"Music is enought for a whole lifetime--but a lifetime is not enough for music." --Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff
Quite cold again today, but decided to venture out for my walk anyway. I discovered that it was chillier than I thought the hard way - I forgot to bring my gloves. Once I got going, my hands warmed up ok, but since I went out rather late, midway through a stiff breeze came up and I regretted my oversight.
I don't listen to this one very often, and it's rather good:
Georg Solti, cond.
Rene Kollo
Christa Ludwig
Hans Sotin
Helga Dernesch
and, of course, the Vienna Philharmonic
Because I am a wee bit suggestible I got past my profound irritation at the cover picture of this and was pleasantly surprised. Montsy (not my favourite soprano at all) does a very creditable job and a great vil bastarda. José is divine.
Natalie
What is wrong with this cover picture?Originally Posted by Soave_Fanciulla
Because I am a wee bit suggestible I got past my profound irritation at the cover picture of this and was pleasantly surprised. Montsy (not my favourite soprano at all) does a very creditable job and a great vil bastarda. José is divine.
"J'ai dit qu'il ne suffisait pas d'entendre la musique, mais qu'il fallait encore la voir" (Stravinsky)
There are several releases of this one with various cover pictures. But that cover picture is okay.
I have this one:
And there also is this one:
But don't feel bad, my Sutherland Maria Stuarda shows the wrong woman on the cover (someone said the great granddaughter of Mary Stuart--great recording though):
"Music is enought for a whole lifetime--but a lifetime is not enough for music." --Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff
Because I am a wee bit suggestible I got past my profound irritation at the cover picture of this and was pleasantly surprised. Montsy (not my favourite soprano at all) does a very creditable job and a great vil bastarda. José is divine.
Montsy??
It's Anne of Cleves, Not only the wrong person, but the wrong historical period.
- - - Updated - - -
Why are the designers so lazy? Yes that is Queen Mary of William and Mary fame. Mary Stuart but even further away historically.
But don't feel bad, my Sutherland Maria Stuarda shows the wrong woman on the cover (someone said the great granddaughter of Mary Stuart--great recording though):
Natalie
"People are bloody ignorant apes." --Samuel Beckett
Very cold here today (wind ENE) so needed some marching music.
"Every theatre is an insane asylum, but an opera theatre is the ward for the incurables."
FRANZ SCHALK, attributed, Losing the Plot in Opera: Myths and Secrets of the World's Great Operas
Oh, OK. Ignorant Luiz thought that these ancient looking ladies were all the same.
"J'ai dit qu'il ne suffisait pas d'entendre la musique, mais qu'il fallait encore la voir" (Stravinsky)
Also cold and windy here - not good walking weather, so had to force myself. I decided on a bit of Mozart - an opera I don't know all that well proved to be good company, albeit not so much for marching:
A great cast and conductor:
Colin Davis, Cond
Janet Baker
Yvonne Minton
Lucia Popp
Frederica von Stade
Stuart Burrows
Then, because I ran out of Clemenza before the end of my walk, I finished up with this old favorite:
The singing on this classic just seems to keep getting better and better. Elena Suliotis and Gobbi are truly amazing. It's no wonder critics wonder if Abigaille ruined Suliotis' voice. She's all-in and takes wild risks that really paid off - she hits notes that I was sure just don't exist (in a good way). This set ranks as a must-have and really serves to illustrate Verdi's genius.
$3.89 with free shipping, X library in good condition with booklet (my 10th Maria Stuarda set)
"Music is enought for a whole lifetime--but a lifetime is not enough for music." --Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff
A variety of listening over the past two days. A return to my second/ joint favourite Verdi opera
The Ball Scene remains one of my favourite ending scene of any opera and the whole of Un Ballo in Maschera is very well paced. Then while I went for dinner alone I was reminded of one of my favourite things
It is operetta I know but I was weak and it is so beautiful that any tune from it will add a spring to my step and heighten my enjoyment of any walk.
"Non sono in vena" Rodolfo summing up P.B's feelings on his dissertation.
Yesterday's walk:
It was while listening to this set that I started thinking about Festat's comment that much of the bel canto repertory commonly was subject to cuts in years past. I was in disbelief, especially considering that I Puritani is so wonderful that it easily could keep me happy for an additional hour (nevermind that the IP libretto might be a little weak... it's Bellini!).
No walk today - walking was sacrificed to an afternoon bridge tournament. I didn't do particularly well, probably because I got so agitated listening to everyone compare notes about Broadway musicals they had seen during the brunch beforehand.
I've never met a Giulio Cesare I haven't liked, and this was no exception. Not quite up to the Curtis only because the horns aren't quite as secure.
Natalie
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