What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[tyroneslothrop]

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:

Attachment 2199

OK. Will bring with me for Oresteia.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I’ve definitely decided that I Lombardi is my least favourite Verdi opera, although it does have some lovely music, especially the violin solo before Oronte’s death. I think the problem is that there are two stories, with the conflict between the two brothers being so much more powerful that the rather trite star crossed lovers plot point. This is in contrast to the much more taut drama in I due Foscari which I saw the other day. This production is quite serviceable and the singing is OK, but nothing that is going to change my mind about this opera.



I found this production of Madama Butterfly so moving (partly due to Patricia Racette and partly the little puppet Sorrow, that I’ve decided to buy the DVD (saw it on YT).



Ciro in Babilonia is not one of Rossini’s more engaging operas, but Podleś and Pratt are great and the Cecile B de Mille production is spot on.



This is my first encounter with Die Soldaten. A depressing story alla Wozzeck, Berg meets Jazz, a massive orchestra, fiendishly hard to sing (some of the singers get a bit hoarse with all the huge interval leaps). But the great thing about this DVD is the amazing set which runs all the width of the Salzburger Felsenreitschule, complete with horses and roistering soldiers. There is even a tightrope walking sequence. Recommended.



Boris Godunov - Another good production from the Met (I think you saw this live, Alma). René Pape is my favourite currently active bass. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him sound less than gorgeous.

I’d forgotten what fun Il Barbiere di Siviglia is – this production from L’Opera de Lille has an energetic young cast in a lively production. Still available to stream.

I’ve subscribed to Spotify premium which is fun as you can do some no pressure exploring.

[Dark_Angel]

La Donna Del Lago x 3



The live 1970 Caballe has decent sound for that series, the recent Naxos is also live but has studio sound quality, lots of very good arias here for male and female to showcase vocal talents.....

[Dark_Angel]

I’ve definitely decided that I Lombardi is my least favourite Verdi opera, although it does have some lovely music, especially the violin solo before Oronte’s death. I think the problem is that there are two stories, with the conflict between the two brothers being so much more powerful that the rather trite star crossed lovers plot point. This is in contrast to the much more taut drama in I due Foscari which I saw the other day. This production is quite serviceable and the singing is OK, but nothing that is going to change my mind about this opera.

There is a a third major storyline/conflict between Giselda and her father when she falls in love with her Moslem captor Oronte and tries to stop the killing by Crusaders......even scolds her father when he rescues her, but all is resolved in the end. Giselda has some wonderful arias.

I do like this new Tutto Verdi Lombardi much more than the old Muti La Scala DVD floating around.......

[tyroneslothrop]

I’ve subscribed to Spotify premium which is fun as you can do some no pressure exploring.

I thought you were a subscriber. I always see you listening to stuff on Spotify

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I thought you were a subscriber. I always see you listening to stuff on Spotify

Premium. So no loud ads every three tracks in a strong and chirpy NZ accent.

[tyroneslothrop]

Premium. So no loud ads every three tracks in a strong and chirpy NZ accent.

Aha. Yes, well if they had content-appropriate ads like...

[Dark_Angel]

La Gioconda x 2

Most people know the merits of the famous Cerquitti Gioconda image #1, but also great for collectors is the 1967 Tebaldi version. This is outside of Tebaldi's normal comfort zone but she does her best to dial up the dramatic intensity level. The music is expertly delivered by conductor Lamberto Gardelli and Robert Merrill is a diabolically sinister Barnaba.....great stuff here

[tyroneslothrop]

La Gioconda x 2

Most people know the merits of the famous Cerquitti Gioconda image #1, but also great for collectors is the 1967 Tebaldi version. This is outside of Tebaldi's normal comfort zone but she does her best to dial up the dramatic intensity level. The music is expertly delivered by conductor Lamberto Gardelli and Robert Merrill is a diabolically sinister Barnaba.....great stuff here

I've noticed that you often listen to 2 or more performances of a single opera at a time. Is that intentional so that you can compare and contrast them? Just curious since I never have the urge to listen to different performance back-to-back unless I am purposely trying to compare something.

[Dark_Angel]

I've noticed that you often listen to 2 or more performances of a single opera at a time. Is that intentional so that you can compare and contrast them? Just curious since I never have the urge to listen to different performance back-to-back unless I am purposely trying to compare something.

I often listen to a CD performance of a work then compare and contrast segments of other performances to appreciate the differences and learn from various techniques each performer has to offer......it is fun and offers some feeble rationale for spending so much on multiple opera CD sets

I do the same with multiple DVD sets of an opera......tonight I was watching the new Tutto Verdi Falstaff, afterwards I got out my other Falstaff DVDs to compare how different scences were handled

[cedric]

I really like all the singing here. Treleaven is incredibly strong vocally even in act III. Polaski is my favorite hochdramatische soprano of our time. Struckmann has an unforgettable timbre.

[tyroneslothrop]

I really like all the singing here. Treleaven is incredibly strong vocally even in act III. Polaski is my favorite hochdramatische soprano of our time. Struckmann has an unforgettable timbre.

cedric, how do you think this one compares with 1995 Bayreuth or 2007 Glyndebourne?

[cedric]

cedric, how do you think this one compares with 1995 Bayreuth or 2007 Glyndebourne?

It's a pity that I don't have these two DVDs. But according to what I heard from other recordings, I think both Meier and Stemme are great Isolde, especially Meier. (I was very close to watching Meier's Isolde live but she was ill and covered by Linda Watson.) One interesting thing is that Polaski, Meier and Stemme were born in 1949, 1956 and 1963 respectively; every seven years a great Isolde was born I'm not sure how Gambill sounds in DVD, but his voice is too small for Tristan in live performance.

[Amfortas]

I'm not sure how Gambill sounds in DVD, but his voice is too small for Tristan in live performance.

As I recall, he has a pronounced wobble, which significantly mars his performance (though his acting is powerful in Tristan's great Act III monologue).

[Amfortas]

I really like all the singing here. Treleaven is incredibly strong vocally even in act III. Polaski is my favorite hochdramatische soprano of our time. Struckmann has an unforgettable timbre.

I haven't checked this one out, and must confess to being a bit put off by what little I've seen.