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CHARLES GOUNOD
Gounod: Mors et Vita Barbara Hendricks (sop) Nadine Denize (mezzo) John Aler (ten) José van Dam (bass-bar) / Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, Michel Plasson [ Erato / Warner Classics / CD - released 1/Sep/2017 ] "Plasson's remains a serviceable rendition of Gounod's grandiose conspectus of human spiritual experience." BBC Music |
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CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Debussy: Pelleas and Melisande (Complete Opera recorded in 1978) Richard Stilwell, Frederica von Stade, Josa van Dam. Berlin Philharmonic / Herbert von Karajan [ Warner Classics Home of Opera / 3 CD Box Set - released 20/Jan/2017 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) - "a very characteristically Karajan performance, deeply committed and full of beautiful things. The casting is excellent." (Gramophone) |
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JACQUES OFFENBACH
Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffman (The Tales of Hoffman) (complete opera) Roberto Alagna, Jose van Dam, Natalie Dessay, Sumi Jo / l'Opera National de Lyon, Kent Nagano [ Erato Warner Classics Home of Opera / 3 CD - released 20/May/2016 ] "Kent Nagano uses Kaye's complete edition preserving the recitatives. He balances this by taking quite a brisk view of the tempi and the pacing of the piece." MusicWeb |
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PUCCINI / VERDI / MASSENET / BIZET / BERLIOZ / DONIZETTI / etc
L'enchanteur Roberto Alagna (tenor) with Natalie Dessay, Angela Gheorghiu, Inva Mula, Jose van Dam & others [ Warner Classics / 2 CD - released 20/Apr/2016 ] Roberto Alagna is the kind of 'opera singer' who can sing for all with such infectious pleasure that all we can do is sit back and enjoy. And so happy are we to listen to him that there's only one thing we feel we should say to him: thank you. |
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J. S. BACH
Bach: Mass In B Minor Rotraud Hansmann, Emiko Iiyama, Helen Watts, Kurt Equiluz, Max Van Egmond / Vienna Boys' Choir, Viennensis Chorus, Concentus musicus Wien, Harnoncourt [ Warner Classics Das Alte Werk / 2 CD - released 12/Nov/2007 ] 50 GREATEST RECORDINGS OF ALL TIME (No 50) BBC MUSIC -'It has little of the sheen and polish of present-day recordings but a raw commitment and lithe pioneering spirit which is often intoxicating.' Gramophone 1995 |
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GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Complete Symphonies - The Chief Conductors Edition Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly, Daniele Gatti, Willem Mengelberg, Bernard Haitink, Mariss Jansons, Eduard van Beinum [ RCO Live SACD / 15 CD Box Set - released 2/May/2025 ] In 1903, Gustav Mahler conducted his own work with the Concertgebouw Orchestra for the first time. He was ecstatic about orchestra, choirs and audience: 'The music culture in this country is astonishing! The way these people can listen!' |
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JEAN-PHILIPPE RAMEAU
Rameau: Achante et Céphise (complete) Sabine Devieilhe, Cyrille Dubois, David Witczak, Judith Van Wanroij /Les Chantres du Centre de musique baroque de Versailles, Alexis Kossenko [ Erato / Warner Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 5/Nov/2021 ] "...this is an invigorating and joyous revival of a musically rich opera." BBC Music Christmas 2021 Opera Choice |
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HECTOR BERLIOZ
Hector Berlioz - The Complete Works Véronique Gens, Renaud Capuçon, Jose van Dam, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, René Schirrer, Jessye Norman, John Aler, Laurent Naouri, Nicolas Rivenq, etc [ Erato / Warner / Philips / 27 CD Box Set - released 6/Feb/2018 ] This, the first-ever complete Berlioz edition, comprises carefully selected recordings and even includes works completely new to the catalogue. |
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GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Carmelite Vespers 1707 Jill Feldman, Dame Emma Kirkby, Emily Van Evera, Margaret Cable / Taverner Choir & Players, Andrew Parrott [ Erato / 2 CD - released 20/May/2009 ] "We are used to hearing Dixit in the concert hall, so it's good to be reminded that it was written for the liturgy. Parrott includes it in his reconstruction of Handel's Carmelite Vespers of 1707" BBC Music Magazine, March 2009. |
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JOSEF HAYDN
Haydn: Piano Trios Trio Fontenay, Jaap Schroder (violin), Wouter Moller (cello), Bob van Asperen (harpsichord), Andrew Manze (violin) [ Teldec Warner Classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 19/May/2008 ] "If the Fontenay seem more attuned to Haydn's inwardness and lyricism than to his animal spirits, there's much to savour in these affectionate, thoughtfully characterized readings, truthfully captured by Teldec's engineers." (Gramophone on the Trio... |
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CARL HEINRICH GRAUN
Der Tod Jesu-Passion Cantata Uta Schwabe (soprano) Inge van de Kerkove (soprano) Christoph Genz (baritone) / La Petite Band Ex Tempore / Sigiswald Kuijken (conductor) [ Hyperion / 2 CD - released 15/Mar/2004 ] During his lifetime, Carl Heinrich Graun, a younger contemporary of Bach's, was one of the best-known exponents of Italian opera in Germany. Recorded here is his Passion Cantata Der Tod Jesu performed by an excellent team of soloists. |
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Van Halen
Ou812 [ Warner / CD ] |
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JULES MASSENET
Massenet: Operas Victoria de los Angeles, Nicolai Gedda, Cheryl Studer, Beverly Sills, Renee Doria, Teresa Berganza, Jose van Dam, Sherrill Milnes, etc [ Erato / 16 CD Box Set - released 1/May/2018 ] "This is as good a performance as we are likely to get of this persuasive work. Victoria de los Angeles as Charlotte is adorable, both in character and in the sheer beauty of sound." (Gramophone on Werther) |
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WAGNER
Parsifal (Complete Opera recorded in 1991) Waltraud Meier, Siegfried Jerusalem, Jose Van Dam, John tomlinson / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim [ Warner Classics Home of Opera / 4 CD Box Set - released 20/May/2016 ] "For a studio performance my vote would go now-just-to the new version, largely on the strength of the recording and the performances of Meier and Jerusalem. (Gramophone) |
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LULLY
Thesee (complete opera) Aaron Engebreth, Aaron Sheehan, Amanda Forsythe, Teresa Warkim, Yulia Van Doren / Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra & Chorus / Paul O'Dette [ CPO / 3 CD Box Set - released 10/Sep/2008 ] GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE AWARD NOMINATION 2008 - Baroque Vocal - "Still often underrated, Lully is an operatic giant, and this fine recording makes eloquent proof" Gramophone Magazine |
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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Melancolía - Música Temprana Olalla Alemán (soprano), Adrián Rodríguez Van der Spoel, Luciana Cueto (mezzo-soprano) Adrián Rodríguez Van der Spoel / Música Temprana [ Pentatone / CD - released 24/Sep/2021 ] Música Temprana, one of today's most exciting Hispanic early music ensembles, presents its first PENTATONE album Melancolía, on which they present Spanish courtly songs on mourning and unrequited love around 1500 together with the apocalyptic... |
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ROBERT SCHUMANN / FELIX MENDELSSOHN
Schumann, Mendelssoh: Violin Concertos Albrecht Menzel, Leipziger Symphonieorchester, Robbert van Steijn [ Naxos / CD - released 5/Dec/2025 ] Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor, composed over an extended period and in collaboration with its dedicatee Ferdinand David, was an instant success at its premiere. The concerto's glorious melodic invention and innovative character have... |
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PAUL HINDEMITH
Hindemith: Sonatas Alexander Melnikov (piano) with Isabelle Faust (violin) Jeroen Berwaerts (trumpet) Teunis van der Zwart (althorn), etc [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 20/Dec/2014 ] 'The patron saint of neglected instruments, Hindemith composed more than 30 sonatas for very diverse resources … The Hindemith anniversary of 2013 opened the gates to a welcome flood of excellent recordings, and this new release stands high among the |
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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
A Life Of Tango Alfredo Marcucci (bandoneón), Michel van der Meire (bass), Juan Masondo (guitar & voice) [ Channel Classics SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 8/Nov/2004 ] |
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Alice Foccroulle, Reinoud Van Mechelen, Lambert Colson
Teatro Spirituale [ Ricercar / CD - released 22/Mar/2019 ] This recording transports us to Rome's Chiesa Nuova, the Oratory Church where in 1600 the premiere took place of the first spiritual opera, La Rappresentatione di Anima e di Corpo by Cavalieri. That pioneering spirit has inspired this programme... |