CHARPENTIER
Louise (complete opera recorded in 1943) Grace Moore, Raoul Jobin, Ezio Pinza / Metropolitan Opera / Sir Thomas Beecham [ Naxos Historic Great Opera Performances / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Oct/2010 ] |
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STRAVINSKY
The Rake's Progress (complete opera recorded in 1953 and conducted by the composer) Hilde Gueden / Blanche Thebom / Eugene Conley / Mack Harrell / Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra / Igor Stravinsky [ Naxos Historical Great Opera Recordings / 2 CD - released 2/Sep/2007 ] This 1953 recording was the first of the two complete recordings of Stravinsky's operatic masterpiece The Rake's Progress to be conducted by the composer. |
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GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Rigoletto (complete opera recorded in 1945) Jussi Bjorling (tenor) Bidu Sayao (soprano) Leonard Warren (baritone) / Chorus & Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, Cesare Sodero [ Naxos Historical Opera / 2 CD - released 1/Jul/2008 ] "Taken as a whole, this is a remarkable document." Opera Now |
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GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti: L'elisir d'amore (highlights from the opera recorded in 1990) Kathleen Battle, Luciano Pavarotti, Leo Nucci, Enzo Dara, Dawn Upshaw / Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, james Levine [ Deutache Grammophon Australian Eloquence / CD - released 10/Jun/2018 ] "Levine conducts a lively performance, Battle makes a sympathetic Adina, Dara is a thoroughly professional purveyor of the elixir … spirited virtuosity in the orchestral playing" Gramophone |