What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

It was recorded live at the Barbican but there is little audience noise. The recording got mixed reviews on Amazon but I found a couple of reviews from people who were there on the night.

Intermezzo

Madam Caterpillar

... Lukas Jacobski I also remember because he had so little to sing, yet he sang it really beautifully, and when he left the stage, I was disappointed that he didn't have more to sing.

That's why I go to hear him even if he doesn't have much to sing.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

It was recorded live at the Barbican but there is little audience noise. The recording got mixed reviews on Amazon but I found a couple of reviews from people who were there on the night.

Intermezzo

Madam Caterpillar

That's why I go to hear him even if he doesn't have much to sing.

I didn't get far with this because I don't like Simon O'Neill in the role. I'll hunt down the Lukas bits.

[mario]

In my opinion Hogwood edition is better sung (Bartoli Daniels and the other are excellent)
But Jacobs conduction is more free and drammatic than Hogwood. The two directors are both excellent but their styles are different and you can see the difference in every recording they made. You could go to You tube, take an extract of a piece made by hogwood, the same piece made by Jacobs and choice. It is all matter of tastes. For my taste the rythm and the style of conductor is the first factor i consider in an opera.

[mario]

About Rinaldo
In you tube i have found this three pieces conducted by Hogwood


In this one the music starts at 12" (first eleven silent, i don't know why)





These three pieces are conducted By Jacobs

[Amfortas]

The first of the Böhm 1967 Bayreuth Ring that I've listened to. I liked what seemed to be the faster tempos/quick pace, but missed the chills down the spine and goosebumps of Solti. On to Die Walküre!

Since Die Walküre has always been the most criticized installment of the Solti set, perhaps the Böhm will stack up better here.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

I didn't get far with this because I don't like Simon O'Neill in the role.

I don't like him much either, but I do like Gerald Finley.

[PoloniumCyanide]

I don't like him much either, but I do like Gerald Finley.

Good call...

[Hoffmann]

I like Böhm's Die Walküre better than his Rheingold. Chills during the parting scene with Brunnhilde is the acid test. With both
Theo Adam and Birgitte Nilsson, it had to be good.

[Hoffmann]

This recording is a 24 Bit/96 kHz remaster from 1955, recorded without recitatives. It's way better than I had expected, and moves quickly and energetically without the recitatives (which don't really seem to add much if one isn't watching the performance).

[Revenant]

Giove in Argo, Virgin label. (Sorry, no pics as I'm unable to upload any photos of cd covers to posts in this particular thread.) The recycled hits just keep coming in this pasticchio. Mostly great bits from earlier unsuccessful operas (with the exception of the Tornami a vagheggiar from Alcina). It all works fine in this studio recording helmed by Alan Curtis. I agree with Alma's take on this recording.

[Hoffmann]

Following the discussion on Rinaldo a couple of days ago, I decided this was worth another listen. Marilyn Horne really never disappoints - I think she outsings David Daniels on the Hogwood recording by a mile (just compare the the two versions of "Or la tromba" and see what you think). On the other hand, Cecilia Gasdia was not having a good day - that, and Hogwood's conducting outshines John Fisher on the other by a longshot. I suppose some days I want the strong conducting and other days Marilyn Horne...



David Daniels:

[Clayton]

Donizetti: Lucia Di Lammermoor
Beverly Sills, Piero Cappuccilli, Carlo Bergonzi, Adolf Dallapozza, Justino Diaz
London Symphony Orchestra, Ambrosian Opera Chorus
Thomas Schippers
Recorded EMI Studios, London August 1970

[Clayton]

Verdi: Il Trovatore
Piero Cappuccilli, Leontyne Price, Elena Obraztsova, Franco Bonisolli, Ruggero Raimondi
Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded September 1977 Philharmonie Berlin

[Clayton]

How does that Jacobs compare, say, to the Hogwood? (If you've had a chance to listen to all of it.) I'm a Handelian neophyte and haven't listened to any Rinaldo yet. Someone recommended the Hogwood.

In my opinion Hogwood edition is better sung (Bartoli Daniels and the other are excellent)
But Jacobs conduction is more free and drammatic than Hogwood. The two directors are both excellent but their styles are different and you can see the difference in every recording they made. You could go to You tube, take an extract of a piece made by hogwood, the same piece made by Jacobs and choice. It is all matter of tastes. For my taste the rythm and the style of conductor is the first factor i consider in an opera.

I have only listened to this opera twice; once of each recording. Unsure if it is the case of the last thing I heard is the best (referred to as a case of hearditis); I will agree with mario in that I thought the Jacobs recording sounded more dynamic and dramatic.

However I would say I thought that after listening to both, they were excellent and if I had heard them the other way around I might have equally said I preferred the Hogwood...

I am sure you are a winner with either recording!

[Hoffmann]

My day included:


remastering is a wonderful thing - bringing recordings from the past back to life



and