What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Schigolch]

[HarpsichordConcerto]

I think it is a steller recording. Alan Curtis and Il Compresso Barocco come highly recommended and the singers are excellent. ( you said "nice line up" so I take it your familier with the vocalist. I'm not." ) The pacing and dynamics flow, the fidelity of the recording is excellent. I'm a little familier with Vivaldi and like his work but I was not aware of this opera and its fascinating history. Any idea if this has been performed in the last decade?

Yes, that is nice one. I have yet to come across an Alan Curtis directed performance I do not enjoy (staging aside for staged opera productions, which has nothing to do with the orchestra). He is a first rate Handelian conductor, and Baroque in general.

[Herkku]

As an avid Birgit Nilsson enthusiast I could not resist the temptation of "Birgit Nilsson - Eine Jahrhundertstimme": 10 CDs of obscure recordings at £ 10.84 (the price varies). Now I have heard her as Agathe, Abigaille and Ariadne (också på svenska!). Interesting, but perhaps not for everyone. The quality of the recordings is variable. Some are from the fifties, there are live takes, radio takes etc. What is remarkable, is that the big voice was there seemingly very early on. She sounds a wee bit funny as Agathe, for example (where I would prefer Gundula Janowitz), but who cares? It does not cost much and she really did have the voice of a century!

[Bardamu]

I quatro rusteghi by Wolf-Ferrari.
Listening an Opera in my own vernacular is entertaining and it helps it is a fun one.

[Dark_Angel]

Comparing recent blu ray Rings....some good and bad elements in each, but picture and sound is glorious

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I quatro rusteghi by Wolf-Ferrari.
Listening an Opera in my own vernacular is entertaining and it helps it is a fun one.

So you are Venetian, you lucky person. Love the way Italy has those dialects on top of the beautiful language, although it can make it harder for me understand some of the comic operas as I only know a tiny bit of Milanese.

[HarpsichordConcerto]

Comparing recent blu ray Rings....some good and bad elements in each, but picture and sound is glorious

I have the Mehta and its spectacular avant-garde production, which I bought recently though I have not opened it. hehehe... I await for your opinion about the new one. Judging by your brief comment, there might be potential for adding another Ring cycle one day. Oh dear ...

[Soave_Fanciulla]

[Bardamu]

So you are Venetian, you lucky person. Love the way Italy has those dialects on top of the beautiful language, although it can make it harder for me understand some of the comic operas as I only know a tiny bit of Milanese.

Yes (the region, not the city).
It is said that in the past the vernaculars were so different that sometime even between nearby city had hard time understanding each other dialects.

Too bad that nationalization and globalization washed away this culture diversity and richness.

Also for Opera buffa neapolitan is a must :-)

[Dark_Angel]

I have the Mehta and its spectacular avant-garde production, which I bought recently though I have not opened it. hehehe... I await for your opinion about the new one. Judging by your brief comment, there might be potential for adding another Ring cycle one day. Oh dear ...

Mehta Valencia Ring has spectacular visuals and some clever production sets that make great use of Cirque de soliel style acrobats, the opening Rhinemaidens sequence for instance is a resounding success but despite these important positive factors we have some serious shortfalls.....

I hate:
-spaceman costume motif of gods, especially despise the hideous absurd outfits of Brunnhilde and Loge
-the constant use of elevated cranes/lifts for singers hinders storyline
-not really thrilled with any of the Valencia singers vocally

Overall I give advantage to new MET Ring even with limitations of "the machine" will post more details at Wagner thread soon

[MAuer]

I saw a clip from the Valencia production of Die Walküre on YouTube, and felt sorry for Jennifer Wilson (Brünnhilde). She's a large woman, anyway, and that ridiculous costume did her no favors. And all of that moving around would have been enough to make me toss my cookies.

[Nibelungo]

Mehta Valencia Ring has spectacular visuals and some clever production sets that make great use of Cirque de soliel style acrobats, the opening Rhinemaidens sequence for instance is a resounding success but despite these important positive factors we have some serious shortfalls.....

I hate:
-spaceman costume motif of gods, especially despise the hideous absurd outfits of Brunnhilde and Loge
-the constant use of elevated cranes/lifts for singers hinders storyline
-not really thrilled with any of the Valencia singers vocally

Overall I give advantage to new MET Ring even with limitations of "the machine" will post more details at Wagner thread soon

I disagree on the lifts. On the stage the cranes were amazing. The singers flew over the orchestra :-)

[Schigolch]

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

Homework. And I just love the fact that some of the most beautiful music in the whole opera comes right at the very end.

[Schigolch]