What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Floria]

Today I listened to Boito - Mefistofele Ramey, Domingo, Marton



I haven't been around here much lately. I been so tied up with work and a new PC that is a nightmare...win 8.1 with IE11

[Amfortas]

I haven't been around here much lately. I been so tied up with work and a new PC that is a nightmare...win 8.1 with IE11

I hope work and the computer settle down so you can join us more often, Floria!

[Floria]

Amforta, Thanks ! I hope this pc settles down too. It has been better this week.

I been spending a lot of my free time, 'fixing' stuff which includes over 4 hours one day with support and about 5 + hours with HP another day. I have never seen so may wacked out errors in the logs in my life. I spend all day testing home banking software and the last thing I need is to be looking at my personal PC figuring out what is going on.

At least I can listen to opera while I work. Working from home is a big plus.

But like I said things are better this week and hopefully this is all behind me now.

[Hoffmann]

There's always room for Rossini!

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

I hope work and the computer settle down so you can join us more often, Floria!

Second that!

[Hoffmann]

More Maria, natch!



There are two Lucia di Lammermoors included in the studio remastering set, with the first having been recorded in 1953. This Lucia was recorded in 1959 and Callas' voice was beginning to show some wear and tear, but she still is just jaw-droppingly good. On the other hand, this recording was done late enough to have been recorded in stereo. The stereo sound, remastered, is very rich.

I also love the cover art!

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I think my enjoyment of this came partly from my previous acquaintance with the play. The music is rather astonishing and I noticed (and it was confirmed in the liner notes) that it often has nothing much to do with what is being expressed, but goes its own idiosyncratic little way. I bought this because a) it was on sale and b) Barbara Hannigan is in it, and she does not disappoint. Will listen again now I'm used to it.



This showed why Alagna was the great white hope of tenordom when he first appeared on the scene. He sounds wonderful here, and my other favourites were José van Dam and Catherine Dubosc.



Some light Rameau to iron to.

[Clayton]

Aaron Sheehan (tenor), Teresa Wakim (soprano), Amanda Forsythe (soprano), Douglas Williams (bass-baritone), Jesse Blumberg (baritone), Dorothee Mields (soprano), Mireille Lebel (mezzo-soprano), Jason McStoots (tenor), Zachary Wilder (tenor)
Boston Early Music Festival Orchesra, Boston Early Music Festival Chorus, Paul O'Dette & Stephen Stubbs
Recorded Sendensaal Bremen July 1-6, 2013

Charpentier, M-A: La Couronne de Fleurs
A pastorale that was a collaboration with playwright Molière written as a tribute to Louis XIV but never performed during his lifetime and known only to us by the survival of his manuscripts. Written around 1685. Although Molière died 1673, his input was for an earlier work that was banned by Louis and reused for this.
La Descente d'Orphée aux enfers
This is an unfinished opera. There was no prologue and it does not fit the standard of the time of 1, 3 or 5 acts (it is written in two acts). Dated to probably 1686 or 1687.

[Hoffmann]

I suppose I listen to this often enough at this point that probably should post as a 'guilty pleasure', but it sure is hard to resist:



I agree about the Abbado recording - it is excellent, but this gets the nod because Suliotis has more of an edge and is constantly thrilling. I went looking for the Gardelli/Sass CD set, but it seems to be out of print.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

I suppose I listen to this often enough at this point that probably should post as a 'guilty pleasure', but it sure is hard to resist:



I agree about the Abbado recording - it is excellent, but this gets the nod because Suliotis has more of an edge and is constantly thrilling. I went looking for the Gardelli/Sass CD set, but it seems to be out of print.

I got a 'used - good' from Germany. Don't know what the postage would be for you though. Available from France as well.

[Dark_Angel]

I suppose I listen to this often enough at this point that probably should post as a 'guilty pleasure', but it sure is hard to resist:



I agree about the Abbado recording - it is excellent, but this gets the nod because Suliotis has more of an edge and is constantly thrilling. I went looking for the Gardelli/Sass CD set, but it seems to be out of print.

It is extremely hard to find CD version, but fear not............Spotify has Gardelli/Sass MacBeth, what an amazing opera tool of discovery spotify is and huge money saver!

[Hoffmann]

I got a 'used - good' from Germany. Don't know what the postage would be for you though. Available from France as well.

Thanks - There's even a new copy apparently available from the U.K. (Vereinigtes Königreich) - but the shipping is very pricey (around U.S. $20). I think I'll wait until I'm in Berlin and see if I can find it there. It looks like I should be able to go back to Amazon.de if that doesn't work.

[Floria]

I am listening to Giordano: Fedora - Angela Gheorghiu, Placido Domingo

[Hoffmann]

A wonderful recording:



Tito Gobbi, Boris Christoff, Victoria De Los Angeles. I've not heard of the tenor, Giuseppe Campora, but he also is excellent. All seemingly at their peaks.

Considering this 'Simon' was recorded in 1958, and had 1990 remastering to CD format, it's a terrific candidate for 24Bit/96KHZ remastering, as the sound is only pretty good.

[Clayton]

Vivaldi: L'Incoronazione di Dario
World Premiere Complete Recording
Anders Dahlin (Dario), Sara Mingardo (Statira), Delphine Galou (Argene), Riccardo Novaro (Niceno), Roberta Mameli (Alinda), Lucia Cirillo (Oronte), Sofia Soloviy (Arpago), Giuseppina Bridelli (Flora)
Accademia Bizantina
Ottavio Dantone
Recorded September 2013, Die Glocke, Bremen, Germany



Gosh, I just remembered this was a 2014 release as well. So many operas released (revivals/rediscovered works) this year!