What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Hoffmann]

I'm not the biggest fan of Ms. Ross's singing, neither I do particularly appreciate Mr. del Monaco's Pollione.

However, I do have watched quite a few times a singer to "broke the character" and salute.

I understand that completely. I had to sit for a few minutes to determine what I thought about the singing. My fascination with the 1967 production won me over to watch it whole way through. I thought Elinor Ross was ok, but Mario del Monaco is a name I know, and I had never seen him in action. He seemed to sing without any shading at all - he kind of sang at full throttle throughout - and his makeup was kind of extreme (although there are a lot of closeups in the taping that one wouldn't see from the audience) and he was prone to striking poses while singing. He might have been a mighty Otello, but I'm not sure Bellini was his strong suit.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

It's the females who have been rocking my opera world recently:

Cheryl Studer in this:



Waltraud Meier in this:



Last night I watched Otello from La Scala 1976 conducted by Kleiber, with Domingo, Freni and Cappuccilli. Wow it was exciting, especially the incendiary conducting (interrupted by heckling - why?):



Also some listening:

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Recent arrivals from Tutto Verdi series

So, DA, your verdict?

[tyroneslothrop]

My fascination with the 1967 production won me over to watch it whole way through. ... and his makeup was kind of extreme (although there are a lot of closeups in the taping that one wouldn't see from the audience) and he was prone to striking poses while singing.

I always been fascinated by old B&W videos of anything--operas, films, even commercials! I recently realized what one of the things that captivates me so is--I just love those American Theatre Standard accents! I mean, what man wouldn't want to sound like Cary Grant? Now how do I go about training an American Theatre Standard accent of my own?

[Dark_Angel]

So, DA, your verdict?

I will post detailed comments in Verdi thread, Lombardi and Foscari are both very good and since they are rarely offered on DVD/blu ray they are essential Verdi buys in modern HD picture quality. These lesser known Verdi operas are real gems

Ballo Maschera is relatively not as strong plus there are many competing big budget versions available. Some of the minor roles like Ulrica are weak and the shoestring budget/small stage shows in final grand masked ball detailing, still it is good enough for me to keep and again modern HD picture a plus

I really like the short plot summary feature every Tutto Verdi opera has in main menu, good to preview before watching opera

[Schigolch]

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I finally watched Wozzeck. What a fantastic opera, and I think this naturalistic film was a good way to approach it.



Piotr helped me get through the housework today:

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

I finally watched Wozzeck. What a fantastic opera, and I think this naturalistic film was a good way to approach it.



Piotr helped me get through the housework today:

Nice, I own both of the above and they are both in the unwatched/unlistened to pile.

[MAuer]

Getting ready for the Cinci Opera's performance a week from Thursday.

[Schigolch]

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Someone please remind me NEVER to try and cook dinner while listening to Peter Mattei. I keep going off into little melting reveries of love and admiration and meanwhile everything boils over, burns and goes soggy. Slightly overcooked fish pie anyone?

[Jephtha]

[Amfortas]

Someone please remind me NEVER to try and cook dinner while listening to Peter Mattei. I keep going off into little melting reveries of love and admiration and meanwhile everything boils over, burns and goes soggy.

That happens to me, too. When I'm not even cooking.

[Dark_Angel]

I will never be a big fan of Berg's opera Lulu, but this creative dazzling production is my favorite to date, the sex carnival is open for business

Director Oliver Py also worked with Petibon in recent dark themed Les Contes Hoffmann:

[Dark_Angel]

I almost foolishly passed over this Tutto Verdi Oberto, that was a mistake I have corrected.

To this day the literary source/inspiration of debut opera Oberto is unknown, Verdi had been working on an earlier opera Rocester which has vanished and never performed but is thought to have inspired Oberto