This remains a highly satisfying recording - Sutherland and Horne together in their prime!
This remains a highly satisfying recording - Sutherland and Horne together in their prime!
Not Kasarova's best form, though. I've kinda learned to like her eccentric fierceness on the Bolton live recording despite the harsh gear changing, but it is even worse on that performance to the point it gets irritating. Not Hartero's best part either, and even Cangemi sounds a little shrill. Alois singing Oberto, though, show stopper but very minor role. If you have to avoid countertenors I'd rather go for the Stuttgart DVD with Catherine Naglestad and Alice Coot. It is also a better production in my opinion. Both are Regie however. If you're willing to compromise for Jaroussky — and everybody here will agree — there is no doubt the Aix Alcina is by far the best Alcina on video.
There is a traditional production with Arleen Auger, Della Jones and Lynne Dawson that's really, really good but I don't think it has ever been commercially released. It'd be the perfect choice for you, I guess. It was on youtube once but vanished.
Donizetti: La Fille Du Regiment
with Beverly Sills
I found her singing absolutely intolerable on this recording
Never can stand her . If I see her name on a recording I have to be reassured that it's a minor part. She has an unpleasant thin unevenness about her.
Cangemi sounds a little shrill.
Yes. YES!!!!Alois singing Oberto, though, show stopper but very minor role.
Definitely. However I don't see Florestan liking either of these productions. Out of the two, at least the Aix one doesn't look as though it is set in a seedy Bournemouth boarding house; and it is a much more interesting concept.If you have to avoid countertenors I'd rather go for the Stuttgart DVD with Catherine Naglestad and Alice Coot. It is also a better production in my opinion. Both are Regie however. If you're willing to compromise for Jaroussky — and everybody here will agree — there is no doubt the Aix Alcina is by far the best Alcina on video.
Natalie
Russian opera is awesome!
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"Music is enought for a whole lifetime--but a lifetime is not enough for music." --Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff
Yes it does thank you. I often don't bother with the plot of new-to-me operas, but Berg's music is so different from what i am used to listening to, that I felt I needed to follow along with the story to appreciate the music. It will never vie for a favorite but it's worthwhile to listen to. I have a recording in the original language which I'll try out next month.
Mozart: Magic Flute
Conducted by Otto Klemperer.
This recording lives up to its reputation. It is brilliant! This moves Magic Flute into second favorite Mozart opera, behind Cosi Fan Tutte. Admittedly, I find the plot of Don Giovanni more compelling, but opera has always been music first for me. Just a wonderful recording!
I went to see this a couple of years ago and watched it on YouTube with subtitles but didn't get a CD and I wish I had now. It was one of the most memorable performances I'd ever seen and I was cross with myself because I kept having to look at the surtitles. Simon Keenlyside and Karita Mattila starred.
This scene lasted about six minutes and Simon never moved. I sat on the front row and try as I might I could not see his breathing tube.
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