Opera: Where to Start?

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

There's a new Discord server up for The Lost Pathway, and you'll probably hear more about that from Raven. This topic is actually born out of a brief discussion on that server mixed with my current fascination. I've mentioned that, in the event of my reading slowing down to a near halt, I've become deeply interested in opera, and I would love to discuss it with people, but, as one person on Discord said, where do you start?

I would love to easily link to the library book I'm currently reading that works wonderfully as a primer for the uninitiated (Peter Fox Smith's A Passion for Opera: Learning to Love It - The Greatest Masters, Their Greatest Music), but, unfortunately, it's out of print, and while I'm sure other people aren't as fussy over the condition of a book as I am, getting a used copy may end up being an expensive endeavor, so I'll try to summarize in this post what the author recommends as well as a few side mentions. Hopefully, this will give interested parties a head start.


EARLY OPERA

Having originated in Italy, it seems that, according to Smith, the earliest surviving master available that is still played in the modern repertoire is Claudio Monteverdi, who has three operas which survive in their entirety. Other important developments include Henry Purcell from England, George Frideric Handel from Germany, and John Gay (also from England). Serious operatic reforms were carried out by Germany's Christoph Willibald Gluck. Special mention also goes to France's Jean-Baptiste Lully and Jean-Philippe Rameau.

The recommended operas are as follows:
-Monteverdi: L'ORFEO
-Monteverdi: IL RITORNO D'ULISSE IN PATRIA (The Return of Ulysses to His Homeland)
-Monteverdi: L'INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA (The Coronation of Poppea)
-Purcell: DIDO AND AENEAS
-Gay: THE BEGGAR'S OPERA
-Handel: GIULIO CESARE IN EGITTO (Julius Caesar in Egypt)
-Gluck: ORFEO ED EURIDICE (Orpheus and Euridice)


MOZART

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is identified as the "father" of modern opera, and his works are regularly performed around the world. Seven in particular are of significant interest:

-IDOMENEO, RE DI CRETA (Idomeneus, King of Crete)
-DIE ENTFUHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL (The Abduction from the Seraglio)
-LE NOZZE DI FIGARO (The Marriage of Figaro)
-DON GIOVANNI
-COSI FAN TUTTE (Women Are Like That)
-LA CLEMENZA DI TITO (The Clemency of Titus)
-DIE ZAUBERFLOTTE (The Magic Flute)


THE ITALIAN MASTERS OF "BEL CANTO"

In the aftermath of Mozart, there are three figures who tower over the golden age of Italian opera, working in the "bel canto" (good singing) style: Gioachino Rossini, Gaetano Donizetti and Vincenzo Bellini. There's quite a lot to choose from with them, as, between them all, they were quite prolific. Fortunately, Smith's book singles out three operas for each of them for you to start with.

-Rossini: IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA (The Barber of Seville)
-Rossini: LA CENERENTOLA (Cinderella)
-Rossini: GUILLAUME TELL (William Tell)

-Donizetti: L'ELISIR D'AMORE (The Elixir of Love)
-Donizetti: LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR (Lucy of Lammermoor)
-Donizetti: DON PASQUALE

-Bellini: LA SONNAMBULA (The Sleepwalker)
-Bellini: NORMA
-Bellini: I PURITANI (The Puritans)


EARLY GERMAN OPERA

One chapter is devoted to discussing two works by German composers Ludwig van Beethoven (his only opera) and Carl Maria von Weber (his best-known opera).

-Beethoven: FIDELIO
-Weber: DER FREISCHUTZ (The Marksman)


THE MASTERPIECES OF WAGNER

Over the course of two chapters, the major works of Richard Wagner are highlighted.

-DER FLIEGENDE HOLLANDER (The Flying Dutchman)
-TANNHAUSER
-LOHENGRIN
-DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN (The Ring of the Nibelung) - 1. DAS RHEINGOLD (The Rhine Gold) / 2. DIE WALKURE (The Valkyrie) / 3. SIEGFRIED / 4. GOTTERDAMMERUNG (Twilight of the Gods)
-TRISTAN UND ISOLDE (Tristan and Isolde)
-DER MEISTERSINGER VON NURNBERG (The Mastersingers of Nuremburg)
-PARSIFAL


VERDI'S GREATEST WORKS

As a counterpart to Wagner, another two chapters are devoted to the works of Italy's most revered opera composer, Giuseppe Verdi. Of his prolific oeuvre, six are given close consideration.

-RIGOLETTO
-IL TROVATORE (The Troubadour)
-LA TRAVIATA (The Fallen Woman)
-AIDA
-OTELLO
-FALSTAFF

Special mention goes to LA FORZA DEL DESTINO (The Power of Fate) and DON CARLOS.


FRENCH OPERA

When it comes to France, six composers and a corresponding opera are discussed: Hector Berlioz, Charles Gounod, Georges Bizet, Camille Saint-Saens, Jacques Offenbach and Jules Massenet. (In the case of Berlioz, I'm going to add another opera also mentioned as I think it's as important as the chief recommendation.)

-Berlioz: LA D***ATION DE FAUST (The D***ation of Faust)
-Berlioz: LES TROYENS (The Trojans)
-Gounod: FAUST
-Bizet: CARMEN
-Saint-Saens: SAMSON ET DALILA (Samson and Delilah)
-Offenbach: LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN (The Tales of Hoffmann)
-Massenet: MANON


SLAVIC OPERA

Next, we have the operas of Slavic-speaking countries, which includes Russia and surrounding nations. Two composers in particular are focused on: Modest Mussorgsky and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

-Mussorgsky: BORIS GODUNOV
-Tchaikovsky: YEVGENY ONEGIN (Eugene Onegin)

However, the chapter also gives note to several operas that should be familiar to any music student which includes not just another one by Tchaikovsky but those from Mikhail Glinka, Alexander Borodin and Bedrich Smetana (from Czechoslovakia).

-Glinka: ZHIZN ZA TSARYA (A Life for the Tsar) a.k.a. IVAN SUSANIN
-Glinka: RUSLAN I LYUDMILA (Ruslan and Lyudmila)
-Tchaikovsky: PIKOVAYA DAMA (The Queen of Spades or Pique Dame)
-Borodin: KNYAZ IGOR (Prince Igor)
-Smetana: PRODANA NEVESTA (The Bartered Bride)


OPERETTA

The next chapter is about the small mini-operas, or "operettas", that developed as parodies of traditional opera conventions but gained their own renown. Offenbach gets another highlight, and Johann Strauss II and the works of William S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan get the spotlight.

-Offenbach: ORPHEE AUX ENFERS (Orpheus in the Underworld)
-Strauss (J. II): DIE FLEDERMAUS (The Bat)
-Gilbert & Sullivan: THE MIKADO


LATE 19TH-EARLY 20TH CENTURY ITALIAN OPERA

The next chapter is focused on another single figure, primarily, but special mention goes to three composers who turned out significant works that are still in the common opera repertoire: Amilcare Ponchielli, Pietro Mascagni and Ruggero Leoncavallo. All three are famous mostly for a single work each.

-Ponchielli: LA GIOCONDA (The Happy Woman)
-Mascagni: CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA (Rustic Chivalry)
-Leoncavallo: PAGLIACCI (Clowns)

The rest of the chapter is about Giacomo Puccini, who is considered the successor to Verdi as the face of Italian opera. His first two works are briefly mentioned, after which each succeeding opera is analyzed as some of the best of its kind.

-MANON LESCAUT
-LA BOHEME (The Bohemian Life)
-TOSCA
-MADAMA BUTTERFLY
-LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST (The Girl of the West)
-LA RONDINE (The Swallow)
-IL TRITTICO (The Triptych) - 1. IL TABARRO (The Cloak) / 2. SUOR ANGELICA (Sister Angelica) / 3. GIANNI SCHICCHI
-TURANDOT


WAGNER'S SUCCESSOR

Once again, as a counterpoint, the next chapter posits Richard Strauss (of "Also sprach Zarathustra" fame) as the successor to Wagner in German opera. While it is said that all of his operas are worth tuning in to, only three are studied at length:

-SALOME
-ELEKTRA
-DER ROSENKAVALIER (The Knight of the Rose)


20TH CENTURY OPERA

The book finishes up with a discussion of opera in the 20th century, giving particular attention to six individuals with one opera apiece: Claude Debussy, Bela Bartok, Alban Berg, Leos Janacek, George Gershwin and Benjamin Britten.

-Debussy: PELLEAS ET MELISANDE
-Bartok: A KEKSZAKALLU HERCEG VARA (Duke Bluebeard's Castle)
-Berg: WOZZECK
-Janacek: PRIHODY LISKY BYSTROUSKY (The Cunning Little Vixen)
-Gershwin: PORGY AND BESS
-Britten: PETER GRIMES

However, in the lead-up to the discussion, several other composers with important works are pointed out, including Gustave Charpentier, Maurice Ravel, Francis Poulenc, Frederick Delius, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Arnold Schoenberg, Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, Antonin Dvorak, Igor Stravinsky, Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich, Francesco Cilea, Gian Carlo Menotti, Scott Joplin, Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein and William Mayer. A few other compositions by Britten and Janacek are also pointed out.

-Charpentier: LOUISE
-Ravel: L'ENFANT ET LES SORTILEGES (The Child and the Spells)
-Poulenc: DIALOGUES DES CARMELITES (Dialogues of the Carmelites)
-Delius: A VILLAGE ROMEO AND JULIET
-Vaughan Williams: RIDERS TO THE SEA
-Britten: BILLY BUDD
-Britten: THE TURN OF THE SCREW
-Britten: DEATH IN VENICE
-Schoenberg: MOSES UND ARON (Moses and Aaron)
-Brecht & Weill: DIE DREIGROSCHENOPPER (The Threepenny Opera)
-Dvorak: RUSALKA
-Stravinsky: OEDIPUS REX
-Stravinsky: THE RAKE'S PROGRESS
-Prokofiev: L'AMOUR DES TROIS ORANGES (The Love for Three Oranges)
-Shostakovich: NOS (The Nose)
-Shostakovich: LEDI MAKBET MTENSKOGO UYEZDA (Lady Macbeth of Mtensk)
-Cilea: ADRIANA LECOUVREUR
-Menotti: AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS
-Joplin: TREEMONISHA
-Barber: VANESSA
-Bernstein: CANDIDE
-Mayer: A DEATH IN THE FAMILY
-Janacek: JENUFA
-Janacek: KATA KABANOVA
-Janacek: VEC MAKROPULOS (The Makropulos Affair)



That sums up what the book pointed out. It's quite a bit, and it might be overwhelming, but I'd rather give you a wide berth to pull from rather than just a couple common choices. The world of opera is a lot bigger than this, and I would hope that this is an adequate introduction. If you'd like to discuss this more, feel free to do so in the comments or the Discord server (if you find us).

[Raven]

It's crazy how much opera I know just from things like cartoons.

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

It's crazy how much opera I know just from things like cartoons.

Consider "What's Opera, Doc?" and "The Rabbit of Seville."

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

At Raven's suggestion, I'm posting something here that I put of Discord but is bound to get lost.

Another thing about opera is that, unlike rock and jazz and other genres, where there's usually only one definitive recording (not counting live versions), there are numerous recordings available, and some are considered better than others. Everyone has different opinions, but sometimes there is a general consensus, and, being new to opera, I usually do some short amateur "research" to find what many people consider to be the general favorites before I purchase them. Therefore, in the spirit of recommendations, here is a list of the operas I currently own (a lot of them curbed from the topic list) with selected cast members that I (and several others) would direct newcomers to.


-Ludwig von Beethoven: FIDELIO – Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus feat. Christa Ludwig (Leonore), Jon Vickers (Florestan), Gottlob Frick (Rocco), Walter Berry (Don Pizarro), Gerhard Unger (Jaquino), Franz Crass (Don Fernando) & Ingeborg Hallstein (Marzelline): Otto Klemperer (conductor) [1962]


-Mikhail Glinka: ZHIZN ZA TSARYA [A LIFE FOR THE TSAR] – Sofia National Opera Chorus & Sofia Festival Orchestra feat. Boris Martinovich (Ivan Susanin), Alexandrina Pendechanska (Antonida), Chris Merritt (Sobinin), Stefania Toczyska (Vanya), Stoil Georgiev (Commander of the Polish Detachment), Mincho Popov (Polish Messenger) & Konstantin Videv (Commander of the Russian Detachment): Emil Tchakarov (conductor) [1989]


-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL [THE ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO] – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Symphony feat. Cheryl Studer (Konstanze), Elizbieta Szmytka (Blonde), Kurt Streit (Belmonte), Robert Gambill (Pedrillo), Günther Missenhardt (Osmin) & Michael Heltau (Bassa Selim): Bruno Weil (conductor) [1991]


-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE [THE MAGIC FLUTE] – Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin & Berlin Philharmonic feat. Edith Mathis (Pamina), Karin Ott (Queen of the Night), Janet Parry (Papagena), Anna Tomowa-Sintow/Agnes Baltsa/Hanna Schwarz (Three Ladies), Francisco Araiza (Tamino), Gottfried Hornik (Papageno) & José van Dam (Sarastro): Herbert von Karajan (conductor) [1980]


-Modest Mussorgsky: BORIS GODUNOV – Polish Radio Chorus of Krakow & Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra feat. Martti Talvela (Boris Godunov), Nicolai Gedda (Grigory a.k.a. False Dmitry), Leonard Mróz (Pimen), Aage Haugland (Varlaam), Bożena Kinasz (Marina Miniszech), Andrzej Hiolski (Andrey Shchelkalov) & Halina Łukomska (Xenia): Jerzy Semkow (conductor) [1976]


-Giacomo Puccini: LA BOHÈME [THE BOHEMIAN LIFE] – Berlin Philharmonic feat. Mirella Freni (Mimì), Luciano Pavarotti (Rodolfo), Elizabeth Harwood (Musetta), Rolando Panerai (Marcello), Gianni Maffeo (Schaunard) & Nicolai Ghiaurov (Colline): Herbert von Karajan (conductor) [1972]


-Giacomo Puccini: TURANDOT – John Alldis Choir & London Philharmonic Orchestra feat. Dame Joan Sutherland (Turandot), Luciano Pavarotti (Calaf), Montserrat Caballé (Liù), Nicolai Ghiaurov (Timur), Tom Krause (Ping) & Peter Pears (Emperor Altoum): Zubin Mehta (conductor) [1972]


-Gioachino Rossini: GUILLAUME TELL [WILLIAM TELL] – Ambrosian Opera Chorus & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra feat. Gabriel Bacquier (William Tell), Montserrat Caballé (Mathilde), Nicolai Gedda (Arnold), Gwynne Howell (Melchthal), Jocelyne Taillon (Hedwige), Kolos Kovacs (Walter Furst), Mady Mesplé (Jemmy) & Nicolas Christou (Leuthold): Lamberto Gardelli (conductor) [1972]


-Gioachino Rossini: IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA [THE BARBER OF SEVILLE] – Ambrosian Opera Chorus & Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields feat. Sir Thomas Allen (Figaro), Agnes Baltsa (Rosina) & Francisco Araiza (Count Almaviva): Sir Neville Marriner (conductor) [1985]


-Gioachino Rossini: LA CENERENTOLA [CINDERELLA] – Orchestra & Chorus del Teatro Communale di Bologna feat. Cecilia Bartoli (Cenerentola), Enzo Dara (Don Magnifico), William Matteuzzi (Don Ramiro), Alessandro Corbelli (Dandini) & Michele Pertusi (Alidoro): Riccardo Chailly (conductor) [1993]


-Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: YEVGENY ONEGIN [EUGENE ONEGIN] – John Alldis Choir & Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden feat. Bernd Weikl (Eugene Onegin), Teresa Kubiak (Tatyana), Stuart Barrows (Lensky), Julia Hamari (Olga), Nicolai Ghiaurov (Prince Gremin) & Michel Sénéchal (Triquet): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1974]


-Ralph Vaughan Williams: THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – London Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra feat. John Noble (Pilgrim), Raimund Herincx (John Bunyan/Lord Hate-Good), Sheila Armstrong (First Shining One), John Shirley-Quick (Watchful/Porter) & Norma Burrowes (Chorus): Sir Adrian Boult (conductor) [1971]


-Giuseppe Verdi: AIDA – Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden & New Philharmonia Orchestra feat. Montserrat Caballé (Aida), Plácido Domingo (Radamès), Fiorenza Cossotto (Amneris), Piero Cappuccilli (Amonasro) & Nicolai Ghiaurov (Ramfis): Riccardo Muti (conductor) [1974]


-Giuseppe Verdi: FALSTAFF – Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus feat. Tito Gobbi (Sir John Falstaff), Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Alice Ford), Anna Moffo (Nannetta), Luigi Alva (Fenton) & Rolando Panerai (Ford): Herbert von Karajan (conductor) [1956]


-Giuseppe Verdi: IL TROVATORE [THE TROUBADOUR] – Ambrosian Opera Chorus & Philharmonia Orchestra feat. Leontyne Price (Leonora), Plácido Domingo (Manrico), Sherrill Milnes (Count di Luna) & Fiorenza Cossotto (Azucena): Zubin Mehta (conductor) [1969]


-Giuseppe Verdi: LA TRAVIATA [THE FALLEN WOMAN] – London Opera Chorus & National Philharmonic Orchestra feat. Dame Joan Sutherland (Violetta), Luciano Pavarotti (Alfredo) & Matteo Manuguerra (Giorgio Germont): Richard Bonynge (conductor) [1979]


-Giuseppe Verdi: OTELLO – Ambrosian Opera Chorus and Boys' Choir & National Philharmonia Orchestra feat. Plácido Domingo (Otello), Renata Scotto (Desdemona) & Sherrill Milnes (Iago): James Levine (conductor) [1978]


-Giuseppe Verdi: RIGOLETTO – Ambrosian Opera Chorus & London Symphony Orchestra feat. Dame Joan Sutherland (Gilda), Luciano Pavarotti (Duke of Mantua), Sherrill Milnes (Rigoletto), Huguette Tourangeau (Maddalena) & Martti Talvela (Sparafucile): Richard Bonynge (conductor) [1971]


-Richard Wagner: DAS RHEINGOLD [THE RHINE GOLD] – Vienna Philharmonic feat. George London (Wotan), Kirsten Flagstad (Fricka), Claire Watson (Freia), Svet Svanholm (Loge), Waldemar Kmentt (Froh), Eberhard Wächter (Donner), Paul Kuen (Mime), Jean Madeira (Erda), Gustav Neidlinger (Alberich), Walter Kreppel (Fasolt) & Kurt Böhme (Fafnir): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1958]


-Richard Wagner: DER FLIEGENDE HÖLLANDER [THE FLYING DUTCHMAN] – Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus feat. Norman Bailey (Höllander), Janis Martin (Senta), Martti Talvela (Daland), René Kollo (Erik), Werner Krenn (Steuermann) & Isola Jones (Mary): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1976]


-Richard Wagner: DIE WALKÜRE [THE VALKYRIE] – Vienna Philharmonic feat. Birgit Nilsson (Brünnhilde), Hans Hotter (Wotan), Régine Crispin (Sieglinde), James King (Siegmund), Christa Ludwig (Fricka) & Gottlob Frick (Hunding): Sir George Solti (conductor) [1965]


-Richard Wagner: GÖTTERDAMMERUNG [TWILIGHT OF THE GODS] – Vienna Philharmonic feat. Birgit Nilsson (Brünnhilde), Wolfgang Windgassen (Siegfried), Gottlob Frick (Hagen), Gustav Neidlinger (Alberich), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Gunther), Claire Watson (Gutrune) & Christa Ludwig (Waltraute): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1964]


-Richard Wagner: LOHENGRIN – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Philharmonic feat. Plácido Domingo (Lohengrin), Jessye Norman (Elsa), Eva Randová (Ortrud), Siegmund Nimsgern (Telramund), Hans Sotin (Heinrich der Vogler) & Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Herald): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1985]


-Richard Wagner: SIEGFRIED – Vienna Philharmonic feat. Wolfgang Windgassen (Siegfried), Birgit Nilsson (Brünnhilde), Hans Hotter (Wanderer), Gustav Neidlinger (Alberich), Marga Höffgen (Erda), Kurt Böhme (Fafnir) & Dame Joan Sutherland (Woodbird): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1962]


-Richard Wagner: TANNHÄUSER – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Philharmonic feat. René Kollo (Tannhäuser), Helga Dernesch (Elisabeth), Christa Ludwig (Venus), Manfred Jungwirth (Biterolf), Hans Sotin (Hermann), Kurt Equiluz (Heinrich), Norman Bailey (Reinmar), Victor Braun (Wolfram von Eschenbach) & Werner Hollweg (Walther von der Vogelweide): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1970]


-Carl Maria von Weber: DER FREISCHÜTZ [THE MARKSMAN] – Leipzig Radio Choir & Staatskapelle Dresden feat. Gundula Janowitz (Agathe), Edith Mathis (Ännchen), Peter Schreier (Max) & Theo Adam (Kaspar): Carlos Kleiber (conductor) [1973]



Keep in mind, though, that the availability of some of these selections varies from place to place. For instance, the one listed above for Glinka's A LIFE FOR THE TSAR is technically not in print in the United States (I managed to get a copy in good condition secondhand off of Amazon), and the GUILLAUME TELL with Bacquier isn't on iTunes but can be purchased or streamed through Amazon Music.

For more information (even the option to purchase some), check out Presto Music (https://www.prestomusic.com/). They deal exclusively in jazz and classical music, and they say that any purchases go to directly supporting musicians. Plus, it's a good resource center for finding album information.

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

Here's another recording I have that I forgot to mention.

-Amilcare Ponchielli: LA GIOCONDA [THE HAPPY WOMAN] – London Opera Chorus & National Philharmonic Orchestra feat. Montserrat Caballé (Gioconda), Luciano Pavarotti (Enzo), Agnes Baltsa (Laura), Sherrill Milnes (Barnaba) & Nicolai Ghiaurov (Alvise): Bruno Bartoletti (conductor) [1980]



Also, here are the recordings I DON'T have as of this posting but plan to get down the road. In many cases, once again, there's something of a consensus in them being the best recordings, but others may be of personal opinion; in any case, these are pretty much all complete, so keep an eye out for them.


-Vincenzo Bellini: I PURITANI [THE PURITANS] – Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden & London Symphony Orchestra feat. Dame Joan Sutherland (Elvira), Luciano Pavarotti (Arturo), Piero Cappuccilli (Riccardo) & Nicolai Ghiaurov (Sir Giorgio Valton): Richard Bonynge (conductor) [1973]


-Vincenzo Bellini: LA SONNAMBULA [THE SLEEPWALKER] – London Opera Chorus & National Philharmonic Orchestra feat. Dame Joan Sutherland (Amina), Luciano Pavarotti (Elvino) & Nicolai Ghiaurov (Count Rodolfo): Richard Bonynge (conductor) [1980]


-Vincenzo Bellini: NORMA – Orchestra & Chorus of the Welsh National Orchestra feat. Dame Joan Sutherland (Norma), Luciano Pavarotti (Pollione), Montserrat Caballé (Adalgisa) & Samuel Ramey (Oroveso): Richard Bonynge (conductor) [1984]


-Alban Berg: WOZZECK – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Philharmonic feat. Franz Grundheber (Wozzeck), Hildegard Behrens (Marie), Aage Haugland (Doctor), Philip Langridge (Andres), Walter Raffeiner (Drum Major) & Heinz Zednik (Captain): Claudio Abbado (conductor) [1987]


-Hector Berlioz: LA dratATION DE FAUST [THE dratATION OF FAUST] – Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus feat. Kenneth Riegel (Faust), Frederica von Stade (Marguerite), José van Dam (Méphistophélès) & Malcolm King (Brander): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1982]


-Hector Berlioz: LES TROYENS [THE TROJANS] – Montreal Symphony Orchestra & Chorus feat. Gary Lakes (Enée), Françoise Pollert (Didon) & Deborah Voigt (Cassandre): Charles Dutoit (conductor) [1994]


-Georges Bizet: CARMEN – Ambrosian Singers & London Symphony Orchestra feat. Teresa Berganza (Carmen), Plácido Domingo (Don José), Ileana Cotrubas (Micaëla) & Sherrill Milnes (Escamillo): Claudio Abbado (conductor) [1977]


-Alexander Borodin: KNYAZ IGOR [PRINCE IGOR] – Sofia National Opera Chorus & Orchestra feat. Boris Christoff (Prince Galitsky/Khan Konchak), Constantin Chekerliiski (Prince Igor Svyatloslavich), Julia Wiener (Yaroslavna) & Todor Todorov (Vladimir Igorevich): Jerzy Semkow (conductor) [1966]


-Benjamin Britten: PETER GRIMES – Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden feat. Jon Vickers (Peter Grimes), Heather Harper (Ellen Orford) & Jonathan Summers (Balstrode): Sir Colin Davis (conductor) [1978]


-Claude Debussy: PELLÉS ET MÉLISANDE – Montreal Symphony Orchestra & Chorus feat. Didier Henry (Pelléas), Colette Alliot-Lugaz (Mélisande), Gilles Cachemaille (Golaud), Pierre Thau (Arkel), Claudine Carlson (Geneviève) & Françoise Golfier (Yniold): Charles Dutoit (conductor) [1990]


-Gaetano Donizetti: DON PASQUALE – Ambrosian Opera Chorus & Philharmonia Orchestra feat. Mirella Freni (Norina), Sesto Bruscantini (Don Pasquale), Leo Nucci (Dr. Malatesta) & Gösta Winbergh (Ernesto): Riccardo Muti (conductor) [1983]


-Gaetano Donizetti: L'ELISIR D'AMORE [THE ELIXIR OF LOVE] – Ambrosian Opera Chorus & English Chamber Orchestra feat. Dame Joan Sutherland (Adina), Luciano Pavarotti (Nemorino), Dominic Cossa (Belcore), Spiro Malas (Dr. Dulcamara) & Maria Casula (Giannetta): Richard Bonynge (conductor) [1970]


-Gaetano Donizetti: LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR – Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden feat. Dame Joan Sutherland (Lucia), Luciano Pavarotti (Edgardo), Sherrill Milnes (Enrico) & Nicolai Ghiaurov (Raimondo): Richard Bonynge (conductor) [1971]


-George Gershwin: PORGY AND BESS – The Cleveland Orchestra & Chorus feat. Willard White (Porgy), McHenry Boatwright (Crown), François Clemons (Sportin' Life), Leona Mitchell (Bess), Florence Quivar (Serena) & Barbara Hendricks (Clara): Lorin Maazel (conductor) [1976]


-William S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan: THE MIKADO – D'Oyly Carte Opera feat. Michael Ducarel (Mikado), Bonaventura Bottone (Nanki-Poo), Deborah Rees (Yum-Yum), Eric Roberts (Ko-Ko), Malcolm Rivers (Pooh-Bah), Susan Gorton (Katisha), Yvonne Patrick (Peep-Bo), Gareth Jones (Pish-Tush) & Thora Ker (Pitti-Sing): John Pryce-Jones (conductor) [1990]


-Mikhail Glinka: RUSLAN AND LYUDMILA – Orchestra & Chorus of the Kirov Opera feat. Anna Netrebko (Lyudmila), Vladimir Ognovienko (Ruslan), Larissa Diadkova (Ratmir), Gennadi Bezzubenkov (Farlaf) & Galina Gorchakova (Gorislava): Valery Gergiev (conductor) [1997]


-Christoph Willibald Gluck: ORFEO ED EURIDICE [ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE] – Ambrosian Opera Chorus & Philharmonia Orchestra feat. Agnes Baltsa (Orfeo), Margaret Marshall (Euridice) & Edita Gruberová (Amor): Riccardo Muti (conductor) [1981]


-Charles Gounod: FAUST – French Army Chorus & Chorus and National Orchestra of the Capitol of Toulouse feat. Cheryl Studer (Marguerite), Richard Leech (Faust), José van Dam (Méphistophélès) & Thomas Hampson (Valentin): Michel Plasson (conductor) [1991]


-Leoš Janáček: PŘÍHODY LIŠKY BYSTROUŠKY [THE CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN] – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Philharmonic feat. Lucia Popp (Vixen), Eva Randová (Fox) & Dalibor Jedlička (Forrester): Sir Charles Mackerras (conductor) [1981]


-Ruggero Leoncavallo: PAGLIACCI [CLOWNS] – Westminster Symphony Choir & Philadelphia Orchestra feat. Luciano Pavarotti (Canio), Daniella Desì (Nedda), Juan Pons (Tonio), Paolo Conì (Silvio) & Ernesto Gavazzi (Beppe): Riccardo Muti (conductor) [1993]


-Pietro Mascagni: CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA [RUSTIC CHIVALRY] – Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden & Philharmonia Orchestra feat. Agnes Baltsa (Santuzza), Plácido Domingo (Turiddu), Vera Baniewicz (Lucia), Juan Pons (Alfio) & Susanne Mentzer (Lola): Giuseppe Sinopoli (conductor) [1989]


-Jules Massenet: MANON – Ambrosian Opera Chorus & New Philharmonia Orchestra feat. Beverly Sills (Manon Lescaut), Nicolai Gedda (Chevalier des Grieux), Gérard Souzay (Lescaut) & Gabriel Bacquier (Comte des Grieux): Julius Rudel (conductor) [1970]


-Claudio Monteverdi: IL RITORNO D'ULISSE IN PATRIA [THE RETURN OF ULYSSES TO HIS HOMELAND] – Concerto Vocale feat. Christoph Prégardien (Ulisse), Bernarda Fink (Penelope), Christian Högman (Telemaco), Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (Minerva), Martyn Hill (Eumete) & Guy de Mey (Iro): René Jacobs (conductor) [1992]


-Claudio Monteverdi: L'INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA [THE CORONATION OF POPPAEA] – Concerto Vocale feat. Danielle Borst (Poppea), Guillermette Laurens (Nerone), Jennifer Larmore (Ottavia), Axel Köhler (Ottone) & Michael Schopper (Seneca): René Jacobs (conductor) [1990]


-Claudio Monteverdi: L'ORFEO – Concerto Vocale feat. Laurence Dale (Orfeo), Efrat Ben-Nun (Euridice/La Musica), Jennifer Larmore (Messaggiera) & Bernarda Fink (Proserpina): René Jacobs (conductor) [1995]


-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: COSÍ FAN TUTTE [WOMEN ARE LIKE THAT] – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Philharmonic feat. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (Fordiligi), Ann Murray (Dorabella), Marie McLaughlin (Despina), Hans Peter Blochwitz (Ferrando), Thomas Hampson (Guglielmo) & Ferruccio Furlanetto (Don Alfonso): James Levine (conductor) [1988]


-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: DON GIOVANNI – Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus feat. Eberhard Wächter (Don Giovanni), Dame Joan Sutherland (Donna Anna), Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Donna Elvira), Graziella Sciutti (Zerlina), Giuseppe Taddei (Leporello), Luigi Alva (Don Ottavio) & Gottlob Frick (Commendatore): Carlo Maria Giulini (conductor) [1959]


-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: IDOMENEO, RE DI CRETA [IDOMENEUS, KING OF CRETE] – The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus feat. Plácido Domingo (Idomeneo), Cecilia Bartoli (Idamante), Carol Vaness (Elettra), Heidi Grant Murphy (Ilia), Thomas Hampson (Arbace), Frank Lopardo (Gran Sacerdote) & Bryn Terfel (La Voce): James Levine (conductor) [1994]


-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: LA CLEMENZA DI TITO [THE CLEMENCY OF TITUS] – Leipzig Radio Choir & Staatskapelle Dresden feat. Peter Schreier (Tito Vespasian), Júlia Várady (Vitellia), Edith Mathis (Servilia), Teresa Berganza (Sesto), Marga Schiml (Anno) & Theo Adam (Publio): Karl Böhm (conductor) [1978]


-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: LE NOZZE DI FIGARO [THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO] – Chorus & Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin feat. Hermann Prey (Figaro), Edith Mathis (Susanna), Gundula Janowitz (Countess Rosina Almaviva), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Count Almaviva) & Tatiana Troyanos (Cherubino): Karl Böhm (conductor) [1968]


-Jacques Offenbach: LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN [THE TALES OF HOFFMANN] – Radio France Chorus & Orchestre National de France feat. Plácido Domingo (Hoffmann), Edita Gruberová (Olympia/Giulietta/Antonia), Claudia Eder (Nicklausse/La Muse), Gabriel Bacquier (Coppélius), Justino Díaz (Dapertutto) & James Morris (Miracle): Seiji Ozawa (conductor) [1986]


-Jacques Offenbach: ORFÉE AUX ENFERS [ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD] – Orchestra & Chorus of the Opéra National de Lyon feat. Natalie Dessay (Euridice), Laurent Naouri (Jupiter), Véronique Gens (Vénus) & Ewa Podleś (L'Opinion Publique): Mark Minkowski (conductor) [1997]


-Giacomo Puccini: IL TRITTICO [THE TRIPTYCH] – London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Tiffin Boys' Choir & London Voices: Antonio Pappano (conductor) [1997]


-Giacomo Puccini: LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST [THE GIRL OF THE WEST] – Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden feat. Carol Neblett (Minnie), Plácido Domingo (Dick Johnson) & Sherrill Milnes (Jack Rance): Zubin Mehta (conductor) [1977]


-Giacomo Puccini: LA RONDINE [THE SWALLOW] – London Voices & London Symphony Orchestra feat. Angela Gheorghiu (Magda), Roberto Alagna (Ruggero), Inva Mula (Lisette), William Matteuzzi (Prunier/Whistling Man) & Amberto Rinaldi (Rambaldo): Antonio Pappano (conductor) [1997]


-Giacomo Puccini: MADAMA BUTTERFLY – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Philharmonic feat. Mirella Freni (Cio-Cio-San), Luciano Pavarotti (Pinkerton), Christa Ludwig (Suzuki) & Robert Kerns (Sharpless): Herbert von Karajan (conductor) [1974]


-Giacomo Puccini: MANON LESCAUT – Ambrosian Opera Chorus & New Philharmonia Orchestra feat. Montserrat Caballé (Manon Lescaut), Plácido Domingo (Renato), Vicente Sardinero (Lescaut), Noel Mangin (Geronte) & Robert Tear (Edmondo): Bruno Bartoletti (conductor) [1971]


-Giacomo Puccini: TOSCA – John Alldis Choir & New Philharmonia Orchestra feat. Leontyne Price (Floria Tosca), Plácido Domingo (Mario Caravadossi) & Sherrill Milnes (Baron Scarpia): Zubini Mehta (conductor) [1972]


-Camille Saint-Saëns: SAMSON ET DALILA [SAMSON AND DELILAH] – Chorus & Orchestra of the Bastille Opera feat. Plácido Domingo (Samson), Waltraud Meier (Dalila), Alain Fondary (High Priest of Dagon), Jean-Philippe Courtis (Abimélech) & Samuel Ramey (Old Hebrew): Myun-whun Chung (conductor) [1991]


-Bedřich Smetana: PRODANÁ NEVĚSTA [THE BARTERED BRIDE] – BBC Singers & BBC Symphony Orchestra feat. Dana Burešová (Mařenka), Tomáš Juhás (Jeník), Jozef Benci (Kecal), Aleš Voráček (Vašek) & Gustáv Beláček (Mícha): Jiří Bĕlohlávek (conductor) [2012]


-Johann Strauss II: DIE FLEDERMAUS [THE BAT] – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Philharmonic feat. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (Rosalinde), Edita Gruberová (Adele), Brigitte Fassbender (Orlofsky), Wolfgang Brendel (Gabriel von Eisenstein), Richard Leech (Alfred), Olaf Bär (Dr. Falke) & Tom Krause (Frank): André Previn (conductor) [1990]


-Richard Strauss: DER ROSENKAVALIER [THE KNIGHT OF THE ROSE] – Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus feat. Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Marschallin), Otto Edelmann (Baron Ochs), Christa Ludwig (Octavian), Teresa Stich-Randall (Sophie) & Eberhard Wächter (Faninal): Herbert von Karajan (conductor) [1956]


-Richard Strauss: ELEKTRA – Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra & Chorus feat. Éva Marton (Elektra), Cheryl Studer (Chrysothemis), Marjana Lipovšek (Klytaemestra), Bernd Weikl (Orest) & Hermann Winkler (Aegisth): Wolfgang Sawallisch (conductor) [1990]


-Richard Strauss: SALOME – Vienna Philharmonic feat. Catherine Malfitano (Salome), Bryn Terfel (Jochanaan), Kenneth Riegel (Herodes), Hanna Schwarz (Herodias) & Kim Begley (Narraboth): Christoph von Dohnányi (conductor) [1994]


-Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: PIKOVAYA DAMA [PIQUE DAME or THE QUEEN OF SPADES] – Kirov Opera Chorus & Orchestra feat. Gegam Grigoriam (Hermann), Maria Guleghina (Liza), Irina Arkhipova (Countess), Nikolai Puitlin (Count Tomsky), Vladimir Chernov (Prince Yeletsky) & Olga Borodina (Polina): Valery Gergiev (conductor) [1993]


-Richard Wagner: DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜNBERG [THE MASTERSINGERS OF NUREMBERG] – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Philharmonic feat. Norman Bailey (Hans Sachs), René Kollo (Walther von Stolzing), Hannelore Bode (Eva), Julia Hamari (Magdelene), Bernd Weikl (Sixtus Beckmesser) & Kurt Moll (Veit Pogner): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1975]


-Richard Wagner: PARSIFAL – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Philharmonic feat. René Kollo (Parsifal), Gottlob Frick (Gurnemanz), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Amfortas), Christa Ludwig (Kundry), Zoltan Kéléman (Klingsor) & Hans Hotter (Titurel): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1972]


-Richard Wagner: TRISTAN UND ISOLDE – Vienna Singverein & Vienna Philharmonic feat. Birgit Nilsson (Isolde), Fritz Uhl (Tristan), Regina Resnik (Brangäne), Tom Krause (Kurwenal) & Arnold van Mill (König Marke): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1961]




Here's an example of personal opinion: I recommended above the version of Puccini's TOSCA with Zubin Mehta conducting and Leontyne Price in the title role, but whenever people bring up the definitive recording in music spaces, they refer to another one - the 1953 recording by the Teatro alla Scalla Orchestra and Chorus featuring Maria Callas (Tosca), Giuseppe Di Stefano (Caravadossi) and Tito Gobbi (Scarpia), with Victor de Sabata conducting. The reason I didn't go for that one is small: it's recorded in mono sound, not stereo. For me, classical music, especially opera, is best experienced in stereo. However, other people may not feel that way, so I leave this here as an alternative to seek out.