"Wagner: Love Duets"
Deborah Voigt, Placido Domingo; Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra; Antonio Pappano, conductor
See CD Sale
For this pairing of some of the most sublime love music Wagner ever penned--the meeting of Siegfried and Brunnhilde and the doomed "Liebesnacht" of Tristan and Isolde--Deborah Voigt and Placido Domingo are at their white-hot best. Covent Garden's new music director Antonio Pappano leads a thrilling performance that includes the first recording ever of a rediscovered concert ending for the Tristan duet.
"Daniel Taylor: Portrait"
Daniel Taylor, countertenor; Ensemble da Sonar and Les Voix Humaines
See CD Sale
The countertenor renaissance continues apace. The name of young Canadian exemplar Daniel Taylor may not be as familiar as those of his star brethren, but his creamy, gentle voice and musical intelligence offer much pleasure. This compilation includes music that's perfectly tailored to his unique sound, above all the sweet melancholy of Dowland and Purcell.
"Aribert Reimann: Lear"
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Helga Dernesch, et al.; Bayerisches Staatsorchester; Gerd Albrecht, conductor
See CD Sale
The Bard has proved a particularly fertile source of inspiration to opera composers. Still, the complexity of the tragedy "King Lear" makes any attempt to translate it to the operatic medium fairly forbidding (although Verdi, one of the most successful of all Shakespeare adapters, was at one point interested in such an attempt). But contemporary German composer Aribert Reimann created a monument of 20th-century opera with his project. Now available on CD is this recording taken from 1978, when the opera was premiered, and starring Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau in the title role.
"Magnificat: A Cappella Works"
Chanticleer
See CD Sale
The Chaucer-inspired, all-male a cappella group Chanticleer, which won this year's Grammy Award for small ensemble performance with their "Colors of Love," returns to the realm of early music with this mellifluous, uplifting collection of Magnificat settings by Josquin, Palestrina, Victoria, and others.
"The Art of the Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano"
Dolora Zajick, mezzo; Royal Philharmonic; Charles Rosekranz, conductor
See CD Sale
Vocal categorizations sometimes can seem arbitrary, but if you're looking for an excellent illustration of the dramatic mezzo-soprano, Dolora Zajick is the real thing. And it translates beautifully onto disc--which isn't always the case, particularly for this voice type, which inspired composers as diverse as Gluck, Saint-Saens, and Verdi to create some of their most dramatically compelling operatic roles.
ANGEL RECORDS STORE *******************
As the oldest trademark in the recording industry, the famous winged logo of Angel Records has long been synonymous with many of the most legendary artists in the classical music catalog. Angel Records continues that tradition through promoting EMI and Virgin Classics, while at the same time fostering a remarkable range of such contemporary artists as Anoushka Shankar and Tin Hat Trio. The growing list of titles in the Great Recordings of the Century series in particular--with its impressive remasterings of legendary performances at midprice--offers an excellent way to firm up your opera collection.
See CD Sale
NEW BOCELLI
***********
Be on the lookout for a string of new efforts from superstar tenor Andrea Bocelli. His recent concert, given at the Statue of Liberty on July 6, will be seen on PBS stations throughout the rest of the summer (check your local listings for schedules). And the fall season brings two highly anticipated new releases featuring music by Verdi and Puccini. To look back over where the singer's career has taken him thus far, check out our Andrea Bocelli store.
See CD Sale
WOMEN OF NOTE *************
Libby Larsen's distinctly lyrical, bittersweet touch has earned her music a place of its own in the contemporary American artistic landscape. And Larsen's just one of the great female composers of the last thousand years or so. Looking for others? Check out our list.
See CD Sale
MARIA CALLAS VIDEO
******************
"Maria Callas - La Divina: A Portrait" (1987) DVD starring Maria Callas; directed by Tony Palmer
See CD Sale
Maria Callas's revolutionary opera career was distinguished by an uncanny instinct for dramatic portrayals. Her equally stormy personal life is recounted in the 1987 documentary "La Divina: A Portrait," which was produced by noted Callas biographer John Ardoin. It's a compelling story of on-stage triumphs and off-stage tragedies.
And make sure to visit our Maria Callas Store.
See CD Sale
AMAZON.COM zSHOPS: CLASSICAL CDS ********************************
For an assortment of bargains on used classical CDs, visit Amazon.com zShops.
See CD Sale
