Gluck. Orfeo ed Euridice - Hickox - 2001

Gluck's opera retells the myth of Orpheus descending into the underworld to rescue his wife Euridice by taming the furies through the power of his music. Writing in a simpler, leaner style than the prevailing fashion, Gluck goes right to the heart of the story, portraying the heartbreak of lost love and conjuring up the devilish atmosphere of Hades. American countertenor David Daniels makes his long-awaited Covent Garden debut as Orfeo in this concert performance. Presented by Donald Macleod.

Gluck: "Orfeo ed Euridice" - Original 1762 version (Sung in Italian)

Orfeo................ David Daniels  (Counter-Tenor)
Euridice,his wife................ Susan Gritton  (Soprano)
Amor................ Tristan Hambleton  (Treble)
Shepherds, nymphs, Furies and spectres from Hades, heroes and heroines in Elysium, followers of Orfeo
The Royal Opera Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden  conducted by  Richard Hickox
5 files 16/44 FLAC https://www.mediafire.com/file/n82n7v2nb5z8zhz/9-VI-01-GluckO&E.zip/file

BBC Radio 3 FM  live relay  9 June 2001   Leak "Stereofetic" / Akai GX-52 HX Pro / Maxell Metal.CD 110 Cassette: NO Dolby NR. 15kHz cutoff incorporating <1dB treble from 2kHz.

 

Gounod. Romeo & Juliette - Mackerras - 2000

Introduced by Christopher Cook:- interviews with Alagna/Gheorghiu/Mackerras

Charles Gounod: Roméo et Juliette (Sung in French)

Duke of Verona.................... Roderick Earle
Paris.................... Graeme Broadbent
Capulet.................... Sorin Coliban
Juliette.................... Angela Gheorghiu
Gertrude, Juliette's nurse.................... Gillian Knight
Tybalt.................... Tito Beltrán
Roméo.................... Roberto Alagna
Mercutio, Roméo's friend.................... William Dazeley
Stéphano, Roméo's page.................... Jenny Grahn
Gregorio, Capulet's servant.................... Jeremy White
Frère Laurent.................... Alastair Miles
Capulets, Montaigus....................  Royal Opera Chorus
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden  conducted by  Sir Charles Mackerras 

BBC Radio 3 FM live relay 26 February 2000 - Leak "Stereofetic" FM Tuner / AKAI GX-52 record/replay / 2x TDK CDing2 C90 cassettes / Dolby 'B' HX Pro. 15kHz cutoff incorporating <1dB treble from 2kHz. Tape Cassette isn't to the standard of MiniDisc (doesn't have the 'attack').... This lasts 3(+) hours..and just fitted.
Acts 1/2/3+intros 7 files zip 16/44 FLAC https://www.mediafire.com/file/w9q41zrob69jt0e/26-II-00-GounodR&J-1-3.zip/file
Acts 4/5 16/44 FLAC https://www.mediafire.com/file/jwcyckmv2v7cr2l/26-II-00-GounodR&J+Act4+5.flac/file

Pics of Tapes / "The Times" notice >>>

Gluck. Iphigenie en Aulide + Rameau -&- Clerambault - Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment - 2002

Gluck's masterpiece, which took Paris by storm in 1774, revolves around the cruel dilemma of Agamemnon, who is ordered by the gods to sacrifice his only daughter, the innocent Iphigenie. She is torn between acceptance of her fate and her love for the hero Achille.
Presented by Donald Macleod, who also talks to members of the cast and to the director, Christof Loy.

Gluck: "Iphigenie en Aulide"  (Sung in French)

Agamemnon.................... Gerald Finley (Baritone)
Calchas.................... Clive Bayley (Bass)
Iphigenie.................... Veronica Cangemi (Soprano)
Clitemnestre.................... Katarina Karneus (Mezzo-Soprano)
Achille.................... Jonas Degerfeldt (Tenor)
Patrocle.................... Riccardo Simonetti (Baritone)
Areas.................... Charbel Mattar (Bass)
Diane.................... Marie Arnet (Soprano)
Glyndebourne Chorus, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment  conducted by  Ivor Bolton 

BBC Radio 3 FM  live relay  8 June 2002  (The 3x Intros are MONO)  
7 files 16/44 zip FLAC https://www.mediafire.com/file/cr558a2ldqwn96b/8-VI-02-Gluck.zip/file

................................

Rameau: "Hippolyte et Aricie" -suite
Clerambault: Cantata - "Le Soleil, Vainqueur des Nuages"  
Sophie Daneman, Soprano - Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment  directed by  Monica Huggett  
BBC Radio 3 FM  18/21 February 2002. From recorded concerts
2 files 16/44 zip https://www.mediafire.com/file/sblfvi6omwhdeyx/II-02-DanemanHuggett.zip/file  

Sony JA20ES transfers to Terratec DMX 6fire 24/96 soundcard ~via~ Pioneer C-73 Reference Ultimate Fidelity Control Amplifier. (Leak "Stereofetic" FM Tuner:-19kHz pilot-tone removed).   

(Pioneer MJ-D707 MiniDisc Recorder / TDK 74 Color MiniDiscs) - GLUCK: Analytic review / MD's / Sunday Times notice / Edward Seckerson 'Independent' review >>>

Mozart. Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail - Sir Charles Mackerras - 2001

Belmonte.......................... Kurt Streit
Osmin.......................... Kurt Rydl
Pedrillo.......................... Peter Bronder
Konstanze.......................... Christine Schafer
Blonde.......................... Caroline Stein
Pasha Selim..................... Oliver Tobias
Janissaries............. Hilary Taylor, Dervla Ramsay, Luke Price, Jonathan Fisher
Servants, women of the Harem, guards, slaves................ The Royal Opera Chorus
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden  conducted by  Sir Charles Mackerras  

BBC Radio 3 FM  Live Relay: 2 June 2001 - Leak "Stereofetic" Tuner / Pioneer MJ-D707 Minidisc Recorder / TDK XG MiniDiscs.

Sony JA20ES transfer to Terratec DMX 6fire 24/96 soundcard ~via~ Pioneer C-73 Reference Ultimate Fidelity Control Amplifier. (19kHz pilot-tone removed).  Act 1 intro is Mono / invisible edit in Act 2..

7 files zip 16/44 FLAC https://www.mediafire.com/file/e3luw9ix3sfyrfn/2-06-01-Seraglio.zip/file

Rodney Milnes Sunday Times review / MD's >>>

Janacek. Jenufa - Haitink - 2001

Leos Janacek:  "Jenufa"

The Royal Opera's new production of Janacek's opera with an international cast led by Finnish soprano Karita Mattila in the title role.

Jenufa.......................... Karita Mattila
Kostelnicka Buryjovka.......................... Anja Silja
Laca Klemen.......................... Jorma Silvasti
Števa Buryja......................... Jerry Hadley
Grandmother Buryjovka.......................... Eva Randova
Jano.......................... Gail Pearson
Foreman of the mill.......................... Jonathan Veira
Barena.......................... Rebecca Nash
Maid.......................... Elizabeth Sikora
Mayor.......................... Jeremy White
His Wife.......................... Carole Wilson
Karolka.......................... Leah-Marian Jones
Tetka.......................... Jennifer Higgins
Solo Voices.................. Eryl Royle / Jonathan Fisher
Villagers.......................... The Royal Opera Chorus
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden  conducted by  Bernard Haitink  

BBC Radio 3 FM - live relay 13 October 2001   Leak "Stereofetic" FM Tuner / Pioneer MJ-D707 MiniDisc Recorder

Sony JA20ES transfer to Terratec DMX 6fire 24/96 soundcard ~via~ Pioneer C-73 Reference Ultimate Fidelity Control Amplifier. (19kHz pilot-tone removed) 

7 files zip 16/44 FLAC   https://www.mediafire.com/file/efjdyqdyd5wegc6/13-10-01Jenufa.zip/file      (Edit @ 17:55 -Act 2 /Act 1 intro is Mono).    MiniDisc scans + Sunday Times review >>>

Janacek. Osud - Fiddler's Child - From the House of the Dead - Belohlavek - 2008/2000

Janacek's rarely heard semi-autobiographical opera Osud (Fate/Destiny), about the writing of an opera, and which tells of the composer Zivny and his lover Mila, both the object of his obsessive love and the subject of his work.

Miss Stuhla........................ Ailish Tynan
Míla........................ Amanda Roocroft
Míla's Mother........................ Rosalind Plowright
Konecny........................ Owen Gilhooly
Zivny........................ Stefan Margita
Dr Suda/Hrazda ................. Ales Briscein
Ms Pacovska/Fanca/Souckova ................. Martina Bauerova
Doubek as a child ................. George Longworth

BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Orchestra  conducted by  Jirí Belohlávek

BBC Radio 3 FM  21 August 2008  BBC Proms. live relay - Royal Albert Hall.   JVC T-X900L Tuner / Sony JA20ES MiniDisc Recorder / Sony Color MiniDisc.
4 files zip 16/44 FLAC  https://www.mediafire.com/file/3bf6p0xpvbdqk8u/21-8-08-Osud.zip/file

Leos Janacek : "The Fiddler's Child" -&- "From the House of the Dead" - suite, arr: Jilek

BBC Symphony Orchestra  conducted by  Jirí Belohlávek

BBC Radio 3 FM  31 October 2000.  Live relay - Barbican Hall.  Leak "Stereofetic" Tuner / Pioneer MJ-D707 Minidisc Recorder / TDK XG Minidisc (19kHz pilot tone removed)

4 files zip 16/44 FLAC  https://www.mediafire.com/file/jj9q5diop55ap5j/31-10-00-Fiddler+Dead.zip/file

Sony JA-20ES transfers to Terratec DMX 6fire 24/96 soundcard ~via~ Pioneer C-73 Reference Ultimate Fidelity Control Amplifier.

Osud – three novelesque scenes (1903–5) - Proms Analysis & Synopsis >>>

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: "Kashchey the Immortal" – An Autumnal Fairy-Tale in 1 act, 3 scenes. (1901/2; revised 1906)

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: "Kashchey the Immortal"

Kashchey ......................... Vyacheslav Voynarovsky
Princess ........................... Tatiana Monogarova
Ivan Korolevich .................... Pavel Baransky
Kashcheyevna ....................... Elena Manistina
Storm Knight ......................... Mikhail Petrenko

BBC Singers - London Philharmonic Orchestra  conducted by  Vladimir Jurowski

BBC Radio 3 FM. Live from the Royal Albert Hall - 5 September 2008  - JVC T-X900L Tuner / Sony JA20ES MiniDisc Recorder / Sony Premium MiniDisc. Sony JA20ES transfer to Terratec DMX 6fire 24/96 soundcard ~via~ Pioneer C-73 Reference Ultimate Fidelity Control Amplifier.

Introduced by Tom Service (with Vladimir Jurowski).

71 minutes - 3 files 16/44 zip FLAC  https://www.mediafire.com/file/6fhpfmigsdltjh7/Kaschchey5-9-08.zip/file

Programme Notes >>>

Carlos Kleiber / ROHO - Richard Strauss. Elektra - 1977

Richard Strauss:  "Elektra" 

First Maid...................... Elizabeth Bainbridge
Second Maid...................... Jean Bailey
Third Maid...................... Anne Wilkens
Fourth Maid...................... Margaret Curphey
Fifth Maid...................... Teresa Cahill
The Overseer...................... Milla Andrew
Elektra...................... Birgit Nilsson
Chrysothemis...................... Gwyneth Jones
Clytemnestra...................... Marta Szirmay
Her Confidante...................... Anna Cooper
Her Trainbearer...................... Elena Davies
A Young Servant...................... Paul Crook
An Old Servant...................... Paul Statham
Orestes...................... Donald McIntyre
Orestes' Tutor...................... Michael Langdon
Aegisthus...................... Charles Craig
Servants of the Household
        
The Royal Opera Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden  conducted by  Carlos Kleiber

Performance of 14 May 1977 (with 10 second insert from 6 May + slight editing/re-eq).. Includes my 10 May 1977 Covent Garden booklet: programme notes in .bmp.  

16 bit FLAC (mono)  https://www.mediafire.com/file/hr8ubfrbqyu1rfm/RStrauss-Elektra-ROHO-CarlosKleiber.zip/file                (EQ used:- pic below >>>)

Janacek. Jenufa - WNO / Daniel Harding - 1998

Daniel Harding makes his British operatic debut tonight with the Chorus and Orchestra of Welsh National Opera. Janacek's Jenufa is a passionate story of jealousy, human misfortune and the redeeming power of love. At the heart of the opera is a child's short life and early death. Jenufa's baby is illegitimate, born to her in secret in her stepmother's house. In her attempt to give Jenufa a chance of marriage, her stepmother tries to persuade the father to marry Jenufa; but when she fails, she kills Jenufa's baby. In his setting of Gabriela Preissova's play, Janacek evokes the claustrophobic atmosphere of peasant life in 19th-century Moravia.

Jenufa.......................... Rosalind Sutherland
Kostelnicka Buryjovka.......................... Suzanne Murphy
Laca Klemen.......................... Nigel Robson
Števa Buryja......................... John Daszak
Grandmother Buryjovka.......................... Susan Gorton
Jano.......................... Mary-Louise Aitken
Foreman of the mill.......................... Simon Thorpe
Mayor.......................... Gareth Rhys-Davies
and others....

Welsh National Opera  conducted by  Daniel Harding

BBC Radio 3 FM  21 September 1998 - live relay - New Theatre, Cardiff    (TDK CDing2 tapes)

320mp3

The broadcast (orchestra) seemed to get a bit compressed - and the singers rather squally towards the end; also I've dipped the treble by < 3dB @ 15kHz.

Daily Telegraph / The Times reviews >>>

Britten. Peter Grimes - WNO / Carlo Rizzi - 1999

Peter Grimes................ John Daszak  (Tenor) 
Ellen Orford................ Janice Watson  (Soprano) 
Cpt Balstrode................ Donald Maxwell  (Baritone) 
Auntie................ Ann Howard  (Mezzo-Soprano) 
Niece 1................ Charlotte Page  (Soprano) 
Niece 2................ Nicola Howard (Soprano) 
Bob Boles................ Peter Bronder  (Tenor) 
Swallow................ Andrew Greenan  (Bass) 
Mrs Sedley................ Susan Gorton  (Mezzo-Soprano) 
Ned Keene................ Peter Savidge  (Baritone)
Hobson................ Alan Ewing  (Bass) 
Rev. Horace Adams................ Neil Jenkins  (Tenor) 
Welsh National Opera  conducted by  Carlo Rizzi 

BBC Radio 3 FM  24 February 1999 - live relay from New Theatre, Cardiff
Meridian 104 . Akai GXC-38D || Akai GX-52 (TDK CDing2 tapes).  (Complete broadcast)   

320mp3   The Times review >>>

Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night's Dream / Mendelssohn: Overture and Incidental music - 2009

A rare chance to hear Shakespeare's play and Mendelssohn's complete incidental music for it in its intended context, specially recorded in the Tudor setting of the Middle Temple Hall in London.

Oberon / Theseus................. Martin Turner
Titania / Hippolyta................. Melanie Jessop
Lysander / Flute................. Alex Hassell
Demetrius / Starveling................. Daniel Rigby
Helena / Snug................. Catherine Bailey
Puck / Snout................. James Garnon
Bottom / Egeus................. John Paul Connolly
Hermia / Quince / First Fairy................. Elena Pavli

Ladies' Choir of the Enlightenment
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment  conducted by  Charles Hazlewood 

BBC Radio 3 FM  10 May 2009  JVC T-X900L > Sony JA20ES (Maxell MDs)

3 files zip 16/44 FLAC

Verdi. Falstaff - Alan Opie / ENO / Wigglesworth - 2004

Sir John Falstaff............... Alan Opie  (Baritone)
Alice Ford............... Susannah Glanville  (Soprano)
Ford............... Ashley Holland  (Baritone)
Mistress Quickly............... Rebecca de Pont Davies  (Mezzo-Soprano)
Nanetta............... Gillian Keith  (Soprano)
Fenton............... Colin Lee  (Tenor)
Meg Page............... Jean Rigby  (Mezzo-Soprano)
Dr.Caius............... Andrew Rees (Baritone)
Bardolph............... Alasdair Elliott  (Tenor)
Pistol............... Graeme Danby  (Bass)

English National Chorus & Orchestra  conducted by  Mark Wigglesworth

BBC Radio 3 FM  30 October 2004 - live relay from the London Coliseum.
Meridian 104 > Pioneer MJ-D707 || Sony JA20ES  (TDK XG MDs)  
16/44 zip FLAC  

Verdi. Il trovatore - Cura / Hvorostovsky - 2002

Ferrando.................... Tomas Tomasson
Leonora.................... Veronica Villarroel
Ines.................... Gweneth-Ann Jeffers
Count di Luna.................... Dmitri Hvorostovsky
Manrico.................... Jose Cura
Azucena.................... Yvonne Naef
Old Gypsy.................... Thomas Barnard
Messenger.................... Douglas Telfer
Ruiz.................... Edgaras Montvidas
Leonora's attendants, et al........ The Royal Opera Chorus
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House  conducted by  Carlo Rizzi  

BBC Radio 3 FM - live relay - 27 April 2002. Meridian 104 > Akai GX-52 (TDK D90 tapes)

16/44 FLAC   (the tapes were c.1990 - the deck has HX Pro)

Hugh Canning's 2002 Sunday Times review >>>

Verdi. La Traviata - Netrebko / Hvorostovsky / Kaufmann - 2008

Violetta Valery............... Anna Netrebko
Flora Bervoix............... Monika-Evelin Liiv
Marquis d'Obigny............... Kostas Smoriginas
Baron Douphol............... Eddie Wade
Doctor Grenvil............... Mark Beesley
Gastone de Letorieres............... Ji-Min Park
Alfredo Germont............... Jonas Kaufmann
Annina............... Sarah Pring
Giuseppe............... Neil Gillespie
Giorgio Germont............... Dmitri Hvorostovsky
Messenger............... Charbel Mattar
Servant............... Jonathan Coad
Ladies and gentlemen, et al......... The Royal Opera Chorus
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House  conducted by  Maurizio Benini  

BBC Radio 3 DAB. 9 February 2008. Recorded: 26 January 2008. Sony ST-SDB900 > Sony JA20ES (Sony Premium MDs)

16/44 FLAC

Verdi - Rigoletto - Edward Downes - 2001

Duke of Mantua..................... Marcelo Alvarez
Matteo Borsa..................... Peter Auty
Count Ceprano..................... Graeme Broadbent
Countess Ceprano..................... Dervla Ramsay
Rigoletto..................... Paolo Gavanelli
Marullo..................... Quentin Hayes
Count Monterone..................... Giovan Battista Parodi
Sparafucile..................... Eric Halfvarson
Gilda..................... Christine Schafer
Giovanna..................... Elizabeth Sikora
Page..................... Andrea Hazell
Court usher..................... Nigel Cliffe
Maddalena..................... Graciela Araya
Ladies and gentlemen of the court, servants........ The Royal Opera Chorus
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House  conducted by  Sir Edward Downes   

BBC Radio 3 FM - live relay - 22 September 2001. Leak Stereofetic > Pioneer MJ-D707 || Sony JA20ES (TDK XA MDs)
16/44 FLAC

Verdi. Falstaff - Haitink - 1999

Dr Caius..................... Robin Leggate
Sir John Falstaff..................... Bryn Terfel
Bardolph..................... Peter Hoare
Pistol..................... Gwynne Howell
Mrs Meg Page..................... Diana Montague
Mrs Alice Ford..................... Barbara Frittoli
Mistress Quickly..................... Bernadette Manca di Nissa
Nannetta..................... Desiree Rancatore
Fenton..................... Kenneth Tarver
Ford..................... Roberto Frontali
Landlord..................... George Freeburn
Robin..................... Ben Cooper
Townspeople, servants............. The Royal Opera Chorus
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House  conducted by  Bernard Haitink  

16/44 zip FLAC -

BBC Radio 3 FM - 22 December 1999 - Live relay - Meridian 104 > Akai GXC-38D || GX-52 (TDK CD-ing2 90 tapes)

Hans Werner Henze. Boulevard Solitude - Bernhard Kontarsky - 2001

Hans Werner Henze:  "Boulevard Solitude"

Armand des Grieux........................... Par Lindskog
Manon Lescaut........................... Alexandra von der Weth
Lescaut........................... Wolfgang Rauch
Lilaque pere........................... Chris Merritt
Francis........................... Quentin Hayes
Lilaque fils........................... Graeme Broadbent
Jean........................... Basil Patton
Various riff-raff........................... The Royal Opera Chorus
Various Children

The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden  conducted by  Bernhard Kontarsky

BBC Radio 3 FM - Live - 29 March 2001
Meridian 104 > TDK SA90 (intro: BBC CDS90) - Akai GX-52 > Pioneer C-73 > TEAC RW-800

Introduction (20:41)
Opera + outro (84:49 + 3:44)

http://www.musicweb-international.com/SandH/2001/Mar01/Henze2.htm        http://www.classicalsource.com/db_control/db_concert_review.php?id=109

Sunday Times review >>>  (Weth's other Covent Garden appearance was as Daphne (2002): a thoroughly tedious Richard Strauss opera!) - recorded it....

John Adams. El Nino / Kent Nagano - 2000

John Adams's new work is a fascinating mix of opera, oratorio and masque, taking the Nativity story as the springboard for an exploration of the nature of humanity at the beginning of a new millennium. Settings of biblical passages are interspersed with medieval and contemporary texts in a glittering musical panorama of narrative and reflection.
Andrew McGregor presents this recording from the world premiere given last month at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris and talks to composer John Adams and director Peter Sellars about their shared vision of this exciting new venture.

John Adams:  "El Nino"

Dawn Upshaw   (Soprano)
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson   (Mezzo-Soprano)
Willard White   (Baritone)
Daniel Bubeck, Brian Cummings, Steven Rickards   (Countertenors)
London Voices, Maitrise de Paris, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester, Berlin   conducted by  Kent Nagano  

BBC Radio 3 FM  29 January 2001  (Premiere: 15 December 2000, Paris - Radio France recording).

Act One intro + outro + interview  
Act One
Act Two (+ intro/outro)  

Sunday Times Review >>>

John Adams. The Death of Klinghoffer - BBC SO / Slatkin - 2002

John Adams:  "The Death of Klinghoffer"
Sanford Sylvan....................... Leon Klinghoffer  
Catherine Wyn-Rogers....................... Marilyn Klinghoffer
Christopher Maltman....................... Captain
Dean Robinson....................... First Officer
Leigh Melrose....................... Rambo
Yvonne Howard....................... Swiss Grandmother
Nuala Willis....................... Austrian Woman
Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts....................... Molqi
William Dazeley....................... Mamoud
Andrew Watts....................... Omar
Kirsten Blase....................... British Dancing Girl

BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Orchestra  conducted by  Leonard Slatkin 

BBC Radio 3 FM - Live - 18 January 2002 - Barbican Hall - Meridian 104 > TDK SA90 - Akai GX-52 > Pioneer C-73 > TEAC RW-800

2 files:- Act One intro + Interval talk 
7 files:- Act One (+ outro)

7 files:- Act Two (+ intro/outro)            Rodney Milnes review >>>

John Adams. Nixon in China - ENO / Paul Daniel - 2000

Live from English National Opera, the first ever British staging of John Adams's political drama. ENO's music director Paul Daniel conducts this production by Peter Sellars. The opera centres on the tensions and conflicts behind Nixon's state visit to China in February 1972.

John Adams: "Nixon in China"
David Kempster.................. Chou En-lai
Victoria Simmonds.................. Nancy T'ang
Ethna Robinson.................. Second Secretary
Rebecca de Pont Davies.................. Third Secretary
James Maddalena.................. Richard Nixon
Janis Kelly.................. Pat Nixon
Stephen Owen.................. Henry Kissinger
Robert Brubaker.................. Mao Tse-tung
Judith Howarth.................. Chiang Ch'ing

English National Opera Chorus and Orchestra  conducted by  Paul Daniel

BBC Radio 3 FM - 10 June 2000. Meridian 104 > TDK CDing2 - Akai GXC-38D ? || Akai GX-52 > Pioneer C-73 > TEAC RW-800

Act One - 2scenes (+intro/outros)   Act Two - 2scenes (+intro/outros)      Act Three (+intro/outro)

15" Interval:- "A Short Ride - from Rhythm to Melody". A documentary portrait of composer John Adams in which he talks about his progress from early minimalism to accessible eclecticism. With contributions from some of Adams's collaborators and friends.
15" Interval: ITN political editor John Sergeant investigates the true impact of Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972.  
2  files      Sunday Times interview with Peter Sellars >>>   

Tippett. King Priam - BBC NOoW / David Atherton - 1999

Tippett's second opera is based on Homer's account of the fall of the ancient city of Troy.
The powerful story weaves together threads of human love, choice, responsibility and the nature of war.
King Priam was first heard in 1962 to mark the consecration of Coventry Cathedral, alongside Britten's War Requiem.
Tonight's concert performance is introduced by Chris de Souza.

Michael Tippett:  "King Priam"                                                                                                      
King Priam................ David Wilson-Johnson  (Baritone)  
Hecuba................ Susan Bullock  (Soprano)
Hector................ Stephen Roberts  (Baritone)
Andromache................ Susan Bickley  (Soprano)
Paris (man)................ John Graham Hall  (Tenor)
Paris (boy)................ Thomas Cockett  (Treble)
Helen................ Susan Parry  (Mezzo-Soprano)
Achilles................ Martyn Hill  (Tenor)
Patroclus................ Jeremy Huw Williams  (Baritone)
Nurse................ Mary King  (Mezzo-Soprano)
Old Man................ Michael George  (Bass)
Young Guard................ Neil Jenkins  (Tenor)
Hermes................ Daniel Norman  (Tenor)

BBC Singers, BBC National Orchestra of Wales  conducted by  David Atherton

BBC Radio 3 FM - 25 April 1999 - live from Royal Festival Hall. 

Part One (6:03+44:12+1:22)  KingPriamAtherton1999-1.zip     Part Two (3:03+25:33+1:11)  KingPriamAtherton1999-2.zip     Part Three (3:06+59:58)  KingPriamAtherton1999-3.zip

Meridian 104 > TDK CDing2 - Akai GXC-38D || Akai GX-52 > Pioneer C-73 Reference > TEAC RW-800            Chandos booklet pdf

Britten. Curlew River - EIF / Garry Walker - 2005

Benjamin Britten:  "Curlew River"

Edinburgh International Festival 2005
Britten's church parable based on Japanese Noh theatre is performed in a new production by Olivier Py.

Madwoman............ Toby Spence  (Tenor)
Ferryman............ William Dazeley  (Bass-baritone)
Traveller............ Neal Davies  (Bass-baritone)
Abbot............ Tim Mirfin  (Bass)

Lawrence Power  (viola)
Duncan McTier  (double bass)
Adam Walker  (flute)
Richard Watkins  (horn)
Adrian Spillett  (percussion)
Catrin Finch  (harp)
Thomas Trotter  (organ)

Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama Chamber Choir Chorus  conducted by  Garry Walker

BBC Radio 3 DAB - 18 September 2005 (Sony SDB900 > Pioneer MJ-D707: also for replay). Recorded August 2005 - Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh.

Parts 1 + 2 + outro (35:36+37:01+2:15)  CurlewRiver2005.zip   Various reviews >>>

Britten. Peter Grimes - Opera North / Richard Farnes - 2006

Benjamin Britten: "Peter Grimes"

Peter Grimes................ Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts  (Tenor) 
Ellen Orford................ Giselle Allen  (Soprano) 
Cpt Balstrode................ Christopher Purves  (Baritone) 
Auntie................ Ann Howard  (Mezzo-Soprano) 
Niece 1................ Amy Freston  (Soprano) 
Niece 2................ Claire Booth  (Soprano) 
Bob Boles................ Alan Oke  (Tenor) 
Swallow................ Richard Angas  (Bass) 
Mrs Sedley................ Ethna Robinson  (Mezzo-Soprano) 
Ned Keene................ Roderick Williams  (Baritone)
Hobson................ Stephen Richardson  (Bass) 
Rev. Horace Adams................ Nigel Robson  (Tenor) 
Chorus & Orchestra of Opera North (English Northern Philharmonia)  conducted by  Richard Farnes 

BBC Radio 3 DAB > Minidisc. 2 March 2007 (November 2006 - Grand Theatre, Leeds).

Act One (55:33)  PeterGrimes-Farnes2006-Act1.flac           Act Two (48:06)  PeterGrimes-Farnes2006-Act2.flac   
                                                      Act Three (40:52)  PeterGrimes-Farnes2006-Act3.flac                                   https://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/petergrimes-rev  

Richard Strauss. Elektra - Metropolitan Opera / James Levine - 1999

Richard Strauss -Von Hofmannsthal:  "Elektra"

Elektra.................................  Gabriele Schnaut
Chrysothemis............................. Deborah Voigt
Klytämnestra............................. Hanna Schwarz
Orest.................................... Monte Pederson
Aegisth.................................. Allan Glassman
Overseer................................. Janet Hopkins
Serving Woman............................ Lucille Beer
Serving Woman............................ Mariana Karpatova
Serving Woman............................ Jane Shaulis
Serving Woman............................ Margaret Cusack
Serving Woman............................ Sondra Radvanovsky
Confidant................................ Carole Wright
Trainbearer.............................. Joyce Olson
Young Servant............................ Mark Schowalter
Old Servant.............................. Richard Vernon
Guardian................................. James Courtney

Metropolitan Opera House - James Levine    BBC Radio 3 FM - 27 February 1999 - Live Matinee Broadcast     ElektraLevine1999.zip/file
Meridian 104 > TDK CDing2 90 - Akai GXC-38D || Akai GX-52 > Pioneer C-73 > TEAC RW-800 .......Some increasing broadcast 'congestion' towards the end.. 

Mark Shanahan / English National Opera - Leoncavallo. La Boheme - BBC 2000

Mimi.................................. Sandra Ford  (Soprano)
Rodolfo.................................. Leigh Melrose  (Baritone)
Marcello.................................. Rhys Meirion  (Tenor)
Musetta.................................. Christine Rice  (Mezzo-Soprano)
Schaunard.................................. Paul Whelan  (Bass-Baritone)
Colline.................................. Leslie John Flanegan  (Baritone)
Barbemuche..................................  Graeme Danby  (Bass)
Durand.................................. Mark le Brocq  (Tenor)
Eufemia.................................. Rebecca de Pont-Davies  (Soprano)
Gaudenzio.................................. Ryland Davies  (Tenor)
Viscount Paolo.................................. Adrian Clarke  (Baritone)
Old man.................................. Peter Kerr  (Bass)
Stranger.................................. Geraint Hylton  (Tenor)
English National Opera Chorus and Orchestra  conducted by  Mark Shanahan      
MD1-LeoncavalloBoheme2000.zip            MD2-LeoncavalloBoheme2000.zip       76  + 77 mins    
BBC Radio 3. 4 November 2000.  Meridian 104 FM > QUAD 33 > Pioneer MJ-D707  (+ 20sec  Leak Stereofetic / Akai GX-52 insert). Playback: Sony JA20ES   Live: London Coliseum.   MusicWeb review Guardian review    Other reviews, etc >>>  

Edward Gardner / Glyndebourne - Britten. The Turn of the Screw - BBC 2007

Glyndebourne's production of Britten's The Turn of the Screw, based on Henry James's chilling story.

Prologue / Peter Quint........................ William Burden  (Tenor)
Governess........................ Camilla Tilling  (Soprano)
Miles........................ Christopher Sladdin  (Treble)
Flora........................ Joanna Songi  (Soprano)
Mrs.Grose........................ Anne-Marie Owens  (Mezzo-Soprano)
Miss Jessel........................ Emma Bell  (Soprano)
London Philharmonic Orchestra  conducted by  Edward Gardner  

106:00  TurnScrew-Gardner2007.zip

BBC Radio 3 DAB.  29 September 2007.  Sony ST-SDB900 - Akai GX-52 (rec/play).  Maxell XLII -100 (UK made tape).
Recorded: Glyndebourne - August 2007.  On 2CD issued 2011 - timing a minute less - different performance?  
Synopsis by Janet Tuppen >>>  

Edward Gardner / English National Opera - Britten. Death in Venice - BBC 2007

Britten's final opera is based on Thomas Mann's novella about the last days of Aschenbach, a famous writer who, in a city plagued by cholera, is profoundly affected by his meeting with a young Polish boy staying at the same hotel. Deborah Warner's new production for ENO is the first to be conducted by the company's new Music Director Edward Gardner.

Gustav von Aschenbach, a novelist........................ Ian Bostridge   (Tenor)
The Traveller, Elderly Fop, Old Gondelier, Hotel Manager, Hotel Barber, Leader of the Players
...and Voice of Dionysus........................ Peter Coleman-Wright   (Baritone)
The Voice of Apollo........................ Iestyn Davies   (Countertenor)
Hotel Porter........................ Peter Van Hulle   (Tenor)
Strawberry-seller........................ Anna Dennis   (Soprano)
Guide........................ Charles Johnston   (Baritone)
Strolling players........................ Lee Bisset   (Soprano)  &  Dwayne Jones   (Tenor)
English clerk in a travel bureau........................ Jonathan Gunthorpe   (Baritone)
Glass-maker........................ Richard Edgar-Wilson   (Tenor)
Lace-seller........................ Constance Novis   (Soprano)
Beggar woman........................ Madeleine Shaw   (Mezzo-Soprano)
Restaurant waiter........................ William Berger   (Baritone)
Orchestra and Chorus of English National Opera  conducted by  Edward Gardner  

BBC Radio 3 DAB. 30 June 2007. Sony ST-SDB900 - Sony JA20ES.

Act One + intro (10:00 + 82:44)    DeathVenice-Gardner2007-Act1.zip      Act Two/outro (75:49)   DeathVenice-Gardner2007-Act2.flac

Due to the somewhat Murky DAB sound +2.5dB treble, as before, is added. (slight Glitchette at the beginning of the Act One Intro!)

Edward Gardner / English National Opera - Mussorgsky. Boris Godunov - BBC 2008

Live from the London Coliseum, English National Opera presents Mussorgsky's classic study of guilt and paranoia in a performance of the original version with a new translation by David Lloyd-Jones.

Boris Godunov........................ Peter Rose  (Bass)
Prince Shuisky........................ John Graham-Hall  (Tenor)
Andrei Shchelkalov........................ David Stephenson  (Baritone)
Pimen........................ Brindley Sherratt  (Bass)
Grigory, later Dmitri the Pretender.................. Gregory Turay  (Tenor)
Innkeeper........................ Yvonne Howard  (Mezzo-Soprano)
Varlaam........................ Jonathan Veira  (Bass-Baritone)
Misail........................ Anton Rich  (Tenor)
Xenia........................ Sophie Bevan  (Soprano)
Fyodor........................ Ann Grevelius  (Mezzo-Soprano)
Xenia's Nurse........................ Deborah Davison  (Mezzo-Soprano)
Nikitch........................ James Gower  (Bass-Baritone)
Mityukha........................ Paul Napier-Burrows  (Baritone)
Border Guard........................ Charles Johnston  (Bass)
Boyar-in-attendance........................ Philip Daggett  (Tenor)
Simpleton........................ Robert Murray  (Tenor)
Orchestra and Chorus of English National Opera  conducted by  Edward Gardner  
BorisGodunovENO2008--pt1.flac       BorisGodunovENO2008--pt2.flac     67 + 68 mins
BBC Radio 3 FM. 15 November 2008.  JVC T-X900L / Pioneer MJ-D707 / Sony JA20ES MD playback.  
BorisGodunov EngLib.zip  David Lloyd-Jones' OUP libretto: may not entirely match this absolutely superb performance.   classicalsource musicweb-international