What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

And, btw, what is 'welly'?

Welly wanging

[MAuer]

This sounded so good, I had to run out and buy it - well, run to Arkivmusic, anyway. It certainly is a good intro to a wide range of baroque masterpieces, composers and styles. Bad news is I bought it as an MP3, so no program notes.

The good news is I can do the chicken dance in the privacy of my own home and only you guys will ever know.

Hey, I live in the Chicken Dance Capital of the World! (Yes, we made the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest chicken dance. )

[Dark_Angel]

New York born Maria Callas returns home to NY for 1959 live recording of Il Pirata at Carnegie Hall, also has 1959 bonus Il Pirata ending from Amsterdam both conducted by Nicola Rescigno, as you would expect electrifying live performances.

Sound is live mono, but pretty decent really.......

[Hoffmann]

I listened to this:



Callas great, as usual (though a little hard for me to get used to her in this role - too used to listening to Leontyne Price, I think). Del Monaco a little, well, vulgar, I would say. Sound a little murky, to be expected for 1951 - and not a remaster.

[Sonata]

Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, conducted by Rostropovich.

I don't listen to much modern opera, but I've been on a big Shosty kick these days so I thought I'd check out his opera

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, conducted by Rostropovich.

I don't listen to much modern opera, but I've been on a big Shosty kick these days so I thought I'd check out his opera

It is very good. It's one of those dramatic works that are much more interesting when also seen. I recommend this version:

[Clayton]

Que?

Now, we come to the last round, I'm thinking both I due Foscari and I Masnadieri should be in our Opera Lively List Of Most Recommended Operas. I think at the start of the thread I was thinking Ha! So easy; I'll vote all of Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi FIRST! then you guys introduced me to all these different operas and the plan went off the rails...

And, btw, what is 'welly'?

I think Almaviva answered this question.

slang energy, concentration, or commitment (esp in the phrase give it some welly )

BUT so much better than I would have put it.

[Clayton]

George Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Orpheus
Musikalisches Drama, 1726
Dorothea Röschmann, Roman Trekel, Ruth Ziesak, Mariá Cristina Kiehr, Werner Güra, Isabelle Poulenard, Hanno Müller-Brachmann, Axel Köhler
RIAS Kammerchor Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
René Jacobs
Recorded October 1996 Christuskirche, Berlin-Oberschöneweide

[Hoffmann]

Now, we come to the last round, I'm thinking both I due Foscari and I Masnadieri should be in our Opera Lively List Of Most Recommended Operas. I think at the start of the thread I was thinking Ha! So easy; I'll vote all of Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi FIRST! then you guys introduced me to all these different operas and the plan went off the rails...



I think Almaviva answered this question.



BUT so much better than I would have put it.

I guess I don't get out much...

[Hoffmann]

This is a pleasant enough of an opera but, at least in this one, Salieri was unable to meet the challenge of Mozart's meltingly beautiful music for the voice.



and:

[Sonata]

It is very good. It's one of those dramatic works that are much more interesting when also seen. I recommend this version:

It's excellent!!! I am really enjoying it, and it's very unfortunate that Shostakovich did not write another opera. Though my opera video-viewing is limited, I may in fact track this one down.

Any recommendations for similar (musically speaking) operas?

[Soave_Fanciulla]

It's excellent!!! I am really enjoying it, and it's very unfortunate that Shostakovich did not write another opera.

Oh but he did...



- - - Updated - - -

Revenant was right. This is wonderful - great cast, lovely staging.

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

Yep, Sonata, like Soave said, The Nose is a very good Shostakovich opera, currently in the Met's season, by the way, with our interviewee Paulo Szot.

And it's not all. He has a few more:

The Big Lightning, unfinished comic opera (1932)
The Twelve Chairs, operetta (1937–1938)
Katyusha Maslova, opera after Tolstoy's novel Resurrection (1940)
Moscow, Cheryomushki, operetta in three acts (1958)
Katerina Ismailova, opera in four acts after Leskov (1956–1963); a revision of Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District
Orango (1932), a newly found opera

I do have Katerina Ismailova but I don't find it that different from Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District.

[Revenant]

Listened to this one yesterday. I found it wondrous, another HSOD experience (Handel Shock of Discovery). And McCreesh is becoming one of my favorite late Baroque conductors. And yes, the cd case is that large.

[Clayton]

...

...

Is this a good recording? I haven't heard this opera and am trying to decide which recording.