What have you been listening to, lately?

[Almaviva]

But you haven't.

Yes, I did. But you didn't listen. You thought that old geezers didn't have anything interesting to say.

Wroooooong, my dear, wroooooooong. We old geezers rule the world!!!!

[Anne of Green Gables]

Yes, I did. But you didn't listen.

No, I remember well, you just said LISTEN TO ROBERTO DEVEREUX VERY DRAMATIC and it didn't work I had to get to L'Elisir d'Amore to finally understand that Donizetti is master of fierce dramaticism expressed in daring harmonies and rich, overwhelming orchestration.

[StLukesGuildOhio]

Some lovely duets by less-well-known Baroque composers (Bononcini, Mancini, Porpora, Alessandro Scarlatti, etc...) sung by to outstanding countertenors.

[Almaviva]

No, I remember well, you just said LISTEN TO ROBERTO DEVEREUX VERY DRAMATIC and it didn't work I had to get to L'Elisir d'Amore to finally understand that Donizetti is master of fierce dramaticism expressed in daring harmonies and rich, overwhelming orchestration.

Not "just" - I actually had a whole thread about underestimated Rossini.

[Schigolch]

[Soave_Fanciulla]

[Schigolch]

[Anne of Green Gables]

Been enjoying some Aureliano Pertile:



I love his given name, but his singing even more. Great "Ah, si ben mio" in video above.

[Schigolch]

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Listening to:

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Watching



One of my bargains from the Presto Classical super-sale, bought for Daniella Barcellona as Adalgisa and she didn't disappoint, Ildar Abdrakazov very good too, and June Anderson warmed up eventually. But the tenor, dearie dearie me, was either on a cocktail of downers or had learned the role phonetically and didn't have a clue what he was singing - quite the blankest and dullest performance I have ever seen, which is amazing considering how many awkward situations Pollione gets himself into.

Then I tried to watch this on Youtube.



I like the music, and the production looked intriguing, with giant puppet heads and a rather dark grotesque feel, but the video direction was so utterly appalling, lots of abrupt shifts and close ups which which are so WRONG for this kind of large-scale production, that I gave up in acute irritation.

So ended up watching Busoni's Arlecchino on Youtube instead (clicky) rather a mad one-acter with a lot of parody elements. This version was in Italian which is great because there was a lot of spoken dialogue and no subtitles and my Italian is much better than the original German.

[Schigolch]

Watching

... But the tenor, dearie dearie me, was either on a cocktail of downers or had learned the role phonetically and didn't have a clue what he was singing - quite the blankest and dullest performance I have ever seen, which is amazing considering how many awkward situations Pollione gets himself into.

He was very bad, indeed. Painfully inadequate. But it was a late minute replacement.

[Bardamu]

Hey, and think that in the old days of Talk Classical, you were a fierce opponent of my assessment of Rossini as a musical genius.

Dude wrote in two decades many great Operas (some masterpiece were created in the span of a few weeks).
Then he retired to enjoy life when other composers died on the bed while trying to finish their last Opera (or even the very first).
So you may not call him a musical genius, but a genius is for sure :-)

Alma there is Ciro in Babilonia tonight on Rai 5.

EDIT:
BTW Alma is this any good? (it's cheap)

So ended up watching Busoni's Arlecchino on Youtube instead (clicky) rather a mad one-acter with a lot of parody elements. This version was in Italian which is great because there was a lot of spoken dialogue and no subtitles and my Italian is much better than the original German.

Will give a try.

Lucio Dalla was the director!?

[Almaviva]

Dude wrote in two decades many great Operas (some masterpiece were created in the span of a few weeks).
Then he retired to enjoy life when other composers died on the bed while trying to finish their last Opera (or even the very first).
So you may not call him a musical genius, but a genius is for sure :-)

Alma there is Ciro in Babilonia tonight on Rai 5.


Will give a try.

Lucio Dalla was the director!?

Bardamu, unfortunately in America I don't get RAI 5. Enjoy, and tell us how it was, and post a review in the Italian area as well (we really need to get the Italian area going!)

[Bardamu]

Bardamu, unfortunately in America I don't get RAI 5. Enjoy, and tell us how it was, and post a review in the Italian area as well (we really need to get the Italian area going!)

Try http://www.rai.tv/dl/RaiTV/dirette/P...hannel=Rai%205
+ italian proxy

Not sure if Rai will show it on their streaming platform.

Also what do you think of my edit?