From that bottomless box of operas, Paisiello's Fedra. Interesting opera, but recording is from 1959, so not ideal.
"Music is enought for a whole lifetime--but a lifetime is not enough for music." --Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff
Still listening to Don Carlo, but have found a new version: this curious German-language highlights recording with Nicolai Gedda (RIP, his version of Je crois entendre encore is my all-time favorite), Dietrich Fischer Dieskau, Kurt Moll, Brigitte Fassbaender, and Edda Moser (limited to only Tu che le vanita).
I haven't really gotten into Callas the way some opera lovers do, so I'm giving her a try, now that I have a few years of listening under my belt and better know the stories behind the operas, maybe it will help me gain some appreciation for her
Yes, a great recording. And I love Suor Angelica--my guilty pleasure opera.Originally Posted by Sonata
The vocal quality is not to everyone's liking, but her dramatic urgency is compelling. And that Tosca is one of the all-time classic recordings. Enjoy!
"Music is enought for a whole lifetime--but a lifetime is not enough for music." --Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff
Boito's Mefistofele is rapidly climbing to my personal list of top operas that should be staged as often as La Traviata please. This one has great male singers but I could definitely do without the females. Wobble wobble.
Natalie
How does Ramey rank for you, when it comes to Mefistofeles?
I'm listening to a very good Vivaldi opera
Big names on this recording and they acquit themselves well.
I think he is the best, although Abdrazakov also did a good job in the DVD from San Francisco.
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This afternoon's listening.
Natalie
One of my favourites too and I really want to see it live. I want to see a huge OTT traditional staging though like this one.Boito's Mefistofele is rapidly climbing to my personal list of top operas that should be staged as often as La Traviata please. This one has great male singers but I could definitely do without the females. Wobble wobble.
YESSSS! I'd actually like to see this particular staging.One of my favourites too and I really want to see it live. I want to see a huge OTT traditional staging though like this one.
Natalie
Up for today (though I still prefer the 1989 Sawallisch and 1968 Swarowsky recordings):
"Music is enought for a whole lifetime--but a lifetime is not enough for music." --Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff
I know, I know. More of Hoffmann's reminiscing.
I think I've written about this before, however, since it was a while back, I'll expand a little. Mefistofele was, if I recall correctly, the 3rd opera I saw live. Back when the late, lamented New York City Opera (under Julius Rudel) toured to DC each spring, they brought Tito Capobianco's superb production with them to the Kennedy Center. I saw Samuel Ramey sing the role a couple of times fairly early in his career (this would have been mid-to-late 1970s). He was Awesome.
This photo would have been the opening scene - a roiling ballet. The overture was something else. NYCO had horns placed in the top balcony playing counterpoint with the orchestra. The opera house would go totally dark, and the only thing that could be seen was a light on the tip of Maestro Rudel's baton.
Ramey apparently had just picked up the role after Norman Treigle's passing. Treigle was supposed to be the real king of the role. Also saw Beverly Sills, who was then NYCO's big star, sing Rosina in Barbiere, ca 1978 or so.
At the time, I was encouraged by one of the executives in the office where I was sort of a glorified go-fer after I first moved to DC and the Kennedy Center was at its peak with touring company options (the Bolshoi Opera had been to the KC the year before I moved here). Sid was really smart, funny and a total opera nut. He coached me on which operas to see - and focused on what was rare and unusual, rather than that which was accessible (e.g., I saw Le Coq d'Or and not La Traviata) - I couldn't afford much, so had to be selective and was still exploring. . He was a critical influence on my becoming an opera lover when I was in my 20s. As you can imagine, when touring season rolled around in the spring and I troop up to his office with the newspaper ad in hand, looking for his advice, he would drop what he was doing to chat. It was great fun. As I know now, he likely was shocked that a guy in his 20s would be interested in opera.
Last edited by Hoffmann; February 12th, 2017 at 02:24 PM.
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