A most impressive collection, especially the earlier ones. Do the 17th and 18th century French works get performed much in France? I've seen Persee, Acteon and Medee but only because one of our local companies specialises in baroque performance. And no Handel, an odd omission?
Yes, they are performed in France, thanks to Christie, Malgoire, Minkowski, Niquet, Reyne, Rousset... Herreweghe was also based in France, and Kuijken in Belgium. I don't go and see operas too often, though. But I plan to hear Lully's motets by Niquet on July 29 in Lessay.
Les Arts Florissants (Christie's ensemble) are sponsored by my region, the western half of Normandy, by the way. They reside in Caen (40 miles away from my hometown) since ten years (they were founded in 1979). Christie is God, here.
No Händel yet. :) Gluck and Händel are the next territories I'll explore. After the masters of the 17th century (Monteverdi, Cavalli, Lully, Charpentier, Purcell) and a lot of Rameau, I need to get more operas from the 18th century.
Of course, there are many other omissions, like bel canto (Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti) that I don't like much, the Russians, Janacek, etc... It's the list of the operas I have, not those I've listened to. :) Some of my favourite operas are not in the list, like Boris Godunov and Bluebeard's Castle.
( ... )
I've always been impressed by Christie's work and Minkowski has conducted here in Toronto.
I saw a fabulous production of Handel's Cleopatra a couple of years ago with the ravishing Isobel Bayrakdarian as Cleo. Best night at the opera I've ever had.
If you are interested in mp3 rips I have a fair bit of Gluck and Handel around. I'll have to check and see exactly what.
Christie became the king of the French early baroque opera with the production and the recording of Lully's Atys in 1987. It was a sensation. I was 20 at the time and you can imagine the impression it made on me. Since then, I've discovered his gorgeous recordings of Charpentier's numerous masterworks, made even years before 1987. Sometimes, though, I don't give him four stars: for example, I prefer Niquet's Pygmalion to Christie's. But he's one of the masters who only make good music, like Jacobs.
Isabel Bayrakdarian? I believe I remember reading something in your journal about her, months ago, and you said very good things about her. Did you see her again more recently?
For a youthful listener...hoshipandaMay 26 2005, 22:15:03 UTC
I am only now beginning to listen to opera. I began with attending my sisters last performance with the Berkeley Orchestra, and the school choir had joined them in their final piece. It was Haydn's Mass in Wartime, as loosely translated in the leaflet. It was so beautiful,I went ot the local library the next day to investigate various choral and opera compilations. I was wondering if you would mind recommending some pieces to me? I'm a young romantic with love for whimsical sound. My ears and stomach cannot tolerate too much loud beating. I do not do well with marching bands would be an accurate way of stating my sensitivity. Sincerely, Dominique
Re: For a youthful listener...mehdi_capsMay 27 2005, 14:26:20 UTC
I just read what you posted in your journal about Dido's Lament. Those words and that music are so touching: "When I am laid in earth, may my wrongs create no trouble in thy heart." Such a noble thought. I sing it every day. I'd have a lot to say about that opera...
You're only beginning? First, welcome to the world of opera! You'll never leave it, I think.
As far as I'm concerned, I started with Mozart: the operas of his last ten years. I came to Wagner very early, but it's not something that I would recommend. Verdi and Puccini are sometimes the next step. Now that it's so easy to find great recordings of pre-Mozartian operas (unlike 20 years ago when I was 18), you could start there too.
But you're looking for nice and romantic arias from various operas, perhaps? Maybe a recital CD could be a good way to have an idea about the whole history of opera? You'll find some good ones in your local public library.
Please let me know if I'm not really answering your question. Do you want titles of arias, of operas?
Re: For a youthful listener...hoshipandaJune 7 2005, 07:18:53 UTC
Thank you for the guidence. If you have specifics to offer, I will gladly receive them. If you had a list of romantic favorites, or possibley only one or two romantic favorites, I would have a narrower line of focus. I'm lucky that the opera section at our local library is two isles long, but without knowledge of what I might enjoy all of the titles tend to blur together. Sory I took so long to respond. ~Dominique
Re: For a youthful listener...mehdi_capsJune 19 2005, 19:21:29 UTC
Dear Dominique,
I didn't answer sooner because I'm still wondering what you mean by "romantic." I believe you'd like to listen to operas that don't contain too many fanfares, battles and tempests... Perhaps you could listen to some of Massenet's operas, then. They are always charming. Well, actually, some of them are very "post-Verdian" (Hérodiade, Le Cid, Esclarmonde). You'll certainly prefer the "pre-Puccinian" ones: Manon, Werther, Thaïs. I don't think it's necessary to understand French to like them. Massenet's music is always beautiful, and in the ballets, he never fails to prove that he's also an brilliant orchestrator. Now, if you understand French, it will be a plus, especially for Werther...
'welcome to the world of opera! You'll never leave it, I think.'
I'm wandering around the world of opera, unable, as you predicted to your correspondent above, to leave and am eager to learn more. It sounds as if you have lots of knowledge I'd like to acquire. I've added you to my 'friends' list in the hope that you'll feel like adding me back.
I'm not sure it's knowledge; it's a passion, first and foremost. But thanks for the undeserved compliments. There's very little to learn in my journal, but I'm adding you back. We've already talked in some places, so we're not strangers. :)
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Les Arts Florissants (Christie's ensemble) are sponsored by my region, the western half of Normandy, by the way. They reside in Caen (40 miles away from my hometown) since ten years (they were founded in 1979). Christie is God, here.
No Händel yet. :) Gluck and Händel are the next territories I'll explore. After the masters of the 17th century (Monteverdi, Cavalli, Lully, Charpentier, Purcell) and a lot of Rameau, I need to get more operas from the 18th century.
Of course, there are many other omissions, like bel canto (Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti) that I don't like much, the Russians, Janacek, etc... It's the list of the operas I have, not those I've listened to. :) Some of my favourite operas are not in the list, like Boris Godunov and Bluebeard's Castle. ( ... )
Reply
I saw a fabulous production of Handel's Cleopatra a couple of years ago with the ravishing Isobel Bayrakdarian as Cleo. Best night at the opera I've ever had.
If you are interested in mp3 rips I have a fair bit of Gluck and Handel around. I'll have to check and see exactly what.
Reply
Isabel Bayrakdarian? I believe I remember reading something in your journal about her, months ago, and you said very good things about her. Did you see her again more recently?
Reply
I'm a young romantic with love for whimsical sound. My ears and stomach cannot tolerate too much loud beating. I do not do well with marching bands would be an accurate way of stating my sensitivity.
Sincerely,
Dominique
Reply
You're only beginning? First, welcome to the world of opera! You'll never leave it, I think.
As far as I'm concerned, I started with Mozart: the operas of his last ten years. I came to Wagner very early, but it's not something that I would recommend. Verdi and Puccini are sometimes the next step. Now that it's so easy to find great recordings of pre-Mozartian operas (unlike 20 years ago when I was 18), you could start there too.
But you're looking for nice and romantic arias from various operas, perhaps? Maybe a recital CD could be a good way to have an idea about the whole history of opera? You'll find some good ones in your local public library.
Please let me know if I'm not really answering your question. Do you want titles of arias, of operas?
Reply
Sory I took so long to respond.
~Dominique
Reply
I didn't answer sooner because I'm still wondering what you mean by "romantic." I believe you'd like to listen to operas that don't contain too many fanfares, battles and tempests... Perhaps you could listen to some of Massenet's operas, then. They are always charming. Well, actually, some of them are very "post-Verdian" (Hérodiade, Le Cid, Esclarmonde). You'll certainly prefer the "pre-Puccinian" ones: Manon, Werther, Thaïs. I don't think it's necessary to understand French to like them. Massenet's music is always beautiful, and in the ballets, he never fails to prove that he's also an brilliant orchestrator. Now, if you understand French, it will be a plus, especially for Werther...
Yours,
Marc D.
Reply
I'm wandering around the world of opera, unable, as you predicted to your correspondent above, to leave and am eager to learn more. It sounds as if you have lots of knowledge I'd like to acquire. I've added you to my 'friends' list in the hope that you'll feel like adding me back.
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