Giuseppe Verdi, advise needed.

[Harry]

I recently started with two operas from Verdi, and I glad to declare that he is to my liking, very much so, in fact. I discover a whole new world, the latest of them is Otello. Where do I go from here with Verdi, which opera next, and please also advise which recordings. I am very much into the somewhat older recordings, but am open for suggestions.

On another note, I played these last days Albert Lortzing's opera "Der Wildschutz, and I am thoroughly in love with this piece, which is a very generous present from our Paul, (Springrite) and proud father of Kimi.
Are there composers in his line of composing I could seek out? Any advice?

Below are posted the two Verdi operas I have. Don Carlo was a present from Knight.
Otello was a present from GM studio

[marvinbrown]

I recently started with two operas from Verdi, and I glad to declare that he is to my liking, very much so, in fact. I discover a whole new world, the latest of them is Otello. Where do I go from here with Verdi, which opera next, and please also advise which recordings. I am very much into the somewhat older recordings, but am open for suggestions.

On another note, I play these last days Albert Lortzing's opera "Der Wildschutz, and I am thoroughly in love with this piece, which is a very generous present from our Paul, (Springrite) and proud father of Kimi.
Are there composer in his line of composing I could seek out? Any advice?

Below are posted the two Verdi operas I have. Don Carlo was a present from Knight.
Otello was a present from GM studio

  Harry from his middle period onward Verdi wrote one hit opera after the next. You are going to be spoiled for choice!   So you liked Otello!  Otello is regarded as one of Verdi's greatest masterpieces!  The other which you should rush to hear immediately is AIDA! 

  All of the following Verdi operas are must haves in my opinion:

  1) AIDA 
  2) Otello 
  3) Rigoletto 
  4) La Traviata 
  5) Il Trovatore 
  6) The Masked Ball 
  7) The Force of Destiny
  8 ) Falstaff (This one is unique amongst Verdi's opera- comes from a completely different sound world when compared to the others)
  9) Luisa Miller
  10) Simon Boccanegra
  11) Don Carlo 

  For AIDA I love this recording:

 

 
  marvin

 

[Harry]

Marvin, I knew I could count on you regarding Verdi, and Wagner of course. Thank you for the list, and the recommended recording, I will certainly look into all these operas, and acquire them, as soon as I found the right recordings.

[springrite]

Lortzing composed other operas, too, but the only one I have listened to was titled something like Czar ... und ... Zimmermann...

I love Marchner's Der Vampyr

[marvinbrown]

Marvin, I knew I could count on you regarding Verdi, and Wagner of course. Thank you for the list, and the recommended recording, I will certainly look into all these operas, and acquire them, as soon as I found the right recordings.

  You are most welcome Harry  .  Most of the recordings I have of the other Verdi operas are modern recordings.  While GMG members (bless them  0:)) would disagree with me as to which recordings are best I doubt any of them would have an issue with the list of operas I posted above. 

  By the way the Karajan recording with Tebaldi is one of the very few I have that date back to the 50s so I recommended it. However I urge you to sample before buying to see if you like the sound.

  marvin

[Lethevich]

I love Marchner's Der Vampyr

I was waiting for a DVD production of that to emerge but eventually gave up... Hans Heiling is also lots of fun.

[springrite]

I was waiting for a DVD production of that to emerge but eventually gave up... Hans Heiling is also lots of fun.

I should look for other Marchner work for Vampyr is the only one i have.

I do have an old VHS of a movie version of the opera. (I mean, the opera, shot as a movie). Great stuff, but the quality, taped off Bravo, was not great)

[Lethevich]

I should look for other Marchner work for Vampyr is the only one i have.

I do have an old VHS of a movie version of the opera. (I mean, the opera, shot as a movie). Great stuff, but the quality, taped off Bravo, was not great)

This DVD of Heiling is neat - a solid mid-level production, quite nice sets, decent playing, good singing - crucially, Werba fits the role well. Not much more could be asked for something so obscure.

[springrite]

Do you have Lehar's - Der Zarewitsch, Harry? This is one work I am looking to have but did not see when I was in Canada. I have only heard exerpts of it and loved it!

I have very little German opera outside of Wagner. Didn't Pfitzner also compose Heiling? I thought I have the overture somewhere...

[Tsaraslondon]

I recently started with two operas from Verdi, and I glad to declare that he is to my liking, very much so, in fact. I discover a whole new world, the latest of them is Otello. Where do I go from here with Verdi, which opera next, and please also advise which recordings. I am very much into the somewhat older recordings, but am open for suggestions.



Below are posted the two Verdi operas I have. Don Carlo was a present from Knight.
Otello was a present from GM studio

I'd suggest that you try the Giulini Don Carlo on EMI GROC, much better than the Haitink you have, and arguably one of the greatest Verdi sets of all times.

In terms of where to go next, if you respond to late and middle period Verdi, then
Aida
Un Ballo in Maschera
Simon Boccanegra
La Forza Del Destino

then , the three great operas, which could be seen as the culmination of his early period or the beginning of his middle period

La Traviata
Rigoletto
Il Trovatore

Some people don't respond to Falstaff so well, but it is one of the greatest of all operatic comedies.

Finally, try some of his operas from what Verdi called his galley years. The best of these are

Macbeth
Nabucco
Ernani
Luisa Miller

I am loathe to recommend you my favourite recordings, because, though they are "somewhat older", as you specify, many of them feature Callas, whom I know you are allergic to.

[knight66]

I agree the Giulini is a better performance than the version of Don Carlo that I sent to you. But assuming you want to move onto pastures new.

For La Traviata, I think a version that would suit you is on RCA, it has Moffo and Tucker.



For Macbeth and Boccanegra, I urge you to look at Abbado. In the former, Verrett is one of the best Lady Macbeths around. The latter is very much an ensembel performance. Very dramatic, it is in excellent sound. However, if you want to go further back in time for it, then there is a version from EMI with Tito Gobbi and Victoria de los Angeles with Christoff. Wonderful voices, I have found it here for a reasonable price.

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/advsearch.php?composer=Verdi&work=Boccanegra&performer=Gobbi&medium=CD&label=EMI&cat=

As to Aida, I love the Solti with Leontine Price, Muti conducting Caballe may be more up your street, or the Tebaldi already mentioned.

Trovatore: there is a Schippers version floating about. It has Tucker and I cannot track it at the moment. There are excerpts with Corelli on Classics for Pleasure with Schippers, but that is a different version, I know nothing of it.

In a slighly more modern performance, Mehta with the young Domingo and Leontine Price really is excellent, very exciting.


For a different and very thoughtful take on it, Giulini with Plowright in her best recorded performance and Domingo, just as good though somewhat older, is excellent. It has the added attraction of Brigitte Fassbaender in the cast, hers is a distinctive mezzo and she throws herself into her part with real commitment.

Turning to Rigoletto; If you won't have Callas and Gobbi, then perhaps Sutherland and Pavarotti on Decca. It is very good. But I don't warm to Sutherland. Further back in time, I recommend this one....


For Nabucco, to me there is only one set, Gardelli on Decca with Suliotis and Gobbi. Gardelli was an excellent Verdi conductor, he somehow was never pushed much into the limelight, but he really knows his way around the composer.

I also would suggest quite a number of Callas performances, but I know you do not get on with her voice.

Mike

[Mozart]

Since you like Anna Moffo, why not get her recordings? She is in Rigoletto, Luisa Miller, and La Trav. I think shes also in Falstaff, but I haven't gotten that far.

I'm completely stuck on Otello after act 2, I've just had enough fckin yelling! Can't Otello do anything without flying into a rage? By the third act I turn it off every time.

[Harry]

Lortzing composed other operas, too, but the only one I have listened to was titled something like Czar ... und ... Zimmermann...

I love Marchner's Der Vampyr

Hmmmm, its clear that I have to unleash my powers to find more about this guy.....

[Harry]

  You are most welcome Harry  .  Most of the recordings I have of the other Verdi operas are modern recordings.  While GMG members (bless them  0:)) would disagree with me as to which recordings are best I doubt any of them would have an issue with the list of operas I posted above. 

  By the way the Karajan recording with Tebaldi is one of the very few I have that date back to the 50s so I recommended it. However I urge you to sample before buying to see if you like the sound.

  marvin

I will Marvin, I always do....

[Harry]

I was waiting for a DVD production of that to emerge but eventually gave up... Hans Heiling is also lots of fun.

A new name to me, but interesting to follow that lead too.

[Harry]

This DVD of Heiling is neat - a solid mid-level production, quite nice sets, decent playing, good singing - crucially, Werba fits the role well. Not much more could be asked for something so obscure.

On my list Sarah, thank you!

[Harry]

Do you have Lehar's - Der Zarewitsch, Harry? This is one work I am looking to have but did not see when I was in Canada. I have only heard exerpts of it and loved it!

I have very little German opera outside of Wagner. Didn't Pfitzner also compose Heiling? I thought I have the overture somewhere...

No, alas Paul, I could not find a good recording of that operetta, but know this from a live recording made in Germany around 1958, forgot the people involved.

[Harry]

I'd suggest that you try the Giulini Don Carlo on EMI GROC, much better than the Haitink you have, and arguably one of the greatest Verdi sets of all times.

On my list, thank you!

In terms of where to go next, if you respond to late and middle period Verdi, then
Aida
Un Ballo in Maschera
Simon Boccanegra
La Forza Del Destino

then , the three great operas, which could be seen as the culmination of his early period or the beginning of his middle period

La Traviata
Rigoletto
Il Trovatore

Some people don't respond to Falstaff so well, but it is one of the greatest of all operatic comedies.

Finally, try some of his operas from what Verdi called his galley years. The best of these are

Macbeth
Nabucco
Ernani
Luisa Miller

I am loathe to recommend you my favourite recordings, because, though they are "somewhat older", as you specify, many of them feature Callas, whom I know you are allergic to.

Thank you for this well considered list. Paul send me a few discs with the voice of Callas, so I am working on this, and like some things, so may I suggest to include your recommendations, even if that involves Maria Callas!

[Harry]

I agree the Giulini is a better performance than the version of Don Carlo that I sent to you. But assuming you want to move onto pastures new.

And if I like the Haitink already, what will await me with Giulini?

For La Traviata, I think a version that would suit you is on RCA, it has Moffo and Tucker.

I simply adore the voice from Anna Moffo, so this is definitively on my list, thank you!



For Macbeth and Boccanegra, I urge you to look at Abbado. In the former, Verrett is one of the best Lady Macbeths around. The latter is very much an ensembel performance. Very dramatic, it is in excellent sound. However, if you want to go further back in time for it, then there is a version from EMI with Tito Gobbi and Victoria de los Angeles with Christoff. Wonderful voices, I have found it here for a reasonable price.

That would be also right in my alley, for I love the voices of Gobbi, and de los Angeles, on my list too.

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/advsearch.php?composer=Verdi&work=Boccanegra&performer=Gobbi&medium=CD&label=EMI&cat=

As to Aida, I love the Solti with Leontine Price, Muti conducting Caballe may be more up your street, or the Tebaldi already mentioned.

Paul send me a box with Leontyne Price, and I like it very much, so I will check out Solti, and of course the other suggestions.

Trovatore: there is a Schippers version floating about. It has Tucker and I cannot track it at the moment. There are excerpts with Corelli on Classics for Pleasure with Schippers, but that is a different version, I know nothing of it.

In a slighly more modern performance, Mehta with the young Domingo and Leontine Price really is excellent, very exciting.


O, again a good suggestion, heard a bit of this recording, and its wonderful.

For a different and very thoughtful take on it, Giulini with Plowright in her best recorded performance and Domingo, just as good though somewhat older, is excellent. It has the added attraction of Brigitte Fassbaender in the cast, hers is a distinctive mezzo and she throws herself into her part with real commitment.

I also have a liking for the voice of Fassbaender, think her a fine Mezzo.

Turning to Rigoletto; If you won't have Callas and Gobbi, then perhaps Sutherland and Pavarotti on Decca. It is very good. But I don't warm to Sutherland. Further back in time, I recommend this one....


For Nabucco, to me there is only one set, Gardelli on Decca with Suliotis and Gobbi. Gardelli was an excellent Verdi conductor, he somehow was never pushed much into the limelight, but he really knows his way around the composer.

I also would suggest quite a number of Callas performances, but I know you do not get on with her voice.

Mike

The Callas recordings are not off my radar, Mike, I am trying to find out what is acceptable for me, and what not. Through the discs Paul send me, I try to find out what is really bothering me about her voice, and if I can remedy that. So far I can listen to her voice, especially those that where recorded in her early years, so there is hope for me concerning Callas.
So recommendations if you please!

[Harry]

Since you like Anna Moffo, why not get her recordings? She is in Rigoletto, Luisa Miller, and La Trav. I think shes also in Falstaff, but I haven't gotten that far.

I'm completely stuck on Otello after act 2, I've just had enough fckin yelling! Can't Otello do anything without flying into a rage? By the third act I turn it off every time.

Hmmm, I quite love this rage of Otello, but in small quantities.