CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Gilbert & Sullivan - The Mikado / Eric Idle, Lesley Garrett, Richard Van Allan, Felicity Palmer, Richard Angas, Bonaventura Bottone, Susan Bullock, English National Opera

starring: Eric Idle, Lesley Garrett, Bonaventura Bottone, Richard Van Allan, Felicity Palmer
directed by: John Michael Phillips

Release Date December 26, 2005
I'm always leery of "new and improved" productions of the works of Gilbert & Sullivan. The originals are hard to beat. To my amazement, this version of The Mikado is actually very watchable and enjoyable! The producers stayed true, for the most part, to both the original story line and libretti (other than the fact they "moved" the story from Japan to England, and made a few very minor changes to the dialog). The performance of the musical score is outstanding - Sullivan would be proud.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Verdi - Jonathan Miller's Rigoletto

starring: John Rawnsley, Marie McLaughlin, John Tomlinson, Arthur Davies, Jean Rigby
directed by: John Michael Phillips

Release Date February 27, 2007
As the other two reviewers of this new DVD issue have said this is a truly awful DVD in terms of sound and picture quality. The orchestra and voices are constantly shifting in volume and clarity; the picture has waves running down it much of the time and changes hue and texture constantly. Toward the end (if you make it that far) the picture and sound quality do seem to improve or become steadier. Quite a shame since the production is interesting and convincing. The singing as recorded is sometimes too loud and forced, the clapping can be overbearing, but Miller has thought through his idea of a Little Italy Rigoletto with ingenuity and power.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Handel - Julius Caesar / Mackerras, Baker, Masterson, English National Opera

starring: Janet Baker, Valerie Masterson, Sarah Walker, Della Jones, James Bowman (II)
directed by: John Michael Phillips

Release Date August 28, 2001
Yes, I've heard Julius Caesar a number of times via NPR and have two CDs. I confess I gave this DVD only three stars because I don't yet "dig" it. While the costumes and scenery are stunning to look at (mostly) and while I understand that, like Idomeneo, the singers are costumed in what might have been expected in the late 18th C, it always strikes me as quite odd - I mean, all that labor and money when a couple of sheets might do very well.

I'll accept that Dame Janet is superb, but I believe I was expecting a more powerful voice (yes, I know that's dumb). I'm not crazy about counter-tenors, but in this case, I was surprised that I longed for David Daniels.

The English (and I bought it FOR that reason) was very off-putting and ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Pergolesi - Lo Frate 'Nnamorato

starring: Alessandro Corbelli, Nuccia Focile, Amelia Felle, Bernadette Manca di Nissa, Luciana D'Intino
directed by: John Michael Phillips

Release Date August 26, 1998
This 3 hour opera purports to be 100% Pergolesi. I wouldn't want to have to swear to that, but certainly the music is quite nice and is baroque with a few classical touches. R. Muti conducts a portion of the La Scala orchestra along with arch lutes, theorbos, and harpsichord. The playing is very good, though the string sound is more what I expect of a more modern period. I won't list all the singers, none of whom I recognize except for the Marcaniello (Alessandro Corbelli). There are 6 almost equally important soprano roles and each is sung extremely well. Several of the sopranos are so good that you can only wish the opera were longer so that you could here more. The male roles are well sung and the Marcaniello is excellent for the comic old codger role. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Xerxes [Region 2]

starring: Ann Murray (II), Valerie Masterson, Christopher Robson, Jean Rigby, Lesley Garrett
directed by: John Michael Phillips

Release Date
I have viewed this lovely performance many times and find that it gets more wonderful with each viewing. The only thing that I miss is some kind of subtitle. Some of the words are not intelligible so much of the humor of the English translation is missed. The singers are all first rate with the exception of Valerie Masterson who is simply radiant. Her high soprano gets a bit thin on top but watching her one sees a consumate professional with a sweet sound who is so musical that she totally inhabits the character. There is somthing so disarmingly feminine about her that one cannot take ones eyes away from her. The staging is not traditional but is wonderfully tasteful and inventive.
This DVD seems to be out of print now but I hope it will be reissued ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Julius Caesar [Region 2]

starring: Janet Baker, Valerie Masterson, Sarah Walker, Della Jones, James Bowman (II)
directed by: John Michael Phillips

Release Date
Yes, I've heard Julius Caesar a number of times via NPR and have two CDs. I confess I gave this DVD only three stars because I don't yet "dig" it. While the costumes and scenery are stunning to look at (mostly) and while I understand that, like Idomeneo, the singers are costumed in what might have been expected in the late 18th C, it always strikes me as quite odd - I mean, all that labor and money when a couple of sheets might do very well.

I'll accept that Dame Janet is superb, but I believe I was expecting a more powerful voice (yes, I know that's dumb). I'm not crazy about counter-tenors, but in this case, I was surprised that I longed for David Daniels.

The English (and I bought it FOR that reason) was very off-putting and I very much missed ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Handel - Xerxes (Serse) / Nicholas Hytner · Sir Charles Mackerras · Ann Murray · Lesley Garrett · ENO

starring: Ann Murray (II), Valerie Masterson, Christopher Robson, Jean Rigby, Lesley Garrett
directed by: John Michael Phillips

Release Date October 03, 2000
I have viewed this lovely performance many times and find that it gets more wonderful with each viewing. The only thing that I miss is some kind of subtitle. Some of the words are not intelligible so much of the humor of the English translation is missed. The singers are all first rate with the exception of Valerie Masterson who is simply radiant. Her high soprano gets a bit thin on top but watching her one sees a consumate professional with a sweet sound who is so musical that she totally inhabits the character. There is somthing so disarmingly feminine about her that one cannot take ones eyes away from her. The staging is not traditional but is wonderfully tasteful and inventive.
This DVD seems to be out of print now but I hope it will be reissued WITH subtitles. The ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Puccini - La Fanciulla Del West

starring: Mara Zampieri, Juan Pons, Plácido Domingo, Sergio Bertocchi, Luigi Roni
directed by: John Michael Phillips

Release Date August 26, 1998
This is an excellent staging of this opera bringing all of its charms to life. Domingo captures the western bravado well in his character.