What Opera Are You Listening to Now?

[ritter]

Inevitably... Act III of Götterdämmerung.



This is the "designer Ring" staged by Alfred Kirchner, with sets and costumes by Rosalie, that was performed in Bayreuth in the mid 90s, under the baton of James Levine. Only Götterdämmerung was filmed.

[ritter]

Die Zeit ist da...

More Wagner tonight, of course. Act II of Parsifal, filmed at La Monnaie in Brussels in 2011, with Tómas Tómasson as Klingsor, Anna Larsson as Kundry, and Andrew Richards in the title rôle. The conductor is Hartmut Haenchen, and the staging by Romeo Castellucci.



As usual, Castellucci brings to the stage some disquieting but aesthetically rewarding images which appear disjointed from the action but somehow underline and highlight the text in a strange and often fascinating way.

Wie lachen ihm die Rosen der Wangen...

[brewski]

Not listening today, but on Sunday: Salome with WDR Symphony Orchestra, conductor Cristian Măcelaru, and Jennifer Holloway in the title role. Recorded in September 2025 in Cologne. 

[brewski]

Listening to La fille du régiment by Donizetti, in the 1968 version with Joan Sutherland and Luciano Pavarotti, which I may have never heard. While the opera may not appear on my top 10 list (who knows, it's only 1:00 in the afternoon ), but maybe I need to give the composer another chance.

It's playing on WRTI, here.

[Florestan]

I need to give the composer another chance

.


Ah, mon ami, quel jour de fête! 

[brewski]

Ah, mon ami, quel jour de fête! 

Yes, eagerly awaiting that.

I saw the opera at the Met in 2008 (cast and details here) and liked it, but Laurent Pelly's production was the star, with giant maps crumpled to look like mountains.

The cast and chorus were wonderful, but I'm enjoying this recording more.

[KevinP]

Watched the opera on YouTube a few months ago (probably posted here). Listening and watching can be two very different experiences, probably especially true with this one.

[ritter]

Donald McIntyre (who died in Munich on 13 November (aged 91) in memoriam...



Wagner: Siegfried (Act III). Donald McIntyre (Der Wanderer), Ortrun Wenkel (Erda), Manfred Jung (Siegfried), Gwyneth Jones (Brünnhilde). Orchestra of the Bayreuth Frstival, Pierre Boulez (cond.). Staged by Patrice Chereau.

[Lisztianwagner]

Richard Wagner
Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg

Theo Adams (Hans Sachs), Karl Ridderbusch (Veit Pogner), Geraint Evans (Sixtus Beckmesser), René Kollo (Walther von Stolzing), Peter Schreier (David), Helen Donath (Eva), Ruth Hesse (Magdalene)
Herbert von Karajan & Staatskapelle Dresden

[Florestan]

Good?

I've just finished listening to it and the answer is yes. Not essential Donizetti even by a long stretch, but an enjoyable bouffonerie. Actually, if I hadn't known the composer, I'd have guessed Offenbach. 

[Lisztianwagner]

Antonín Dvořák
Rusalka, act 1^

Renée Fleming (Rusalka), Ben Heppner (Prince), Dolora Zajick (Jezibaba), Eva Urbanová (Foreign Princess), Franz Hawalta (Water Goblin)
Charles Mackerras & Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

[Lisztianwagner]

Finishing this opera:

Antonín Dvořák
Rusalka, act 2^ & 3^

Renée Fleming (Rusalka), Ben Heppner (Prince), Dolora Zajick (Jezibaba), Eva Urbanová (Foreign Princess), Franz Hawalta (Water Goblin)
Charles Mackerras & Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

[JBS]

[DaveF]

Listened to in preparation for writing a programme note on the Bacchanale.  It's surprisingly short.  And the two famous bits (Mon cœur s'ouvre and the Bacchanale) really are the best bits.