CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Ambroise Thomas - Hamlet - Barcelona Opera

starring: Simon Keenlyside, Natalie Dessay, Béatrice Uria-Monzon, Alain Vernhes, Daniil Shtoda
directed by: Toni Bargalló

Release Date October 05, 2004
Great work by miss Dessay who set the bar for Ophelia quite high, perhaps a new standard for this role.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Prokofiev - L'Amour des Trois Oranges (The Love for Three Oranges)

starring: Jose van Dam, Charles Workman, Barry Banks, Beatrice Uria-Monzon, Philippe Rouillon
directed by: Gilbert Deflo

Release Date October 30, 2007
This opera was new to me -- previously the only Prokofiev operas I knew were "War & Peace" and "The Betrothal in a Monastery" -- and I was delighted with it from start to finish. It takes Prokofiev's touches of Commedia dell'Arte and expands them to encompass the entire production, chorus, leads, staging and all. The enormous size of the Bastille stage allows the director, Gilbert Deflo, to place the opposing choruses on opposite sides of the pit and to keep them in view throughout the piece, so that the audience is drawn in through the chorus. The stage tricks are delightful and suited to the pace of the production, including abundant fireworks, some good tumbling and juggling, and two 'flying changes' for the Princess turned into a rat and back again. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Prokofiev - The Love for Three Oranges / Nagano, Opera National de Lyon

starring: Gabriel Bacquier, Jean-Luc Viala, Hélène Perraguin, Vincent Le Texier, Georges Gautier
directed by: Jean-François Jung

Release Date August 15, 2000
This staging of "LfTO" is spare and modernistic, with minimal (but often inventive) sets and costumes, but the singing is first-rate and Nagano's conducting makes for an excellent handling of the music. The cast is young and vibrant (and even a bit sexy!) and the camera work helps keep you involved. A must if you are a Prokofiev fan; but it might be an eye-roller for someone looking for more traditional opera.

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Les Contes d'Hoffmann

starring: Neil Shicoff, Susanne Mentzer, Bryn Terfel, Michel Sénéchal, Désirée Rancatore
directed by: François Roussillon

Release Date
This staging of "LfTO" is spare and modernistic, with minimal (but often inventive) sets and costumes, but the singing is first-rate and Nagano's conducting makes for an excellent handling of the music. The cast is young and vibrant (and even a bit sexy!) and the camera work helps keep you involved. A must if you are a Prokofiev fan; but it might be an eye-roller for someone looking for more traditional opera.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Offenbach - Les Contes d'Hoffmann / Shicoff, Swenson, Terfel, Rancatore, Mentzer, Uria-Monzon, Senechal, Gubisch, Lopez Cobos, Paris Opera

starring: Ruth Ann Swenson, Neil Shicoff, Susanne Mentzer, Bryn Terfel, Beatrice Uria-Monzon

Release Date August 17, 2004
First of all please don't listen to traditionalists who cannot tolerate changes. Yes, this is a different take on Hoffman, but a very interesting one and also very beautiful. As other reviewers have pointed out, the action takes place in different parts of the theater where Stella is singing Don Giovanni. At least I, who have seen the opera live on several ocassions in the usual scenery, find it a welcome change.

Second, there is NO nudity, it's a plastic outfit representing a doll, so please do not over-exaggerate.

The singing and acting is great by all of the principals. Schicoff may be a bit too old, but he can still sing with great passion. He's definitely the best Hoffmann to come along in a long time.

The only reservation ... Read More: