What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Sonata]

Onto Valkyrie

[Florestan]

Onto Valkyrie

Not familiar with this opera, but nice cover art.

[Sonata]

You probably are familiar florestan. It's Wagner's Walkure from the Ring. In English

[Florestan]

You probably are familiar florestan. It's Wagner's Walkure from the Ring. In English

I did listen to all Wagner's operas once but could not tell what the stories are for most. But for the most part I only listen to Lohengrin, Meistersinger and the Hollander.

[Florestan]

A very nice Barber of Seville with a fine mezzo. Too bad sound quality is not quite up there or it could be one of the best out there. Clips.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I did listen to all Wagner's operas once but could not tell what the stories are for most.

[Florestan]

You are making this difficult for me. At least I have all the Wagner opera, but of course if I get into it, I'll have to have a really good set. It also is one good way to see a lot more of Waltraud Meier's singing on DVD, since she mainly did Wagner.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

There seem to be some pretty good deals on used Barenboim ring on Amazon US.

Meanwhile I've just listened to this:

[Sonata]

[Florestan]

Before I attempt the ring, I need to get more familiar with this opera, which has a much simpler plot. The Ring is going to take some effort I think. And as this one just arrived in yesterday's mail, it is my current listening:

[Clayton]

After all this Wagner talk...

I'm so easily led




Wagner: Lohengrin
Jess Thomas (Lohengrin), Elisabeth Grümmer (Elsa), Christa Ludwig (Ortrud), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Telramund), Gottlob Frick (Heinrich), Otto Wiener (Herald)
Wiener Philharmoniker, Rudolf Kempe
Recorded 1962/63 Theater an der Wien

[Soave_Fanciulla]

The Ring is going to take some effort I think.

It really helps to watch it first. And the best intro is the old Met Levine version, available on Met Player. It's completely straightforward and literal.

Then lots of listening until the leitmotifs have sunk into you.

Another worthwhile time'n'money investment is this: An Introduction To Der Ring Des Nibelungen by Deryck Cooke

[Florestan]

It really helps to watch it first. And the best intro is the old Met Levine version, available on Met Player. It's completely straightforward and literal.

Then lots of listening until the leitmotifs have sunk into you.

Another worthwhile time'n'money investment is this: An Introduction To Der Ring Des Nibelungen by Deryck Cooke

But I am very partial to Waltraud Meier. Anyway, I am not ready to attack the Ring yet. Perhaps in due time. But that intro CD is pretty low priced so maybe.....

[Clayton]

Yes, yes! I second the old Met Levine. When I watched it (back in the day when I blah, blah, blah...), the Met was offering a free seven day trial version. It's worth subscribing to this if you haven't already. I think I watched fourteen or fifteen operas in this period and all were superb.

[Florestan]

I have this Wagner set (contents list):


The Ring in this set is all by the same conducter, so a proper set, and it seem well rated on Amazon for the Ring offering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GUK04A/

So there is not much to stop me from listening to the ring but to load it on my player and spend the time.