What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Dark_Angel]

One of the great Trovatore recordings, very good live mono sound and 3 of the 4 main parts have the very best singers I have heard sing the part:

Manrico - Corelli
Di Luna - Bastianini
Azucena - Cossotto

For Leonora we have Antonietta Stella a gifted singer who got lost in the shuffle of many great legendary sopranos during the 1955-65 period, very good performance but not quite elite reference level, I have CD version and also free on spotify premium........

[Clayton]

One of the great Trovatore recordings, very good live mono sound and 3 of the 4 main parts have the very best singers I have heard sing the part:
...

Stunning recording.

- - - Updated - - -

Keeping on a French and Gounod theme..

Gounod: Roméo et Juliette
Roberto Alagna (Roméo), Angela Gheorghiu (Juliette), José van Dam (Friar), Simon Keenlyside (Mercutio)
Chœur et Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse
Michel Plasson
Recorded October 1995, Halle aux grains, Toulouse

[JohnGerald]

Also Faust; the DVD with the same (formerly) happy couple. It is still, IMHO, the best of the current DVD crop.

[Nekrotzar]

Revisiting French operas. Here's one I do not know, my friends know this much more than I do!

[Nekrotzar]

My, this is long....I think just act 1 would be enough for today, Berlioz is really invading my thoughts!

So instead I'll just listen to this....



Which I've never even heard before. I'll have to do a bit of research and find something on YouTube to watch later.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

My, this is long....I think just act 1 would be enough for today, Berlioz is really invading my thoughts!

It is!! But worth the journey.

This is from personal experience. When I first heard it, I thought NO and nearly gave up on it but I persevered and now it's one of my all time favourites.

So instead I'll just listen to this....



Which I've never even heard before. I'll have to do a bit of research and find something on YouTube to watch later.

I think it's one of those better watched first and then listened to. Only my opinion though.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Calling all Rossini fans - this is a winner, particularly some really glorious diva/tenor duets! Renée is in top form, no scooping, lovely tone and stunning singing, Kunde is doing what he should be doing instead of mucking around thinking he can sing Verdi's Otello (psshaw), joined by a plethora of other very fine Rossini tenors, and all in all it's a joy.

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

My, this is long....I think just act 1 would be enough for today, Berlioz is really invading my thoughts!

So instead I'll just listen to this....



Which I've never even heard before. I'll have to do a bit of research and find something on YouTube to watch later.

You got two of the best. Les Troyens is my second favorite opera just behind the Ring, and P&M is a very profound work, dreamy and full of symbolism.

[Hoffmann]

I tried posting my day's listening last night, but the software wasn't responding:



and:


I'm not so crazy about this - not sure if it's the opera I don't like so much or just the recording. I'll have to look for a modern CD set to decide.


Right now:



I decided to give this set another try, and have upgraded it to "It's ok", but still find Carmen Giannattasio too squally for my taste. I still like this one better:

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

Software issues? Has anybody else noticed anything wrong? From my end it looked all peachy, yesterday, and today the site is responsive and fast as well. If you see widespread problems, let me know.

Yesterday I watched a Roméo et Juliette DVD, and today I'm listening to two contemporary operas on CD, Nelligan, and Emmeline. I've reviewed all three in the appropriate sections.

[Clayton]

... If you see widespread problems, let me know...

I see that there is a significant widespread opera addiction afflicting our community but am unable to assess whether this is a problem.

Other than that A okay.

[Hoffmann]

For a budget recording, good sound and rather well sung.

Conductor: Jerzy Semkow
with:
Polish Radio Chorus of Krakow
Boys' Chorus from Krakow Philharmonic Chorus
Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra

Boris Godunov: Martti Talvela
Grigory/Dmitri: Nicolai Gedda
Pimen: Leonard Mroz
Marina: Bozena Kinasz
Rangoni/Shchelkalov: Adrzej Hiolski
Varlaam: Aage Haugland
et al.

(1977) (EMI/EMI Classics)

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

For a budget recording, good sound and rather well sung.

Conductor: Jerzy Semkow
with:
Polish Radio Chorus of Krakow
Boys' Chorus from Krakow Philharmonic Chorus
Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra

Boris Godunov: Martti Talvela
Grigory/Dmitri: Nicolai Gedda
Pimen: Leonard Mroz
Marina: Bozena Kinasz
Rangoni/Shchelkalov: Adrzej Hiolski
Varlaam: Aage Haugland
et al.

(1977) (EMI/EMI Classics)

I have six versions of Boris Godunov and this is my favourite.

[Nekrotzar]

I just really had this desire to hear this recording again. This is not my favourite Mozart opera, but gawd it's brilliant. This was the first opera recording I remember ever buying. Knowing at least one of the arias already (words and all, it was "Madamina") I thought I would get it despite it being rather expensive.....however I must say that this recording is amazing beyond belief. It's the only CD recording of any opera in which I can actually almost see the action with my ears.

[Clayton]

...gawd it's brilliant...
...I can actually almost see the action with my ears...

It is a brilliant production and I too think that Jacobs paints this so well I can see it very clearly too.