What opera have you been listening to, lately?

**Soave_Fanciulla** · December 1st, 2012, 02:34 AM

Originally Posted by HarpsichordConcerto

So what do you think? Mine is on order.

Fantastic. Lemieux, Basso and and Gauvin are stonking.

**Festat** · December 1st, 2012, 07:47 AM

Natalie, how did you like that Gardiner Così? I have it on CD but it's still unlistened.

**Soave_Fanciulla** · December 1st, 2012, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by Festat

Natalie, how did you like that Gardiner Così? I have it on CD but it's still unlistened.

It's OK - Ciofi was a bit too perky and the role doesn't really suit her voice, and I'm not wild about the timbre of Mei's voice. The boys were good, Kurt Rydl as Osmin particularly. It's certainly not going to knock my favourite DVD version off its perch.

**Festat** · December 1st, 2012, 10:37 AM

I also love that version of Serail, but I meant the Così by Sir John Eliot Gardiner, not Die Entführung.

I wonder what the budget for production designing was.
Sets are so overly dressed I wouldn't be surprised if at some point a real random modern object is found lying on some coffee table.

**StLukesGuildOhio** · December 1st, 2012, 06:34 PM

Aksel- I infinitely prefer the Boskovsky recording with Rothenberger and Gedda.

I haven't heard that version... although Boskovsky is certainly a big selling point when it comes to Strauss. My favorite probably remains:

But then again... I have no problem with picking up another Fledermaus. Of course I just realized I don't have Otto Acermann's recording... and so I had to rectify that. His post-war recordings of Wiener Blut, Eine Nacht in Venedig, and
Der Zigeunerbaron are all classics.

And what about this one:

Now if only I could find more of Offenbach's operas in solid performances.

**Soave_Fanciulla** · December 1st, 2012, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by Festat

I also love that version of Serail, but I meant the Così by Sir John Eliot Gardiner, not Die Entführung.

O dear, late at night sorry!

I liked the Cosi very much actually, but don't forget I was watching a DVD version so I was also following the story, and the acting was very good. I listened to Rainer Trost's Un Aura Amorosa twice though because I enjoyed it so much, beautifully sung. Don Alfonso was the weakest singer as he was a little long in the tooth, but in terms of verisimilitude that was appropriate.

**Aramis** · December 1st, 2012, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by Soave_Fanciulla

Don Alfonso was the weakest singer

Did Don Alfonso participate in this recording? I don't see his name on the cover!

Martin, curious

**HarpsichordConcerto** · December 1st, 2012, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by Soave_Fanciulla

Fantastic. Lemieux, Basso and and Gauvin are stonking.

Bloody stonking! That's great.

**Aksel** · December 1st, 2012, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by StLukesGuildOhio

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Now if only I could find more of Offenbach's operas in solid performances.

Oh, this one. Definitely. I wish there was a modern recording of La vie parisienne. I don't really like the Plasson recording, although it's OK enough.

**Aramis** · December 2nd, 2012, 08:31 PM

Amazing for two reasons: slow aria from Otello and last scene from Armida. These two are pure amazement. Maometto II number is great too. The rest I find considerably less exciting. She had done whole Donna del Lago and the only addition here is (much) better quality than in the recording of whole opera. I don't know why she did that Elisabetta thing, it's just awkward mixture of Una voce poco fa with finale of Cenerentola.

**Aksel** · December 2nd, 2012, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by Anne of Green Gables

Amazing for two reasons: slow aria from Otello and last scene from Armida. These two are pure amazement. Maometto II number is great too. The rest I find considerably less exciting. She had done whole Donna del Lago and the only addition here is (much) better quality than in the recording of whole opera. I don't know why she did that Elisabetta thing, it's just awkward mixture of Una voce poco fa with finale of Cenerentola.

I rather love her in the Armida act II finale as well. And for some perverse reason, I rather like the Elisabetta excerpt.

**Festat** · December 3rd, 2012, 10:47 AM

**Soave_Fanciulla** · December 3rd, 2012, 05:49 PM

I liked this. It was shown in what was originally a basketball stadium and Graham Vick took advantage of this to create an interesting staging using the sides of the auditorium and sometimes going in among the audience. Wish I'd been there to get the full effect. The action was updated to reference present Middle Eastern conflicts and I thought it worked well. And I thought particularly Dmitry Korchak did a lovely job as Faraone's spoilt son.

**Aksel** · December 3rd, 2012, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by Soave_Fanciulla

I liked this. It was shown in what was originally a basketball stadium and Graham Vick took advantage of this to create an interesting staging using the sides of the auditorium and sometimes going in among the audience. Wish I'd been there to get the full effect. The action was updated to reference present Middle Eastern conflicts and I thought it worked well. And I thought particularly Dmitry Korchak did a lovely job as Faraone's spoilt son.

Incoming HC and Aramis in 3... 2...