Anybody into opera?

organ
organ Posts: 4,969
edited November 2003 in Music & Movies
I love opera but all my recordings are very old(1955-1970's). The recording on these are amazing. I want to listen to some modern day performers but don't know any. Any recommendations for good opera performers? I'm mostly interested in sopranos.

Maurice
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,647
    edited October 2003
    Originally posted by organ
    I'm mostly interested in sopranos.

    .....and Tony is probably interested in you too.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,741
    edited October 2003
    Sean likes Irish Opera.....
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited October 2003
    .....and Tony is probably interested in you too.
    Huh?

    Sid,
    Never heard Irish opera. I only have French and Italian stuff.

    Maurice
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    edited October 2003
    Hello Maurice,
    I can highly recommend Cecilia Bartoli as a modern classical singer who has a beautiful voice. While its not an opera recording, her CD "The Vivaldi Album" is excellent. She researched the original manuscripts and worked to get the most authentic lyrics and musical notations. She really wanted to understand the songs and interpret them as the composer might have intended.
    Ken
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited October 2003
    Thank you Ken. I'm going to order that CD. Sounds very interesting with the research and stuff. I guess I should've mentioned that I also enjoy classical singing as much as opera. So far the only modern classical singer I've heard is Sarah Brightman. It's too bad that she's moved away from her classical/opera roots but I still enjoy the new stuff as much as the old ones. You might want to check out her "Classics" album. It's all her classical/opera work up to the "Eden" album plus seven new tracks. Excellent CD. She has one of the most beatiful voice too.

    Maurice
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,647
    edited October 2003
    Tony Soprano.......fictional mob boss on HBO.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited October 2003
    Aaah. Those mob shows. Don't know anything about them. All I watch is The Simpsons, Seinfeld and a lot of TLC/Discovery:).

    Maurice
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  • bikezappa
    bikezappa Posts: 2,463
    edited October 2003
    Organ

    I will recommend the movie Aria. Eight famous directors get to add video to 8 famous arias. They singing performances are legendary. I won't tell any more so as not to spoil your first viewing. This movie got me into opera. Most people think that the movies and the stories today are on the edge. Crap. The stories in operas have topics that can't be shown on any movie.
    Have fun. The sound is a little brittle because the recordings are old.
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    edited October 2003
    Hello Maurice,
    Thanks for the recommendation, I'm not familiar with her work, but will certainly do so.
    My wife and I have been watching some great classic movies on DVD (good old Netflix). We saw "Carmen Jones" with Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Belafonte (unfortunately their voices were dubbed) Pearl Bailey and a very young Diahann Carroll. The movie was really great, one dynamic scene after the other. Great acting, tight production, allot of the locals looked real, not some stage set. For someone who wants to find out about classical singing and maybe opera, its a great way to begin.
    I've been humming the Bizet ever since!
    Ken
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  • phoneisbusy
    phoneisbusy Posts: 867
    edited October 2003
    Originally posted by organ
    I love opera but all my recordings are very old(1955-1970's). The recording on these are amazing. I want to listen to some modern day performers but don't know any. Any recommendations for good opera performers? I'm mostly interested in sopranos.

    Maurice

    You might want to check out Renee Fleming. I friend loaned her "The Beautiful Voice" to me. I found it very enjoyable.
    Been meaning to pick it up.

    regards

    Dave
    Time is the best teacher. Unfortunately it kills all its students.
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited October 2003
    bikezappa,
    Thanks, I will look for that video. I agree that the stories in opera have topics which can't be shown in movies, but IMO the emotions a good singer puts into a song is opera's strength. I finished Madama Butterfly and through out the whole opera, I was able to picture a film and knew the emotions each character was going through. I liked it so much that I bought another version with Mirella Freni which is also very good but I like the one with Maria Callas more. I'm about half way through Bizet's Carmen and I'm really enjoying that one too.

    Ken,
    I'll check that out too. I don't mind dubbed voices. Can't wait to see the stage on that.
    If you want to check out Sarah Brightman, the best CD to start with is probably her "Classics" album or "La Luna". "Eden" is just as good too. Her newest album "Harem" is very different. The opera and classic singing are almost gone but her beautiful voice and music is still there. She also has two concert DVD's.

    phoneisbusy,
    I think I've heard a song by Renee Fleming. Can't really remember but that name sounds farmiliar. I'll get that along with the 2 videos and CD's. Once I get my paycheck, I'm going on an opera shopping frenzy:).

    Thanks again guys.

    Maurice
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  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited October 2003
    Originally posted by organ
    Aaah. Those mob shows. Don't know anything about them. All I watch is The Simpsons, Seinfeld and a lot of TLC/Discovery:).

    Maurice

    Then you should add South Park to that list:D

    Twin
    ***WAREMTAE***
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  • Polk-a-nizer
    Polk-a-nizer Posts: 225
    edited November 2003
    Maybe I like Opera, maybe I don't..... there's just something about a viking chick with big **** that always has her mouth open like this:o that really gets me going. Hmmmmmmm..........:D
    ††Polk-A-Nizer~~Ulrich††
    Nizer The Wizer
    "I can blast my Polks longer and they keep getting stronger!"
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited November 2003
    there's just something about a viking chick with big **** that always has her mouth open like this that really gets me going. Hmmmmmmm..........

    I'm guessing you haven't seen the hot ones eh?



    Maurice
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