What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Should really be billed "by Vivaldi and friends".

[Sonata]

Listened to the prologue and part of Act I on the couch with libretto in hand; a rarity for me. The one "upside" to being sick this weekend I guess?

[Hoffmann]

No walk today. For some lame reason, I decided to start in on my taxes (w/Turbo Tax), but ran into problems. Turbo Tax does NOT make it easy to call if/when one has a problem. After an hour's worth of trying, when I finally got a specialist, he told me I was doing things all wrong (the house on Cape Cod is a second house, so more complicated). Two hours after that, both of us had had enough.

Anyway, during the period while I was working on the damn thing, I listened to:

[Florestan]

This one is very good but for a weak Pizarro:


Now this one has an excellent Pizarro!


ok but not a keeper:


Just arrived today:

[Hoffmann]

This morning while hanging out:




I ordered this from Presto in November and it finally showed up last week.


Then, for my not very long walk today:

[Soave_Fanciulla]

While hunkered down waiting for Cyclone Cook to hit:



Placidone's expression is priceless: "Wait, is it C or C#?"

[Florestan]

This one is very good:

[Florestan]

Behrens, Behrens, ... Behrens:



Double Disk (track list)

[Soave_Fanciulla]

[Hoffmann]

Yesterday, I started the morning with a favorite, which always makes me melt:





Then, I don't know what came over me for my walk - for some reason, I just had to listen to:





Given what Domingo sings these days, it's interesting that I am still am surprised with how good he was in his natural fach back in the day.

[Florestan]

[Soave_Fanciulla]

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Given what Domingo sings these days, it's interesting that I am still am surprised with how good he was in his natural fach back in the day.

Yes, it's quite depressing, he used to be my favourite tenor, but I have lost all respect for him.

[Florestan]

Yes, it's quite depressing, he used to be my favourite tenor, but I have lost all respect for him.

Thankfully we have recordings of his prime. And we have some current great tenors such as Florez and Kaufmann.

[Hoffmann]

Yes, it's quite depressing, he used to be my favourite tenor, but I have lost all respect for him.

Domingo's baritonal efforts don't do much for me, and I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to see him in person these days. That said, I am in awe of such personal discipline that he still is singing at a reasonably high level at age 76. He must have a painting hidden in his closet somewhere.