What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Florestan]

While poorly rated on Amazon, I find this a very nice recording. Given that my first ever experience of this opera was the DVD of the same, I could very well be biased. I admit that a heavier voiced soprano would be nice and would have purchased a set but am not sure which I want and the ones I really like are all rather pricey. So far I have shown great restraint in not buying a second CD set while purchasing 6 sets on DVD.

[Florestan]

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Whatever happened to Topi Lehtippu? He was one of my favourite tenors; I have listened to his album of Vivaldi arias on Naive more than any other I own and I loved him in the Glyndebourne Cosi and Rake's Progress. Here he does a great job as Lurcanio, Ariodante's brother. Operabase has nothing after 2015 and neither does his facebook.

EDIT: I've done some searching and it seems that he is now artistic director of the Turku music festival. Waste of a good tenor voice.

Handel: Ariodante
Joyce DiDonato (Ariodante), Karina Gauvin (Ginevra), Marie-Nicole Lemieux (Polinesso), Sabina Puértolas (Dalinda), Topi Lehtipuu (Lurcanio), Matthew Brook (King of Scotland), Anicio Zorzi Giustiniani (Odoardo)
Il Complesso Barocco, Alan Curtis

[Hoffmann]

I hate cold weather! It's still cold and windy here - of course, it's winter so I guess it's kind of normal. I suspect that in a few weeks, when it's time for my trip, that it suddenly will turn 80F and the cherry blossoms will come out. Oh well.

In the meantime, while looking foward to getting out and walking again, there is this glorious recording:




What is it about Callas, anyway? Maybe it is that when she sang, we know that she meant exactly what she was singing. She was utterly fearless.

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

Whatever happened to Topi Lehtippu? He was one of my favourite tenors; I have listened to his album of Vivaldi arias on Naive more than any other I own and I loved him in the Glyndebourne Cosi and Rake's Progress. Here he does a great job as Lurcanio, Ariodante's brother. Operabase has nothing after 2015 and neither does his facebook.

EDIT: I've done some searching and it seems that he is now artistic director of the Turku music festival. Waste of a good tenor voice.

Handel: Ariodante
Joyce DiDonato (Ariodante), Karina Gauvin (Ginevra), Marie-Nicole Lemieux (Polinesso), Sabina Puértolas (Dalinda), Topi Lehtipuu (Lurcanio), Matthew Brook (King of Scotland), Anicio Zorzi Giustiniani (Odoardo)
Il Complesso Barocco, Alan Curtis

Oh wow, I had never heard of the Turku Music Festival. I looked them up and they seem to have had some interesting artists over the years, such as Kristine Opolais, Jonas Kaufmann, Natalie Dessay, Emmanuelle Haïm, etc.

[Sonata]

I'm currently listening to another early Verdi, I due Foscari

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I'm currently listening to another early Verdi, I due Foscari

I like this opera, partly because the plot is interesting.

[Sonata]

I like this opera, partly because the plot is interesting.

I think it's an interesting plot too! I also like it because it's a very intimate opera, the small scale highlights the personal anguish of the Foscari family. I am continuing with another in Gardelli's early Verdi series with:

Un Giorno Di Regno

I am so grateful t0 Gardelli for his work in making high quality recordings of Verdi's early operas!!

[Sonata]

I also must say, of the above I Due Foscari, Jose Carreras gives a wonderful performance!

[Florestan]

Good opera. I see there is a DVD and probably need to get it for full appreciation.

[Sonata]

Verdi: Otello
Renata Scotto, Sherill Milnes, & Placido Domingo
With libretto in hand.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Verdi: Otello
Renata Scotto, Sherill Milnes, & Placido Domingo
With libretto in hand.

My first Otello. Domingo will always be my favourite, and Milnes is a great Iago.

[Sonata]

Lully-Phaeton
My evening dinner-cooking music. Chicken carbonara for the first time tonight

[Clayton]

I was completely knocked off balance by the loss of a good friend. He was the same age as me but a picture of good health and living and most tragic is his son is due to complete college in the next few weeks and was due to start working with him. He was so much looking forward to this, he was talking about it all year. Music is slowly pulling me back in to life.











It has been mainly Wagner I have been listening to lately.

[Florestan]

It has been mainly Wagner I have been listening to lately.

Sorry about your loss. Glad you are finding some relief in music. I wonder if there is something about Wagner that is soothing after an emotionally draining situation such as you are experiencing.