Author: steve_p

Some of the more ingenious opera productions of the twentieth century are the work of Walter Felsenstein, who renowned internationally for his efforts in the genre.

Unjustly neglected, Dvor·k’s Lieder are among his most engaging works, and this selection of some of his most important contributions to the genre demonstrate the range of emotions and the breadth of expression the composer used in these works.

Released to commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the three multi-disc sets of recordings makes available recordings that document the triumphs of the ensemble since its founding in 1932 by Sir Thomas Beecham.

Among the recent releases on DVD of Rolf Liebermann’s productions of operas from the Hamburg Opera conceived for television in the late 1960s, Beethoven’s Fidelio is impressive for the use of the medium of film to bring out the personal aspects of this intensive opera.

Presented in its fine line of ìOriginals,î Deccaís reissue of Soltiís famous 1967 recording of Verdiís Requiem is actually offered with another fine recording, the same conductorís 1977/78 performance of the Quattro pezzi sacri.

The lyricism characteristic of the instrumental music of Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937) is at the core of his songs, and the two collections found on this recording represent his vocal music well.

Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884) is, perhaps known best for his opera The Bartered Bride (1863, rev. 1870), a touchstone of comic opera fused with eastern-European nationalism and, as much as that work has much to offer, his other efforts deserve attention.

Premiered in 1938 in Zurich, Mathis der Maler was then the most recent of Paul Hindemithís provocative operas.

Among the choral music of Anton [Antonin] Dvorak, the familiar Stabat Mater, Op. 58, is known to modern audiences through various live performances and recordings.