review / recording

Elaborate coloratura, stylish élan Elaborate coloratura, stylish élan

This review attempts to capture my ecstatic reactions to Contra-Tenor, one of the greatest recordings I’ve ever heard.

on April 25, 2023 at 7:46 AM
I shall be released I shall be released

Welcome, beloveds, to the Jessye Norman Memorial Museum. I’ll be the docent for your tour today.

on April 04, 2023 at 10:37 AM
Hear the trumpets sound! Hear the trumpets sound!

Frankly I thought Sondra Radvanovsky had reached her pinnacle with her Norma but I was apparently mistaken. I’m happy to say her Turandot is completely next-level.

on March 11, 2023 at 8:00 AM
Guys who sing high (and others) Guys who sing high (and others)

A stack of noteworthy recent baroque vocal CDs on my desk has been staring at me for weeks, so I’m tackling them on Handel’s birthday before the Met roars back into action beginning this weekend.

on February 23, 2023 at 9:08 AM
The color of Monet The color of Monet

When I saw that Richard Bonynge AC CBE, conductor and musicologist supreme, had authored a book titled Chalet Monet about the home he shared with his wife, La Dame Joan Sutherland OM AC DBE, in Les Avants, Switzerland I practically had to wipe my chin.

on January 30, 2023 at 11:08 AM
Two characters in search of anagnorisis Two characters in search of anagnorisis

Philadelphia’s memorably if quirkily named Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium deserves to be better known.

on September 11, 2022 at 11:07 AM
A real vibrancy A real vibrancy

Your favorite box set-aholic here completely missed the release last August of Giuseppe Di Stefano – Complete Decca Recordings in honor of the great tenor’s centenary.

on June 20, 2022 at 3:14 PM
Rachel, Rachel Rachel, Rachel

It’s nice to see Sony Classical backing a serious operatic soprano and not some crossover refugee from Britain’s Got Talent or another syrupy Christmas album from the world’s reigning Heldentenor.

on May 18, 2022 at 8:00 AM
Crowning achievement Crowning achievement

Sondra Radvanovsky is very special here!

on May 05, 2022 at 1:10 PM
Light up my Rameau Light up my Rameau

For those who complain (not entirely unfairly) that Handel operas are “just a string of da capo arias,” I sometimes mutter to myself, “Have they ever tried Rameau?”

on March 25, 2022 at 10:23 AM
Jessye, three ways Jessye, three ways

We have two reasons for celebrating Jessye Norman and the first is a release on the BBC / London Philharmonic Orchestra label of a Richard Strauss concert.

on March 08, 2022 at 3:50 PM
Conversation piece Conversation piece

The sonic wizards of the Netherlands at Pentatone have released their latest in the series of Maestro Lawrence Foster’s studio opera recordings. Reunited with his Lisbon forces, the Gulbenkian Orquestra and Coro, for a fresh take on Puccini’s three-hanky weeper.

on December 29, 2021 at 1:04 PM
Endearing gifts Endearing gifts

Since my previous CD round-up review the onslaught of solo recital disks of 18th century (and sometimes also 17th) vocal music has continued unabated.

on December 17, 2021 at 10:00 AM
Hate-watch Hate-watch

I can’t imagine anyone watching this two-hour schlockfest at home and then dropping $150 for the privilege to see it again, masked and in an uncomfortable chair.

on October 03, 2021 at 2:26 PM