The Critic's Chair for 3 November 2013

Roger Wilson features recent releases by solo singers this week on The Critic's Chair. Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak has a new recording of Rossini arias, and young soprano Anna Prohaska offers a disc of early music called Enchanted Forest. The rich coloratura contralto of Marie-Nicole Lemieux gives a real display in La Passion Lemieux, a compilation of her recordings from the last eight years. Two English tenors also feature - Ian Bostridge with an all-Britten album, and Mark Padmore with three quintessential British song-cycles.