Decca

puccini trittico decca

Puccini: Il trittico (Decca)

Not a first choice recording but worth spending some time with for a few excellent individual contributions [MP]

Leoni: L’Oracolo (Decca)

Worth getting to know even in a less than successful recording [MP]

Wagner Die Walkure Solti 2022 remaster Decca 4853160SACD

Wagner: Die Walküre (Decca)

The last instalment of the Decca ‘Ring’ enhanced by remastering in magnificent sound [JQ]

Wagner rheingold 4853159

Wagner: Das Rheingold (Decca)

A classic Wagner recording in magnificently remastered sound [JQ]

Janacek Katya Kabanova Mackerras Decca 4218522

Janáček: Káťa Kabanová (Decca)

An incandescent central performance heads an excellent ensemble cast under Mackerras’ renowned leadership [MP]

Rossini italiana 4758275

Rossini: L’italiana in Algeri (Decca)

A pleasing but hardly essential recording of Rossini’s opera, noteworthy for being the first recorded in stereo [MP]

britten albert herring decca

Britten: Albert Herring (Decca)

A touchstone recording which is hard to beat for its general excellence and superbly detailed sound [MP]

Ponchielli: La Gioconda (Decca)

Perhaps not the finest La Gioconda recording but a deeply satisfying one nonetheless [MP]

Strauss helena 4786502

Strauss: Die Ägyptische Helena (Decca)

Not ideal in every respect, this recording is a fine achievement nonetheless [MP]

Verdi Macbeth Schippers Decca 4834118

Verdi: Macbeth (Decca)

A recording of power and presence, but with some really disfiguring cuts to the music [MP]

Donizetti: La fille du régiment (Decca)

Sign me up for this regiment: this recording is as good as it gets [MP]

Lise Davidsen (soprano): Christmas From Norway (Decca)

Be sure this makes it under your next Christmas tree [MP]

Christmas choral 5568937

A Choral Christmas (Decca)

Beautiful sounds in big-boned arrangements which are best sample piecemeal rather than all at once [MP]

Gershwin porgy 4785785

Gershwin: Porgy and Bess (Decca)

This remains a powerful experience 49 years after its initial release [MP]

Rossini semiramide 4757918

Rossini: Semiramide (Decca)

A feast of stylish bel canto singing for the two stars but the rest of the cast can only struggle though [MP]

wagner lohengrin decca

Wagner: Lohengrin (Decca)

(Déjà Review) This set wins hands down [JP]

britten requiem decca

Britten: War Requiem (Decca)

A landmark recording revealed in the stunning realism of a new transfer on SACD [JQ]

Mendelssohn concerto 4853987

Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto (Decca)

More than justifies the hype surrounding this young violinist [DMD]

wagner gotterdammerung decca

Wagner: Götterdämmerung (Decca)

A recording for the ages, revealed in full splendour in a new re-mastering [JQ]

Espana Argenta Decca 4663782

Ataúlfo Argenta (conductor) (Decca)

Two LPs’ worth of Argenta’s legendary performances in classic Decca sound [PSe]

Albéniz: Henry Clifford (Decca)

(Déjà Review) Recommended for those looking for a vivid unfamiliar score to get their teeth into [LF]

Schumann, Clara Schumann & Brahms: Benjamin Grosvenor (piano) (Decca)

Magnificent playing weaves together the music of this intimately connected trio [RCh]

Arnold: English Dances & other works (Decca)

(Déjà Review) A miracle of economy, clarity and efficiency – Arnold at his best [HC]

Whitacre Home Voces8 Decca 4853970

Whitacre: Choral works (Decca)

An extended memorial work with some shorter pieces [SB]