A frequent complaint about contemporary operas — or most any after Puccini’s Turandot — is the lack of that memorable lyricism found in the standard repertory.
Author: James Sohre
Verdi: La Forza del Destino
From a relatively obscure label — Osteria — comes this 1962 live recording of Verdi’s La Forza del Destino, featuring a relatively obscure soprano, GrÈ Brouwenstijn.
Classics for Pleasure opera highlights: Puccini
With single CD versions of full-length operas, isn’t the term “highlights” presumptuous?
Best of British from the BBC Proms 2007
The BBC Proms webcasts all of its performances, and many are available for extended periods through BBC Radio’s archives.
The Opera Gala — Live from Baden-Baden
As evidence of Deutsche Grammophon’s proud status as a classical record label of the “old school,” there appears this CD document of a typical opera gala affair, from July of 2007 in Baden-Baden.
Los Angeles Opera: March 1 & 2, 2008
James Conlon has become the artistic heart and soul of Los Angeles Opera in his second season as music director.
The Sea Hawk and Deception
A typical film soundtrack today might not fill the length of a CD, while being padded with any pop music hits for which the producers would cough up the money…
Juan Diego Florez: Voce D’Italia – Arias for Rubini
The handsome face of tenor Juan Diego Florez naturally gets the cover of his latest CD, and his arguably unusually slim physique is on view too: on the inside cover of the booklet, on both the interior and rear of the jewel case, and on the back of the booklet.
Mary, Queen of Scots (Maria Stuarda)
San Diego Opera apparently has raided the vaults of Lincoln Center opera companies, circa the 1970s.
Puccini Gold
Many an anthology of Puccini’s “greatest hits” has found its way to market, and many more will follow this latest from Decca, Puccini Gold.