What opera have you been listening to, lately?

**Soave_Fanciulla** · August 27th, 2012, 10:36 AM

Another wonderful Britten opera, very movingly performed by Robert Tear. Love the music with the gamelan effects.

Schigolch · August 27th, 2012, 10:57 AM

Yes, the scene with the arrival of the Polish children while we hear the tuned percussion accompaniment, and then the vibraphone with the theme of Tadzio, based on sléndro tuning, it's just wonderful. If someone is not familiar with this magical moment, you can watch in the below youtube, from 3:00.

**HarpsichordConcerto** · August 27th, 2012, 11:19 AM

Damn this is beautiful. I was listening to this again from my DVD of L'italiana in Algeri (Rossini), and this aria was included in the bonus section. Not exactly this performance below but she sang under James Levine as part of some other concert performance.

Saint-Saëns, Samson et Dalila "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix"

Schigolch · August 27th, 2012, 04:40 PM

Saint Saens : Phryné
Paris, 1960 (Audio)
Conductor: Jules Gressier

Performers:
Andre Vessieres (Dicephile)
Michel Hamel (Nicias)
Denise Duval (Phrynee)
Nadine Sautereau (Lampito)
Georges Ales (Agoragine)

**Dark_Angel** · August 27th, 2012, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by Amfortas

And many, on the other hand, who wonder what took you guys so long to make the discovery.

I had to buy it last year when I saw this scence, that is visual artistry by director.....even though Wagner is not my passion. Notice how the camera angle slowly changes during song so that by end Waltraud appears to be consumed in flame/light

Schigolch · August 29th, 2012, 09:21 AM

Schigolch · August 30th, 2012, 07:03 AM

Schigolch · August 31st, 2012, 09:48 PM

**Soave_Fanciulla** · August 31st, 2012, 10:44 PM

Overall I preferred this version to the Met Domingo/Sweet one, maybe because I can believe in Catherine Malfitano as an adulteress and heart-breaker far more than Sharon Sweet. Carreras is not a subtle actor, but he did manage to convey the struggle to forgive that is a central theme of this underrated opera. Downes brought out some lovely orchestral colours.

**Amfortas** · September 1st, 2012, 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by Dark_Angel

I had to buy it last year when I saw this scence, that is visual artistry by director.....even though Wagner is not my passion. Notice how the camera angle slowly changes during song so that by end Waltraud appears to be consumed in flame/light.

Yes, and I love that final shot of the whole stage as the curtain closes--it has the iconic stillness of an early Renaissance painting.

**Soave_Fanciulla** · September 1st, 2012, 11:40 AM

The Glyndebourne Ravel double bill. L'Heure Espagnole was funny, cute and quite sexy, but L'enfant et les Sortileges was a revelation, perfectly staged and the music, wow, what a wildly inventive 50 minutes. PLEASE let it come out on DVD.