What Opera Are You Listening to Now?

[Todd]

I relistened to Pappano's recording of Suor Angelica recently, and I decided I just had to have another version.  So Nelsons it was.  It's just as beautiful and very well played.  I think I'd give Pappano the slight overall edge, but now I can flip a coin next time I listen.  This also comes with the Preludio sinfonico, so that's a nice bonus. 

I did investigate other recordings of the opera a bit, and the Sutherland/Bonynge is available separately as a download.  Otherwise, it looks like I might end up with a couple more complete versions of Il Trittico.  I can think of worse things.

[Tsaraslondon]

I relistened to Pappano's recording of Suor Angelica recently, and I decided I just had to have another version.  So Nelsons it was.  It's just as beautiful and very well played.  I think I'd give Pappano the slight overall edge, but now I can flip a coin next time I listen.  This also comes with the Preludio sinfonico, so that's a nice bonus. 

I did investigate other recordings of the opera a bit, and the Sutherland/Bonynge is available separately as a download.  Otherwise, it looks like I might end up with a couple more complete versions of Il Trittico.  I can think of worse things.

The Sutherland was recorded a tad too late in her career, I always feel.

My out and out favourite is Scotto with Maazel, then De Los Angeles with Serafin and Ricciarelli with Bartoletti, all of which I prefer to Pappano. I don't know what availability is like, but I'm pretty sure they can all be streamed.

In all honesty, though, I should say it's my least favourite of the three operas in the tryptich.

[Wendell_E]

The Sutherland was recorded a tad too late in her career, I always feel.

My out and out favourite is Scotto with Maazel, then De Los Angeles with Serafin and Ricciarelli with Bartoletti, all of which I prefer to Pappano. I don't know what availability is like, but I'm pretty sure they can all be streamed.

In all honesty, though, I should say it's my least favourite of the three operas in the tryptich.

It's my favorite of the three, but we agree about the Scotto/Maazel recording, indeed about all the versions you recommend.

[Florestan]

(Cross post from the WAYLTN thread)



Listened to the whole thing over a few days.

I'm very sorry (which is a way to say I'm very glad) to report to our esteemed colleague and moderator @ritter that I found absolutely nothing vulgar whatsoever, let alone revolting, neither in the subject matter (which is actually quite bland for a verismo opera: nobody dies, nobody gets killed, nobody gets mad, there is no abject poverty, there are no prostitutes and no ruffians; it's a bourgeois drama through and through: cabaret singer seduces millionaire and falls genuinely in love in the process, subsequently finds out her lover is married with child, meets the child and the wife and eventually leaves his lover for the sake of his child who needs the father --- quite Victorian, I'd say) nor in the music (which is actually delicately scored, mostly for strings, winds and harp). The only complaint I have is that the tunes are not as memorable as those in Pagliacci. All in all, a very enjoyable work.

[Papy Oli]

A first listen to Madama Butterfly Act II (with Libretto).

[Papy Oli]

oh my...