What opera have you been listening to, lately?

**Ann Lander (sospiro)** · September 6th, 2017, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by Ann Lander (sospiro)

This is the main reason why I struggle with Handel and don't give him the attention he deserves. Now if someone could recommend a Handel with only male singers and with most of the voices bass and baritone ...

Originally Posted by Sonata

I imagine you like several Russian operas then? It seems like Russian opera has plenty of deep male voices

Indeed I do!

**Florestan** · September 6th, 2017, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by Ann Lander (sospiro)

Or Billy Budd

Not keen on countertenors either!

There are a few Handel operas/oratorios/serenatas which have a decent bass role but not many.

I can't stand countertenors, except Bowman is fantastic as the creepy sicko Tolemeo in Giulio Cesare. Now if you want some Handel with more deep male voices, there are a couple or more Cesare sets that do that, the one in the top of my mind is the set with Beverly Sills (and no countertenors).

Not familiar with Billy Budd.

**Ann Lander (sospiro)** · September 6th, 2017, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by Florestan

I can't stand countertenors, except Bowman is fantastic as the creepy sicko Tolemeo in Giulio Cesare. Now if you want some Handel with more deep male voices, there are a couple or more Cesare sets that do that, the one in the top of my mind is the set with Beverly Sills (and no countertenors).

Thanks. I'll look that one up!

**Florestan** · September 6th, 2017, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Ann Lander (sospiro)

Thanks. I'll look that one up!

The Sills set is only two disks, so significantly cut. A better option may be this one, which has a male Cesare, a male baritone Tolomeo, and is 4 disks so relatively complete. From the cast list on Amazon it appears there are only two women. However, is this one sung in German? I like the Italian original but this one would be worth having, so is on my list if the right price comes up.
DIETRICH FISCHER-DIESKAU Cesare, TATIANA TROYANOS Cleopatra, JULIA HAMARI Cornelia, PETER SCHREIER Sesto, FRANZ CRASS Tolomeo, ERNST SCHRAMM Achilla, WOLFGANG SCHONE Curio and MICHAEL SCHOPPER Nireno

Been scoping this one out and it is pricey but Presto has it as a download for $20.

I also see that Troyanos is a mezzo which makes me want this even more!

**MAuer** · September 7th, 2017, 11:11 AM

I have that recording of Giulio Cesare and it's sung in Italian. I would have really liked the version with Fischer-Dieskau's Cesare and Wunderlich's Sesto if it had been sung in the original language rather than German translation.

**Florestan** · September 7th, 2017, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by MAuer

I have that recording of Giulio Cesare and it's sung in Italian.

The one with Troyanos I posted above is Italian? It sounded odd to me and so I figured with Richter that perhaps it was being sung in German but my language abilities are practically zero. Well that is good to know.