The Help Bogey With Opera Page: Sponsored by TEXACO

[Bogey]

OK, besides some Wagner  that I thought looked cool or could not pass on their low price and what comes in the bricks labeled "complete recordings", I have rarely sought out an opera. I have some on the shelf that my father in law left us, but I am talking about the "I am going in search of this ONE!"  Well, yesterday that changed.  I went to the store looking for the above.

Why this one?   Well, my reasoning may be flawed, but I have some "best of opera moments" cds and of course the Nessun Dorma is on there.  I love it.  Always have.  But now I wanted all that went with it, hence the above. 

So, I turn to the folks in the know. I hope you can help me with any of my simpleton questions and your efforts will not be wasted.

Question #1: Did I snag a decent recording of Turandot?

Question #2:  If I got another on cd, what would you recommend?

Thanks!

[kishnevi]

So, I turn to the folks in the know. I hope you can help me with any of my simpleton questions and your efforts will not be wasted.

Question #1: Did I snag a decent recording of Turandot?

Question #2:  If I got another on cd, what would you recommend?

Thanks!

I'll take a stab. 
Question 1--can't tell you directly, but the casting is impressive enough that I'm ordering it (on CD) for myself off Amazon MP.
Question 2--how about a CD and a DVD?
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I wore out the LP version of the Sutherland/Pavarotti recording in my younger days,  and have it now on CD.  It's possibly one of the best opera recordings ever made, actually.
The DVD is from the original run of the Zeffirelli production (1988) and you will be catching, among other things, Domingo in his prime.
There's one other I might suggest, but not really as an alternative to these.   Callas's first big role in her career was Turando, although she dropped it rather quickly.   But before completely quitting the role, she recorded it, with Schwarzkopf as Liu, with what might have been a first class result except for the audio.  Not only was it in mono, but the recording producers apparently decided to record the Emperor as a distant, muffled voice, to emphasize his remoteness as Son of Heaven, I suppose.  The unfortunate result is that you can barely hear the Emperor, and do so only if you put your ears next to the speaker.  But it's still worth listening to because of Callas.
Be aware that for all its popularity,  Nessun Dorma is one of the least important parts of the opera.   The chorus is as important as any of the leads, especially in the first act, and Puccini did wonders in depicting the fickle, everchanging moods of the crowd;  the three ministers (Ping Pang and Pong) require good ensemble work in Act I and again in Act II (with the entire first scene of Act II devoted to their trio comparing a nostalgic time with the current reign of bloodshed) ; the entire Act I is, in dramatic construction as well as music, possibly the best Puccini wrote; and the psychological drama involving Turandot, Calaf and Liu in Acts II and III is of a high order. ...
If I sound like I love this opera, it's because I do.

[Bogey]

Many thanks, Jeffrey.  Maybe a dvd is is my next step so I have the visual!

[mc ukrneal]

OK, besides some Wagner  that I thought looked cool or could not pass on their low price and what comes in the bricks labeled "complete recordings", I have rarely sought out an opera. I have some on the shelf that my father in law left us, but I am talking about the "I am going in search of this ONE!"  Well, yesterday that changed.  I went to the store looking for the above.

Why this one?   Well, my reasoning may be flawed, but I have some "best of opera moments" cds and of course the Nessun Dorma is on there.  I love it.  Always have.  But now I wanted all that went with it, hence the above. 

So, I turn to the folks in the know. I hope you can help me with any of my simpleton questions and your efforts will not be wasted.

Question #1: Did I snag a decent recording of Turandot?

Question #2:  If I got another on cd, what would you recommend?

Thanks!

#1 - Yes. More than decent. Singers are good. The only let down (and this depends more on you) could be the sound. 1959, I think - so there will be better. But a first class version all the way.

#2 - I would second the Pav/Mehta recommendation. Outstanding in every way.

[Fafner]

#1  Yes!  It is one of the earliest complete recordings and it is still one of the best. Bjorling's Calaf is softer, more lyrical than usual, but it certainly does not take away anything from the experience. I only know the recording from the recent remaster, the original vinyl would likely sound worse.

#2 As mentioned here, Pradelli; Nilsson, Corelli, Scotto is definitely my top choice.

[Bogey]

All very helpful.  Sounds as if I have a decent performance for this one.  Excellent.

I thought I had another lp set buried in my collection and yet another Puccini effort:



How does this one rate?

[DavidRoss]

I want to say one word to you. Just one word.

Are you listening?

Mozart.

[Bogey]

I want to say one word to you. Just one word.

Are you listening?

Mozart.

I hear ya my friend.   I have those in the "Brick" set.  However, I was was just telling Linda today that I cannot wait for our summer break to begin (she also teaches....kindergarten.....like herding butterflies ) and I told her how I do not usually listen to a lot of Wolfie until the summer sets in.  Love his stuff on the porch, reading, with a cup of coffee in the early morning as the the sun starts its dominance.  However, I have yet to seriously consider the better recordings to add to the collection.  It will happen.

[springrite]

Yes! It is certainly one of the best Turandot recordings!

And, if you want a second version, which you really do not (use the money on a Mozart opera or one of the Verdi Father/Daughter ones which should hit you right on your emotional button). But if you insist, I would much rather recommend the DVD of Turandot filmed on location in the forbidden city. The singing is not first rate but more than adequate. But it is the ONLY culturally and historically correct (visually speaking) version out there. I can not tell you how I hate seeing Turandot where from a Chinese perspective, you see the emperor in a funeral director's outfit, the princess dressed like a whore, the servant like a English butler and the ministers like some version of Rigoletto.

[Tsaraslondon]

All very helpful.  Sounds as if I have a decent performance for this one.  Excellent.

I thought I had another lp set buried in my collection and yet another Puccini effort:



How does this one rate?

Not bad, but not great.

Indisputably great (and one of the great opera recordings of all time) is the first Callas recording conducted by De Sabata.



If you prefer more modern sound then this one.



Or if you want modern digital sound, this one

[mc ukrneal]

If you prefer more modern sound then this one.

This is the one I would recommend above all others. Di Stefano's cry of Vittoria is the best I've heard. Orchestra is excellent. Singing is excellent. Price in great form.  Terrific!

[Fafner]

George London had his own label? 

[mc ukrneal]

George London had his own label? 

WIth the bad guy in Monaco.