Some of you may know that I used to sing a bit: So i thought i'd share some of my favorite operas, popular as well as more off beat: -Mozart: The Magic Flute. The are several wonderful recordings, but try Solti's last one. George Bernhard Shaw said Saratro's music is the only music that could have come from the mouth of god. -Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro: Once again, try Solti . it features a stellar cast w/ Ramey, Tom Allen, Te Kanawa, Lucia Popp, and Von Stade. The last 20 minutes of Act 2 will convert you to opera for life -Puccini: Can't ignore La Boheme. Despite wonderful recordings w/ Bjorling, Tebaldi, and others, I can't ignore the Karajan , with Mirella Freni and Luciano "the Refrigerator" Pavarotti. -Puccini: Turandot. contains the famous "Nessun Dorma" of Three Tenors fame, but the finale to act 1 may be my favorite music in the world. start at "non piangere liu" and see if you agree. Get the Mehta , once again with Pavarotti, Joan Sutherland, and Caballe. Opera parlor game: see if you can understand a single word either of the sopranos sings above the staff! -Verdi: The three great operas of his middle period, Rigoletto , La Traviata , and Il Trovatore would each make a good choice, but I prefer my Verdi darker and more brooding. Think Cellos, Basses and Baritones rather than high "C's" Try Don Carlos for the great duet between two basses, and Simon Boccanegra in one of the greatest operatic recording of all time. Wagner: A few years ago I sang my first Ring and it was a mind altering experience. Try Parsifal for its intense spirituality. Meistersinger for it's Joyous Good will, and of couse The Ring . This ast is of course a major investment in terms of both time and money, but it's well worth the effort. If you can't spring for the whole thing, try just the second opera in the tetrology, Die Walkure which contains in Wotan's great farewell to his daughter music of such heart-rending intensity it'll take your breath away.
I highly recommend "Jermiah Symphony"....wonderful piece. Especially "Profonation", I believe it's the second moment. Actually, I have yet to hear the original version of "Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celeste". The only versions that I have heard is from the Star of Indiana Drum Corps 1993 show, and the Spring HS Marching Band 2001 show. I have an mp3 of Spring's 2001 marching show if you want to check it out. I don't know if you're familiar with the marching band activity or not, but they did the Music of Bela Bartok that year. Including "Concerto for Orchestra" & "Music for Strings, Perc. & Celeste". Spring HS has one of the top band programs in the country. Along with their sister school Westfield HS, who is currently the 2003 Bands of America (Marching Band) Grand National Champions. Spring HS, TX 2001 - "Modern Motion: The Music of Bela Bartok"
Penderecki is cool. One review I read of his music called it "cartoon devil music" and it seemed like a very apt description once I had a listen. Ligeti has been on my wishlist at Amazon.com for awhile. I reiterate, Bartok is the shiznit.
I forgot to mention this in my reply earlier, but yeah I have Bernstein's "Candide". IMO, one of Leonard Bernstein's best works along with "Jeremiah Symphony".
btw, i work for a classical music company andante. in additional to our record label we have an immense store of complete performances available in high-quality streaming audio, produced in concert (pun intended!) with the Vienna Philharmonic, Salzburg Festival, Vienna State Opera, La Scala Milan, Concertgebouw (Amsterdam) Orchestra, the London Symphony, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. literally thousands of performances, unavailable anywhere else. if you're interested, check our our free trial membership, then email me through the bbs and I'll get your trial extended for another month. admins, if this sort of thing isn't allowed, please delete this post!
