Paul Dukas’ Ariane et Barbe-Bleue, first heard in 1907, once seemed important. Arturo Toscanini conducted the Met premiere in 1911 with Farrar and later arranged some of its music for a 1947 recording with his NBC Symphony.
The economics of the recording companies dictate much that is not ideal. Wagner’s operas were not composed as they were in order to permit the extraction of bleeding chunks, even on those occasions when strophic song forms do occur.
Among the recent recordings of Mahler’s Eighth Symphony, Valery Gergiev’s release on the LSO Live label is an excellent addition to the discography of this work.
While not unknown, the songs of Alexander von Zemlinsky (1871-1942) deserve to be heard more frequently.
Recorded on 5 and 6 May 2008 and 17 and 18 January 2009 at the Lisztzentrum (Raiding, Austria), this recent Bridge release makes available the piano-vocal versions of three song cycles by Gustav Mahler, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, Rückert-Lieder, and Kindertotenlieder performed by mezzo-soprano Hermine Haselböck, accompanied by Russell Ryan.
Contraltos rarely achieve the acclaim and renown of sopranos. Assigned few leading roles in opera, they are condemned to playing the villain or the grandmother, or to stealing the castrati’s trousers in en travesti roles.
Following their 2011 Decca recording of Striggio’s Mass in 40 Parts (1566), I Fagiolini continue their quest to unearth lost treasures of the High Renaissance and early Baroque, with this collection of world-premiere recordings, ‘reconstructions’ and ‘reconstitutions’ of music by Giovanni and Andrea Gabrieli, Monteverdi, Palestrina, and their less well-known compatriots Viadana, Barbarino and Soriano.
Eternal Echoes is an album of khazones [Jewish cantorial music] for cantorial soloist, solo violin and a blended instrumental ensemble comprising a small orchestra and the Klezmer Conservatory Band.
Michael Tilson Thomas’s recording of Mahler’s Third Symphony is an outstanding contribution to the composer’s discography.
Oliver Knussen burst into British music with an unprecedented flourish. In 1967, the London Symphony Orchestra premiered Knussen’s First Symphony, with István Kertész scheduled to conduct.
Based on performances given in Summer 2010 at the Lucerne Festival, this recording of Beethoven’s Fidelio is an admirable recording that captures the vitality of the work as conducted by Claudio Abbado.
Stanisław Moniuszko (1819-1872) was one of the most popular composers of his day in Poland, and of the many works he wrote for the stage, two are performed from time to time, Halka (1848) and Strazny dwór [The Haunted Manor] (1865).
The Polish alto Jadwiga Rappé is a familiar voice in various stage and concert works, and the recent release of a selection of songs by Stanisław Moniuszko (1819-1872) is an opportunity to hear her performing artsongs.
Originally released on multiple discs in 1981 this reissue on two CDs is a comprehensive collection of art songs by Italian and French composers from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
An exciting contribution to the discography of this popular opera, the live performance of Richard Strauss’s Salome from the Festspielhaus at Baden-Baden is a compelling DVD.
Released in late 2011, Deutsche Grammophon’s DVD of the new staging of Berg’s Lulu at the Gran Teatro del Liceu, Barcelona is an excellent contribution to the discography of this fascinating opera.
A recent release by the Metropolitan Opera, this two-disc set makes available on DVD the famous performance of Berg’s Lulu that was broadcast on 20 December 1980 as part of the PBS series “Live from the Met.”
The novels of Sinclair Lewis once shot across the American literary skies like comets, alarming and fascinating readers of that era, but their tails didn’t extend far behind them.
Once the province of only the most dedicated opera fanatics, mid-20th century recordings of privately taped live performances have become more widely available.
Flute players in opera orchestra around the world must look forward to the frequent appearances of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, knowing that while the stage spotlight in the mad scene will be on the soprano, the orchestral spotlight will be on their instrument.
Rossini's original Italian opera, Mose In Egitto, was re-adapted as Moise et Pharaon for Paris. A new libretto, the renaming of certain characters, some new music, a ballet and reordering of the original music make up the newer version.
It is certainly grand in the French manner and it receives a grand presentation in TDK's version. It was presented at the Teatro Arcimboldi when La Scala was in the process of renovation. The set designed by Gianni Quaranta fills the stage. Everything is large. His work is eye catching and seems quite appropriate. The director Luca Ronconi moves his forces around with aplomb, but it is difficult to create dramatic action in a piece that is relatively static. Despite a large cast that performs well, there is often the feeling that one is viewing a padded oratorio.
The chorus sings well and in the scenes which involve the chorus and principals, one gets a sense of what was to come later with Giullame Tell, as well as Rossini's successors Donizetti and Verdi.
Riccardo Muti is the gifted master of an orchestra that plays more than well. Muti is superb at controlling his orchestra and getting the most out of a cast that is never less than very good.
The Moise is the Russian Ildar Abdrazakov. He is properly noble in his acting and looks a plausible Moses. Vocally, the voice is a high lying bass, somewhat baritonal in nature. He has no trouble with the middle voice, nor the upward extensions. A couple of notes in the nether reaches are thin, but in all he is fine.
Barbara Frittoli is exceptionally ardent as Anai. She sings with great accuracy. In this version, a good deal of the ornamentation for all the voices has given way to straight forward dramatic thrust and it suits Frittoli well.
Giuseppe Filianoti as Amenophis, Pharaon's son, lives up to all the good things one has heard about this young man. His is a beautiful lyric voice. It is used with taste and his acting is excellent. He presents a fine figure on stage. Let us hope he stays in the lyric repertoire until his voice ripens He is quite ready and able to make a splash as the Duke of Mantua, Alfredo and Edgardo in Lucia right now.
Erwin Schrott as Pharaon brings a lovely baritone to his role. He acts with appropriate majesty. He too should continue to rise in the ranks.
Sonia Ganassi is luxury casting as Sinaide, Pharaon's wife. She hasn't much to sing other than to participate in the large chorale scenes. What she does do, she does well.
Tomislav Muzek is Moise's brother Eliezer . His is a higher lying tenor that Filianoti's. A nice voice of his sort. I only wish the costumers had done a better job with his wig. It makes him look like a nerd.
Giorgio Giuseppini is appropriately stern and unyielding as Osiride the Egyptian High Priest and presnts a voice that reflects his character well.
Nino Surgaladze sings her small role as Moise's sister touchingly.
The cast is rounded out by Antonello Ceron as an Egytian officer and Maurizio Muraro as a mysterious voice.
The ballet, which opens Act III is entirely forgettable. It actually intrudes on the opera. I realize that Rossini was only providing what Paris convention demanded. In these days of DVD, one may skip through it at fast forward or skip it entirely.
Throughout, the chorus plays an important role in this opera. Bruno Casoni is the chorus master. He has done a superb job with his group.
It is unlikely that another version of this opera will appear on DVD. There really is no need for one. This is an excellent production, well conducted and beautifully sung. You may find fault with what Rossini did with his original opera, but there is no arguing that what Muti's forces have done, is other than first-rate.
Murray Schlanger