What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Hoffmann]

Today, taking a hint from posts from yesterday or the day before, I realized it had been forever since I last listened to this wonderful recording wonderful, that is, even with Elena Suliotis' voice showing signs of strain:



and, later, during my walk:

[Nekrotzar]

I'm going to be listening to this.....it is something which I "borrowed," and I might not necessarily be able to "keep" it (pls don't tell anyone)

[Clayton]

Britten: Billy Budd
Philip Langridge (Vere), Simon Keenlyside (Billy), John Tomlinson (Claggart), Alan Opie (Mr Redburn), Matthew Best (Mr Flint), Alan Ewing (Mr Ratcliffe), Francis Egerton (Red Whiskers), Quentin Hayes (Donald), Clive Bayley (Dansker), Mark Padmore (Novice), Roderick Williams (Novice's Friend/Arthur Jones), Richard Coxon (Squeak), Daniel Norman (Maintop)
London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Tiffin Boys' Choir
Richard Hickox
Recorded 6-10 December 1999, Blackheath Halls, London



A wonderful opera, a tale of two men's tragedy on opposite ends of the rope, set a against a backdrop of eighteenth century British warship. At the risk of sounding like I am repeating Sospiro's words, again here the music of Britten paints such brilliant music, you can smell the boozy breath of the sailors, the smoke of the guns and taste the tension and the salt in the air.

[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 June 1975, Bavarian Radio Concert Hall, Munich



Another man's hell, this time the dead city that is inside Paul's head and grief. Again superb singing by Kollo and Neblett compliments Korngold's beautiful painting that is the backdrop of Paul's emotion.

[Clayton]

George Benjamin: Written on Skin
Christopher Purves (The Protector), Barbara Hannigan (Agnès), Bejun Mehta (First Angel/Boy), Victoria Simmonds (Second Angel/Marie), Allan Clayton (Third Angel/John)
Mahler Chamber Orchestra
George Benjamin
Recording of the first performance at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, July 2012



Disturbing but only like looking in to a mirror can be disturbing. Man, woman (women) and sexuality and it's place (or lack of it) in the world. A haunting performance by Barbara Hannigan.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Britten: Billy Budd
Philip Langridge (Vere), Simon Keenlyside (Billy), John Tomlinson (Claggart), Alan Opie (Mr Redburn), Matthew Best (Mr Flint), Alan Ewing (Mr Ratcliffe), Francis Egerton (Red Whiskers), Quentin Hayes (Donald), Clive Bayley (Dansker), Mark Padmore (Novice), Roderick Williams (Novice's Friend/Arthur Jones), Richard Coxon (Squeak), Daniel Norman (Maintop)
London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Tiffin Boys' Choir
Richard Hickox
Recorded 6-10 December 1999, Blackheath Halls, London



A wonderful opera, a tale of two men's tragedy on opposite ends of the rope, set a against a backdrop of eighteenth century British warship. At the risk of sounding like I am repeating Sospiro's words, again here the music of Britten paints such brilliant music, you can smell the boozy breath of the sailors, the smoke of the guns and taste the tension and the salt in the air.

And this is the best recording of it, even more than the original one with Pears as Vere.

[Clayton]

Berg: Lulu
Evelyn Lear, Patricia Johnson, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Donald Grobe, Josef Greindl
Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin
Karl Böhm
Recorded February 1968 Deutsche Oper, Berlin

[Clayton]

Ponchielli: La Gioconda
Anita Cerquetti (La Gioconda), Mario Del Monaco (Enzo), Giulietta Simionato (Laura), Ettore Bastianini (Barnaba), Cesare Siepi (Alvise), Franca Sacchi (La Cieca), Giorgio Giorgetti (Zuàne), Athos Cesarini (Isèpo)
Orchestra e Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino,
Gianandrea Gavazzeni
Recorded July 1957 Teatro Comunale, Florence

[Clayton]

Verdi: Nabucco
Dinon Dondi, Anita Cerquetti, Ugo Trama, Giovanna Fioroni, Gian Paolo Corradi
Hilversum Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Fulvio Vernizzi
Live recording, Hilversum, 24th September 1960



first case of CD rot...

bubbling on metal surface...

but CD is less than nine months old

waiting for response from vendor

[Adrian]

On this cloudy afternoon a classic from 40 years ago.
Still sounding marvellous, very good singing and such passionate conducting by Maestro Muti .

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

Ponchielli: La Gioconda
Anita Cerquetti (La Gioconda), Mario Del Monaco (Enzo), Giulietta Simionato (Laura), Ettore Bastianini (Barnaba), Cesare Siepi (Alvise), Franca Sacchi (La Cieca), Giorgio Giorgetti (Zuàne), Athos Cesarini (Isèpo)
Orchestra e Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino,
Gianandrea Gavazzeni
Recorded July 1957 Teatro Comunale, Florence

What a fabulous line up!

[Hoffmann]

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 June 1975, Bavarian Radio Concert Hall, Munich



Another man's hell, this time the dead city that is inside Paul's head and grief. Again superb singing by Kollo and Neblett compliments Korngold's beautiful painting that is the backdrop of Paul's emotion.

Hoffmann Like even more than "Like this Post" button!

[Dark_Angel]

On this cloudy afternoon a classic from 40 years ago.
Still sounding marvellous, very good singing and such passionate conducting by Maestro Muti .

Last night on spotify premium I compared many versions of Aida and my two favorite studio versions overall are Muti and Solti (1st version) with both conductors being a major positive factor......I find many of the 1950s versions too slowly paced like Erde (Tebaldi) Decca, a bold touch is needed!




The best kept "secret" great version (live) in excellent sound.......

[Gigli13]

I have that great cast. I also have the Tebaldi,Bergonzi, Horne Merrill , also, Callas,Cossotto,Campaneez,Vinco,Ferraro,Cappuccill i,also
Milanov,DiStefano Warren cast. Which would be the best? I like Tebaldi,Milanov,Simionato. Bergonzi is with Tebaldi and Di Stefano is with Milanov, Callas is with Poggi and then Anita Corridori with Giuseppe Campora ? I dont know the last cast but they are La Scala.
The Simionato one you can't go wrong as all players are top performers. Maybe I"ll play the Milanov it also has Warren vs Merrill in the Tebaldi cast. Unique voices in all. Sorry being an amateur I don't know that Corridori cast which I suspect she is good so I'll play her just to find out. She's on. a Urania label La Rosa Parodi conductor at La Scala

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I meant to reply to Clayton's la Gioconda and accidentally posted in wrong spot sorry.

[Gigli13]

I have that great cast. I also have the Tebaldi,Bergonzi, Horne Merrill , also, Callas,Cossotto,Campaneez,Vinco,Ferraro,Cappuccill i,also
Milanov,DiStefano Warren cast. Which would be the best? I like Tebaldi,Milanov,Simionato. Bergonzi is with Tebaldi and Di Stefano is with Milanov, Callas is with Poggi and then Anita Corridori with Giuseppe Campora ? I dont know the last cast but they are La Scala.
The Simionato one you can't go wrong as all players are top performers. Maybe I"ll play the Milanov it also has Warren vs Merrill in the Tebaldi cast. Unique voices in all. Sorry being an amateur I don't know that Corridori cast which I suspect she is good so I'll play her just to find out. She's on. a Urania label La Rosa Parodi conductor at La Scala

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I meant to reply to Clayton's la Gioconda and accidentally posted in wrong spot sorry.

Note: Cielo e Mar how it got into the opera.