Fri, 26 April 2013
From Turino, 1999 under John Mauceri, the great Renata Scotto sings Poulenc's one-woman opera, La Voix Humaine. I know you will enjoy one of the very last of the great verismo divas. (50 min.) |
Fri, 26 April 2013
With permission of the star, here is a sampling of Piotr Beczala's new Verdi album.Mariusz Kwiecien joins him in the Don Carlo (with a nice interpolated high C at then end.) I think you will all love it. I get NO commision, although there are some who think I ought to be committed. |
Wed, 24 April 2013
What a joy to see that a young "kid' is so well-educated in opera that he is influencing others to enjoy his marvelous site. Here is some info..and his site may be found at: operateen.wordpress.com.I had no internet when I was his age, and what a pleasure to have someone NOT KNOW who Justin Bieber is!!! Harry Rose, a 15-year-old high school freshman from Westchester County, says he wants to run an opera house when he grows up. For now, however, being a star among opera fans on the Internet will do just fine. Harry is best known by his Twitter handle, Opera Teen, and his resumé also includes guest critiques for the Huffington Post, reviews for industry sites like Parterre Box, and commentary on his own Tumblr blog. This Saturday, he’ll be on the Operavore show to talk about his favorite operatic experiences. As a preview, we ask Harry about his entry into the world of opera, where audience members are typically four times his age. First opera-going experience: A double bill of Leoncavallo's Cavalleria Rusticana and Mascagni's Pagliacci at the Metropolitan Opera in April 2009. “Even though I was only 11 at the time, I have two very clear memories of the entire evening: one was Franco Zeffirelli's magnificent production, that’s rumored to be replaced next season. The second was mezzo-soprano Ildikó Komlósi as Santuzza. Her passionate volatile mezzo stole the evening.” Opera characters he’d invite over for dinner: I’d definitely invite Tosca, who would make for some great conversation. Also, Rusalka, a very interesting and enigmatic character. And Guillot in Massenet’s Manon. His motives are screwy but he’s just a funny, funny character. Most Despicable opera character: Scarpia from Tosca. “He’s the playground bully of Rome. He’s mean to be mean. That’s why he’s despicable. Same thing with Iago from Otello.” Challenges of being a teenage opera fan: The costs. Harry is too young to take advantage of student discounts at the Met. He recalls attending an opera at La Scala in Milan three years ago (age 11) and paying 110 euros to sit in the nosebleed seats. What he’s looking forward to: Komlósi as the nurse in Die Frau ohne Schatten (The Woman without a Shadow) at the Metropolitan Opera in November. “Komlósi has mostly focused her career in Europe so an appearance here is a treat.” Fodder for great Twitter conversation: Dream casting operas with favorite singers.
Category:general
-- posted at: 9:48pm EDT
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Tue, 23 April 2013
DIOS MIO!!!!! I just discovered Lucrecia Garcia..She is all over Youtube...What a soprano,in the "old tradition." Check her out!!!!!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 2:42pm EDT
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Tue, 23 April 2013
Here is Piotr Beczala as the Duke in the new Met (modernized) Rigoletto. I actually liked the production, despite some of the DUMB translations. I do not read titles, but I hear some were really silly.
Category:general
-- posted at: 10:21am EDT
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Mon, 22 April 2013
Under the direction of the legendary Fritz Reiner, we present an all-star Rosenkavalier featuring the beloved late Rise Stevens, Eleanor Steber, Erna Berger, Emanuel List, Martha Lipton, and Giuseppe Di Stefano. The only time in all my opera-going in which I totally "lost it," was at the finale of the trio. Many people have considered the Rosenkavalier trio as the most sublime moment in ALL opera. I surely agree. (70 min.) |
Sun, 21 April 2013
Category:general
-- posted at: 11:50pm EDT
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Sun, 21 April 2013
Anja Silja,Phillip Langridge and Roberta Alexander combine in the great finale of Janacek's Jenufa, one of the finest operas ever written.
Category:general
-- posted at: 9:20pm EDT
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Sun, 21 April 2013
You know by now how much I loved the beloved Leyla Gencer, sometimes flawed, but nevertheless,one of the most important sopranos. Here are excerpts from a 1957 la Scala Forza under Antonino Votto, with Giuseppe di Stefano,Cesare Siepi,Aldo Protti, and Franco Calabrese (Marchese). (73 min.) |
Sun, 21 April 2013
A compilation of some of the most important Italian artists from around the 1950-1960 period. Included are Tito Gobbi, Magda Olivero, Anita Cerquetti, Cesare Valletti, Paolo Silveri, Renata Scotto, Carlo Bergonzi, Rosanna Carteri, Mario Filippeschi, Renata Tebaldi, Ebe Stignani, and Giuseppe Di Stefano. (70 min.) |