What opera have you been watching lately?

**Clayton** · August 25th, 2014, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by JohnGerald

Last night, we felt like Rossini, so we put Matilde di Shabran on the big screen. We managed to get through Act I and may do the rest tonight. I say "may" because sometimes the opera gods whisper a different title to one of us during the day.

Yes, last night I had planned to visit 15th Century Milan and my beloved Beatrice. I was so looking forward to it but somehow today I took a wrong turn and ended up in 16th Century Lisbon.

**Soave_Fanciulla** · August 25th, 2014, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by Clayton

Yes, last night I had planned to visit 15th Century Milan and my beloved Beatrice. I was so looking forward to it but somehow today I took a wrong turn and ended up in 16th Century Lisbon.

Time travel IS tricky, isn't it.

**Ann Lander (sospiro)** · August 25th, 2014, 08:10 PM

I remember being disappointed with Marcelo Álvarez's performance when I first watched this but have since changed my mind about him. I really love his voice now.

Perfect viewing for a wet bank holiday afternoon.

**JohnGerald** · August 25th, 2014, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by Soave_Fanciulla

Time travel IS tricky, isn't it.

It's all a matter of who you know and the right technology, ma'am. I find Vulcans to be cool ... and helpful.

**Nekrotzar** · August 29th, 2014, 06:43 AM

This looks good, will watch this now.
I've come to the conclusion that Waltraud Meier is no mere mortal. She is obviously some super-human with god-like abilities.

**JohnGerald** · August 30th, 2014, 02:50 AM

We just watched the new release of the ROF's 2013 L'Italiana in Algerie. Rossini would have loved this staging, and the singing is near perfect!

**Soave_Fanciulla** · August 31st, 2014, 09:27 AM

This production of Jenufa is all about the Kostelnička.

Conductor Donald Runnicles
Director Christof Loy

Grandmother Buryja Hanna Schwarz
Laca Klemen Will Hartmann
Steva Buryja Ladislav Elgr
Kostelnicka Jennifer Larmore
Jenufa Michaela Kaune

Chorus Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin
Orchestra Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin

**JohnGerald** · August 31st, 2014, 04:21 PM

For some reason known only to the opera gods, we don't watch opera in the daytime. This morning, for reasons metabolic (we spent yesterday with my older son and his lovely wife, and because we were outside in the heat of late summer, I wisely eschewed my usual favorite adult beverage [wine] for beer. Much beer.) So, as we recovered, we spent the morning with Rodolfo and Mimi in the '08 Met HD DVD. I purchased this disc at a substantial discount, for the Zeffirelli sets, thinking that Vargas and Georghiu would not be all that good. They are! I am pleased to report that both of us are improving. Bless Puccini and the Met. If you have not experienced this Boheme, do so.

**JohnGerald** · September 4th, 2014, 02:41 AM

Tonight we watched Lucia in an older (2003) performance with Bonfadelli, Alvarez and Frontali. The mad scene was superlative. I know that the boardmeister likes ... em ... the mommyparts ... anatomically, but I could drown in Bonfadelli's great big eyes. Dramatically, she is frail, increasingly troubled mentally, yet vocally ... superb!! Complete, with no cuts. Not HD but a very decent 5.1 for the sound. $7.67 on Amazon sellers new. We haven't played it for quite a while, but it made a great evening with some very nice Cabernet.

**Nekrotzar** · September 5th, 2014, 01:10 AM

The Turn of the Screw, from Glyndebourne opera

**Soave_Fanciulla** · September 5th, 2014, 01:52 AM

[QUOTE=ComposerOfAvantGarde;41525]The Turn of the Screw, from Glyndebourne opera

That is such a good production!

**Nekrotzar** · September 5th, 2014, 02:25 AM

Originally Posted by Soave_Fanciulla

That is such a good production!

I'm enjoying so much from Glyndebourne at the moment, I wish it wasn't on the other side of the world though!!!

**Soave_Fanciulla** · September 5th, 2014, 02:45 AM

Originally Posted by ComposerOfAvantGarde

I'm enjoying so much from Glyndebourne at the moment, I wish it wasn't on the other side of the world though!!!

Maybe we could persuade them to do a tour down-under - although to be honest I haven't been so enamoured of some of their more recent stuff - thought Ariadne auf Naxos and Don Pasquale were VERY poor, and Rosenkavalier was a bit meh.