What opera have you been listening to, lately?

**Ann Lander (sospiro)** · February 23rd, 2019, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)

Well, of course, why wouldn't the DVD director be concentrating on the beautiful soprano? He knows what is best for the audience!

Pfft! That's why I love Billy Budd!

**MAuer** · February 23rd, 2019, 01:23 PM

Heinz Wallberg; Munich Radio Orchestra, Bavarian Broadcasting Chorus
Siegfried Jerusalem, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Jeanette Scovotti, Norma Sharp, Julia Varady, Ilse Gramatzki, Friedrich Lenz, Klaus Hirte, Kurt Moll, Norbert Orth, Peter Lika, Hanna Schwarz, Günter Wewel

Operas sung in languages other than the original are usually not my cuppa, but this recording of Les Contes d'Hoffmann sung in German translation is the only version in my collection right now. The cast is top-notch, and I must admit that it's rather nice to really understand what the characters are singing about. This recording also places the Giulietta act between those with Olympia and Antonia, and includes the aria "Scintille diamant."

**Hoffmann** · February 23rd, 2019, 06:18 PM

Because somebody has to! And, I just love me some Marilyn Horne!

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**Florestan** · February 25th, 2019, 12:12 AM

**Ann Lander (sospiro)** · February 25th, 2019, 11:39 AM

Homework

Ramey

**Florestan** · February 26th, 2019, 12:25 AM

Haven't spun this one in quite some time.

**Hoffmann** · February 27th, 2019, 01:36 PM

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In conjunction with reading The Indispensable Composers by Anthony Tommasini (Chief Classical Music Critic, NYT, 2018), the first chapter of which discusses Claudio Monteverdi in "Creator of Modern Music" - and L'Orfeo.

**Hoffmann** · February 28th, 2019, 04:37 PM

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I do love Attila - may have some of Verdi's simplest melodies, but everyone is a gem... and, with this cast (Muti! Ramey! Studer! Shicoff!), we are in great hands.

**Hoffmann** · March 1st, 2019, 03:49 PM

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One of the few recordings of this opera, which dates to 1966, so features young and very fresh voices during early careers of Joan Sutherland and Luciano Pavarotti.

**MAuer** · March 2nd, 2019, 01:20 PM

Zubin Mehta; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna State Opera Chorus
Fritz Wunderlich, Anneliese Rothenberger, Reri Grist, Gerhard Unger, Fernando Corena, Michael Heltau

**Ann Lander (sospiro)** · March 2nd, 2019, 02:34 PM

More homework for this opera which I'm seeing later this year and which I didn't know before.

Part way through though, I had to give up on it as there are so many trills and ornamentation, it sent me crazy. A good example why I developed a dislike for showy sopranos. I was yelling, "Just get on with it, will you!"

Excuse my ignorance, but was showy ornamentation popular in previous times? I'm watching the Netrebko/Garanča DVD and they seem to sing just the notes Donizetti wrote and I much prefer it.

**Florestan** · March 3rd, 2019, 05:14 AM

**Ann Lander (sospiro)** · March 3rd, 2019, 12:25 PM

Listened on YouTube and I'm pleased I did before I bought it. Hugely disappointed with the cuts. Enrico's beautiful little aria in Scene 1 "Tutta in voi la luce mia" isn't there so have given up on this version.

**Florestan** · March 4th, 2019, 01:35 AM

**MAuer** · March 4th, 2019, 11:53 AM

Zubin Mehta; Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, London
Carol Neblett, Plácido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Robert Lloyd, Paul Crook, Robin Leggate, Gwynne Howell, Jonathan Summers, Anne Wilkens, Paul Hudson, John Dobson, Tom McDonnell, William Elvin, Malcolm King, Malcolm Rivers, Francis Egerton, et. al.