What have you been listening to, lately?

[Schigolch]

[HarpsichordConcerto]

[Aksel]

I have a girl crush on Romina Basso. I love the way she rolls her RRRs

Really amazing recording, that one.

[Schigolch]

[HarpsichordConcerto]

François-Adrien Boieldieu (1775-1834), La Dame Blanche (1825). Enjoyable.

[Schigolch]

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Whaat? Marthe Keller? I thought she was an actress, not an opera singer?

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I quite like Kasarova in this Clemenza, her register is reasonably even and she gets some beautiful notes out. Kušej direct a rather frenzied production, Röschmann is positively rabid as Vitellia and Schade plays Tito as completely unhinged. And who would have known that Garanca could make such a cute boy.

[Schigolch]

Whaat? Marthe Keller? I thought she was an actress, not an opera singer?

In this work, that sometimes is called an oratorio, sometimes an opera, the role of Jeanne (and other roles as well) is a spoken one. Honegger's idea is that the spoken roles can be in the language of the country where the performance is taking place. The other roles are sung in French and Latin.

Here it's a complete version in youtube:

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Thanks Schigolch, I'll check it out.

[Schigolch]

[Anne of Green Gables]

22 November 2007

GAETANO DONIZETTI

L’ELISIR D’AMORE
Melodramma in due atti
Libretto: Felice Romani

Adina Aleksandra Kurzak
Nemorino Stefano Secco
Belcore Ludovic Tézier
Dulcamara Paolo Gavanelli
Giannetta Kishani Jayasinghe

Conductor Mikko Franck

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE, COVENT GARDEN

That Secco is very good tenor, never heard him before and yet he's much better to my ears that lots of those which I'm hearing about all the time. Kurzak wasn't as perfect as I'm used to by her studio CD but good Adina nevertheless and Tezier was just great Belcore, less comic and more lyrical this time, certainly one of best I've heard... I know there was a lot of bad stuff said about Tezier here recently, I just want to say that he sings 43954549825 times better and is 3287545 times more handsome that Simon Keenlyside, though I'm not sure if the latter number is apt because nothing x 3287545 is still nothing... anyway, the Dulcamara was fine too, great listening all in all.

Buy the way, who has more L'Elisirs than I? I have around 9 right now. I guess Schigloch has, if he likes L'Elisir even half as much as those 100 Normas he owns.

[Schigolch]

Well, I don't like Elisir even half as much as Norma, but I do have a few more than nine.

Haven't heard the one you mentioned above, though.

[rgz]

Since I saw Manon at the Met last week (review coming eventually), I've been on a Manon kick. And while I like the Pelly production despite the excessive (imo) cuts, I can't help but wish that Trebs and Natalie had switched roles while I was in NYC so I could see Anna as Violetta and Ms. Dessay as Manon.
I was never a huge fan of this opera but the more I watch it the more it is growing on me. It may have snuck its way into my top 10. Particularly (of course) the Natalie version. As I said on another board, when Natalie sings "Suis-je gentille, ainsi?" the audience is beguiled by her and agrees enthusiastically. When Anna sings it, one agrees more out of fear and intimidation than anything

To wit:









In any event, I want to pick up another version. I'm not a fan of Ms. Fleming's voice so that leaves the following versions on Amazon:
Starring Tamara Rojo (?)
Starring Edita Gruberova
Starring Jennifer Penney (?)

If I'm buying blind I'll go with the Gruberova but would love your thoughts if you're familiar with these versions.

E: Ah, just noticed that the first and third versions are ballets, hence my unfamiliarity with Ms. Penney and Ms. Rojo

[rsmithor]

Carl ORFF Antigonae


DG LP Ferdinand Leitner’s Stereo/studio recording 1961
(LP worth looking for... it has the complete libretto)


DG Ferdinand Leitner’s 3CD 437 721-2 Stereo 1961


2 CD Wolfgang Sawallisch 1958 Live Munich
(on my wish list for later consideration)