Discography
Dan Patterson's list of historical recordings below
Tom Kaufman's Discography (link) (added March 22, 1998)
Bibliography, additional list of works and additional discography by Matthias Brzoska and Ulrich Linke (COMPLETE) added Feb. 5, 1998
La Voce Antica - Collection of early Meyerbeer recordings and peformance history of Meyerbeer's Operas in early 20th c. Italy
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Complete Operas of Meyerbeer
Margherita D'Anjou. to be released September 2003 by Opera Rara ORC25
A World Premiere recording (recorded 2002 London)
Go to Opera Rara's website for further information
Les Huguenots, De Plein Vent DPV CD 30.9009
This edition has 3 CD's and the libretto in French only. Studio recording, January 12, 1976
Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique et Cheours de Radio-France
Conducted by Henri Gallois
Chef de Chouer: Jean-Paul Kreder
Alain VANZO as Raoul, Louise LEBRUN as Marguerite de Valois, Kathie Clarke as Valentine, Robert Monsard as Nevers, Jules Bastin as Saint-Bris, Will Roy as Marcel and Della Jones as Urbain
Because of Vanzo, the quintessential 20th century French tenor, this recording is essential. An unique experience.
Robert le Diable (Martina
Franca, August, 2000)
Conductor: Renato
Palumbo
Performers: Patrizia
Ciofi, Giorgio
Surjan
Ensemble: Italian
International Orchestra
Released on Dynamic label February, 2001
See reviews of this performance
Il Crociato in Egitto (Italian) studio concert version which includes all of Meyerbeer's revised versions. Opera Rara ORC 10. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by David Parry, with Diana Montague (Armando), Yvonne Kenny (Palmide), Della Jones (Felicia), Bruce Ford (Adriano), Ian Platt (Aladino), Linda Kitchen (Alma) and Ugo Benelli (Osmino).
"A beautiful recording of this extraordinary opera. Opera Rara's dedication to the preservation of very rarely heard works is shown by the meticulous attention to detail in the notes. The music, with the Giovanetto Cavalier trio in particular, is astounding. This is the last opera that Meyerbeer wrote in Italian, and the last major role for a castrato in opera. The opera took Europe by storm in 1824."
Also available - Carnegie Hall concert version (inquire)
Roberto Il Diavolo (Italian language version of Robert le Diable) live performance at Florence, Italy on April 7, 1968. Roberto: Giorgio Merighi, Isabella: Renata Scotto, Bertramo: Boris Christoff. Orchestra and chorus: Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Director: Nino Sanzogno. 3 CD's. Arkadia (8 Via Montenapoleone, Milan) ADD CDHP 549.3 (released 1991) -- The last CD in this set also includes "Boris Christoff in Concert" bonus with arias by Mussorgsky, Boito, Verdi, Mozart and Rossini.
"Though the quality of the recording is poor by today's standards, the orchestra and chorus are weak, and the many cuts in Meyerbeer's monumental musical score mar the enjoyment of this production, Renata Scotto is breathtaking. If for no other reason, this recording must be heard for her rendition of the cavatina Roberto a tu che s'adoro, one of the most compelling moments in music history."
Robert le Diable (French) live performance at Paris Garnier opera in 1985. Isabella: June Anderson, Bertrand: Samuel Ramey. Available on cassette through the Meyerbeer Fan Club. Go to feedback for more information. Please ask about video version also. Note!!! CD formerly by Lyric Distribution is no longer available! (as of March, 1999)
"The finest Robert, even though Anderson is not as perky as Scotto in the Florence version." Ask MFC about tapes.
Also available - Carnegie Hall concert version. The Carnegie Hall version, conducted by Eve Queler features Chris Merritt in the role of Robert. Here, in Act II, Merritt sings the only known performance of the "Mario aria" a two part section that Meyerbeer specifically wrote for the tenor Mario in 1838.
Les Huguenots (French) 1969 concert version (New York) (May 14, 1969) with Tony Poncet as Raoul, Beverly Sills as Marguerite de Valois, Angeles Gulin as Valentine, Justino Diaz as Marcel, Joshua Hecht as Saint-Bris and Kay Creed as Urbain. Conductor: Reynald Giovanetti. Two CD's. Della Voce VL2016-2 ADD. Though not of the best quality, Sills shows a remarkable interpretation of the role. Many cuts mar this production
Les Huguenots (French) Opera de Montpellier conducted by Cyril Diederich (1990) with Ghylaine Raphanel as Marguerite, Francoise Pollet as Valentine, Richard Leech as Raoul. MusicFrance 2292-45027-2 (four discs). High quality full concert version (3 hrs, 53 min).
Les Huguenots (French) Vienna, 1971. Orchestra and chorus of Radio Austria, Ernst Marzendorfer, conductor. Rita Shane (Marguerite) Jeannette Scovotti (Urbain), Nicolai Gedda (Raoul), Justino Diaz (Marcel), Pedro Farres (Nevers), Enriqueta Tarres (Valentine), Dimiter Petkov (Saint-Bris)
November,
1997 L'etoile du Nord, Naxos Marco Polo label 8.223829-31 (October, 1997).
Wexford Festival Opera production October, 1996. National
Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Wladimir Jurowski, Conductor.
Wexford Festival Opera Chorus. Elizabeth Futral (Catherine),
Vladimir Ognev (Peter the Great), Aled Hall (Danilowitz),
Christopher Maltman (Gritzenko), Darina Takova (Prascovia), Juan
Diego Florez (George) Agnete Munk Rasmussen (Natalie), Patrizia
Cigna (Ekimona) Robert Lee (Ismailov), Fernand Bernardi
(Reynolds) Luis Ledesma (Yermolov)
Dinorah (French), Studio concert version, 3 CD's approx 2 hr. 40 minutes. Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by James Judd, with the Geoffrey Mitchell Choir. Dinorah - Deborah Cook, Hoel - Christian de Plessiss, Corentin - Alexander Oliver with Della Jones, Marilyn Hill Smith, Roderick Earle and Ian Caley. Recorded in 1979, released 1993 Opera Rara ORC 5. "A stunning achievement! Opera Rara has done it again!"
Le prophète (French) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Henry Lewis, with Marilyn Horne as Fides, Renata Scotto as Berthe, James McCracken as Jean de Leyden and Jerome Hines as Zacharie. 3 CD's. CBS M3K79400 34340. This is also available on vinyl. "Horne as Fides is outstanding!" This recording is the most complete Le prophète available before Vienna 1998.
Le prophète (French) Orchestra Sinfonica e Coro di Torino conducted by Henry Lewis, with Marilyn Horne as Fides, Nicolai Gedda as Jean de Leyden, Margherita Rinaldi as Berthe (live performance recorded July 11, 1970) Foyer 3-CF-2035
Instrumental Music
March,
1998 Music for Festive
Occasions Conductor Michail
Jurowski -- Radio Philharmonie Hannover des NDR cpo
999-168-2. Includes Festival Overture for the London World
Exhibition (1862) Festmarch for the occasion of Schiller's birth
(1859), Coronation March from Le Prophete, and four torch dances
for royal weddings. Released February, 1998 (recorded 1995).
March
21, 1998 Struensee, Les
Patineurs, Prelude from L'Africaine Conductor Michail Jurowski -- Radio Philharmonie
Hannover des NDR cpo 999-336-2.
Les Patineurs Conductor: Kunzel, Erich Orchestra: Cincinnati Pops Orchestra Length: 00:16 Label: VoxBox Spine Number: CDX 5130. This is the version of the pasticcio heard on WQXR-FM in New York on Meyerbeer's birthday. This combines some of the orchestral music from Le prophete and L'etoile du nord. A not altogether satisfying piece.
Quintet "Es Dur" for clarinet, two violins, viola and cello (1813) performed by Dieter Klocker and the Philharmonia Quartet Berlin (released 1990). This masterpiece was composed by Meyerbeer for the great clarinettist Heinrich Baermann in 1813. It was performed very successfully by Baermann in Vienna. The piece stretches the limits of virtuosity. The piece was never published and was believed to be among the "lost" Meyerbeer archives that did not survive the Third Reich. Dieter Klocker himself embarked on a futile search for the piece in four countries before finally finding a handwritten manuscript that was preserved by the descendants of Baermann. The Rondo which concludes the piece is of great interest, since it bears the imprint of Jewish folk music which influenced Meyerbeer in his early compositions. The entire piece foreshadows Meyerbeer's later vocal compositions. Orfeo label digital C 2133 901A. The CD includes clarinet quintets by Spohr, Baermann and Ferruccio Busoni. Go to feedback to request further information.
Fantasy for clarinet and string quartet, Orfeo C 314 941 A Digital CD released 1994. Dieter Klocker on the clarinet with the Consortium Classicum. Though without opus number, it is suggested that this piece was written in 1839 for Heinrich Baermann when the Baermanns, father and son, undertook a tour of France. A more mature work than the the 1813 quintet, this shorter work, written at the height of Meyerbeer's astounding opera career, demands extraordinary virtuosity from the clarinettist, and must be heard by any serious Meyerbeer student. Please contact us on the feedback page for further information.
L'Africaine Historical Recordings 1901-1929. Berthe Augez de Montelant, Antonio Aramburo, Rosa Ponselle, Mattia Battistini, Giusseppe Campanari, Enrico Caruso, many others from rare cylinders and early recordings!!! This recording is not sold in stores and may be purchased through the Meyerbeer Fan Club! Released 2003!
Famed Wagnerian tenor Ben Heppner sings French arias. Deutsche
Grammophon 289 471 372 (2001). Arias by Berlioz (5) Halevy (1) Massenet
(3) and Meyerbeer (3) including O Paradis (from L'africaine),
Plus blanches que la blanche hermine (Les Huguenots)
and Roi du ciel (Le prophete)
Anne
Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano. Lieder and melodies of Beethoven,
Meyerbeer and Spohr. Archiv Production 289 469 074-2. Digital.
Contains, from Meyerbeer 1) Mina, 2) Komm, 3) Ma Barque Légère,
4) La Fille de L'Air, 5) Sicilienne, 6) Prière d'enfants, 7) Le Voeu pendant
l'orage, 8) Des Schäfers Lied. Released August, 2001
Melodies, Ning Liang, mezzo soprano, recorded in 1994 CPO Digital 999 269-2 (released in 1995). A marvelous recording of eighteen of Meyerbeer's songs, including the Chant de Mai, the six Italian canzonettes, La Lavandiere, La Folle de St. Josephe etc. Please contact us on the feedback page for further information.
Meyerbeer and Cherubini Melodies, Songs and
Lieder. Label: Opus 111
Reference number : OPS 30-132 Contents:
Songs of Meyerbeer and Rossini, Thomas Hampson, baritone. EMI Classics, DDD CDC 7 544436 2 (recorded and released in 1992). A collection of 12 of Meyerbeer's songs and lied, including two from texts by Michael Beer (the composer's playwright brother) and two of Heine's poems. Includes Le Chanson de Maitre Floh by Henri Blaze. Please contact us on the feedback page for further information.
Gli Amore de Taolinda ("The Loves of Taolinda"). A cantata for orchestra, soprano, solo clarinet and chorus. Julia Varady, soprano and Jorg Fadle, Clarinet. Radio Symphony Orchestra Berlin conducted by Gerd Albrecht. Orfeo C 054 831 A. Meyerbeer's earliest vocal/orchestral work existent on recording. This is a cantata showpiece written by Meyerbeer in Venice in 1815 specifically for Heinrich Baermann, who was then considered the greatest clarinettist in Europe, and his consort, the soprano Helene Harlas. A magnificent showpiece for soprano, chorus and clarinet, this work is litttle known today. Please contact us on the feedback page for further information.
E-mail to Meyerbeer Fan Club meyerb@meyerbeeer.com
Dan Patterson's list of historical recordings:
Please contact Dan if you are interested in any of the following
Dan Patterson
E-mail Address (new as of May 30, 2000): dan.patterson@lyondell.com
Gli Amore di Teolinda
1. Julia Varady, soprano; Joerg Fadle, clarinet; Gerd
Albrecht, cond; Radio-Symphonic Orchester Berlin (Orfeo LP)
2. Mariana Nicolesco, soprano; Dieter Kloecker, clarinet;
Wolfgang Goennenwein, cond; Ludwigsburg Festival Orchestra
(ProArte LP)
Les Huguenots (excerpts)
1. Heritage LP XIG 8018:
Sous le bel ciel (in Italian) Enrico
Caruso (1900)
Plus blanche (in
Italian)
Enrico Caruso (1909)
Pff, paff, piff,
paff Juste
Nivette (1907)
Nobles Seigneurs,
salut! Louise Homer (1906)
O beau pays...A ce mot tout
Margarethe Siems (1910)
Dans la nuit...Ah! l'ingrat
d'une Amelia Talexis and Juste Nivette (1908)
Duel Septet (in
Italian) Leon Escalais, Antonio
Magini-Coletti, Oreste Luppi, Giuseppe Sala, Angelo Algos,
Feruccio Corradetti, Giovanni Masotti (1905)
De trouble
renaissants Francois
Delmas (1904)
Le danger presse (in German) Emmy
Destinn and Karl Jorn
2. Everest/Scala LP Scala 833
Entrance of
Raoul Enrico Caruso
Plus
blanche
Hermann Jadlowker
Chorale (Ein' feste
Burg)
Paul Aumonier
Piff
paff
Jose Mardones
Nobles
Seigneurs Maria
Ivogun
O beau
pays
Frieda Hempel
Duet (Marguerite &
Raoul) Frieda Hempel & Herman
Jadlowker
Duet (Valentine &
Marcel) Amelia Talexis and Juste Nivette)
Septuor du
duel
Leon Escalais, etc. (as above)
Noble
dame
Mario Ancona
Conjuration
Jean-Francois Delmas
Dieu le
veut
Jean-Francois Delmas
Grand Duo (Valentine & Raoul) Emmy
Destinn and Karl Jorn
3. Eterna LP 751 (also includes excerpts from
L'Africaine: see under L'Africaine for details)
Entree de
Raoul
Leo Slezak
Romance de
Raoul Leo Slezak
Piff,
paff
Jose Mardones
Nobles seigneurs,
salut Selma Kurz
Air de
Marguerite Frieda
Hempel
Duet
Marguerite-Raoul
Frieda Hempel and Herman Jadlowker
Duet
Valentine-Marcel
Barbara Kemp and Paul Knuepfer
Benediction of the
swords
Jean-Francois Delmas
Septet
Slezak, Mayr, other
Les Huguenots (complete performances)
1. MRF 18 (in Italian: Gli Ugonotti):
Sutherland, Corelli, Simionato, Ghiaurov, Tozzi, Ganzarolli,
Cossotto Gavazzeni conducting the La Scala Chrous and
Orchestra. (This is now available on Gala CD and other CD
labels). Live performance June 7, 1962
2. BJR 124 (Abridged) Rita Shane, Nicolai Gedda,
Jeanette Scovotti, Enriqueta Tarres, Justino Diaz. Ernst
Maerzendorfer conducting a concert performance in Vienna,
February 12, 1971. (The complete concert is now available
on CD)
3. Decca/London commerical recording released 1970:
Sutherland, Arroyo, Tourangeau, Vrenios, Bacquier, Cossa,
Ghiuselev
Le Prophete (complete performances)
1. BJR-121 : Gedda, Horne, Rinaldi, Henry Lewis
conducting, July, 1970 in Turin
2. Columbia/Sony commercial recording released 1976:
McCracken, Horne, Scotto, Hines, Henry Lewis conducting the
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Il Crociato in Egitto (complete
performances)
1. BJR-128: Opera Rara live performance, Janet Price,
Christian Du Plessis, Patricia Kern, William McKinney;
Roderick Brydon conducting a concert performance (sometime
in the 70's)
2. Voce -36: Carnegie Hall live performance, Yvonne
Kenny, Justino Diaz, Felicity Palmer, Rockwell Blake;
Gianfranco Masini conducting the Orchestra and Chorus of the
Sacred Music Society. March 28, 1979
L'Africaine (excepts)
1. Eterna LP 751 (also includes excerpts from Les
Huguenots: see under Les Huguenots)
Sur mes
genoux
Felia Litvinne
Figlia dei
Re
Ernesto Badini
Combien tu m'es
chere Amelia
Talexis & G. Dubois
All'erta marinar...Adamastor
Riccardo Stracciari
O
paradiso
Hipolito Lazaro
Averlo tanto
amato Ramon Blanchart (in
addition to the Huguenots excerpts, this disc also has two
excerpts from Dinorah:
Shadow
Song
Selma Kurz
Sei vendicato
assai Giuseppe DeLuca)
L'Africaine (complete)
1. BJR-131: Shirley Verrett, Placido Domingo, Evelyn
Mandac, Norman Mittelmann, Jean Perisson conducting. Live
San Francisco performance, early 70's
L'Etoile du Nord (complete)
1. MRF-119 : Opera Rara live performance, February
25, 1975; Janet Price, Deborah Cook,
Alexander Oliver, Malcolm King, Roderick
Brydon conducting the New Symphony Orchestra
Dinorah (complete)
1. Opera Rara commercial recording (recorded
September/October, 1979) , Deborah Cook, Christian Du Plessis,
Della Jones, Marilyn Hill Smith, Roderick Earle and Ian Caley,
James Judd conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra. Available
on CD as well.
Robert le Diable (complete)
1. MRF-20 (in Italian, as Roberto il Diavolo) with Scotto,
Malagu, Merighi and Christoff, Nino Sanzogno conducting the
Florence May Festival, May 7, 1968.
Collections:
1. Tap Records LP T-324: Twenty Great Meyerbeer
Singers
Prophete:
Beviam
Mario Gilion
Africana: Adieu, mon
doux
Elisabeth Rethberg
Roberto il Diavolo:
Suore
Virgilio Lazzari
Dinorah: Ombra
leggera
Maria Barrientos
Huguenots: Bianca al
par
Leo Slezak
Dinorah: Air du
chasseur
Hippolyte Belhomme
Prophete: Ah mon
fils
Karin Branzell
Huguenots: O gluecklich
land Lilli Lehmann
Africana:
Adamastor
Pasquale Amato
Roberto il Diavolo: Roberto, toi
que j'aime Frieda Hempel
Roberto il Diavolo:
Sicilienne
Leon Escalais
Huguenots: Nobil
dama
Mario Ancona
Africana: O
Selika
Fernando DeLucia & Angelina De Angelis
Huguenots: Lieti
Signori
Eleanora de Cisneros
Prophete: Sopra
Berta
Francesco Tamagno
Huguenots: Piff,
paff
Leon Rothier
Africana: O
paradiso
Aureliano Pertile
Dinorah: Sei vendicata
assai Titta Ruffo
Etoile du Nord: La, la, la, air
cheri Selma Kurz
Huguenots: Qui sotto il
ciel Enrico Caruso
The opera that caused the Belgian Revolution. With Alfredo Kraus and June Anderson! Released 2002. This is a completely digital recording. EMI Classics 7243 5 75257 2 5. This 2 CD set is essential to any collection.
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