International Record Review

'The best of the year!

'Exquisite torture: just one CD to round off the year. My beloved Handel? Not this year. A complete opera? No, it must be a recital. I thought long about Angela Georghiu's Verdi arias... and for even longer did I consider Nelly Miricioiu's Rossini concert on Opera Rara. That Rossini disc must come a very close second to my choice of Alastair Miles' operatic recital... Miles's rich resplendent tone rolls round, bathing the listener in its lushness. Not only that, but the voice is used well, the technique formidable and polished, and he presents powerful readings of his chosen characters.'
1 Verdi's Nabucco
Chorus of Hebrew Slaves & Zaccaria's Prophecy
with Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
2 Rossini's Zelmira Polidoro's Cavatina
'Ah! One whole day has passed'
3 Rossini's Mahomet Mahomet II's Aria
'Brave soldiers, arise and join me'
with Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
4 Rossini's Moses in Egypt Prayer: Quartet
'Look down on us from Heaven'
with Sandra Ford, soprano
PMF Scholars: Antonia Sotgiu, mezzo-soprano & Barry Banks, tenor
& Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
5 Verdi's Luisa Miller Scena & Walter & Wurm's Duet
'He will not listen' with Clive Bayley, bass (PMF Scholar)
6 Verdi's The Lombards at the First Crusade
Scena, Pagano's Aria & Chorus
'Lord, grant us peace, we beg Thee'
with Clive Bayley, bass (PMF Scholar)
7 Gomes' Salvator Rosa
The Duke of Arcos's Recitative & Aria
'And must I really sign?'
8 Bellini's Norma Chorus of Druids & Oroveso's Aria
'Grant her the gift of prophecy'- 'Here where the ancient oak tree grows'
with Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
9 Rossini's Moses in Egypt Invocation & Quintet 'Supreme judge and ruler'
with Sandra Ford, soprano, PMF Scholars: Barry Banks, tenor & Clive Bayley, bass,
& Dominic Natoli, tenor & Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
10 Verdi's The Sicilian Vespers Procida's Recitative & Aria 'My homeland, beloved homeland' - 'Oh, my Palermo.'
11 Bellini's The Puritans Giorgio & Riccardo's Duet 'Save his life...' with Garry Magee, baritone

Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by David Parry

Recorded in The Colosseum, Watford, 31 May-3 June 1999
Producer - Brian Couzens, Sound engineer - Ralph Couzens, Assistant engineer - Richard Smoker









CHAN 3032
Great Operatic Arias - Alastair Miles