"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
Today:
![]()
"Music is enought for a whole lifetime--but a lifetime is not enough for music." --Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff
"Music is enought for a whole lifetime--but a lifetime is not enough for music." --Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff
"Music is enought for a whole lifetime--but a lifetime is not enough for music." --Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff
Today's listen is one of my favorite walking partners:
![]()
amongst the usual suspects...
Giordano, U: Fedora
Angela Gheorghiu (Fedora), Nino Machaidze (Olga Sukarev), Plácido Domingo (Loris Ipanov), Fabio Maria Capitanucci (De Siriex)
Orchestre symphonique et choers de la Monnaie, Alberto Veronesi
Recorded Le Cirque Royal, Brussels January 2008
Very verissimo, typically tear-jerker, magical melodies. Fabulous and complete with lovely Angela.
Taneyev: Oresteia
A Music Trilogy
Soloists, choir and orchestra of the Belorussian State, Bolshoi Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Tatiana Kolomiytseva
Recorded 1965
It's quite far away from any of his contemporaries (who I think didn't accept it well), sounding more of Italian romantic influence. We're flying a bit blind as it's a Melodiya recording with just the synopsis but still I think it's beautiful and very much worth it for Russian opera fans.
Handel: Floridante
Marijana Mijanovic (Floridante), Joyce DiDonato (Elmira), Roberta Invernizzi (Timante), Vito Priante (Oronte), Sharon Rostorf-Zamir (Rossane), Riccardo Novaro (Coralbo)
Il Complesso Barocco, Alan Curtis
Recorded September 2005 Chiesa di San Silvestro, Tuscania
sex, violence, lust, incest, jealousy and betrayal... the engine of great operas (Donna Leon)
I was all set for my walk yesterday when I discovered, to my horror, that I had neglected to charge not just one of, but all of my iPod Nanos. I nearly cancelled my walk. I was in despair. I finally threw in the towel and walked in silence. Well, except for the dull roar of traffic. Geez.
I'm good to go for today, though! I haven't yet figured out my listening, but am leaning toward Wagner. Maybe Lohengrin. Or, perhaps, Das Rheingold. Still early, plenty of time to decide.
"Music is enought for a whole lifetime--but a lifetime is not enough for music." --Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff
Bookmarks