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Puccini-TURANDOT: Francesca Paoletti, Lu Ziling; Vitaly Kovalchuk, Emmanuele Paolino, Xiangyu Wan/Augusta University, University of South Carolina and USC-Aiken choruses/Augusta Symphony Orchestra/Oyku Yanik, cond.; A production of the Verdi Conservatory of Milan (heard February 7). Opera is a relative stranger to Augusta, Georgia. True, Catherine Malfitano essayed Violetta here, roughly 50 years ago, and Augusta University mounted The Magic Flute , a year back. But the oper

Lise Davidsen, photographed by Fredrik Arff Wagner-THE FLYING DUTCHMAN: Lise Davidsen, Anna Kissjudit; Stanislas de Barbeyrac, Eirik Grotvedt, Gerald Finley, Brindley Sherratt/Norwegian National Opera Chorus & Orchestra/Edward Gardner, cond.; Decca 487 0952 (2 CDs) Wagner-THE FLYING DUTCHMAN: Jennifer Holloway, Maya Yahav Gour; Bryan Register, Richard Trey Smagur, Brian Mulligan, Ain Anger/Netherlands Radio Choir & Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus/Hong Kong Philharmonic/Jaap van

This box of German chocolates from Eloquence is definitely a surprise. One is initially inclined to defend it, if only because it was met with an indignant shriek  from a prominent Internet philistine . In response to that Lady Bracknell-esque, “How dare they” high dudgeon, the reasonable listener might to give Otto Gerdes (1920-89) a fresh listen. Yes, his is not the first name in Deutsche Grammophon’s conductorial roster that one would single out for integral-set treatment.

Verdi-LA TRAVIATA : Mané Galoyan (Violetta); Long Long (Alfredo), Anthony Clark Evans (Germont)/Atlanta Opera Chorus & Orchestra/Evan Rogister, cond.; Francesca Zambello, dir.; Peter J. Davison, sets; Jess Goldstein, costumes (November 16, 2025) Contrary to the opinion of some tastemakers, there's still plenty of room for intelligent traditionalism in opera ... and The Atlanta Opera is providing a haven for it. That was the case with last season's Siegfried and even more so

J.S. Bach-Concerto in D minor for two violins*; Cantata #56**; Beethoven-SYMPHONY #9 in D minor, "Choral"^ : Christina Nilsson^, Rhianna Cockrell^, Siyabonga Maqunogo^, Leon Kosavic**^/Atlanta Symphony Chorus**^/Atlanta Symphony Orchestra/Nathalie Stutzmann, cond.; November 15, 2025 Since Nathalie Stutzmann's contract as music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra was recently extended through 2029, last weekend seemed like an opportune time to get the meaure of the maes

Verdi-DON CARLO: Gundula Janowitz, Shirley Verrett, Edita Gruberova, Judith Blegen; Franco Corelli, Eberhard Waechter, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Martti Talvela, Tugomir Franc/Vienna State Opera Chorus & Orchestra/Horst Stein, cond. (October 25, 1970); Orfeo C230163 This all-star performance has rarely been out of the catalogue. It enjoyed a stereo-LP release from Legendary Records, popped on mono CDs from Pantheon and has been legitimized by Orfeo. Last year, Naxos Deutschland renewe

Wagner-PARSIFAL: Kirsten Flagstad; Lauritz Melchior, Friedrich Schorr, Emanuel List, Arnold Gabor, Norman Cordon/Metropolitan Opera Chorus & Orchestra/Artur Bodanzky & Erich Leinsdorf, cond. (April 15, 1938) Marston Records 54008-2 (4 CDs ) Hands down, this Parsifal is the most important operatic release of 2025. It doesn't even qualify as a reissue, for the simple fact that this 1938 Metropolitan Opera broadcast has never been heard in its entirety since that illustrious G

Walker-FOLKSONGS FOR ORCHESTRA; Dvorak-VIOLIN CONCERTO in A minor*; Smetana-MA VLAST: Tabor; Janacek-SINFONIETTA: James Ehnes*/Minnesota...

Wagner-SIEGFRIED: Lise Lindstrom (Brünnhilde), Lindsay Ammann (Erda), Amber Norelai (Forest Bird); Stefan Vinke (Siegfried), Rodell Rosel...

Verdi-LUISA MILLER: Lilian Sukis, Christa Ludwig; Franco Bonisolli, Giuseppe Taddei, Bonaldo Giaiotti, Malcolm Smith/Vienna State Opera...