What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Hoffmann]

I have to confess I'm struggling with this but maybe it'll grow on me!

I think this is an opera better seen than heard.

I think that typically is the case with modern/contemporary works which tend to be stronger in their musical-dramatic arcs than is true of most traditional works. Except Wagner.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

I think that typically is the case with modern/contemporary works which tend to be stronger in their musical-dramatic arcs than is true of most traditional works. Except Wagner.

You've got a point there. I got nowhere listening to Written On Skin.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

You've got a point there. I got nowhere listening to Written On Skin.

It does grow on you after a few listens. Enjoy the contrast between the spooky music for the fairies and the more robust stuff for lovers and mechanicals. The old Glyndebourne DVD is worth a watch - very sad though that they did not re-film it with Iestyn Davies and a wonderful Puck.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

A friend of mine is in Sicily seeing La leggenda di Sakùntala and he really liked it.

I'd never heard of it and didn't know that the guy who'd completed Turandot, Franco Alfano, had written an opera. Listening to this at the moment.

[Clayton]

I hadn't quite had enough from my listening last week and went back for some more



Handel: Partenope, HWV 27
Rosemary Joshua (Partenope), Kurt Streit (Emilio), Stephen Wallace (Armindo), Andrew Foster-Williams (Ormonte), Hilary Summers (Rosmira), Lawrence Zazzo (Arsace)
Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn
Recorded November 2004, All Saints' Church, East Finchley

[Clayton]

Porpora: Orlando
Robert Expert (Orlando), Olga Pitarch (Medoro), Betsabée Haas (Angelica)
Real Compañía Ópera de Cámara, Juan Bautista Otero
Recorded May 2005, la Chapelle Royale du Palais Royal d'Aranjuez, Espagne

(Reminded that this CD comes with a dvd that I still have not watched and have no idea what is on it)

[Clayton]

Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Thomas Stewart (Hans Sachs), Sandor Konya (Walther von Stolzing), Gundula Janowitz (Eva), Thomas Hemsley (Beckmesser), Gerhard Unger (David), Brigitte Fassbaender (Magdalene), Franz Crass (Pogner), Keith Engen (Kothner), Raimund Grumbach (Nachtwächter)
Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Rafael Kubelik
Recorded Herkulessaal der Münchner Residenz, München October 1967

In modern language; "just because".
(Though I'm not sure what exactly that means)

[Clayton]

I think I want to go back to the Minasi Partenope recording now

- - - Updated - - -

I need to fit a lot of opera in to the day before the cricket starts again in 9h 35 mins...

[Clayton]

hmph...

I like Jaroussky's Arsace but I like Joshia's Partenope

if you had to choose between the two, I would recommend you sell your microwave on an auction site and buy both.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Richard Croft sensational in this, but all the cast is good. And a fun story (a bit mean, but really Semele is so narcissistic and daft she brings it on herself), driven by the female characters.

[Florestan]

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

I have to confess I'm struggling with this but maybe it'll grow on me!

I think this is an opera better seen than heard.

It does grow on you after a few listens. Enjoy the contrast between the spooky music for the fairies and the more robust stuff for lovers and mechanicals. The old Glyndebourne DVD is worth a watch - very sad though that they did not re-film it with Iestyn Davies and a wonderful Puck.

I'm persevering and doing homework as well.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

[Soave_Fanciulla]

A melodious and interesting opera, unfortunately a little spoiled by a teeth-grinding soprano with a horrible thin tone.