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Avoiding opera remasters because you want the libretto?
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weary flake
Feb 5, 2016, 6:41:00 PM2/5/16
to
The major labels issued many opera CD sets in the 1980s
and 1990s with libretto booklets included, with remastered
reissues coming more recently.
When shopping for opera, when is it safe to assume that
only the original edition contains the librettos? Always?
I just acquired and listened to Fricsay's Mozart magic
flute, original edition, and this is satisfactory,
having a printed libretto booklet prepared specifically for
the CD edition, like all the popular old CD editions:
http://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Die-Zauberflote-Magic-Flute/dp/B000001GGF/
I assumed that the remastered edition has no libretto,
because no review or internet listing ever mentions it,
so I avoided buying the only edition in print:
http://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Die-Zauberflöte-Magic-Flute/dp/B00005KBJK/
I'm aware that none of the big recent opera boxes by Karajan,
Fricsay, etc., contain librettos, but do *any* of the remastered
individual editions have them? If so, that means the old
editions are the best choice.
By the way, it helps "First Edition" opera CD collecting a lot
to have a supply of new 2 and 4 disc chubby jewel cases, to replace
the grimy, well used, cigaret burned cases with something
shiny new to put your old CDs and well thumbed underlined
librettos into, for something that feels in your hands as
good as new.
and 1990s with libretto booklets included, with remastered
reissues coming more recently.
When shopping for opera, when is it safe to assume that
only the original edition contains the librettos? Always?
I just acquired and listened to Fricsay's Mozart magic
flute, original edition, and this is satisfactory,
having a printed libretto booklet prepared specifically for
the CD edition, like all the popular old CD editions:
http://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Die-Zauberflote-Magic-Flute/dp/B000001GGF/
I assumed that the remastered edition has no libretto,
because no review or internet listing ever mentions it,
so I avoided buying the only edition in print:
http://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Die-Zauberflöte-Magic-Flute/dp/B00005KBJK/
I'm aware that none of the big recent opera boxes by Karajan,
Fricsay, etc., contain librettos, but do *any* of the remastered
individual editions have them? If so, that means the old
editions are the best choice.
By the way, it helps "First Edition" opera CD collecting a lot
to have a supply of new 2 and 4 disc chubby jewel cases, to replace
the grimy, well used, cigaret burned cases with something
shiny new to put your old CDs and well thumbed underlined
librettos into, for something that feels in your hands as
good as new.
woytek
Feb 6, 2016, 3:08:27 AM2/6/16
to
EMI Great Recordings of the Century always had libretto and little essay about the recording. Good, old, times... Right now sometimes there is pdf libretto to download from the publisher site...
Mike
Feb 6, 2016, 4:26:03 AM2/6/16
to
I've not let the absence of booklets with librettos and other information keep me from buying remastered editions. I've kept the old sets so I'll have the booklets. Classical resale prices being as low as they are, I'm now on the verge of keeping the old booklets and donating the old bookletless CDs to a thrift shop.
Raymond Hall
Feb 6, 2016, 5:04:18 AM2/6/16
to
On Saturday, 6 February 2016 20:26:03 UTC+11, Mike wrote:
> I've not let the absence of booklets with librettos and other information keep me from buying remastered editions. I've kept the old sets so I'll have the booklets. Classical resale prices being as low as they are, I'm now on the verge of keeping the old booklets and donating the old bookletless CDs to a thrift shop.
The tendency now is that a lot of good stuff gets re-mastered, and very well too, but comes without librettos. Bernstein's Falstaff sounds gorgeous as does his Rosenkavalier, and as does Leinsdorf's Salome. All without libretto. Seems as though, either for packaging reasons, or for cost, this is the way companies are selling older recordings these days.
> I've not let the absence of booklets with librettos and other information keep me from buying remastered editions. I've kept the old sets so I'll have the booklets. Classical resale prices being as low as they are, I'm now on the verge of keeping the old booklets and donating the old bookletless CDs to a thrift shop.
Ray Hall, Taree
Dana John Hill
Feb 8, 2016, 3:11:11 PM2/8/16
to
I think, as a general rule, it's pretty likely that if an opera
recording has appeared previously on CD with a libretto, its reissue
will lack one. One exception already mentioned is EMI's "Great
Recordings of the Century" titles. DG's "Originals" reissues also
include libretti. Maybe now that Philips and Decca have their own
"Originals" series, those do, too. Decca has or had a series called
"Classic Opera", and these include a printed libretto, according to the
cover, anyway:
http://www.amazon.com/Verdi-Ballo-Maschera-Carlo-Bergonzi/dp/B000N4SJHY/
I've found that Australian Eloquence reissues often include a
libretto/translation. God bless them.
Libretti or not, the vastly improved sound means the new Callas box is
on my wish list, though I don't feel compelled to acquire the Karajan
opera boxes (EMI or DG), nor the Fricsay vocal works box, since I have
most of those recordings on disc already (with libretti included).
I, too, am old fashioned in the sense that I genuinely enjoy sitting
down to listen to an opera recording with the text in my hand. Reading
along on an iPad would require a bit more discipline than I have, and
before I know it I'd be reading the news or browsing Amazon.
Dana
recording has appeared previously on CD with a libretto, its reissue
will lack one. One exception already mentioned is EMI's "Great
Recordings of the Century" titles. DG's "Originals" reissues also
include libretti. Maybe now that Philips and Decca have their own
"Originals" series, those do, too. Decca has or had a series called
"Classic Opera", and these include a printed libretto, according to the
cover, anyway:
http://www.amazon.com/Verdi-Ballo-Maschera-Carlo-Bergonzi/dp/B000N4SJHY/
I've found that Australian Eloquence reissues often include a
libretto/translation. God bless them.
Libretti or not, the vastly improved sound means the new Callas box is
on my wish list, though I don't feel compelled to acquire the Karajan
opera boxes (EMI or DG), nor the Fricsay vocal works box, since I have
most of those recordings on disc already (with libretti included).
I, too, am old fashioned in the sense that I genuinely enjoy sitting
down to listen to an opera recording with the text in my hand. Reading
along on an iPad would require a bit more discipline than I have, and
before I know it I'd be reading the news or browsing Amazon.
Dana
weary flake
Feb 9, 2016, 2:38:51 PM2/9/16
to
On 2016-02-08 20:11:06 +0000, Dana John Hill said:
> I think, as a general rule, it's pretty likely that if an opera
> recording has appeared previously on CD with a libretto, its reissue
> will lack one. One exception already mentioned is EMI's "Great
> Recordings of the Century" titles. DG's "Originals" reissues also
> include libretti. Maybe now that Philips and Decca have their own
> "Originals" series, those do, too. Decca has or had a series called
> "Classic Opera", and these include a printed libretto, according to the
> cover, anyway:
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Verdi-Ballo-Maschera-Carlo-Bergonzi/dp/B000N4SJHY/
A great cover because it is useful: it clearly states LIBRETTO ENCLOSED.
> I think, as a general rule, it's pretty likely that if an opera
> recording has appeared previously on CD with a libretto, its reissue
> will lack one. One exception already mentioned is EMI's "Great
> Recordings of the Century" titles. DG's "Originals" reissues also
> include libretti. Maybe now that Philips and Decca have their own
> "Originals" series, those do, too. Decca has or had a series called
> "Classic Opera", and these include a printed libretto, according to the
> cover, anyway:
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Verdi-Ballo-Maschera-Carlo-Bergonzi/dp/B000N4SJHY/
No guessing games.
Dana John Hill
Feb 9, 2016, 5:29:04 PM2/9/16
to
On 2/9/2016 2:38 PM, weary flake wrote:
> On 2016-02-08 20:11:06 +0000, Dana John Hill said:
>
>> I think, as a general rule, it's pretty likely that if an opera
>> recording has appeared previously on CD with a libretto, its reissue
>> will lack one. One exception already mentioned is EMI's "Great
>> Recordings of the Century" titles. DG's "Originals" reissues also
>> include libretti. Maybe now that Philips and Decca have their own
>> "Originals" series, those do, too. Decca has or had a series called
>> "Classic Opera", and these include a printed libretto, according to
>> the cover, anyway:
>>
>> http://www.amazon.com/Verdi-Ballo-Maschera-Carlo-Bergonzi/dp/B000N4SJHY/
>
> A great cover because it is useful: it clearly states LIBRETTO ENCLOSED.
> No guessing games.
>
I have been grateful that many EMI opera sets include the disclaimer "[X
> On 2016-02-08 20:11:06 +0000, Dana John Hill said:
>
>> I think, as a general rule, it's pretty likely that if an opera
>> recording has appeared previously on CD with a libretto, its reissue
>> will lack one. One exception already mentioned is EMI's "Great
>> Recordings of the Century" titles. DG's "Originals" reissues also
>> include libretti. Maybe now that Philips and Decca have their own
>> "Originals" series, those do, too. Decca has or had a series called
>> "Classic Opera", and these include a printed libretto, according to
>> the cover, anyway:
>>
>> http://www.amazon.com/Verdi-Ballo-Maschera-Carlo-Bergonzi/dp/B000N4SJHY/
>
> A great cover because it is useful: it clearly states LIBRETTO ENCLOSED.
> No guessing games.
>
number of] CDs with slipcase and libretto" in the small box on the back
tray insert of the jewel case where one might find a UPC. This doesn't
do any good to a prospective buyer if the set is sealed, but it does let
someone browsing for used CDs know if the slipcase and booklet are
missing. When my town used to have a couple used CD stores, I was always
bemused to find such incomplete items for sale (at regular price, no
less!).
One substantial drawback of online music shopping is the inability to
physically see the product. It's not always possible to determine
whether an opera set includes a printed libretto if one only sees the
cover on a website. It's quite a bit easier while holding the product in
hand.
Dana
jrsnfld
Feb 9, 2016, 7:12:20 PM2/9/16
to
If it's a well known opera I've probably already got the libretto in another CD or LP recording...or it's easy to find online if I'm researching some question about what's actually happening in the opera. And I don't care much about improvements in subsequent remasterings.
In any case I almost never listen with the words in front of me, because then I find I'm not hearing the music well, which is my principal interest. I know--that makes me an operatic Philistine!
--Jeff
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