What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[MAuer]

If I'm remembering correctly, Waltraud Meier sings Waltraute in the Levine/Met Ring.

[Florestan]

If I'm remembering correctly, Waltraud Meier sings Waltraute in the Levine/Met Ring.

I can check it out, though I thought she was pretty much associated with Barenboim.

Meanwhile, you guys are going to get me in trouble. Look what happened. Since you brought it up, I moved my Ring to the MP3 player and having a bit of indecision about what to listen to today, I figured why not, so current listening (1990s cycle with Neuhold conducting--sound quality pretty decent):


But how can I not pursue the grandest and hugest opera cycle in history? I mean, this is a must do for any opera fan worth their salt, eh?

[Florestan]

I am on Siegfried now and loving it! Thanks for posting that short video summarizing the Ring in a few minutes. I actually bid on a Ring set with Meier (Sawallisch) but someone outbid me with 7 seconds to go.

but my Neuhold set is no shabby recording. In fact, for a budget set, it rates quite well:
http://www.wagnerdiscography.com/rev...n93neuhold.htm

EDIT: Post 6344 above, about 10:30 yesterday am I had just started the Ring. Well now at 1:44 am it just finshed. Whew! But it was great and I long ago should have been in bed. Goodnight.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I am on Siegfried now and loving it! Thanks for posting that short video summarizing the Ring in a few minutes.

Now it's time for an in-depth look with Anna Russell:



My very favourite bit:

Hagen gives Siegfried a magic potion that makes him forget all about Brünnhilde and fall in love with Gutrune Gibich…who by the way is the only woman that Siegfried has ever come across who hasn’t been his aunt. …I’m not making this up, you know!

[Florestan]

Hagen gives Siegfried a magic potion that makes him forget all about Brünnhilde and fall in love with Gutrune Gibich…who by the way is the only woman that Siegfried has ever come across who hasn’t been his aunt. …I’m not making this up, you know!

No, not making it up. This situation happens all the time to Walmart people and rednecks here in America.

I'll have to check out that video in a bit. Thanks.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

No, not making it up. This situation happens all the time to Walmart people and rednecks here in America.

I'll have to check out that video in a bit. Thanks.

Don't say that too loud or the next Regie production will be a redneck Ring.

[Florestan]

Don't say that too loud or the next Regie production will be a redneck Ring.

But how will they sing with all those missing teeth?

[MAuer]

If I'm remembering correctly, Waltraud Meier sings Waltraute in the Levine/Met Ring.

My bad -- it's Christa Ludwig in the Levine. I knew Ludwig sang Fricka, but for some reason, thought Meier was the Waltraute.

[Florestan]

Now it's time for an in-depth look with Anna Russell:



My very favourite bit:

Quite an entertaining presentation. I like the info provided about the beginning of Gotterdammerung where she says you hear the whole story over again:
https://youtu.be/eN5dAQLYYrs?t=1331

[MAuer]

This should probably come under the category of “What I Won’t Be Listening To.” After waiting six months and hoping that I would eventually receive the CD recording of L’Orfeo I ordered back in summer, I’ve just been informed by Presto Classical (who was just informed by the distributor) that the label has withdrawn this recording from their inventory. This was the version conducted by Emmanuelle Haïm, with Ian Bostridge in the title role and Natalie Dessay, Patrizia Ciofi, and Alice Coote among other cast members.
Here’s where it gets strange. I decide to look for alternatives, including purchasing a “very good” used version from Amazon for just over $14.00 – or buying a different version with William Matteuzzi (who I also like very much) in the title role. I also checked Presto’s site for comparison, and the first recording listed – and new at that – is the Haïm with Bostridge & Co! And it’s in stock. My credit card has already been refunded, but I decided to contact Presto again and find out what gives. A very nice customer service rep responded, and indicated that this recording is only available as a download. So I checked their site again, and the listing shows the version in question available as a two-CD set at $13.00. No mention of a download.
http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/w/5...-L%252527Orfeo
So I've notified Presto again . . . Their customer service is tops, so the problem was likely with either their distributor or the folks at Erato (or whatever mega-corporation owns the Erato label). At this point, I suppose I could just throw in the towel and order the Brilliant Classics version with Matteuzzi (which is also about half the price of the Erato), or wait a while and see what happens with the Erato.

[Hoffmann]

This should probably come under the category of “What I Won’t Be Listening To.” After waiting six months and hoping that I would eventually receive the CD recording of L’Orfeo I ordered back in summer, I’ve just been informed by Presto Classical (who was just informed by the distributor) that the label has withdrawn this recording from their inventory. This was the version conducted by Emmanuelle Haïm, with Ian Bostridge in the title role and Natalie Dessay, Patrizia Ciofi, and Alice Coote among other cast members.
Here’s where it gets strange. I decide to look for alternatives, including purchasing a “very good” used version from Amazon for just over $14.00 – or buying a different version with William Matteuzzi (who I also like very much) in the title role. I also checked Presto’s site for comparison, and the first recording listed – and new at that – is the Haïm with Bostridge & Co! And it’s in stock. My credit card has already been refunded, but I decided to contact Presto again and find out what gives. A very nice customer service rep responded, and indicated that this recording is only available as a download. So I checked their site again, and the listing shows the version in question available as a two-CD set at $13.00. No mention of a download.
http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/w/5...-L%252527Orfeo
So I've notified Presto again . . . Their customer service is tops, so the problem was likely with either their distributor or the folks at Erato (or whatever mega-corporation owns the Erato label). At this point, I suppose I could just throw in the towel and order the Brilliant Classics version with Matteuzzi (which is also about half the price of the Erato), or wait a while and see what happens with the Erato.

I have that recording - it's very good. Let me know if you continue to have trouble, and I will send you mine (I've got it downloaded into my iTunes library).

[Florestan]

This one may have to grow on me. Well, $5 shipped, no loss. After watching it on DVD (which looks far more interesting--I have this one) I may appreciate the sound recording better.

[MAuer]

In what could only make sense to the recording labels (or aforementioned mega-corporations that own them), the Haïm L'Orfeo now on offer at Presto is not the recording I'd ordered in summer -- even though it actually is the same recording in new packaging. Maybe this time Erato has scrapped the complete libretto and replaced it with a synopsis and track listing, $13.00 being pretty cheap for a two-disc set. Anyway, as soon as the refund hits the credit card, I'll place a new order for the Haïm L'Orfeo. If it's true that anything worth having is worth waiting for, then this recording will be really, really, REALLY worth having!

[Florestan]

[Florestan]

music clips here.