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Opera recordings

Recordings of complete or mostly complete operas

usopera.com recommends:
Virgil Thomson
Lord Byron
Less well known than Thomson's other operas, Lord Byron, here in its first recording, shocked audiences at its premiere with its frank look at Byron's personal life.

John Adams

The Death of Klinghoffer (premiere recording)

Opéra de Lyon/Nagano

2 CD / Elektra Nonesuch 9 79281-2 (1992)

Hugo Weisgall

The Stronger

Aeolian Chamber Players/Weisgall

CD / CRI SD 273 ()

Gian Carlo Menotti

Goya (first recording)

Spoleto/Mercurio

2 CD / Nuova Era 7060/61 (1978)

Gian Carlo Menotti

Goya (same recordinng as the Nuove Era set)

Spoleto/Mercurio

CD / Opera D'Oro (1978)

Samuel Barber: A Hand of Bridge

on

Symphony of the Air/Golschmann

Music of Samuel Barber

CD / Vanguard OVC 4016 (1999)

Dominick Argento

A Water Bird Talk (includes Argento's Elizabethan Songs)

Vern Sutton, Manhattan Chamber Orchestra/Clark

CD / Newport Classics NCD 85602 (1996)

Gian Carlo Menotti

Amelia al ballo (Italian version of Amelia Goes to the Ball)

Amadini/Campi/Panerai/Zanolli/Mazzoni, La Scala/Sanzogno

CD / Testament 1179 (1954, released 2000)

Gian Carlo Menotti

The Medium

Powers, Schippers

CD / VAI (1951)

Gian Carlo Menotti

The Medium

Bedi, Castle/Rapchak

CD / Cedille 34 (1999)

Samuel Barber

Vanessa

Steber/Gedda/Elias/Tozzi/Resnik, Metropolitan Opera/Mitropoulos

2 CD / RCA Red Seal ARL2-2094 (1990)

William Schuman

The Mighty Casey/A Question Of Taste

Julliard Opera Center/Schwartz

2 CD / Delos 1030 (1994)

Jake Heggie

For a Look or a Touch

Smith/Patrick, Music of Remembrance

CD / Naxos American (2008)

Jake Heggie

Three Decembers

von Stade/Phares/Clayton, Houston/Summers

2 CD / Albany 1107 (2008)

Jake Heggie

Dead Man Walking (Live recording of premiere production)

Graham/von Stade, San Francisco/Summers

2 CD / Erato (2002)

Jake Heggie

To Hell and Back

Bayrakdarian/LuPone, Philharmonia Baroque/McGegan

digital download / Magnatune (2007)

Randall Thompson

The Nativity According to St. Luke

Cleveland Sinfonia Sacra

2 CD / Koch International Classics (1997)

Daron Hagen

Vera of Las Vegas

CD / CRI (2003)

Daron Hagen

Shining Brow

2 CD / Naxos American (2009)

Daron Hagen

Bandanna

UNLV Opera Theater

CD / Albany (2006)

Peter Schickele (as “P.D.Q. Bach”)

A Little Nightmare Music

Schickele et al

CD / Vanguard (1990)

Hansel and Gretel and Ted and Alice

on

Peter Schickele

The Intimate P.D.Q. Bach

Schickele et al

CD / Vanguard ()

The Stoned Guest

Hansel and Gretel and Ted and Alice

on

Peter Schickele

The Dreaded P.D.Q. Bach

Schickele et al

CD / Vanguard (1990)

John Corigliano

The Ghosts of Versailles (premiere production)

Met/Levine

VHS / Deutsche Grammophon 44 072 530-3 (1991)

Aaron Copland

The Second Hurricane (with Copland's "In the Beginning")

New York Philharmonic/Bernstein

CD / Sony 60560 (1998)

Robert Ward

The Crucible

2 CD / Albany 25 (1994)

Robert Ward

Roman Fever

CD / Albany 505 (2002)

Gian Carlo Menotti

The Saint of Bleecker Street

Spoleto, Hickox

2 CD / Chandos 9971 (2002)

The Wind Remains

on

Paul Bowles

Music of Paul Bowles

Halvorson/Schaufer

CD / RCA 63685 (2000)

Lukas Foss

The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County

Manhattan Chamber Orchestra/Clark

CD / Newport 85609 (1997)

excerpts from Nixon in China

excerpts from The Death of Klinghoffer

I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky

on

John Adams

The John Adams Earbox

10 CD / Nonesuch 79453 (1999)

William Grant Still

Highway One

St. Olaf Orchestra/Brunelle

CD / Albany (2005)

The Tenor

The Stronger

on

Hugo Weisgall

Two Operas and Two Song Cycles

2 CD / CRI 757 (1997)

Leonard Bernstein

A Quiet Place (complete opera, incorporating Trouble in Tahiti)

ORF Symphony Orchestra/Bernstein

2 CD / Deutsche Grammophon 419 761 2 (1986)

Trouble in Tahiti

on

Leonard Bernstein

The Bernstein Century: Trouble in Tahiti, Facsimile, Etc.

Brown, Butlet/Bernstein

CD / Sony 60969 (1999)

Leonard Bernstein

Trouble in Tahiti

Cortese, cond

CD / Newport Classics 60969 (199)

George Gershwin

Porgy and Bess

White/Haymon/Blackwell/Baker, ENO/Rattle

3 CD / Angel 56220 (1997)

George Gershwin

Porgy and Bess (first complete recording)

Willard White/Leona Mitchell/McHenry Boatwright, Cleveland Orchestra/Maazel

3 CD / Decca (1976)

George Gershwin

Porgy and Bess

London Symphony Orchestra/Rattle

3 CD / EMI Classics (2005)

The Medium

The Telephone

excerpts from Amelia Goes to the Ball

on

Gian Carlo Menotti

The Medium/The Telephone (This set is a rerelease of the original 1949 recordings of The Medium and The Telephone by Columbia, which may have been the first recordings of any American opera in its entirety. This release also includes excerpts from an early recording of Amelia Goes to the Ball)

The Ballet Society/Balaban

2 CD / Pearl 122 (1949)

Gian Carlo Menotti

The Boy Who Grew Too Fast

Bainvridge et al.

CD / That's Entertainment Recording 1125 (1995)

Gian Carlo Menotti

Martin's Lie (premiere recording)

Burrowes/Stephen, Hickox

CD / Chandos 9605 (1998)

Gian Carlo Menotti

The Telephone

Banks/Costanzo/Ricci, Vaglieri

CD / Nuova Era 7122 (1992)

Douglas Moore

The Ballad of Baby Doe (premiere recording)

Sills/Cassel/Bible, NY City Opera/Buckley

2 CD / Polygram 465148 (1999)

Tobias Picker

Emmeline

Racette/Ledbetter/Owens, Manahan

2 CD / Albany 284 (1998)

Tobias Picker

Thérèse Raquin (live recording of premiere production)

Dallas Opera/Jenkins

2 CD / Chandos 9659 (2002)

Amy Beach

Cabildo

Great Performers at Lincoln Center

CD / Delos DE 3180 (1995)

David Conte

The Gift of the Magi

Krol/Puentes/Paiement

CD / Arsis 141 (2001)

Scott Joplin

Treemonisha

Houston Grand Opera/Gunther Schuller

2 CD / Deutsche Grammophon (1976)

Reginald De Koven

Excerpts from Robin Hood

CD / Aei (1911, 1919)

Reginald De Koven

Robin Hood

Ohio Light Opera

2 CD / Albany (2004)

Mark Adamo

Little Women

Houston Grand Opera

2 CD / Ondine 998 (2001)

John Adams

Nixon in China

St. Luke's/de Waart

3 CD / Elektra Nonesuch 9 79177-2 (1990)

John Adams

Highlights from Nixon in China

St. Luke's/de Waart

CD / Elektra Nonesuch 9 79193-2 (1990)

Gian Carlo Menotti

Amahl and the Night Visitors (Premiere production recording)

Thomas Schippers

CD / RCA 6485 (1951)

Gian Carlo Menotti

Amahl and the Night Visitors

Dobson/Maxwell/Watson/Haywood, Covent Garden/Syrus

CD / MCA MCAD-6218 (1987)

Gian Carlo Menotti

Amahl and the Night Visitors (with Menotti's "My Christmas")

Nashville Symphony/Willis

CD / Naxos American (2008)

John Eaton

Danton and Robespierre

Indiana University Opera Theater/Baldner

LP / Indiana University IUS 421 (1980)

Thomas Pasatieri

The Seagull

Lauren Flanagan, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra/Illick

2 CD / Albany Records (2007)

Thomas Pasatieri

Frau Margot

Manhattan School of Music/Gilbert

2 CD / Albany Records (2003)

La Divina

Signor Deluso

on

Thomas Pasatieri

Thomas Pasatieri: Divas

Opera Company of Brooklyn/Meetze

CD / Albany Records (2006)

Stephen Paulus

The Three Hermits

St. Paul Sinfonietta/Lancaster

CD / D'Note Classics 1025 (1997)

Dominick Argento

Postcard from Morocco (recording of premiere production; reissue of LP Desto DC 7137/38)

Minnesota Opera/Brunelle

2 CD / CRI CD 614 (1972)

Samuel Barber

Antony and Cleopatra

Spoleto/Badea

2 CD / New World Records NW322/23/24-2 (1992)

Virgil Thomson

Lord Byron

Monadonck Music/Bolle

2 CD / Koch International Classics 3-7124-2Y6x2 (1992)

Gian Carlo Menotti

The Consul

Spoleto/Hickox

2 CD / Chandos 9706 (1999)

Gian Carlo Menotti

The Consul

Berkshire Opera Company/Revzen

2 CD / Newport Classics (1998)

Gian Carlo Menotti

The Consul

Florence May Festival/Schippers

2 CD / Opera D'oro (2003)

Gian Carlo Menotti

The Consul (Soundtrack to the 1960 television production)

Patricia Neway

2 CD / VAI (1960)

Excerpts from The Cradle Will Rock (original cast)

Excerpts from No For An Answer (original cast)

on

Marc Blitzstein

Musical Theater Premieres

New York City Symphony/Bernstein

2 CD / Pearl/Koch (1998)

Peter Schickele (as “P.D.Q. Bach”)

The Stoned Guest

Schickele et al

CD / Vanguard (1990)

Marc Blitzstein

The Cradle Will Rock (out of print)

The Blank Theatre Company, Los Angeles

CD / Lockett Palmer LPR 940411 (1994)

Marc Blitzstein

The Cradle Will Rock (includes introduction by John Houseman)

The Acting Company (with Patti LuPone)

2 CD / Jay Records (1985)

Virgil Thomson

Four Saints In Three Acts

Orchestra of Our Time

2 CD / Nonesuch 79035 (1992)

Virgil Thomson

Four Saints In Three Acts (abridged) (with The Plow That Broke the Plains)

Stokowski

CD / BMG/RCA Victor 68163 (1996)

Virgil Thomson

The Mother of Us All

Leppard

2 CD / New World 80288 (1992)

Introductions and Good-Byes

on

Lukas Foss

Behold I Build an House: Vocal Music of Lukas Foss

The Gregg Smith Singers

CD / CRI 80588 ()

Selections from Porgy and Bess

Blue Monday

on

George Gershwin

Porgy and Bess/Blue Monday

Bishop/Baker, Cincinnati Pops/Kunzel

CD / Telarc 80434 (1998)

George Gershwin

Blue Monday

Bazemore/Haskin

CD / Aura 174 (1999)

Stewart Wallace

Harvey Milk

San Francisco Opera/Runnicles

2 CD / Elektra/Asylum 15856 (1998)

Carlisle Floyd

Markheim

Treigle/Crofoot/Diard/Schuh, New Orleans/Andersson

CD / VAI 1107 (1966)

Carlisle Floyd

The Sojourner and Mollie Sinclair

Treigle/Neway, Rudel

CD / VAI 1172 (1963)

Carlisle Floyd

Of Mice and Men (Premiere recording)

Houston Grand Opera/Summers

2 CD / Albany (2004)

Carlisle Floyd

Cold Sassy Tree

Houston Grand Opera/Summers

2 CD / Albany (2005)

William Bolcom

A View From The Bridge

Lyric Opera of Chicago

2 CD / New World 80588 (2001)

Hugo Weisgall

Six Characters In Search Of An Author (Premiere recording)

Lyric Opera of Chicago/Schaenen

2 CD / New World 80454-2 (1994)

Jack Beeson

Lizzie Borden (premiere production recording)

New York City Opera/Coppola

2 CD / Composers Recordings CD 694 (1965)

Jack Beeson

The Sweet Bye and Bye

Kansas City Lyric Opera/Patterson

2 CD / Citadel 2000 (1995)

Jack Beeson

Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines (out of print)

Kansas City Lyric Theater/Patterson

2 LP / RCA Red Seal ARL2-1727 (1976)

Carlisle Floyd

Susannah

Studer/Ramey/Hadley

CD / Virgin 45039 (1994)

Carlisle Floyd

Susannah (live recording)

Treigle/Curtin

2 CD / VAI 1115 (1956)

Lukas Foss: Introductions and Good-Byes

on

Jay Willoughby, Gregg Smith Singers

Behold I Build an House: Vocal Music of Lukas Foss

CD / CRI 80588 (2001)

Anthony Davis

X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X

Ehrlich/Paige/Perry/Pindell/Byrne, Orchestra of St. Luke's/Curry

2 CD / Gramavision (1992)

Anthony Davis

Tania

Aaronson-Davis/Brooks/Young, Steiger

2 CD / Koch 7467 (2001)

Anthony Davis

Amistad

Baker/Quiver/West/Doss/Young, Lyric Opera of Chicago/Davies

2 CD / New World Records (2008)

Aaron Copland

The Tender Land

Bohn/Comeaux/Dressen/Fristad, Plymouth Music Series/Brunelle

2 CD / Virgin Classics VCD-7-91113-2 (1990)

Aaron Copland

The Tender Land (first recording of chamber version)

Hanson/Vargas/Zeller/MacNeil, Third Angle New Music Ensemble/Sidlin

2 CD / Koch 7480 (1999)

Aaron Copland

The Tender Land

University of Kentucky, Kirk Trevor

2 CD / Albany (2002)

Stewart Wallace

Kabbalah (out of print)

CD / Koch 370 482 H1 (1990)

John Adams

I Was Looking At The Ceiling And Then I Saw The Sky

Audra McDonald, Marin Mazzie

CD / Elektra Nonesuch 9 79473-2 (1998)

A Water Bird Talk

Miss Havisham's Wedding Night

on

Dominick Argento

A Water Bird Talk/Miss Havisham's Wedding Night

Shirley-Quick, Mabbs, Sinfonia of St. Cecilia/Watkins

CD / Koch International Classics 3-7388-2 H1 (1997)

William Schuman: The Mighty Casey (abridged)

Samuel Barber: A Hand of Bridge

Marc Blitzstein: The Harpies

on

Adairondack Chamber Orchestra/Smith

Three American One-Act Operas

CD / Premier 1009 (1998)

Douglas Moore: Gallantry

Gian Carlo Menotti: The Telephone

on

New York Chamber Ensemble/Radcliffe

Happy Endings: Comic Chamber Operas

CD / Albany 173 (1995)

Douglas Moore

The Devil and Daniel Webster

Kansas City Symphony/Russell Patterson

CD / Newport 85585 (1996)

Douglas Moore

The Devil and Daniel Webster

The Festival Orchestra/Aliberti

CD / Phoenix USA (1997)

Philip Glass

Einstein on the Beach (original recording rereleased)

4 CD / Sony 38875 (1976)

Philip Glass

Einstein on the Beach

3 CD / Nonesuch 79323 (1993)

Philip Glass

Satyagraha

New York City Opera

3 CD / Sony 39672 (1993)

Philip Glass

Akhenaten

2 CD / Sony (1984)

Philip Glass

1000 Airplanes on the Roof

CD / Virgin (1992)

Philip Glass

The Photographer

CD / Sony 37849 (1992)

Philip Glass

Hydrogen Jukebox

CD / Nonesuch 79286 (1993)

Philip Glass

The CIVIL warS, Act V: Rome section

CD / Nonesuch 79487 (1999)

Philip Glass

La Belle et la Bete

2 CD / Nonesuch 79347 (1995)