What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Dark_Angel]

Working through the blu ray MET Ring, I have only seen youtube samples so I am not yet jaded in my expectation......I will try to love the machine




My initial quickie view shows great promise, Orchestra under Miss Haim directing from keyboard is as good as it gets in HIP music, Cesare here is male singer Lawrence Zazzo and he is a let down from Sarah Conolly in famous Glyndebourne production, but this is a winner overall......"night at the museum" style production works well. More details soon in Handel thread

[HarpsichordConcerto]

My initial quickie view shows great promise, Orchestra under Miss Haim directing from keyboard is as good as it gets in HIP music, Cesare here is male singer Lawrence Zazzo and he is a let down from Sarah Conolly in famous Glyndebourne production, but this is a real winner..."night at the museum" production works well. More details soon in Handel thread

Look forward to your thoughts. I have the feeling I shall hate the staging but admire the singing and orchestra. We shall see. (I have not ordered it yet, but will).

[Schigolch]

Giuseppe Verdi - I due Foscari

Francesco Foscari: Plácido Domingo
Jacopo Foscari: Francesco Meli
Lucrezia Contarini: Marina Poplavskaya


Los Angeles Opera Orchestra & Chorus

Conductor: James Conlon

15 september 2012, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (Los Angeles)

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I wish I could see a stage version of this. I liked it very much.



Always have to balance other listening out with some Baroque:

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

I wish I could see a stage version of this. I liked it very much.

Yes, Enescu's Oedipe is an excellent opera, I also own this CD version with Van Dam. I think there is a video version of the opera circulating out there on YouTube, I think. I vaguely remember thinking, "hey, a chance to see Oedipe on stage" but then I didn't follow through with it so I don't remember the details. Look it up.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I did but no luck so far - some murky excerpts filmed from a seat, might as well just read the libretto.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

[HarpsichordConcerto]

There are six other single CDs in that series. Do take your time, my friend.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

Happy memories of a glorious few days this summer

[Soave_Fanciulla]

There are six other single CDs in that series. Do take your time, my friend.

At the moment I'm just listening to what is on Spotify. This one was really gorgeous. A lot of the music is very familiar and I'm assuming he did a fair amount of recycling in his later operas, is that right HC?

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Happy memories of a glorious few days this summer

It was so perfect that I haven't touched it since. I simply don't want anything to get in the way of my memories!

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

It was so perfect that I haven't touched it since. I simply don't want anything to get in the way of my memories!

I know what you mean, this is the first time I've listened to it since. But 'our' Troyens will be shown in cinemas in UK soon so my memories will get refreshed then.

[HarpsichordConcerto]

At the moment I'm just listening to what is on Spotify. This one was really gorgeous. A lot of the music is very familiar and I'm assuming he did a fair amount of recycling in his later operas, is that right HC?

Our composer was one of the biggest "recyclist" of all. He was pragmatic. Italian cantatas were heavily recycled in later operas composed for his English audiences. And why not? He was gifted and had a way with melodies, and it is interesting to see the different context that he used them.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Il Trovatore from La Scala 2001 on Medici, with Leo Nucci, Barbara Frittoli, Violeta Urmana, Salvatore Licitra, conducted by Riccardo Muti, a very traditional (slightly dull) but well-sung and excitingly conducted version (although Di quella pira seemed just too fast for Licitra to manage, the main disappointment of the evening)

This was fun and I loved the production, complete with penthouse and REAL swimming pool.



Bit of nostalgia, can't believe that when I came back to opera Villazon was the big thing and now the poor man is rather on the skids. Not surprised now, he certainly sounds pushed, but he is such a sweetie that I feel sad for him.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Written on Skin by George Benjamin, with Christopher Purves, Barbara Hannigan, Bejun Mehta. This has shot to being my favourite opera of the 21st century by a mile, particularly with this amazing powerful cast. The music is very accessible and often really beautiful.