Rolando VillazÛn — Handel

When considering his next recording project, notes Rolando VillazÛn, the idea of working on a set of Handel arias with Paul McCreesh was “not an obvious choice.”

Bloch’s Macbeth by UC Opera, London

Mention Macbeth — The Opera and most think of Verdi. Ernest Bloch took on the subject more than half a century later, in Paris in 1910, when Verdi’s version was almost as obscure as Bloch’s is today.

Magdalena Kožen· shines in Martinů’s Juliette at the Barbican, London

Many works by Martinů will be performed in this year’s commemoration of the anniversary of his death, but it would be hard to equal the impact of this performance. Much of its success was due to Kožen·, whose presence illuminated the whole opera, even though her moments on stage were fleeting.

Farinelli — Il Castrato

NaÔve re-releases the soundtrack to the film Farinelli here in a handsome “book” casing, appending a second disc of highlights from the discography of Christophe Rousset’s recordings with Les Talens Lyriques, the artists also responsible for the soundtrack.

WAGNER: Die Walk¸re — Rome 1968

Die Walk¸re: First day of Der Ring des Nibelungen in three acts.

The 20 best classical divas

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/classical/article5982166.ece

In Sarasota the composer is king

In the world of opera it’s now the director who is the top banana.

Philippe Jaroussky, Purcell Room, London

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/0e7902e8-1859-11de-bec8-0000779fd2ac.html

Kentridge’s ‘Return of Ulysses’

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/25/DDUT16MPIF.DTL

Lessons lie in tragedy of ‘Peter Grimes’

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/arts/bal-li.clefnotes26.1mar26,0,1319018.story