Best Sounding Opera CD

One can't really wrong with the London/Decca labels, (depending on what singers one prefers).
EMI recordings appear to me to be a more edgy/toppy than the equivalent recordings on other labels such as the excellent London/Decca label (owned I think by Universal with also own DG now also)?.
Here are just a few I think well recorded opera cd's that I own and get great enjoyment out of;

Rossini-Il Barbiere In Seville (Cobos Lopez) Teldec
Rossini- La Cenerentola Teldec (Rizzi) Teldec
Rossini-L'italiana In Algeri (Cobos Lopez) Teldec
Wagner Complete Ring-Sawallisch (EMI)
Tosca ( Bocelli)Decca
Puccini-Turandot (Mehta) RCA
Verdi- Luisa Miller (Decca)
Gluck- Ordeo Ed Euridice (Decca)
Humperdinck-Hansel & Gretel (Decca)
Verdi-La Traviata (Caballe/Bergonzi) RCA Fantastic!
Verdi-Otello (price/Cossuto/Solti) Decca
Handel-Alcina -(Fleming) Erato
Massenet-Thais (Fleming) Decca
Samson & Dalila (Cura/Sir Colin Davis) Erato
Verdi-La Traviata (Rizzi) Teldec
Verdi-Rigoletto (Guilini) DG
Verdi-Rigoletto (Merrill/Bjorling/Tozzi) RCA
Verdi-Il Trovatore (Guilini) DG
Mozart-La Clemenza di Tito (Bartoli) L'oiseau-Lyre
Not forgetting most of Big P/Freni on the London label.

A couple of oldie but goodies;
Puccini-Tosca (Caniglia/Gigli) EMI/DRM
Puccini- Madame Butterfly (Scotto/Bergonzi)EMI

I am not an opera buff by any stretch of the imagination, just an officianado of the genre.

I second Turandot (Mehta et al) on London. It is absolutely fantastic musically and sonically. Among the best opera recordings in my book!

Try this on vinyl:
Turandot with Sutherland, Pavarotti, Caballe, Ghiaurov, Krause, Pears. Conducted by Mehta. On London records.
One of the best recordings I have heard.

WISH TO THANK ALL FOR RECOMMENDING GREAT SOUNDING
VERSIONS OF LA BOHEME. I DID PURCHASE LONDON CD VERSION WITH FRENI, PAVAROTTI WITH HERBERT VAN KARAJAN CONDUCTING.
421-049-2. THE MUSIC IS NOT THIN AND IS A GREAT RECORDING.
I PURCHASED 2 OTHERS FIRST AND WAS DISAPPOINTED.
SEE, ITS GREAT TO GET SOME GUIDANCE. THANKS, AGAIN.

Off the top of my head, here are some to try:

Any of the Renee Jacobs Mozart Operas on Harmonia Mundi:
1. Le Nozze di Figaro
2. Cosi Fan Tutti
3. La Clemenza di Tito
4. Don Giovanni

Two years back, Deutsche Grammophon released a budget series called Opera House. Excellent performances across the board. Two to consider:

1. La Traviata (Scotto)
2. Rigoletto (Scotto)

Also, some DG recitals:

1. Placido Domingo - Opera Gala with Giulini
2. Netrebko/Garanca - Opera Gala

Some compilations on Naxos

1. A Night at the Opera
2. Tenor Arias

Regards,

Rich

Puccini - La Boheme
Freni, Pavarotti, Harwood
London 421-050-2
Berliner Philharmonic, Von Karajan, 1972

If this recording sounds thin, you have problems...:-)

Puccini - La Boheme
Tebaldi, Bergonzi,Bastianini
LONDON 425 534-2
Recorded in Rome 1959 Santa Cecilia Academy
Enjoy !!!!

http://stereophile.com/musicintheround/707mitr/index2.html

"Le Nozze di Figaro"
Wolfgang A. Mozart
Concerto Koln (2004)
Rene Jacobs (Director)
on Harmonia Mundi (F-13200 Arles)
SACD/Hybrid

Not only is the music on this 3-CD release excellent, the audio quality is absolutely superb! Best opera CD I've ever heard. It is a must have if you're looking for well recorded opera.