What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Povero Buoso]

Getting a little extra-adventurous in my listening lately:

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Personal pledge: If I ever get access to time travel technology, I'm not going to do the obvious (and potentially disastrous to our timeline) things, like killing Hitler or saving Kennedy...

Mission #1: PREVENT BIZET'S EARLY DEATH.

I'd slap any cigarette or cigar out of Puccini's mouth and say "No stick to the drink" just so he can finish Turandot adequately(or maybe do another opera after maybe even a second triptych as good as the first )

[Hoffmann]

In accordance with what i said on the opera watching thread I have been enjoying listening to some earlier Verdi recently. Gave this a try as its the one i got for my ipod
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I really do love Ernani quite a lot it has a lot of zip and is a fun little opera. Taking my cue from Hoffmann I also decided to give Nabucco another try as it has been a while since I first saw it. I found this on YouTube
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I enjoyed Nabucco more on a second run through but I still think many of my original criticisms stand (I have come to realize in Verdi I like it when he has a fast pace like in Il Trovatore Macbeth etc). That being said its a very good recording and If I am going to get one this will almost certainly be it. There is a fair amount to enjoy but it doesn't come close to Ernani for me

Not to mention that it features the fabulous Elena Suliotis as Abagaille! This is one of the great opera recordings of all time. Suliotis sang the role at the young age of 22. It's said that the role ruined her voice and cut her career short, as it only lasted about 10 years. I'm a big Suliotis fan.

I also love her recording of Macbeth (1970), also with Gardelli,




which leaves some high-toned critics appalled. I love her earthiness (even if not intended) and her sheer commitment to the role. Suliotis also recorded an awesome Norma, but we now are really in fan territory as her voice was not what it was.

[Hoffmann]

Raining and windy here in DC today, so no walk. So, I stayed home after enduring another MRI this morning and listened to





The MRI people are quite accommodating. I had forgotten what happened during my first go-around, very likely because of the anti-anxiety meds I had been prescribed (and probably just as well). They gave me headphones and I requested that they dial up the Met Opera broadcast channel on Sirius/XM - which, as it turned out, was featuring Il Trovatore. What luck, I thought! Then, the reason for the headphones: that infernal contraption is so loud it will take out your hearing for good without the headphones. When I emerged, my brain was scrambled and I felt well-done. No results for a couple of weeks, I think.

[Clayton]

They are quite scary those machines and they make me feel quite queer. I find it helps to start listening to an opera a while before the examination starts so that I'm taken away to a distant place first.

[Florestan]

This is a really great Ring:


And if anyone wants just a sampler, this 4CD highlights set from same Ring can be had for only a few dollars:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00023GOS2/

[Hoffmann]

Warm day here today. Got to see lots and lots of people stuck in traffic trying to view what's left of the cherry blossoms (about 50% didn't survive last week's cold snap). It was an easy day for walking though, so decided it would be a good day for Rossini:





Some wonderful singing here: Caballe at her peak and Jose Carreras years before his leukemia treatment.

[Florestan]

^ The title threw me for a moment because I think I have a performance of this on CD. Mine is Rossini but the title is longer,

"Elisabetta Regina d'Inghilterra"

[Hoffmann]

^ The title threw me for a moment because I think I have a performance of this on CD. Mine is Rossini but the title is longer,

"Elisabetta Regina d'Inghilterra"

I believe it is the same opera. I'm guessing that Philips shortened the title so it wouldn't be quite so intimidating.

[Hoffmann]

I usually look for something soothing on Sunday mornings, but I love this opera and the way the tension builds from one door to the next.

[Festat]

It's been quite a while since I last listened to this and yesterday morning I was surprisingly annoyed by the first act. However, at night I very much enjoyed the second act. I was completely drunk, though.

[Hoffmann]

Later, for today's walk:




I have to say that this sets a rather brisk pace..

[Festat]

I sometimes forget how much I like Rodelinda.

[Florestan]

[Florestan]

Last night:


Just finished this one:

which is the same performance as on this DVD.

[Hoffmann]

For yesterday's walk, I took a cue from JohnGerald: