Flicking through the channels tonight and the Arts channel was just starting La Traviata. I sat almost spellbound by the singing and the drama, which has totally surprised me as I've struggled to 'get' Opera. Now the subtitles helped with the plot which I think is important but the singing was magnificent which was what really counted
The performance is live from 2005 in Salzburg and the soloists were Anna Netrebko as Violetta and Rolando Villazon as Alfredo. I don't know where this rates in the overall scheme of La Traviata performances but it certainly impressed me.
As in the past, music that I'd thought was meh has been transformed for me by a great performance. I might even get the DVD of this. Also, maybe I should have posted this in the Opera Forum but I'm happy with it here as I'm sure all the opera buffs will also read this board.
Nice post, Holden! I'm glad for you...it's great your starting to appreciate that summa artis that is opera. So many wonders to discover :) :) :) :) :)
La Traviata happens to be my first that opened my eyes to the world of opera as well!
Molto bene. I've always been a fan of La traviata.
Quote from: karlhenning on June 21, 2015, 05:53:08 AM
Molto bene. I've always been a fan of La traviata.
I am because I was always The Strayed One.
What's your excuse?
I have a note from my doctor.
Will you be tasting Wagner next?
Perhaps you would like Janacek?
Quite different from La Traviata are two of my favorites: Elektra by Richard Strauss, and Moses und Aron by Arnold Schoenberg.
Not to be forgotten: Poulenc's Dialogues of the Carmelites.
See: http://dctheatrescene.com/2015/02/23/chilling-dialogues-carmelites-washington-national-opera/ (http://dctheatrescene.com/2015/02/23/chilling-dialogues-carmelites-washington-national-opera/)
I've liked and enjoyed operas before, but the only one I really love is Falstaff.
Glad to know there are other GMGers who've struggled mightily with opera - and glad to know that we have hope!
The secret to liking opera is quite simple: visit an actual live performance! :)
Q
Quote from: Que on June 21, 2015, 01:38:02 PM
The secret to liking opera is quite simple: visit an actual live performance! :)
Q
I think you are correct. If I had just listened to it instead of watching I don't think it would have been anywhere near the same experience. Having the English subtitles was extremely useful for a tyro like me and the acting just made it even better.
BTW has anyone seen this performance and how would you rate it?
Having Anna Netrebko in the title role certainly doesn't hurt.
If you enjoy La Traviata I think you will enjoy Rigoletto, Tosca, or La Boheme, all relatively short, a believable (well in opera terms) libretto, and some really nice music.
If you want to get to know opera an excellent book is Opera 101 by Fred Plotkin. I used it as a text in college, lots of fun and very easy to read.
Quote from: Brian on June 21, 2015, 10:56:01 AM
I've liked and enjoyed operas before, but the only one I really love is Falstaff.
Glad to know there are other GMGers who've struggled mightily with opera - and glad to know that we have hope!
My favorite operas fall into two two groups: Mozart and kinda weird.
Four Saints in Three Acts, Threepenny Opera, Facing Goya . I confess I love the ring but have yet to actually watch it.
Quote from: Que on June 21, 2015, 01:38:02 PM
The secret to liking opera is quite simple: visit an actual live performance! :)
Q
The remedy: Listen to one by yourself...
gesuntheit!
Quote from: snyprrr on June 24, 2015, 01:13:40 PM
The remedy: Listen to one by yourself...Gesundheit!
The remedy against liking opera? :D
Q
Hey, I like opera with or without the visuals. Doesn't hamper me.
Quote from: Dancing Divertimentian on June 24, 2015, 04:36:24 PM
Hey, I like opera with or without the visuals. Doesn't hamper me.
I often prefer just listening. As drama many are very slow. I really liked Der Freischutz, until I tried watching it. I still love Cosi, but not as much as before I saw it. Carmen is better seen.
Quote from: Ken B on June 24, 2015, 05:31:14 PM
I often prefer just listening. As drama many are very slow. I really liked Der Freischutz, until I tried watching it. I still love Cosi, but not as much as before I saw it. Carmen is better seen.
Yes, I'm not always in the mood to watch opera anyway. But the music I never tire of.
Some of the better librettos are good reads in their own right, though. Pelleas, Bluebeard's Castle, even Wozzeck are quite striking. Although I seldom follow along while listening...
Quote from: Ken B on June 24, 2015, 05:31:14 PM
I often prefer just listening. As drama many are very slow. I really liked Der Freischutz, until I tried watching it.
Interesting, I usually prefer to see stuff on stage but usually end up listening to CDs because I don't like watching DVDs and cannot afford to travel frequently to live opera performances.
Freischütz has some bits I find rather corny musically (most notoriously probably the "Jungfernkranz" Chorus) and I always thought that this, together with the spoken dialogue and the setting, was one reason why its popularity seems to drop off sharply outside the German speaking countries. Of course there are also many musically great parts like the ouverture, the Wolf's Glen, Agathe's arias, several of the ensembles.
They even made an opera movie from Freischütz recently but this is also a rather mixed bag (with ridiculous Wolf's Glen special effects) but a rather moving (if slightly too old) Agathe (Juliane Banse) and a brilliant and charming Aennchen.
Quote from: PerfectWagnerite on June 21, 2015, 04:20:32 PM
If you want to get to know opera an excellent book is Opera 101 by Fred Plotkin. I used it as a text in college, lots of fun and very easy to read.
I would recommend Joseph Kerman's
Opera as Drama as a starting point. It's not "lots of fun," but (though it remains controversial, especially the first edition where Kerman notoriously pilloried Puccini and Strauss) it addresses the essential problems of the genre better than any book I know.
Quote from: (poco) Sforzando on June 26, 2015, 04:46:21 AM
I would recommend Joseph Kerman's Opera as Drama as a starting point. It's not "lots of fun," but (though it remains controversial, especially the first edition where Kerman notoriously pilloried Puccini and Strauss) it addresses the essential problems of the genre better than any book I know.
Interesting; I have that book but don't remember the edition. I should look at it again. Thanks.
Did he tone down later editions?
Quote from: sanantonio on June 26, 2015, 04:50:49 AM
Interesting; I have that book but don't remember the edition. I should look at it again. Thanks.
The second edition toned down some of the more scathing comments from the first. In that respect the original version is more fun.
Quote from: (poco) Sforzando on June 26, 2015, 06:04:35 AM
The second edition toned down some of the more scathing comments from the first. In that respect the original version is more fun.
I forget which edition I read 22 years ago. The edition on Amazon still has some funny remarks like:
Confusion about the worth of an opera is bound to exist when no distinction is made between Orfeo and The Magic Flute on the one hand, and Salome and Turandot on the other.I completely forgot about this book, yes an absolute must read.
Quote from: (poco) Sforzando on June 26, 2015, 04:46:21 AM
I would recommend Joseph Kerman's Opera as Drama as a starting point. It's not "lots of fun," but (though it remains controversial, especially the first edition where Kerman notoriously pilloried Puccini and Strauss) it addresses the essential problems of the genre better than any book I know.
I agree