What opera have you purchased recently?

[Dark_Angel]

I also bought that Macbeth on DA's recommendation - it's wonderful. I haven't bothered to add any other Macbeth recordings because it seems, well, so unnecessary.

I'm not so sure about the Gioconda - I wasn't very taken with the opera itself when I saw it last month, although I admit to being intrigued as how it is sung by Ms. Cerquetti and the rest of that outstanding cast.

[btw, I have my fingers crossed that everything goes ok with Arkivmusic]

There are some great Gioconda CD recordings like the Cerquetti Decca and Callas EMI studio release.



For DVD visually I really like the Pizzi production best, very stylish but Voight and remaining cast cannot even come close vocally to best in CD versions.......(Video features Urmana instead of Voight, but it is the Pizzi production)







The dance movement is spectacular achievement, what a visual feast......Letizia Giuliani is a goddess!

[Clayton]

I also bought that Macbeth on DA's recommendation - it's wonderful. I haven't bothered to add any other Macbeth recordings because it seems, well, so unnecessary.
...

I think that is what took me so long to buy the Soulitis version. I thought the Abbado Macbeth with Shirley Verrett was so powerful.

Now I can already hear Hoffmann typing his next post "...interesting to hear your thoughts on a comparison..."

Yes. I can't wait to receive it.

...[btw, I have my fingers crossed that everything goes ok with Arkivmusic]...

Hopefully I have already achieved my quota this year for rotten luck with postal orders so everything should be okay this time.

[Clayton]

I was in the Covent Garden gift shop yesterday...



and following Revenant

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

Finally got around to ordering this as I've been waiting for a decent priced used copy



And this ditto

[Soave_Fanciulla]

[manon]

'La Gioconda' has always been a favorite opera. The Caballe/Pavarotti version is superb. Happy listening.

[Revenant]

There is also (or used to be) an inexpensive (or used to be) Opera d'Oro live recording with Caballe and Carreras.

[Clayton]

Want more Verdi!

[Dark_Angel]

Want more Verdi!

Yes more, more, more........

As you discover the high quality in the early operas of Verdi the more you appreciate his great talents, I love Attila and have 3-4 CD versions, Odabella (daughter of Attila) has some great bel canto arias for the dramatic singer to exploit.....



the recent Tutto Verdi series DVD was above average for the series and with modern picture and sound becomes the version to get (even though older Ramey La Scala cannot be topped for part of Attila)......

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

It's arrived

Recorded at Walthamstow Town Hall in 1980!

[Clayton]

It's arrived

Recorded at Walthamstow Town Hall in 1980!

Ha! Ha!

Sounds so funny! Can you imagine this superstar cast driving down Walthamstow high street?

Err mister driver, are you sure this is correct?

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

Ha! Ha!

Sounds so funny! Can you imagine this superstar cast driving down Walthamstow high street?

Err mister driver, are you sure this is correct?

Incongruous. But the acoustics and the equipment must have been superb because it was used lots of times.

[MAuer]

Pre-ordered from Amazon:





The recordings aren't supposed to be released until June over on these shores, but as the old saying goes, anything worth having is worth waiting for.

[Hoffmann]

Pre-ordered from Amazon:





The recordings aren't supposed to be released until June over on these shores, but as the old saying goes, anything worth having is worth waiting for.

They both should be good - I would love to hear what Jonas does with Bacchus - a notoriously difficult role.

[Clayton]

István Kertész conducts Kodaly & Bartók
Bartók:
Duke Bluebeard's Castle, Sz. 48, Op. 11
Walter Berry (bass-baritone) & Christa Ludwig (mezzo-soprano)
London Symphony Orchestra
Kodály:
Háry János, Op. 15
Peter Ustinov (narrator), György Melis (baritone), Erzsébet Komlóssy (contralto), Márgit László (soprano), Olga Szönyi (mezzo soprano), László Palócz (bass-baritone), Zsolt Bende (baritone)
Wandsworth School Boys’ Choir, Edinburgh Festival Chorus & London Symphony Orchestra



Anyone thinking of buying Decca legendary records BB Castle (GBP 9) add GBP 1 and upgrade to this record to get the Kodály opera as well. Go on, you know it makes sense! (Sorry, still some Only fools and Horses left in me).