Today:
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
I was at Dearborn Music today. They had a NAXOs Historical Recording of Wagner Ring highlights from the '30s. I spun it in their player and quickly concluded I am not the Ring connoisseur to appreciate such recordings. Perhaps someday.Originally Posted by Clayton
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
Just finished this. Now I am going to compare Walkure Act III between my three sets: Solti, Krauss, and Neuhold, and consider whether Janowski would be a good addition to my collection or not.
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
Just finished this. Now I am going to compare Walkure Act III between my three sets: Solti, Krauss, and Neuhold, and consider whether Janowski would be a good addition to my collection or not.
That should be an interesting comparison, I'm interested to know your assessment of the different performances.
After a rainy day all day yesterday, a nice day for today's walk:
And, yesterday, while sitting and hoping the rain would stop:
Opens with the overture to Il Barbiere di Siviglia. It's Rossini, so a pleasant opera, but nothing here really to get excited about. Unknown singers acquit themselves well.
Well from a brief comparison focused on Brunnhilde and Wotan in Act III, I would say that Solti has great sound and performance. Krauss has a great performance but the sound is a bit flat or boxed in, but the performance seems excellent. Neuhold is a very decent performance and sound. But I am looking for a great recording, preferably live (Neuhold and Krauss are live), Waltraud Meier would be nice to have in it, and without the special sound manipulations that went into the Solti recording. Bhom, Janowski, Sawallisch come to mind as possiblities.
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
Inspired by friend Florestan's extolling the virtues of Cecilia Bartoli, I ventured this morning to listen to what I have considered one of my least favorite Rossinis: Il Turco in Italia. That was then. Bartoli trills her way through this lovely opera, which now is back on my list and about to be re-loaded into the iPod.
After Turco concludes, time for a walk (but haven't yet thought about today's listen):
I am glad that one clicked for you. I was unaware of this one and that is not an opera that I have checked into, but now I have reason to.
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
Conductor: Richard Bonynge
Cast: Mariela Devia (Elvira), William Matteuzzi (Arturo), Christopher Robertson (Riccardo), Paolo Washington (Giorgio), Eleonora Jankovic (Enrichetta), Franco Federici (Walton)
I think I Puritani may be my favorite of the four Bellini operas with which I’m familiar – one beautiful melody after another. Mariela Devia and William Matteuzzi are marvelous in this live recording from Catania’s Teatro Massimo with Richard Bonynge on the podium.
Boris Christoff is one of the few voices which I instantly recognise and he's rather good in this.
I was going to say I'm putting this up next on the playlist but on closer inspection I don't have this 1953 recording but the later 1958 which has Ernest Blanc as Valetin, Liliane Berton as Siebel and Rita Gorr as Marthe. Otherwise very similar, including where it was recorded (Salle de la Mutualite)
Oh my goodness! I should listen to a lot more of those I haven't visited in a while... thrilling!I was going to say I'm putting this up next on the playlist but on closer inspection I don't have this 1953 recording but the later 1958 which has Ernest Blanc as Valetin, Liliane Berton as Siebel and Rita Gorr as Marthe. Otherwise very similar, including where it was recorded (Salle de la Mutualite)
I like Mariella Devia. Some are not fond of her saying she is too technically perfect but not putting life in it, but I think she is wonderful. If you like Devia you must get her La Fille du Regiment on DVD--she is astounding in it! And in my opinion, puts a ton of life and great acting into it.
Conductor: Richard Bonynge
Cast: Mariela Devia (Elvira), William Matteuzzi (Arturo), Christopher Robertson (Riccardo), Paolo Washington (Giorgio), Eleonora Jankovic (Enrichetta), Franco Federici (Walton)
I think I Puritani may be my favorite of the four Bellini operas with which I’m familiar – one beautiful melody after another. Mariela Devia and William Matteuzzi are marvelous in this live recording from Catania’s Teatro Massimo with Richard Bonynge on the podium.
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
Just arrived in todays mail along with Bartoli's Opera Proibita and the Goodall sung-in-English Rheingold!
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks