Simon Keenlyside

Verdi: Macbeth 
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Antonio Pappano
OPUS ARTE OA1063D (2012)

“Choosing one of my own recordings is about as narcissistic as looking for white beard-hairs while shaving! But I do like some of the live theatre recordings. The quality of recorded sound is getting ever better, but, most importantly, live recordings give the arc of our performances back to the singers – dynamic, tempo, and direction! It’s so easy to forget the importance of pacing and drama when you’re in the studio. Lastly, the directors of these DVDs are, at last, making pieces of art in themselves. I like the Macbeth DVD from Covent Garden (Opus Arte OA1063D). The wind seemed to be in my vocal sails, and I had wonderful colleagues to work with.

“I have mixed feelings about studio recordings. It is an artform in itself, and I’m not so good at it. All the same, I also quite like my disc of Schumann’s Kerner Lieder with Graham Johnson (Helios CDH55011).”

Joseph Calleja

Be My Love: A Tribute to Mario Lanza
BBC Concert Ochestra / Steven Mercurio
DECCA 4783531

“I started my career thanks to Mario Lanza and was inspired by the movie The Great...