What opera have you been listening to, lately?

**Aramis** · August 13th, 2012, 08:01 PM

That is good, Conan, that is good. It's great they didn't make Manrico sound too far away in Miserere final bars before coda where all sing together, on most of recordings they do and it's like muting first violins in symphony where they play the theme.

**HarpsichordConcerto** · August 13th, 2012, 09:22 PM

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Schigolch · August 15th, 2012, 10:08 AM

**MAuer** · August 15th, 2012, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by Schigolch

He started to record the role with Karajan. Norma was Katia Ricciarelli and Adalgisa, Mirella Freni. It was never going to be.

What a shame! I know I would have bought such a recording.

**HarpsichordConcerto** · August 15th, 2012, 09:44 PM

**Soave_Fanciulla** · August 17th, 2012, 02:30 AM

Schigolch · August 17th, 2012, 11:43 AM

**Aksel** · August 17th, 2012, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by Soave_Fanciulla

That CD makes me desperately want Rosemary Joshua to do Theodora. Seriously. Someone needs to make that happen.
Also, the cover art is... intriguing.

**Aramis** · August 19th, 2012, 06:56 PM

I liked Ricciarelli more in title role but this is magnificent recording, Bergonzi is wonderful and so is Moffo (not being my first choice for that role, she still has my admiration).

**Soave_Fanciulla** · August 19th, 2012, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by Aksel

That CD makes me desperately want Rosemary Joshua to do Theodora. Seriously. Someone needs to make that happen.
Also, the cover art is... intriguing.

Makes me have rather wild inappropriate thoughts about the recording session

!

**Aksel** · August 19th, 2012, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by Soave_Fanciulla

Makes me have rather wild inappropriate thoughts about the recording session

!

Nat! I'm drinking milk here! Don't say such things!

**Soave_Fanciulla** · August 20th, 2012, 10:49 AM

Looking forward to the Met HD after hearing this. Hope Audrey Luna is up to the stratosperic delights of Ariel.

**Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)** · August 20th, 2012, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by Soave_Fanciulla

Looking forward to the Met HD after hearing this. Hope Audrey Luna is up to the stratosperic delights of Ariel.

It's an excellent opera. I don't own a copy but I've seen it complete on YouTube. I don't have the link, maybe it's been posted somewhere or Schigolch may know it. His other one, Powder her face (which I do own on DVD) is also excellent. Adès is a great composer. I wonder what he's up to, these days. Does anybody know if he's composing another one? Buy the way, now that I'm thinking of him, a good subject for an interview, Adès. I'll look into it! I haven't been trying new interviews (except the two that had been offered to us already, Ramey and Pirgu), still traumatized from the overdose in July.

**Aksel** · August 20th, 2012, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by Almaviva

It's an excellent opera. I don't own a copy but I've seen it complete on YouTube. I don't have the link, maybe it's been posted somewhere or Schigolch may know it. His other one, Powder her face (which I do own on DVD) is also excellent. Adès is a great composer. I wonder what he's up to, these days. Does anybody know if he's composing another one? Buy the way, now that I'm thinking of him, a good subject for an interview, Adès. I'll look into it! I haven't been trying new interviews (except the two that had been offered to us already, Ramey and Pirgu), still traumatized from the overdose in July.

There is a book out in October, a sort of an artistic biography of Adés. Should be exiting.

**Aramis** · August 20th, 2012, 07:14 PM

Worst libretto on Earth. It's not weak, it's so enormously bad, it's unbeliveable that it was used, all bel canto librettos stuffed with cliche phrases and metaphores are nothing compared to this outburst of unrelated, trivial sentences. You would get the lowest score for this if it would be your work for elementary school class. Really, no, at the scene when the mother awaits return of Anna my jaw literally dropped. It was the only moment it all made me laugh though, the rest was just annoying and embrassing.

Also, Antonacci is miscast. She does fit the role as much as soubrette would fit Norma, she can't act it and she's not convicing. The tenor is usual chubby fellow, the type we all know I suppose. The queen mother screeches.

But the music is good, interesting example of early German romantic opera and the title character is something you want to see. Vocally - splendid, also he is the only character that lives and is somehow developed. Given that he is main character, it's enough to try it. The other plus would be staging, very good as well.