Gab on the Great Music

[Charles]

To post a list of the best opera recordings ever, is bit subjective, but I'm game. It may take me a bit to get a list together, but it should be interesting.

[Nathrad Sheare]

Wonderful! I have a list of the top ten most truly legendary that I've heard, all of which are, even in my own opinion, exceptional. They are put here in no specific order:

Tosca, starring Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, and Tito Gobbi, and conducted by Victor de Sabata

Aida, starring Renata Tebaldi, Giulietta Simionato, and Carlo Bergonzi, and conducted by Herbert von Karajan.

Il Trovatore, starring Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, and Fedora Barbieri, and conducted by Herbert von Karajan

Lucia di Lammermoor, starring Joan Sutherland, Renato Cioni, and Robert Merrill, and conducted by John Pritchard

Duke Bluebeard's Castle, starring Christa Ludwig and Walter Berry, and conducted by Istvan Kertesz

Otello, starring Renata Tebaldi and Mario del Monaco, and conducted by Herbert von Karajan

Macbeth, starring Piero Cappuccilli, Shirley Verrett, and Placido Domingo, and conducted by Claudio Abbado

Norma, starring Maria Callas, Mario Filippeschi, and Rina Cavallari, and conducted by Tullio Serafin

Simon Boccanegra, starring Mirella Freni, Piero Cappuccilli, and Jose Carreras, and conducted by Claudio Abbado

Madama Butterfly, starring Maria Callas, Nicolai Gedda, and Lucia Danielli, and conducted by Herbert von Karajan

By not only my own acclaim, these have been deemed some of the absolute finest of all opera recordings. I'm sure you'll have some I haven't heard, and I'll be happy for them.

[FNAWrite]

Do you folks commenting have any classical music radio in your area?

I am lucky enough to have WRTI out of Temple University in Philadelphia broadcasting classical from 6:00am-6:00pm. (In the evenings it is "American classical" aka jazz.)

[Charles]

Here are a couple I've decided are pretty good, I had to do a little research, but I think these make a good list. Not in any particular order.
Rosa Ponselle, Habanera, from Bizet’s Carmen

Enrico Caruso, La Donna e Mobile, from Verdi’s Rigoletto

Leontyne Price, O Patria Mia, from Verdi’s Aida

Luciano Pavarotti, Una Furtiva, from Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Porgi Amor, from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro

Maria Callas, Vissi d’Arte, from Puccini’s Tosca

Dmitri Hvorostovsky, The Death of Rodrigo, from Verdi’s Don Carlo

Maria Callas, Madama Butterfly


These are a couple I've discovered are great

-- 30 Dec 2013, 20:11 --

Not a whole lot of classical stations here in Northern Michigan, just a lot of snow.

[Nathrad Sheare]

FNAwrite:

In my area I have KBAQ standard, and on SIRIUS Radio the broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera are offered. great stations.

Charles:

A grand list! I've heard most of those, but I'm getting on those suggestions including Kiri Te Kanawa, whom I admire ardently as an artist, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky, whom I don't believe I've ever heard before, and I've heard more than a few Russian greats. Speaking of Russian opera, as I know you're a fan, have you heard Rachmaninov's Aleko with Vassily Gerello conducted by Constantine Orbelian? It wasn't high on the Amazon customers' list, but I LOVE it! Gerello is one of my top favorite baritones, his talent both stylistically and dramatically incredible. Of course, no baritone is quite so theatric as the king of the lower Italian range, Tito Gobbi, but, all the same. Tell me what you think. An excellent list, again. How about complete opera recordings? Have any of those you found MOST intriguing?

-- 30 Dec 2013, 20:35 --

Oh, and a note on Pavarotti: He's amazing in the studio recording of Turandot with Montserrat Caballe and Joan Sutherland, Zubin Mehta conducting. Give it a try if you haven't already. Yes, I know the recording with Nilsson and Corelli is the most acclaimed of all, not low, either, on my own list of best ever opera sets, but I'm a sucker for Caballe's beautiful tone, Sutherland's crystalline reading of the ice princess' part, and Pavarotti's breath control. I don't think he did anything better than that one, and he had a lot of great roles.

[FNAWrite]

I get the Met on Saturday afternoons.

I'm not a huge fan of opera, I listen to some. What do you think of jessye norman's "Carmen"?

[Charles]

I've heard some of Rachmaninov's work, but I'm not familiar with Aleko, I'll have to do some quality time with Rachmaninov, I'm listening to jessye norman, Porgi amor, right now, let you know later, what my verdict is.

[Nathrad Sheare]

Let me just get my robe and mallet... All righty then... Jessye Norman... WOW! And I'm not talking about "La Habanera," but "Seguidilla... Pre des ramparts de Seville." Right there I heard a great Carmen! The first selection was a little slow in tempo for me. Georges Pretre was one of the great French conductors and knew to add attitude to that one. The latter selection of Norman, though, I unreservedly salute her and her conductor for! I watched a few more videos of her just because I had to, and I think she measures up to all the other great African American sopranos who've ever graced the stage. Her high notes are clear and powerful. Her chest notes are sinister, just the way I like them, and the rest is just beautiful. I'll say it again... wow... just wow...

-- 31 Dec 2013, 17:44 --

I've listened to your Kanawa and Hvorostovsky suggestions, Charles! I've always loved the Dame's voice, and my opinion of her is even better after watching her in costume on stage singing Mozart as if his music is ingrained into her soul. Hvorostovsky is a dark and expressive baritone. I likes! My favorite baritones are Tito Gobbi, Vassily Gerello, Sherill Milnes, Rolando Panerai, and Piero Cappuccilli. Hvorostovsky is definitely one who can rightly claim to be carrying on a great legacy. Excellent! Thanks for the recommendations!

-- 31 Dec 2013, 17:50 --

So, FNAWrite, what kind of classical music DO you really like to listen to? I'm happy to yap about it with you.

[Charles]

I definitely like Rachmaninov's Aleko, listening to it right now, Hvorostovsky is singing it, BRAVO. I'm going to switch to listening to baritones for awhile, nothing better than listening to Russian composers. Thank you Nathrad Sheare for all the suggestions, I am totally enjoying the music. After this Rachmaninoff's piano concerto no. 2.

[Nathrad Sheare]

My favorite piano concerto EVER!!!

-- 01 Jan 2014, 20:25 --

Walter Berry is an excellent baritone. You should try his Bluebeard out. I was blown away, though you can find some really awesome performances of it on youtube.com that include both awesome singers and sets. The opera, Bartok's only, is very dark, very beautiful, and incredibly intense. Yes, it's Wagnerian, as almost every opera has been since 1900, but I'm enraptured every time I hear it. I wish they'd start going back to Verdi's and Puccini's style, or, heck, find some way to combine all the operatic styles that have ever been and come up with SOMETHING NEW! Don't you?

-- 01 Jan 2014, 20:31 --

You know what other piano work of Rachmaninoff's I just can't get enough of? His Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini! the twenty- fourth variation is the really famous one, but I think the whole thing, all thirty minutes, deserves FULL attention! Try it!

-- 01 Jan 2014, 20:35 --

Or maybe it's the eighteenth variation that's the most famous... Why would I know, though? I'm biased to no particular part of the work!

[Charles]

thanks, I'll give it a try, Walter Berry, I am unfamiliar with him, I'll give his Bluebeard a listen to. Wagner? Hmmm I am not sure how crazy I am for him, his Ride of the Valkyries, is a bit over played. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini I'll listen to . Just got done with Shostakovich Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 60, just amazing. I just can't get enough of Russian composers, the depth and the pure energy in their work is amazing.

Rachmaninoff should be required listening for everyone!!

[dreameasummernight]

Fireworks Concerto by Abu Dhabi

[Nathrad Sheare]

Hey, dreameasummernight, I'm glad to see your suggestion. I'll definitely give it a listen. I see you're new to the forums! Welcome!

Charles, I agree that Rachmaninov should be MANDITORY for everyone! You're also correct to say that Russian composers have an emotion about their work that's very unique, very deep, and that, yes, can be listened to over and over. I think Rachmaninoff is the KING of the Romantic- Impressionist movement. I just listened the other night to his third concerto all the way through for the second time and his second for the... well, even I don't know how many times I've replayed that one... His music is beautiful beyond description. Ever heard his Symphonic Dances? Pure poetry in sound. The first movement has a gorgeous, sultry, and lush melody I just can't get enough of.

I'm not a fan of Wagner, and you won't be reading much from me about him here. Sometimes I like Die Walkure and Tristan und Isolde... and most of the time I don't... But we'll leave his fans alone...

-- 05 Jan 2014, 03:32 --

Oh, my GAHD! Right now I'm listening to the third act of Tchaikovsky's opera, Pique Dame upon my having been inspired to delve into the Russian corner of my library, (We won't say by whom) and little pieces of me are being blown into the night as I write. I remember the first time I came upon it, before I found Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky was the number one musical love of my life... I am reminded over and over why this opera was the crown jewel of his career when he was alive. There is such darkness in the lines to begin with, and, then, lyricism! Tchaikovsky's imagination was no less than astounding!

Earlier, or, late yesterday... I had myself a good old time bathing in the deathly notes of Rachmaninoff's first symphony. It may have been a disaster at its premier, but it's a piece of gold now to me, one that shines, same as Hawthorne's heroine's, Prynne's, gravestone, under a ray of light gloomier than the shadow, melting me with its subtle heat every time I hear it... And I love the violence of the finale! Gongs and heavy strings and mournful brass... Like the glorious victory of an evil lord over a pure- hearted warrior, a fleeting moment of height and satisfaction...

I hope you're still enjoying your listening! If you happen upon any gems, let me know!

[Charles]

I am listening to Dame Joan Sutherland & Marilyn Horne - The Flower Duet, what a duet. Next up The Marriage of Figaro . Finished Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, performed by the Bolshoi Ballet, stunning, highly recommended. Rachmaninoff's first symphony, sounds like a good start for my next listening. Well, time for Mozart. Later...........

[Nathrad Sheare]

The version of Swan Lake that I own is played by the London Symphony Orchestra, Andre Previn Conducting. The same goes for my Sleeping Beauty suite. I love Andre Previn's style. It's rich and lustrous. I'll give the Bolshoi recording a try! I'm so glad there are so many different ways to interpret a single work. Variety is the best thing when it comes to music!

I was floored when I heard that Flower Duet you mentioned. Ever tried Marilyn Horne's Orlando Furioso? great stuff. I own her film version of the opera, a few parts of which have been cut for live performance time, but the lack of which doesn't affect the atmosphere at all. The CD recording I have of the opera is a fantastic one conducted by Jean- Christophe Spinosi, starring Jennifer Larmore as Alcina and Nicole Lemieux as Orlando, also Phlilippe Jaroussky, probably the most beautiful countertenor I've ever heard, as Ruggiero. Both are such fantastic performances!

Mozart, hm? What's your favorite version of Figaro? I have one conducted by Sir Joseph Mackerras. The performance is wonderful, even if the audio is a little uneven here and there. I also have my favorite Mozart opera, Cosi fan Tutte on CD, which belongs to the same set, "Mozart- The Great Operas," and is the best of the four in the bunch overall, though June Anderson's Queen of the Night is a force I can compare few others to! Excellent... Just breathtaking. Mozart's music is some of the best ever composed!