Quality recorded opera performances

Thanks folks.

Shipper's performance of La Bohemme on EMI always gives me goose bumps. I love Freni in the role as Mimi. Whether you think it is a great recording or not depends on your values - as with many older opera recordings you can hear the singers walking about the stage, etc, they are not just standing at MIC's singing. Often thats realistic to those who attend opera and distracting to those who are just "audiophiles".

Thanks all for your opinions.

Re: Libor35's post ... I was hoping to get responses from those who have experienced opera pieces with great recording and production values; but if the opera is marvelous as well, so much the better.

The new recording of Marriage of Figaro on Harmonia Mundi is a great recording, but it's also a great piece, so I don't know if you are interested.

Orff's "Oedipus Der Tyran" on DG 139251/53 Directed by Rafael Kubelik, starring Gerhard Stolze as Oedipus. This is arranged for six piano, four of them two-hand at one point and for a wide array of instruments from four harp, organ, trumpet, glockenspeil and triangle to bongo, timbales, konga, marimba and tom-tom. One of his last, it dates to 1959. Great engineering and performance of a greatly spiritual (if avant guard) and deeply moving work.

One CD that I have found outstanding is:
Franz Lehar: Schon ist die Welt
Eufoda 1188
I picked this up at Tower Records, and is an outstanding recording of The Merry Widow, sung in German. I never get tired of this disc, absolutely gorgeous!
My other favorite I just stumbled onto is a DVD, of the Merry Widow, with the San Francisco Opera. The choreography and costumes are superb, and of course the music is also. This was on PBS a few months ago, and I just happened to find it available at Tower also. It was recorded by the BBC.
Of all the Opera Laserdiscs and CD's I own, these two satisfy the most! Give'em a try, I doubt you'll be disappointed.