The History Book Club discussion

This is a thread to discuss the world of opera, famous operas, composers, opera singers, etc.; the music and the lyrics, the librettos and the artistry.



Please feel free to add links which deal with any of these topics.

Recently NPR's World of Opera focused on Bellini's La Sonnambula

Usually there is an introduction and some excerpts to listen to as well as a write-up concerning the composer and opera. It is fairly worthwhile and gives one a glimpse into the specific opera and well as some listening pleasure.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...

One can also focus on what else Bellini has to offer:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...

You can even listen free to Vincenzo Bellini radio on last fm:

Not all Bellini but some great music-

http://www.last.fm/listen/artist/Vinc...

These both look interesting. This man was a force (and I am not letting my Italian bias show...).

byWilliam Wright
and
byLuciano Pavarotti
and
byHerbert Breslin

I loved Pavarotti. Feel the same...these books look great

Another wonderful tenor: Domingo

I saw him recently in Simon Boccanegro and he was fabulous in that role as a baritone:

Here is an interesting podcast, etc.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...

http://www.operanews.com/

A good source for opera lovers.

For those of you would like a great opportunity. I just came across this:

Opera Music Broadcast.com is pleased to announce our first-ever LIVE VIDEO webcast featuring the Toledo Opera and their production of Ariadne auf Naxos.

October 6th at 7PM EDT (This is live streamng opera)

Please feel free to forward to other lists, this is a free event and we want the world to know that America produces great opera!


Originally, we had planned to do the Britten "Lucretia" in the spring, but there were issues...

------------------------------------------------------
Here is the link folks...mark your calendars and just then click on the link.

http://operamusicbroadcast.com/2010/0...

Here is a little bit of information about the opera by Strauss - Ariadne auf Naxos

Source: Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariadne_...

Richard Strauss

Folks, who are citing music - it appears that goodreads has now added audiobooks and now music!!!! Not sure how much is added.

About Richard Stauss:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_...

Garret wrote: "http://www.operanews.com/

A good source for opera lovers."

An excellent source and I love the Met.

For those of us who love Placido Domingo

Placido Domingo

Synopsis

When the first edition of this book was published, Plácido Domingo was described as ‘a charismatic singer who has not only been heard in major tenor roles at most of the world’s opera houses but is also a fine pianist and conductor.’ Today, nearly twenty years later, the description must be revised - upward. Domingo has provided completely new material for this edition. In the substantial introduction, he summarizes his activities since 1983 - new roles, increased conducting engagements, the growing importance of his Operalia World Opera Contest, his artistic directorship of the Washington and Los Angeles opera companies and, of course, the astonishing success of the Three Tenors concerts that he, José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti have given all over the world. Domingo also recounts personal joys and sorrows, family matters and friendships. The central portion of this delightful book reprints the text of the popular but long out of print original edition, documenting the private and professional sides of Domingo’s remarkable life until shortly after his forty-second birthday. It is a highly intelligent artist’s account of his collaborations with the most celebrated singers, conductors and producers of his time, a penetrating discussion of roles, singing, musicianship and stagecraft, and a fascinating commentary on the current state of opera. In the new epilogue, this man of apparently boundless energy, now entering his seventh decade, discusses plans for the future. Throughout these memoirs his warmth, perspicacity this book’s pages just as they do from the stages of the world’s great theatres.

Source: Goodreads

Placido Domingo

Garret, not sure but message 12 post does not launch for some reason and of course I was disappointed.

Here are a couple of popular books dealing with opera.

Fred Plotkin

Anthony Tommasini

Does anyone have any favorite histories or biographies related to opera and it's practitioners?

Bentley wrote: "Garret, not sure but message 12 post does not launch for some reason and of course I was disappointed."

changed the link, you have to first enter the site from the new link.

Thank you Garret.

The world of opera lost a legend yesterday, Dame Joan Sutherland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R5F6a...

Possano gli angeli benvenuto a Paridise

Terrible news, she was a grand lady and what a voice!

It is sad; she was one of the greats.

NY Times obit for La Stupenda

HERE is Sutherland in part of the mad scene from Lucia di Lammermoor ~ 1960, the role that won her the Stupendous One label.

Thank you so much Garret...opera is one of my favorite genres.

Mine too. My dad and uncles fell in love with opera when they were young. I also had it playing at my house, but really didn't take an interest in it until I was in my 20s or 30s.

They have been to the Met and Seattle (for the Ring cycle), and I hope one day to get to the Met.

I think you would enjoy it Bryan (Met)

Bentley wrote: "I think you would enjoy it Bryan (Met)"

I think so, too. I get a chance now and then to see it broadcast in HD at a local theater. This is a treat.

Last night I was in NYC and went to see the Barcelona Carmen in HD. This was an interesting more modern take on the classical Bizet opera and most of us did not enjoy it as much as the classical rendition. Although there are some reviews which seem to think it was great.

I also did not like Béatrice Uria-Monzon as Carmen or much at all. I had no sympathy for the character whatsoever in this version. Alagna's voice seems to be even stronger as Don Jose and he outshone Monzon (believe me that was not that difficult).

Also, much more impressed with Micaëla: Marina Poplavskaya.

Let us put it this way; you would not bring young children to see this opera; it is by far the most brazen, provocative version I have ever seen; also nudity no less. Rather shocking for the opera even Carmen; I also did not like the liberties taken with the libretto and opera itself. I have no idea why there was so much buzz about this. Why don't these directors/producers leave the art and the music alone.

All I can say is to each his own...and this was not my cup of tea.

Interesting. Did they set the piece in modern times? I know that is pretty popular.

Bentley, sounds almost painful. I am not a fan of highly modified/contemporized versions. They must do it in an attempt to attract new enthusiasts. I think it just routinely disappoints those who appreciate the classics well done.

You would not believe it.

They had mercedes on the stage (allegedly old dusty ones - actually I think they were just made to look dusty); it was a combination of old, new and whatever. I do not mind operas that are set in their appropriate time slot; but taking a classic and changing the libretto and leaving out segments of the music (that is going too far). An opera lover probably would cry; it was bizarre and I frankly do not want to put the worse of it in a post; I doubt that I could. I will leave it to your imagination.

Folks go to the opera for a number of reasons; they love the music, the libretto, the words and the music together, the arias, the sets, the costumes, the pageantry, the spectacular atmosphere and a love of the masters who created these wonderful pieces. And of course these are usually tributes to these masters. I think if Bizet saw this he would be rolling over in his grave. And Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy would have had strokes.

Believe me, there are reviewers who liked it. I was not one of them. However, if you closed your eyes and listened to some of the music; you could get through it like I did.

Alagna's voice was magnificent.

[image error]

Remembering soprano Shirley Verrett , 1931-2010.

[image error]

Verrett in top form and singing a great Liebestod

[image error]

Hugues Cuénod sings "My Lord What a Morning"

The celebrated Swiss tenor has passed away at the age of 108.

Garret wrote: "

Hugues Cuénod sings "My Lord What a Morning"

The celebrated Swiss tenor has passed away at the age of 108."

A very interesting voice..thank you for posting.

Dame Margaret Price noted for her roles in Mozart and Verdi died last week.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/...

http://www.classicaltv.com/v943/dame-...

Thanks for the post. It is sad that all these greats are passing away.

For a very long time I thought the only person who could do Nessun Dorma justice was Luciano Pavarotti. It always sends a little chill through my spine when I hear it, so lovely ~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdTBml...

until one year a surprise at the Grammy awards ceremony when he had an unlikely stand-in for this beautiful aria, aptly performed by Aretha Franklin ~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DwZ-G...

I love them both.

I just listened to Pavarotti's version...beautiful for sure.

L'Ultima Récital with Marianne James as La Diva and Ariane Cadier as La Pianiste
(écrit et mise en scene par Marianne James & Véronique Vola sous le regard de Jango Edwards)

http://www.jukebo.com/marianne-james/...

This is the only clip I could find. A terrific satire of Opera and the singers. The entire show has of course much more to offer. It was extremely successful in France and is available on DVD
(knowledge of French sure helps to understand the "finesse")

I realize that Jose Carreras does not have the strength of voice of a Pavorotti but he may be my favorite tenor. Although his Nessun Dorma is certainly fine, it is Pavorotti who owns it. Rather than trying to make a comparison, here is Carreras presenting one of his signature songs at a Royal Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSFIWn...

Very nice, Jill.
I once bought the Placido Domingo CD The Unknown Puccini for a friend.
I liked A Te

A Te
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqN7bH...

Nessun Dorma
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RdJmq...

When I watch the video I can't help but think of Marianne James howling for her Siegfrrrried though...

Great adds Jill and Andre.

Another of the greats.....Montserrat Caballe singing Un bel di vedremo from Madame Butterfly. Simplimente magnifica.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV6uUy...

Beautiful :)

Here is one of my favourites:

Maria Callas sings Carmen Habanera in Covent Garden

Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the unforgettable, unsurpassed, incredibly talented (according to herself, that is) Florence Foster Jenkins (Who Let The Dogs Out?):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq2fj-...

and here's Menino, definitely a rival in waiting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWh_2I...

In case you might wonder, yes, Florence Foster Jenkins has a CD out: The Glory (????) of the Human Voice.(RCA/Victor Gold Seal/BMG)

The first line of the booklet by Francis Robinson (Assistant Manager of the Met 1952-76): "Few artists ever gave such unalloyed pleasure as Florence Foster Jenkins, yet the extraordinary soprano had the wisdom not to overdo a good thing."

I personally don't know of anything better suited to put you in a good mood (except maybe a piece of nice Belgian chocolate...) but as with everything of great quality: never take too much of a good thing.
That said, I'm quite happy Ms. Jenkins never got around to writing...
Enjoy!

Thanks André! Despite the sun beating down hard, it puts me in a great mood for putting the rest of the Polish Embassy Choir out of tune a bit later today! I'm their newest recruit!

Harvey wrote: "...it puts me in a great mood for putting the rest of the Polish Embassy Choir out of tune a bit later today!"

I'm sure you'll have a great time!

André wrote: "Harvey wrote: "...it puts me in a great mood for putting the rest of the Polish Embassy Choir out of tune a bit later today!"

I'm sure you'll have a great time!"

Yes, thankfully I did have a great time! The ode to joy, I did not need the score; its been in my head since before birth. Polish folk songs I an VERY rusty on, but managed. Great fun!

Harvey wrote: "Polish folk songs I an VERY rusty on..."

I've heard Slivovitz and/or Vodka could be of help.

Some Starka anyone?... :)
Somehow a lifetime of Schiller's Ode to joy meant I needed not the score. The folk songs, I have a copy of and am remembering the language. so far... so good. Not sure I will make it to La Scala soon but have made HE the Polish Ambassador happy.