What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Florestan]

I bought that CD as it was a dream cast but the recording was so awful, I sent it back. I bought it from Amazon and some of the reviews mentioned the dreadful quality. I hope yours is better.

I chased Florenza Cossotto recordings for a while, and it seems most of them are not the greatest sound quality. Of all the Cossotto recordings I have tried, the only one that is fairly decent is Mussorgsky's Khovanshchina, but it is sung in Italian.

[Sonata]

I bought that CD as it was a dream cast but the recording was so awful, I sent it back. I bought it from Amazon and some of the reviews mentioned the dreadful quality. I hope yours is better.

No problems with mine...I didn't post the most updated album artwork. I got the remastered version. sorry for the confusion. sound was not an issue at all.

Right now:

Carl Maria Von Weber- Oberon

An opera that I admittedly bought only because I was buying up all the Jonas Kaufmann I could fine! But it turns out that this is really a nice melodic opera. Some really pleasant writing for the horns.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

I bought that CD as it was a dream cast but the recording was so awful, I sent it back. I bought it from Amazon and some of the reviews mentioned the dreadful quality. I hope yours is better.

No problems with mine...I didn't post the most updated album artwork. I got the remastered version. sorry for the confusion. sound was not an issue at all.

Yay! I might try and get the remastered.

Right now:

Carl Maria Von Weber- Oberon

An opera that I admittedly bought only because I was buying up all the Jonas Kaufmann I could fine! But it turns out that this is really a nice melodic opera. Some really pleasant writing for the horns.

Well done. Collecting a singer's discography is a great way of finding stuff we might not normally choose.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

I've been watching some of the Morse episodes which are on YouTube and enjoying the opera references which meant nothing to me when I first watched the series back in the 1980s. Having watched "The Masonic Mysteries", at 05:07 author of Morse Colin Dexter, makes his customary cameo appearance in front of Morse as a member of the chorus

I listened to this today which is the only version I have, and really enjoyed it.

[Hoffmann]

I chased Florenza Cossotto recordings for a while, and it seems most of them are not the greatest sound quality. Of all the Cossotto recordings I have tried, the only one that is fairly decent is Mussorgsky's Khovanshchina, but it is sung in Italian.

Fiorenza Cossotto was a great mezzo and, while her career mostly was before the development of high quality recording technology, there are many recordings featuring Cossotto that provide dependable listening:



Callas and Cossotto together in this beautifully remastered and magnificent recording!



I rarely listen to this because there are Normas I prefer, but a high quality recording



I bought this a while back because of the outstanding cast, but realize now it has been lingering on my Unlistened to Pile (ULP) ...



This is one of the great Macbeth recordings.

There are more - mostly in the Italian repertory - and primarily Verdi, but lots of good listening to be found!

[Sonata]

Mussorgsky: Khovanshchina- conducted by Gergiev

This is my first listen to this recording of Khovanshchina, my second listen to the opera as a whole. The first time around I listened to Abaddo, which I really liked. The price was right for the Gergiev version though. Plus; one of the deeper male voices in the early part of the opera sounds a little too guttural for my tastes, the corresponding singer in the Gergiev is somewhat smoother. On the whole they are both good recordings.

My opinion of the opera itself: in a word, Powerful. I think it warrants more attention in the opera world than it gets. It's a lot to absorb, but well worth the exploration!

[Amfortas]

My Prokofiev six-opera box set arrived in the mail today; listening to War and Peace now. I'm thinking I'll be happy with this purchase.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

My Prokofiev six-opera box set arrived in the mail today; listening to War and Peace now. I'm thinking I'll be happy with this purchase.

I think you started with the best!

I have just finished this:

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I've been watching some of the Morse episodes which are on YouTube and enjoying the opera references which meant nothing to me when I first watched the series back in the 1980s. Having watched "The Masonic Mysteries", at 05:07 author of Morse Colin Dexter, makes his customary cameo appearance in front of Morse as a member of the chorus

Just watched that episode too; Morse is a great series and this is the best one for opera fans (we can all give a visceral shudder when his record collection gets destroyed in an arson attack). Watched another where Morse is mucking around with a piano and plays the Tristan Chord.

Also watched the Crown on Netflix and the music person is an opera fan; they had Tristan and Isolde during some of the doomed love bits and Purcell's cold song when things are turning to custard.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

Just watched that episode too; Morse is a great series and this is the best one for opera fans (we can all give a visceral shudder when his record collection gets destroyed in an arson attack). Watched another where Morse is mucking around with a piano and plays the Tristan Chord.

Also watched the Crown on Netflix and the music person is an opera fan; they had Tristan and Isolde during some of the doomed love bits and Purcell's cold song when things are turning to custard.

I must look out for that. I love the cold song.

In "The Wolvercote Tongue", Morse says: "Lewis, never interrupt me when I'm buying opera tickets. I might end up with Madame Butterfly instead of Berlioz ... or even Handel"

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I must look out for that. I love the cold song.

In "The Wolvercote Tongue", Morse says: "Lewis, never interrupt me when I'm buying opera tickets. I might end up with Madame Butterfly instead of Berlioz ... or even Handel"

Was just about to start this one. Will listen out for it, but I might have gone off him a bit.

Also loving the eighties fashion. Did we really dress like that?

[MAuer]

Was just about to start this one. Will listen out for it, but I might have gone off him a bit.

Also loving the eighties fashion. Did we really dress like that?

My reaction when I see clothing and hair styles from the 1970s.

[Sonata]

Magic Flute- conducted by Bohm

I drove down to my parents for a visit, it was a gloomy Friday night so it was a good time to listen to my second of my two new Magic Flutes. The noise of the car on the expressway made some of the small details difficult to appreciate, but overall it was wonderful. I'll listen again before too long so I can better get the feel for Wunderlich's wonderful performance

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

With all the discussion elsewhere, had to have this as the marching music this morning. Ages since I listened to this version.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

Also loving the eighties fashion. Did we really dress like that?

Shoulder pads!!