What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Best to stick to the Naive edition for Vivaldi - this was not very good.

Vivaldi: L'Olimpiade RV725
Elisabeth Magnus-Harnoncourt, Lucia Meeuwsen, Andrew Schultze, Mieke Van der Sluis, Aris Christofellis, Gérard Lesne
Clemencic Consort, René Clemencic

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Had to listen to some excellent Baroque singing to counter the previous CD. But it comes to an abrupt halt halfway though which is kind of frustrating (only two acts of this first version survived)


Vivaldi: Orlando Furioso, RV728
Riccardo Novaro (Orlando), Romina Basso (Alcina), Gaëlle Arquez (Bradamante), Roberta Mameli (Astolfo), Delphine Galou (Medoro), David DQ Lee (Ruggiero) & Teodora Gheorghiu (Angelica)
Modo Antiquo, Federico Maria Sardelli

[Clayton]

I was listening to Vivaldi too (in between the cricket and mid day naps)



Vivaldi: Griselda, RV718
Griselda: Marie-Nicole Lemieux (contralto), Costanza: Veronica Cangemi (soprano), Ottone: Simone Kermes (soprano), Roberto: Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor), Gualtiero: Stefano Ferrari (tenor) & Corrado: Iestyn Davies (countertenor)
Ensemble Matheus, Jean-Christophe Spinosi



Vivaldi: L'Incoronazione di Dario
Anders Dahlin (Dario), Sara Mingardo (Statira), Delphine Galou (Argene), Riccardo Novaro (Niceno), Roberta Mameli (Alinda), Lucia Cirillo (Oronte), Sofia Soloviy (Arpago), Giuseppina Bridelli (Flora)
Accademia Bizantina, Ottavio Dantone

[Sonata]

I was listening to Vivaldi too (in between the cricket and mid day naps)



Vivaldi: Griselda, RV718
Griselda: Marie-Nicole Lemieux (contralto), Costanza: Veronica Cangemi (soprano), Ottone: Simone Kermes (soprano), Roberto: Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor), Gualtiero: Stefano Ferrari (tenor) & Corrado: Iestyn Davies (countertenor)
Ensemble Matheus, Jean-Christophe Spinosi



Vivaldi: L'Incoronazione di Dario
Anders Dahlin (Dario), Sara Mingardo (Statira), Delphine Galou (Argene), Riccardo Novaro (Niceno), Roberta Mameli (Alinda), Lucia Cirillo (Oronte), Sofia Soloviy (Arpago), Giuseppina Bridelli (Flora)
Accademia Bizantina, Ottavio Dantone

Had to listen to some excellent Baroque singing to counter the previous CD. But it comes to an abrupt halt halfway though which is kind of frustrating (only two acts of this first version survived)


Vivaldi: Orlando Furioso, RV728
Riccardo Novaro (Orlando), Romina Basso (Alcina), Gaëlle Arquez (Bradamante), Roberta Mameli (Astolfo), Delphine Galou (Medoro), David DQ Lee (Ruggiero) & Teodora Gheorghiu (Angelica)
Modo Antiquo, Federico Maria Sardelli

Have either of you heard the new Naive Vivaldi release yet? Dorilla in Tempe. I've not heard it yet, but I'm going to listen this month while I have Amazon Unlimited Music.

[Sonata]

Gounod: Faust
Chandos Opera in English

I'm signed up for a month of Amazon Music Unlimited. Every time I use this, I try to listen to 3 or 4 from the Chandos Opera in English series. If the English is understandable, then it's a good way for me to learn a few more operas quickly. Certainly they'd never be a #1 version, but it's been a good experience for me

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Have either of you heard the new Naive Vivaldi release yet? Dorilla in Tempe. I've not heard it yet, but I'm going to listen this month while I have Amazon Unlimited Music.

It arrived yesterday

My only decsion is whether to put it on while I am sewing, or in the car.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Boccherini: La Clementina
Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Radio Svizzera Italiana Chorus; Angelo Ephrikian
Fernando Corena (bass), Ugo Benelli (tenor), Maria Grazia Ferracini (soprano), Elena Rizzieri (soprano), Karla Schean (mezzo-soprano), Luciana Ticinelli (alto)

Calls itself a zarzuela but is definitely closer to baroque opera than more recent incarnations- and is sung in Italian. It's a fairly old recording of this melodious opera; not keen on the female voices but this re-ignited my liking for Ugo Benelli (if you like JDF you will like him)

[Hoffmann]

I've talked about how much I love this recording before, but have to say that (as of today, anyway) it has to be in my top five favorite recordings. Ever.

What else would you expect from Marilyn Horne and Samuel Ramey - in roles that sound like Rossini must have anticipated their singing careers.

Marilyn and Sam singing together makes me happy!

[Sonata]

Prokofiev: Fiery Angel

I like Prokofiev but I must admit, this is difficult listening for me. this one may require watching at some point to really get my head around it

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

As far as I can tell, this is complete and I love it! There were cuts in the copy I bought a few months ago.

I want to get to know it properly before I see it in June.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Prokofiev: Fiery Angel

I like Prokofiev but I must admit, this is difficult listening for me. this one may require watching at some point to really get my head around it

It is a super weird story...

[Hoffmann]

It is a super weird story...

Of course, it's Russian!

[Florestan]

It is a super weird story...

Just read the synopsis on Wikipedia. Really weird, but great material for an opera. Wonder how it would play out on DVD? I may have to investigate this one further.

[Hoffmann]

It is still really cold here on the U.S. east coast (with the wind, it is 3F/-16C at the moment), so am holed up for yet another day trying to keep myself amused.

Since I love the L'Italiana in Algeri so much, I decided on another, even more famous, Rossini comedy:





I think Roberta Peters, a native New Yorker and long time Met stalwart, is a somewhat underappreciated coloratura soprano whose career at the Met was at its peak in the 1950 - 1970 period, is a delightful Rosina!

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

It is still really cold here on the U.S. east coast (with the wind, it is 3F/-16C at the moment), so am holed up for yet another day trying to keep myself amused.

I've been watching the weather reports for over your way and it looks absolutely dreadful and dangerous to go out.

Since I love the L'Italiana in Algeri so much, I decided on another, even more famous, Rossini comedy:





I think Roberta Peters, a native New Yorker and long time Met stalwart, is a somewhat underappreciated coloratura soprano whose career at the Met was at its peak in the 1950 - 1970 period, is a delightful Rosina!

Nice way of keeping amused!