Christopher Hogwood’s legendary authentic version of Handel’s choral masterpiece receives a fabulous Pure Audio remastering.
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen [Wiener Philharmoniker/Solti] Blu-ray Audio Review
The standard by which all other Ring Cycles are judged by, Decca commits the white-hot performances of Georg Solti, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and a raft of great singers, to a single Pure Audio Blu-ray Disc.
Giacomo Puccini: Tosca [Opernhaus Zurich/Carignani] Blu-ray Review
This Tosca with, mostly minimalist sets and a thrilling tenor, disappoints in the other two principal roles.
Bizet: Carmen [Opernhaus Zurich/Welser-Möst] Blu-ray Review
A minimalist performance of Bizet’s beloved opera Carmen that fails to deliver the passion, heat, and atmosphere that this masterpiece requires.
Puccini: Turandot [London Philharmonic/Mehta] Blu-ray Audio Review
A dream cast rendition of Puccini’s last opera Turandot gets the Pure Audio Blu-ray makeover that it has long deserved from Decca.
Puccini: Madama Butterfly [Vienna Philharmonic/Karajan] Blu-ray Audio Review
The Madama Butterfly that sets the recorded standard for this work gets remastered to the nth degree with simply superb results.
Donizetti: L’Elisir d’Amore [English Chamber Orchestra/Bonynge] Blu-ray Audio Review
Donizetti’s comic masterpiece has received many recordings, but this remastered Pure Audio Blu-ray version must be considered a top contender.
Brahms: The Symphonies [Gewandhausorchester/Chailly] Blu-ray Audio Review
A simply overwhelming collection of Brahms’s orchestral works that belongs in the library of all classical music lovers.
Rossini: Le Comte Ory [Orchestra La Scintilla/Tang] Blu-ray Review
This is the first performance of Le Comte Ory recorded with a period orchestra, ably led by Maestro Muhai Tang.
Rossini: Otello [Orchestra La Scintilla/Tang] Blu-ray Review
A rarely heard Rossini specialty, we get four good tenors contributing to terrific performance of Rossini’s retelling of the Shakespeare legend.
