BaL 21.05.16 - Handel: Alcina

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Oh dear, not this again.

Wotchyo on about, Alpie? The Bach Sons & Parts?

[Richard Tarleton]

It did give rise to quite a bit of comment from the older and grumpier among us at the time - N Milstein going the way of R Bonynge - but it was probably just the way she said it. I have to say that La Podger is currently my fave version, even knocking La Mullova off her perch.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

certainly Dr Joncus did acknowledge La S's singing

Exactly!

If I was in the market for another version it would be the Christie.

My own preferred recording. (I wasn't keen on the recorded sound of the "chosen" DVD as it "appeared" on my radio yesterday - a bit Bass-"boomy": none of the other extracts came across this way.)

[Nick Armstrong]

Personally I'm sticking with La Stupenda even if she did nick Morgana's aria.

Personally, I've never been able to stick Joan S... but the extract from - not the Bonynge version which did sound horrific - the earlier live performance (with Fritz Wünderlich under Leitner) sounded fab and tempted me to explore further. Download available from http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/DG/4778017

This opera gave me one of the best nights ever in a theatre - at the very last minute (well, about 5 minutes before curtain up), I scored a centre front stalls seat to the 1999 Christie production at the Opéra Garnier with Fleming, Graham, Dessay et al. An entrancing production, with singing and music-making straight out of the very top drawer - enthralling, exhilarating &c. &c. It's a pity it wasn't captured on video (a very poor pirate video exists on YouTube but it's unwatchably bad, ditto the sound).

However.... there's never been a more marked example for me of the magic of the 'live' failing to translate to the silver disc, than the Erato recording with the same performers. I eagerly bought the CD box when it came out - and was bitterly disappointed (I took it back) - dull sound, a horrible fast beat in Fleming's voice and soupy performing style that seemed to have nothing in common with what I'd heard in the opera house...

Definitely not for me.

Personally I was very disappointed that the Hickox version didn't get more of a recommendation - all the more disarming as Ms Joncus started off her review so glowingly about it!

I couldn't agree more. This is the recording I've cherished for years. Haven't listened for a good number of them, though, so am going to dust it off and give it a listen. But my recollection (confirmed from the extracts on BAL) is that Arléen Auger's is the voice that delivers this role best on disc - indeed, she's long been one of my favourite singers of all, and to have her in what is also my favourite Handel opera... well, I think the phrase is 'no contest'.

I enjoyed the BAL though - I had no real problem with Berta J's approach.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Arléen Auger ... long been one of my favourite singers of all

my favourite Handel opera

- for now

[MickyD]

Yep, I'll stick with the Hickox - not only for the wondrous Arleen Auger, but also the sheer beauty of the recorded sound.

[ChrisBennell]

I was able to find the Vienna State Opera production on YouTube - so with that accessed via a Chromecast device on the TV, and with the TV audio connected to the HiFi, I spent an enjoyable hour sampling it last night. I felt it was a very colourful production with some fine performances and brilliant staging. The video on my TV was perfectly acceptable.

Unfortunately (for me) there were no sub-titles, and my Italian is not up to it.

Even the producers are out of stock of the DVDs though. Shame!

[BBMmk2]

I am gad that Christie had the accolade but then so did Marc! I do rather admire the Marc Minkowski conducts! Tempting!

[aeolium]

I've just caught up with this BaL having been away for a week. I thought it was a pretty good survey by Bertha Joncus and one that provided plenty of varied extracts from the terrific music in this opera. She justly praised Sutherland's singing and even if that 1962 recording is spoilt by the rather heavy Bonynge accompaniment and the other ways in which the music is messed about (including sawn-off dacapo arias) I will still listen to it from time to time for some magnificent singing. I'm not as enamoured as BJ of the Christie recording as I'm not so keen on Renee Fleming in this repertoire, and Natalie Dessay's first extract had so much wild ornamentation that it was hard to pick up the main line of the music. Alan Curtis' direction too often leans towards fast tempi for me. The Vienna State Opera DVD which was eventually chosen sounded good from the extracts, and especially the superb "Barbara!" aria by Oberto sung by the treble singer. But like MickyD I'm sticking with the Hickox version which is so well conducted and I think is the only recording which has all the music including additional dance material. And I cannot understand why BJ, though liking Augér, dismissed the rest of the cast in that recording: even if they aren't the starriest names, I don't think any of them lets Hickox down.
But overall a good BaL and I may well try to search out the VSO DVD.

[Stanfordian]

I've just finished watching a brand new Erato Blu-ray of 'Alcina' from the the Aix-en-Provence Festival filmed lived in July 2015 and directed by Katie Mitchell which I think is quite superb.

Patricia Petibon is in stunning form as Alcina and I love Philippe Jaroussky's part as Ruggiero. Mitchell's takes does include S&M, simulated sex scenes which may not be to everyone's taste. Katarina Bradić in the trouser role and Anna Prohaska are both in wonderful form too. Andrea Marcon directs the Freiburger Barockorchester. In my view it's not to be missed!

[aeolium]

I've just finished watching a brand new Erato Blu-ray of 'Alcina' from the the Aix-en-Provence Festival filmed lived in July 2015 and directed by Katie Mitchell which I think is quite superb.

I saw that production a while back on the Opera Platform. I didn't care for the production much but musically it was excellent (and with a fine treble singer as Oberto IIRC).

[doversoul1]

(I posted this link on aeolium’s Opera Platform thread some while ago)

I am not sure if the link is still active, as my Internet connection is a mess and I am unable to try it, but if you like Baroque opera to be free from added ingredients or a modern setting, I think you will like this. The singing and acting, what is there, are, to me, near perfect.

http://www.lamonnaie.be/en/mymm/media/2235/Alcina---George-Frideric-Handel/

[Bryn]

(I posted this link on aeolium’s Opera Platform thread some while ago)

I am not sure if the link is still active, as my Internet connection is a mess and I am unable to try it, but if you like Baroque opera to be free from added ingredients or a modern setting, I think you will like this. The singing and acting, what is there, are, to me, near perfect.

http://www.lamonnaie.be/en/mymm/medi...ideric-Handel/

Thanks. The link works beautifully.

[Stanfordian]

I saw that production a while back on the Opera Platform. I didn't care for the production much but musically it was excellent (and with a fine treble singer as Oberto IIRC).

Hiya aeolium,

It's not available any more Opera Platform. I guess you won't be buying it then! I loved it and it made a big impression on me.