Since you are interested in Puccini: Manon Lescaut (complete opera), here is a list of other items that you may find interesting.
THE STRAUSS FAMILY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: New Year's Concert 1987 Kathleen Battle (soprano) / Wiener Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon Grand Prix / CD - released 15/Feb/2007 ] "A splendid and indispensable issue for all admirers of Karajan and Johann Strauss.." Gramopohone |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Prokofiev: Violin Sonatas Nos 1 & 2 / 5 Melodien Martha Argerich (piano) Gidon Kremer (violin) [ Deutsche Grammophon Grand Prix / CD - released 1/Jul/2008 ] "these performances are mercurial and provocative. Kremer and Argerich find expectedly dark resonances in the lyrical Second Sonata whilst projecting a radiant beauty in the Five Melodies." BBC Music Magazine, August 2008 ***** |
J.S. BACH
4 Orchestral Suites (Overtures) BWV 1066-1069 The English Concert / Trevor Pinnock [ Deutsche Grammophon Grand Prix / CD - released 1/May/2007 ] "I don't think there is another performance of these works […] which does fuller justice to the music than this one." - Gramophone |
PIERRE BOULEZ
Sur Incises / Messagesquisse / Anthames II Jean-Guihen Queyras / Hae-Sun Kang / Ensemble Intercontemporain / Pierre Boulez [ Deutsche Grammophon Grand Prix / CD - released 1/May/2007 ] "Late Boulez, in all its facets, brilliantly encapsulated on this supremely well-performed and engineered disc" - Gramophone |
ROSSINI
Il viaggio a Reims (Complete Opera) Katia Ricciarelli, Lucia Valentini Terrani, Francisco Araiza / The Chamber Orchestra of Europe / Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon Grand Prix / 2 CD Box Set - released 16/Jul/2008 ] "The set is a triumph of scholarship, musicianship and managerial enterprise. At the price, it is irresistible." - Gramophone |
BARTOK
Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 2 / Two Portraits Maurizio Pollini (piano) Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon Grand Prix / CD - released 1/May/2007 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) - A recording of Bartók's demanding concertos that set new standards of precision and clarity in this repertoire. "Virtuosity goes with a sense of spontaneity. The Chicago orchestra,... |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: String Quintet D 956 Melos Quartett with Mstislav Rostropovich (cello) [ Deutsche Grammophon Grand Prix / CD - released 1/May/2007 ] "Probably the best all-round version" - BBC Radio3 |
JOHANN DAVID HEINICHEN
Heinichen: Dresden Concerti Musica Antiqua Koln, Reinhard Goebel [ Deutsche Grammophon Grand Prix / 2 CD - released 3/Mar/2007 ] Gramophone Awards 1993 Winner - Baroque Instrumental |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Great Singers Live: Mirella Freni (recorded 1971-83) Mirella Freni (soprano) / Münchner Rundfunkorchester / Kurt Eichhorn / Vladimir Ghiaurov [ BR Klassik Great Singers Live / CD - released 1/Aug/2011 ] "I just couldn't stop playing this disc which is not surprising given that Freni has one of the finest soprano voices I have ever heard." (MusicWeb July 2011) |