What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Hoffmann]

I don't have the Gruberova and Baltsa but should give it a listen some time. Maybe it is on You Tube.

I also have Maazel (Cossotto), Campanella (Ricciarelli /Montague), and Patane (Sills/Baker).

I also have the Patane, Abbado (the one w Pavarotti/Aragall/Rinaldi and the Luisi (Netrebko/Garanca). I haven't listened to the Abbado or Patane in quite some time, so probably need to give them another go. I don't know the Maazel or Campanella (but love Riciarelli, so...).

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Stravinsky: The Rake's Progress

OOoooh. I like the look of this!

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I really enjoyed this, very melodious with a folk dance flavour


Erkel: Hunyadi László
Sylvia Sass (soprano), Magda Kalmár (soprano), Zsuzsanna Dénes (soprano), Dénes Gulyás (tenor), András Molnár (tenor), Sándor Sólyom-Nagy (baritone)
Hungarian State Opera Chorus and Orchestra, János Kovács

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

I really enjoyed this, very melodious with a folk dance flavour


Erkel: Hunyadi László
Sylvia Sass (soprano), Magda Kalmár (soprano), Zsuzsanna Dénes (soprano), Dénes Gulyás (tenor), András Molnár (tenor), Sándor Sólyom-Nagy (baritone)
Hungarian State Opera Chorus and Orchestra, János Kovács

I bought this in a CD sale without knowing anything about it and was delighted with it!

[Florestan]

I bought this in a CD sale without knowing anything about it and was delighted with it!

Rather grim ending according to Wikipedia:

Mária fails in her bid to free László from prison and he is condemned to death, the executioner only succeeding in cutting off his head at the fourth attempt.

[Hoffmann]

Mária fails in her bid to free László from prison and he is condemned to death, the executioner only succeeding in cutting off his head at the fourth attempt.

Probably just as well that this is not a DVD. Of course, it might be difficult to stage. Unless you happen to be Calixto Bieito, that is...

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Rather grim ending according to Wikipedia:

Yes, I read that too, but in fact the music does not reflect this grimness.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Donizetti: Elvida
Cristina Pastorello, Daniele Gaspari, Massimiliano Fichera, Maria Pia Moriyon
Orchestra e coro Città di Adria, Franco Piva

[Florestan]

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

Probably just as well that this is not a DVD. Of course, it might be difficult to stage. Unless you happen to be Calixto Bieito, that is...

I think he ought to!

[Florestan]

I think he ought to!

I would be worried that in the attempt for realism someone might actually get injured or killed.

[Florestan]

IMO, best Senta on CD:

[Sonata]

my first listen to Donizetti's final completed opera
Dom Sebastian

[Hoffmann]

I think this is a nice recording, though nothing can replace the Galliera/Callas. I also would rank it after the Leinsdorf/Roberta Peters/Robert Merrill/Giorgio Tozzi recording on RCA.





To my taste, there is something about Domingo attempting coloratura that, while capable, just sounds wrong; Kathleen Battle's voice is pure silk but it, too, sounds misscast. I heard Battle in recital about 20 or so years ago singing Handel: marvelous.


Then, today, I was able to get out for a walk after weeks of truly nasty weather. To celebrate, a recording I hadn't listened to some months:





I've read reviews of this set that tend to be breathless about the noticeably rapid decline in Suliotis' voice. That might be, but one of Suliotis' calling cards was her conviction and devotion to her roles. It shows. I continue to find her thrilling - it's possible that her technique helps carry her thru some roles - but her conviction, combined with Gardelli's conducting (and DFD's Macbeth) make this worthwhile.

[Florestan]

Even though Anja Silja is the best (IMO) Senta on disk, for overall production, this is my favorite. This one has my favorite Dutchman on Disk with good sound (else Hans Hotter on Krauss 1944 might be it).


This is one of the better of the sung-in-English series. Tomlinson makes a great Dutchman!