Reply With QuoteIn preparation for tomorrow night's Ariodante concert, am listing to this:
Love the sword fight part.
Now this,
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
In preparation for tomorrow night's Ariodante concert, am listing to this:
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
I watched a very good video production of this opera a few days ago. and I've been making a habit of listening to one of my audio recordings of an opera I've watched, within the next week. It helps reinforce the action with the music, as I don't often get much out of libretto reading (Though I will do it from time to time)
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I wish I could get into this....the cover art is so inviting and DiDonato is wonderful. But Handel is a blind spot for me. Ironically the only works of his I really enjoy are his lesser works: flute sonatas and such.Originally Posted by Florestan
It does take some effort and perhaps patience to get through a Baroque opera. I went on a Baroque opera binge a few months ago and amassed a collection of maybe 10 operas. I admit that I rarely listen to them though. I did enjoy Ariodante last night and am looking forward to a wonderful evening. Even so, Baroque opera will not be at the top of my play list.
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
I'm looking forward to your review - I've got a ticket to see this when it comes to DC next week. I listened to Ariodante a week or so ago in preparation and realized that it's not one of Handel's flashiest scores, so not sure what to expect.
It was totally AWESOME! Here is my review. In fact, if I had the time available I would seriously consider coming out to DC to see it again! You will thoroughly enjoy it. The contralto playing the evil duke is fabulous and did some amazing things with her voice. For a while there I thought she might outshine Joyce. The audience loved the contralto, but in the end Joyce raised the most audience applause and cheers. It was a wonderful experience that I was not fully prepared for and at the beginning the singing being so beautiful I had to keep drying my eyes, but I finally got a hold of myself.
I already bought a DVD of Ariodante this morning and am listening to my Didonato recording again which also has the same bass as in the performance.
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
Sonia Prina is very memorable, isn't she? The voice is super distinct -- in that sense I think much more than Joyce's -- and instantly recognisable. Polinesso is quite a fun villain, every time I read his name I start to mentally sing Dover, giustizia, amor.
Even if Ariodante was only Scherza infida and two hours of recitative it'd be already worth it, though.
Sonia was very impressive in voice and action. This was a concert performance but they did act to a degree that made it more fun. In the first act all the singers were present, sitting on either side of the orchestra, but in Act II and Act III only those involved in the story were present. I really liked it a lot. I see it has three more showings in the next several days: Kansas City MO (Fri), NYC (Sat), and DC (Tues). I really have the urge to go see it again.
The thing I didn't get, but maybe you can explain, is that when Ginevra rejected Polinesso as her champion, the audience laughed. They laughed again, when Polinesso said he was dying, and again when someone reported that Polinesso confessed before dying. I just could not figure what was so funny.
Joyce was dressed in like a man, but Sonia was wearing women's clothes, black and with a very wide neck opening that exposed the tattoo on the upper middle of her back. I thought it would have been better had she also been dressed as a man, but it didn't seem to detract. In fact, everything about Sonia played into the part of the evil duke.
I am still awed by the performance!
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
So I just got this and got it because Hildegard Behrens is on it and it turns out to be quite a wonderful opera.
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
Very true! Love her!
"J'ai dit qu'il ne suffisait pas d'entendre la musique, mais qu'il fallait encore la voir" (Stravinsky)
Now you got me going. I am going through the clips on Sonia's new release (out next month):
Clips: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZYSN9XB/
On special at Presto: http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/sea...ve+sonia+prina
Meanwhile, this is going to be next up on my listening list (I had Sonia and didn't know it):
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
I rarely listen to Puccini so, taking a cue from JohnGerald, I decided on Turandot for my walk this afternoon. I am just back from my Trustees meeting in Ohio, so between that and a bunch of lousy weather, haven't done much walking of late.
I'm not so sure this is the Turandot to own if you don't have another - the sound doesn't seem all that great, as there is something of an echo. That said, it is sheer pleasure to listen to some of the greatest voices of the 20th century in their prime: Nilsson, Bjoerling and Tebaldi, all of whom have awesome secure top notes, along with Giorgio Tozzi.
Last edited by Hoffmann; April 28th, 2017 at 02:02 PM.
Giving this one a re-listen now that I have experienced a live performance with Sonia Prina (Smeton in this Anna Bolena).
"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).
Had to do quite a bit of work yesterday so a lot of listening. Firstly an old favourite
I really do like La Rondine because it has so much lovely melody but I do think its third act is weak and for the most part unmemorable which is a real shame. After La Rondine I thought I might listen to this
Although I have listened to Don Carlos in full since I first saw it I was really paying attention this time and came to the realization that although it is not my favourite Verdi Opera (joint 4th with La Traviata after Un Ballo in Maschera Il Trovatore and Rigoletto) it does contain several of my absolute favourite moments of Verdi including one of the best death arias ever! (O Carlo Ascolta) his most beautiful Bass music ( The Monks aria in act 2 and Phillips big moment in act 4) plus the Auto Da Fe which I confess I enjoy more than the procession in Aida. I can definitely understand why it is many on this forums favourite Verdi opera!
"Non sono in vena" Rodolfo summing up P.B's feelings on his dissertation.
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