Christopher Cook
Recent articles by Christopher Cook
Pavarotti: a guide to the life and times of the world's most famous opera singer
Luciano Pavarotti was one of classical music's biggest stars. We remember the tenor who famously ‘couldn’t act for toffee’, but brought opera to an audience of millions
George Benjamin: Picture a day like this
Less is more in George Benjamin’s captivating opera Picture a day like this, says Christopher Cook in his review
Meyerbeer: Le prophète
Angela Gheorghiu interview: the challenges and delights of Puccini – and the one role she'll never sing
Angela Gheorghiu reflects on a lifetime dedicated to the music of the great composer, Giacomo Puccini, and why there is one Puccini role she's avoided throughout her career
Paderewski: Manru
Sogno (songs by Tosti)
Operette: Arias by Lehár, Stolz, Messager, J Strauss II et al
Donizetti: La Favorite
Puccini: the Italian opera maestro who added Wagner to Verdi
Opera's craftsman of emotion
Schubert in English, Vol. 4
Delibes: Lakmé
Tobias Picker: Awakenings
Infinite Refrain, music of love’s refuge
Weill: L’opéra de quat’sous
Schubert: Die schöne Müllerin
Offenbach: La Princesse de Trébizonde
Virginie Verrez, Anne-Catherine Gillet et al; London Philharmonic Orchestra/Paul Daniel (Opera Rara)
Massenet: Ariane
Amina Edris; Kate Aldrich, Jean-François Borras, Jean-Sébastien Bou, Julie Robard-Gendre; Munich Radio Orchestra; Bavarian Radio Choir/Laurent Campellone (Bru Zane)
Musorgsky: Boris Godunov (ROH/Pappano)
Bryn Terfel et al; Royal Opera House Orch. & Chorus/Antonio Pappano (Opus Arte)
Grosz: Achtung, Aufnahme!! etc
Lilia Milek (soprano), André Post (tenor) et al; Ebony Band/Werner Herbers; Cappella Amsterdam/Daniel Reuss (Channel Classics)
Paola Prestini: Edward Tulane
Jack Swanson, Brian Vu, Zulimar López-Hernández, Zachary James, Elise Quagliata, Jeremiah Sanders, Benjamin Sieverding; Minnesota Opera/Lidiya Yankovskaya (VIA Records)
Hoiby: The Italian Lesson; Bon Appetit!
Janina Baty, Vanessa Schukis; Boston Modern Orchestra Project/Gil Rose (BMOP Sound)
R Schumann: Dichterliebe; Kerner Lieder (Boesch/Martineau)
Florian Boesch (baritone), Malcolm Martineau (piano) (Linn Records)
Mercadante - Il Proscritto (Opera Rara)
Ramón Vargas, Irene Roberts, Iván Ayón-Rivas, Sally Matthews, Goderdzi Janelidze; Opera Rara Chorus; Britten Sinfonia/Carlo Rizzi (Opera Rara)
My Soul, What Fear You? (Christopher Purves)
Christopher Purves (bass-baritone), Simon Lepper (piano) (King's College)