Kirsten Flagstadt was an early giant of opera, at least in the recorded age. Her Wagner performances were quite monumental, but some nowadays might regard them as over the top.

This album, Kirsten Flagstadt Wagner Recital, gives a modern audience a chance to reassess an amazing artiste. It’s described as: “Six tracks of Operatic extracts from — Die Walkure, Lohengrin, Parsifal, and Gotterdammerung, by Soprano, Kirsten Flagstadt.”

Only a rare few attain her stature as Wagnerians. Personally, I think no other soprano compares with Flagstadt in the Liebestod from Tristan, except maybe another Scandinavian, Birgit Nilsson.

Check out the price of the Kirsten Flagstadt Wagner Recital at Amazon.

This compilation of recordings is my favorite for the works of Aaron Copeland, that great American picture-maker in music. He captured so much of the sense and sensibility of America in wonderful pieces like, The Rodeo, and Appalachian Spring. His “political” piece, Fanfare for the Common Man, by contrast, comes across as stiff and boring.

Leonard Bernstein is just the conductor for Copeland with his fierce, unstoppable energy and exuberance. Here’s David Hurwitz’s assessment of this CD at Amazon.com:

“Happy is the composer who has an advocate as passionate and talented as Leonard Bernstein. These Copland performances have been the preferred versions since they were first issued–better even than the composer’s own, later recordings. Originally they were spread over two discs, but thanks to the extended playing time of the compact disc, you can now get all three great Copland ballets together, along with the ever popular Fanfare for the Common Man. Bernstein brings to this music the right sharpness of rhythm but also a typically open-hearted warmth. He coaxes a virtuoso response from the New York Philharmonic, which knows this music as well (or better) than anyone. Self-recommending.”

And here’s what you get for your dollars:

Appalachian Spring, concert suite for full orchestra
Composed by Aaron Copland
with New York Philharmonic
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

Rodeo, selections from the ballet (including “Four Dance Episodes”) Buckaroo Holiday
Composed by Aaron Copland
with New York Philharmonic
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

Billy the Kid, orchestral suite from the ballet Introduction: the Open Prairie
Composed by Aaron Copland
with New York Philharmonic
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

Billy the Kid, orchestral suite from the ballet Street in a Frontier Town
Composed by Aaron Copland
with New York Philharmonic
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

Billy the Kid, orchestral suite from the ballet Mexican Dance and Finale
Composed by Aaron Copland
with New York Philharmonic
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

Billy the Kid, orchestral suite from the ballet Prairie Night
Composed by Aaron Copland
with New York Philharmonic
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

Billy the Kid, orchestral suite from the ballet Gun Battle
Composed by Aaron Copland
with New York Philharmonic
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

Billy the Kid, orchestral suite from the ballet Celebration
Composed by Aaron Copland
with New York Philharmonic
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

Billy the Kid, orchestral suite from the ballet Billy’s Death
Composed by Aaron Copland
with New York Philharmonic
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

Billy the Kid, orchestral suite from the ballet The open Prairie again
Composed by Aaron Copland
with New York Philharmonic
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

Fanfare for the Common Man, for brass & percussion (from Symphony No. 3)
Composed by Aaron Copland
with New York Philharmonic
Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

Check out the latest price.

I’ve finally succumbed to iTunes after swearing I would never buy an iPod.

Well, I haven’t bought an iPod, so my dignity is still intact, but I was led into iTunes by Stephen Baker of BusinessWeek’s Blogspotting. He it was who pointed out that their oldest recording was an old opera track.

I tried to find this particular track, which retails at 99c, but ended up buying/downloading an album by my all-time favorite tenor, Giuseppe di Stefano.

The album is called, My First Puccini and contains some real gems. Recondita Armonia from Tosca is di Stefano at his finest. It also has Nessum Dorma and other favorites.

Unfortunately the compilation includes no less than four versions of E Lucevan Le Stelle, a great song, much admired, but four versions? The problem is that, while many opera buffs might welcome four renditions at different times in his career, Apple doesn’t provide any provenance: dates, venues etc.

Still, at £7.99 ($14.70, if it’s a straight conversion), this is well worth the entrance fee.

So, who is Giuseppe di Stefano? Here’s the biography from his fansite:

“The tenor voice most bella of the world? Giuseppe di Stefano became world famous for his beautiful tone and exceptional use of pianissimo and natural elegance of delivery. He sang with impeccable style, pureness and beauty and his secret was just to sing, without gimmickry and artifacts. His timbre and delivery were exceptional, with great personality.

“His admirable ‘Do Di Petto’ was unique in the history of opera, but he sang with an open, uncovered tone that damaged his vocal cords and, with the years, his sweet and bella timbre had grown coarse and hard, particularly with the assumption of heavier roles not really suited for his vocal range. The abuse provoked his premature disappearance from the opera scene.”

Check out the price of Tosca, with di Stefano and Maria Callas from Amazon.

Katherine Jenkins, 25, the classically-trained Welsh mezzo-soprano with the dazzling voice, has become one of the UK’s top female singers. In the past 18 months she has sold more than 1.5 million light-classical albums.

She was the star of the VE Day commemorative celebrations in Trafalgar Square a year ago. Now she has conquered New York.

She says: “For a girl from small-town Neath, New York really is the Big Apple. No matter how many times I make the trip across the Atlantic, it never loses its magic. As the song says, ‘If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.’ I spent about six weeks there last year when I toured America.”

With her bell-like voice it’s not surprising she makes it anywhere.

Check out Katherine’s Living a Dream CD. In North America. In the UK.