Best Opera

Leonard Bernstein's 1957 recording of the original Broadway cast of West Side Story is a vibrant and electrifying document of a landmark musical. The energy of the performers, combined with Bernstein'...

Maria Callas's 1953 recording of Puccini's Tosca, alongside Franco Corelli and Giuseppe Di Stefano, is considered the definitive performance of this tragic opera. Callas's dramatic intensity and vocal...

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was an Austrian composer of classical music. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in music history. He wrote over 600 works, which include symphon...

Set in Brooklyn, this 1987 film is a vibrant, operatic, and deeply funny look at an Italian-American family. Cher plays a widow who falls for her fiancé's hot-tempered brother, played by Nicolas Cage....

Missy Mazzoli is a prolific American composer recognized for her dramatic and emotionally resonant works, particularly her operas. Her opera 'Breaking the Glass,' a psychological thriller, garnered wi...

Kaija Saariaho (1952-2023) was a Finnish composer known for her spectral music, characterized by its exploration of timbre and texture. Her opera 'LAmour de loin' is considered a modern masterpiece, p...

Daniel Barenboim's 1997 recording of Wagner's Lohengrin with the Berlin State Opera is a compelling and dramatically rich interpretation. Barenboim's conducting brings out the opera's mystical and spi...

This book traces the evolution of vocal technique across different historical periods and musical styles. It examines the methods and philosophies of renowned vocal teachers and performers. Its a valu...

Colin Davis's 1961 recording of Act III from Wagner's Lohengrin with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a thrilling and dramatically compelling performance. Davis's conducting brings a clarity and pr...

The Phantom of the Opera, a long-running West End staple, continues to captivate audiences with its haunting melodies, dramatic storyline, and spectacular stagecraft. The shows iconic mask, elaborate...

Richard Wagner (1813-1883) revolutionized opera with his concept of *Gesamtkunstwerk* (total work of art), integrating music, drama, poetry, and stagecraft. His operas, such as *The Ring Cycle*, are m...

Philip Glass, like Reich, remains a significant figure in contemporary music. His minimalist compositions, characterized by their repetitive structures and hypnotic rhythms, have achieved widespread p...

Pierre Monteux's 1961 recording of Mozart's Don Giovanni, featuring a stellar cast, is a historically informed and dramatically engaging interpretation. Monteuxs direction emphasizes the operas comedi...

Excalibur is a grand, operatic retelling of the legend of King Arthur. With its lush, dreamlike visuals and intense, dramatic performances, it captures the mythic quality of the story better than almo...

Porgy and Bess, released in 1959, is Davis's reinterpretation of George Gershwins opera. Featuring vocals by Bob Weinstock, the album strips down the opera to its core musical elements, reinterpreting...

Du Yun is a Chinese-American composer known for her innovative and politically charged operas. Her opera 'Angels Bone,' which won the Pulitzer Prize, explores themes of immigration, identity, and soci...

Antonio Pappano is a conductor of immense experience and versatility, having led the Royal Opera House for many years and now taking the helm of the London Symphony Orchestra. He is a master of both t...

Handel was the master of the Baroque oratorio and opera, known for his grand, dramatic style and his ability to write music that is both accessible and majestic. His 'Messiah' is one of the most famou...

Nico Muhly is an American composer known for his eclectic and technologically innovative works. His operas, such as 'Two Boys,' explore contemporary themes with a distinctive musical language. Muhlys...

Antonio Salieri was an Italian composer and conductor of the Classical era. He was born in Legnago, Italy in 1750 and died in Vienna in 1825. He was a student of the renowned composer, Gluck, and was...

Dubai Opera is a stunning performing arts venue hosting a variety of performances, including ballet, opera, concerts, and theatrical productions. The building's unique design resembles a traditional A...

Benjamin Britten's 1962 recording of his War Requiem, performed at St. Paul's Cathedral, is a powerful and moving statement against war. The recording captures the grandeur of the setting and the inte...

Known as the 'Father of the Symphony' and the 'Father of the String Quartet,' Haydn was the central figure of the Classical era. His output was immense, establishing the formal structures that Mozart...

Rufus Norris's 'London Road' is a poignant musical drama based on the real-life events surrounding the murder of Sohail Shahid in Ilford, East London. The film's depiction of the community's response...

Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) was a leading Italian opera composer, known for his melodramatic plots, passionate characters, and soaring melodies. His operas, such as *La Bohème*, *Tosca*, and *Madama B...

Strauss was the master of the tone poem and the late Romantic opera, known for his massive orchestral forces and his ability to tell complex stories through music. Works like 'Also sprach Zarathustra,...

Yannick Nézet-Séguin is a powerhouse of the modern classical scene, serving as the Music Director of both the Metropolitan Opera and the Philadelphia Orchestra. His energy is infectious, and his abili...