The Orchestre de l’Opéra Royal led by violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte offer a unique survey of the music of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, drawn from varied performance contexts:  sonatas for piano and violin, string quartets, concertos, opéras-comiques, concert arias, and symphonies. “His music — that of a performer-composer, as it was the case for most musicians of the …

The Harmonious Society of Tickle-Fiddle Gentleman led by Robert Rawson explores Antonio Vivaldi’s influence on a generation of Czech composers. Best remembered today for The Four Seasons, Vivaldi’s dedication of the famous concertos to Count Wenzel von Morzin of Prague implies the works may first have become known there. In 1718 Morzin brought his “virtuosissima” orchestra – to quote Vivaldi …

The latest album from countertenor Randall Scotting celebrates Nicolò Grimaldi, the castrato who conquered the opera world under the stage name Nicolini (1673 – 1732). The repertoire features rarely performed arias and duets from the early 18th century, nine of which have never been recorded before and have not been heard since Nicolini’s lifetime. While Nicolini is best remembered today …

Decca Classics presents a recital by soprano Lise Davidsen and pianist James Baillieu recorded at the Metropolitan Opera in September 2023. Their program reflects the full spectrum of Davidsen’s range, moving effortlessly between opera, song and musical theatre. Davidsen demonstrates her mastery of the music of Richard Strauss with four songs: “Allerseelen,” “Befreit,” “Zueignung,” and “Morgen.” Opera highlights include  “Dich, …

Founded in 2016, ensemble minui comprises five string and our wind players) active in the Carinthian Symphony Orchestra, the Slovenian National- and the Vienna State Opera orchestras who perform reduced versions of works from the symphonic and operatic repertoire. While simple reductions of large orchestral works were initially on the program, opera music gradually became the great passion of ensemble …

A souvenir the all-Puccini program presented by Lyric Opera of Chicago in February 2025 featuring Sondra Radvanovsky with the Lyric Opera Orchestra conducted by Enrique Mazzola, recorded live. In a feat only imaginable for a soprano assoluta, the extraordinary Berwyn, Illinois-native performed one aria from every Puccini opera bringing vivid individuality to each heroine, from the tender lyricism of “Sì. …

Acclaimed for their historically informed productions 17th- and 18th-century operas and oratorios, Haymarket Opera Company, presents the rare operatic gem Artaserse (1730) by composer Leonardo Vinci. This three-act opera seria centers on the Persian prince, Artaserse, who must bring his father’s murderer to justice amid betrayal, deceit, and mistaken identity. All female roles in the original performances of this opera …

Giacomo Puccini had composed most of Turandot before his death in 1924 but the final duet and conclusion to the opera remained unfinished. Commissioned by visionary director Francesca Zambello and Washington National Opera, and with a libretto by Emmy-winning playwright Susan Soon He Stanton, composer Christopher Tin’s new ending premiered at the Kennedy Center on May 11, 2024 and was …

A souvenir from the world premiere production of what may be the oldest opera by a Black American composer in existence. Edmond Dédé was born in 1827 in New Orleans as a free person of color. As the century wore on, life became increasingly difficult for the composer in New Orleans, and around 1855 he left the country permanently to …

Dido’s famous lament, “When I am laid in earth,” has long featured in Joyce DiDonato’s repertoire – and she has triumphed as the tragic Queen of Carthage in Berlioz’s Les Troyens – but it was in early 2024 that she first performed Purcell’s opera in its entirety. “DiDonato was, as one might expect, magnificent in a role that suits her …

Rising star British-Italian tenor Freddie De Tommaso and the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Edward Garner mark the Puccini anniversary year with a new EP of five arias. Mario Cavaradossi in Tosca is the Puccini role that marked the barnstorming tenor’s introduction to American audiences — the vehicle for his US debut at Santa Fe Opera in 2023, and his …

Pene Pati’s second solo album balances favorite numbers with operatic rarities including the world premiere recording of the aria-cabaletta for the title character of the 1858 version of Gounod’s Faust. In addition to Puccini, the Italian composers are Verdi, Donizetti, Mascagni and Mercadante, while the French school is represented by Berlioz, Meyerbeer, Massenet, Halévy and Guiraud. Joining the Samoan tenor …

The young British baritone Huw Montague Rendall makes his debut as an exclusive Erato recording artist joined by the Rouen Opera Orchestra under its music director Ben Glassberg. The album demonstrates the multiple facets of Montague Rendall’s talent and his exceptional stylistic sensitivity. Huw Montague Rendall has already performed the roles Papageno (Magic Flute), Count Almaviva (Marriage of Figaro), Don …