Any opera fans around?

Sabrina · Jul 18, 2015

I love classical music like most figure skating fans, but I also love opera, Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Donizetti...
Il Barbiere di Seviglia is one of my favourites, and Javier Fernandez program was a big surprise for me.

And as a starter this is an aria I like, from Mozart, Don Giovanni, Madamina, il catalogo è questo:

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqeyElCHRM8

JayW · Jul 18, 2015

Count me in, Bellini, Donizetti, and Mozart are my favorites.

There are plenty opera repertoire that can be used for skating.

Meoima · Jul 19, 2015

I love Carmen, Rusalka, Blue Beard Castle, Peal Fisher, Salome,The tale of Hoffmann, some operas by Mozart, Handel...
For some reason I am not warm up to Wagner even though my friends are all Wagnerians.
Anyways here's the drinking song that I like the most, from Hamlet: http://youtu.be/xP3Ftg5PcV8

JayW · Jul 19, 2015

Meoima said:
I love Carmen, Rusalka, Blue Beard Castle, Peal Fisher, Salome,The tale of Hoffmann, some operas by Mozart, Handel...
For some reason I am not warm up to Wanger even though my friends are all Wagnerians.
Anyways here's the drinking song that I like the most, from Hamlet: http://youtu.be/xP3Ftg5PcV8

Yes, the golden voice from Robert Merrill.

Meoima · Jul 19, 2015

JayW said:
Yes, the golden voice from Robert Merrill.

Best bromance in opera with 2 golden voices: http://youtu.be/5PYt2HlBuyI
:love:

Sabrina · Jul 19, 2015

Meoima said:
I love Carmen, Rusalka, Blue Beard Castle, Peal Fisher, Salome,The tale of Hoffmann, some operas by Mozart, Handel...
For some reason I am not warm up to Wagner even though my friends are all Wagnerians.
Anyways here's the drinking song that I like the most, from Hamlet: http://youtu.be/xP3Ftg5PcV8

Thank you for the link! Excellent singing!
I also have a problem with Wagner. I like his overtures, but I was bored about the full operas, and the plot behind the music. Some arias are beautiful, but that's all. I keep him in a drawer, and I am almost afraid to try it (the Ring) again.
In pre-classic/baroque music I loved Pergolessi, but the poor guy died too soon. I tried Handel, but though the music could be surreally beautiful, I have problems staying focused, as they tend to be more static...closer to an oratorio.
I have never listened to Rusalka, Blue Beard Castle, but I love Offenbach...I like Bizet, but I have no CDs DVDs with his operas.

merrywidow · Jul 19, 2015

I think Wagner is more appealing as you age. I'm 80 & its only been within the last 10 years that I've become a Wagner fan. I love the 4 Ring operas & Parsifal, Lohegrin, Tannhauser. I'm a fan of the Italian & French composers....love operas such as Cavalleria Rusticana,Tales of Hoffman, Aida, La Boheme, etc., etc.. I've attended 3 operas at the Met, 1 in S.F. & 1 in Vienna (Der Rosenkavalier. The trio from it is one of my favorites.) Do any of you love the old operetta too?

Meoima · Jul 19, 2015

Sabrina said:
I love classical music like most figure skating fans, but I also love opera, Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Donizetti...
Il Barbiere di Seviglia is one of my favourites, and Javier Fernandez program was a big surprise for me.

And as a starter this is an aria I like, from Mozart, Don Giovanni, Madamina, il catalogo è questo:

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqeyElCHRM8

About Verdi, I really like his Nabucco, I find Abigaille the most interesting, and this is the best of all ladies who ever sung this aria IMO.
https://youtu.be/ZYOqRCHXDp8
Too bad that Souliotis destroyed her voice. Such a waste of talent. Such fire and power in her voice!! :drama:

Sabrina said:
Thank you for the link! Excellent singing!
I also have a problem with Wagner. I like his overtures, but I was bored about the full operas, and the plot behind the music. Some arias are beautiful, but that's all. I keep him in a drawer, and I am almost afraid to try it (the Ring) again.
In pre-classic/baroque music I loved Pergolessi, but the poor guy died too soon. I tried Handel, but though the music could be surreally beautiful, I have problems staying focused, as they tend to be more static...closer to an oratorio.
I have never listened to Rusalka, Blue Beard Castle, but I love Offenbach...I like Bizet, but I have no CDs DVDs with his operas.

Talk about Rusalka, technically it's a very sad version of Little mermaid. I like this opera so much. Too bad my Boxet has everything great from orchestra to soprano, baritone... But the guy who played the prince sang so badly. I like that in the end the prince died lol. Serve him right!

The most famous from Rusalka might be Song To The Moon aria. I love Lucia Popp version the most: http://youtu.be/yvenKSl2AG8

Not a big fan of Fleming but she is also famous for her Song to the moon: http://youtu.be/JHM3zMBQxTQ

Offenbach I like the doll aria, and this is the best version in my opinion. Dessay's voice might hurt my ears most of the time but she was born for this role: http://youtu.be/e1k5l4oiCEc
I also like this production in the sense that they turn the setting into a mental hospital and the doll is in fact a crazy girl. :popcorn:

merrywidow said:
I think Wagner is more appealing as you age. I'm 80 & its only been within the last 10 years that I've become a Wagner fan. I love the 4 Ring operas & Parsifal, Lohegrin, Tannhauser. I'm a fan of the Italian & French composers....love operas such as Cavalleria Rusticana,Tales of Hoffman, Aida, La Boheme, etc., etc.. I've attended 3 operas at the Met, 1 in S.F. & 1 in Vienna (Der Rosenkavalier. The trio from it is one of my favorites.) Do any of you love the old operetta too?

Talk about Wagner, here's Jon Vicker who has just passed away recently in his best Wagner role: http://youtu.be/fGOttAqWJwA
To many fans, he is the best Sigmund. RIP Jon.

Sabrina · Jul 19, 2015

Meoima said:
Offenbach I like the doll aria, and this is the best version in my opinion. Dessay's voice might hurt my ears most of the time but she was born for this role: http://youtu.be/e1k5l4oiCEc
I also like this production in the sense that they turn the setting into a mental hospital and the doll is in fact a crazy girl.

I love the Doll song done by Maria Aleida. She also has a full opera in which she sings the doll part.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvymSnSLABw

And this is a much better variant with the same soprano:

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dlGDNoliH0

Meoima · Jul 20, 2015

Sabrina said:
I love the Doll song done by Maria Aleida. She also has a full opera in which she sings the doll part.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvymSnSLABw
And this is a much better variant with the same soprano:
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dlGDNoliH0

That's an interesting production, more like Sci-fi. :popcorn:

Anyways you mentioned Donizetti, does that mean you like L'elisir d'amore? Then you might love this: https://youtu.be/4ymPaEDDP9I
Luigi Alva might be the best lyrical tenor I have known of.

MaxSwagg · Jul 20, 2015

I prefer later genres, such as Early-Modernist operas and later (e.g. Salome). Though, all in all, I'm not really one for operas.

Meoima · Jul 20, 2015

MAXSwagg said:
I prefer later genres, such as Early-Modernist operas and later (e.g. Salome). Though, all in all, I'm not really one for operas.

You might like this one: https://youtu.be/UYlIHI35oak
When Kathleen Battle still had a great voice.

What a pity she was such a diva in the bad meaning.

elbkup · Jul 20, 2015

Because I listen to every music post on GS this is a welcome thread! What I know about opera one could put on the head of a pin so this is a learning experience for me. That said I do have a couple of favorites from the same opera: The Flower Duet and The Bell Song from Lakme by Delibes..
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DhFC3AhLtag
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FmSu-0zsWuA

Sabrina · Jul 20, 2015

merrywidow said:
Do any of you love the old operetta too?

I was reluctant to try operetta, but when I did it it was completely successful. I loved Romberg's The prince student, Strauss' Die Fledermaus and Der Zigeunerbaron.
I still have a few operettas I want to watch/listen.

Sabrina · Jul 20, 2015

Meoima said:
Anyways you mentioned Donizetti, does that mean you like L'elisir d'amore? Then you might love this: https://youtu.be/4ymPaEDDP9I
Luigi Alva might be the best lyrical tenor I have known of.

Luigi Alba must have been a terrific Nemorino...magnificent. He is old, but I was happy to discover he is still among us. Thank you!

Tutto · Jul 20, 2015

merrywidow said:
I think Wagner is more appealing as you age. I'm 80 & its only been within the last 10 years that I've become a Wagner fan. I love the 4 Ring operas & Parsifal, Lohegrin, Tannhauser. I'm a fan of the Italian & French composers....love operas such as Cavalleria Rusticana,Tales of Hoffman, Aida, La Boheme, etc., etc.. I've attended 3 operas at the Met, 1 in S.F. & 1 in Vienna (Der Rosenkavalier. The trio from it is one of my favorites.) Do any of you love the old operetta too?

I agree with you I am beginning to appreciate Wagner more and more as time goes (though I do wish he was more laconic), but I still don't listen much because it affects me so deeply I can't sleep! It seems to play on your subconscious in rather devilish way, may be I am talking rubbish?
My favourite opera composer will always be Verdi, Don Carlos was the first opera I saw live as a child and then La Traviata got me hooked for life. Glad to see this thread.

Tavi... · Jul 20, 2015

Meoima said:
That's an interesting production, more like Sci-fi.

Anyways you mentioned Donizetti, does that mean you like L'elisir d'amore? Then you might love this: https://youtu.be/4ymPaEDDP9I
Luigi Alva might be the best lyrical tenor I have known of.

That's beautiful! Here is Pavarotti's very different version - not quite as sweet, but still heartfelt:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2J7JM0tGgRY

And since I love tenors

, here are a few more recordings:

Swedish tenor Gosta Winbergh, Dalla Sua Pace, Don Giovanni:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IoFUfmgUm9M

Pavarotti, Ingemisco, Verdi Requiem

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Ljv01tBK4

Pavarotti, Recondita Armonia, Tosca:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LYMfAqUdoek

Giacomo Arragall, E lucevan le Stelle, Tosca:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xp...-lucevan-le-stelle-from-puccini-s-tosca_music

Sabrina · Jul 20, 2015

papagena said:
That's beautiful! Here is Pavarotti's very different version - not quite as sweet, but still heartfelt:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2J7JM0tGgRY

Papagena, I couldn't resist, as Die Zauberflöte is one of my most beloved opera.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQeXDsaiTJE

Your links are so beautiful, thanks!

Tavi... · Jul 20, 2015

Sabrina said:
Papagena, I couldn't resist, as Die Zauberflöte is one of my most beloved opera.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQeXDsaiTJE

Your links are so beautiful, thanks!

One of mine, too! That's a great performance! In return:

Fritz Wunderlich, Dies Bildnis, with piano:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0TnruLf_haY

Winbergh in same opera, Geneva, sorry, sound a little funky in some places:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mFMNA1ibLW4

Hermann Prey as Papageno

from the same production (the whole thing is up!):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6qLNE6Cr-fI

And just for a change of pace:

Te Kanawa, Troyanos, Blegen, final Trio, Rosenkavalier:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5VbmCqK7XOw

Meoima · Jul 20, 2015

papagena said:
One of mine, too! That's a great performance! In return:

Fritz Wunderlich, Dies Bildnis, with piano:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0TnruLf_haY

Winbergh in same opera, Geneva, sorry, sound a little funky in some places:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mFMNA1ibLW4

Hermann Prey as Papageno from the same production (the whole thing is up!):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6qLNE6Cr-fI

And just for a change of pace:

Te Kanawa, Troyanos, Blegen, final Trio, Rosenkavalier:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5VbmCqK7XOw

I also love Fritz Wunderlich, what a pity he died so young.

Oh and Prey, my friend is a big fan of him. :drama:

This might be the most famous from him: https://youtu.be/rmTcmBn56Jk

Any opera fans around?

Sabrina

JayW

Meoima

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JayW

Meoima

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Sabrina

merrywidow

Meoima

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Sabrina

Meoima

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MaxSwagg

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Meoima

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elbkup

Power without conscience is a savage weapon

Sabrina

Sabrina

Tutto

Tavi...

Sabrina

Tavi...

Meoima

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