Yes, that's my view too. As a Suzuki mum I have to sit through a lot of concerts of instrumental music and I get pretty bored!Originally Posted by Hoffmann
Natalie
As it turns out, the recital was better than I expected. A pairing of a Russian guy and Chinese woman, very well matched in technique and timing, with a well-chosen program that displayed all aspects of their virtuosity.
So, as they say here in the move review biz, two thumbs up!
Recitalists were: Yury Shadrin (Perm, Russia) and Tian Lu (program doesn't say where she's from, other than she's Chinese and studied in Shanghai)
amongst the usual suspects
Handel: Partenope, HWV 27
Philippe Jaroussky (Arsace), Karina Gauvin (Partenope), John Mark Ainsley (Emilio), Teresa Iervolino (Rosmira), Emöke Barath (Armindo), Luca Tittoto (Ormonte)
Il Pomo d'Oro, Riccardo Minasi
It is good opera and without going in to the subject of whether a work is under or over performed, for me it is just not so immediately apparent being amongst some great and some very good operas that Handel wrote. It's a bit like the last runner in the 10,000m at the Doha Diamond league; he might look slow but actually he's running faster than I can possibly sprint over a 100m distance. blah, blah, blah... sorry
I prefer this recording over the Curnyn because of the cast in this one but both are equally good interpretations. I'll recommend this to Handel fans to add to the Curnyn or even as a first. It is very good value for money at GBP 13 (currently at PC), coming in the clam shell box with a booklet that includes libretto, synopsis and essays.
one not on the usual suspects list
Berlioz: Les Troyens
Ben Heppner (Enée), Michelle DeYoung (Didon), Petra Lang (Cassandre), Sara Mingardo (Anna), Peter Mattei (Chorèbe), Stephen Milling (Narbal), Kenneth Tarver (Iopas), Toby Spence (Hylas), Alan Ewing (Priam), Guang Yang (Hécube), Isabelle Cals (Ascagne), Tigran Martirossian (Panthée), Bülent Bezdüz (Helenus), Mark Stone (Un chef grec), Leigh Melrose (Un soldat troyen/Mercure), Orlin Annastassov (L'Ombre d'Hector), Andrew Greenan (Premiere Sentinelle), Roderick Earle (Deuxieme Sentinelle)
London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Sir Colin Davis
and before someone mentions the other one, at the time I bought this (and still now I think), it was not available at a reasonable price. This one is very good though.
and another French (ish) grand work
Verdi: Don Carlos
Katia Ricciarelli (Elisabeth), Lucia Valentini Terrani (Eboli), Plácido Domingo (Carlos), Leo Nucci (Rodrigue), Ruggero Raimondi (Philippe II), Nicolai Ghiaurov (Le Grand Inquisiteur), Nikita Storojew (Un Moine), Ann Murray (Thibault), Tibère Raffalli (Le Compte de Lerme), Antonio Savastano (Un Hérault Royal), Arleen Auger (Un Voix d'en haut)
Coro e Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Claudio Abbado
and another French (ish) grand work
Verdi: Don Carlos
Katia Ricciarelli (Elisabeth), Lucia Valentini Terrani (Eboli), Plácido Domingo (Carlos), Leo Nucci (Rodrigue), Ruggero Raimondi (Philippe II), Nicolai Ghiaurov (Le Grand Inquisiteur), Nikita Storojew (Un Moine), Ann Murray (Thibault), Tibère Raffalli (Le Compte de Lerme), Antonio Savastano (Un Hérault Royal), Arleen Auger (Un Voix d'en haut)
Coro e Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Claudio Abbado
Great minds think alike, as they say. For yesterday's walk:
Actually, I started out listening to this, but it sounded unfamiliar enough (compared to the Solti) that I thought I might have slipped and somehow purchased the four act version, so quit and switched over to Solti. As it turns out, the Giulini also is the 5 act version, so mix-up likely is due to the fact that I always listen to the Solti. The Giulini is like listening to a whole new opera.
Really getting into this one. My 2nd and 3rd listen to this opera yesterday and read a 14 page discussion/synopsis that really helped me see what a great opera it is. And Sills really makes it wonderful for me.
This just arrived. Paid $6.50 new plus shipping. Came in shrink wrap with Tower Records price sticker of $27.98!I'd not have paid near that much.
However, I can't recommend this because they ruined it by changing the words "the useless precaution" to "the girl who loved a stranger." But is is good for it's great vocal clarity so you can easily follow the story.
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
Today's walk:
A lovely opera and very good walking music!
it never rains but it pours
I dug out my tutu but decided to just dance naked in the woods with some zombie nuns
Meyerbeer: Robert Le Diable
Bryan Hymel (Robert), Matial Defontaine (Raimbaut), Carmen Giannattasio (Alice), Patrizia Ciofi (Isabelle), Alastair Miles (Bertram), Carlo Striuli (Alberti), Angelo Nardinocchi (Un Chevalier), Francesco Pittari (Un heraut – le maitre de cerimonie), Paolo Gloriante (Un Chevalier), Elena Memoli (Une dame d’honneur)
it never rains but it pours
I dug out my tutu but decided to just dance naked in the woods with some zombie nuns
I don't know if you were speaking metaphorically or literally about the rain, but we have had 14 straight days of at least some rain here in DC for the first time since 1968. I didn't get out for my walk until late afternoon yesterday after the rain finally quit for the day and didn't arrive back home until after 6:30 PM.
I couldn't find a tutu.. and decided against walking naked.
However, considering that we now approaching the height of DC's tourist season, I'm sure there had to be some zombie nuns out there that I missed ..
metaphorically about the rain, literally about the dancing
no, I'm just joking
(you all hope)
It is funny weather all around the globe, it seems like we are having records being broken all the time somewhere around the globe. I hope it rains a lot in Canada now.
Instead of Hoffman's choice of opera from a young Mozart, I went for an opera from a... err... not so young Mozart
Mozart: La clemenza di Tito, K621
Mark Padmore (Tito), Alexandrina Pendatchanska (Vitellia), Bernarda Fink (Sesto), Marie-Claude Chappuis (Annio), Sunhae Im (Servilia) & Sergio Foresti (Publio)
RIAS Kammerchor & Freiburger Barockorchester, René Jacobs
I have been listening recently to some Verdi
Verdi: Il Trovatore
Franco Corelli (tenor), Gabriella Tucci (soprano), Giulietta Simionato (mezzo-soprano), Robert Merrill (baritone), Luciana Moneta (mezzo-soprano), Ferruccio Mazzoli (bass), Angelo Mercuriali (tenor) & Mario Rinaudo (bass)
Rome Opera House Chorus & Orchestra, Thomas Schippers
Recorded July/August 1964 Rome Opera House
Digitally remastered Stephen Jones (1990)
I don't think of it as music without singing. Just without words. Or voices.
still with Verdi
Verdi: La forza del destino
Ludwig Welter (Marchese di Calatrava); Antonietta Stella (Leonora); Ettore Bastianini (Don Carlo); Giuseppe di Stefano (Alvaro); Giulietta Simionato (Preziosilla);Walter Kreppel (Padre Guardiano); Karl Dönch (Fra Melitone); Annemarie Ludwig (Curra)
Choir & Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, Dimitri Mitropoulos
Live recording 23 September 1960
Call me simple minded/easily led/gullible but I never thought that much about Preziosilla. That is until we had the most annoying characters discussion. Now I do find the character insertion slightly odd...
Both just arrived today:
First ever listen to this opera:
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
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