What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

It did get dates but none panned out for the long haul. My wife can't stand opera and I long abandoned the opera-for-dates strategy by the time I met her. But at least the opera invites weeded out the women who were low life.

Ahem. Using this criteria, up until a few years ago I would have qualified as low life!

I once had a blind date who wanted to meet at a nightclub. We met in the parking lot. She was drinking from a beer quart-sized bottle in a brown paper bag. I immediately knew this was not going far.

[Florestan]

Ahem. Using this criteria, up until a few years ago I would have qualified as low life!

I have to confess I fit that category at one time too. I used to be the guy who had a six-pack in-hand wherever I went. Now I haven't really had significant amounts of alcohol in 30 years and have had none in the past 10 years, with no desire for it.

[Clayton]

Ahem. Using this criteria, up until a few years ago I would have qualified as low life! ...

Ah. Me thinks Ann was born with star quality

[Clayton]

Clearing out the attic (Part 3):

I found this CD in the attic, I think this was the first remaster and release on CD printed in West Germany! Again I can not remember when I bought this or if it was given to me as a present but decided to listen to it.
Listening to it through the speakers (not through the valves and Sennheiser headphones), I can honestly say I can not tell the difference between this edition, the second re-remaster and the most recent re-re-remaster...

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

Ah. Me thinks Ann was born with star quality

[Florestan]

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

This for my train journey to London this morning.

[Florestan]

[Florestan]

[Clayton]

Verdi: Aida
Anja Harteros (Aida), Jonas Kaufmann (Radamès), Ekaterina Semenchuk (Amneris), Ludovic Tezier (Amonasro), Erwin Schrott (Ramfis), Marco Spotti (Il Re d'Egitto), Paolo Fanale (Un Messaggero), Eleonora Buratto (Sacerdotessa)
Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Coro dell'Accademia Nazionale Di Santa Cecilia
Antonio Pappano



Pappano and Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia's delivery is typically excellent and the singing by this superb cast is all equally top notch.
The sound levels are though, bordering ridiculous. They are as they would be in the theatre and so unless you're living in a twenty-thousand square foot marble lined Mayfair apartment, you're constantly adjusting the volume. Listen to it on headphones and your head may implode.

[MAuer]

I have this recording, and on first listening to it, immediately noticed the widely-varying dynamics. Yup, constantly needing to fiddle with the volume control. Still, the performance is worth it.

[Florestan]

Listening to this in anticipation of seeing a live production tonight at the Michigan Opera Theatre.

[Florestan]

[Florestan]

[Florestan]