Here are the items that we found.
Soprano Edition
Overlooked Artists
For the next few weeks we will be highlighting singers I feel have been egregiously overlooked during their careers, or forgotten in the ensuing decades.
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Coming Soon Collection
We have just added over 100 titles to our "Coming Soon" collection. Stream them for free for a limited time.
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New Wishlist
Many of you have asked about when recordings in our "Coming Soon" collection will be available for purchase. Now you can simply click the bell icon on the product page or web-player, and we will send you an email the instant that recording is available for purchase.
This feature is part of a complete overhaul of our Wishlist.
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For a limited time, anyone who has previously purchased one of our recordings in MP3 format can upgrade to FLAC for a fraction of the regular price.
Enjoy the same legendary performances in the best possible sound.
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Free Streaming Recordings
Every week we offer 12 new titles available to stream for free
Beethoven: Fidelio
Ross, Cassilly, Rintzler, Langdon, Hendricks, Estes; Maazel. 1976
Bellini: Norma
Galvany, Cortez, Francesconi, Giaiotti; Veltri. Caracas, 1975
Compilation: Gertrude Grob-Prandl
Arias from Turandot, Idomeneo, Tristan, Tannhäuser, Elektra & The Ring
Compilation: Lotte Rysanek
Excerpts from Don Giovanni, Fidelio, Freischütz, Carmen, Forza, Pagliacci, Bohème, Turandot and Butterfly
Donizetti: Belisario
Gencer, Taddei, Zaccaria, Pecile, Grilli; Gavazzeni. Venezia, 1969
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Opera Depot Radio
FACT 1: Classical radio stations are steadily reducing their opera programming.
FACT 2: Mainstream streaming services rely on algorithms that rarely understand what opera lovers truly want to hear.
FACT 3: Many of the twentieth century’s greatest singers did not leave a sufficient recorded legacy encompassing all their important roles.
Fortunately, there is an alternative. Opera Depot Radio offers a carefully curated selection of thrilling excerpts from across our catalogue. It is completely free, and you can easily advance to the next track, add a recording to your wishlist, or go directly to its product page.
Listen at home, in the office, or in your car, and discover extraordinary performances selected specifically for opera lovers.
Spotlight: Hermann Uhde
From Our Collectors
What Opera Lovers Are Saying
Five-star reviews from collectors around the world
The Young Carreras at the Top of His Form!
“I must agree with Mr. Giles' review and assessment of Jose Carreras, particularly in the earlier years of his career, which this release showcases! His gorgeous voice excels in the entire program-- arias and duets performed between 1974 and 1977. Lots of other incredible talent here as well-- Freni, Galvany, Caballe, Cotrubas and Katia Ricciarelli, with whom I heard Carreras in "Ballo" in San Francisco in late '77 or early '78. What a night that was!!! The baritone was a superb Russian (who didn't get to come back so much, dammit!) named Yuri Mazurok and the SF Opera debut as Oscar of a young American soprano we met backstage a few days earlier when we went back to pay court to Leontyne Price ("Ariadne"). That young "Oscar" was named Kathleen Battle!Those of you who are not familiar with Carreras' artistry before he stretched himself thin and his unfortunate illness, would do well to obtain this recording.”
Historic Performance in Good Sound!
“Andy's cast list above suggests that there is far more music here than what there actually is. We hear Flamand, Olivier, the Countess, La Roche, and the Majordomo. In the comments below, Jeffrey has basically described what selections are heard on this disc so I don't need to elaborate any further. While I wish the entire opera had been preserved, I am grateful for what we have. Strauss greatly admired Ursuleac and she was a big star in Europe. I admire her too, but also suspect she was one of those singers you had to see in person to truly appreciate. Some of her magic got lost in recordings. The voice sounds rather ordinary, but then she will throw out a high note that is like a gleaming shaft of light in the gloom. Her articulation of the text is sensitive, yet not as profound or as colorful as some of her successors in this role. Hann sings up a storm as La Roche and his diction is superb. We are fortunate that his entire ten minute monologue was recorded; he certainly lives up to his reputation.The sound is good for the period. This disc of highlights is for Straussians who are already familiar with this opera: they will find much to enjoy.”
Excellent Performance with a Great Cast!
“Andy mentions above that Zauberflote is often given with "up-and-coming" singers because they don't cost as much. Buenos Aires may have spent a fortune to get this cast, but it was totally worth it. All of the principals live up to their reputations. Hermann Prey was an obvious audience favorite as he receives applause at his entrance and resounding cheers for Papageno's simple strophic songs; he is delightful. Mady Mesple absolutely nails the high staccati in the Queen's second aria and provides a sense of awe and mystery that many other Queens don't. Peter Schreier sings extremely well as does Joan Carlyle (though her big aria isn't her finest moment). Franz Crass possessed one of the most beautiful basses I've ever heard and he sounds like one might imagine God sounding. All of the supporting roles are well-done (Ruth Margaret Putz is the First Lady, Renate Holm Papagena). Suitner's conducting keeps things flowing. It's good to hear more of his work on this side of the Atlantic. The sound is excellent. Highly recommended!”
Wonderful
“I already had a recording of Tinsley's Elektra but it was in the most awful sound so to have it Broadcast quality and in English just ticks all of the boxes for me. The sound is really good.”
Max Lorenz in one of his greatest roles
“First of all: here is the complete cast of this performance.Hermann, Landgraf von Thüringen: Ludwig WeberTannhäuser: Max LorenzWolfram von Eschenbach: Hans BraunWalther von der Vogelweide: Hans BlessinBiterolf: Rudolf GroßmannReinmar von Zweter: Erno ZuerrerHeinrich der Schreiber: Hugo KratzElisabeth, Nichte des Landgrafen: Leonie RysanekVenus: Georgine von MilinkovičEin junger Hirt: Josette BertrandChœur de l'Opéra de MarseilleL'Orchestre philharmonique de MarseilleOtto AckermannOpéra de Marseille, 5. März 1954As I know though fortunately we have a lot of live records with the great Max Lorenz (among others in Opera Depot) it is the only complete Tannhauser with him, so it is not only an excellent performance but also a very important document. There are earlier commercial and live records with Lorenz in this role, but they are only excerps from Wagner's masterpiece. Here we can hear him a little bit far from his peak (at the age of 53) but providing a perfect illusion. His performance includes tone beauty and passion, lyrical and heroic moments. He is completely in control of the role. He knows everything about his hero and able to provide a complete portrait about him. The young Leonie Rysanek is also excellent in the role of Elisabeth, her "Dich teure Halle" is full with ecstasy while her prayer is the specimen of spirituality. Hans Braun is very good in the role of Wolfram, while Ludwig Weber perfectly realizes the authority of the Landgraf. A little bit confusing that the choir - which is the weakest link - sings in French. Otto Ackermann conducts an exciting performance. The sound is good. Highly recommended.”
Masterly Mozart
“Now this is how ,and many others like our Mozart,tastefully decorated(although Masterson does go a bit awry.but soon gets back).Mackerras as we all know was a Mozart Master!And the playing is superb,some may say a little hurried at times,but so exciting.The other soloists are all excellent,and also add decorations.A must have for all Mozart,Mackerras,and Masterson fans.In excellent sound”
An immense performance
“I was present at this performance. It took place as part of the Opera Proms in 1977 and was at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and not at the Albert Hall Proms which take place later in the year. I had a ticket which cost me 50p! We went to hear not just the great Pavarotti, who sang magnificently, but also the great British baritone Peter Glossop, who gave an immense performance as Scarpia. Raina Kabaivanska sings beautifully as Tosca. The smaller parts were all taken by established singers at the time, for example Derek Hammond Stroud as the sacristan, and Michael Langdon as Angelotti. It was a stupendous night at the theatre, well captured on this recording which is of remarkably good quality. Great to find a recording of this performance after all these years - and this was the only performance with this particular cast. A treasure.”
Rest of the cast...
“The rest of the cast in this splendid performance deserves to be mentioned:Flavio is the stalwart leading lyric-turned-character tenor John Lanigan.Clothilde is the equally stalwart Elizabeth Bainbridge, mainly known as maids, companion in a plethora of Covent Garden productions over many years. However, she was fully capable of stepping in (I remember an Amneris) at short notice and decidedly NOT short-changing her audience!”
First rate. The best.
“Utterly fantastic. The cast is fresher and more immediate than in the common long-available 1966 records which have been around since the vinyl days, and Josef Greindl is far superior to Theo Adam as the Wanderer.”
Ken Caswell
“This a truly superb recording. All the principals are terrific. Wonderful to hear Te Kanawa and Burrows in such deliciously sensual and romantic form.The recording quality is also excellent giving us a real feeling of being there. I shall play this set over and over again.”
Strauss in english?
“Why not? Can´t be worse than Wilde´s play Salome in german (which does not say, that the translation isn´t really good!), and it can certainly not be worse than Hoffmannsthal´s even then more than slightly dusty german. I ordered this out of curiosity - and was by no means disappointed. Armstrong conducts this piece with real confidence and conviction; Tinsley is really good for the most part (sometimes I had to think of Berlioz´"law" for his students: "Never trust a soprano with an important text", but really only at some few points). and Norman Bayley ist just an outstanding Barak. This is a very welcome addition to my collection (Salome I own not only in german, but in italian, swedish, french and english as well), I just could not resist. And its really very listenable. It would not be my first choice (if banned to an island and only allowed to take along a certain number ... and so on; this would still be Böhm, Vienna, 1985), but I´m glad to have it now and highly recommend it ... at least as an addition to one or another recording in the original language.”
