Prima Verdi is tenor Francesco Meli’s solo recording debut. He is accompanied by the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino conducted by Marco Armiliato. Meli says, This album is a … [Read more...] about Prima Verdi – tenor Francesco Meli’s solo recording debut
recordings
Cecilia Bartoli’s new album: Unreleased
Oddly, Decca has hidden away a recording from 2013 of Cecilia Bartoli singing dramatic concert arias from the classical period. The album - now called Unreleased - will be available from 12 November, … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli’s new album: Unreleased
[Interview] Michael Spyres and Lawrence Brownlee on their new Rossini album
Tenors Michael Spyres and Lawrence Brownlee celebrate the star singers of Rossini’s time in a new album, Amici e Rivali (Friends and Rivals). The disc features arias, duets, and trios from seven of … [Read more...] about [Interview] Michael Spyres and Lawrence Brownlee on their new Rossini album
[VIDEO] Massenet’s La Cigale with Carla Fracci and Paul Chalmer
It’s International Dance Day, and Gramilano’s uploaded a short compilation of clips from the first act of the little known ballet by Jules Massenet: La Cigale. The video was recorded in the Teatro … [Read more...] about [VIDEO] Massenet’s La Cigale with Carla Fracci and Paul Chalmer
[VIDEO] Pas de Quatre with Carla Fracci, Margrethe Schanne, Josette Amiel, and Kirsten Bundgaard 1968
The ballet divertissement Pas de Quatre was choreographed by Jules Perrot in 1845 to music composed by Cesare Pugni, commissioned by Her Majesty’s Theatre in London. It was first … [Read more...] about [VIDEO] Pas de Quatre with Carla Fracci, Margrethe Schanne, Josette Amiel, and Kirsten Bundgaard 1968
[VIDEO] Natalia Makarova’s return to dance with the Kirov Ballet in 1988
In London in 1970 the 29-year-old prima ballerina Natalia Makarova, performing with Leningrad's Kirov Ballet (now St Petersburg's Mariinsky Ballet) defected to the West. Then in the summer of 1988 … [Read more...] about [VIDEO] Natalia Makarova’s return to dance with the Kirov Ballet in 1988
Countertenor Franco Fagioli’s new CD of Baroque music to be released in May
Franco Fagioli’s latest solo album presents rediscovered treasures by Neapolitan opera composer Leonardo Vinci. Fagioli – the first countertenor to sign an exclusive recording deal with Deutsche … [Read more...] about Countertenor Franco Fagioli’s new CD of Baroque music to be released in May
A first listen to the new Maria Callas Live: Remastered Live Recordings 1949-1964
More than a gift to their own coffers, Warner Classics in releasing Maria Callas Live is giving fans of La Divina and lovers of opera a meticulously restored collection of some of her finest … [Read more...] about A first listen to the new Maria Callas Live: Remastered Live Recordings 1949-1964
Joyce DiDonato joins opera singers from 70 years of Desert Island Discs
As a committed fan of BBC 4's Desert Island Discs, I am delighted that Joyce DiDonato will be revealing her list of eight recordings, a book and a luxury item that she would take if she was to be cast … [Read more...] about Joyce DiDonato joins opera singers from 70 years of Desert Island Discs
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf’s 100th birthday celebrated with remastered recordings
The 100th birthday of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf falls on 9 December 2015. She died in 2006, but her recordings are a timeless treasure of the Warner Classics catalogue, like those of her contemporary and … [Read more...] about Elisabeth Schwarzkopf’s 100th birthday celebrated with remastered recordings
Win one of five signed copies of Joyce DiDonato’s new double-cd ‘Joyce and Tony’
Joyce DiDonato's new album is launched today in North America and Warner Music is giving readers of this blog the opportunity to win one of five signed copies. To open the Wigmore Hall season last … [Read more...] about Win one of five signed copies of Joyce DiDonato’s new double-cd ‘Joyce and Tony’
Sergei Polunin’s Take me to Church: pirouettes or politics?
In the week since David LaChapelle’s video with Sergei Polunin went online it has gone viral, even sending this blog offline a couple of times due to the surge in people searching for information … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin’s Take me to Church: pirouettes or politics?
Ian Bostridge sings Schubert: 3 song cycles in 3CD set
Ian Bostridge, one of the leading Schubert tenors of his generation, has just published a book on the composer's Winterreise song cycle. Winter Journey: The Anatomy of an Obsession is an insightful … [Read more...] about Ian Bostridge sings Schubert: 3 song cycles in 3CD set
Joyce DiDonato sings her latest album live in streaming tonight!
Tonight, Friday 3 October, Joyce DiDonato will perform the music from her new album Stella di Napoli at the Gowanus Ballroom, a warehouse performance art space in Brooklyn, located above … [Read more...] about Joyce DiDonato sings her latest album live in streaming tonight!
The Stella of Kansas goes to Naples: Joyce DiDonato’s latest album
Joyce DiDonato's new album, Stella di Napoli, is out in September and "ventures far off the beaten bel canto track", says her Erato label. Graciously, Cecilia Bartoli is nominated because, as … [Read more...] about The Stella of Kansas goes to Naples: Joyce DiDonato’s latest album
Callas Remastered: as you’ve never heard her before on 69 cds
Warner Classics now holds the key to the Maria Callas official recordings treasure chest. Recently that key was taken out, and the original masters were carefully removed and transferred to computers … [Read more...] about Callas Remastered: as you’ve never heard her before on 69 cds
Rosalind Plowright’s first recital disc reviewed: La belle Dame sans merci
During a career spanning almost forty years, Rosalind Plowright has never recorded a recital disc. She has sung in all the world's greatest opera houses, with the most lauded of colleagues - singers, … [Read more...] about Rosalind Plowright’s first recital disc reviewed: La belle Dame sans merci
New YouTube videos: a starry Bayadère with Zakharova, Allash, Tsiskaridze, Ivata, Krysanova, Osipova and Nikulina from 2008
This was an inspired performance of Nikiya from Svetlana Zakharova. There are many videos of her in what is arguably her best role, but this is certainly one her finest performances. A magical evening … [Read more...] about New YouTube videos: a starry Bayadère with Zakharova, Allash, Tsiskaridze, Ivata, Krysanova, Osipova and Nikulina from 2008
The Vatican rocks as it simultaneously gives a thumbs up and thumbs down to Bob Dylan’s album ‘Tempest’
The Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, has given a rave review of Bob Dylan's latest album 'Tempest'. But in a very Italian way, it has also given the album a bad review. Two contrasting opinions … [Read more...] about The Vatican rocks as it simultaneously gives a thumbs up and thumbs down to Bob Dylan’s album ‘Tempest’
Cecilia Bartoli on discovering a new composer, vocal styles, and bella Italia
Cecilia Bartoli's new album will be on the shelves in a couple of weeks' time. If Mission is successful it should put early Baroque composer Agostino Steffani (1655-1728) back on the musical map. He … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli on discovering a new composer, vocal styles, and bella Italia
