What Opera Are You Listening to Now?

[Tsaraslondon]

Ah, I was thinking that this was a new-to-me-one, but looking back, I see that it's on Warner, hence former EMI (with different cover).  It's one that I've been tempted to get in the past.  Have you noticed any differences in terms of remastering?  I've heard of horrible things in the past like lyrics/singing getting left out (cut)!      Any suggestions (going back to first question) as to best remaster of this one?

PD

The new Warner is taken from a different source and is a lot better than the EMI, which wasn't good at all. However the best master is on Divina https://www.divinarecords.com/dvn019/dvn019.html, though only available as a download at the moment.

[Tsaraslondon]

I used to own the Decca digital recording with Pavarotti, Freni and Ghiaurov but, for some reason, it appears to be no longer available as a download - certainly nowhere to be found on either iTunes or Spotify.

No matter, this recording is very good and in some ways betters its Decca rival. Caballé, who sings the smaller role of Helen on the Decca set, ia more vocally entitled Margherita than Freni and her singing is quite ravishing. On the other hand Josella Ligi can't hope to compare with Caballé as Helen. Domingo is in excellent voice as Faust and Rudel shapes the score very well indeed, especially in the Prologue. Which leaves the small matter of Mefistofele himself. Ghiaurov easily has the better voice, but Treigle does more with the role dramatically and sounds suitably demonic.

Quite incomprehensible to me why the opera is performed so rarely.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

The new Warner is taken from a different source and is a lot better than the EMI, which wasn't good at all. However the best master is on Divina https://www.divinarecords.com/dvn019/dvn019.html, though only available as a download at the moment.

Thanks so much for the information!  I hadn't heard of Divina before now.

PD

[Tsaraslondon]

Recorded in 1958, this set remains a strong contender for Der Freischütz with terrific performnces from, in particular, Elisabeth Grümmer and Gottlob Frick. I actually prefer it to Kleiber's celebrated recording.

[Biffo]

Recorded in 1958, this set remains a strong contender for Der Freischütz with terrific performnces from, in particular, Elisabeth Grümmer and Gottlob Frick. I actually prefer it to Kleiber's celebrated recording.

So do I but then I had lived with the Keilberth (on battered secondhand LPs) for a couple of decades before the Kleiber came along. Nothing wrong with Kleiber but prefer Keilberth.

[Tsaraslondon]

So do I but then I had lived with the Keilberth (on battered secondhand LPs) for a couple of decades before the Kleiber came along. Nothing wrong with Kleiber but prefer Keilberth.

I think the Kleiber was the first recording of the work I heard. At the time it seemed revelatory but now I find it a bit manered. Schreier is not a god fit for Max and Janowitz coolly beautiful but almost completely inexpressive. Keilberth's reading is much more natural and Grümmer is beyond reproach. The only other soprano who comes close in her singing of the solos is Schwarzkopf.

[Que]

Did you guys ever head Furtwängler's Freischûtz? 

I was pleasantly surprised! It has a stellar cast.

https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/weber-der-freischütz-7

Q

[Tsaraslondon]

Scotto's Angelica is one of her greatest recorded performances (and the DVD from the Met is no less fine). My top choice for the opera, just ahead of De Los Angeles and Ricciarelli.

[Tsaraslondon]

Did you guys ever head Furtwängler's Freischûtz? 

I was pleasantly surprised! It has a stellar cast.

https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/weber-der-freischütz-7

Q

The link doesn't work (and I'm subscribed to Gramophone reviews). I don't know the recording.

[Wendell_E]

The link doesn't work (and I'm subscribed to Gramophone reviews). I don't know the recording.

No, it doesn't, but if you copy the entire URL (including the "ütz-7" at the end) and paste it into your browser, it does, and I'm not subscribed.

Or click this:

https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/weber-der-freisch%C3%BCtz-7

[Tsaraslondon]

No, it doesn't, but if you copy the entire URL (including the "ütz-7" at the end) and paste it into your browser, it does, and I'm not subscribed.

Or click this:

https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/weber-der-freisch%C3%BCtz-7

Finally managed to read it. Alan Blyth makes no comment about the sound. How good is it? I'm not sure if I need more than one recording of the opera but, aside from Hopf, it would appear to have a great deal to commend it.

[Biffo]

I think the Kleiber was the first recording of the work I heard. At the time it seemed revelatory but now I find it a bit manered. Schreier is not a god fit for Max and Janowitz coolly beautiful but almost completely inexpressive. Keilberth's reading is much more natural and Grümmer is beyond reproach. The only other soprano who comes close in her singing of the solos is Schwarzkopf.

As it wasn't very expensive I finally replaced my Keilberth LPs with the CD version from Amazon - as cheap as anyone once postage was included. Also, effectively I got two for the price of one. The CDs came with a free mp3 download but rather oddly the mp3 version was the Jochum recording. The sound isn't brilliant but OK for a freebie.

[AlberichUndHagen]

Does anyone know is there an existing recording/s of Alfred Bruneau's Messidor, preferably with english libretto (if such a thing exists)? I'm interested in it because no lesser writer than Emile Zola himself wrote the libretto to it. The musical parts that I heard from youtube seemed great as well.

[ritter]

Does anyone know is there an existing recording/s of Alfred Bruneau's Messidor, preferably with english libretto (if such a thing exists)? I'm interested in it because no lesser writer than Emile Zola himself wrote the libretto to it. The musical parts that I heard from youtube seemed great as well.

I only know of two recordings of Messidor ( either if which I've heard—actually, I don't know the work and have not been impressed by the Bruneau I have heard—the Requiem):

1) This live one, a "private", allegedly "very good in-house" recording. This  label issues decent (bootleg) recordings of obscure operas (albeit no-frills ones, with no libretto of course).

2) A historic recording under Albert Wolff from 1948 (I wouldn't expect there to be a libretto either, and the sound is bound to be so-so). Malibran specialises in (mainly French) historical opera performances.

Can't find any trace of the libretto online. Sorry!

[JBS]

The vocal score is online via Google Books
https://books.google.com/books?id=-OYQAAAAYAAJ&dq=inauthor%3A%22Alfred%20Bruneau%22&pg=PP11#v=onepage&q&f=false

Although naturally the text is French-only.

Some  of the orchestral music was recorded  on Marco Polo.
https://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.223498

[André]

Does anyone know is there an existing recording/s of Alfred Bruneau's Messidor, preferably with english libretto (if such a thing exists)? I'm interested in it because no lesser writer than Emile Zola himself wrote the libretto to it. The musical parts that I heard from youtube seemed great as well.

Zola wrote the libretto of 5 operas by Bruneau. AFAIK only Messidor has been recorded.

[JBS]

Newly arrived.
[asin]B07TJKC2DT[/asin]
The original 1805 version, in three acts. Jacobs modified the spoken dialogue in places. The dramatic action is somewhat different from the final version, including some musical numbers that did not survive later cuts, and fuller versions of numbers that did survive. In the liner notes Jacobs makes the argument that this version is the best version of the opera, and not the more familiar Fidelio.  Overture used is Leonore II.

Packaging is a bit luxe: hardbound book about the size of my hand.

[AlberichUndHagen]

Heartfelt thanks for the info, friends! I had actually managed to find the French vocal score and even German version of the libretto by myself. Unfortunately, I am not fluent in French. I know German slightly better but not enough for a reading. Anyway, thank you for the info! At least now I know. 

[Tsaraslondon]

Peter Grimes has been extraordinarily lucky on disc and I'd be hard pressed to choose a favourite recording. This one is certainly one of the finest and the sound is superb.

[TheGSMoeller]

Listening, and watching, this production of Hippolyte et Aricie.