What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Hoffmann]

Verdi's Macbeth - a work that took me a while to enjoy. I've got in on vinyl (a Met performance with Bergonzi, Warren, Rysanack, et al). It was one of Warren's last recorded performances before he died on stage of a heart attack. He might be my favorite baritone.

Although it's early, Macbeth is one of my very favorite Verdis. I'm partial to the set with Elena Suliotis (a bit past her peak, but sooo dramatic and Tito Gobbi - maybe also a bit past his peak, but who's counting?




I also love the Muti set with Cossotto, Milnes, Raimondi and Carreras.




How's it all work on vinyl?

[Povero Buoso]

That's my primary recording of Rigoletto as well - my other is from the box set of remastered recordings by Maria Callas.

Ah I love Callas in several Versimo operas (Tosca, Cav, Pag) but like her tone less so in Verdi operas where I don't think she fits as much. She remain an unsurpassed Tosca for whom her tone is just right and her Nedda is also ideal. It is a great shame that to my knowledge I don't think she ever recorded a Giorgetta for Il Tabarro which I view a deficit to recordings of that opera as with Di Stefano and Gobbi that would be quite the recording of that part of the triptych.

[Florestan]

[Hoffmann]

Although it's early, Macbeth is one of my very favorite Verdis. I'm partial to the set with Elena Suliotis (a bit past her peak, but sooo dramatic and Tito Gobbi - maybe also a bit past his peak, but who's counting?




I also love the Muti set with Cossotto, Milnes, Raimondi and Carreras.




How's it all work on vinyl?

While out walking yesterday, I came to the sudden realization that I once again erred in describing the Macbeth recording with Suliotis. Her Macbeth was Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, not Tito Gobbi. I suppose I just default to the winning pairing from the famous Nabucco set.

[Hoffmann]

Yesterday's walk:




Conductor: Franz Konwitschny
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Gottlob Frick
Marianne Scheck
Fritz Wunderlich
Rudolf Schock
(1960)

[MAuer]

On the whole, the cast here is very good. Bonisolli usually manages to restrain his spinto tenor to some extent, though now and then he lets loose as though he were singing Verdi instead of Gluck. A more lyrical voice would probably have been better, but in general, he makes an appropriately amorous Paris. Cotrubas is a delightful Helen, and there are fine contributions from Sylvia Greenberg (Amor) and Gabriela Fontana (Athena).
And kudos to Orfeo for including the libretto, with English and German translations. Something that was once routinely included in the LP box sets is now judged unnecessary by a number of labels.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

[Florestan]

[Soave_Fanciulla]

[Povero Buoso]

Been a chaotic past couple of weeks at University and a busy several months so my collection has stalled since I bought the Cav and Pag a while back having seen no new Operas since Salome. As such my listening was limited to two favourites on the train journey back.
Butterfly to begin


I put it at 8 in the Puccini game but it has grown on me greatly since. I guess I just love Puccini operas as a whole (Lets see if Edgar can change this now I have a chance to watch it...)

Then some Verdi



The ballroom scene at the end remains possibly my favourite operatic finale and I tend to mouth along to most of the recitative before and after Saper Vorreste.

Hopefully I shall expand upon my admittedly small collection in the coming week or two now that Uni Work has died down mostly except for one last essay and the bulk of the dreaded dissertation. On the too watch list (Quite expansive at this point!) are Edgar, La Sonnambula, Tannhäuser und der Sängerkrieg auf Wartburg, Any new Verdi (Viva Verdi!), La Cerentola and Pique Dame.

[Hoffmann]

Yesterday's walk featured:




Conductor: Fabio Biondi
David Daniels
Vivica Genaux
Elina Garanca
Ildebrando D'Arcangelo
Patrizia Ciofi


I am coming to the somewhat reluctant conclusion that Baroque operas make for the best walking music - usually snappy music that keeps your attention.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Y

I am coming to the somewhat reluctant conclusion that Baroque operas make for the best walking music - usually snappy music that keeps your attention.

And often some good peppy marching tempi - especially anything to do with hunting!

[Soave_Fanciulla]

[Florestan]

[Hoffmann]

It being Easter and all, I thought Parsifal would be the way to go today. However, it turns out that it isn't loaded on my iPod Nano, so did some quick thinking and decided on, what else?

Parsifal, Jr.!