Newbie Looking For Suggestions
Lee Iovino
I am new to this genre of music and love what I have heard so far (though
I'm told here that its crap). Any suggestions of who I should listen to,
specifically?
Thanks.
Matthew B. Tepper
read.news.verio.net>:
>
>I am new to this genre of music and love what I have heard so far (though
>I'm told here that its crap). Any suggestions of who I should listen to,
>specifically?
BMG has a couple of inexpensive collections devoted to aria recordings by
tenor Jussi Bjoerling. I can't think of a better place to start!
--
Matthew B. Tepper: WWW, science fiction, classical music, ducks!
My personal home page -- http://home.earthlink.net/~oy/index.html
My main music page --- http://home.earthlink.net/~oy/berlioz.html
To write to me, do for my address what Androcles did for the lion
"Compassionate Conservatism?" * "Tight Slacks?" * "Jumbo Shrimp?"
G Riggs
news:2K906.6098$Sl.3...@iad-read.news.verio.net...
By now, a fair number of posters here may be heartily tired of my "Greatest
Hits" list<G>. However, since *I* *believe* that no current readout of my
"starters" is available right now outside of DejaNews, here goes -- Enjoy!
[in any old order]
EMI: FIDELIO -- Christa Ludwig, Jon Vickers, Klemperer conducting
the 78 from '31(?) of the MEISTERSINGER Quintet with Elisabeth Schumann,
Friedrich Schorr, Lauritz Melchior, Ben Williams, Gladys Paar, Barbirolli
conducting
the 78 from '31 of Kundry's "Ich sah' das Kind" (PARSIFAL) with Frieda
Leider, Barbirolli conducting
Richard Tauber's second version (sung in the original Italian) of "Dalla sua
pace" from Mozart's Don Giovanni (recorded 1939)
the "live" extract from ACT II GOETTERDAEMMERUNG at Covent Garden with
Frieda Leider, Lauritz Melchior, Herbert Janssen, Wilhelm Schirp,
Furtwaengler conducting from '38
Richard Tauber's Netherlands concert in '39
the "live" excerpts of Britten's RAPE OF LUCRETIA with Kathleen Ferrier
(available on Music & Arts; the complete performance is on GALA in O.K.
sound, but the Music & Arts highlights boast the more scrupulous, less
doctored transfer)
the studio cut of Paul Robeson's Death and Prayer from Mussorgsky's Boris
Godunov
PHILIPS: LES TROYENS -- Jon Vickers, Berit Lindholm, Josephine Veasey,
Colin Davis conducting
MELODIYA: EUGEN ONEGIN -- Belov, Vishnevskaya, Lemeshev, Khaikin conducting
the "live" NORMA from Dec. '55 at La Scala with Callas, Del Monaco,
Simionato, Votto conducting
the "live" Berlin LUCIA from Sept(?)/Oct(?) '55 with Callas, Di Stefano,
Panerai, von Karajan conducting
the "live" DON GIOVANNI from Salzburg *'53* with Siepi, Schwarzkopf,
Edelmann, Gruemmer, Dermota, Berger, Berry, *Arie*, Furtwaengler conducting
the "live" LOHENGRIN from Bayreuth '59 with Konya, Gorr, Gruemmer, Von
Matacic conducting
EMI: ROSENKAVALIER -- Christa Ludwig, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Otto Edelmann,
Teresa Stich-Randall, Von Karajan conducting
the "live" BALLO IN MASCHERA at La Scala Dec. '57 with Di Stefano, Callas,
Bastianini, Gavazzeni conducting
RCA: TROVATORE -- Bjoerling, Barbieri, Milanov, Warren, Cellini conducting
EMI: RIGOLETTO -- Gobbi, Callas, Di Stefano, Serafin conducting
EMI: TOSCA -- Callas, Di Stefano, Gobbi, De Sabata conducting
EMI: TURANDOT -- Nilsson, Corelli, Scotto, Molinari-Pradelli conducting
Holiday cheers,
Geoffrey Riggs
--
==============================================
OPERA ON THE INTERNET
http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/7023/opnetradio/oponet.htm
The Collector's Guide to Opera Recordings and Videos
http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/7023
The Collector's Guide to Books on Opera
http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/7023/reading.htm
==============================================
CarlosUK
There are several people who have nothing elese to do, but to criticize others
taste. Be yourself, enjoy the popular stuff and don't worry about the false
cultural music experts of this newsgroup.
There are several popular recordings of opera. The recitals are usually a good
start. Kultur has great VHS of Jose Carreras (the best one is from Berlin). The
Three Tenors, from Caracalla is a good choice too. I strongly recommend that
you buy and watch Jose Carreras biography in video - A life story is the title
if I am not mistaken.
In terms of complete opera, you can start with Carmen or La Boheme. They are
full of action and the music in both masterpieces is superb.
Also click on
www.GMN.com
interesting site.
Regards....again
Carlos
Lee I.
anyone says. My goal right now is to find out what else is out there and
enjoy what I like of that!
Thanks for the encouragement as well.
"CarlosUK" <carl...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20001220173043...@ng-fa1.aol.com...
Lee I.
"G Riggs" <ehu...@concentric.net> wrote in message
news:91rb78$9...@dispatch.concentric.net...
Po Chen
depending on what you've heard...you might want to start in different
places. Bocelli, as I understand it, sings italian opera arias?
If that's your cup of tea (oh, don't worry about the guys who tell you he's
crap. the important thing is that you gotta get used to operatic voices at
your own pace--I had to slowly also), you definitely can't go wrong with
Bjoerling, as Mr. Tepper suggests.
The Thomas Beecham recording of La Boheme (puccini) has Bjoerling and
Victoria de los Angeles, a ravishingly beautiful singer (in all senses).
However, there is a lot of recitative in Boheme...a lot of space between
famous numbers, so I usually recommend
La Traviata by Verdi and/or Lucia di Lammermoor by Donizetti. Virtually
every track in Lucia is a hit. Rigoletto by Verdi is also very easy to
listen to.
In German repertoire, you can't go wrong with Richard Strauss' Four Last
Songs. Beethoven's Fidelio is also very accessible. Hope this helps you a
bit
-Po
hojon
ng, and they've given you some great suggestions. I respect every
choice they've made, although some of G.Riggs selections may be a
little premature for a newcomer IMVHO. Wish I had some of those old-
timers, Geoffrey! Lee- you might stick to the Romantics for now.
Puccini, Mascagni, Massenet and work up to the meat of the opera world:
Verdi and Mozart. Not one to suggest "highlights" , I think Matthews
idea of recitals for Tenors, Sopranos,etc might fit the bill.
Bjorling, Corelli, Di Stefano, Domingo. Right now I'm having a love
affair with a baritone on a cassette, that I bought some time ago and
never gave a fair listening. Dmitri Hvorostovsky singing Thaikovsky and
Verdi arias. On Phillips. Some of my favorite female voices are Caballe,
Crespin, Fleming (oh I can feel the sky falling already)Price. You are
at the beginning of a wonderful journey, Lee. Best Wishes.
Madama Butterfly might be as good a place to start on a complete opera.
Ask for recommendations right here on this RMO.
--
John-Putnam
ho...@yahoo.com
--
John-Putnam
ho...@yahoo.com
Sent via Deja.com
http://www.deja.com/
anast...@my-deja.com
player. I could not recommend a baritone more highly than he. His
rendition of "Di Provenza" from Trav is a lesson in too many things to
mention.....his phrasing and breathing are superb.
For any new baritone, this CD is a must. Even the Russian songs are
pleasurable. But his Verdi? Say no more! Amazing.
Merry Christmas,
Ana
Mitchell Kaufman
news:2K906.6098$Sl.3...@iad-read.news.verio.net...
Buy the following video: "The Art of Singing: Golden Voices of the
Century." This should start to give you some idea of what and whom you like.
Just ignore the stupid interviews with Thomas Hampson and Schuyler Chapin.
Separated at birth: Schuyler Chapin and Durward Kirby? ;-)
MK
Dylan Bryan-Dolman
>
> [Many full-length live recordings of not-exactly-pretty singing]
Lee, don't be discouraged if you can't enjoy the recordings Gordon suggests.
They are not easy for a novice to appreciate. One recording that led me
into the love of opera are Leontyne Price's "Prima Donna Collection," now
available cheaply on four cds. It has arias from many periods and styles,
and is practically Opera 101 in a box.
An even better suggestion is a collection of duets by the tenor Jussi
Bjoerling. Like Bocelli he has a very beautiful natural sound, but unlike
Bocelli he sings with the full strength this music was written to exploit.
The recording is called "The Pearl Fishers Duet" and is very cheap.
Dylan
=dbd=
M. Slater
:> I am new to this genre of music and love what I have heard so far (though
>> I'm told here that its crap). Any suggestions of who I should listen to,
>> specifically?
Lee, there will be plenty of suggestions. Here are mine:
1)Orfeo, un Favola in Musica, Claudio Monteverdi. Get one of the Harnoncourt
recordings. This is great late Renaissance Opera.
2) Dido and Aeneas, Henry Purcell. This is a perfect Baroque Opera. Emma Kirkby
has a nice recording. There is also a wonderful old recording with Victoria de
los Angeles. The music is great, but her accent will crack you up. When she
sings Dido's Lament "When I am laid.....". Do find it.
3) Don Giovanni, Mr. Mozart. Pick a recording. Which recording to pick is a
whole separate thread. Check the archives.
4) Lucia di Lammermoor, Donizetti. I like the Sills recording with Bergonzi.
Its the only one that has the glass harmonica for the Mad Scene. There are many
other recordings, of course. <g>
5) Rigoletto, Verdi. Pavarotti made a marvelous video of this about 20 years
ago.
6) Die Walkure, Wagner. Solti recording.
7) Salome, Richard Strauss. Get a video of this. There are lots of them.
Thats enough work for one week.
Mark
j-m Stewart
l...@wadc.questsyst.com ,wrote
--------
I started listening to the Met. Saturday afternoon opera broadcasts 30
years ago
and am still listening. You also get some interesting intermission
discussions. If you don't like a particular opera you don't have to stay
with it. What you tune out today, may be your favourite tomorrow.
For the opera schedule, go to;
www.metopera.org
During the intermissions they discuss different singers and play sample
recordings of a particular singer, singers of the past and present.
You are on to a good thing.
Jim Stewart
Mark D. Lew
> However, there is a lot of recitative in Boheme...a lot of space between
> famous numbers, [...]
Actually, there is very little recitative in Boheme.
As for the main question: for a newbie, if you're going for a CD that is a
collection of arias (as opposed to a complete opera) I strongly recommend
that you start with one that features several different singers. Tastes
differ. After you determine the ones you like best, then you can proceed
to look for more from those individuals.
mdl
G Riggs
news:fpf06.5196$PF.3...@newsread1.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
> G Riggs <ehu...@concentric.net> suggested:
> >
> > [Many full-length live recordings of not-exactly-pretty singing]
>
> Lee, don't be discouraged if you can't enjoy the recordings Gordon
suggests.
> They are not easy for a novice to appreciate.
As someone whom I always took to be one of the most perceptive contributors
on this forum, perhaps you can answer a few questions:
1) How exactly do the likes of Elisabeth Schumann, Sergei Lemeshev, Giuseppe
Di Stefano, Erna Berger, Sandor Konya, Ettore Bastianini, Zinka Milanov et
al qualify as "not-exactly-pretty singing"?
2) Who is this Gordon character?
3) While we should feel free to recommend whatever recordings have given us,
personally, some pleasure in the past, does that mean we can pre-emptively
assume that certain other recordings suggested by other listeners must needs
fail to give pleasure to those experiencing opera for the first time? Do
any of us have a magic pipeline to newbies' brains?
Po Chen
"Mark D. Lew" wrote:
> In article <3A414113...@yale.edu>, Po Chen <po-chi...@yale.edu> wrote:
>
> > However, there is a lot of recitative in Boheme...a lot of space between
> > famous numbers, [...]
>
> Actually, there is very little recitative in Boheme.
now that I think about it-you're right--oops, my mistake. However, I still feel
that between the big hits, there is a lot of other goings on that took me a while to
appreciate. I remember watching a video of it and remarking on how long the opera
is until it gets to the famous Mimi Rodolfo scene (which is logical, since it
happens at the end of act 1(or scene 1--can never remember), but still....). Then I
remember listening to a met broadcast of Lucia and noting that it pretty much was an
unending string of hits.
Capa0848
>From: hojon john...@softcom.net
>Date: 12/20/2000 3:34 PM Pacific Standard Time
>Message-id: <91rfm8$uat$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>
>
>In article <2K906.6098$Sl.3...@iad-read.news.verio.net>,
> "Lee Iovino" <l...@wadc.questsyst.com> wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I am new to this genre of music and love what I have heard so far
>(though
>> I'm told here that its crap). Any suggestions of who I should listen
>to,
>> specifically?
>>
>The posters preceeding this one are some of the heavyweights on this
>ng, and they've given you some great suggestions. I respect every
>choice they've made, although some of G.Riggs selections may be a
>little premature for a newcomer IMVHO. Wish I had some of those old-
>timers, Geoffrey! Lee- you might stick to the Romantics for now.
>Puccini, Mascagni, Massenet and work up to the meat of the opera world:
Best Wishes.
>--
>John-Putnam
===============
A good response on the whole, but Mascagni a romantic?? I don't know all of
his work, but far and away his most famous piece, Cavalleria Rusticana, is the
quintessence of Verismo, an earthy Italian naturalism. Verism is an offshoot
of realism that not only examines the seamy side of life, but sometimes seems
to involve the active turning over of rocks to look for it.
Romanticism, OTOH, frequently involves subject matter that is remote from the
reader/listener in terms of time, space, and even "reality". Dreams, myths,
fairy tales and folklore are the stuff of romanticism, even though their
substance is not "real".
Romanticism always differs from classicism or realism in its attitude toward
nature, a subject explored by every school; Classicists look to nature to study
its forms, its patterns. Realists often look to nature with an eye to how it
might be put to practical use. True romantics believe, that one can learn more
about the true meaning of life by communing with nature, not by studying it,
but rather by inhaling it, than from all of the dusty tomes in the library
Regards,
Pat
hojon
My mistake is that I included it in the Romantic school. And if we
look at it philosophically -- like the Iolanthe I'm listening to at the
present, it would qualify as Romantic. Yes?(the Iolanthe)
John-Putnam
ho...@yahoo.com
In article <20001221085450...@ng-cc1.aol.com>,
capa...@aol.com (Capa0848) wrote:
> >Subject: Re: Newbie Looking For Suggestions
> >
Sent via Deja.com
http://www.deja.com/
STF Filmz
if it contains an English translation of the libretto, which is the printed
text. You will be able to follow the action much more closely if you know what
everyone is saying! A lot of the budget-price or "live" recordings only include
a short synopsis, at best. So for newbies, major labels such as EMI, RCA,
London, etc. might be a safer choice, even if the performances can't match some
of the old live "classic" performances. It's your call.
Faerie Godmother
CarlosUK <carl...@aol.com> wrote in message
> In terms of complete opera, you can start with Carmen or La
Boheme. They are
> full of action and the music in both masterpieces is superb.
The first opera I ever saw live (as an adult) was Carmen, and I was
rapidly hooked. I think most performances of operas, whether live
or whether on video, are easier for newbies to take in than audio
recordings. There is also something special about attending an
opera, with the programme, surtitles and the action.
Moira, the Faerie Godmother
Matthew B. Tepper
<91rqvt$1qa$1...@slb6.atl.mindspring.net>:
Schuyler Chapin, however, holds a place in history as one of the three non-
awful heads of Columbia Masterworks (and its successors). See the
following chart of comparisons:
Goddard Lieberson :: Augustus
Schuyler Chapin :: Tiberius
Joe Dash :: Caligula
Gunther Breest :: Claudius
Peter Gelb :: Nero
Dylan Bryan-Dolman
> > G Riggs <ehu...@concentric.net> suggested:
> > >
> > > [Many full-length live recordings of not-exactly-pretty singing]
> >
> > Lee, don't be discouraged if you can't enjoy the recordings Gordon
> > suggests. They are not easy for a novice to appreciate.
>
> As someone whom I always took to be one of the most perceptive
contributors
> on this forum, perhaps you can answer a few questions:
>
> 1) How exactly do the likes of Elisabeth Schumann, Sergei Lemeshev,
Giuseppe
> Di Stefano, Erna Berger, Sandor Konya, Ettore Bastianini, Zinka Milanov et
> al qualify as "not-exactly-pretty singing"?
These voices are very beautiful, but pretty in a modern pop sense, no. None
has the softness of tone and approach that someone who is used to voices
trained for a microphone expects. Bjoerling doesn't either, but his basic
quality is so gorgeous and in some ways similar to Bocelli's. And Price did
in some ways exploit the possibilities of studio singing to make the most of
her unusual and imperfect voice. Most importantly, these discs present
opera in digestible chunks rather than as a huge, scary mass.
> 2) Who is this Gordon character?
Oops -- he's someone from another newsgroup whose last name also begins with
R. But judging by your inexplicable compliment above, I suspect you've got
the wrong guy too.
> 3) While we should feel free to recommend whatever recordings have given
us,
> personally, some pleasure in the past, does that mean we can pre-emptively
> assume that certain other recordings suggested by other listeners must
needs
> fail to give pleasure to those experiencing opera for the first time? Do
> any of us have a magic pipeline to newbies' brains?
I didn't mean to quash you, and I know lots of people have come to opera in
unusual ways -- through wandering into a rehearsal of Parsifal or whatever.
I didn't become a real fan until I discovered and played to bits the London
LP sets of Britten's operas in my college's library. However, I just don't
see someone making the leap directly from a Bocelli disc to live di Stefano.
For most people, a collection of arias from the studio era is the easiest
way to begin (listening -- of course attending opera is the best way of
all). You see opera as someone who already knows and loves it well -- but
it presents real barriers for people who don't.
Dylan
=dbd=
hojon
oy兀earthlink.net (Matthew B. Tepper) wrote:
> Schuyler Chapin, however, holds a place in history as one of the
three non-
> awful heads of Columbia Masterworks (and its successors). See the
> following chart of comparisons:
>
> Goddard Lieberson :: Augustus
> Schuyler Chapin :: Tiberius
> Joe Dash :: Caligula
> Gunther Breest :: Claudius
> Peter Gelb :: Nero
>
> --
> Matthew B. Tepper: WWW, science fiction, classical music, ducks!
> My personal home page -- http://home.earthlink.net/~oy/index.html
> My main music page --- http://home.earthlink.net/~oy/berlioz.html
> To write to me, do for my address what Androcles did for the lion
> "Compassionate Conservatism?" * "Tight Slacks?" * "Jumbo Shrimp?"
>
Knew the first two! Not personally, but through their good works!
The comparisons are HILARIOUS!!! Especially for last three.
--
John-Putnam
ho...@yahoo.com
si...@webtv.net
2cd set released by RCA that is priced as if it were one cd. it
features 36 different singers such as Sills, Horne, Ramey, Emma Eames,
Rise Stevens, and so on. It is a great set for beginners(he says not
humbly) to hear many singers in many styles. It's a great set for us
old opera hands as well. Best John
CarlosUK
please do not suggest Britten for a newbie, he might give up before liestening
to REAL and COMPETENT composers.
Dylan Bryan-Dolman
I didn't; I pointed out that I, as a newbie, had been turned on to opera by
Britten. And Britten was nothing if not a craftsman, so you'll have to find
a slur other than "incompetent." Many people find his music cold -- you
could try saying that.
Dylan
=dbd=
Umbramafe
everything you read on this newsgroup with a grain of salt. Listen first to
those operas you like AND to those artists you like. I am 60 yrs old and have
been listening to opera for at least 45 years. I am not afraid to admit that I
am still learning to appreciate Callas, with some success and am still trying
to appreciate, also with some success Strauss (Richard that
is). If you haven't already done so, begin with Puccini (Tosca was must first
full length opera), especially Tosca, Boheme, Butterfly. You'll then be ready
to move to Verdi, especially Trovatore, Forza, Rigoletto. These, of course,
will give you some of the sense of drama, passion, and art about which opera is
all about. After listening to each of the above three or four times, try to
take in a livbe opera of several of them. You will soon be hooked and begin to
expand your interest for other operas. While all this is going on read about
opera. I wish you a lifetime of enjoyment.