What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Sonata]

Verdi: Ernani, Chandos Opera in English

[Hoffmann]

Attachment 11725

I just bought this, but haven't yet listened to it. The ULP is starting to tilt...

Update: I downloaded the CD into my library and listened to this last night and love it. When looking at the library entry, I noticed another Orfeo ed Euridice that I bought a while back and never listened to:





I bought it because I am a big fan of Marilyn Horne, so listened to it immediately after I finished listening to the Jaroussky. I was very disappointed. Horne, of course, is terrific and was always wonderful at anything she sang, but the timbre difference between even a top-of-the-line mezzo and a top-of-the-line countertenor in this opera is dramatic and now, really, a bridge too far.

I suppose my point of reference on this opera has been altered by having experienced the only staging of the opera I've seen with the countertenor Bejun Mehta - and that I had not listened to the opera in at least a year. My ear seems to have become accustomed to the countertenor sound and, likely, no going back..

[Itullian]

Arrived today.

[Clayton]

In between the fireworks that has been the England versus India test cricket...

Some Barock'n roll providing some different fireworks



Porpora: Germanico in Germania
Max Emanuel Cencic (Germanico), Julia Lezhneva (Ersinda), Mary-Ellen Nesi (Arminio), Juan Sancho (Segeste), Dilyara Idrisova (Rosmonda), Hasnaa Bennani (Cecina)
Capella Cracoviensis (on period instruments), Jan Tomasz Adamus
Recorded Radio Kraków, the I-would-love-to-visit-Poland, August 2016

There is much that is brilliant about this recording and not least is Julia Lezhneva


picture belongs to decca and simon fowler

[Hoffmann]

This is a live recording from December, 2015. I always find that Klaus Florian Vogt's voice immediately captures my attention - the unexpected sweetness and effortless control continue to amaze. The low voices here, Falk Struckmann's Heinrich and Evgeny Nitikin's Telramund aren't very satisfying. Katarina Dalayman's Ortrud is better, but she doesn't have a lot of dramatic intensity (I retain the memory of Waltraud Meier's plotting and conniving Ortrud on stage and it's hard to imagine anyone better than her).

A good recording but, despite KFV, can't really compete with the Rudolf Kempe/Jess Thomas/Elisabeth Grümmer/Christa Ludwig/Gottlob Frick/Dietrich-Fischer Dieskau classic.

[halochef]

listening and viewing DON CARLO ON youtube. coming to LA Ca. in sept. free on the santa monica pier. and any recommendations for a youtube version?? thanks, this is the one i am watching now.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

listening and viewing DON CARLO ON youtube. coming to LA Ca. in sept. free on the santa monica pier. and any recommendations for a youtube version?? thanks, this is the one i am watching now.

How fabulous to be able to see it live for free. I don't know this version but will have a watch and will let you know.

[Itullian]

Wagner man checking in again



A recording for the ages folks.
If you love Wagner don't hesitate.
The Naxos re master is excellent.

[MAuer]

Conductor/orchestra: James Levine, London Symphony Orchestra; Ambrosian Opera Chorus
Cast: Montserrat Caballé (Giovanna), Plácido Domingo (Carlo VII), Sherrill Milnes (Giacomo), Keith Erwen (Delil), Robert Lloyd (Talbot), et. al.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

I bought this a couple of years ago from Ludwig Beck in Munich for a reasonable €5 (brand new) but was in my ULP, still in its cellophane. I downloaded it today and transferred it to my mp3 player.

I'm going to see it next year at ROH but I don't imagine the singers will be as good. This is wonderful.

[Clayton]

Itullian led me to the Furtwängler Ring but Italian Radio recording


RAI Milano Orchestra & Chorus, Wilhelm Furtwängler
1953
Cast: lots of singers (lots of roles).

[Da55id]

When i was just a boy, we had a gramophone record of Barber of Seville with Callas/ Gobbi/Alva which we played on our radiogram or Dansette record player! Imagine my delight when i managed to get it on CD many years later. For me it is definitive though i am sure there are are other fine recordings out there. Any views? And did Callas do any other comic operas?

[Florestan]

Really liking this one.

[Clayton]

When i was just a boy, we had a gramophone record of Barber of Seville with Callas/ Gobbi/Alva which we played on our radiogram or Dansette record player! Imagine my delight when i managed to get it on CD many years later. For me it is definitive though i am sure there are are other fine recordings out there. Any views? And did Callas do any other comic operas?

Any post that starts "when I was just a boy" has got to be a good one

As for whether the Callas recording is the definitive one, I think there are too many good recordings/interpretations to say so. I certainly like it and have it but I also like the production with Gruberova.


Edita Gruberova, Juan Diego Flórez, Vladimir Chernov, Rosa Laghezza, Enric Serra, Francesco Ellero d'Artegna, James Anderson
Munich Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Male Choir, Ralf Weikert

[Sonata]

I bought this a couple of years ago from Ludwig Beck in Munich for a reasonable €5 (brand new) but was in my ULP, still in its cellophane. I downloaded it today and transferred it to my mp3 player.

I'm going to see it next year at ROH but I don't imagine the singers will be as good. This is wonderful.

A fantastic opera recording!

As for me:
Gounod: Romeo & Juliet
with Franco Corelli and Mirella Freni
still in a heavy (but not exclusive) rotation of French opera