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Opera in English
Opera, performed in English.
Chandos Opera in English is produced in association with the Peter Moores Foundation and aims to make opera available to a wider audience by presenting the performances in English.
The series, which was launched in 1995 with The Barber of Seville, is to include many of the most popular operas in the repertoire. The Barber, which was very well received, has Bruce Ford as the Count, Della Jones as Rosina and Alan Opie as Figaro. Tosca was released in 1996 and stars Jane Eaglen as Tosca, Dennis O'Neill as Cavaradossi and Gregory Yurisich as Scarpia. All future recordings of Opera in English will appear on this label with a CHAN3000 numbering sequence.
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Humperdinck: Hänsel & Gretel
RecommendedRebecca Evans (Gretel), Jennifer Larmore (Hansel), Jane Henschel (The Witch), Rosalind Plowright (Gertrude), Robert Hayward (Peter), Sarah Tynan (Dew Fairy), Diana Montague (Sandman), Sarah Coppen (Cuckoo)
Philharmonia Orchestra & New London Children’s Choir, Sir Charles Mackerras
What distinguishes this version is primarily the vigorous and large-scale conducting of Sir Charles Mackerras. — More…
Awards:
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BBC Music Magazine, August 2007, Opera Choice
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Gramophone Magazine, September 2007, Editor's Choice
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Grammy Awards, 50th Awards (2007), Best Opera Recording
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Mozart: The Magic Flute
Barry Banks (Tamino), Rebecca Evans (Pamina), Elizabeth Vidal (Queen of the Night), Simon Keenlyside (Papageno), John Tomlinson (Sarastro), Lesley Garrett (Papagena), John Graham-Hall (Monostatos)
Geoffrey Mitchell Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras
Of all repertoire operas, none gains more than The Magic Flute from performance in the language of the audience. Musically, the performance is hard to fault. Articulation is light and buoyant,... — More…
Awards:
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BBC Music Magazine, June 2005, Disc of the month
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Gramophone Magazine, June 2005, Editor's Choice
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Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (highlights)
RecommendedJohn Tomlinson (Boris), Stuart Kale (Prince Shuisky), Clive Bayley (Varlaam), Joan Rodgers (Xenia), Susan Parry (Feodor), Yvonne Howard (Old Nurse), Matthew Best (Pimen)
Opera North Chorus, English Northern Philharmonia, Paul Daniel
John Tomlinson has made the part of Boris his own, and this generous, 75-minute selection of excerpts from Boris Godunov is highly recommendable, even when compared with current Russian versions... — More…
Awards:
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Strauss: Ariadne on Naxos
RecommendedSung in English: translation by Christopher Cowell
Christine Brewer (Ariadne/Prima Donna), Robert Dean Smith (Bacchus/The Tenor), Alice Coote (Composer), Gillian Keith (Zerbinetta), Stephen Fry (Major-Domo), Alan Opie (Music Master), John Graham-Hall (Dancing Master/Scaramuccio), Roderick Williams (Harlequin), Matthew Rose (Truffaldino), Wynne Evans...
Brewer's luscious Ariadne had to be captured on disc...There's another essential performance from Alice Coote...with unflinchingly full top notes that few other genuine mezzos possess...I've... — More…
Awards:
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Sunday Times, 2010, Albums of the Year
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Gramophone Awards, 2011, Shortlisted - Opera
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BBC Music Magazine, December 2010, Opera Choice
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Building A Library, September 2025, Recommended Recording
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Janáček: The Makropulos Case
Cheryl Barker (Emilia Marty - 'E.M.'), Robert Brubaker (Albert Gregor), John Graham-Hall (Vítek), Elena Xanthoudakis (Kristina), John Wegner (Baron Jaroslav Prus), Thomas Walker (Janek Prus), Neal Davies (Dr Kolenaty), Graeme Danby (Stage Hand), Graham Clark (Count Hauk-Šendorf)
English National...
Mackerras's reading, recorded in live performance, is slightly more expansive than his benchmark Vienna version… but the passionately lyrical urgency and sense of mystery drive it along just... — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Awards, 2007, Finalist - Opera
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Gramophone Magazine, April 2007, Editor's Choice
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Mozart: The Abduction from the Seraglio
RecommendedMattiwilda Dobbs (Constanza), Nicolai Gedda (Belmonte), Jenifer Eddy (Blonda), John Fryatt (Pedrillo), Noel Mangin (Osmin), David Kelsey (Pasha Selim)
Ambrosian Singers, The Bath Festival Orchestra, Yehudi Menuhin
Menuhin's set of The Abduction from the Seraglio in English makes the performance sparkle from first to last, favouring brisk, well-lifted Allegros, so that the fun of the piece comes over vividly...[the... — More…
Awards:
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Great Operatic Arias 22 - Gerald Finley
Gerald Finley (baritone)
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir, Edward Gardner
All essentials for a recital are present here: the featured artist in good voice, imagination capable of bringing 13 different characters to life..., apt recording decisions and on-the-pace... — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, April 2010, Editor's Choice
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Opera, May 2010, Recording of the Month
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Janacek: Katya Kabanova
Cheryl Barker (Katya), Jane Henschel (Kabanicha), Robert Brubaker (Boris Grigoryevich), Peter Hoare (Tichon Kabanov), Peter Wedd (Kudryash), Victoria Simmonds (Varvara), Kathleen Wilkinson (Glasha), Gwynne Howell (Dikoi); Welsh National Opera, Carlo Rizzi
…Rizzi illuminates… with almost Puccinian warmth, while keenly evoking the tightening tensions beneath. …Barker's… intense soprano, large for the role, makes Katya sound stronger than usual... — More…
Awards:
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2008, Opera Finalist
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Gramophone Awards, 2008, Finalist - Opera
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BBC Music Magazine, December 2007, Opera Choice
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Janacek: Jenufa, Her Step-Daughter
Janice Watson (Jenufa), Josephine Barstow (Kostelnicka), Nigel Robson (Laca Klemen), Peter Wedd (Števa Buryja), Elizabeth Vaughan (Grandmother Buryjovka), Neal Davies (Foreman)
Welsh National Opera, Sir Charles Mackerras
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, August 2004, Editor's Choice
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Janáček: Osud (Fate)
Helen Field (Míla Valkova), Philip Langridge (Zivny), Kathryn Harries (Míla's mother)
Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, Chorus of Welsh National Opera, Sir Charles Mackerras
Mackerras delivers a magnificent ensemble performance, and the mass of minor roles is flawlessly presented. — More…
