What opera have you been watching lately?

[Florestan]

Yes, if I remember correctly, this is my preferred one on DVD.

Here is an interesting discussion of this Dutchman performance.
https://operaramblings.wordpress.com...nde-hollander/

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Here is an interesting discussion of this Dutchman performance.
https://operaramblings.wordpress.com...nde-hollander/

I love Operaramblings' reviews.

[Sonata]

Gounod: Werther
Jonas Kaufmann, Sophie Koch, Michel Plasson

On one hand, Werther frustrates me, withering his life away for the love of a women who was never his to pursue. Yet I think Charlotte represents more than just a singular person, but a family and even home to a man who is set adrift in the world.

The set is spare, I'm wanting a little more for it, but I do like the costumes, in particular Kaufmann looks very stylish In spite of that I'm enjoying the opera itself, and this production very much. I didn't care for Sophie Koch in the short amount of Rosenkavalier that I watched, but I like her very well as Charlotte here, and I'm going to give her another chance in the aforementioned opera.

Jonas is wonderful as Werther, no surprise. I enjoy his early monologue to nature, it brought back warm feelings of my time in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, a place where to merely sit outside amongst the trees and the sun, and the shoreline is to experience something spiritual. The other detail I enjoy, though it's small, is the presence of the Charlotte's siblings and their lovely young voices, really adds something special to the opera.

[Amfortas]

Mine too. And, I think Amfortas's.

Right you are!

[Amfortas]

I actually had the house to myself for a couple of hours this afternoon, so I was able to watch an opera on our big screen TV rather than being relegated to my laptop!!!

Ha, I feel your pain! Same situation at my place.

I also feel your pain. It is rare when I can watch an entire opera in one sitting. And usually my opera watching is after 11 pm.

Ha ha! I have no one in my life but my cats and my big screen TV!

I win!

[Florestan]

I love Operaramblings' reviews.

I better bookmark the site for other opera reviews.

[Florestan]

^ This was quite good, but for the picture quality. Actually if you go full screen the blurriness gives it a ghostly appearance, but I watched most of it scaled down to an image of about 5 - 6 inches diagonally so the faces would be reasonably sharp.

[Florestan]

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Have had a bit of a break from watching (as opposed to listening) to opera but saw saw a great Ariodante from Vienna. Fantastic cast:

William Christie | Conductor
David McVicar | Director

Sarah Connolly | Ariodante
Chen Reiss | Ginevra
Hila Fahima | Dalinda
Christophe Dumaux | Polinesso
Rainer Trost | Lurcanio
Wilhelm Schwinghammer | Il Re di Scozia

Dumaux showed off his two and a half octave range and was totally convincing as the slimy Polinesso, Sarah Connolly was impeccable in a trouser role as always, Chen Reiss a touching Ginevra but the discovery for me was the luminous Hila Fahima, what a gorgeous resonant voice!

[Clayton]

No mention of McVicar there but was there his touch of genius there?

[Soave_Fanciulla]

No mention of McVicar there but was there his touch of genius there?

Yes, well directed in quite a straightforward way plot-wise, looked gorgeous, great costumes. I have such a girl crush on Sarah Connolly in trouser roles and she looked great here.

However I have been spoiled forever by the amazing Aix Ariodante directed by Richard Jones, where amid all the rejoicing at the end you see Ginevra quietly packing her bags to leave. Too much water under the bridge for the prescribed happy ending.

[Florestan]

So far a slow go. I am in 1:15 and most of the action is not much more than a concert version.

[Clayton]

Some follow up to my recent listening (as one hearing never seems enough)

[Florestan]

[Itullian]