What opera have you been watching lately?

**Clayton** · January 26th, 2016, 03:58 PM

Oh that was a blow-you-away-buy-the-dvd-straight-away one for me; after watching it on the MET streaming service I, well, bought the DVD straight away...

What did Florestan think?

**JohnGerald** · January 26th, 2016, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by Clayton

Oh that was a blow-you-away-buy-the-dvd-straight-away one for me; after watching it on the MET streaming service I, well, bought the DVD straight away...

What did Florestan think?

JG thinks it is a wonderful performance. It is particularly so considering its performance history, which did not gain much traction until after the 1950s!

**Florestan** · January 26th, 2016, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by Clayton

Oh that was a blow-you-away-buy-the-dvd-straight-away one for me; after watching it on the MET streaming service I, well, bought the DVD straight away...

What did Florestan think?

I have loved my first three Maria Stuarda DVDs (Devia, Baker, and Remigio) and so looking forward to this, am 30 minutes in. I was a bit put off by the intense circus-like activity in the beginning, but then things settled in nicely and so it is looking very good. I would love to get a 5th Maria Stuarda DVD but alas it appears there are none worthy beyond the 4 I have.

**Soave_Fanciulla** · January 28th, 2016, 08:06 AM

Attila does have some rattling good tunes, doesn't it? Not sure this is the role for Ildebrando, though he does look mighty fine. Conducting was top notch, production was ok if a little stand and deliver.

**Florestan** · January 30th, 2016, 02:50 PM

The Didonato Maria Stuarda is phenomenal. Joyce's acting is supreme. Of the four DVDs i have watched of this opera, Joyce had me nearly in tears by the end. The others did not do that.

So next up, and 15 minutes in, I am watching this gem, which has already induced me to buy more Dessay/Florez (I'll post that one in purchased DVDs)

**Soave_Fanciulla** · January 31st, 2016, 08:01 AM

Enjoyed this Stiffelio from La Fenice.

**JohnGerald** · January 31st, 2016, 04:15 PM

Last night we watched the 2005 DVD of Roberto Devereux with Gruberova and Aronica. The singing was first rate, but the staging, moved to the age of Margaret Thatcher failed to engage.

**Hoffmann** · February 2nd, 2016, 04:29 AM

I was out of town through the weekend. When I returned home this afternoon, there was a flyer advertising the Baltimore Concert Opera.

Baltimore has a concert opera? I had written the city off as hopeless after the Baltimore Lyric Opera crashed and burned a few years ago.

So, what's coming up on 26 and 28 February? A true rarity: Puccini's Edgar

**Soave_Fanciulla** · February 2nd, 2016, 06:06 AM

Coo-er, that's cool!

**Ann Lander (sospiro)** · February 2nd, 2016, 07:03 AM

Excellent! I like Edgar.

**Povero Buoso** · February 2nd, 2016, 02:17 PM

I need to get that DVD of Edgar. The only Puccini I haven't well acquainted myself with yet...

**Clayton** · February 2nd, 2016, 02:46 PM

The first thing I thought of was

it's a bit of a long way for Povero Buoso to go

**Povero Buoso** · February 2nd, 2016, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by Clayton

The first thing I thought of was

it's a bit of a long way for Povero Buoso to go

The biggest irony is. One of the performances is on my birthday!

**Ann Lander (sospiro)** · February 3rd, 2016, 11:15 AM

A pile of ironing to do so what better way to help with the chore than to watch the Silver Fox himself in Il Trovatore. I have always loved this DVD but two things make it even more special - (1) Our dear Luiz's unrelenting dislike (I believe he actually threw his copy in the trash can

) and (2) Soave Fanciulla's description of the heroic Leonora - something along the lines of "She looks like a Spanish housewife out doing her shopping."

The staging is traditional but excellent and the guys are fabulous.

Dima's breath control is out of this world.