Greetings from Amazon.com Delivers Opera and Vocal Editor, Thomas May It's been a particularly fertile year for early-music enthusiasts, from Paul McCreesh's thrilling account of Handel to Philippe Herreweghe's return to Bach's "St. Matthew Passion," and Rene Jacobs's period-instrument version of "Cosi fan tutte" offered one of the freshest takes on a Mozart opera to come along in a while. You may also detect--though it's honestly no fin de siecle fantasy, just coincidence--an apocalyptic theme with the Wagner and Ligeti, but don't overlook the wickedly sly humor of Offenbach or the visionary intensity of Messiaen. The one criterion is--as always--compelling music; it is hoped that you will find the same, whatever your taste. Happy listening! 1. Handel: "Solomon" Paul Agnew, Susan Bickley, et al.; Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Players; Paul McCreesh, conductor http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JLFG/entertainmentsit This complete, uncut account of one of Handel's greatest biblical oratorios is, quite frankly, a must-have for fans of the baroque--indeed, of magnificent and thrilling music, period. Under Paul McCreesh's direction, and with star countertenor Andreas Scholl in the title role headlining a splendid group of soloists, "Solomon" comes to brilliant life in an acoustic setting that particularly enhances the experience. 2. Mozart: "Cosi fan tutte" Veronique Gens, Werner Gura, et al.; Concerto Koln; Rene Jacobs, conductor http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000I8DY/entertainmentsit Too long considered an erotic trifle, this was the last of Mozart's three da Ponte operas to be recognized as a masterpiece of psychological insight, of the same caliber as Shakespeare's bittersweet comedies. This is a magnificently bracing period-instrument interpretation, but never fussy, under the keen and witty direction of Rene Jacobs. And the bonus CD-ROM allows you to explore the context and character of Mozart's opera in fascinating detail. 3. Ligeti: "Le Grand Macabre" Charlotte Hellekant, Willard White, et al.; Philharmonia Orchestra; Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000ICMU/entertainmentsit It's apocalypse now in Hungarian composer Gyorgy Ligeti's brilliantly imaginative opera about a comic-book Armageddon. For the revival from which this recording was drawn, Ligeti revised and tightened the original version of the score he had composed in the 1970s. Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen once again shows he feels the pulse of contemporary music in this wacky, threatening, sardonic, and exhilarating account of Ligeti's vision, which supersedes the only other version currently available on CD. 4. Wagner: "Gotterdammerung" Astrid Varnay, Bernd Aldenhoff, Martha Modl, Ludwig Weber, et al.; Bayreuth Festival Orchestra and Chorus; Hans Knappertsbusch, conductor http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00001NTLL/entertainmentsit In the epoch-making summer of 1951, the Bayreuth Festival reopened for the first time since the war. Featuring an unforgettable, youthful ensemble of some of the festival's finest postwar artists, this legendary performance of "Gotterdammerung" sat in the vaults for decades until its recent release. And it was worth the wait, for this is one of the most shattering conclusions to Wagner's "Ring" cycle to be heard on disc. 5. Messiaen: "Saint Francois d'Assise" Jose Van Dam, Dawn Upshaw, et al.; Halle Orchestra and Arnold Schoenberg Choir; Kent Nagano, conductor http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JSAO/entertainmentsit Visionary French composer Olivier Messiaen spent nearly a decade writing "Saint Francis of Assisi," his four-hour opera inspired by the saint's life--including the famous legend of preaching to the birds, in which the composer's own long-term fascination with the dazzling variety of bird music takes center stage. This spectacular live recording from Salzburg reveals the work as a profoundly moving summation of a lifetime of discovery. 6. "Verismo" Jose Cura; Philharmonia Orchestra; Jose Cura, conductor http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000K2WD/entertainmentsit The controversial tenor from Argentina has come out with an exceptionally impressive solo album of selections by Leoncavallo, Mascagni, Puccini, and other great "verismo" composers, just in time for his much-anticipated Metropolitan Opera debut in "Cavalleria Rusticana." Cura also appears in a dual role as conductor, and this off-the-beaten-track program is replete with enjoyable singing. 7. Schnittke: "Psalms of Repentance" Leif Aruhn-Solen, Per Bjorsund; Swedish Radio Chorus; Tonu Kaljuste, conductor http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000K2KS/entertainmentsit Of German-Jewish heritage, Alfred Schnittke converted to Catholicism yet drew upon Russian Orthodox musical traditions among many others for his collage-like "polystylism." This characteristic permeates Schnittke's religious works--such as the great "Choir Concerto"--but reaches a new level of severe, awe-inspiring beauty in the a cappella "Psalms of Repentance," given here in a superb recording by the Swedish Radio Choir. 8. Bach: "St. Matthew Passion" Ian Bostridge, Andreas Scholl, Sibylla Rubens, Dietrich Henschel, et al.; Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra; Philippe Herreweghe, conductor http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00002R0ZL/entertainmentsit J.S. Bach created many imperishable musical monuments, but his setting of the "St. Matthew Passion" stands out even in the lifework of this genius for its shattering power and narrative grip. Bach communicates the story of Jesus' death through a rich variety of musical styles, building the work up into a cosmic drama. 9. Offenbach: "Orphee aux Enfers" Natalie Dessay, Ewa Podles, Veronique Gens, et al.; Lyon Opera Orchestra; Marc Minkowski, conductor http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000I3U8/entertainmentsit This new account of Offenbach's punchy lampoon of the revered myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is a delight from start to finish. Marc Minkowski presides over a fizzy, exuberantly witty performance, while his excellent cast has obvious fun playing up the extremes of their roles--such as the scene in which Jupiter transforms himself into a fly. The recording is based on a hybrid of the score's original and revised versions. 10. Haydn: "Lord Nelson Mass" Collegium Musicum; Richard Hickox, conductor http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000J8QO/entertainmentsit Haydn's Masses represent a significant and musically potent aspect of his legacy. In Richard Hickox's ongoing series of recordings for Chandos, these works can be heard with both period-instrument precision and dramatic verve. The "Lord Nelson Mass" in particular comes through as the supremely beautiful statement that it is, filled with tension, richly contrapuntal webbings, and ultimate affirmation. BOX SETS/BACH 2000 GIVEAWAY *************************** This year has seen an explosion of big (really big!) box sets. From John Adams to Teldec's Bach 2000 edition of the complete works of J.S. Bach, there have never been so many great classical box sets to beef up your collection. Here's a list that includes the most impressive new box releases. And remember to check Amazon.com's classical store for our exciting Bach 2000 giveaway promotion, starting November 30. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=entertainmentsit&path=tg/feature/-/14870 ****** You'll find more great music, articles, and interviews in Amazon.com's Opera and Vocal Music section at Opera & Vocal ******
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