Comments on: For the Love of Opera

By: jim goulding

jim goulding — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 03:44:07 +0000

A recommendation for anyone’s library and listening, Bach’s Actus Tragicus. Get the version from Harmonia Mundi (france). I read a BBC review that said it is a “beautifully warm and detailed recording”. My copy is years old on HM (deutsche) vinyl. This never gets old to me. It’s literally a cantata but don’t let that stop you.

By: Rim Yi

Rim Yi — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 21:00:20 +0000

You really need to see a full production live to appreciate the drama of music and stage. I love the music by it self because I can visualize the scenes in my head. If you are new to Opera and can’t go to a live production, I would get a Blu-ray or DVD production to experience the theatrics along with the music. I like the Blu-ray, La Boheme: the film, starting Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon. I would also recommend Turandot at the Forbidden City of Beijing (in DVD) because the whole production directed by Zhang Yimou is out of this world.

We can discuss the finer points of audio recordings later if you want. I have my favorites and prejudices and I prefer the sound of vinyl for pure audio. In fact, I got back into vinyl only because a bulk of opera productions I like were not being reproduced in CD. Then some of them didn’t sound right either. Don’t get me started on the grating sound of digitalic Callas….

By: Patrick Dillon

Patrick Dillon — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 19:45:17 +0000

Rim — I love it — it would be great if you (or a knowledgeable reader of this column) would add a list of recommended recordings of great opera to get novices excited about this genre.