What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Clayton]

Sigrid Arnoldson
What a beautiful voice a Non-Italian voice but no cold or abrupt singing a clarity likevAlbanese and Galli-Curci.
A trained voice yes but a feel for the music like Muzio.

It looks like you have a very interesting collection of records there.
What sort of record player do you use? (I am looking for one)

[Gigli13]

Thanks Clayton,
I use a cheap Ion turntable. I paid under $50.00 for it. I hooked up Boise computer speakers so it's fine and portable. I wish I knew
good turntable to recommend as I took am looking. Mine plays one at a time. I'd type in turntables and take notes off internet. I think
one called technique may be ok. Pioneer was good in the old days? I have a 78 Victrola acoustic. My cheap ion has a USB port. I am trying to learn how to send audio recordings like some of you guys post. I sent my first pictures. I have those 45rpm Belcantodisc. Anyway I might be wrong but the vinyl sound seems to be richer and full bodied vs the remastered cd's. The78 's are apples to oranges a completely different sound but good to the ear as well. If I were technically inclined I'd invest in a solid turntable as
You really can enjoy a clearer recording. There are a few reputable guys that restore turntables . The expert professor is that Tim Graycyk (spelling) and his site leads you to others that are in it because they love the music. He that guy that explains to the masses how if you have a Caruso record you may not necessarily be sitting on a gold mine. Some of those acoustic players are just fun to look at. Maybe someone else may know more.

[Gigli13]

Thanks Clayton,
I use a cheap Ion turntable. I paid under $50.00 for it. I hooked up Boise computer speakers so it's fine and portable. I wish I knew
good turntable to recommend as I took am looking. Mine plays one at a time. I'd type in turntables and take notes off internet. I think
one called technique may be ok. Pioneer was good in the old days? I have a 78 Victrola acoustic. My cheap ion has a USB port. I am trying to learn how to send audio recordings like some of you guys post. I sent my first pictures. I have those 45rpm Belcantodisc. Anyway I might be wrong but the vinyl sound seems to be richer and full bodied vs the remastered cd's. The78 's are apples to oranges a completely different sound but good to the ear as well. If I were technically inclined I'd invest in a solid turntable as
You really can enjoy a clearer recording. There are a few reputable guys that restore turntables . The expert professor is that Tim Graycyk (spelling) and his site leads you to others that are in it because they love the music. He that guy that explains to the masses how if you have a Caruso record you may not necessarily be sitting on a gold mine. Some of those acoustic players are just fun to look at. Maybe someone else may know more.

Bonci is on the78rpm

[Soave_Fanciulla]

So Marilyn Horne was a soprano? I always thought she was clearly a mezzo.

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

So Marilyn Horne was a soprano? I always thought she was clearly a mezzo.

Marilyn Horne = mezzo, no doubt.

[Nekrotzar]

Curious to find this in my two huge boxes of CDs:



It's in English and it's abridged and it's re-orchestrated, but from reading reviews it retains the "best bits" of the operetta arranged for smaller forces by Gerard McBurney. It's an interesting satirical work.

I have a feeling Shostakovich will not be too pleased with the cover art.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

C

I have a feeling Shostakovich will not be too pleased with the cover art.

He's leering like Benny Hill.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Marilyn Horne = mezzo, no doubt.

So what is she doing on a "ten famous sopranos" album, I wonder - all the others ARE sopranos,

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

So what is she doing on a "ten famous sopranos" album, I wonder - all the others ARE sopranos,

Infiltrated foreign agent. Don't tell Putin.

[MAuer]

Well, very early in her career, she did sing Mimi.

[Gigli13]

So what is she doing on a "ten famous sopranos" album, I wonder - all the others ARE sopranos,

She's only on there for a Carmen aria. it's a London Recording . Some people see Pavarotti on albumns and wonder what he's doing on there as he got older or some Golden Age fans don't think he should be in the top 10 all time tenors.Maybe London means she's famous not necessarily that good. I agree that she's not in the same class as the others on that albumn. Marilyn Horne would probably be the first to admit that she is not anywhere near the others. Of course Callas would be a very much better Carmen but if you look at say katheryn Grayson who sang some beautiful duets with Mario Lanza at the Hollywood Palace she did a good job on the O Soave Fanciulla and Thine Alone duets. If you listen to Grayson with Lanza she may not have had the power training and strength of a top ten but her interpretation was one of the best I ever heard. Horne actually does a good job on the aria. ( I agree she is not anywhere near the top 10 but just like the local opera companies they always put the weaker singers in Carmen and La Traviata vs Norma and Tosca etc
(I actually just happened to have that albumn out when I took a picture of my Boise speakers hooked up to my cheap Ion. I hope Clayton reads this as I love my Boise speakers but please don't get an Ion for your good records. My solid
Turntable is gone and I bought the cheap ion until I can get a good turntable. It's overwhelming to choose the right one.
I did buy extra needles for safety of my records) Many good older ones to choose from but way too many choices plus direct drive vs belt ) You sound very passionate about the quality of your opera and you are correct she is not at there level. I just thought I d throw in a little discussion to make the Opera Lively. Don't throw any tomatoes at Horne from the balcony.

[Clayton]

...Don't throw any tomatoes at Horne from the balcony.

Oh gosh! We certainly don't do that here in London.

Except in cricket when sometimes we may throw the odd piece of cheese at fielders on the opposing team.*


*This is the opinion of the Forum member alone and Opera Lively does not condone the throwing of any dairy product at any sportsmen.

[Clayton]

Did someone mention Maria?

Donizetti: Maria Stuarda
Joan Sutherland (Maria Stuarda), Huguette Tourangeau (Elisabetta), Luciano Pavarotti (Leicester), Roger Soyer (Talbot), James Morris (Cecil), Margreta Elkins (Anna)
Bologna Teatro Comunale Orchestra
Richard Bonynge
Recorded September 1974 & July 1975 Teatro Comunale, Bologna

[Amfortas]

So Marilyn Horne was a soprano? I always thought she was clearly a mezzo.

Beat me to it!

I agree that she's not in the same class as the others on that albumn. Marilyn Horne would probably be the first to admit that she is not anywhere near the others.

I believe we were questioning her fach, not her ability.

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

Marilyn Horne would probably be the first to admit that she is not anywhere near the others. Of course Callas would be a very much better Carmen

I agree that Callas is hard to match, but I do think Marilyn Horne is one of the greatest, and I believe she fully belongs in that company. What we were getting at, is that the cover mentions sopranos and she is a mezzo, but a darn good mezzo.