Verdi: Forse la soglia attinse (from Un ballo in maschera)

The name Verdi is synonymous with Italian opera. No other composer embodies all the fascination and passion of Italian music drama like Verdi. The special magic of his music comes out especially vividly when it's performed by the very greatest of vocal stars: Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Montserrat Caballé and Mirella Freni.

The career of Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja seems to have no limits, with performances at the world's greatest opera houses and acclaim for the lyrical warmth of his singing from the press and public alike. In Summer 2010 he triumphed in London performances of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra alongside Plácido Domingo, after which The Independent observed that Calleja “almost steals the show”.

Joseph Calleja is an enthusiastic ambassador for Malta, where he still lives - an island with a proud operatic tradition. In addition to his international appearances, Joseph Calleja has established an annual open-air event in Malta's historic capital Valetta, which has become a focus for the musical life of the island.

Joseph Calleja's opera and concert successes are now crowned by a new recording. His third Decca album captures the development of his art and presents him in some of the roles he is currently performing to ecstatic critical responses: “All the ardor and beauty of tone one could wish for...one of the finest lyric tenors before the public today” (Houston Chronicle on recent performances of Puccini's Madama Butterfly)

From one of the greatest Verdi singers on today's operatic stage, a disc of the most glorious music Verdi wrote for the tenor voice.

"Alvarez performs with generosity and compassion, throwing himself into the high emotions demanded. He scales his high notes joyfully, boldly, never indulgently. This is familiar Pavarotti territory, but in Alvarez's hands a more tormented and impassioned experience." (Evening Standard, London (on Il Trovatore at Covent Garden))

Marcelo Álvarez showcases the voice that has made him THE Verdi tenor on today's operatic stage, in his first disc for Decca.

A special collection of the great Verdi tenor arias taken from Luciano Pavarotti's classic recordings, made at the height of his prime.

Packed with famous melodies known and loved the world over, including "Celeste Aïda", "Questa o' quella", "Ah si, ben mio", "Di quella pira" and "La donna è mobile".

This album also includes the arias from the Riccardo Muti complete recording of "Don Carlo".

Sung with Pavarotti's inimitable style and verve, this highly commercial collection will have wide appeal.

2 CDs for the price of 1.

The internationally renowned tenor Piotr Beczala celebrates the 200th anniversary of Giuseppe Verdi’s birth with a collection of highlights that include roles in which he has been acclaimed on the world’s great operatic stages. This new CD with Beczala and the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Lukas Borowicz includes roles for which he is rightly famous, such as the Duke in 'Rigoletto' or Alfredo in 'La traviata' (at the Met, Covent Garden and at the Bavarian State Opera), alongside rarities and arias that were ground-breaking at the time. Thus he sings Radamès’s opening aria from 'Aïda', striking the balance between drama and expression that makes this romance as charming as it is difficult. In 'Il trovatore'. Beczala does not just sing “Ah sì, ben mio” , but also his big scene with Azucena from the second part of the opera. His partner here is Ewa Podles whose dark yet brilliant contralto voice offers a fascinating contrast to Beczala’s ever-radiant, well-focussed tenor.

In arias from 'Macbeth' and 'Un ballo in maschera' in particular, Beczala shows why he has become synonymous with the protagonist, Riccardo, since his spectacular debut at the Lindenoper in Berlin. He changes genre for the “Ingemisco” from Verdi’s Requiem. Variety is also guaranteed by the selection of tenor arias from rarely performed Verdi operas such as 'Les vêpres siciliennes' and 'I Lombardi', in which Piotr Beczala once again demonstrates the lissom elegance of his phrasing.

The recording closes with the friendship duet from 'Don Carlo', which Beczala crowns with a superb top C. Here, he is partnered by baritone Mariusz Kwiecien as Posa, whose vocal timbre adds luxury to the casting.

The Italian Salvatore Licitra, who tragically died on September 5th 2011 after a motorbike accident, was one of the leading tenors of his generation in the highly sought-after dramatic Italian repertoire. A frequent guest at major opera and concert stages in Europe, the United States and the Far East, he was particularly devoted to Verdi repertoire.

As a tribute to this exceptionally gifted artist we are releasing a selection of his best arias and songs taken from operas from the dramatic Italian oeuvre. Operas by Giuseppi Verdi and Giacomo Puccini feature heavily in the track-listing with each disc opening with a show-stopping famous tenor aria; Nessun Dorma and Celeste Aida respectively.

The 2-CD set ends with five previously unreleased tracks - all well-loved Italian songs recorded with Marco Armiliato and The Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.