What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[tyroneslothrop]

How do you explain the fact that Tchaikovsky was accused by his contemporaries of not being faithful enough to the novel?

He left too much out which in some cases changed the implications. But opera librettos are shorter than novels. Paradoxically, he could have changed less about the story if he had hewn less closely to Pushkin's text. Because hewing closely, all he could do was delete stuff, not allude to its deletion.

[tyroneslothrop]

What exactly do you mean? This phrase seems incomplete, you seem to have skipped something and I don't really follow you.

Tolstoy took pains to show us that women high in Russian society thought nothing of taking lovers.

[Amfortas]

Tolstoy took pains to show us that women high in Russian society thought nothing of taking lovers.

He also showed there was considerable risk involved. Anna Karenina isn't exactly a comedy.

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

Hate to break it to you, but it's just an opera.

What do you mean, just an opera? Opera is life.

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

He left too much out which in some cases changed the implications. But opera librettos are shorter than novels. Paradoxically, he could have changed less about the story if he had hewn less closely to Pushkin's text. Because hewing closely, all he could do was delete stuff, not allude to its deletion.

Well, he did change a bunch of things, like the sequence of events leading to the duel and Olga's participation in them.

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

Tolstoy took pains to show us that women high in Russian society thought nothing of taking lovers.

Right.

[Amfortas]

What do you mean, just an opera? Opera is life.

Oops. My bad. What was I thinking?

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

Oops. My bad. What was I thinking?

Too late. I've already unleashed the assassins. I can't let you live after you said that. They should be blocking all exits anytime now. There are penguins as well.

[tyroneslothrop]

He also showed there was considerable risk involved. Anna Karenina isn't exactly a comedy.

Anna's "crime" was that she fell passionately in love. That was the one thing her society had no tolerance for.

[Amfortas]

Anna's "crime" was that she fell passionately in love. That was the one thing her society had no tolerance for.

And that's part of the risk in taking a lover. Things may go too far.

[Aramis]

COOL

But James King sounds pretty fragile up there, for someone knows as heldentenor. Only Mario del Monaco and Jon Vickers seem to be capable of singing Samson with a voice that really fits the character demolishing the temple with bare hands.

[tyroneslothrop]

COOL

But James King sounds pretty fragile up there, for someone knows as heldentenor. Only Mario del Monaco and Jon Vickers seem to be capable of singing Samson with a voice that really fits the character demolishing the temple with bare hands.

This dude is a pretty capable temple demolisher. But not a heldentenor type--more of a dramatic basso profundo...


Back on topic, this is my favorite Samson et Dalila:

[Hoffmann]

This is the first time I've listened to this in some time (it's one of the cd sets I found in my basement a month or so ago). I had been listening to the Giulini w/Domingo, Caballe, Milnes and Verrett - but I think I like the Solti better.

[tyroneslothrop]

This is the first time I've listened to this in some time (it's one of the cd sets I found in my basement a month or so ago). I had been listening to the Giulini w/Domingo, Caballe, Milnes and Verrett - but I think I like the Solti better.

If you are in the mood for A-B comparisons, let me loan you this one next time I see you and see what you think:

[Hoffmann]

Well, 1958 Giulini certainly has the male roles pinned down. I not familiar with the female principals, however. I would be happy to add it to my collection!

I also have a live La Scala performance that I rarely listen to since its complete with feet shuffling, coughing, applause, etc: