What opera have you been listening to, lately?

**Florestan** · October 1st, 2017, 04:06 PM

**MAuer** · October 2nd, 2017, 12:45 PM

Conductor/orchestra: Bertrand de Billy, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra
Arnold Schönberg Choir
Cast: Camilla Nylund, Kurt Streit, Gerd Grochowski, Peter Rose, Brigitte Geller, Dietmar Kerschbaum, Ralf Lukas, Thomas Ebenstein, Markus Raab

Just couldn't help myself . . .

**Amfortas** · October 3rd, 2017, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by MAuer

Just couldn't help myself . . .

But why? You don't even like that opera.

**Soave_Fanciulla** · October 4th, 2017, 07:52 PM

Looking forward to hearing him live in a few days in Rome.

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**Florestan** · October 5th, 2017, 12:37 AM

I just got this today and it is my first listen. Waldemar Kmentt sings Lyonel on this. To me, Kmentt sounds quite like Jonas Kaufmann.

**MAuer** · October 5th, 2017, 11:13 AM

Kmentt certainly has dark, baritonal coloring in his voice, but Kaufmann sounds a little more lyrical to me -- almost a spinto version of Fritz Wunderlich.

**Sonata** · October 5th, 2017, 12:23 PM

Wagner- Der Ring Des Nibelungen Conducted by Karajan

I don't have THIS set...the high fidelity Blu Ray audio, but it was a pretty picture with all the gold and black. lol.
This is my favorite ring for sure. I've finished Rheingold, and I am onto the second act of Walkure.

**Florestan** · October 5th, 2017, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by MAuer

Kmentt certainly has dark, baritonal coloring in his voice, but Kaufmann sounds a little more lyrical to me -- almost a spinto version of Fritz Wunderlich.

Thanks. That is what I need to hear. I will sometimes find someone reminds me of someone else based on one characteristic and others don't see much similarity. For some reason I focus too much on a single trait and not the whole picture. Either way Kmentt is good. Now if Kaufmann would record Lyonel, but who would be Martha? Natalie Dessay? Again I just take wild guesses for I have no feel for the subtleties of individual voice, just the main categories. Perhaps Natalie not the right one. Hmmm, I know. Renee Fleming would be a perfect Martha (Lady Harriet).

**Sonata** · October 5th, 2017, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Florestan

how is this recording? you might be talking me into getting it..

**Itullian** · October 5th, 2017, 05:56 PM

**Soave_Fanciulla** · October 5th, 2017, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by Itullian

Hello Itullian, long time no chat!

**Soave_Fanciulla** · October 5th, 2017, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by MAuer

Kmentt certainly has dark, baritonal coloring in his voice, but Kaufmann sounds a little more lyrical to me -- almost a spinto version of Fritz Wunderlich.

He reminds me of a darker version of Peter Seiffert.

**Clayton** · October 5th, 2017, 09:19 PM

Hello Itullian! Nice to see you posting here again

**Florestan** · October 5th, 2017, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by Sonata

how is this recording? you might be talking me into getting it..

What Martha recordings do you have now? If you have none, My highest recommendation is the one with Lucia Popp and Siegfried Jerusalem as the very best Martha on CD. Based on what you already have I can advise, but I found Edna Berger's voice a bit squeaky like a little girl. Just my opinion, and the sound quality is not first rate. I do believe that one is remastered and perhaps the best sound for the Berger set, which I discovered has releases with probably a dozen or more covers. In fact, I got mine in this set, which I believe is the same sound quality as the one I posted an image of:

You can get this off of U.S. Amazon for $4.98 used VG by a seller that I think also lists on UK Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008ZL1X7A/

But let me know what Martha's you have and I can better advise.