24 Jul 2006
MOZART: Don Giovanni (Highlights)
Naxos reinforces its status as the classical recording world's bargain leader by releasing a single CD highlights disc from its complete Don Giovanni, recorded in 2000 and originally released in 2001.
Recently in Recordings
Kaufmann Wagner
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.
Mahler: Symphony No. 8
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.
Songs by Zemlinsky
While not unknown, the songs of Alexander von Zemlinsky (1871-1942) deserve to be heard more frequently.
Gustav Mahler: Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, Rückert-Lieder, Kindertotenlieder.
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.
Kathleen Ferrier: A Film by Diane Perelsztejn
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.
1612 Italian Vespers
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: Songs and Dances for the Soul
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.
Mahler: Symphony no. 3 / Kindertotenlieder
Michael Tilson Thomas’s recording of Mahler’s Third Symphony is an outstanding contribution to the composer’s discography.
Oliver Knussen’s Symphonies from NMC
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.
Ludwig van Beethoven: Fidelio
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: Flis
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).
Stanisław Moniuszko: Pieśni Songs
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.
Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge: Serate Musicali
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.
Richard Strauss: Salome
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.
Lulu by Gran Teatro del Liceu, Barcelona
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.
Lulu by the Metropolitan 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.”
Elmer Gantry the Opera
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.
Historical Performances from Covent Garden: Barbiere, La traviata and Tosca
Once the province of only the most dedicated opera fanatics, mid-20th century recordings of privately taped live performances have become more widely available.
Lucia and the glass harmonica
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.
Levine conducts at the Metropolitan Opera: 1978 to 2006
Since his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1971, conductor James Levine has come to represent the house’s commitment to artistic excellence — reliable, professional, and immaculately presented.
OPERA TODAY ARCHIVES »
Recordings
Now for a few dollars, buyers can acquire all
the "hits" from both Prague and Vienna versions of Mozart's immortal score,
performed by a fine cast of contemporary singers and the Nicolaus Esterhazy
Sinfonia, led by Michael Halász..
Highlights discs probably have two markets - for neophytes who want to "dip their toes" into a work, and for the collector who has a complete set (or 2, 3, 4....) but would like to hear certain singers in certain roles. This disc should please both groups. For "toe-dippers," Naxos provides, in its slim booklet, a pithy note on the opera's composition and a scene by scene breakdown of the libretto, giving the context for each number. The complete libretto is also available online. With short bios of all the cast members included, Naxos really makes good use of limited space.
And the collector gets to hear some good voices. Bo Skovhus has settled into a successful career, possibly without quite reaching the star status he seemed aimed at a few years. His Don has a generic feel, in terms of characterization, but his is a handsome voice and he meets the role's requirements easily. The Don's servant Leporello gets an energetic run-through by Renato Girolami, and Boaz Daniel gives us a hearty Masetto without too much overplay of his "hickness."
At the far ends of the male vocal spectrum, Torsten Kerl's darker, more forceful Don Ottavio makes for an interesting contrast with the usual lighter tenor who takes on the role, and Janusz Monarcha thunders effectively as the Commendatore.
Recently the Calixto Bieito Don Giovanni came out on DVD, with Regina Schörg as Donna Anna; she takes on Donna Elvira here and the role seems a better fit. Her voice has an edge to it appropriate for the more troubled character. Adrianne Pieczonka sings Donna Anna with rich, substantial tone. Ildiko Raimondi at first strikes the ear as a little mature-sounding for Zerlina, but she manages to do well with her big solo, "Batti batti."
All in all, a well-sung, incisively played performance such as this one serves as more evidence that the classical recording industry can still make a profit on reasonably priced, quality product. Imagine that.
Highlights discs probably have two markets - for neophytes who want to "dip their toes" into a work, and for the collector who has a complete set (or 2, 3, 4....) but would like to hear certain singers in certain roles. This disc should please both groups. For "toe-dippers," Naxos provides, in its slim booklet, a pithy note on the opera's composition and a scene by scene breakdown of the libretto, giving the context for each number. The complete libretto is also available online. With short bios of all the cast members included, Naxos really makes good use of limited space.
And the collector gets to hear some good voices. Bo Skovhus has settled into a successful career, possibly without quite reaching the star status he seemed aimed at a few years. His Don has a generic feel, in terms of characterization, but his is a handsome voice and he meets the role's requirements easily. The Don's servant Leporello gets an energetic run-through by Renato Girolami, and Boaz Daniel gives us a hearty Masetto without too much overplay of his "hickness."
At the far ends of the male vocal spectrum, Torsten Kerl's darker, more forceful Don Ottavio makes for an interesting contrast with the usual lighter tenor who takes on the role, and Janusz Monarcha thunders effectively as the Commendatore.
Recently the Calixto Bieito Don Giovanni came out on DVD, with Regina Schörg as Donna Anna; she takes on Donna Elvira here and the role seems a better fit. Her voice has an edge to it appropriate for the more troubled character. Adrianne Pieczonka sings Donna Anna with rich, substantial tone. Ildiko Raimondi at first strikes the ear as a little mature-sounding for Zerlina, but she manages to do well with her big solo, "Batti batti."
All in all, a well-sung, incisively played performance such as this one serves as more evidence that the classical recording industry can still make a profit on reasonably priced, quality product. Imagine that.
Chris Mullins
Los Angeles Unified School District, Secondary Literacy