Not a complete opera, but Toscanini's famous all-Wagner concert at Carnegie Hall in February of 1941, with orchestral excerpts along with Lauritz Melchior and Helen Traubel in scenes from Tannhäuser, Die Walküre, and Götterdämmerung. Melchior was the established star; the lesser-known Traubel's performance would draw raves and eventually help her take over the major Wagnerian soprano roles at the Met after Flagstad left the U.S. and Lawrence contracted polio.
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I know. But, my Mother always used to tell me: "We all have to do things we don't like to do" (and tell me, and tell me, and..). Based on Mom, I've extrapolated that to mean "We all have to listen to rotund, self-indulgent tenors we don't want to listen to".
It helps that this CD set was recorded in 1981, before Pav and his voice had become so annoying.
"J'ai dit qu'il ne suffisait pas d'entendre la musique, mais qu'il fallait encore la voir" (Stravinsky)
Ok I just listened to this on Spotify (bar Pav's first aria which set my teeth on edge) Battle was predictably lovely. I took my nasty Pav medicine by telling myself to concentrate on his fine technique and lovely diction and not worry about his voice. Your mum would be proud of me.
Natalie
I don't understand this, much. I actually love Pavarotti's voice. Is this, erm, considered to be bad form or something?? Not cool?
What is wrong with Pav's voice? Sure, he had some vocal wear and tear (many did and still do as well; the exceptions are few) and he got into the commercial side of the 3 Tenors thingy, but he was still a great operatic artist, in my opinion, with a very beautiful and unique timbre of voice.
"J'ai dit qu'il ne suffisait pas d'entendre la musique, mais qu'il fallait encore la voir" (Stravinsky)
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Pav's voice per se, and his technique is often exemplary.
The problem is, I can't stand his particular timbre. I suspect Hoffmann is less than keen too. It's a personal taste thing rather than a judgement as to objective quality.
I feel the same with regard to Sutherland, Caballé and Nilsson. I'd never get a recording with them in it.
Natalie
I love this recording. It is the only one of L'elisir d'amore that I have and I have been happy with that
but I do want to see the DVD with Alagna and Gheorghiu
but my wish list is three ink cartridges long
so many buts
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