Reply With QuoteWhy did the chicken cross the road?Originally Posted by Amfortas
Just listen to this. Then see what jokes come to mind.
Why did the chicken cross the road?
"J'ai dit qu'il ne suffisait pas d'entendre la musique, mais qu'il fallait encore la voir" (Stravinsky)
This was included as a favorite on several of the lists on the Rossini thread, and I realized I hadn't listened to it in several months. Wonderful opera, and a superb recording!
After purchasing the great 1961 Erich Leinsdorf studio Walküre, last night I listened to his classic live set from twenty years earlier: the Metropolitan Opera broadcast of December 6, 1941--the night before Pearl Harbor.
The dream cast includes the all-time champion heldentenor, Lauritz Melchior, as Siegmund; a 23-year-old Astrid Varnay as Sieglinde, triumphant in her first ever stage appearance (filling in for an indisposed Lotte Lehmann!); and my new favorite Brünnhilde ever (beyond the matronly Flagstad or the steely Nilsson): Helen Traubel. The all-star lineup is rounded out by the great Alexander Kipnis as Hunding and Kerstin Thorborg as Fricka.
The one weak link, sadly, is the Wotan of Friedrich Schorr. Hailed as the greatest Hans Sachs in history, here he is well past his vocal prime, though still possessed of telling character insights. Leinsdorf's tempos are often blindingly fast--perhaps not as nuanced as his later studio recording, but it certainly keeps things exciting. The sound is the limited mono of the period, but doesn't prevent white heat from coming through the speakers.
The complete opera is available on YouTube. Check out the passionate exchange between Traubel and Varnay in Act III, as Brünnhilde tries to save Sieglinde and tells her she will give birth to the hero Siegfried (2:13:16 - 2:19:40). Just try not to get chills.
Last edited by Amfortas; December 12th, 2014 at 03:07 PM.
Scarlatti, A: Carlo re d'Allemagna
World Premiere Recording. Opera in Three Acts (Concert version)
Romina Basso (King Lotario of Germany), Roberta Invernizzi (Queen Giuditta, dowager empress), Marina de Liso (Princess Gildippe, her daughter), Marianne Beate Kielland (Prince Adalgiso, son of Lotario), Carlo Vincenzo Allemano (Berardo, a knight), José Maria Lo Monaco (Asparando, a traitor), Damian Pinti (Amilla) & Roberto Abbondonza (Bleso)
Stavanger Symphony Orchestra
Fabio Biondi
Vivaldi: Griselda, RV718
Griselda: Marie-Nicole Lemieux (contralto), Costanza: Veronica Cangemi (soprano), Ottone: Simone Kermes (soprano), Roberto: Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor), Gualtiero: Stefano Ferrari (tenor) & Corrado: Iestyn Davies (countertenor)
Ensemble Matheus
Jean-Christophe Spinosi
Recorded November 2005 Salle Surcouf, Foter du Marin, Brest
Clayton is right - again!
And, this morning, I couldn't resist this:
Breathtaking - even the male roles are well sung and not a disappointment. Callas at her peak. I put this up there with the Sutherland/Ghiaurov/Cappuccilli/Pavarotti CD set. These Callas remasters are just astonishing.
The only one I've listened to so far that was just 'meh' was the Il Turco in Italia - which likely is more the fault of the opera and not Callas.
I have my eye on this at presto - great cast - but what's the opera like?Scarlatti, A: Carlo re d'Allemagna
World Premiere Recording. Opera in Three Acts (Concert version)
Romina Basso (King Lotario of Germany), Roberta Invernizzi (Queen Giuditta, dowager empress), Marina de Liso (Princess Gildippe, her daughter), Marianne Beate Kielland (Prince Adalgiso, son of Lotario), Carlo Vincenzo Allemano (Berardo, a knight), José Maria Lo Monaco (Asparando, a traitor), Damian Pinti (Amilla) & Roberto Abbondonza (Bleso)
Stavanger Symphony Orchestra
Fabio Biondi
Natalie
I think this should be read as "OMG, another freak incident where again Clayton has said something clever" as opposed to "Again he has said something right"
the killer Hoffmann meh strikes again...
though I also would have probably said "I will have to revisit this again..."
difficult answer as everyone knows I am a yes man
but Scarlatti Griselda is a top twenty (Clayton charts) opera and has been heard many times so is very hard comparison...
yes... no...
(yes, I have just discovered new emoticon facility ...also insert gif function; see performance review thread)
answer: Yes
It doesn't have the strength of the arias (individuality) of Griselda but it is has depth otherwise. More spectrum and melody (with a reserve of I am not sure of my explanation) and a touch of L'Incoronazione Monteverdi humanity/humour. The recording is good sound, good orchestration and comes with English libretto.
I think Clayton is, ever so gently, suggesting that Hoffmann needs to brush up on his diplomatic skills...I think this should be read as "OMG, another freak incident where again Clayton has said something clever" as opposed to "Again he has said something right"
though I also would have probably said "I will have to revisit this again..."
No, just Clayton agreeing with Hoffmann again
about Il Turco
Composer: Gaetano Donizetti
Title: Lucrezia Borgia - complete
Conductor: Andriy Yurkevych
Orchestra: WDR Rundfunkorchester Koln
Artists: Edita Gruberova Jose Bros Franco Vassallo Silvia Tro Santafe
Live performance recording 4 & 7 June 2010 Philharmonie Köln, WDR
absolutely my first choice for Lucrezia Borgia
[courtesy of YouTube]
[courtesy of a friend]
[actually paid for this one]
"Every theatre is an insane asylum, but an opera theatre is the ward for the incurables."
FRANZ SCHALK, attributed, Losing the Plot in Opera: Myths and Secrets of the World's Great Operas
I pulled another out of the Callas remasters box:
Glorious recording and clear as a bell! All the voices were recorded at what must be close to their peak years: Callas, of course, and
Di Stefano and Gobbi. Really wonderful.
I also listened to part of this - the music is wonderful, but the opera is a little long!
Last edited by Hoffmann; December 14th, 2014 at 10:36 PM.
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks