CD, Verdi (composer)
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Baritenor
RecommendedMichael Spyres (baritenor), Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, Marko Letonja
Spyres has a remarkable range and is a consummate vocal chameleon too...in a truly remarkable finale to his ‘Largo al factotum’, Rossini’s Figaro is indeed all things to all men vocally. What... —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 24th September 2021
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BBC Music Magazine, November 2021, Opera Choice
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Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2021, Recording of the Month
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Diapason d’Or, October 2021, Nouveauté
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Opera, December 2021, Disc of the Month
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Winner 2021
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International Classical Music Awards, 2022, Nominated - Vocal
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Sunday Times, 10 Best Classical Albums of 2021
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2022, Shortlisted - Vocal
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Gramophone Awards, 2022, Winner - Voice & Ensemble
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Verdi: Aida
RecommendedAnja Harteros (Aida), Jonas Kaufmann (Radamès), Ekaterina Semenchuk (Amneris), Ludovic Tezier (Amonasro), Erwin Schrott (Ramfis), Marco Spotti (Il Re d'Egitto), Paolo Fanale (Un Messaggero), Eleonora Buratto (Sacerdotessa), Orchestra e Coro dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Antonio Pappano
Anja Harteros can boast both the high-octane tone and the necessary level of dramatic expression to make Aida credibly three dimensional…[Ekaterina Semenchuk makes] many subtle observations... —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 2nd October 2015
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Sunday Times, 2015, Albums of the Year
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BBC Music Magazine, November 2015, Recording of the Month
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2016, Winner (Opera) and Recording of the Year
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Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2015, Recording of the Month
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Record Review, October 2015, Record of the Week
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Building a Library, April 2017, Also Recommended
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Gramophone Awards, 2016, Winner - Opera
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Winner 2015
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Diapason d’Or de l’Année, 2015, Winner - Opéra
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Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (Original 1857 version)
RecommendedGermán Enrique Alcántara (Simon Boccanegra), Eri Nakamura (Maria/Amelia), William Thomas (Fiesco), Iván Ayón-Rivas (Gabriele Adorno), Sergio Vitale (Paolo Albiani)
The Hallé, Chorus of Opera North, RNCM Opera Chorus, Sir Mark Elder
Exceptional vocal performances from Argentinean baritone Germán Enrique Alcántara in the title role, rising bass William Thomas as his foe Jacopo Fiesco and Peruvian tenor Iván Ayón-Rivas as... —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 21st March 2025
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Gramophone Magazine, May 2025, Editor's Choice
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International Opera Awards, 2025, Shortlisted - Complete Recording
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International Classical Music Awards, 2026, Nominated - Opera
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2025
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Winner 2025, Recording Debut of the Year - Germán Enrique Alcántara
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Gramophone Awards, 2025 Finalists, Opera
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The New York Times, Best Classical Music Albums of 2025
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The first thing to say is that Bernheim has an immaculate natural voice – rich, flexible, mellifluous and nuanced. He is at his very best in French items from the later 19th century…Moreover,... —
Awards:
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Diapason d’Or, November 2019, Nouveauté
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The Times Records of the Year, 2019
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Presto Editor's Choice, November 2019
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International Opera Awards, 2020, Nominated - Solo Recital Recording
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Opera, April 2020, Disc of the Month
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Opus Klassik Awards, 2020, Nominee - Male Singer of the Year
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Opus Klassik Awards, 2020, Winner - Newcomer of the Year
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Golden Age
RecommendedErin Morley (soprano), Lawrence Brownlee (tenor), Munich Radio Orchestra, Ivan Repušić
Both singers are completely unfazed by the technical challenges made by the composers involved and are equally fully signed up to the stylistic demands involved; words are perfectly articulated... —
Awards:
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BBC Music Magazine, December 2025, Opera Choice
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International Classical Music Awards, 2026, Nominated - Vocal Music
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2025
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The New York Times, Best Classical Music Albums of 2025
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Davidsen’s soprano sounds fresh, gleaming and direct, her top-most notes silvery. She knows how to ensure nothing gets overblown – and how to get so close to the edge that the effect is thrilling,... —
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Pene Pati
RecommendedPene Pati (tenor), Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Choeur de l'Opéra national de Bordeaux, Emmanuel Villaume
A generosity of spirit not always to be taken for granted with tenors is in constant evidence on Pene Pati’s debut album…His voice certainly has the colour for both the French and Italian repertoire... —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 8th April 2022
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Opera, May 2022, Disc of the Month
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BBC Music Magazine, May 2022
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Opus Klassik, 2022, Young Artist of the Year
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Verdi: Requiem
RecommendedAnja Harteros (soprano), Elīna Garanča (mezzo), Jonas Kaufmann (tenor), René Pape (bass)
Orchestra e coro del Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Daniel Barenboim
Barenboim's interpretative view is grand in conception, with the La Scala performers offering him sufficient depth and richness of tone...the four soloists form a quartet finely balanced in... —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 16th September 2013
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Gramophone Magazine, November 2013, Editor's Choice
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Presto Favourites, Recommended Recording
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Verdi: La Traviata
Marina Rebeka (Violetta), Charles Castronovo (Alfredo), George Petean (Giorgio Germont), Latvian Festival Orchestra, State Choir Latvija & Michael Balke
Awards:
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Opus Klassik Awards, 2020, Nominee - Female Singer of the Year (Rebeka)
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Opus Klassik Awards, 2020, Nominee - Male Singer of the Year (Castronovo)
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Opus Klassik Awards, 2020, Nominee - Male Singer of the Year (Petean)
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Arias
RecommendedJonathan Tetelman (tenor), Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria, Karel Mark Chichon
After music college, Jonathan Tetelman abandoned singing and became a DJ...His is the sort of ardent, soul-baring voice you would want to be serenaded by when reclining on a chaise longue somewhere... —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 12th August 2022
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Gramophone Magazine, October 2022, Recording of the Month
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2022
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Opus Klassik Awards, 2023, Nominated - Male Singer of the Year, Solo Vocal & Conductor
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Opus Klassik Awards, 2023, Winner - Young Talent of the Year
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