I Bought An Opera, ...First Ever,...

[snyprrr]

How did this all happen?

Can you guess?

I'll tell soon.

I just can't believe it. But, then again, I'm pretty sure you know it's not Mozart or Verdi. I just can't stand the "Classical singing style"- never could take the warbling. I thought every singer should sound like Linda Ronstadt; I never wanted to "get" opera singing. Still couldn't care less. I don't know how you all tolerate it. Sometimes I have to assume it's because of the stereotype? mm mm mm (I dunno)

Phyllis Bryn-Julson seems to be the only singer I can handle (actually, all the over-the-top singers, like DeGaetani and Berberian, have an increbebebley smooth voice to me)


So, I haven't gotten it yet...

Trust me, there won't be too many more, if any,... pretty sure... pretty sure

[Scion7]

Well congratulations!

It's customary to buy a round at the local for the forum members to celebrate.  Got a few quid?

"I thought every singer should sound like Linda Ronstadt..."  - we know what you're thinking 

As far as the 'classical style' - try the Queen of Night aria from The Magic Flute - that's the sort of fantasy piece that gets away from the stereotypical fat prima donna warbling on center-stage.

[71 dB]

I just can't believe it. But, then again, I'm pretty sure you know it's not Mozart or Verdi. I just can't stand the "Classical singing style"- never could take the warbling.  I don't know how you all tolerate it.

For me it's Verdi's music I can't tolerate (how he is considered one of the greatest opera composers is beyond me). Also, among all of Mozart's music it's the operas I really struggle with for some reason. Too "simple and entertaining" I guess, Lady Gaga -music of the 18th century?

Among opera composers my favorites are Handel, Rameau and Puccini. Those composers rule and I don't care what others think. 

[Que]

I love how you make us google to find out which opera recording you got...

This? 

[asin]B00000DNTI[/asin]

Even if it isn't  - congratulations!  Opera is a very amazing musical genre. And don't worry about not "getting" Mozart's operas... it will probably come eventually...He actually wrote some of the best operas in musical history. 

Q

[springrite]

Is there a recording of the Broadway production of La Boheme with Linda Ronstadt and the country singer Morris (forgot his first name)? That might be up your alley.

[Scion7]

For me, opera is almost always at the bottom for my preferred Classical listening - there are some exceptions, and Handel's better ones are pretty good just because of the music - he's one of the top three of the Baroque, a true genius. 

I like Smetana's The Bartered Bride.  I kneel before Beethoven, but aside from the overture, I don't listen to Fidelio.   I don't care much for the stories in Mozart's operas, but when he gets going on a great tune, he's, well, Mozart!

Wagner - the instrumental portions, the rest I leave behind.

No Verdi - his music doesn't grab me.

Lulu can be fun once in a while.  Some parts of Shostakovich's operas work well.

Gluck is someone who I need to sit down some week and give a long listen to and see if I can get into his work.

So for me it is very hit-and-miss.  I appreciate the hard work that singers go through to perform - both vocally and acting-wise.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Trust me, there won't be too many more, if any,... pretty sure... pretty sure

Somehow La Scala and the Met will survive without your patronage.

[Drasko]

Can you guess?

Birtwistle's Punch and Judy?

If so, perhaps not the most common entry point into opera as an art form but still a fine choice.

[Karl Henning]

I love how you make us google to find out which opera recording you got...

This? 

[asin]B00000DNTI[/asin]

Even if it isn't  - congratulations!  Opera is a very amazing musical genre. And don't worry about not "getting" Mozart's operas... it will probably come eventually...He actually wrote some of the best operas in musical history. 

Q

Hmmm, can our snypppps now be an Erwartung fan?

[kishnevi]

How about

[snyprrr]

Birtwistle's Punch and Judy?

If so, perhaps not the most common entry point into opera as an art form but still a fine choice.

I love how you make us google to find out which opera recording you got...

This? 

[asin]B00000DNTI[/asin]

Even if it isn't  - congratulations!  Opera is a very amazing musical genre. And don't worry about not "getting" Mozart's operas... it will probably come eventually...He actually wrote some of the best operas in musical history. 

Q

Hmmm, can our snypppps now be an Erwartung fan?

How about

How about

Wow, I didn't think I'd get such great responses from everyone (including all the other Posts). So, yes, it is very interesting to me how you all picked things like 'Erwartung', 'Punch and Judy' and 'Il Prigioniero'. In a way, you will all have a V8 moment when I tell you in the next Post.

If Diamanda Galas did 'Erwartung',... hmmm?

I could see getting the Salonen...


So, interesting, but no, I went full-bore, considered to be THE most complex Opera of all time. It's only because I am sure the experience will be different. Like I said, I just ordered it today. OK, I'll through the ball back into your court. I picked...

(drumroll)

[snyprrr]

'Die Soldaten' (Teldec; Kontarsky)

OK, it was the CHEAPEST thing I was looking at ($12), and, surely, has the most bang-for-buck-quotient than anything else I was considering. And, surely, as dense as I'm sure this set is, there truly couldn't have been anything as daunting as this. Had the EMI 'Prometeo' been up for $20 I might have snapped that up, but, I know the Zimmermann will have the higher sonic profile.

I realize that the Gielen has apparently the better singer, but, I can't argue with Teldec sound. (makes me wonder about the Sony 'Requiem...')

So, there it is, my first knowingly conscious Opera Purchase. I'm actually not even treating it as an "opera purchase"- it really is still an "avant purchase". Still, we'll see how the lead singer fares, though I don't hold any candles. I'm interested in Bryn-Julson in the 'Requiem...'.

[Cato]

Dude!  Check out Linda in:

[asin]B000002GXE[/asin]

[Mirror Image]

I'm admittedly not a big fan of the genre, but there's a few notable exceptions for me: Bartok's Bluebeard's Castle (!!!), Janacek's Kata Kabanova, Martinu's Julietta (really wish a more modern recording was available), and Ravel's L'enfant et les sortileges.

[springrite]

Is there a recording of the Broadway production of La Boheme with Linda Ronstadt and the country singer Morris (forgot his first name)? That might be up your alley.

Now I remember, it was Gary Morris.

You should like Die Soldaten, though it really works best LIVE. Even on DVD, it does not capture the effect of FOUR simultaneous stages (sections) at the same time.

[bhodges]

'Die Soldaten' (Teldec; Kontarsky)

You should like Die Soldaten, though it really works best LIVE. Even on DVD, it does not capture the effect of FOUR simultaneous stages (sections) at the same time.

If you like Zimmermann, you will probably like that Teldec recording - it is quite good. (Can't say I listen to it every day, but it's excellent.) And for a first-ever opera purchase, you have my admiration: that is damn adventurous.

As Paul says, it does work best live (frankly, as most operas do), so you may have to use your imagination for some of Zimmermann's spatial effects. Still, a powerful experience.

--Bruce

[zamyrabyrd]

It's amazing, isn't it, we can "buy an opera" in a little box with round disks inside?
Rossini, et al, could have never conceived of such a thing, let alone Handel or Gluck!

[Karl Henning]

It's amazing, isn't it, we can "buy an opera" in a little box with round disks inside?
Rossini, et al, could have never conceived of such a thing, let alone Handel or Gluck!

What a wonderful world!

[snyprrr]

What a wonderful world!

feel the bernout! LOL

If you like Zimmermann, you will probably like that Teldec recording - it is quite good. (Can't say I listen to it every day, but it's excellent.) And for a first-ever opera purchase, you have my admiration: that is damn adventurous.

As Paul says, it does work best live (frankly, as most operas do), so you may have to use your imagination for some of Zimmermann's spatial effects. Still, a powerful experience.

--Bruce

I'm tempted to take a Valium and just lie there on the bed whilst listening. Or, would that be cheating? (does Valium make anything "cool")





oy- attempts at humor too early in the morning..... need more coffee...





btw- Bruce, do you know Brian at Mode? wtf happened to their Xenakis Series??

[snyprrr]

I really didn't think I was going to get such good responses- all the "non-Opera" people are giving me their exceptions, so I'll keep this Thread in mind if I ever get the bug...

thanks all