What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Hoffmann]

I had a lovely afternoon listening to this during my outing, long enough I wasn't quite able to get all the way through the recording. Of note, however, (and this was far more impressive on its 2nd listen than its first) was Samuel Ramey. Really at his peak. Who knew that a bass/baritone could handle this kind of coloratura with such dexterity?

[Soave_Fanciulla]

My "round-the-volcanic-basin" walk today:

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

I had a lovely afternoon listening to this during my outing, long enough I wasn't quite able to get all the way through the recording. Of note, however, (and this was far more impressive on its 2nd listen than its first) was Samuel Ramey. Really at his peak. Who knew that a bass/baritone could handle this kind of coloratura with such dexterity?

Oooh (I'm so predictable!!)

On wish list ... no, in basket ... no, 'bought'

[Clayton]

My "round-the-volcanic-basin" walk today:

I like this opera. I love this production/recording.

[Clayton]

Verdi: La forza del destino
Martina Arroyo, Carlo Bergonzi, Piero Cappuccilli, Ruggero Raimondi
Ambrosian Opera Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Lamberto Gardelli



Oh yes.

[Clayton]

Verdi: La forza del destino
Leontyne Price (Leonora), Placido Domingo (Don Alvaro), Sherrill Milnes (Don Carlo), Fiorenza Cossotto (Preziosilla), Bonaldo Giaiotti (Padre Guardiano), Gabriel Bacquier (Fra Melitone), Gillian Knight (Curra), Michel Sénéchal (Mastro Trabuco), William Elvin (Un Chirurgo), Malcolm King (Un Alcalde)
John Alldis Choir & London Symphony Orchestra, James Levine
Studio recording, 1976



Also I like.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Handel: Semele
Rosemary Joshua (Semele), Hilary Summers (Juno/Ino), Richard Croft (Jupiter), Stephen Wallace (Athamas), Brindley Sherratt (Cadmus/Somnus) & Gail Pearson (Iris), David Croft (Apollo)
Early Opera Company (on period instruments), Christian Curnyn



Richard Croft's Jupiter makes me swoon.

- - - Updated - - -

I like this opera. I love this production/recording.

Yes it's a real counter-tenor treat, with three very distinct voices possessed by very fine singers.

[Clayton]

Britten: Peter Grimes
Jon Vickers (Grimes), Heather Harper (Ellen), Jonathan Summers (Balstrode), Elizabeth Bainbridge (Auntie), Teresa Cahill (First Niece), Anne Pashley (Second Niece), John Dobson (Bob Boles), Forbes Robinson (Swallow), Patricia Payne (Mrs Sedley), John Lanigan (Horace Adams), Thomas Allen (Ned Keene), Richard Van Allan (Hobson)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Sir Colin Davis 1978



an earthy Grimes and Heather Harper's Ellen with a purity that is a wonderful combination

[Clayton]

Britten: Peter Grimes
Anthony Rolfe Johnson (Grimes), Felicity Lott (Ellen Orford), Thomas Allen (Balstrode), Patricia Payne (Auntie), Sarah Walker (Mrs Sedley), Simon Keenlyside (Ned Keene), Stafford Dean (Swallow), David Wilson-Johnson (Hobson), Maria Bovino (First Niece), Gillian Webster (Second Niece)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Bernard Haitink 1992



Wonderful voice of Rolfe-Johnson but a different interpretation of Peter Grimes; a somewhat more reflective character that kind of changes the balance of the situation between Peter Grimes and the Borough (and Ellen)

[Floria]

Bizet: Carmen

Renat Shaham, Dmytro Popov, Andrew Jones, Nichole Car

I have this DVD, and the audio on mp3.

[Floria]

Mussorgsky: Khovantchina
Claudio Abbado
Nicolai Ghiaurov,Vladimir Atlantov,Yuri Maruzin,Anatoly Kocherga,Paata Burchuladze

The mp3 from this DVD.

[Clayton]

Handel: Semele
Rosemary Joshua (Semele), Hilary Summers (Juno/Ino), Richard Croft (Jupiter), Stephen Wallace (Athamas), Brindley Sherratt (Cadmus/Somnus) & Gail Pearson (Iris), David Croft (Apollo)
Early Opera Company (on period instruments), Christian Curnyn



Richard Croft's Jupiter makes me swoon...

After a double dose of Peter Grimes (great opera but it can leave me feeling a little grey about humanity) I needed something pretty and so followed Soave_Fanciulla here. I know she gets tricked into sticking her hand in the toaster but...

I don't swoon

though Hilary Summers and Rosemary Joshua (and the whole opera actually) leave me with a nice warm fuzzy feeling inside. Is that the same?

[Floria]

Verdi: Stiffelio

Jose Carreras

[Clayton]

...so followed Soave_Fanciulla here. I know she gets tricked into sticking her hand in the toaster but...

I just re-read this post and wanted to clarify that it is Semele that gets tricked. I am sure Soave_Fanciulla would never stick her hand in the toaster.

I continued with the lighter fayre

Rossini: La Cenerentola
Cecilia Bartoli (Cenerentola), William Matteuzzi (Ramiro), Enzo Dara (Don Magnifico), Alessandro Corbelli (Dandini), Michele Pertusi (Alidoro)
Chorus & Orchestra of Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Riccardo Chailly 1993



A beautiful recording of a lovely opera

and please do not stick your hand in the toaster under any circumstances

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I just re-read this post and wanted to clarify that it is Semele that gets tricked. I am sure Soave_Fanciulla would never stick her hand in the toaster.

I often stick my hand in the toaster in response to the wail "mum I can't get my toast out of the toaster it's too hot"

On the other hand I have never been known to nag my Greek god boyfriend to appear to me in his real and terminally terrifying form. Probably because my BF is not a Greek god, dammit.