Francesca da Rimini

Soloists, BBC Singers and BBC Philharmonic/Noseda (Chandos 10442) £12.99

Rarely performed, Rachmaninov's steamy one-acter manages to transcend its clunky libretto (by Tchaikovsky's brother Modest) and achieve moments of angst-ridden rapture. Svetla Vassileva makes an impassioned Francesca, with eloquent support from Misha Didyk's ardent Paolo and Sergey Murzaev's simmering Lanceotto. But the stars of this recording are Gianandrea Noseda and the BBC Philharmonic, who evoke all the exquisite agonies of an adulterous couple condemned to Dante's Hell.
Anthony Holden

Esther (1732 revision)

Rosemary Joshua, James Bowman, Susan Bickley; London Handel Orchestra and Choir/ Cummings (SommCD 238/9 2CDs) £29.99

We think of music piracy as a modern curse but Handel was suffering from it in the 18th century. He produced this version of his oratorio Esther in response to a pirated performance given just two months after its premiere, inserting 11 new numbers and two of his hugely popular Coronation anthems to increase its appeal. This first-ever recording is immensely impressive, with fine singing from a starry line-up of principals and wonderfully taut and expressive performances from choir and orchestra alike.
Stephen Pritchard

Bluebeard's Castle

Andrea Melath (mezzo), Gustav Belacek (bass), Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Alsop (Naxos 8.660928) £5.99

Bartok demanded huge forces for his dark, satanic opera about the much-married toff of European folklore. He certainly gets them in this powerhouse performance from the Bournemouth Symphony and its versatile American conductor, Marin Alsop, ensuring maximum contrast between the quiet chamber passages and the colossal climax when Judith opens that fifth door. With fine soloists singing in Hungarian, this disc suggests a marriage between the Bournemouth and the feisty Alsop to put old Bluebeard to shame.