BaL 28.11.15 - Bellini: Norma

[DracoM]

Excellent review, full of careful technical analyses, and reasoned choice.
I'm afraid Sutherland still does it for me, and Bartoli deffo NOT. Bit surprised at his praise for it.
But what was fine about this review was that it made me re-think my acceptance of Sutherland in competition with other distinguished practitioners. Exactly what CD review's BAL should do, of course - challenge us.

[visualnickmos]

Excellent review, full of careful technical analyses, and reasoned choice.
I'm afraid Sutherland still does it for me, and Bartoli deffo NOT. Bit surprised at his praise for it.
But what was fine about this review was that it made me re-think my acceptance of Sutherland in competition with other distinguished practitioners. Exactly what CD review's BAL should do, of course - challenge us.

Absolutely - one the best.

Slightly OT, I find that as the years go by, I'm increasingly drawn to Joan Sutherland as a performer. The more I hear her, the more I enjoy, and the more I find beauty and depth in her voice.

[Nick Armstrong]

I am surprised not many comments?

I'm not.

Exactly what CD review's BAL should do, of course - challenge us.

Always up for a challenge But I'm still totally unconverted to this sort of music after hearing that. And as ever the challenge when Bartoli opens her mouth is not to reach for the industrial ear-plugs.

Excellent review, full of careful technical analyses, and reasoned choice.

Yes, nice to hear a good brain at work. But...

It was amusing to hear the wholesale dismissal of all DVD versions (the chosen one seemed to be very much faute de mieux)...

.

Just read your post, mike:

Bartoli and Jo's singing is just so beautiful

...one man's meat, mr aldren...!

Enjoy!

[Richard Tarleton]

Agreed with DracoM on all counts - a return to form for Roger Parker after his essay-crisis Ballo. I find Bellini in a class of his own among bel canto opera composers. This little essay by Stephen Hough refers to his influence on Chopin, for example - Bellini a supremely gifted melodist and master of the long legato line.

Due to the early influence of Bellini, a 'singing' approach to the keyboard, both lyric and coloratura, is essential in all of Chopin's music. It is never enough to 'rattle out' the notes....

Spot-the-singer (where he didn't announce it first) enjoyable as ever - I identified the appalling Mario del Monaco at first bark. I shan't be adding to my collection - I don't think - but the discussion of the Bartoli was intriguing. I loved the sound of that DVD in darkness and a howling gale, it sounded most appropriate.

[Nick Armstrong]

I loved the sound of that DVD in darkness and a howling gale, it sounded most appropriate.

Agreed! ...as, presumably, you can't see or more importantly hear any of the opera!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Not just one of the best BaLs. Surely THE best ever. Before it began, I thought I was going to be bored by it.


Next week it's "live".

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Scotto/Levine sounded rather good to me.

[HighlandDougie]

It was less of a squall-fest than I feared - much enjoyed Mr Parker's approach. As I have Callas in the most recent scrubbed-up version, the credit card can stay in the drawer (although, unlike M'lud, I do rather like La Bartolina's voice). Anyway, as a treat:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIQQv39dcNE

[Nick Armstrong]

Anyway, as a treat:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIQQv39dcNE

...it's a very silent gale

I am going to listen to this BAL again this weekend, as it's frustrating and intriguing that I simply can't hear what people get out of this sort of music and performance.

[Richard Tarleton]

I am going to listen to this BAL again this weekend, as it's frustrating and intriguing that I simply can't hear what people get out of this sort of music and performance.

just put all thoughts of Rossini and Donizetti aside, this is different. If Wagner liked it....see here

The second Norma-Adalgisa duet (two versions played here) a sublime operatic moment, IMV.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

just put all thoughts of Rossini and Donizetti aside, this is different. If Wagner liked it....see here

I didn't listen this morning - I have a Live MONO recording conducted by Gui from 1937 (which, according to my notes, I bought exactly seventeen years ago this very day!) - enjoyable enough, but I haven't played it this century; too many other things more important to me.

And it was another waggoner composer's enthusiasm for the work that piqued my interest in the work. Elliott Carter was visiting the Huddersfield Festival for the last time, having recently completed his first (and, as it turned out, alas, only) opera. In a public discussion with the Festival founder and Artistic Director, Richard Steinitz asked him which operas in the repertoire he most admired (and, from his reaction to the answer, he might have been expecting Wagner, Monteverdi, Berg, Debussy, Mussorgsky) and was astonished that the first work he cited was Bellini's Norma.

With such Musical minds in its support, I really feel that I ought to listen again - and it's certainly not a case of not liking the piece - but ... well, there's so many other things on my "to do" list.

[ardcarp]

I enjoyed the review hugely, even though my love of opera ends with Fidelio and begins again with Britten....so I guess I'm with Calibs in my tastes. I loved the Soviet underpants comment....but then I'm puerile. I was amazed to hear that some mezzos had arias transposed down. How weird. What does it do for the key structure of an opera? Can one imagine doing the same in a Bach Passion or even in Die Zauberflote?

Mrs A commented that Roger Parker reminded her of Will Self...in the unlikely event of his appearing on BAL.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I was amazed to hear that some mezzos had arias transposed down. How weird. What does it do for the key structure of an opera? Can one imagine doing the same in a Bach Passion or even in Die Zauberflote?

Joan Sutherland sings "I know that my Redeemer Liveth" transposed up a tone in the Bonynge recording of Handel's Messiah.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Handel-JOAN-SUTHERLAND-RICHARD-BONYNGE/dp/B00Q51PYSG

[David-G]

.... it's frustrating and intriguing that I simply can't hear what people get out of this sort of music and performance.

Whereas, I find it frustrating and intriguing that you do not appreciate its manifest beauties!

[Nick Armstrong]

Whereas, I find it frustrating and intriguing that you do not appreciate its manifest beauties!

My only comfort is a slightly more bullet-proof current account than would otherwise be the case!