What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Hoffmann]

and, this evening:



This recording, conducted by Sir Georg Solti, is generally well done. That said, and as much of a fan of Placido Domingo as I am, I really do not prefer him in this role. I'm not sure how to explain it - maybe just too Italianate of an approach. Domingo speaks English with an accent, so also must speak German with something of an accent. His approach just doesn't seem clean and to the point, but somehow embellished.

[MAuer]

Yes, Domingo's German has a pronounced Latin accent, and as much as I love his voice, that has limited my enjoyment of listening to him in the German repertoire.

[Clayton]

Rameau: Les Fêtes de l'Hymen et de l'Amour, ou Les Dieux d'Égypte
World Premiere Recording
Carolyn Sampson, Chantal Santon-Jeffery, Blandine Staskiewicz (sopranos), Jennifer Borghi (alto), Reinoud Van Mechelen, Mathias Vidal (countertenors), Tassis Christoyannis, Alain Buet (basses)
Le Concert Spirituel
Hervé Niquet
Recorded 13 and 14 February 2014, at the Opéra royal du Château de Versailles


I would like to go to the Opéra royal du Château de Versailles





Prices EUR 45 - 140

http://www.chateauversailles-spectac...a-mis-en-scene

[Hoffmann]

My brand-y new Norma recording with Joan Sutherland and Marilyn Horne was recorded in 1965 when both voices were relatively youthful. Sutherland is excellent (though doesn't threaten Callas' supremacy in the role), but Marilyn Horne's Adalgisa is a revelation. The blending of the two voices is really extraordinary. I also like John Alexander's Pollione, the role which typically suffers both in recordings and stagings.

I highly recommend it!

[Hoffmann]

Rameau: Les Fêtes de l'Hymen et de l'Amour, ou Les Dieux d'Égypte
World Premiere Recording
Carolyn Sampson, Chantal Santon-Jeffery, Blandine Staskiewicz (sopranos), Jennifer Borghi (alto), Reinoud Van Mechelen, Mathias Vidal (countertenors), Tassis Christoyannis, Alain Buet (basses)
Le Concert Spirituel
Hervé Niquet
Recorded 13 and 14 February 2014, at the Opéra royal du Château de Versailles


I would like to go to the Opéra royal du Château de Versailles





Prices EUR 45 - 140

http://www.chateauversailles-spectac...a-mis-en-scene

How did you like the opera? Opera Lafayette staged it here in October, but it was much more of a dance spectacle (they used 3 separate dance companies, each with a different expertise). I enjoyed the production - the singing was quite good, but it was difficult for me to develop a strong sense of the opera as a whole, so I didn't review it.

[Clayton]

How did you like the opera? Opera Lafayette staged it here in October, but it was much more of a dance spectacle (they used 3 separate dance companies, each with a different expertise). I enjoyed the production - the singing was quite good, but it was difficult for me to develop a strong sense of the opera as a whole, so I didn't review it.

Yes the opéra-ballets are a different, less story and not so much development and exploration of characters than an opera. I thought Les Indes Galantes was pretty before but since seeing the DVD (collective groan from forum readers; Oh here he goes again...) I am seeing these opéra-ballets in a different light, more just a gay and uplifting show. More of a jewel box with lots of pretty trinkets... inside...

- - - Updated - - -

continuing with the opéra-ballets



Rameau: Les Surprises de l'Amour
Virginie Pochon, Caroline Mutel, Amel Brahim-Djeloul (sopranos), Karine Deshayes (mezzo-soprano), Anders Dahlin (tenor), Pierre-Yves Pruvot, Jean-Sébastien Bou (baritones)
Les Nouveaux Caractères,
Sébastien d’Hérin
Recorded 8-14 March 2013 Espace du Tonkin, Villeurbanne, France

[Clayton]

Rossini: La Cenerentola
Teresa Berganza (Cenerentola), Luigi Alva (Ramiro), Renato Capecchi (Dandini), Paolo Montarsolo (Don Magnifico)
Scottish Opera Chorus & London Symphony Orchestra
Claudio Abbado
Recorded George Watson College, Edinburgh September 1971

[Clayton]

Rossini: La donna del lago
Carmen Giannattasio (Elena), Kenneth Tarver (Uberto/Giacomo), Patricia Bardon (Malcolm), Gregory Kunde (Rodrigo di Dhu), Robert Gleadow (Douglas d'Angus), Francesca Sassu (Albina), Mark Wilde (Serano/Bertram)
Edinburgh Festival Chorus & Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Maurizio Benini
Live recording 18 August 2006. Usher Hall Edinburgh

[Hoffmann]

A pretty good recording, but not great. However, with some of the Rossini operas we have to be happy they were recorded at all. Armida is a wonderful opera, so I'm looking forward to watching my Met Opera DVD with Renee Fleming (if and when it ever gets here)...

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

A pretty good recording, but not great. However, with some of the Rossini operas we have to be happy they were recorded at all. Armida is a wonderful opera, so I'm looking forward to watching my Met Opera DVD with Renee Fleming (if and when it ever gets here)...

That one is a truly excellent DVD in my opinion. Lots of fun! Renée is extremely good in it, both in acting and singing. We get Larry Brownlee too, and the Met ballet corps does some interesting things.

[Clayton]

Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia
Maria Callas (Rosina), Tito Gobbi (Figaro), Luigi Alva (Almaviva), Fritz Ollendorf (Bartolo), Nicola Zaccaria (Basilio), Gabriella Carturan (Berta), Mario Carlin (Fiorello)
Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus
Alceo Galliera
Recorded 7-14 February 1957, Kingsway Hall London

[Dark_Angel]

Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia
Maria Callas (Rosina), Tito Gobbi (Figaro), Luigi Alva (Almaviva), Fritz Ollendorf (Bartolo), Nicola Zaccaria (Basilio), Gabriella Carturan (Berta), Mario Carlin (Fiorello)
Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus
Alceo Galliera
Recorded 7-14 February 1957, Kingsway Hall London

In case there are any doubts that Maria can amaze us with the Rosina role listen to her tear it up with Gobbi in the famous duet: "Dunque io son!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLoC...yer_detailpage

[Hoffmann]

Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia
Maria Callas (Rosina), Tito Gobbi (Figaro), Luigi Alva (Almaviva), Fritz Ollendorf (Bartolo), Nicola Zaccaria (Basilio), Gabriella Carturan (Berta), Mario Carlin (Fiorello)
Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus
Alceo Galliera
Recorded 7-14 February 1957, Kingsway Hall London

That is one of my favoritist (sic) of all favorites! Close to being a reference recording, if ever there was one. How anyone could not fall in love with Maria after listening to this, I'll never know.

[Clayton]

That is one of my favoritist (sic) of all favorites! Close to being a reference recording, if ever there was one. How anyone could not fall in love with Maria after listening to this, I'll never know.

and fall in love with the opera

I had previously only heard the Ralf Weikert recording with Edita Gruberová and Juan Diego Flórez and liked the recording for the two singing gloriously but now I get the opera and I love it.

[Clayton]

Rossini: Il Turco in Italia

Maria Callas (Donna Fiorilla), Nicolai Gedda (Don Narciso), Nicola Rossi-Lemeni (Selim), Jolanda Gardino (Zaida), Franco Calabrese (Don Geronio), Mariano Stabile (Il poeta Prosdocimo), Piero De Palma (Albazar)
Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala Milan
Gianandrea Gavazzeni
Recorded August, September 1954, Teatro all Scala, Milan