"Cavalleria Rusticana" and "The Scarlet Pimpernel"
Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana" (Rustic Chivalry, 1998)
http://www.amazon.com/Mascagni-Cavalleria-Rusticana-Pietro/dp/B000001GCL/ref=sr_1_11/104-1816429-3214307?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176988017&sr=1-11
This version features the ever-popular Placido Domingo as Turiddu. While I have liked him in many things, for some reason I was just not thrilled with this version of the opera. The singing was fine, but to me there was little emotion, and I felt that the pace of the music was just way too fast to really convey the heartbreak and betrayal of the story correctly. It felt more like everyone was just going through the motions to throw out another opera recording.
Rating: 6/10 (although I'm sure others will disagree with me)
"Cavelleria Rusticana" (Teatro Alla Scalla Recording)
http://www.amazon.com/Mascagni-Cavalleria-Rusticana-Herbert-Karajan/dp/B000031WYP/ref=sr_1_8/104-1816429-3214307?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176988017&sr=1-8
I infinitely prefer this version to the above version- the pacing, the singing (which is wrought with emotion), everything works for me in this recording. You can just hear the grief dripping from every note Santuzza wails in anguish. I will admit that the singing may not be the most beautiful I have ever heard, but I think that is fitting for this opera, considering its expressly "anti-chivalrous" tone. And I think what really notches it for me is that the pacing is slowed down in all of the right places, making the fast parts even more effective by the dichotomy of the timing. Just another reason why Karajan is one of my favorite conductors.
Rating: 10/10
The Scarlet Pimpernel: Encore! (1998 Broadway Revival Cast)
http://www.amazon.com/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Encore-Broadway-Revival/dp/B00002MZ29/ref=sr_1_2/104-1816429-3214307?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176986414&sr=8-2
This was one of those "impulse" buys strictly to satisfy curiosity- I had neither heard or seen this musical before I bought the soundtrack, which I found while perusing the shelves at B&N. I had read the book before, but that was it. So, what is the opinion of someone not biased by having watched the musical before hearing the music? I'm amazed to say this, but I like it...but for all of the wrong reasons. The lyrics are some of the cheesiest I've heard since the Disney musicals of the 90's, the music goes from tepid to full-out orchestration without much if any transition, and the singing is absolutely over the top, no matter what the subject matter. There are a few songs that are actually witty and well done, such as "The Creation of Man" and "They Seek Him Here"- although, if you have no knowledge of the story, the humor of these may be lost on you. But it makes me wonder, if they can come up with clever lyrics for the songs which are *supposed* to be funny, why on earth could they not come up with good lyrics for the rest of the music? Literally, every other song takes itself too seriously to be effective at all. I would have to give the prize for "World's Most Overdone Villain's Song" to "Falcon in the Dive". Lyrics such as "And soon the moon will smolder/And the winds will drive/Yes a man grows older/But his soul remains alive" should be have been guillotined along with all of those French aristocrats. I could go on to describe the incredibly corny love ballads that infest this soundtrack at every turn, and how every song has to end with a big, overdone finish, but I digress: I have to admit that, because of all of its faults, it makes for absolutely hilarious listening. No one said music had to be good to be entertaining. I can't, in good conscience, recommend anyone *buy* this soundtrack, unless you have money to waste on bad music. But it is funny, nevertheless.
Rating: 4/10
http://www.amazon.com/Mascagni-Cavalleria-Rusticana-Pietro/dp/B000001GCL/ref=sr_1_11/104-1816429-3214307?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176988017&sr=1-11
This version features the ever-popular Placido Domingo as Turiddu. While I have liked him in many things, for some reason I was just not thrilled with this version of the opera. The singing was fine, but to me there was little emotion, and I felt that the pace of the music was just way too fast to really convey the heartbreak and betrayal of the story correctly. It felt more like everyone was just going through the motions to throw out another opera recording.
Rating: 6/10 (although I'm sure others will disagree with me)
"Cavelleria Rusticana" (Teatro Alla Scalla Recording)
http://www.amazon.com/Mascagni-Cavalleria-Rusticana-Herbert-Karajan/dp/B000031WYP/ref=sr_1_8/104-1816429-3214307?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176988017&sr=1-8
I infinitely prefer this version to the above version- the pacing, the singing (which is wrought with emotion), everything works for me in this recording. You can just hear the grief dripping from every note Santuzza wails in anguish. I will admit that the singing may not be the most beautiful I have ever heard, but I think that is fitting for this opera, considering its expressly "anti-chivalrous" tone. And I think what really notches it for me is that the pacing is slowed down in all of the right places, making the fast parts even more effective by the dichotomy of the timing. Just another reason why Karajan is one of my favorite conductors.
Rating: 10/10
The Scarlet Pimpernel: Encore! (1998 Broadway Revival Cast)
http://www.amazon.com/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Encore-Broadway-Revival/dp/B00002MZ29/ref=sr_1_2/104-1816429-3214307?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176986414&sr=8-2
This was one of those "impulse" buys strictly to satisfy curiosity- I had neither heard or seen this musical before I bought the soundtrack, which I found while perusing the shelves at B&N. I had read the book before, but that was it. So, what is the opinion of someone not biased by having watched the musical before hearing the music? I'm amazed to say this, but I like it...but for all of the wrong reasons. The lyrics are some of the cheesiest I've heard since the Disney musicals of the 90's, the music goes from tepid to full-out orchestration without much if any transition, and the singing is absolutely over the top, no matter what the subject matter. There are a few songs that are actually witty and well done, such as "The Creation of Man" and "They Seek Him Here"- although, if you have no knowledge of the story, the humor of these may be lost on you. But it makes me wonder, if they can come up with clever lyrics for the songs which are *supposed* to be funny, why on earth could they not come up with good lyrics for the rest of the music? Literally, every other song takes itself too seriously to be effective at all. I would have to give the prize for "World's Most Overdone Villain's Song" to "Falcon in the Dive". Lyrics such as "And soon the moon will smolder/And the winds will drive/Yes a man grows older/But his soul remains alive" should be have been guillotined along with all of those French aristocrats. I could go on to describe the incredibly corny love ballads that infest this soundtrack at every turn, and how every song has to end with a big, overdone finish, but I digress: I have to admit that, because of all of its faults, it makes for absolutely hilarious listening. No one said music had to be good to be entertaining. I can't, in good conscience, recommend anyone *buy* this soundtrack, unless you have money to waste on bad music. But it is funny, nevertheless.
Rating: 4/10