Recording Recommendations
The following are simply a smattering of some of my favorite singers and recordings. Since people often ask for recommendations, I've put together a completely biased list that I think represents some of the best vocal technique and artistry around today. These links go to amazon.com, although many of the selections are available locally at places like Applause.
Opera and Oratorio
- Monteverdi: L'incoronazione di Poppea - McNair, von Otter, Hanchard, Chance; Gardiner
Anyone curious about 17th century opera would be well advised to listen to this recording, which succeeds in being historically, dramatically, and vocally convincing.
- Bach: St. Matthew Passion - Philippe Herreweghe
For a dramatic interpretation of this work there's Rilling, for a scholarly interpretation there's Gardiner, and for both there's Herreweghe.
- Bach: Mass in B minor - Thomas Hengelbrock and the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra
My absolute favorite baroque group is the Freiburger Barock Orchester - they also have some excellent Mozart recordings (if you can find them...).
- Mozart: Die Zauberflöte - Roger Norrington
I've not included much opera, but this recording stands out. At last, some tempi appropriate to the genre of this work!
- Mozart: Great Mass in C minor - Leonard Bernstein
Although a very wet, live recording, few have moved me more that this one. Auger's voice is unearthly.
- Mozart: Arias - Thomas Quasthoff
Another Mozart genius... and a voice that any baritone should be well acquainted with.
- Mozart Arias & Strauss Orchestral Songs - Christine Schäfer
Schäfer was a student of Auger's and shows the same superb technical command in the Mozart concert arias.
- Haydn: Arias & Cantatas - Arleen Auger
Auger doing the repertoire she did best, although Haydn's operas are sadly neglected these days.
- Rossini: Il Barbiere di Siviglia - Weikert, Gruberova, Florez
The principle voices in this recording are some of the biggest stars of the Bel Canto repertoire.
Art Song
- Schubert: Lieder - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
A classic recording that set the standard for modern Schubert interpretation.
- Schubert: Die schöne Müllerin; Winterreise; Schwanengesang - Peter Schreier
One of my favorite tenor voices, Schreier was also a great Mozart and Bach interpreter.
- Songs by Robert & Clara Schumann - Barbara Bonney and Vladimir Ashkenazy
A nice selection of songs - Bonney's German is better than some Germans' . . .
- Schumann: Dichterliebe, Op. 39 Liederkreis - Thomas Quasthoff
Two of my favorite song cycles in an excellent performance. Other fine recordings are Hampson's, Schreier's, and Bostridge's, but more women need to do this.
- Mahler: Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, Kindertotenlieder, Rückert-Lieder - Thomas Hampson
In my opinion, some of Hampson's best singing.
- Debussy and Fauré Songs - Benita Valente & Lydia Artymiw
Just the subtle, unpretentious treatment needed for French Melodie, and especially Faure.
- Faure, Debussy & Poulenc: Songs - Ian Bostridge
This gentle voice is able to give sibtle shadings that suit the French repertoire admirably.
- Grieg Songs - Anne Sofie von Otter
This recording has done more to bring Grieg songs into the mainstream than anything else - it is refreshingly exhuberant!
Collections
- Thomas Quasthoff - A Romantic Songbook
A nice pastiche of 19th-century song, beautifully interpreted by Quasthoff.
- Susan Graham at Carnegie Hall
Songs spanning the German, French, and English repertoire, as well as the 19th and 20th centuries, sung by a high mezzo with a pleasingly unforced lyric sound.
- Natalie Dessay - Vocalise
An absolutely amazing coloratura voice with a seemingly endless range - these pieces really showcase Dessay's voice and give you a glimps at her dramatic flair.
- Elina Garanca - Arie Favorite
I just heard this singer live in Vienna as Sesto in Mozart's Tito and Rosina in Il Barbiere - a stunning coloratura mezzo whose performance of 'Parto, parto' (on this CD) brought the house down.
- Jessye Norman - Strauss: Four Last Songs, Wagner: Wesendonck-Lieder
This is a legendary recording of the Four Last Songs, and rightfully so. For sumptuous lyricism it doesn't get much better than this.