What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Very nice. I like the fact that the orchestra musicians are wearing wigs. I'll buy it, thanks for the tip.

There's a fascinating doco about the restoration of the theatre to a full working state, with barque stage machinery, scenery, lighting and sound effects. It's also talks about the seating arrangements for the orchestra. I'd recommend watching that first.

[Schigolch]

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I'm making good progress with my Britten/Wagner/Verdi project. Only 17 more operas to go.

[Dark_Angel]

I'm making good progress with my Britten/Wagner/Verdi project. Only 17 more operas to go.

Verdi + Carreras = Sospiro very happy.

I hope your bank account will survive the Britten/Wagner/Verdi project

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Verdi + Carreras = Sospiro very happy.

I hope your bank account will survive the Britten/Wagner/Verdi project

eerm, it's a bit embarrassing, but now that I've got the Wagner box set the only opera by these three still missing from my collection is Paul Bunyan, and that's in my cart at presto.

[Dark_Angel]

I was listening to various Normas again today (Sutherland etc) with various degrees of dissatisfaction, as soon as I played a Callas version the stars aligned and the cosmos was in perfect harmony again......

As I listened again to the 1961 stereo Norma a thought came to me, if I could only keep 1 opera CD this is probably the one I choose

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I was listening to various Normas again today (Sutherland etc) with various degrees of dissatisfaction, as soon as I played a Callas version the stars aligned and the cosmos was in perfect harmony again......

As I listened again to the 1961 stereo Norma a thought came to me, if I could only keep 1 opera CD this is probably the one I choose

Found it on Spotify yay!

[Schigolch]

Also on youtube:

[Hoffmann]

It's Sunday morning, so:

[Hoffmann]

Followed by:



This is a wonderful recording! Kubelik rules! I love listening to Wunderlich and the rest of the cast is top notch. The fact that it is sung in German actually is rather comforting ...

[MAuer]

Followed by:



This is a wonderful recording! Kubelik rules! I love listening to Wunderlich and the rest of the cast is top notch. The fact that it is sung in German actually is rather comforting ...

I've been tempted to buy this recording even though I prefer original language versions. I also prefer the title role sung by a tenor, but I just can't warm up to Luigi Alva's voice on the recording I have. I'm also debating between a German language Giulio Cesare with Wunderlich as Sesto, or an Italian one with Schreier in that role (and Fischer-Dieskau as Caesar).

[Hoffmann]

Xerxes/Serse is new to me (as is most of the Baroque repertory), so I had no preconceived notions of what it should sound like. I also lived in Germany for a year, so German sounds natural to me (although, to my regret, I was much too lousy of a student and way too distracted by the constant fascination of being in Europe to learn to speak German properly).

It would be interesting to hear that recording of Giulio Cesare with the lead role reconfigured for a baritone instead of soprano/countertenor - and especially since Fischer-Dieskau is so good.

[Schigolch]

[Dark_Angel]

1973 Sicilian Vespers conducted by young Jimmy Levine, what a great male vocal trio with Domingo - Raimondi - Milnes

Preparing for the arrival of my new blu ray version, beware the wedding bells sweet Elena:

[Sonata]

Hooked on Mozart operas lately.

I just downloaded Jacob's La Finta Giardiniera the other day, so I'm starting in on that.
Also watching Figaro for the first time (listened several times to highlights previously). Downside is that I have very little time to sit and watch so I'm half an hour in only. I like it so far though.