What have you been listening to, lately?

**Soave_Fanciulla** · January 24th, 2012, 04:11 AM

While I was at violin camp:

I think I would have liked this more if it had been a lot shorter. I had to force myself to keep watching.

I found this very powerful and moving, the music was accessible and I loved the staging. Christine Rice is one to watch.

**Soave_Fanciulla** · January 24th, 2012, 04:13 AM

On holiday:

**Festat** · January 24th, 2012, 04:51 AM

Right now:

**Almaviva** · January 24th, 2012, 05:52 AM

Do you like this opera, Ariane et Barbe-Bleue, Schigolch? This is one that I couldn't really make myself like. The fact that there is only one line for a male voice the entire time made me really tired of all those women singing non-stop.

**Almaviva** · January 24th, 2012, 05:53 AM

Originally Posted by Festat

I like this production, a lot. Did you like it?

**Almaviva** · January 24th, 2012, 05:54 AM

Originally Posted by Soave_Fanciulla

While I was at violin camp:

I think I would have liked this more if it had been a lot shorter. I had to force myself to keep watching.

I found this very powerful and moving, the music was accessible and I loved the staging. Christine Rice is one to watch.

I got Il Crociato in Egito but it is in my UWP.
Minotaur: agreed. Very good, in my opinion.

**Festat** · January 24th, 2012, 06:15 AM

Originally Posted by Almaviva

I like this production, a lot. Did you like it?

Yup, Horne is adorable.

And that first act finale is really jaw-dropping.
I have a hard time listening to Ahlstedt, though. I just wish he would shut up and let me listen to Levine's orchestra.

ETA: It screams Ponnelle.

**Schigolch** · January 24th, 2012, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by Almaviva

Do you like this opera, Ariane et Barbe-Bleue, Schigolch? This is one that I couldn't really make myself like. The fact that there is only one line for a male voice the entire time made me really tired of all those women singing non-stop.

To compensate for the all-women cast, we have a splendid orchestration and a nice vocal score. This is a "symbolist" opera, again based in a Maurice Maeterlinck's piece, and is all about suggestions, hints. The role of Ariadne is very difficult, and perhaps a trifle too long. Not for everyone's taste, but a very interesting opera.

**Soave_Fanciulla** · January 24th, 2012, 11:58 PM

Frothy fun - I am devoted to Massenet.

**HarpsichordConcerto** · January 25th, 2012, 12:03 AM

Originally Posted by Soave_Fanciulla

On holiday:

Battle of the Tamerlano. Which one did you prefer?

I look forward to Minotaur. It's part of my UWP.

**Soave_Fanciulla** · January 25th, 2012, 12:37 AM

Originally Posted by HarpsichordConcerto

Battle of the Tamerlano. Which one did you prefer?

Aargh. This is a difficult one. Neither is entirely satifactory.

For conducting/band, definitely Pinnock. He brings out the darkness of this opera better.

Staging: both are very minimal, the Teatro Real version is more visually arresting.

Bacelli is the title role in both, I think she is more bonkers in the Miller version (that's a compliment), but she does the "I'm really a nice guy at heart even though I was just now threatening to throw you to the rabble in front of your father" volte-face at the end much more convincingly in the Teatro Real one.

I prefer to hear Randle as Bajazet (Domingo sings verismo Handel, a new one for me

) but I'm more convinced by Domingo as a deeply suffering dignified father.

I REALLY don't like the timbre of Elizabeth Norberg-Schultz's voice - it's not that she is a bad singer, and she's a good actress, but she's too shrill for me.

Overall though, if I only had to get one, it would be the Miller production.

What do you think HC, have you got them both?

Originally Posted by HarpsichordConcerto

I look forward to Minotaur. It's part of my UWP.

I'm sure you'll like it. Those Harpies are really something else

.

**HarpsichordConcerto** · January 25th, 2012, 01:43 AM

Originally Posted by Soave_Fanciulla

Aargh. This is a difficult one. Neither is entirely satifactory.

For conducting/band, definitely Pinnock. He brings out the darkness of this opera better.

Staging: both are very minimal, the Teatro Real version is more visually arresting.

Bacelli is the title role in both, I think she is more bonkers in the Miller version (that's a compliment), but she does the "I'm really a nice guy at heart even though I was just now threatening to throw you to the rabble in front of your father" volte-face at the end much more convincingly in the Teatro Real one.

I prefer to hear Randle as Bajazet (Domingo sings verismo Handel, a new one for me

) but I'm more convinced by Domingo as a deeply suffering dignified father.

I REALLY don't like the timbre of Elizabeth Norberg-Schultz's voice - it's not that she is a bad singer, and she's a good actress, but she's too shrill for me.

Overall though, if I only had to get one, it would be the Miller production.

What do you think HC, have you got them both?

I'm sure you'll like it. Those Harpies are really something else

.

Re. Tamerlano, yeah I can agree with much you said. I prefer Pinnock's overall direction as I think he understands Handel's music (The English Concert has recorded all of Handel's orchestral music, for example). The singers though, could be better. Randle was no Domingo. I thought Domingo did his Bajazet well enough for a singer who is normally not at all associated with Baroque operas. Without expecting too much "historically informed singing", Domingo brought out Bazajet that I think would have done better with us modern audiences overall. Monica Bacelli was interesting, appearing in both. I also prefer her with Domingo. But I mean, I"m happy with both versions and even if either never existed, Tamerlano would have done OK by either production.

**Almaviva** · January 25th, 2012, 03:02 AM

Originally Posted by Schigolch

To compensate for the all-women cast, we have a splendid orchestration and a nice vocal score. This is a "symbolist" opera, again based in a Maurice Maeterlinck's piece, and is all about suggestions, hints. The role of Ariadne is very difficult, and perhaps a trifle too long. Not for everyone's taste, but a very interesting opera.

Do you have the libretto in French in electronic format? I may give it another try. One of the problems is that I listened to it only once, on my car stereo during a trip, without the libretto (which my recording doesn't include) so I wasn't exactly very focused on it. Maybe with the libretto in hands I'll listen to it again, pay more attention to the elements you're underlining, and like it better.

**Schigolch** · January 25th, 2012, 07:25 AM

Originally Posted by HarpsichordConcerto

Monica Bacelli was interesting, appearing in both. I also prefer her with Domingo. But I mean, I"m happy with both versions and even if either never existed, Tamerlano would have done OK by either production.

You know, Ms. Bacelli is a nice singer, and could do a good job singing Tamerlano in Halle. This is not the case at Teatro Real, a much bigger venue (in terms of size), where her voice is just desperately inadequate to fill this big house.

About Mr. Domingo... well, you were left wondering at the end of the opera if you have just watched Bajazet's death, or Turiddu's.

In fact, the performances at Teatro Real with the second cast (Ann Hallenberg, Bruce Ford, Isabel Rey, Renata Pokupic, Patricia Bardon,...) were more satisfactory.