CD-Charts Position 1

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Prokofiev: Betrothal In A Monastery

Search: At Last
by: Anna Netrebko Larissa Diadkova Nikolai Gassiev Sergei Alexashkin Kirov Orchestra, St Petersburg Valery Gergiev

Release Date April 10, 2006

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

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Haydn: The Seasons

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from: Philips

Release Date November 15, 1999
Haydn's 'oratorio' (or whatever) The Seasons received its first performance in 1801, the 70th year of the composer's life. He was at the very height of his creative powers, and his inspiration had received a new jolt, as Beethoven's and Schubert's were later to do, through his exposure to Handel. He was not new to oratorio, indeed his Creation seems to me the only later work of that name that can be mentioned in the same breath as Handel's. He was also not unduly thrilled with the libretto of The Seasons, which comes in English and German versions but which he characterised tersely as 'franzoesischer Quark' (frenchified rubbish). For my own part, it's all one to me whether The Seasons counts as oratorio or not. For me it is an unqualified masterpiece, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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Moll Flanders

Search: At Last
by: Defoes, Bell

Release Date March 21, 1995
Haydn's 'oratorio' (or whatever) The Seasons received its first performance in 1801, the 70th year of the composer's life. He was at the very height of his creative powers, and his inspiration had received a new jolt, as Beethoven's and Schubert's were later to do, through his exposure to Handel. He was not new to oratorio, indeed his Creation seems to me the only later work of that name that can be mentioned in the same breath as Handel's. He was also not unduly thrilled with the libretto of The Seasons, which comes in English and German versions but which he characterised tersely as 'franzoesischer Quark' (frenchified rubbish). For my own part, it's all one to me whether The Seasons counts as oratorio or not. For me it is an unqualified masterpiece, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

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Mozart - The Marriage of Figaro

Search: At Last
by: Philharmonia Orchestra, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir

Release Date August 09, 2004
It does take a while to get used to the English singing, but it also really helps to get the jokes across. I was splitting my sides when I first listened to it, there are some real gems in this translation (A prime example being in the middle of Susanna and Marcellina's duet as they exchange insults: 'Your quality/ Your quantity').

The conducting is wonderful, always taken at a brilliant pace by that great Mozartian David Parry. The cast are spot on, the only real exception being Yvonne Kenny's Countess (a good voice, just a bit too much vibrato here). I especially love Christopher Purves' Figaro, William Dazeley's Count, Jonathan Veira's Bartolo, John Graham Hall's Basilio and Sarah Tynan's Barbarina. Purves is perfect in his role; so characterful ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

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Janácek - The Makropulos Case

Search: At Last
by: Susanna Tudor-Thomas, Thomas Walker, Elena Xanthoudakis

Release Date January 29, 2007
It is wonderful to have such a fine recording of this opera in the English language. Even though Janacek's music closely reflects the rhythms of the Czech language, there is an immense gain in immediacy in this curious and utterly gripping drama when hearing it in English. And what a piece! Through his monstrous, desiccated yet sympathetic 300 year old heroine, Janacek conveys most powerfully the futility of life without end.
The tempi here tend to be slower than in Mackerras' earlier recording on Decca, which may be partly to do with getting the English words across in the opera house (this is a live recording), but this approach feels absolutely right.
Cheryl Barker is superb as Emilia Marty, and the other singers are an excellent ensemble - Graham ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

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Gerhard - The Plague

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by: Roberto Gerhard, Antal Dorati, Alec McCowen, National Symphony Orchestra & Chorus

Release Date September 25, 2006
It is wonderful to have such a fine recording of this opera in the English language. Even though Janacek's music closely reflects the rhythms of the Czech language, there is an immense gain in immediacy in this curious and utterly gripping drama when hearing it in English. And what a piece! Through his monstrous, desiccated yet sympathetic 300 year old heroine, Janacek conveys most powerfully the futility of life without end.
The tempi here tend to be slower than in Mackerras' earlier recording on Decca, which may be partly to do with getting the English words across in the opera house (this is a live recording), but this approach feels absolutely right.
Cheryl Barker is superb as Emilia Marty, and the other singers are an excellent ensemble - Graham ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

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Janácek - The Cunning Little Vixen

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by: Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra

Release Date September 15, 2003
Its so nice to hear a opera sung in english and not be in english first.Simon Rattle is very good as well as the cast.Being in a opera house and wacthing this sung in chez would be rather strange what with all the charactures like a bager and a frog!This is Janacek's best opera and is better sung in english.If you love opera get this as well as other CD's by Chandos sung in english.Be cunning and get this CD!

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

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Great Operatic Arias - Barry Banks

Search: At Last
by: London Philharmonic Orchestra, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir, Philharmonia Orchestra

Release Date June 14, 2004
Its so nice to hear a opera sung in english and not be in english first.Simon Rattle is very good as well as the cast.Being in a opera house and wacthing this sung in chez would be rather strange what with all the charactures like a bager and a frog!This is Janacek's best opera and is better sung in english.If you love opera get this as well as other CD's by Chandos sung in english.Be cunning and get this CD!

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

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Shrek the Third

Search: At Last
by: Various

Release Date June 19, 2007
This is simply all the classical infill in the film extended to full pieces. This is NOT the songs.