The 1961 recording of Rigoletto is the first of two in which Joan Sutherland sang the role of Gilda. Although the later cast – conducted by Richard Bonynge – was starrier with Pavarotti taking the role of the Duke, this earlier version is still favoured by Sutherland aficionados. ‘Sutherland is extraordinary’ wrote an Amazon customer. […]

This supreme recording of ‘La traviata’ with its principals in top form and Maazel delivering energy and beauty to the score, here offers some of the most memorable moments from the opera.

One of the most fizzing, entertaining recordings of ‘The Barber of Seville’, brought off with tremendous panache by the principals with instinctively shaped, pliant playing from the Naples orchestra under Silvio Varviso.

This compilation, drawn from the archive of ‘the Opera Company’ – Decca – boasts many of the greatest Verdi recordings ever made and features the greatest highlights of his operatic works. Here you’ll find the stars of the opera performing Overtures, Arias and Choruses from La Traviata, Aida, Luisa Miller, Otello, Nabucco, Rigoletto and Il […]