The major companies may be lessening their opera output, however independent companies have some exciting opera projects on the horizon. There is a Fidelio (in English) and Death in Venice from Chandos, for example. Harmonia Mundi has released Mozart to great acclaimm - surely they will follow this with a Zauberflote and Giovanni! There is a Tristan just out on an independent label (see www.tristanundisolde.com), a complete Ring recorded live from the 2004 Adelaide Fesitval on SACD for Melba Recordings .... I wonder if this talk of the 'last great opera recording' is more hype to promote the EMI Tristan recording than anything. David Harbin Nottingham, UK