Gab on the Great Music

[Nathrad Sheare]

How many of you like classical music? Anybody have a favorite artist, composer, piece, or work, or just a theme or two they like from the movies? Anything about classical music of any kind is welcome here. I've had a few cousins who like only the mainstream genres, and one who only listens to Death Metal, but there are a few samples I played for them or recommended that they just couldn't help adding to their "likes" list. I can refer anyone to the best of the best, and a few lesser known artists that are equally as sublime as the superstars. Interested? Come play! Oh, and I'm happy to read about any names or titles I haven't yet heard. (Hey, let's face it, the genre's MASSIVE!)

-- 16 Dec 2013, 23:00 --

So, who has the better way with Italian opera in your opinion, Verdi or Puccini? This was a tough decision for me at first, and then I heard the most famous works of each and, for one, noticed there was much greater variety in those of Verdi than of Puccini. Verdi started with traditional Bel Canto before he wrote his first great ones, "Nabucco," "Il Trovatore," "La Traviata," and "Rigoletto." There's another one in there that's not usually given as much hype as it should have, and that's "Macbeth." Shirley Verrett, mezzo turned soprano, is the best one in that role to me. The colors of her voice are vivid and varied, so brilliantly so she was called "La Nerra Callas." Wonderful. Anyway... in Simon Boccanegra we see a change, the lines more direct, the emotion of the story more plainly and effectively stated. Then there's "La Forza del Destino," and "Un Ballo in Maschera," which continue in its style and lead up to his most famous work, which amazed me SO much when I saw it at the Phoenix Symphony Hall for the first time, "Aida!" What a story and what music! It towers over every other one of his operas preceding it, and brings to life the intimate side of humanity, the one that screams in the quiet. No arias better present it than "Rittorna Vincitor!" and "O Patria Mia." Then there's the final duet between Amneris and Radames, a violent dance between contralto and tenor that's just breathtaking. It's interesting that this was supposed to be Verdi's last work. He had already retired and everything. Then, persuaded to start again by a friend, he composed what is perhaps his greatest masterpiece and the ultimate force of his maturity, "Otello." Honestly, this is one of the best operas I've ever heard. The essential elements of Shakespeare's story are presented in tones that are almost atomic. I couldn't believe I was listening to Verdi in some parts. Any lover of the play will love the roles of Desdemona and Otello as they are portrayed here musically, perhaps even agree with me that in the sounds they are made perfect. Still, this wasn't the last of Verdi's great ones. He topped off his huge oeuvre with a comedy of all things, "Falstaff." Yes, he loved Shakespeare, and all of his operas based on the bard's plays adhered VERY closely, in some parts almost exactly, to the original texts. Yeah, so, I've just named ten operas, all of which are considered their composer's finest achievements.

Puccini, on the other hand, had five, and they were, indeed, AMAZING! My favorite is Tosca, hands down, and that may be because Maria Callas sings the most famous rendition of it, but, nonetheless, I'm an admirer. "Vissi d'Arte" may be worn out now, as may be "E Lucevan Le Stelle," but I'm melted by them every time... and the love duets in the first and third acts are just stunning! "Madama Butterfly" has many moments, too, it representing the ultimate longing and heartbreak. The finale packs a punch that I haven't felt from any other. The two most famous interpreters of the role are Renata Scotto and Renata Tebaldi, but my favorite is Callas, who recorded it only once, which is probably the reason she's not so well known for it, and surprised me thoroughly with the extreme sensitivity she lent it. Renata Tebaldi's voice was gorgeous, Renata Scotto's appropriately girlish, but Maria's was untouchably passionate. She was the only one that moved me to tears. The other two great operas of Puccini are "La Boheme" and "Turandot." The latter he left unfinished, but what of it he did himself complete is grand, sublime. It's one of the few verismo operas in which Joan Sutherland's voice has a place. She truly lived up to her nickname, "La Stupenda" in that one, defining the role of the Chinese Ice Princess. The high notes are astounding, just astounding. Of course, "La Boheme" enjoys far greater popularity and for good reason. All I can say is that it's just very, very, very sad, and what makes a great opera if not that, right? The finale is my favorite part, and I love the duettino d'amore between Rudolfo and Mimi, at the end of which Puccini treats us to an earth- splitting high note from the soprano. Wonderful.

Okay, so which do you like? If you're not already yawning, let me hear your opinion! Thanks! Ciao!

-- 17 Dec 2013, 05:25 --

You know, the first singer who sold over a million copies was Enrico Caruso? Yup, he was an operatic tenor, the first superstar of any vocal star. After him it was Maria Callas who took the spotlight. She was the first one to get modern star publicity. Gossip articles, publicity tricks, a whole lot of activity surrounded her, especially because she was one of Onassis' flings. He left her for Jackie. Many say that might be one of the reasons her voice went early. She lived and sang tragedy... Anyway, I just had to share a little.

-- 18 Dec 2013, 00:31 --

You know Franz Joseph Haydn composed more music than any other classical composer? He wrote a little over 330 works altogether. WOW! I'm not a big fan of his, but anyone who can compose that much really must love it. Henryk Gorecki said that if you can go one day without music, you should NEVER compose. I think there's truth to that.

-- 18 Dec 2013, 00:44 --

Here are some classical works I like to recommend to people who say they hate classical music. All the guys who said that ended up looking more up after they heard these. First and foremost is Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana." It's bold, loud, vibrant, and, in some parts, very pleasantly sinister. Another one is the finale of Act 1 of the opera, "Turandot." The best version is the one with Luciano Pavarotti and Montserrat Caballe conducted by Zubin Mehta. It's a monsoon of sounds. Then there's Mozart's "Requiem." My favorites in that work are the Kyrie Elaison and the Confutatis Maledictis. The last one I usually like to play for them is Berlioz' "Symphonie Fantastique," the last movement, of course, with the witches and the dance of death... you know, the good stuff. One of my cousins REALLY enjoyed hearing the organ music of Bach and Pachelbel. Definitely some stuff to try. Bach's "Organ Concerto After Vivaldi," "Toccata and Fugue," and "Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue" are GREAT, but my favorite solo organ sequence is Pachelbel's most famous one. Anyway, these are great. Really great.

[Madcap Syzygii]

I like Classical and Baroque, Sibelius and Orff are a couple of my favorites, Carmina Burana is magnifico! Orlando Furioso is my favorite Opera and I have no idea why, but Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute...which you already know) is still a close runner-up. Rigoletto is not my favorite, but it still holds a special place in my heart as it was the first opera we went to see. Anything else is wonderful too, especially when my mood calls for something BOLD!!! BAM! BOOM!! MARIA!!! HAHAHAHA!!

[Nathrad Sheare]

Her high note at the end of "Si Vendetta" from Rigoletto is amazing, isn't it? THAT rendition of that opera I LOVE!

-- 20 Dec 2013, 05:50 --

Piano music is probably the most plentiful of all instrumental music. It's everywhere! And it's a major component of almost every genre. I can't imagine the world without the piano! Movies, plays, video games, and we can't forget the concert hall! Without the piano???

My favorite original movie score that includes the piano is "Pride and Prejudice" with Kiera Kinghtley. I've heard pieces from the famous score of the Oscar- winning "The Piano," and the best is The Heart Asks Pleasure First. I enjoyed the music of "Shine," too, with Geoffrey Rush, but, then, Rachmaninoff is truly one of the greatest, isn't he?

Anyway... does anyone have a favorite piano piece or score or song that includes the piano? I liked Evanescence's songs, Hello and My Immortal, and Birdie is great, isn't she? Rachmaninoff's concerti and all the music for two pianos he wrote BEAUTIFULLY have no match. I'm CRAZY for his cantabile style! Then there's Chopin, Liszt, Shastakovich, Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and even Debussy has his merits. Anyway... Any suggestions? Contributions?

-- 21 Dec 2013, 05:48 --

Symphony... It's the art form that expresses everything we want to say in the wildest way without soliloquy. Gustav Mahler once said, "A symphony is like the world! It must embrace EVERYTHING!" Jean Sibelius disagreed in his famous debate with him... Still, whatever the "right" philosophy may be... There is so much symphonic music to enrapture and astound. Haydn began a great tradition of symphony composition that has carried into today. Some great symphonies that were written in the last century were Gorecki's "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs," Rautavaara's "Angel of Light," Sibelius' second, Rachmaninoff's second, and Prokofiev's fifth. They're like moving paintings... Sequences of life that attach themselves to any spirit that takes pleasure in them inexplicably, ineffably, and indefinitely. There's no way to list all of the best and the favorites of mine without making the length of this post unreasonable, and imposing on the ability of possible contributors to make this forum interesting, so I'll close for now and ask that anyone, please, leave any suggestions or preferences they may have!

[Charles]

I'm wondering, who in your opinion, has picked up the torch from the belated Pavarotti?

[Nathrad Sheare]

Oh... That's like saying anyone can take it! There have been a few exceptional voices besides his, but most of them are of his generation or only a little younger. We have, now, the three tenors, Domingo, Pavarotti, and Carreras, who've contributed the finest voices to opera since the famed 50''s quartet, del Monaco, Corelli, Bergonzi, and di Stefano. There are a few younger ones who have made superstardom in our present infant century, one of these being Joseph Caleja, and another Jonas Kaufmann, but I think the very greatest achievements in the genre were made by the first seven. It's hard to find another tenor who is both of a beautiful style AND a dynamic one... Listen to the latter two artists, though. You might find something to treasure in their repertoire.

[Charles]

p.s. I like Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana " , and I'll see if the younger ones sound like Caruso

[Nathrad Sheare]

Caruso was good. I liked Bjoerling, too. Fantastic. Just fantastic. A couple of others I am proud to have on recording in my collection are Nicolai Gedda, Richard Tucker, and Renato Cioni, not only because they were excellent complements to Maria Callas' voice... Do you have any taste for her voice? I know it's a little hard to take for some, yet it's astounding to others. I'm stunned by it, but it's not for everyone. She had just so many protesting against her presence on the stage as she had those acclaiming it as a grace and a privilege to behold. What do you think? Did you like Tebaldi better? Sutherland? Caballe? Who do you think is the greatest soprano of all time?

[Charles]

Did some listening to Callas' work today, very good, she does a great carmen. June Anderson does a good Queen of the Night. I've decided to go through all of Verdi's Opera's, and see which is the best. Rigoletto first, listened to pavarotti do it in 81, wonderful rendition. I'm going to listen to "Ernani, involami", it's suppose to be one of Verdi's most beautiful arias. Let you know what I think.

-- 22 Dec 2013, 21:58 --

As sopranos go I think the bar has been set by Callas and Sutherland, perfect everytime, Callas was able to bring her voice to suit the role, there's no wobble here.

-- 22 Dec 2013, 22:03 --

As far as composers go....the Russians have always had a special place in my heart. Just something special listening to shastakovich, hey the guy fought the Germans in WWII.

[Nathrad Sheare]

My four absolute favorite Callas recordings are the 1953 studio "Tosca," the 1954 studio "Norma," the 1955 studio "Madama Butterfly," and the 1959 studio "La Gioconda." Callas is at her VERY best theatrically in every one and the "Gioconda" and "Butterfly" have exceptional sound, not that the others are low on the totem pole of audio quality. Honestly, you haven't heard everything "La Divina" could do until you've heard these four. The 1959 recording was a surprise for me. I was expecting a little less surety out of her in the high soprano role, but, instead, happened upon a masterpiece of a performance... Try them. Oh, I also recommend her "rival," Renata Tebaldi, especially in the roles of "Aida," with Karajan and Simionato, and "Otello," with del Monaco. Yes, she, herself, had some legendary moments, and you'll hear the best of them there.

Sutherland was stunning. She was best, in my opinion, in the roles of "Turandot," "Lucia di Lammermoor," particularly in her studio 1961 performance, and Donizetti's "Maria Stuarda." Wondeful. Just wonderful.

-- 23 Dec 2013, 00:17 --

Oh, and I have to agree with you on the Russian composers... There was something special about them. Rachmaninoff is my all time favorite composer in any form.

-- 23 Dec 2013, 00:29 --

By the way, if you listen to Callas' Gilda in "Rigoletto," she does an excellent job at screaming out and emotional high not at the end of "Si, Vendetta!"

[Charles]

I took your advise and listened to M. Callas, Madame Butterfly, is my favorite of the four. Amazing, I could listen to her all day. Listening to Renata Tebaldi as I type, another good choice. I'm going to listen Sutherland next. let you know what I think.

-- 24 Dec 2013, 12:10 --

Just got done listening to Joan Sutherland - La Traviata - Sempre libera, she nailed the end. Perfect.

-- 24 Dec 2013, 12:19 --

By the way, I recently read on NPR about "viola organista" — a unique musical instrument that looks like a piano but sounds like a quartet of string instruments, it was designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Check it out, it looks cool.

[Nathrad Sheare]

Wow... I've never heard of it... I WILL definitely check it out and let you know just how much I enjoy the sound.

I'm glad you got to hear Callas at her best and I'm glad you liked her. Her Butterfly made my year when I listened all the way through it for the first time. Oddly, she IS one of the easier voices on the ears. The black tone of it is free of excess pitch. She's just my favorite. I was shocked at how good she was when I heard her 1952 live recording of La Traviata. I actually haven't heard Sutherland's rendition... I've been so mesmerized by Callas' and Tebaldi's interpretations of Verdi's music. Callas made only one studio recording of the aforementioned work... The mono sound is a little vivid when it comes to the orchestra, and makes the tenor blare here and there, but it captures her, if not perfectly, extremely well at the height of her powers. I'll try out "La Stupenda's" version and tell you my opinion of it, which will probably be acclamatory.

[Charles]

Looking for an opinion on Anna Netrebko, she has a wonderful voice, but I am wondering how she measures up against the greats?

-- 25 Dec 2013, 22:42 --

Listening to Vivaldi, Four Seasons, it's a great way to say good-night to Christmas. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.

[Nathrad Sheare]

Anna Netrebko is wonderful! I bought the DVD with her and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo in "Anna Bolena." I was stunned! I have Callas' live CD recording of the same opera and I think Netrebko's performance was almost as good, and the DVD definitely has better sound quality. I also thought her Giulietta in Bellini's "I Capuletti I Montechi" was brilliant. Renata Scotto was equaled there in my opinion. I think Anna's great, and not just because she's known to be a superstar and is obviously beautiful. Even in Callas' package, the outer appeal was just a bonus! My favorite thing about her voice is its penetrating power. It's not very large on the grand scale, definitely not the size of Sutherland's, Nilsson's, or Callas', but it cuts through anything. In that capacity, she's much like Leyla Gencer, an often unacknowledged beacon of the opera world, who also sang "Anna Bolena" exceptionally well. Netrebko outshone Sutherland and Gruberova in their famed performances of it. I prefer theatrics to embellishments, and Callas only served the latter when extra was necessary, for instance, in her unequalled recording of "Il Barbiere di Siviglia." Her coloratura is flawless, crystalline, and it flies! A high soprano like her in the role of Rosina is better than any mezzo any day, no matter how great or well- recorded the latter may be. Netrebko's voice is the most fascinating, in my opinion, of all the latest legends. Renee Fleming has a beautiful voice, and Angela Gheorghiu is one of the best coloraturas I've heard in our present young century, but Netrebko... Stunning for all she has.

-- 28 Dec 2013, 16:47 --

Oh, if you look at the Amazon reviews on Netrebko's Anna Bolena, you'll see there some words like "inflexible" and "unconvincing." IGNORE THEM COMPLETELY! My family watched the DVD with me... My mom cried. An exceptional role for an exceptional soprano. In this one, there's Callas, there's Netrebko... Then there's everyone else! Oh, and her opposite, Elina Garanca, an AMAZING Mozartian mezzo- to- high soprano who can do it all, was a HUGE surprise for me. I didn't think there'd ever be another Giovanna Seymour after Simionato that could be called perfect in the role... I stand corrected!

[Charles]

I like Netrebko, but she doesn't seem to have the range of a Callas. I've see Anna Bolena, she does a great job, I think inflexible is a bit harsh. She's taken a little heat as of the last couple of years, with her looks and some say a change in her voice. I think she will be classified as one of the greats one day.Angela Gheorghiu does a great Carmen, I can listen to it anytime.

[Nathrad Sheare]

Try Gheorghiu's "La Traviata" with Ramon Vargas conducted by Lorin Maazel. Great stuff! You are right, Callas has the most astounding range of any soprano I've ever heard... Oh, did you write that? I think her legendary recital album, "Lyric and Coloratura Arias," presents it in full. Try it.

To continue on Netrebko, I agree she will go down in history. She's already achieved the highest status an opera singer can and been given her own medallion- like nickname, "La Belissima." All the greatest legends have their own. I think she has a voice that could make 21st century opera if she does things right...

Now, this all poses a very good question... What are the best opera recordings EVER? I shouldn't think the list could be TOO long... What do you think?