CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Mozart - Don Giovanni / Maazel, Raimondi, Te Kanawa, Paris Opera

starring: Ruggero Raimondi, John Macurdy, Edda Moser, Kiri Te Kanawa, Kenneth Riegel
directed by: Joseph Losey

Release Date February 26, 2002
Although the colors are a bid faded, this is a beautifully shot movie. The scenery is very pleasing, and the acting is superb. The real downfall of the film is the sound. It's as if they were singing into tin cans to burn the sound onto records. At times, it's almost acceptable, then something happens and it's horrible again. This really is a pity, because with good sound this would truly be an excellent, cinematic opera production.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Rossini - Il Barbiere Di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville)

starring: Juan Diego Florez, Ruggero Raimondi, Maria Bayo, Pietro Spagnoli, Bruno Pratico
directed by: Emilio Sagi

Release Date November 15, 2005
A very imaginative version of the opera. It is well done and the contrast between the black and white scenes and the use of color towards the end were remarkable. It holds the viewers attention with singers who can also act. I viewed it with my 11 year old granddaughter and she was never bored and asked questions which made it evident she was captivated by the story. I recommend it for all ages.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Puccini - Tosca / Gheorghiu, Alagna, Raimondi, Muraro, Cangelosi, Pappano, Royal Opera (2000 film)

starring: Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Ruggero Raimondi, Maurizio Muraro, David Cangelosi
directed by: Benoît Jacquot

Release Date October 25, 2005
This DVD features two of my favorite singers. The singing is glorious, tender & heart-wrenching by both Gheorghiu and Alagna, as is their portrayal of their respective characters. Their sense of kindred spirit makes this opera come to life.

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Donizetti - Don Pasquale

starring: Juan Diego Florez, Ruggero Raimondi, Isabel Rey, Oliver Widmer, Valeriy Murga
directed by: Grischa Asagaroff

Release Date September 25, 2007
What a shame that the only existing DVD of Juan Diego Florez in one of his signature roles is in this wrong-headed "Don Pasquale." Wrong-headed because once again we have an opera director for whom restraint seems to be a four-letter word. Yes, this is opera buffa, but as anyone who has seen a successful performance of this piece knows, the moments of comedy are leavened with those of genuine heart and poignancy. None of which is in evidence here...unless Senor Florez is on stage -- alone. The opening of Act II is magnificently sung, passionate and sincere. Donizetti is known for giving his tenors these moments of emotional clarity in his comic operas, and Florez makes the most of it; honestly, I've never heard him sing better. And then Raimondi ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Gounod - Faust

starring: Francisco Araiza, Ruggero Raimondi, Gabriela Benackova, Walton Gronroos, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
directed by: Erich Binder, Ken Russell

Release Date August 08, 2006
The sound quality of this recording was so bad that I returned the item to Amazon. I don't know whether it was a defective disc or just a bad job of recording.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Bizet - Carmen / Maazel, Migenes, Domingo

starring: Julia Migenes, Plácido Domingo, Ruggero Raimondi, Faith Esham, François Le Roux
directed by: Francesco Rosi

Release Date December 28, 1999
Excellent performance by all the actors and opera singers. It was a very good idea to transport the classic opera into a movies version. This adaptation is not new, nevertheless, is a masterpiece for all times. Congratulations !

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Verdi Gala / Placido Domingo,Jose Carreras,Jose Cura,Marcelo Alvarez

starring: Marcelo Alvarez, Daniela Dessi, Jose Carreras, Ruggero Raimondi, Jose Cura

Release Date March 22, 2005
This is an excellent concert. Singing and orchestra are great as are the selections. The comments between selections do not, in my opinion, add anything and are not worth hearing more than once but can be skipped using the skip button on the remote.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Donizetti - La Favorita

starring: Fiorenza Cossotto, Alfredo Kraus, Sesto Bruscantini, Ruggero Raimondi, Augusto Pedroni

Release Date October 30, 2007
By far the best recording I have seen of this, one of Donizetti's most famous operas. Alfredo Kraus sings an especially fine Fernando.

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Rossini - Il Turco in Italia / Bartoli, Raimondi, Macias, Rumetz, Schmid, Welser-Most, Zurich Opera

starring: Ruggero Raimondi, Cecilia Bartoli, Paolo Rumetz, Reinaldo Macias, Oliver Widmer
directed by: Thomas Grimm

Release Date March 22, 2005
Il Turco in Italia is much less well-known than Rossini's L'Italiana in Algieri, but I like it better. It feels so contemporary, with a plot revolving around marital difficulties. The short three-part arias are an inventive break from the usual opera format, making Il Turco particularly accessible to newcomers to the art form. The entire cast is superb, led by Cecilia Bartoli whose coloratura is crystal clear and sparkling. And she has great comedic timing.

This would be a wonderful opera for young people. The energetic cast are all having a great time onstage. The costumes and sets are a feast for the eyes, so colorful and creative. It has a zany plot, short arias and ensemble pieces, quite a bit of slapstick, and a nice little moral at the end ("Slight is the error if ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Carmen [Region 2]

starring: Julia Migenes, Plácido Domingo, Ruggero Raimondi, Faith Esham, François Le Roux
directed by: Francesco Rosi

Release Date
Excellent performance by all the actors and opera singers. It was a very good idea to transport the classic opera into a movies version. This adaptation is not new, nevertheless, is a masterpiece for all times. Congratulations !