What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Clayton]

Verdi: Don Carlos (Five-act French version)
Katia Ricciarelli (Elisabeth), Lucia Valentini Terrani (Eboli), Plácido Domingo (Carlos), Leo Nucci (Rodrigue), Ruggero Raimondi (Philippe II), Nicolai Ghiaurov (Le Grand Inquisiteur), Nikita Storojew (Un Moine), Ann Murray (Thibault), Tibère Raffalli (Le Compte de Lerme), Antonio Savastano (Un Hérault Royal), Arleen Auger (Un Voix d'en haut)
Coro e Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala,
Claudio Abbado
Recorded in 1983-4 (studio)

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Good to know, Clayton. Thanks. I'd read somewhere that it was padded with different elements to substitute for the lost parts in the score. It's happened with some of his other operas - again, according to what I've read. Ercole is the one I see most frequently recommended of Vivaldi's operas.

This is one of my favourite Vivaldi recordings of a really good opera. Buy buy buy!

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

1857 original version

If I'd heard this version first, Simon Boccanegra would never ever ever have become my favourite opera. It's very different from the revised 1881 version, there are too many differences to go into here, but it shows how the collaboration with Boito was a stroke of genius.

[Clayton]

1857 original version

If I'd heard this version first, Simon Boccanegra would never ever ever have become my favourite opera. It's very different from the revised 1881 version, there are too many differences to go into here, but it shows how the collaboration with Boito was a stroke of genius.

Not good? That's a pity.

Completely off on a tangent...

This is Via Arrigo Boito in Milan. I am not sure why I took a picture. We had just finished a nice lunch and there it was.




- - - Updated - - -

Sorry. I just remembered, this is Via Victor Hugo, not Via Arrigo Boito.

[Hoffmann]

It was snowy, dreary and cold today, so stayed home and indulged myself. After Fidelio, I listened to two of my all-time favorite recordings:



and



I was very happy!

[Soave_Fanciulla]

It was snowy, dreary and cold today, so stayed home and indulged myself. After Fidelio, I listened to two of my all-time favorite recordings:

Oh goodness, that's a flashback. I used to have this, and it was such fun; where on earth is it?

[Hoffmann]

Oh goodness, that's a flashback. I used to have this, and it was such fun; where on earth is it?

If you are referring to the Callas 'Barber', I understand completely. I had forgotten all about and lost my copy - then found it in the basement completely by (happy) accident about 6 months ago.

[Revenant]

Finally got around to give this new acquisition a listen. Rosemary and Jestyn are great in this. Orchestral playing and choruses are nonpareil. Get the edition with the booklet on Babylon.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

Not good? That's a pity.

Disappointing rather than not good.

Completely off on a tangent...

This is Via Arrigo Boito in Milan. I am not sure why I took a picture. We had just finished a nice lunch and there it was.

Cool!!

[Clayton]

Strauss, R: Salome
Leonie Rysanek (Salome), Eberhard Waechter (Jokanaan), Hans Hopf (Herod), Grace Hoffmann (Herodias), Waldemar Kmentt (Narraboth), Rohangiz Yachmi (Page)
Orchestra of the Wiener Staatsoper, Karl Böhm
Recorded on 22nd December 1972

[Clayton]

Korngold: Die Tote Stadt, Op. 12
René Kollo (Paul), Carol Neblett (Marietta), Hermann Prey (Fritz), Benjamin Luxon (Frank), Gabrielle Fuchs (Juliette), Patricia Clark (Lucienne), Anton de Ridder (Gaston/Victorin), Willi Brokmeier (Count Albert), Rose Wagemann (Brigitta)
Chor Des Bayerischen Rundunks Münchner Rundfunkorchester,
Erich Leinsdorf
Recorded Bavarian Radio Concert Hall, Munich June 1975

[Hoffmann]

[MAuer]

I've been listening to this early '70s era recording with Fischer-Dieskau as Caesar and Peter Schreier in the role of Sesto. I know Baroque purists wouldn't like having a baritone and tenor singing the former castrato roles, but I'm really enjoying this. Franz Crass and Julia Hamari are wonderful as Tolomeo and Cornelia, and I'm getting used to Tatiana Troyanos' Cleopatra. (Her voice has a rapid vibrato that I'm not too crazy about.)

[Revenant]

I just ordered this one, along with Ercole sul Termodonte (thanks to all of you who have recommended it). Let us know how you like this pastiche. Handel's Tamerlano, based on the same original libretto (iirc) is a favorite.

P.S. - Did you get the set that includes a bonus dvd?

[Clayton]

Mozart: Idomeneo, K366
Richard Croft (Idomeneo), Bernarda Fink (Idamante), Sunhae Im (Ilia) - again a lovely voice (lots of performances but not so many complete opera recordings), Alexandrina Pendatchanska (Elettra), Keneth Tarver (Arbace), Nicolas Rivenq (Gran Sacerdote) & Luca Tittoto (La Voce)
RIAS Kammerchor & Freiburger Barockorchester,
René Jacobs
Recorded Immanuelskirche, Wuppertal 2009