27 – 31 July
FLOWER DUET – Various Artists
Decca 480 2594

Since the beginning of opera, the convention of the duet, in which two characters simultaneously express their feelings, has been one of the staple ploys of musical dramatists. This CD features duets for soprano and mezzo-soprano performed by Brigitte Fassbaender, Marilyn Horne, Renata Tebaldi and Joan Sutherland. 

20 – 24 July 2009
OPERA’S GREATEST CHORUSES
ABC Classics 476 3489

There is nothing as stirring as the sound of a full opera, and this album has it all: the splendour of the Triumphal March from Aida, the tragic stillness of the Humming Chorus in Madama Butterfly and much more, sung by the chorus of Opera Queensland with conductor Johannes Fritzsch.

13 – 17 July 2009
ALICE SARA OTT – LISZT: TRANSCENDENTAL ETUDES
DG 477 8362

For her Deutsche Grammophon debut, Alice Sara Ott has chosen the awe-inspiring Transcendental Etudes, which, in her words, mirror every aspect of Liszt’s multi-faceted personality. Only a performance of the complete cycle captures his immense quasi-orchestral and symphonic vision. 

6 – 10 July 2009
MAGDALENA KOŽENÁ – VIVALDI
Venice Baroque Orchestra
Andrea Marcon
Archiv Produktion 477 8096

In her second collaboration with Andrea Marcon and the Venice Baroque Orchestra, mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená performs atmospheric arias from Vivaldi’s operas including the evocative ‘Gelido in ogni vena’ from Farnace.

29 June – 3 July 2009
THE GALANT BASSOON
Matthew Wilkie, bassoon
Neal Peres Da Costa, harpsichord
Kees Boersma, double bass
Melba MR 301124

This CD includes a generous selection of chamber pieces by J.S. Bach, Telemann and C.P.E. Bach. With their melodic exuberance, dance-like rhythms, consoling adagios and virtuosic flights of display these pieces provide the perfect vehicle for the musical artistry of virtuoso bassoonist Matthew Wilkie, harpsichordist Neal Peres Da Costa and double bassist Kees Boersma.