Can some make a recommendation...

On Mon, 27 Mar 2006 00:50:34 -0600, opera_newbie wrote:

For books, when it comes to recordings (my own specialty), I'd get a hold of
the Metropolitan Opera Guide to Opera Recordings (or something like that),
and The Grand Tradition by John Steane, which concentrates on singers, most
of whom are dead. (I'm just preparing you for the disappointment I
experienced 30 years ago, when I discovered to my dismay that Jussi Bjoerling
wouldn't be singing at the Met anytime soon.)

The Met also puts out a book of plot synopses and the like, but I'd prefer
just listening on CD (or whatever format), and following with the enclosed
libretti and plot summaries. All of the composers of the best operas are also
dead.

By that time, when you've been exposed to a variety of recordings (and one
would hope live performances as well), you'll know yourself what books you
want to read on the subject.

I generally don't go for opera on DVD, incidentally, unless by some lucky
accident you happen to settle on one of the few that's a decent performance.
My preference is to first be exposed to a variety of the best performances,
not the ones that happen to have been released on DVD.

Nor do I recommend restricting yourself to "easy" operas like Carmen and
Boheme. Go for what you think you'll like and listen to that, even if it's
Parsifal or Wozzeck. Nobody else can tell you what music to like.

MK
 >> Stay informed about: Can some make a recommendation... 

Sorry. I wrote the preceding post and misattributed it to opera_newbie.

MK
 >> Stay informed about: Can some make a recommendation... 

Thanks Charlie. I just checked out podcasts...Wow, what can I say. I
only wish I had more time, and better speakers for my computer.

I would love to receive some links, and will send you an email shortly.
 >> Stay informed about: Can some make a recommendation... 

A big thanks, MK. I'll be sure to get the MET guide.

I also prefer reading the libretto while listening to CD. It's like
watching the story unfolding in front of me.

What brought me to this new obsession was a program on HD discorey
channel. They are showing one opera every Friday night, and I have
been watching it religiously. The first one I watched was Il
travatore, and it simply blew me away.

I haven't ventured out to Wagner or Buchner yet. I guess it really
doesn't hurt to give it a try. Are there any good recording you can
suggest?
 >> Stay informed about: Can some make a recommendation... 

Thank you for the link. It certainly is very helpful. I hope I can
see an opera when I go to NYC next month.
 >> Stay informed about: Can some make a recommendation... 

I think you will
"opera_newbie" schreef in bericht

> Thank you for the link. It certainly is very helpful. I hope I can
> see an opera when I go to NYC next month.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Can some make a recommendation... 

opera_newbie wrote:
> I just discover the wonderful world of opera, and have been listening /
> watching (on TV, unfortunately) as many operas as I can get my hands
> on. I hope I will be able to see a live production soon. So far, my
> favorate is Faust, pearl fisher, and almost anything by Verdi.
>
> I've been reading a lot of the postings on this board, and sadly find
> out how little I know about opera. Can someone recommend
> website/book/megazine, etc. where I can gain more knowledge. I find
> there are so many things to learn.
>
> A big THANK YOU in advance :)


I'd be inclined to suggest spending more time on the listening and less
on the reading. Only you will know what you like, as opposed to what
one 'ought to like'. The podcasts and websites are great, because you
can listen to a lot of little clips of stuff, and then follow up on the
ones that particularly grab you, and buy or borrow CDs. OTOH, there are
some things which are an acquired taste... but plenty of time to work
on those later.

If you post when you find things you like (as you did, above), the
people here will give you lots more recommendations of things that you
might like (and they are a lot more accurate than Amazon's
recommendations!)

If you read music at all, get scores out from the library. It's much
better to follow when you're listening to the CD than just the
libretto.

Silverfin
(also opera newbie)
 >> Stay informed about: Can some make a recommendation... 

On Mon, 27 Mar 2006 12:18:42 -0600, opera_newbie wrote:

> A big thanks, MK. I'll be sure to get the MET guide.

You're very welcome. I think you'll enjoy it.

> I also prefer reading the libretto while listening to CD. It's like
> watching the story unfolding in front of me.

That's why my first opera, Butterfly w/Leontyne Price, made such a great
impact on me.

> What brought me to this new obsession was a program on HD discorey
> channel. They are showing one opera every Friday night, and I have
> been watching it religiously. The first one I watched was Il
> travatore, and it simply blew me away.

There's actually a not-bad DVD Trovatore w/Domingo, Kabaivanska, Cossotto and
Cappuccilli, conducted by Karajan.

It's also available on CD, but there the competition is stiffer. I'd go with
Domingo, Price, Cossotto (in glorious voice) and Milnes, conducted by Mehta
(note complete), or the version with standard cuts in mono with Bjoerling,
Milanov, Barbieri and Warren, conducted by Cellini.

> I haven't ventured out to Wagner or Buchner yet. I guess it really
> doesn't hurt to give it a try. Are there any good recording you can
> suggest?

You mean Bruckner? Not an opera composer.

Wagner: I'd check out the Met Guide's recommendations, which are very
detailed, including many by Jon Alan Conrad, who posts in Usenet on the
rec.music.classical.recordings group. The Boehm Ring is the one that taught
me the work, but the Solti will do just as well.

For Tristan, I'd recommend Nilsson/Boehm on DG; Lohengrin: Thomas, Gruemmer,
Kempe (EMI), Tannaueser: Windgassen, Silja, Sawallisch on Philips, and so on.
You could spend an entire life listening to Wagner recordings and still not
hear them all. ;-)

Here's a recording of a very Wagner-like opera that never seems to get enough
credit for my taste: Humperdinck's Haensel und Gretel. I feel Karajan's
recording with Schwarzkopf and Gruemmer is one of the greatest recordings of
anythiing I've ever heard, and makes a marvelous introduction to opera.

MK
 >> Stay informed about: Can some make a recommendation... 

The performance I saw on TV was w/ Cura, Villaroel, Hvorovstovsky,
Naef, conducted by Rizzi. I didn't care too much about the two main
leads' voice, but the music was beautiful, and the acting was quite
moving. It totally changed my previous view (which is quite
stereotypical) about opera. The CD I bought was w/ Callas, Di Stefano,
Panerai & Barbieri, by Karajan. It had really good review from Amazon.
I like it better than the previous one, although I think I prefer
Hvorovsktovsky's Di Luna.

I just found out my local library had several Wagner recording along
with some Verdi and Tchaikovsky operas, so guess where I'll be going
tomorrow :)
 >> Stay informed about: Can some make a recommendation... 

Thanks...I had it bookmarked :)
 >> Stay informed about: Can some make a recommendation... 

Thanks for the suggestion. The problem I experience is that there are
so many different operas, and different recordings. It could be a bit
overwhelming. Before I discovered podcasts from here, I was buying CDs
blindly. Some are very satisfactory, but a few I just wish I didn't
spend money on them.

Yes, I do read music, and will give it a try. Btw, how did you become
fond of opera? I've been trying to get my friends to be interested so
I can have someone to talk to, and maybe go to a live performance
together. But up until now, I have not been successful :(
 >> Stay informed about: Can some make a recommendation... 

opera_newbie wrote:
> Thanks for the suggestion. The problem I experience is that there are
> so many different operas, and different recordings. It could be a bit
> overwhelming. Before I discovered podcasts from here, I was buying CDs
> blindly. Some are very satisfactory, but a few I just wish I didn't
> spend money on them.


Yes, there's so much out there that it seems almost impossible to make
a dint on it.
I have a couple of friends who are opera fans who have lent me CDs of
things they think I might like. I also get things from the library
rather than buy.


> Yes, I do read music, and will give it a try. Btw, how did you become
> fond of opera? I've been trying to get my friends to be interested so
> I can have someone to talk to, and maybe go to a live performance
> together. But up until now, I have not been successful :(


I've been into orchestral music all my life, started listening to a bit
of opera in my 20s once in a while, got totally hooked on Wagner's
Ring, then a couple of years ago saw a spate of really excellent
performances that converted me into the fan I am now. I have a fair
idea now of what I'm likely to like, but important to stay open-minded.

Silverfin
 >> Stay informed about: Can some make a recommendation... 

I think I'm somewhat a processive freak. I just won't feel happy
without the actual ownership :) But with the prices on these CDs, the
library sounds like a great place to go instead of Barnes & Nobles.
 >> Stay informed about: Can some make a recommendation...