CD-Charts Position 1

Auber: Le Cheval de Bronze

from: Gala

Release Date April 22, 2003

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Charpentier: Louise

by: Beverly Sills, Nicolai Gedda

Release Date September 20, 1994
At 3 hours long, Charpentier's all but forgotten Louise is a great opera. If only singers like Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna can revive this opera on a studio recording! The ligher, more elegant, French-style voices of Beverly Sills and Nicolai Gedda make this particular version a lot like Massenet's Manon. Rudel conducts with a mixture of dramatic realism, romance and bubbly music. Sills is past her prime but can still sing a difficult role like Louise with a style that is uniquely her own and with undying commitment. Jose Van Dam and Mignon Dunn are fine as the "baritone" father and "mezzo" mother, making their roles as convincingly real as possible, though mostly lyrical. This is a fine opera and you shouldn't hesitate to buy it if ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Bizet - Ivan IV, Opera in 5 Acts and 6 Tableaux

from: Valois

Release Date November 12, 2002
I stumbled across this recording in a second-hand shop, and it came as something of revelation. I already had the EMI edition (reconstructed by Henri Busser, and not complete); but this edition, which is more complete, and on which apparently greater care was taken, by Howard Williams, is quite remarkable. Bizet had apparently destroyed the original score, so the presentation of the Williams reconstructed edition in London in 1987 and this Radio France production in 2002 have been the only two, to my knowledge, presentations. This collaboration between Naive and Radio France is hugely successful. The major protagonists--Inva Mula (as Marie), Julian Gavin (as Igor), Ludovic Tezier (as Ivan), and Paul Gay (as Temrouk)--account themselves quite ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Offenbach - La Périchole

from: Emi Classics

Release Date November 11, 2002
A favorite of mine, ever since my father started appreciating opera, as either a graduation or degeneration from baroque/classical orchestral/instrumental music. He ended up loving the operettas of Strauss, Lehar, and especially Offenbach. His favorite was La Perichole. I bought this recording knowing the vocal qualities of Theresa Berganza and Jose Carreras and loving the score. I listened to it three times in succession while driving to and from surveying jobs. I then loaned it to me sister, who told me she had listened to it twice all the way through and twice in part (having a husband and daughter who do not appreciate opera) and enjoyed it extremely. We both had to sing to certain parts.

If you like Gilbert and Sullivan, this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Bellini: Bianca & Fernando

from: Nuova Era

Release Date
A favorite of mine, ever since my father started appreciating opera, as either a graduation or degeneration from baroque/classical orchestral/instrumental music. He ended up loving the operettas of Strauss, Lehar, and especially Offenbach. His favorite was La Perichole. I bought this recording knowing the vocal qualities of Theresa Berganza and Jose Carreras and loving the score. I listened to it three times in succession while driving to and from surveying jobs. I then loaned it to me sister, who told me she had listened to it twice all the way through and twice in part (having a husband and daughter who do not appreciate opera) and enjoyed it extremely. We both had to sing to certain parts.

If you like Gilbert and Sullivan, this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Bellini: Bianca and Fernando

from: Nuova Era

Release Date July 08, 2008
A favorite of mine, ever since my father started appreciating opera, as either a graduation or degeneration from baroque/classical orchestral/instrumental music. He ended up loving the operettas of Strauss, Lehar, and especially Offenbach. His favorite was La Perichole. I bought this recording knowing the vocal qualities of Theresa Berganza and Jose Carreras and loving the score. I listened to it three times in succession while driving to and from surveying jobs. I then loaned it to me sister, who told me she had listened to it twice all the way through and twice in part (having a husband and daughter who do not appreciate opera) and enjoyed it extremely. We both had to sing to certain parts.

If you like Gilbert and Sullivan, this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Bellini - Bianca & Fernando / Shin · Kunde · Tomicich · Fu · Caforio · Nigoghossian · W. Coppola · Manhart · Licata

by: Young-Ok Shin, Gregory Kunde, Aurio Tomicich, Haijing Fu, Armando Caforio, Sonia Nigoghossian

Release Date February 08, 1994
Great soprano, but not the same for the tenor. If you want to hear a good "A tanto Duol" buy the "Music Teacher" soundtrack.
Instead, the "Sorgi oh padre" area and the final of the opera are wonderful song by the soprano Shin (in this complete opera).

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Daniel Francois Esprit Auber - Cheval de Bronze (Complete Opera) (2 CD)

from: On Stage Records

Release Date May 23, 2000
Great soprano, but not the same for the tenor. If you want to hear a good "A tanto Duol" buy the "Music Teacher" soundtrack.
Instead, the "Sorgi oh padre" area and the final of the opera are wonderful song by the soprano Shin (in this complete opera).

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

David Francois Esprit Auber - Le Cheval de Bronz (2 CD) (On Stage)

from: On Stage

Release Date
Great soprano, but not the same for the tenor. If you want to hear a good "A tanto Duol" buy the "Music Teacher" soundtrack.
Instead, the "Sorgi oh padre" area and the final of the opera are wonderful song by the soprano Shin (in this complete opera).