What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Clayton]

Mozart: Die Zauberflöte, K620
Daniel Behle (Tamino), Marlis Petersen (Pamina), Daniel Schmutzhard (Papageno), Sunhae Im (Papagena), Anna-Kristiina Kaappola (Königin der Nacht), Marcos Fink (Sarastro), Kurt Azesberger (Monostatos), Inga Kalna (1st Lady), Anna Grevelius (2nd Lady), Isabelle Druet (3rd Lady), Konstantin Wolff (Speaker), Joachim Buhrmann, Konstantin Wolff (2 Priests), Magnus Staveland, Konstantin Wolff (2 Armed Men), Alois Mühlbacher, Christoph Schlögl, Philipp Pötzlberger (3 Boys) & René Möller, Clemens-Maria Nuszbaumer, Christian Koch (3 Slaves)
RIAS Kammerchor & Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin,
René Jacobs
Recorded November 2009 Teldex Studio, Berlin

[Clayton]

Monteverdi: Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria
Anizio Zorzi Giustiniani (Ulisse), Josè Maria Lo Monaco (Penelope), Roberta Mameli (Minerva), Makoto Sakurada (Telemaco, Eurimaco), Salvo Vitale (Nettuno), Giorgia Milanesi (Giunone) with Francesca Cassinari, Vincenzo Di Donato, Marco Bussi, Alessio Tossi, Roberto Balconi, Paolo Antognetti, Francesca Lombardi, Luca Dordolo, Marta Fumagall
La Venexiana,
Claudio Cavina
Recorded Sala Ghisleri, Mondovi, Italy. October 2011



Small note. I like the voice of Francesca Lombardi, very pretty. If you do look her up on the interweb, be sure to add soprano to the end of her name, or you might be shocked by pictures of someone very different.

[Clayton]

Das Rheingold
Theo Adam (Wotan), Gerd Nienstedt (Donner), Hermin Esser (Froh), Wolfgang Windgassen (Loge), Gustav Neidlinger (Alberich), Erwin Wohlfahrt (Mime), Martti Talvela (Fasolt) Kurt Böhme (Fafner), Annelies Burmeister (Fricka), Anja Silja (Freia), Vera Soukupova (Erda), Dorothea Siebert (Woglinde), Helga Dernesch (Wellgunde), Ruth Hesse (Flosshilde)
Chor und Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele,
Karl Böhm
Live recording 1966



hold on to your hat... here we go again...

[Clayton]

Die Walküre
James King (Siegmund), Leonie Rysanek (Sieglinde), Gerd Nienstedt (Hunding), Birgit Nilsson (Brünnhilde), Theo Adam (Wotan), Annelies Burmeister (Fricka), Danica Mastilovic (Gerhilde), Helga Dernesch (Ortlinde), Gertraud Hopf (Waltraute), Sieglinde Wagner (Schwertleite), Liane Synek (Helmwige), Annelies Burmeister (Siegrune), Elisabeth Schärtel (Grimgerde), Sona Cervena Rossweisse
Chor und Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele,
Karl Böhm
Live recording 1967

[Hoffmann]

What do you think of these two recordings?

I wasn't so taken with Das Rheingold - I think Böhm didn't conduct to the romantic heights of the score, so otherwise thrilling ending sounds pinched. I really like this Die Walküre, very rich expressive singing.

I haven't yet ventured to Siegfried - but it's snowing today, therefore no walk - so, maybe this afternoon.




I'm just finishing listening to my 'new' Cosi (again)



This 1954 Karajan is a lovely, thrilling recording that has really brought this opera alive for me - it leaves my old Solti in the dust. The four Mozarts (the 3 Da Pontes and La Clemenza di Tito) I bought while away are all winners!

[Clayton]

What do you think of these two recordings?

I wasn't so taken with Das Rheingold - I think Böhm didn't conduct to the romantic heights of the score, so otherwise thrilling ending sounds pinched. I really like this Die Walküre, very rich expressive singing.

I haven't yet ventured to Siegfried - but it's snowing today, therefore no walk - so, maybe this afternoon.

This is the only Der Ring des Nibelungen I have at the moment. I did think at the time I purchased it last October that if I liked it, I could come back for Solti's at a later time. More recently I have thought this time will come later this year.

I like Das Rheingold. It is a great chapter in a great story (I still haven't yet developed much preference of one part of the other). The more I listen to it (the whole cycle) and of opinions such as yours, the more I am tempted to bring this purchase date forward.

I like Siegfried as well. Actually it is the only chapter that I have heard separately to date. So I am very interested in what you think there...

[Hoffmann]

This is the only Der Ring des Nibelungen I have at the moment. I did think at the time I purchased it last October that if I liked it, I could come back for Solti's at a later time. More recently I have thought this time will come later this year.

I like Das Rheingold. It is a great chapter in a great story (I still haven't yet developed much preference of one part of the other). The more I listen to it (the whole cycle) and of opinions such as yours, the more I am tempted to bring this purchase date forward.

I like Siegfried as well. Actually it is the only chapter that I have heard separately to date. So I am very interested in what you think there...

Oh dear. I got boarded by pirates and got too preoccupied for Siegfried..



It's supposed to snow again tomorrow, so I'll have another shot at it. Stay tuned..

[Clayton]

Siegfried
Wolfgang Windgassen (Siegfried), Erwin Wohlfahrt (Mime), Theo Adam (Der Wanderer), Gustav Neidlinge (Alberich), Kurt Böhme (Fafner), Birgit Nilsson (Brünnhilde), Vera Soukupova (Erda), Erika Köth (Waldvogel)
Chor und Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele,
Karl Böhm
Recorded live 1966

[Clayton]

Götterdämmerung
Wolfgang Windgassen (Siegfried), Thomas Stewart (Gunther), Gustav Neidlinger (Alberich), Josef Greindl (Hagen), Birgit Nilsson (Brünnhilde), Ludmila Dvoraková (Gutrune), Martha Mödl (Waltraute), Dorothea Siebert (Woglinde), Helga Dernesch (Wellgunde), Sieglinde Wagner (Flosshilde), Marga Höffgen (1. Norn), Annelies Burmeister (2. Norn), Anja Silja (3. Norn)
Chor und Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele,
Karl Böhm
Recorded live 1967

[Clayton]

Ah!

Bellissima!

Perfetto.

Fantastico.

[Dark_Angel]

Ah!

Bellissima!

Perfetto.

Fantastico.

That is the 1953 studio recording in reference sound quality (thanks to Pristine XR remaster) can you imagine the electricity at La Scala live when Callas held court there as queen diva 1954-58 singing Lucia..........your live report from La Scala with pictures is greatly appreciated btw

[Hoffmann]

I made it! Windgassen is terrific, Böhm's conducting is dependably good. I was struck by the forging scene which, instead of the typical 'clanging' of metal being hammered, instead 'clunks' - more like wooden swords are being crafted. Different, but decidedly eccentric. I like the recording, but still haven't heard anything in these Böhm CDs that surpasses the Solti.

I am dying to try out the Keilberth Testament recordings, which are well-documented as being great (here and elsewhere). Problem is they are so pricey - but on my shopping list.



Oh, and this afternoon, when I braved a walk (despite the stiff breeze and 35 F/ 2 C temp) and nevertheless managed 7.6 miles/12.2 km, I listened to:


a very good opera with some terrific singing on this CD

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

To celebrate the life of Romanian baritone Nicolae Herlea who died a few days ago, I'm listening to this. He has a wonderful warm rich voice.

[Clayton]

I made it! Windgassen is terrific, Böhm's conducting is dependably good. I was struck by the forging scene which, instead of the typical 'clanging' of metal being hammered, instead 'clunks' - more like wooden swords are being crafted. Different, but decidedly eccentric. I like the recording, but still haven't heard anything in these Böhm CDs that surpasses the Solti...

Right that's it. Solti's Ring just moved up 112 positions on the wish list to top ten position.

...
Oh, and this afternoon, when I braved a walk (despite the stiff breeze and 35 F/ 2 C temp) and nevertheless managed 7.6 miles/12.2 km, ...

Still have builders next door?

[Clayton]

I was aiming for Abbado's I Capuleti e i Montecchi but got distracted at the tea cabinet by this beautiful box.

Bellini: I Capuleti e I Montecchi
Anna Netrebko (Giulietta), Elina Garanca (Romeo), Joseph Calleja (Tebaldo), Robert Gleadow (Lorenzo) & Tiziano Bracci (Capellio)
Wiener Singakademie & Wiener Symphoniker,
Fabio Luisi
Recorded April 2008 in the Vienna Konzerthaus.



Not just a beautiful cover design; Anna, Elina and Joseph sing beautifully, Luisi's direction is pretty, romantic, sympathetic and the orchestra and solos wonderful too. I love this CD. It takes all my power of rational thought to not buy a second copy that I can keep as an untouched sacred treasure.