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Author	Topic: Favorite Operas

SFT Standard Userer	Since some people seem to think this board is dead, I thought I´d hurry up and post a new topic, unoriginal as it may be - - - - Okay - if you had to make a top-five list of your favourte operas, which would you choose? Mine would be something like this: 1. Wuthering Heights - Herrmann 2. Pelleas et Melisande - Debussy 3. Duke Bluebeard´s Castle - Bartók 4. Die Teufel von Loudun - Penderecki 5. Tristan und Isolde - Wagner Well, what´s your favourite operas? SFT NP: Snows of Kilimanjaro, Bernard Herrmann (Stromberg cond.) ****/***
posted 10-02-2001 01:11 PM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Standard Userer	The absolutely best opera: Boris Godunov by Mussorgsky. Other favourites are The Flying Dutchman and Carmen.
posted 10-02-2001 01:55 PM PT (US)

Aaron Collins Standard Userer	Some that come to mind that were composed in the last century are: - John Corigliano's The Ghosts of Versailles - John Adams's El Nino - Tobias Picker's Emmeline There are all the classics but these are all great operas! Check them out. Aaron NP: Salonen - LA Variations
posted 10-02-2001 06:24 PM PT (US)

wistiti Standard Userer	I have only heard three operas that I truly, really, very much, absolutely like: Prince Igor (Borodin) Ruslan and Ludmila (Glinka) A life for the Tsar (Glinka) quote: Originally posted by Aaron Collins: NP: Salonen - LA Variations Coincidence? NP: Salonen - LA Variations
posted 10-06-2001 12:17 PM PT (US)

SFT Standard Userer	I´ve wanted to hear "Boris Godunov" for a long time. Which is the best recording? SFT NP: Krull, James Horner
posted 10-19-2001 10:30 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Standard Userer	Can't say I've heard too many, but the recording with Ghiaurov and the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Karajan is excellent. I've read complaints that the interpretation is not dark enough, but it's brilliantly glorious. Performance and sound quality are first rate. (This one) NP: Demolition Man (Elliot Goldenthal)
posted 10-19-2001 01:18 PM PT (US)

SFT Standard Userer	What about the five disc set with Valery Gergiev conducting the Kirov Orchestra in two versions of the opera? Have you heard that one? SFT NP: Cop Land, Howard Shore
posted 10-19-2001 01:33 PM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Standard Userer	No, haven't heard it. But I can tell you a bit about the original version, which I've seen at the opera earlier this year (in German ). It's MUCH shorter and doesn't only lack one complete act (totally unimportant to the story, but with nice music) but also the great rebellion finale. NP: Urban Legend, Promo (Christopher Young)
posted 10-19-2001 02:27 PM PT (US)

wistiti Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by SFT: What about the five disc set with Valery Gergiev conducting the Kirov Orchestra in two versions of the opera? Have you heard that one? SFT NP: Cop Land, Howard Shore From my limited experience: stay away from it! I have one Gergiev/Kirov album and I've heard excerpts from a couple of others of those Philips albums. Sound and performances are pretty lame, tempos either too fast or too slow, soloists and orchestra not in sync... I'll never buy another Gergiev/Kirov opera. (unless they sell them for 5$). If I were to choose a Godunov recording, I'd try hunting down the now extict Sony Classical recording with Tchakarov/Sofia Festival Orchestra. S3K 45763 or SK45763. [Message edited by wistiti on 10-22-2001]
posted 10-22-2001 01:53 PM PT (US)

JJH Standard Userer	Wozzeck, Alban Berg heartbreaking NP -- just listening to the radio where they've just stated that the Montreal Expos and Florida Marlins are being disbanded
posted 10-22-2001 11:13 PM PT (US)

SFT Standard Userer	Wistiti, Hmmm...I´ve always thought of Gergiev as one of the top conductors out there - though I haven´t really heard many of his recordings. He got nothing but praise for his rendition of Stravinsky´s Firebird and his Nutcracker (which I own) is simply amazing - maybe THE best recording of Tchaikowsky´s ballet. Well, maybe he´s just not much of an opera conductor... SFT
posted 10-23-2001 08:52 AM PT (US)

LemonsAreIcky Standard Userer	Carmen all the way, without a doubt. Nothing can beat that.
posted 10-24-2001 07:03 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by LemonsAreIcky: Carmen all the way, without a doubt. Nothing can beat that. And again I'm very happy with my Karajan recording, with the Berlin Philharmonic and Agnes Baltsa, José Carreras and José van Dam.
posted 10-24-2001 09:39 AM PT (US)

SFT Standard Userer	Well, Carmen has never been one of my favourites, though it does have its moments. Incidentally, I too have that Karajan recording. Too rough-edged for me...not one of his best opera recordings, I think. SFT NP: Planet of the Apes, Elfman ***/****
posted 10-24-2001 09:52 AM PT (US)

SCimmerian Standard Userer	I would have to say it would most surely be Puccini TURANDOT. The ultimate recording is Mehta/London Philharmonic/Sutherland,Pavarotti,Caballe.LONDON 414274-2. Totally gloriously beautiful.
posted 10-24-2001 01:41 PM PT (US)

Good King Harry Standard Userer	How about a trio of great operas, which each have a great trio: 1. Puccini TURANDOT - Act II, Scene I 2. Strauss DER ROSENKAVALIER - Finale 3. Mozart COSI FAN TUTTE - Act I, "Soave il vento"
posted 10-29-2001 01:30 PM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Standard Userer	And of course, Cavalleria Rusticana is not to be neglected either!
posted 10-29-2001 01:56 PM PT (US)

SPQR Standard Userer	Favourites: Peter Grimes - Britten Der Fern Klang - Schrecker Salome - Strauss Oedipus Rex - Stravinsky King Roger - Syzmanowski Wozzek - Berg La Grande Macabre - Ligeti La Nozze di Figaro - Mozart Orpheo et Eurydice - Gluck And then there a good many operas which are bloated and unwieldy and, I'd be hard pressed to say I enjoy every last minute of them. Nevertheless, a number of these behemoths do contain some gorgeous singing and music, such as: Les Troyens - Berlioz Mephistophle - Boito Boris Goudonov - Mussorgsky Parsifal - Wagner The Ring Cycle - Wagner oops...forget Das Wunder der Heliane - Korngold [Message edited by SPQR on 11-03-2001]
posted 11-02-2001 12:56 AM PT (US)

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