What have you been listening to, lately?

**Schigolch** · December 29th, 2011, 05:43 PM

They will.

I know personally many of them.

**Anne of Green Gables** · December 29th, 2011, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by sospiro

These people might know

Saw this site before. Thought I should sign in - for a moment, then I came to my senses and realized that I'm not fan of Florez, being fan is for common people, not for future collaborators and colleagues. Must preserve dignity in my admiration.

**sospiro** · December 29th, 2011, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by Aramis

Saw this site before. Thought I should sign in - for a moment, then I came to my senses and realized that I'm not fan of Florez, being fan is for common people, not for future collaborators and colleagues. Must preserve dignity in my admiration.

Oh go on, you know you want to

Seriously you don't have to be a fan, you can use the site for information.

**Anne of Green Gables** · December 31st, 2011, 03:41 PM

Very nice compilation. Stuff from I Capuleti is no big deal because we already have the whole thing with her, but the big deal is this one:

All of "bel canto three" were great melodists, but probably only one who could write like this was Bellini. Those first four seconds are pure perfection, forgive me speaking about such short fragment, almost a detail, but so often brilliance of whole piece depends on such little thing. Take these four seconds away, the very first, longest notes of the theme which is so impressively melted with harmonic context and all is ruined.

At the side note, the other thing for which I love Bellini is that he does all those amazings things with flute. Others prefer clarinets, oboes, even bassoons - they mostly introduce aria's theme with these, but Bellini chooses the flute, my favourite wind intrument. There is perhaps no other piece where this choice is of such great importance as here.

**Schigolch** · December 31st, 2011, 04:44 PM

My last operatic listening of 2011:

**Dark_Angel** · December 31st, 2011, 05:57 PM

Verdi
Having a "ball" listening to various versions, just got the Muti/EMI with Domingo - Arroyo
Comparing it to Abbado/DG with Domingo - Ricciarelli

**Dark_Angel** · December 31st, 2011, 06:04 PM

Later tonight a new Fledermaus DVD I just received, a film version with Janowitz & Wachter......conductor Bohm. I have a couple opera DVD versions so be interesting to see how it compares

**Soave_Fanciulla** · December 31st, 2011, 06:06 PM

An absolutely top-notch cast, great acting and beautiful opulent costumes in a restricted palette of black and white. Fantastic.

**Dark_Angel** · December 31st, 2011, 06:10 PM

Natalie.....there is an impressive grand entrance with real elephant on stage as I recall in that Serse DVD
(careful where you step)

**sospiro** · December 31st, 2011, 06:21 PM

Currently listening to La traviata live from ROH

Alfredo: Piotr Beczala
Violetta: Ailyn Pérez
Germont: Simon Keenlyside

Only *OK* so far but that's probably the fault of my PC

Edit: not live

**Almaviva** · December 31st, 2011, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by Soave_Fanciulla

An absolutely top-notch cast, great acting and beautiful opulent costumes in a restricted palette of black and white. Fantastic.

Yes, I liked this one too.

**Dark_Angel** · December 31st, 2011, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by sospiro

Currently listening to La traviata live from ROH

Alfredo: Piotr Beczala
Violetta: Ailyn Pérez
Germont: Simon Keenlyside

Only *OK* so far but that's probably the fault of my PC

Has SK (your beloved opera idol) been relegated to playing father figures now instead of dashing leading man/romantic interest?

Alfredo better keep an eye on his old man (SK) stealing his sweetie