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OPERA on CD
Summer Releases
Vocal Classics
OPERA on CD
Summer Releases
Vocal Classics
POSTED 14 SEPTEMBER 2001
"Little Women-Complete Opera"
M. Adamo
...available here.
Young American composer Mark Adamo adapted the classic Louisa May
Alcott novel "Little Women" for the opera stage on a commission from
Houston Grand Opera. His sensitive treatment of this touching story,
which was recently aired on PBS's "Great Performances," offers a
neo-Straussian opportunity to characterize through a rich tapestry
of female voices.
"El Nino"
John Adams
...available here.
In "El Nino," John Adams turns to the story of the Nativity to
create a postmodern oratorio that interweaves sources from the
Gnostic Gospels and the Mexican poets Sor Juana Inéz de la Cruz
and Rosario Castellanos. This world premiere recording features Dawn
Upshaw and Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Paul Hilliard's Theatre of
Voices, and conductor Kent Nagano.
"Falstaff / Terfel, Pieczonka, Hampson, Roschmann, Shtoda, Daidkova,
Berlin Phil., Abbado"
Berliner Philharmoniker
...available here.
Chalk up another triumph for the Verdi anniversary year. For this
new recording of "Falstaff," Bryn Terfel's outsized singing
personality perfectly matches Verdi's conception. Under the baton of
Claudio Abbado, this interpretation is by far the best of the
current crop and is indispensable for Terfel and Hampson fans.
"Schwanengesang; Vier Ernste Gesange"
Thomas Quasthoff
...available here.
Baritone Thomas Quasthoff here tackles two of the cornerstones of
the lieder repertory, and the result is one of the most moving,
exciting lieder discs in years. Much of its appeal lies in
Quasthoff's attractive vocalism, a rich, firm voice comfortable with
both the lyric and the dramatic demands of these songs.
"Part: Johannes-Passion"
Arvo Part
...available here.
Those who associate the "Passion" with Bach's version are in for
several surprises when experiencing Arvo Part's "Johannes
Passion," written in 1982. Its monastic austerity, solemnity, and
stark simplicity seem to offer an oasis of calm in a restless world.
"Rameau: La Guirlande - Zephyre / Daneman, Méchaly, Ockenden,
Decaudaveine, Agnew, Baloza; Christie"
Jean-Philippe Rameau
...available here.
Both works on this recording have idyllic, pastoral settings and
very flimsy librettos: the first is about love among shepherds and
shepherdesses; the second about love among gods, goddesses, and
nymphs. Rameau's music infuses these contrived, artificial
characters and situations with vibrant life and human emotions. It
is beautiful music, with an unfailing crystalline purity, whether
expressing joy, pleading, or nostalgia.
OPERA IN ENGLISH
"Don Giovanni (Chandos Opera in English Series)"
W.A. Mozart
...available here.
The issue of whether to perform operas in their original language
has long been hotly debated, with very strong arguments to be made
on both sides. But it's hard to imagine a more compelling case for
opera in English than the one presented by the Chandos Opera in
English series. This new recording of "Don Giovanni" is the first
Mozart opera in the series, and it marks an auspicious debut.
More Chandos Opera in English
...available here.
FEATURED ON PBS THIS MONTH: MICHAEL AMANTE
"Michael Amante"
Giacomo Puccini
...available here.
Poised to become the next PBS favorite, Italian-American tenor
Michael Amante delivers favorites from Puccini, Verdi, and more on
his self-titled debut CD.
FEATURED BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
"Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde / Bernstein, Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra"
Gustav Mahler
...available here.
After more than three decades, this remains the "Lied" of choice if
you prefer Mahler's sanctioned baritone alternative in the alto
songs. Bernstein's the hero of this intense, powerful reading.
See more Opera & Vocal Value Picks
...available here.
POSTED 13 AUGUST 2001
THE "RING" IN ENGLISH
A Goodall Time
Reginald Goodall's legendary traversal of Wagner's cycle with the
English National Opera (in Andrew Porter's marvelous translation) is
finally back after a long absence. Chandos has beautifully
remastered and repackaged this interpretation--famously slow but
loving and rich in detail--as part of its Opera in English series.
Goodall "Ring"
...available here.
NEW AND NOTABLE
"Ian Bostridge - Schubert Lieder, Volume II"
Franz Schubert
...available here.
Ian Bostridge's second Schubert recital for EMI is even more
impressive than the first--and that's saying something. Much of the
disc finds him in a somber mood; even though the tone is frequently
valedictory and the tempo often slow, there is never a lack of
variety.
"The Glass Hammer: Scenes from Childhood Kept against Forgetting
(Poetry by Andrew Hudgins)"
Jorge Martin
...available here.
"The Glass Hammer" is an hourlong cycle of 15 songs by Jorge Martin, a
Cuban-American composer. Andrew Hudgins's poems often occupy the
twilight zone between heightened prose and poetry. Martin's music,
like the texts, encompasses both the declamatory aspects of vocal
writing and the lyric expressiveness of the poetry.
"Kingdom Come; Hymnodic Delays; Fog Tropes II for String Quartet and
Tap"
I. Marshall
...available here.
American composer Ingram Marshall has issued his second recording
on Nonesuch with this mesmerizing program that reflects his work
with electronic experimentation and Asian musical traditions.
Featured on "Kingdom Come"--the title work is a meditation on the
Bosnian conflict--are Paul Hillier and his Theatre of Voices, as
well as the Kronos Quartet, who commissioned "Fog Tropes II."
"Casta Diva"
Angela Gheorghiu
...available here.
The title "Casta Diva" tells all. This recital disc has soprano
Angela Gheorghiu reaching out beyond the lyric Verdi, Gounod,
Massenet, Puccini repertory in which she made her name and edging
into the gymnastic world of coloratura and bel canto--with some
measure of success.
"The Radiant Voice of Barbara Bonney"
Barbara Bonney
...available here.
Of all the laudatory epithets applicable to Barbara Bonney, the
term "radiant" might not be the one that springs to mind--at least,
not insofar as it suggests the warm luxuriance of sunshine. Bonney's
light, bright lyric soprano is something else: a voice of delicate
refinement and transparent, pure-toned beauty.
"Andre Previn - Diversions, Songs / Fleming, Bonney, Previn"
Renee Fleming
...available here.
Andre Previn's long and distinguished career as a conductor
has overshadowed his work as a composer and pianist, but this disc
of "diversions" lifts the curtain, offering a fair sampling of
Previn's output. Renee Fleming, star of Previn's opera "A
Streetcar Named Desire," takes the honors in "The Giraffes Go to
Hamburg."
KIDS' STUFF
"Peter and the Wolf: A Special Report"
Various
...available here.
National Public Radio's new "Peter and the Wolf: A Special Report"
has to be one of the most innovative treatments of the classic work
available today. The composer's famous introduction to the orchestra
is transformed into a clever "All Things Considered" audio story,
performed by the Virginia Symphony with the narration of favorite
NPR hosts Robert Siegel, Linda Wertheimer, Ann Taylor, and others.
Two other classical works for little ones--Britten's "The Young
Person's Guide to the Orchestra" and Saint-Saens's "Carnival of
the Animals"--fill out this most impressive disc.
More Classical Music for kids
...available here.
POSTED 17 JULY 2001
"Handel: Gloria (World Premiere Recording) - Dixit Dominus / Kirkby,
Martinpelto, von Otter [IMPORT]"
George Frideric Handel
...available here.
Handel made headlines this past March when London's Royal Academy
of Music announced the discovery (in its own archives) of a
previously unknown composition. The "Gloria" for solo soprano and
strings features sweetly lilting melodies and spectacular
coloratura, sung by Emma Kirkby in the world premiere recording from
Bis.
"Higglety-Pigglety Pop! and Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice
Sendak)"
Oliver Knussen
...available here.
Maurice Sendak's children's books have won thanks from countless
parents whose bedtime reading chores were turned to adult delights.
Set to the adventurous music of Oliver Knussen, they'll appeal to
lovers of sophisticated fantasy works like Ravel's "L'Enfant et les
sortileges."
"Karita Mattila - Arias & Scenes / Yutaka Sado, London Philharmonic
Orchestra"
Karita Mattila
...available here.
In her new collection, Karita Mattila, impersonating heroines from
a heady mix of Russian, Czech, German, and Italian operas, displays
extraordinary vocal, stylistic, and emotional range.
"Schneewittchen (Snow White)-Co"
H. Holliger
...available here.
This isn't Disney's "Snow White." "Schneewittchen" is a postmodern
dramatic meditation based on the work of Robert Walser. Heinz
Holliger's luminous orchestration, like the often radiant vocal
lines, tosses fragments of melodies about like so much falling snow,
making the listening less forbidding than the telling.
"Bells Opus. 35/John of Damascus"
Rachmaninov
...available here.
Rachmaninov allegedly considered "The Bells" to be his best work,
and it is not difficult to hear why. The soloists are superb, but
the real star is the Moscow State Chamber Choir. Also included is a
piece by Sergei Taneyev, a composer who should be more widely
appreciated.
"Legendary Wagner Singers of the 1930s (Telefunken Legacy Series)"
Richard Wagner
...available here.
The Telefunken Legacy series from Teldec presents a number of
highly valuable historical recordings, nicely repackaged and
catalogued. "Legendary Wagner Singers of the 1930s" gathers
interpretations by Max Lorenz, Helge Roswaenge, Maria Reining, and
many others.
"Meyerbeer: Robert le Diable / Renato Palumbo, Martina Franca"
Warren Mok
...available here.
Giacomo Meyerbeer's reputation has swerved dramatically since it
reached a zenith during his highly successful career in the heyday
of French grand opera. And in many ways his legacy has been unfairly
overlooked. This recording of his genre-setting early work "Robert
le Diable" comes from a live performance last year at Italy's
Martina Franca Festival and includes several frequently cut passages
as well as full libretto in French and English.
JORDI SAVALL'S LATEST
"Alfons V ("El Magnanim"): El Cancionero de Montecassino-Religious
and Profane Music"
Jordi Savall
...available here.
Alfons V ("The Magnanimous") had high artistic ambitions for his
dominion when he ascended the throne of Aragon in 1416. And for a
short time, his patronage did produce an extraordinary musical
rebirth centered in Naples. The "Cancionero de Montecassino"
contains a wonderful potpourri of styles for sacred and secular
purposes--yet another example of the versatility and breadth of
musical discovery that are characteristic of Early Music guru Jordi
Savall.
See more Jordi Savall titles
...available here.
TALLIS SCHOLARS ON GIMELL
"Spem in Alium"
T. Tallis
...available here.
Named for Renaissance composer Thomas Tallis, Peter Phillips and
his extraordinary singers have found great footing in the 16th
century, though they perform music from several other periods as
well. "Spem in Alium" was the Tallis Scholars' first recording
devoted to their namesake composer--and it remains one of the best
Tallis discs available.
See more Tallis Scholars titles
...available here.
NEW SHADES OF SARAH BRIGHTMAN
Superstar crossover vocalist Sarah Brightman greets the new
millennium with a bolder grasp of her musical niche on "La Luna,"
now available in its concert version in DVD format. On "A Whiter
Shade of Pale," celebrity DJs remix Brightman's take on the Procul
Harum rock classic as well as "A Question of Honour."
"Whiter Shade of Pale [CD-SINGLE]"
Sarah Brightman
...available here.
"Sarah Brightman - La Luna (Live in Concert)"
Sarah Brightman
...available here.
FREE MUSIC DOWNLOADS
"Silla-Complete Opera"
George Frideric Handel
...available here.
"Silla" has a sketchy history, with no record of a performance in
the composer's lifetime. This "opera seria" was written early during
Handel's resettlement to London, although some of the music was
later recycled. Download two selections from this Handel rarity now,
for free, from Amazon.com:
"Sol per te, bell'idol mio" (Natasha Marsh and Joanne Lunn)
...available here.
"Alza il volo mia fama" (James Bowman)
...available here.
"Little Women-Complete Opera"
M. Adamo
...available here.
Young American composer Mark Adamo adapted the classic Louisa May
Alcott novel "Little Women" for the opera stage on a commission from
Houston Grand Opera. His sensitive treatment of this touching story,
which was recently aired on PBS's "Great Performances," offers a
neo-Straussian opportunity to characterize through a rich tapestry
of female voices.
"El Nino"
John Adams
...available here.
In "El Nino," John Adams turns to the story of the Nativity to
create a postmodern oratorio that interweaves sources from the
Gnostic Gospels and the Mexican poets Sor Juana Inéz de la Cruz
and Rosario Castellanos. This world premiere recording features Dawn
Upshaw and Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Paul Hilliard's Theatre of
Voices, and conductor Kent Nagano.
"Falstaff / Terfel, Pieczonka, Hampson, Roschmann, Shtoda, Daidkova,
Berlin Phil., Abbado"
Berliner Philharmoniker
...available here.
Chalk up another triumph for the Verdi anniversary year. For this
new recording of "Falstaff," Bryn Terfel's outsized singing
personality perfectly matches Verdi's conception. Under the baton of
Claudio Abbado, this interpretation is by far the best of the
current crop and is indispensable for Terfel and Hampson fans.
"Schwanengesang; Vier Ernste Gesange"
Thomas Quasthoff
...available here.
Baritone Thomas Quasthoff here tackles two of the cornerstones of
the lieder repertory, and the result is one of the most moving,
exciting lieder discs in years. Much of its appeal lies in
Quasthoff's attractive vocalism, a rich, firm voice comfortable with
both the lyric and the dramatic demands of these songs.
"Part: Johannes-Passion"
Arvo Part
...available here.
Those who associate the "Passion" with Bach's version are in for
several surprises when experiencing Arvo Part's "Johannes
Passion," written in 1982. Its monastic austerity, solemnity, and
stark simplicity seem to offer an oasis of calm in a restless world.
"Rameau: La Guirlande - Zephyre / Daneman, Méchaly, Ockenden,
Decaudaveine, Agnew, Baloza; Christie"
Jean-Philippe Rameau
...available here.
Both works on this recording have idyllic, pastoral settings and
very flimsy librettos: the first is about love among shepherds and
shepherdesses; the second about love among gods, goddesses, and
nymphs. Rameau's music infuses these contrived, artificial
characters and situations with vibrant life and human emotions. It
is beautiful music, with an unfailing crystalline purity, whether
expressing joy, pleading, or nostalgia.
OPERA IN ENGLISH
"Don Giovanni (Chandos Opera in English Series)"
W.A. Mozart
...available here.
The issue of whether to perform operas in their original language
has long been hotly debated, with very strong arguments to be made
on both sides. But it's hard to imagine a more compelling case for
opera in English than the one presented by the Chandos Opera in
English series. This new recording of "Don Giovanni" is the first
Mozart opera in the series, and it marks an auspicious debut.
More Chandos Opera in English
...available here.
FEATURED ON PBS THIS MONTH: MICHAEL AMANTE
"Michael Amante"
Giacomo Puccini
...available here.
Poised to become the next PBS favorite, Italian-American tenor
Michael Amante delivers favorites from Puccini, Verdi, and more on
his self-titled debut CD.
FEATURED BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
"Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde / Bernstein, Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra"
Gustav Mahler
...available here.
After more than three decades, this remains the "Lied" of choice if
you prefer Mahler's sanctioned baritone alternative in the alto
songs. Bernstein's the hero of this intense, powerful reading.
See more Opera & Vocal Value Picks
...available here.
POSTED 13 AUGUST 2001
THE "RING" IN ENGLISH
A Goodall Time
Reginald Goodall's legendary traversal of Wagner's cycle with the
English National Opera (in Andrew Porter's marvelous translation) is
finally back after a long absence. Chandos has beautifully
remastered and repackaged this interpretation--famously slow but
loving and rich in detail--as part of its Opera in English series.
Goodall "Ring"
...available here.
NEW AND NOTABLE
"Ian Bostridge - Schubert Lieder, Volume II"
Franz Schubert
...available here.
Ian Bostridge's second Schubert recital for EMI is even more
impressive than the first--and that's saying something. Much of the
disc finds him in a somber mood; even though the tone is frequently
valedictory and the tempo often slow, there is never a lack of
variety.
"The Glass Hammer: Scenes from Childhood Kept against Forgetting
(Poetry by Andrew Hudgins)"
Jorge Martin
...available here.
"The Glass Hammer" is an hourlong cycle of 15 songs by Jorge Martin, a
Cuban-American composer. Andrew Hudgins's poems often occupy the
twilight zone between heightened prose and poetry. Martin's music,
like the texts, encompasses both the declamatory aspects of vocal
writing and the lyric expressiveness of the poetry.
"Kingdom Come; Hymnodic Delays; Fog Tropes II for String Quartet and
Tap"
I. Marshall
...available here.
American composer Ingram Marshall has issued his second recording
on Nonesuch with this mesmerizing program that reflects his work
with electronic experimentation and Asian musical traditions.
Featured on "Kingdom Come"--the title work is a meditation on the
Bosnian conflict--are Paul Hillier and his Theatre of Voices, as
well as the Kronos Quartet, who commissioned "Fog Tropes II."
"Casta Diva"
Angela Gheorghiu
...available here.
The title "Casta Diva" tells all. This recital disc has soprano
Angela Gheorghiu reaching out beyond the lyric Verdi, Gounod,
Massenet, Puccini repertory in which she made her name and edging
into the gymnastic world of coloratura and bel canto--with some
measure of success.
"The Radiant Voice of Barbara Bonney"
Barbara Bonney
...available here.
Of all the laudatory epithets applicable to Barbara Bonney, the
term "radiant" might not be the one that springs to mind--at least,
not insofar as it suggests the warm luxuriance of sunshine. Bonney's
light, bright lyric soprano is something else: a voice of delicate
refinement and transparent, pure-toned beauty.
"Andre Previn - Diversions, Songs / Fleming, Bonney, Previn"
Renee Fleming
...available here.
Andre Previn's long and distinguished career as a conductor
has overshadowed his work as a composer and pianist, but this disc
of "diversions" lifts the curtain, offering a fair sampling of
Previn's output. Renee Fleming, star of Previn's opera "A
Streetcar Named Desire," takes the honors in "The Giraffes Go to
Hamburg."
KIDS' STUFF
"Peter and the Wolf: A Special Report"
Various
...available here.
National Public Radio's new "Peter and the Wolf: A Special Report"
has to be one of the most innovative treatments of the classic work
available today. The composer's famous introduction to the orchestra
is transformed into a clever "All Things Considered" audio story,
performed by the Virginia Symphony with the narration of favorite
NPR hosts Robert Siegel, Linda Wertheimer, Ann Taylor, and others.
Two other classical works for little ones--Britten's "The Young
Person's Guide to the Orchestra" and Saint-Saens's "Carnival of
the Animals"--fill out this most impressive disc.
More Classical Music for kids
...available here.
POSTED 17 JULY 2001
"Handel: Gloria (World Premiere Recording) - Dixit Dominus / Kirkby,
Martinpelto, von Otter [IMPORT]"
George Frideric Handel
...available here.
Handel made headlines this past March when London's Royal Academy
of Music announced the discovery (in its own archives) of a
previously unknown composition. The "Gloria" for solo soprano and
strings features sweetly lilting melodies and spectacular
coloratura, sung by Emma Kirkby in the world premiere recording from
Bis.
"Higglety-Pigglety Pop! and Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice
Sendak)"
Oliver Knussen
...available here.
Maurice Sendak's children's books have won thanks from countless
parents whose bedtime reading chores were turned to adult delights.
Set to the adventurous music of Oliver Knussen, they'll appeal to
lovers of sophisticated fantasy works like Ravel's "L'Enfant et les
sortileges."
"Karita Mattila - Arias & Scenes / Yutaka Sado, London Philharmonic
Orchestra"
Karita Mattila
...available here.
In her new collection, Karita Mattila, impersonating heroines from
a heady mix of Russian, Czech, German, and Italian operas, displays
extraordinary vocal, stylistic, and emotional range.
"Schneewittchen (Snow White)-Co"
H. Holliger
...available here.
This isn't Disney's "Snow White." "Schneewittchen" is a postmodern
dramatic meditation based on the work of Robert Walser. Heinz
Holliger's luminous orchestration, like the often radiant vocal
lines, tosses fragments of melodies about like so much falling snow,
making the listening less forbidding than the telling.
"Bells Opus. 35/John of Damascus"
Rachmaninov
...available here.
Rachmaninov allegedly considered "The Bells" to be his best work,
and it is not difficult to hear why. The soloists are superb, but
the real star is the Moscow State Chamber Choir. Also included is a
piece by Sergei Taneyev, a composer who should be more widely
appreciated.
"Legendary Wagner Singers of the 1930s (Telefunken Legacy Series)"
Richard Wagner
...available here.
The Telefunken Legacy series from Teldec presents a number of
highly valuable historical recordings, nicely repackaged and
catalogued. "Legendary Wagner Singers of the 1930s" gathers
interpretations by Max Lorenz, Helge Roswaenge, Maria Reining, and
many others.
"Meyerbeer: Robert le Diable / Renato Palumbo, Martina Franca"
Warren Mok
...available here.
Giacomo Meyerbeer's reputation has swerved dramatically since it
reached a zenith during his highly successful career in the heyday
of French grand opera. And in many ways his legacy has been unfairly
overlooked. This recording of his genre-setting early work "Robert
le Diable" comes from a live performance last year at Italy's
Martina Franca Festival and includes several frequently cut passages
as well as full libretto in French and English.
JORDI SAVALL'S LATEST
"Alfons V ("El Magnanim"): El Cancionero de Montecassino-Religious
and Profane Music"
Jordi Savall
...available here.
Alfons V ("The Magnanimous") had high artistic ambitions for his
dominion when he ascended the throne of Aragon in 1416. And for a
short time, his patronage did produce an extraordinary musical
rebirth centered in Naples. The "Cancionero de Montecassino"
contains a wonderful potpourri of styles for sacred and secular
purposes--yet another example of the versatility and breadth of
musical discovery that are characteristic of Early Music guru Jordi
Savall.
See more Jordi Savall titles
...available here.
TALLIS SCHOLARS ON GIMELL
"Spem in Alium"
T. Tallis
...available here.
Named for Renaissance composer Thomas Tallis, Peter Phillips and
his extraordinary singers have found great footing in the 16th
century, though they perform music from several other periods as
well. "Spem in Alium" was the Tallis Scholars' first recording
devoted to their namesake composer--and it remains one of the best
Tallis discs available.
See more Tallis Scholars titles
...available here.
NEW SHADES OF SARAH BRIGHTMAN
Superstar crossover vocalist Sarah Brightman greets the new millennium with a bolder grasp of her musical niche on "La Luna," now available in its concert version in DVD format. On "A Whiter Shade of Pale," celebrity DJs remix Brightman's take on the Procul Harum rock classic as well as "A Question of Honour."
"Whiter Shade of Pale [CD-SINGLE]"
Sarah Brightman
...available here.
"Sarah Brightman - La Luna (Live in Concert)"
Sarah Brightman
...available here.
FREE MUSIC DOWNLOADS
"Silla-Complete Opera"
George Frideric Handel
...available here.
"Silla" has a sketchy history, with no record of a performance in
the composer's lifetime. This "opera seria" was written early during
Handel's resettlement to London, although some of the music was
later recycled. Download two selections from this Handel rarity now,
for free, from Amazon.com:
"Sol per te, bell'idol mio" (Natasha Marsh and Joanne Lunn)
...available here.
"Alza il volo mia fama" (James Bowman)
...available here.
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POSTED JUNE 2001
"Rossini: Cantatas Volume 2 / Chailly, Bartoli, Florez"
Gioachino Rossini
...available here
There are some echoes of Haydn and Mozart in these two "secular"
cantatas, but most is vintage Rossini, full of charm, grace, and
beguilingly lovely, celestially floating melodies, as well as
exciting sections of high drama. Cecilia Bartoli features as soloist
in the much longer cantata on the classical theme of "The Wedding of
Thetis and Peleus."
Read more
...available here
"Gluck: Iphigenie en Tauride / Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre"
Marc Minkowski
...available here
As they proved in their noteworthy recording of "Armide," Marc
Minkowski and his Musiciens du Louvre convey the pulse and feel of
Gluck with electrifying energy. True opera lovers should not miss
this account of the composer's late masterpiece, "Iphigenie en
Tauride."
Read more
...available here
"Die Liebe der Danae: Richard Strauss"
Richard Strauss
...available here
Richard Strauss's lushly orchestrated penultimate opera, "Die Liebe
der Danae," which was previously unavailable in a contemporary
performance on CD, has been released in an account led by Strauss
enthusiast Leon Botstein. It centers on a witty but bittersweet
conflation of two legends from classical antiquity.
Read more
...available here
"Sacred Songs of Medieval Italy"
Acantus
...available here
In our age of widespread literacy, it's easy to forget that the
vast majority of music that survives from the Middle Ages was the
dominion of an elite minority. On their debut CD, the Italian
ensemble Acantus approaches medieval Italian devotional song from
the angle of common Italian folk music, rather than of the erudite
plainchant and polyphony preserved in most medieval sources.
Read more
...available here
"Stabat Mater"
A. Dvorak
...available here
The recent, sudden death of conductor Giuseppe Sinopoli adds a
dimension of poignance to his posthumously released account of
Dvorak's sacred masterpiece, "Stabat Mater."
Read more
...available here
"Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno [IMPORT]"
George Frideric Handel
...available here
With Rinaldo Alessandrini at the helm, you can expect a performance
of high spirits, energy, and--it goes without saying--thrilling
virtuosity. His Concerto Italiano is in excellent form for this
neglected masterpiece of Handel, "The Triumph of Time and Truth."
The work consists of some of the composer's most alluring arias and
gives the spotlight to a superb roster of soloists--particularly
soprano Deborah York.
Read more
...available here
"Mass and Other Sacred Songs [IMPORT]"
James Macmillan
...available here
This recording of James MacMillan's Mass is an intense, emotionally
charged 70 minutes reflecting the composer's deeply held religious
beliefs. These are beliefs that, as he has said in commenting on the
mood of his Mass, are not immune to doubts and fears and an
awareness of the "tragedies and uncertainties of our age." So don't
expect an easy listen.
Read more
...available here
"Richard Danielpour: Elegies - Sonnets to Orpheus / von Stade,
Hampson, Huang"
Richard Danielpour
...available here
Tonal, clear, mildly dissonant, often discursive, the music of
Richard Danielpour is basically conventional, sometimes almost
derivative, but it has its own voice, because it combines elements
of his Persian roots with the influence of American jazz. Here--in a
performance featuring Frederica von Stade, Thomas Hampson, and Ying
Huang--are the composer's settings of "The Sonnets to Orpheus" of
Rilke and "Elegies" (based on personal letters from von Stade's
father in World War II).
Read more
...available here
"Don Giovanni-Complete Opera"
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
...available here
This classic account of "Don Giovanni," featuring Dietrich
Fischer-Dieskau under conductor Ferenc Fricsay, has been rereleased
in a state-of-the-art sonic transfer as part of the DG Originals
series.
Read more
...available here
EARLY MUSIC STORE
"Les Plaisirs du Palais: Drinking Songs of the Renaissance [IMPORT]"
Ensemble Clement Janequin
...available here
This appetizing new release, "Les Plaisirs du Palais," gathers
drinking songs of the Renaissance and reveals parallels between the
Flemish and French styles of the time. See more recommendations in
our Early Music Store.
Visit the Early Music Shelves
...available here
IRISH TENORS
Touring the United States this summer to support their new release,
"Ellis Island," the Irish Tenors have already become a household
word in just a couple of years. Make sure you check out our Irish
Tenors Store for more of their great catalog and a list of tour
dates.
...available here
Visit the Irish Tenors Shelve
...available here
"Rossini: Cantatas Volume 2 / Chailly, Bartoli, Florez"
Gioachino Rossini
...available here
There are some echoes of Haydn and Mozart in these two "secular"
cantatas, but most is vintage Rossini, full of charm, grace, and
beguilingly lovely, celestially floating melodies, as well as
exciting sections of high drama. Cecilia Bartoli features as soloist
in the much longer cantata on the classical theme of "The Wedding of
Thetis and Peleus."
Read more
...available here
"Gluck: Iphigenie en Tauride / Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre"
Marc Minkowski
...available here
As they proved in their noteworthy recording of "Armide," Marc
Minkowski and his Musiciens du Louvre convey the pulse and feel of
Gluck with electrifying energy. True opera lovers should not miss
this account of the composer's late masterpiece, "Iphigenie en
Tauride."
Read more
...available here
"Die Liebe der Danae: Richard Strauss"
Richard Strauss
...available here
Richard Strauss's lushly orchestrated penultimate opera, "Die Liebe
der Danae," which was previously unavailable in a contemporary
performance on CD, has been released in an account led by Strauss
enthusiast Leon Botstein. It centers on a witty but bittersweet
conflation of two legends from classical antiquity.
Read more
...available here
"Sacred Songs of Medieval Italy"
Acantus
...available here
In our age of widespread literacy, it's easy to forget that the
vast majority of music that survives from the Middle Ages was the
dominion of an elite minority. On their debut CD, the Italian
ensemble Acantus approaches medieval Italian devotional song from
the angle of common Italian folk music, rather than of the erudite
plainchant and polyphony preserved in most medieval sources.
Read more
...available here
"Stabat Mater"
A. Dvorak
...available here
The recent, sudden death of conductor Giuseppe Sinopoli adds a
dimension of poignance to his posthumously released account of
Dvorak's sacred masterpiece, "Stabat Mater."
Read more
...available here
"Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno [IMPORT]"
George Frideric Handel
...available here
With Rinaldo Alessandrini at the helm, you can expect a performance
of high spirits, energy, and--it goes without saying--thrilling
virtuosity. His Concerto Italiano is in excellent form for this
neglected masterpiece of Handel, "The Triumph of Time and Truth."
The work consists of some of the composer's most alluring arias and
gives the spotlight to a superb roster of soloists--particularly
soprano Deborah York.
Read more
...available here
"Mass and Other Sacred Songs [IMPORT]"
James Macmillan
...available here
This recording of James MacMillan's Mass is an intense, emotionally
charged 70 minutes reflecting the composer's deeply held religious
beliefs. These are beliefs that, as he has said in commenting on the
mood of his Mass, are not immune to doubts and fears and an
awareness of the "tragedies and uncertainties of our age." So don't
expect an easy listen.
Read more
...available here
"Richard Danielpour: Elegies - Sonnets to Orpheus / von Stade,
Hampson, Huang"
Richard Danielpour
...available here
Tonal, clear, mildly dissonant, often discursive, the music of
Richard Danielpour is basically conventional, sometimes almost
derivative, but it has its own voice, because it combines elements
of his Persian roots with the influence of American jazz. Here--in a
performance featuring Frederica von Stade, Thomas Hampson, and Ying
Huang--are the composer's settings of "The Sonnets to Orpheus" of
Rilke and "Elegies" (based on personal letters from von Stade's
father in World War II).
Read more
...available here
"Don Giovanni-Complete Opera"
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
...available here
This classic account of "Don Giovanni," featuring Dietrich
Fischer-Dieskau under conductor Ferenc Fricsay, has been rereleased
in a state-of-the-art sonic transfer as part of the DG Originals
series.
Read more
...available here
EARLY MUSIC STORE
"Les Plaisirs du Palais: Drinking Songs of the Renaissance [IMPORT]"
Ensemble Clement Janequin
...available here
This appetizing new release, "Les Plaisirs du Palais," gathers
drinking songs of the Renaissance and reveals parallels between the
Flemish and French styles of the time. See more recommendations in
our Early Music Store.
Visit the Early Music Shelves
...available here
IRISH TENORS
Touring the United States this summer to support their new release,
"Ellis Island," the Irish Tenors have already become a household
word in just a couple of years. Make sure you check out our Irish
Tenors Store for more of their great catalog and a list of tour
dates.
...available here
Visit the Irish Tenors Shelve
...available here
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