What opera have you been watching lately?

[Itullian]

Never mind all that, where's the William Tell stuff?

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

Never mind all that, where's the William Tell stuff?

Priorities!

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Campra's Les Fêtes Vénitiennes from the Opéra Comique, conducted by William Christie in a rollicking production by Robert Carsen, with a star line up of young baroque specialists and dancers. Worth getting a VPN to circumvent the France-only restriction. If it comes out on DVD I'm getting it.

[Clayton]

Oh this looked so cool. I almost decided it was worth travelling to France to but I think I only dicovered it when it was sold out. Or some other lame reason like I couldn't figure out how to see the English site. Yes, actually that rings a bell. (A dull bell)

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Oh this looked so cool. I almost decided it was worth travelling to France to but I think I only dicovered it when it was sold out. Or some other lame reason like I couldn't figure out how to see the English site. Yes, actually that rings a bell. (A dull bell)

Well it's still available on Culturebox. Maybe from England you can see it without a VPN, but if not: clicky (I'm sure there are free ones but they are too tricky to use for me).

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

Well it's still available on Culturebox. Maybe from England you can see it without a VPN, but if not: clicky (I'm sure there are free ones but they are too tricky to use for me).

That's really neat but I'm not about to pay for proxy, or use a virus-rich free service. Hopefully it will come out on DVD.

[Florestan]

Just started watching this (about 25 minutes in) and it is wonderful. The singers are great:

[JohnGerald]

Just started watching this (about 25 minutes in) and it is wonderful. The singers are great:

Yes indeedy!!! And the price on Amazon is still $10 and change, but "supplies are limited", since this gem seems to be either out of print or going there.

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

Yes indeedy!!! And the price on Amazon is still $10 and change, but "supplies are limited", since this gem seems to be either out of print or going there.

I didn't even know these people and this arena existed. Interesting that rather unknown orchestra, singers, conductor, etc. (with the exception of Erwin Schrott) did so well.

[JohnGerald]

I didn't even know these people and this arena existed. Interesting that rather unknown orchestra, singers, conductor, etc. (with the exception of Erwin Schrott) did so well.

There is an "extra" on this disc which describes the venue. If I recall correctly, it was built to resemble a Roman amphitheatre and was later used as a tennis court. There are a couple of other opera discs that were recorded there. This one is unusual in that the orchestra is seated behind the stage areas, and opera characters interact with the conductor and a few players.

Correction: the Sferisteria website notes that it was built in the 1820s in neoclassical style to house "the game with ball and bangle" (?). The first opera staged there was Aida in 1921.

[Florestan]

Yes indeedy!!! And the price on Amazon is still $10 and change, but "supplies are limited", since this gem seems to be either out of print or going there.

Very interesting how the opera takes place in front of the orchestra which is on risers, and the singers sometimes interact with the orchestra members. Also my disc has two extras: One a behind the scenes look at the production, and the other as mentioned above about the venue.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

Just started watching this (about 25 minutes in) and it is wonderful. The singers are great:

Very interesting how the opera takes place in front of the orchestra which is on risers, and the singers sometimes interact with the orchestra members. Also my disc has two extras: One a behind the scenes look at the production, and the other as mentioned above about the venue.

Have just ordered it. Definitely sounds like fun!

[Florestan]

Have just ordered it. Definitely sounds like fun!

You won't be disappointed. I am only disappointed that I had to spend an hour last night writing up meeting minutes when I really would have rather continued watching this opera. I got it a month ago and just over the weekend was able to start watching. 23 minutes in and can't wait to get back to it but the minutes will take another hour I expect. It doesn't help that I keep popping in and out of websites while writing up the minutes, but at least I have some great music in the background (Mendelssohn's five symphonies, which I love second only to Beethoven's nine).

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

You won't be disappointed. I am only disappointed that I had to spend an hour last night writing up meeting minutes when I really would have rather continued watching this opera. I got it a month ago and just over the weekend was able to start watching. 23 minutes in and can't wait to get back to it but the minutes will take another hour I expect. It doesn't help that I keep popping in and out of websites while writing up the minutes, but at least I have some great music in the background (Mendelssohn's five symphonies, which I love second only to Beethoven's nine).

Haha! I know that feeling. When I've got a long or boring job to do at home I 'reward' myself with 15 minutes of opera, then go back to the job.

[Florestan]

Haha! I know that feeling. When I've got a long or boring job to do at home I 'reward' myself with 15 minutes of opera, then go back to the job.

I am 50 minutes in now and neglecting the written minutes for now. I like the vocals so much in this video that when I discovered they have the same performance on CD I ordered it instantly, even though I have a great CD set featuring Mariella Devia. No harm having two sets.