Opera North
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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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Elgar: Caractacus
Elizabeth Llewellyn (Eigen), Elgan Llŷr Thomas (Orbin), Roland Wood (Caractacus), Christopher Purves (Arch-Druid, A Bard) & Alastair Miles (Claudius)
Huddersfield Choral Society, Orchestra of Opera North, Martyn Brabbins
Elgan Llŷr Thomas and Elizabeth Llewellyn are especially touching, while in the title role, baritone Roland Wood is on terrific form. —
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, April 2019, Editor's Choice
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Special offer. Britten: Peter Grimes
RecommendedAlan Oke (Peter Grimes), Giselle Allen (Ellen Orford), David Kempster (Captain Balstrode), Gaynor Keeble (Auntie), Alexandra Hutton (First Niece), Charmian Bedford (Second Niece), Robert Murray (Bob Boles), Henry Waddington (Swallow), Catherine Wyn-Rogers (Mrs Sedley), Christopher Gillett (Rev. Horace...
[Bedford] has the sea-swell of the work deep in his bones...[Oke's] is a strong, ballasted performance, less purely plangent than many, but deeply moving in its simple strength and keen imagination...There's... —
Awards:
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BBC Music Magazine, November 2013, Disc of the month
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2014, Opera Award Winner
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Special offer. Bartók: Duke Bluebeard's Castle, Sz. 48, Op. 11
Sally Burgess (Judith), Sir John Tomlinson (Duke Bluebeard/Minstrel)
Opera North Orchestra, Richard Farnes
This new version… is splendidly recorded, and Farnes coaxes some superb playing from the orchestra. Sally Burgess makes a fine Judith, bringing out the firmness of her love for Bluebeard, as... —
Awards:
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BBC Music Magazine, July 2006, Opera Choice
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Walton: Troilus and Cressida
RecommendedClive Bayley (Calkas), James Thornton (Antenor), Arthur Davies (Troilus), Nigel Robson (Pandarus), Judith Howarth (Cressida), Yvonne Howard (Evadne), David Owen-Lewis (Horaste), Alan Opie (Diomede)
Opera North Chorus, English Northern Philharmonia, Richard Hickox
Troilus and Cressida is here powerfully presented as an opera for the central repertory, traditional in its red-blooded treatment of a big classical subject. Few operas since Puccini's have... —
Awards:
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Gramophone Awards, 1995, Winner - Opera
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
Purchase product
Downloads
Audio formats guide -
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Special offer. Walton: Troilus and Cressida
Judith Howarth (soprano), Yvonne Howard (mezzo-soprano), Arthur Davies (tenor), Nigel Robson (tenor), Brian Cookson (tenor), Peter Bodenham (tenor), Keith Mills (tenor), Alan Opie (baritone) James Thornton (baritone), Clive Bayley (bass), Bruce Budd (bass), Stephen Dowson (bass) & David Owen-Lewis...
Awards:
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Gramophone Awards, 1995, Winner - Opera
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Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (highlights)
RecommendedJohn Tomlinson (Boris), Stuart Kale (Prince Shuisky), Clive Bayley (Varlaam), Joan Rodgers (Xenia), Susan Parry (Feodor), Yvonne Howard (Old Nurse), Matthew Best (Pimen)
Opera North Chorus, English Northern Philharmonia, Paul Daniel
John Tomlinson has made the part of Boris his own, and this generous, 75-minute selection of excerpts from Boris Godunov is highly recommendable, even when compared with current Russian versions... —
Awards:
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
Purchase product
Downloads
Audio formats guide -
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Grieg, Schumann & Saint-Saëns - Piano Concertos
Howard Shelley (piano and conductor)
Orchestra of Opera North
…a modern version of Schumann's Piano Concerto that actually sounds like Schumann. Howard Shelley's performance is refreshingly free from empty showmanship or narcissistic 'pianism'. The Grieg... —
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Something Wonderful - Bryn Terfel sings Rodgers & Hammerstein
Bryn Terfel (bass-baritone)
Chorus of Opera North & English Northern Philharmonia, Paul Daniel
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Special offer. Verdi: Don Carlos
Julian Gavin (Don Carlos), Janice Watson (Elisabeth), Alastair Miles (Philip II), William Dazeley (Rodrigo, Marquis of Posa), Jane Dutton (Eboli), Sir John Tomlinson (Grand Inquisitor), Julia Sporsén (Thibault), Clive Bayley (Old Monk)
Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North, Richard Farnes
Best of the principals are Alastair Miles's distinctive King Philip; John Tomlinson's terrifying Grand Inquisitor and Clive Bayley's Monk. Opera North's choral and orchestral forces are both... —
