It is rarely if ever possible to identify the best recording of any opera. There are too many degrees of freedom among company, conductor, soloists, edition and sound quality for any one performance to be the choice on all counts. However, there are some cases where a single recording has assumed classic proportions and provides a basis of comparison with any other performance.
Many great works have no single reference recording. The consensus is that one of the Callas recordings of Norma is the first choice, but there is substantial disagreement over which of the two studio versions or of the many live performances. At the other extreme are Traviataand Madama Butterfly, where virtually every recording has its devotees, but none is so widely admired as to be a touchstone for future releases.
I have not included label and number on these listings. That information varies even for commercial releases as packaging and pricing change and as different versions are available in different places around the globe. Any which is out of print at a given time is likely to reappear and may be found in the used bins. One exception is the Ballo, which has only rarely been available. I have covered here primarily the 'standard repertoire' and some exceptional recordings representative of styles which would otherwise be omitted. With the exception of the Faust, each is provided with enough information to specify a single recording; in that case, either the monaural or the very similar stereo will do.
This list needs refinement and amplification. Mail me at operas@mrichter.com for this purpose. All input is welcome, but the choice is ultimately my own. If you disagree strongly enough with my decision, you are welcome to post your own list. It is legitimate to argue that none of these selections is recent; that is almost inevitable since reference status usually requires years to establish. A more extensive list with less stringent rules is provided by Helmut Weber at http://wwwsys.informatik.fh-wiesbaden.de/weber1/opera/reference.html
Beethoven Fidelio Klemperer; Ludwig, Vickers
Bizet Carmen Beecham; de los Angeles, Gedda
Donizetti Don Pasquale Sabajno; Saraceni, Schipa
Gounod Faust Cluytens; de los Angeles, Gedda, Christoff
Handel Semele Nelson; Battle, Horne
Humperdinck Hänsel und Gretel von Karajan; Schwarzkopf,
Grümmer
Massenet Manon Monteux; de los Angeles, Legay
Massenet Werther Cohen; Vallin, Thill
Mozart Don Giovanni Giulini; Wächter
Puccini La Boheme Beecham; de los Angeles, Björling
Puccini Tosca de Sabata; Callas, di Stefano
Strauss Ariadne auf Naxos Kempe; Janowitz
Strauss Capriccio Sawallisch; Schwarzkopf
Strauss Die Frau ohne Schatten Boehm; Rysanek (1955)
Strauss Der Rosenkavalier von Karajan; Schwarzkopf
Strauss Salome Solti; Nilsson
Verdi Aida Solti; Price, Vickers
Verdi Un Ballo in Maschera Panizza; Milanov, Bjorling
Verdi Falstaff Toscanini; Valdengo
Verdi Otello Toscanini; Vinay
Verdi Il Trovatore von Karajan; Price, Simionato, Corelli
Wagner Der Ring des Nibelungen Solti
Mail me at operas@mrichter.com
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