CDs of the Year 2005
This year’s CD releases have been dominated by one opera set: the new recording of Wagner’s "Tristan und Isolde" conducted by Antonio Pappano and with Placido Domingo as Tristan.
A new recording of a major Wagner opera is always a bit of an event but this has a lot to make it special. Firstly it is announced as the last studio opera recording from a major recording company; secondly it is the chance for Domingo to record a major role which he has never sung on stage; thirdly it is a performance of a standard to hold its own with any already in the catalogue.
I am not generally a big Domingo fan but this is a stupendous performance, sung with a firmness of voice that is near miraculous for a man in his mid-sixties. His German diction (which has let him down in the past) is much improved and his insight into the anguish of the third act is irresistible.
He is well matched by the Isolde of Nina Stemme and the eloquent King Mark of Rene Pape. A studio recording allows such luxury casting as Rolando Villazon as the Young Sailor and Ian Bostridge as the Shepherd.
Pappano’s conducting is as fascinating as I would have expected. After a very slow prelude (he takes longer than Goodall!) the music surges forward as passions rise. The Covent Garden orchestra play as if they are the best opera orchestra around – which I think they probably are.
The other opera recording of significance which has come my way this year is the new recording of Britten’s "Death in Venice", which won the opera recording of the year award from Gramophone magazine. Britten’s last opera, and some (not I) would say his greatest, this is given a vivid and committed performance by a cast led by Philip Langridge, Alan Opie and Michael Chance and conducted by Richard Hickox. I find this is a an opera particularly well-suited to CD. On stage the constant changes of scene can be fussy and distracting and I have never seen a performance of the dance scenes that convinced.
Away from opera, something rather special comes with a recording of Eugene Ysaye’s solo violin sonatas. Ysaye was a noted violin virtuoso at the turn of the last century and he wrote his violin sonatas in the 1920s, dedicating each one to a leading violinist of his time. The violinist on this recording is Thomas Zehetmair, one of the most highly regarded virtuosi of our own time.
Why do I recommend this, you may ask?. Well firstly, it came top in the 'instrumental' section of the "Gramophone" awards. As importantly, Zehetmair is music director of the Northern Sinfonia and can be heard conducting and (even better) playing just over the river at the Sage, Tyneside's wonderful new concert hall. Finally it is a brilliant CD, the music clever, charming and thrilling and the violin playing is simply amazing.
A new recording of a major Wagner opera is always a bit of an event but this has a lot to make it special. Firstly it is announced as the last studio opera recording from a major recording company; secondly it is the chance for Domingo to record a major role which he has never sung on stage; thirdly it is a performance of a standard to hold its own with any already in the catalogue.
I am not generally a big Domingo fan but this is a stupendous performance, sung with a firmness of voice that is near miraculous for a man in his mid-sixties. His German diction (which has let him down in the past) is much improved and his insight into the anguish of the third act is irresistible.
He is well matched by the Isolde of Nina Stemme and the eloquent King Mark of Rene Pape. A studio recording allows such luxury casting as Rolando Villazon as the Young Sailor and Ian Bostridge as the Shepherd.
Pappano’s conducting is as fascinating as I would have expected. After a very slow prelude (he takes longer than Goodall!) the music surges forward as passions rise. The Covent Garden orchestra play as if they are the best opera orchestra around – which I think they probably are.
The other opera recording of significance which has come my way this year is the new recording of Britten’s "Death in Venice", which won the opera recording of the year award from Gramophone magazine. Britten’s last opera, and some (not I) would say his greatest, this is given a vivid and committed performance by a cast led by Philip Langridge, Alan Opie and Michael Chance and conducted by Richard Hickox. I find this is a an opera particularly well-suited to CD. On stage the constant changes of scene can be fussy and distracting and I have never seen a performance of the dance scenes that convinced.
Away from opera, something rather special comes with a recording of Eugene Ysaye’s solo violin sonatas. Ysaye was a noted violin virtuoso at the turn of the last century and he wrote his violin sonatas in the 1920s, dedicating each one to a leading violinist of his time. The violinist on this recording is Thomas Zehetmair, one of the most highly regarded virtuosi of our own time.
Why do I recommend this, you may ask?. Well firstly, it came top in the 'instrumental' section of the "Gramophone" awards. As importantly, Zehetmair is music director of the Northern Sinfonia and can be heard conducting and (even better) playing just over the river at the Sage, Tyneside's wonderful new concert hall. Finally it is a brilliant CD, the music clever, charming and thrilling and the violin playing is simply amazing.
posted by Alnwickian at 5:47 pm
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