Sémiramide (Rossini, 1823)

[calbo]

On the last week I received this registration of Sémiramide witch has been played at Rossini Opéra Festival in 1993.

http://www.amazon.com/Rossini-Semiramide-Scalchi-Pertusi-Festival/dp/B000047996/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1196618661&sr=1-2

Is there another registration of this so beautiful opéra?

[Anne]

On the last week I received this registration of Sémiramide witch has been played at Rossini Opéra Festival in 1993.

http://www.amazon.com/Rossini-Semiramide-Scalchi-Pertusi-Festival/dp/B000047996/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1196618661&sr=1-2

Is there another registration of this so beautiful opéra?

I have this VHS tape but see that it was available on DVD:

http://www.amazon.com/Rossini-Semiramide-Conlon-Anderson-Metropolitan/dp/B00004Z4W9/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1196625936&sr=1-3

Looks like it is out of print.  It is a very good performance.  Marilyn Horne learned the role just so that the opera could be performed.  Sam Ramey also sings in the performance and is very good.  The other singers are Stanford Olson and June Anderson.

[calbo]

I know that Samuel Ramey is considerated as the best Assur but never saw him. I'll try to buy it for christmas.

[Wendell_E]

I've got the 1965/6 Decca recording with Sutherland and Horne, Bonynge conducting, and the 1992 DG recording with Studer, Larmore, Ramey, and Lopardo, Marin conducting.  The Decca makes a some cuts (apparently it would have taken 4 LPs if it were uncut), rearranges the order of some numbers in act II, and the men (particularly the tenor) aren't as good as DG's (or the Met DVD Anne mentioned).  It does have Sutherland and Horne in their prime, and they're so good (those duets!) that they're downright scary!

DG's ladies aren't as spectacular as Decca's, but they're really very good, the recording's uncut, and the men, as I mentioned, are a lot better than Decca's.  It's out of print, but there are some new and used copies from some Amazon sellers if you click the link.  Also Berkshire Record Outlet (that's where I got it) has it new for even cheaper than the Amazon sellers.

I rented that Met DVD from Netflix and really liked it.  Only slightly cut, and a strong cast across the board.  Too bad it's out of print.  Maybe DG will re-release it, as they have with several earlier Met Pioneer releases.

[Anne]

I've got the 1965/6 Decca recording with Sutherland and Horne, Bonynge conducting, and the 1992 DG recording with Studer, Larmore, Ramey, and Lopardo, Marin conducting.  The Decca makes a some cuts (apparently it would have taken 4 LPs if it were uncut), rearranges the order of some numbers in act II, and the men (particularly the tenor) aren't as good as DG's (or the Met DVD Anne mentioned).  It does have Sutherland and Horne in their prime, and they're so good (those duets!) that they're downright scary!

DG's ladies aren't as spectacular as Decca's, but they're really very good, the recording's uncut, and the men, as I mentioned, are a lot better than Decca's.  It's out of print, but there are some new and used copies from some Amazon sellers if you click the link.  Also Berkshire Record Outlet (that's where I got it) has it new for even cheaper than the Amazon sellers.

I rented that Met DVD from Netflix and really liked it.  Only slightly cut, and a strong cast across the board.  Too bad it's out of print.  Maybe DG will re-release it, as they have with several earlier Met Pioneer releases.

I remember when that Met Semiramide arrived in the mail.  I had not been listening to opera very much yet and had no libretto books.  The opera did not have subtitles and I did not know one person who could give me a summary.  Finally I called the lady who took orders on the Internet for opera VHS tapes and asked her if she could give me a brief rundown.  She gave me a 2-sentence summary and that was all I needed.  I still have kind thoughts about her even today.

[Hector]

The singers are unfamiliar but Alberto Zedda is a Rossini specialist and scholar and, therefore, I would expect some authority in and from the performance.

[Sarastro]

This is probably the best Semiramide, Kunde with his high register, heavily beautiful Tamar, Schalchi - Cherubino  and Pertusi, Zedda. Wonderful! (i mean the sound  )