Domingo Y La Niebla

Verdi's "La Forza del Destino" is a story of forbidden love, seduction, jealousy, honor and revenge. The opera was composed in 1862 and had its premiere in St. Petersburg. In this recording from 1976 with star cast (Leontyne Price in the role of Donna Leonora, Plácido Domingo as Don Alvaro and Sherrill Milnes as Don Carlo) under the direction of James Levine the beauty and attention to detail Verdi comes out particularly well. The London Symphony Orchestra and the John Alldis Choir provide the perfect musical accompaniment for the ensemble, which includes Fiorenza Cossotto, Bonaldo Giaiotti and Gabriel Bacquier. This recording is considered one of the best of Verdi's La Forza del Destino.

Amilcare Ponchielli's sole operatic work La Gioconda made him a major figure in Italy. It was not just the title that made it such a success - 'La Gioconda' is the Italian term for the famous Leonardo da Vinci painting that is better known to the English-speaking world as 'Mona Lisa' - but rather its music and the poetic quality of Arrigo Boito's score. The production featured here was taken from a 1986 performance of the Vienna State Opera. Filippo Sanjust was responsible for production and set, Gerlinde Dill was in charge of choeography, whilst Adam Fischer conducted both choir and orchestra of the Vienna State Opera. Internationally renowned stars Eva Marton and Placido Domingo, who play the leading roles in the performance, ensure an unforgettable operatic experience.

Domingo Hindoyan’s exciting programme of French repertoire includes early and late orchestral masterpieces by Debussy, Roussel’s sumptuous and brilliantly scored 2nd ballet suite from Bacchus et Ariadne, and the rarely heard and spectacular La Péri, subtitled Poèm Dansé by the highly self-critical but brilliant Dukas. ‘Of all the recent conductor signings at UK orchestras, this is the one that intrigues me the most’ The Spectator on Domingo Hindoyan’s appointment as Chief conductor of the RLPO.