What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Clayton]

The what's up next plan got thrown out the window.

Souliotis and Verrett as lady MacBeth, such a great opera with so many memorable moments, I just marvel at Verdi's masterful control of music and vocals, a timeless masterwork

Abbado has just gone into the CD player.

It's quite silly really, how excited I get when I put CD 1 (for any opera) in to the player. I know the music coming but how am I going to react?

I also love the CD design for the DG Originals collection, printed to look like a vinyl...

[Dark_Angel]

The what's up next plan got thrown out the window.

Abbado has just gone into the CD player.

Clayton if you don't have this one yet please correct the situation, an essential opera document

[Hoffmann]

A new recording/s for me:



I bought this/these recordings based upon the love of operetta expressed in interviews by Klaus Florian Vogt and Rene Kollo. Gorgeous singing, but operettas are not my cup of tea, I'm afraid.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I really like Vivaldi arias, but I do find the recit that appears on these naive recordings rather dull - tempted to go through my MP3 player and excise it all. Funnily enough I quite enjoy Handel recit.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

Clayton if you don't have this one yet please correct the situation, an essential opera document

D_A is right. This was the first version I bought and although other versions are good, this remains my favourite.

[Clayton]

Gluck: La Clemenza di Tito

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10:33 28-May-2014

[Hoffmann]

I'm preparing for the arrival of my new Macbeth recordings by refreshing my memory (actually, any excuse is a good one for listening to this CD):

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

I'm preparing for the arrival of my new Macbeth recordings by refreshing my memory (actually, any excuse is a good one for listening to this CD):

Hard to go wrong with Gardelli ....... >>>>

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

>>>>

next on my Verdi journey

[Clayton]

I really like Vivaldi arias, but I do find the recit that appears on these naive recordings rather dull - tempted to go through my MP3 player and excise it all. Funnily enough I quite enjoy Handel recit.

This is next on my playlist; it is the recording I bought from PC with the damaged booklet that they very kindly replaced.

However, Sospiro might have taken a turn changing my plans. Now I'm thinking I need to hear the Foscari clan's wretched tale again...

No cricket tomorrow so we'll see how much opera can be fit in to the day.

[Hoffmann]

I'm preparing for the arrival of my new Macbeth recordings by refreshing my memory (actually, any excuse is a good one for listening to this CD):

I continued the day with



and, during my walk:

[Clayton]

Almost according to plan.

I did listen to Loredano get his eye and tooth from the Foscari's.

But then instead of Vivaldi, I went to see (or listen to) another fellow Gluck fan.

Vogel, J C: La Toison d’or
Marie Kalinine, Médée (mezzo-soprano), Jean-Sébastien Bou, Jason (baritone), Judith Van Wanroij, Hipsiphile (soprano), Jennifer Borghi, La Sybille (soprano), Hrachuhi Bassenz, Calciope (soprano) & Martin Nyvall, Arcas (tenor)
Le Concert Spirituel & Chor des Staatstheater Nürnberg,
Hervé Niquet
Recorded live Gluck-Opern-Festspiele Staatsoper Nürnberg 26 & 27 July 2012

[Hoffmann]

Wonderful opera!

Note: For those who are so inclined, many Opera Rara recordings are available as iTunes downloads for U.S. $29. There is no accompanying glossy material, of course (unless it's available, but they haven't told me), so no libretto, etc.



The recording is very good - I still struggle some with live recordings, but have gotten way more accustomed to them over the last year than I was. Give me a good studio recording any day!

[Hoffmann]

This morning, my new recording of Lucrezia Borgia:



Montserrat Caballe and Alfredo Kraus were at their peaks for this recording - lots of wonderful singing in a wonderful opera.

Then, this afternoon, one of my new recordings of Macbeth:



Shirley Verrett also was at her peak for this, and is really, really good. Interesting that she was a mezzo, when the role of Lady Macbeth calls for a soprano - her mid range and lower notes are meltingly good at the same time as she nails all the high notes. That said, after only one listen, I still find the Gardelli CD with Tito Gobbi and Elena Suliotis terrifically well sung and more compelling dramatically.

Now, on to the Schippers/Nilsson/Taddei Macbeth!

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Valer Sabadus lifts this to a whole new level.



So I took out all the recit from all my Vivaldi operas and I'm glad I did. Recit is essential when you are watching but not so important for listening without a libretto. This is a good recording except for Verónica Cangemi, whose uneven tone drives me nuts in anything she is in.