Tuesday, 4 December 2012

December 4: Verdi vs. Wagner

Viva Verdi!! (this post contains my biased opinion based on facts and other feelings)



GIUSEPPE VERDI 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901

RICHARD WAGNER 22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883


Wagner 100 year on May 22, and Verdi is on October 10. May 22 was also the day I first saw opera (operetta) live in theatre, in 1981, but VERDI wins since the best ever concert was the Verdi Gala in Parma on October 10, 2004.
This is true bias in this science, folks!!
RICHARD WAGNER'S OPERATIC WORKS
TITLELIBRETTO COMPLETEDMUSIC COMPLETEDFIRST PERFORMED
Die FeenJanuary 1833January 183429 June 1888 Munich
Das LiebesverbotOctober 1834Spring 183629 March 1836 Magdeburg
Rienzi, der Letzte der TribunenAugust 1838November 184020 October 1842 Dresden
Der fliegende HolländerMay 1841November 184102 January 1843 Dresden
TannhäuserApril 1843April 184519 October 1845 Dresden
LohengrinNovember 1845August 184728 August 1850 Weimar
Das RheingoldNovember 1852September 185422 September 1869 Munich
Die WalküreJuly 1852March 185626 June 1870 Munich
SiegfriedJune 1851February 187116 August 1876 Bayreuth
GötterdämmerungNovember 1848November 187416 August 1876 Bayreuth
Tristan und IsoldeSeptember 1857August 185910 June 1865 Munich
Die Meistersinger von NürnbergJanuary 1862October 186721 June 1868 Munich
ParsifalApril 1877January 188226 July 1882 Bayreuth

From website Wagner Operas: 13 operas by Richard Wagner (BAD number

Wikipedia article

Verdi's operas, and their date of première are:
Oberto, 17 November 1839
Un giorno di regno, 5 September 1840
Nabucco, 9 March 1842
I Lombardi alla prima crociata, 11 February 1843
Ernani, 9 March 1844
I due Foscari, 3 November 1844
Giovanna d'Arco, 15 February 1845
Alzira, 12 August 1845
Attila, 17 March 1846
Macbeth, 14 March 1847
I masnadieri, 22 July 1847
Jérusalem (a revision and translation of I Lombardi alla prima crociata) 26 November 1847
Il corsaro, 25 October 1848
La battaglia di Legnano, 27 January 1849
Luisa Miller, 8 December 1849
Stiffelio, 16 November 1850
Rigoletto, 11 March 1851
Il trovatore, 19 January 1853
La traviata, 6 March 1853
Les vêpres siciliennes, 13 June 1855
Simon Boccanegra, (Original Version), 12 March 1857
Aroldo (A major revision of Stiffelio), 16 August 1857
Un ballo in maschera, 17 February 1859
La forza del destino, 10 November 1862
Don Carlos, 11 March 1867
Aida, 24 December 1871
Simon Boccanegra, (Revised Version), 24 March 1881
Otello, 5 February 1887
Falstaff, 9 February 1893

GIUSEPPE VERDI wins by having more operas and all are just wonderful operas with amazing music!!

Don't forget: VIVA VERDI!!!!!!!!!!!!


Verdi: 71
01Attila 1998-10-18
03Un Ballo in Maschera 1990-09-13, 2005-04-30, 2009-02-09
02La Forza del Destino 2004-11-06, 2011-11-20
01Jérusalem 1998-05-30
01Luisa Miller 2000-03-04 
01Macbeth 2011-12-27
01Oberto 2011-11-19
03Rigoletto 2000-05-18, 2005-10-22, 2005-10-23
03Simon Boccanegra 2010-03-27, 2010-03-30, 2012-07-03
02Il Trovatore 1989-05-03, 2002-05-11
01I Vespri Siciliani 2004-06-02



For reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com
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Monday, 3 December 2012

December 3: Richard Wagner

Richard Wagner, 22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883

German composer, made infamous by Adolf Hitler and ilk that made him up to something he was not, or was he really the first Nazi. Of course that Richard Wagner, like many German intellectuals of his era had written negatively about Jews. Himmler and SS liked the German history of the Wagner operas but they went all out and created a fake German history and mythology.

Yet, he is just an opera composer. He was more, he also wrote his own libretti.

Wagner was an egomaniac and care mostly about himself. Still, his operas are worth listening, too. Wagner's Ring cycle with 4 operas was used in Nazi mythology but Wagner was dead by then. Parsifal and story of the Grale was also used. Abused.

I am a Verdi fan, not Wagner. I may never buy the whole Ring, unless Placido Domingo does it all, then maybe...

LOHENGRIN
Wagner - Lohengrin / Abbado, Domingo, Lloyd, Studer, Vienna State Opera (1990)

Wagner: Lohengrin [Box Set]

Wagner - Parsifal (The Story of the Opera) (1989)

Wagner: Parsifal

AND 
Wagner: Tannhäuser ~ Domingo, Studer, Baltsa, Salminen, A. Schmidt; Sinopoli

AGNES BALTSA as VENUS & PLACIDO DOMINGO as Tannhäuser 
=
WONDERFUL

4 Wagner operas live for me

Wagner: 4
01Der fliegende Holländer 1989-04-27
01Lohengrin 2005-12-03
01Parsifal 2002-01-13 
01Die Walküre 1999-05-13



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Sunday, 2 December 2012

December 2: Opera Duets

Ah, Opera Duets is where my love of opera really lies. The passion and the interaction and great music.

Great Love Duets - Plácido Domingo, Katia Ricciarelli


OTELLO - Già nella notte densa 10:24 VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1972
MADAMA BUTTERFLY - Viene la sera - Bimba dagli occhi pieni di malia 13:57  PUCCINI, Giacomo (1858 - 1924) 1972
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA - Teco io sto 8:19 VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1972
FRANCESCA DA RIMINI - Benvenuto, signore mio cognato 17:17 Zandonai, Riccardo (1883 - 1944) 1972

Great Operatic Duets - Plácido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes


LA BOHEME - In un coupé? - O Mimì, tu più non torni 4:30 PUCCINI, Giacomo (1858 - 1924) 1970
LA FORZA DEL DESTINO - Solenne in quest'ora 4:26 VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1970
I VESPRI SICILIANI - Sogno, o son desto? - Quando al mio sen per te parlava 11:52 VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1970
DON CARLO - E lui! desso! L'Infante! - Dio, che nell'alma infondere 6:21 VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1970
LES PECHEURS DE PERLES - Au fond du temple saint 5:37 BIZET, Georges (1838 - 1875) 1970
OTELLO - Ah! Mille vite - Sì, pel ciel marmoreo giuro! 3:28 ERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1970
LA FORZA DEL DESTINO - Invano, Alvaro, tu celaste al mondo 9:25 VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1970
LA GIOCONDA - Enzo Grimaldi, Principe di Santa Fior 6:25 PONCHIELLI, Amilcare (1834 - 1886) 1970

Opera Duets - Agnes Baltsa, José Carreras, conductor Plácido Domingo

WERTHER - Orchestral Introduction 2:29 Conductor Plácido Domingo 1 av 14 MASSENET, Jules (1842 - 1912) 1993
WERTHER - Il faut nous separer 1:59 Agnes Baltsa, José Carreras 2 av 14 MASSENET, Jules (1842 - 1912) 1993
WERTHER - Mais vous ne savez rien de moi 3:36 Agnes Baltsa, José Carreras 3 av 14 MASSENET, Jules (1842 - 1912) 1993
WERTHER - Rêve! Extase! Bonheur! 3:36 José Carreras, Agnes Baltsa 4 av 14 MASSENET, Jules (1842 - 1912) 1993

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA - Tu qui, Santuzza? 9:42 José Carreras, Agnes Baltsa, Margareta Hintermeier 5 av 14 MASCAGNI, Pietro (1863 - 1945) 1993
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA - La tua Santuzza 2:19 Agnes Baltsa, José Carreras 6 av 14 MASCAGNI, Pietro (1863 - 1945) 1993

IL TROVATORE - Soli or siamo 6:14 José Carreras, Agnes Baltsa 7 av 14 VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1993
IL TROVATORE - Non son tuo figlio? 5:19 José Carreras, Agnes Baltsa 8 av 14 VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1993
IL TROVATORE - L'usato messo Ruiz m'invia 3:32 José Carreras, Agnes Baltsa, Jason Howard 9 av 14 ERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1993

NORMA - Eccola! Va, mi lascia 1:37 José Carreras, Agnes Baltsa 10 av 14 BELLINI, Vincenzo (1801 - 1835) 1993
NORMA - Va, crudele, al Dio spietato 7:02 José Carreras, Agnes Baltsa 11 av 14 BELLINI, Vincenzo (1801 - 1835) 1993

CARMEN - C'est toi? / C'est moi! 4:23 Agnes Baltsa, José Carreras 12 av 14 BIZET, Georges (1838 - 1875) 1993
CARMEN - Mais moi, Carmen, je t'aime encore 4:58 José Carreras, Agnes Baltsa 13 av 14 BIZET, Georges (1838 - 1875) 1993

LA TRAVIATA - Libiamo ne' lieti calici 3:02 José Carreras, Agnes Baltsa 14 av 14 VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1993

The Romantic Carreras - Great Love Duets

IL TROVATORE - Ah! si, ben mio - Di quella pira 8:24 José Carreras, Katia Ricciarelli, Robin Leggate 1 av 10 VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1981
TOSCA - Mia gelosa 4:06 José Carreras, Montserrat Caballé 2 av 10 PUCCINI, Giacomo (1858 - 1924) 1976
TOSCA - Amaro sol per te m'era il morire 5:24 José Carreras, Montserrat Caballé 3 av 10 PUCCINI, Giacomo (1858 - 1924) 1976
WERTHER - Il faut nous separer 11:31 Frederica von Stade, José Carreras 4 av 10 MASSENET, Jules (1842 - 1912) 1980
OTELLO - Non arrestare il colpo 5:23 Frederica von Stade, José Carreras 5 av 10 ROSSINI, Gioacchino (1792 - 1868) 1979
LA BOHEME - Che gelida manina - Si. Mi chiamano Mimi 9:43 José Carreras, Katia Ricciarelli 6 av 10 PUCCINI, Giacomo (1858 - 1924) 1979
LA BOHEME - Dunque e proprio finita 5:55 José Carreras, Katia Ricciarelli, Ingvar Wixell, Ashley Putnam 7 av 10 PUCCINI, Giacomo (1858 - 1924) 1979
L'ELISIR D'AMORE - Chiedi all'aura lusinghiera 6:45 Katia Ricciarelli, José Carreras 8 av 10 DONIZETTI, Gaetano (1797 - 1848) 1985
I DUE FOSCARI - Ah, sei tu? 8:56 José Carreras, Katia Ricciarelli 9 av 10 VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1976
MADAMA BUTTERFLY - Bimba dagl'occhi pieni di malia 11:23 José Carreras, Katia Ricciarelli 10 av 10 PUCCINI, Giacomo (1858 - 1924) 1979

 Romantic Opera Duets - Renata Scotto, Plácido Domingo

MANON  - Toi! Vous! 8:56 Plácido Domingo, Renata Scotto 1 av 4 MASSENET, Jules (1842 - 1912) 1978
ROMEO ET JULIETTE - Va, je t'ai pardonné 15:39 Renata Scotto, Plácido Domingo 2 av 4 GOUNOD, Charles (1818 - 1893) 1978
FEDORA - È lui! è lui! - Vedo io piango 15:46 Renata Scotto, Plácido Domingo 3 av 4 GIORDANO, Umberto (1867 - 1948) 1978
RANTZAU - Giorgio si batte 9:34 Renata Scotto, Plácido Domingo 4 av 4 MASCAGNI, Pietro (1863 - 1945) 1978

Verdi & Puccini Duets - Leontyne Price, Plácido Domingo

OTELLO - Già nella notte densa 11:09 Plácido Domingo, Leontyne Price 1 av 4 VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1974
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA - Teco io sto! 9:23 Plácido Domingo, Leontyne Price 2 av 4 VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1974
MANON LESCAUT - Oh, sarò la più bella! - Tu, tu, amore? 9:54 Leontyne Price, Plácido Domingo 3 av 4 PUCCINI, Giacomo (1858 - 1924) 1974
MADAMA BUTTERFLY - Bimba, bimba, non piangere 16:07 Leontyne Price, Plácido Domingo, Elizabeth Bainbridge 4 av 4 PUCCINI, Giacomo (1858 - 1924) 1974

All those wonderful Opera Duets with Placido Domingo and more, just buy 

The Album Collection ~ Recitals & Duets, 1969- 1989


Duetti Amorosi - Montserrat Caballé & José Carreras

IL CORSARO - Ei dorme? 13:17 Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras 1 av 6 VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1976
ELISABETTA - Misero me? La sposa 7:18 José Carreras, Montserrat Caballé, Valery Masterson 2 av 6  OSSINI, Gioacchino (1792 - 1868) 1975
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR - Sulla tomba che rinserra 11:33 José Carreras, Montserrat Caballé 3 av 6  DONIZETTI, Gaetano (1797 - 1848) 1976
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA - Ah, perché qui! fuggite - Ella è pura 11:16 Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Ingvar Wixell, Sona Ghazarian, Robert Lloyd, Gwynne Howell 4 av 6  VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1978
TOSCA - Mario, Mario, Mario 14:07 Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras 5 av 6  PUCCINI, Giacomo (1858 - 1924) 1976
TOSCA - Franchigia a Floria Tosca 16:44 José Carreras, Montserrat Caballé, William Elvin, Piero de Palma 6 av 6  PUCCINI, Giacomo (1858 - 1924) 1976


Duetti d'Amore - Katia Ricciarelli & José Carreras

MADAMA BUTTERFLY - Bimba, non piangere - Bimba dagli occhi pieni di malia 16:53 José Carreras, Katia Ricciarelli, Linda Finnie 1 av 4 PUCCINI, Giacomo (1858 - 1924) 1979
I LOMBARDI - Dove sola m'inoltro? - Per dirupi e per foreste 10:41 Katia Ricciarelli, José Carreras 2 av 4  VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1979
POLIUTO - Questo pianto favelli - Ah! fuggi da morte 8:41 José Carreras, Katia Ricciarelli 3 av 4  DONIZETTI, Gaetano (1797 - 1848) 1979
ROBERTO DEVEREUX - Tutto è silenzio - E quando fuggirai 14:19 Katia Ricciarelli, José Carreras 4 av 4 DONIZETTI, Gaetano (1797 - 1848) 1979

I love these CD's



For reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com
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December 1: Verdi arias

Finally, Rolando Villazon's Verdi Arias CD has arrived at my home. I have listened to it and I love it. It is not perfect. Two blemishes. The extra tenor, Vicente Ombuena, who sings the role of Fante in I DUE FOSCARI, is really hard on my ear. Soprano Mojca Erdman is not up to Villazon's level. Fenton's aria from FALSTAFF is almost ruined because of the soprano. As Oscar in UN BALLO IN MASCHERA she is less wrong, but certainly not a plus.

Verdi Arias - Rolando Villazon, Orchestra Teatro Regio Torino, Gianandrea Noseda VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 2012

 Ok, I called his CD Verdi Arias because that is what it is a bunch of great Verdi Arias

 1 av 15 OBERTO - Ciel che feci! Di qual sangue ho machiato il brando mio 4:10 Rolando Villazon
2 av 15 I DUE FOSCARI - Qui ti rimani - Dal piú remoto esilio - Odio solo, ed odio atroce 7:39 Vicente Ombuena, Rolando Villazon
3 av 15 Brindisi (Verdi: 8 Romanze) 2:06 Rolando Villazon
4 av 15 L'esule (Verdi: 8 Romanze) 8:14 Rolando Villazon
5 av 15 I LOMBARDI - La mia letizia infondere 1:58 Rolando Villazon
6 av 15 In solitaria stanza (Verdi: 8 Romanze) 3:51 Rolando Villazon
7 av 15 IL CORSARO - Eccomi prigionero 3:44 Rolando Villazon
8 av 15 RIGOLETTO - Questa o quella 1:55 Rolando Villazon
9 av 15 RIGOLETTO - La donna è mobile 2:07 Rolando Villazon
10 av 15 LA TRAVIATA - Lunge da lei - De' miei bollenti spiriti 3:36 Rolando Villazon
11 av 15 LA TRAVIATA - O mio rimorso 1:56 Rolando Villazon
12 av 15 UN BALLO IN MASCHERA - Amici miei, soldati! - La rivedrà nell'estasi 3:25 Rolando Villazon, Mojca Erdman
13 av 15 DON CARLO - Fontainebleau! Foresta immensa e solitaria! - Io la vidi e al suo sorriso 4:13 Rolando Villazon
14 av 15 MESSA DA REQUIEM - Ingemisco 3:39 Rolando Villazon
15 av 15 FALSTAFF - Dal labbro il canto estasiato vola 4:01 Rolando Villazon, Mojca Erdman

If you want the full Verdi arias for tenor you can choose Placido Domingo's VERDI TENOR boxset (4 cds). What I don't like about it, it that the Opera Arias does not come in chronological order, that is Verdi's chronology instead it is Domingo's chronology. OBERTO should come first and FALSTAFF last. And then it is not just arias but also the end duet of DON CARLOS but I only wanted ARIAS. Other than that it is simply wonderful.

JOSE CURA's Verdi Arias: the Verdi Centenary, my tribute is just wonderful. What a voice and I love the selection of arias.

1. Aida: Se Quel Guerrier Io Fossi!...Celeste Aida
2. Don Carlo: Io I'ho Perduta!
3. Simon Boccanegra: O Inferno!...Sento Avvampar Nell'Anima
4. La Traviata: Lunge Da Lei...De' Miei Bollenti Spiriti
5. I Due Foscari: Notte, Perpetua Notte...Non Maledirmi, O Prode
6. Macbeth: O Figli, O Figli Miei!...Ah, La Paterna Mano
7. Un Ballo In Maschera: Forse La Soglia Attinse...Ma Se M'e Forza Perderti
8. Il Trovatore: Ah! Si, Ben Mio...Di Quella Pira
9. La Forza Del Destino: La Vita E Inferno...O Tu Che In Seno Agli Angeli
10. Otello: Dio! Mi Potevi Scagliar
11. Otello: Niun Mi Tema

My long time favorite is JOSE CARRERAS Verdi Arias from Philips Classics.
1. LUISA MILLER - O fede negar potessi - Quando le sere al placido 5:36 José Carreras 1976
2. IL TROVATORE - Di quella pira 3:20 José Carreras, Katia Ricciarelli  1981
3. I LOMBARDI - Dove sola m'inoltro 10:41 Katia Ricciarelli, José Carreras  1980
4. RIGOLETTO - Ella mi fu rapita - Parmi veder le lagrime 5:33 José Carreras  1980
5. ERNANI - Mercè, diletti amici - Come rugiada al cespite - Dell'esilio nel dolore 5:06 José Carreras  980
6. UN GIORNO DI REGNO - Pietoso al lungo pianto 2:29 José Carreras  1973
7. UN BALLO IN MASCHERA - Forse la soglia attinse - Ma se m'è forza perderti 5:38 José Carreras  1979
8. IL CORSARO - Eccomi prigionero 4:35 José Carreras 8  1976
9. I DUE FOSCARI - Qui ti rimani - Dal piú remoto esilio - Odio solo, ed odio atroce 7:12 Mieczyslaw Antoniak, José Carreras 1976
10. STIFFELIO - Vidi dovunque gemere 6:27 José Carreras, Sylvia Sass, Matteo Manuguerra 1979
11. LA BATTAGLIA DI LEGNANO - O magnanima - La pia materna mano 3:48 José Carreras 1977

Then I must not forget MARCELO ALVAREZ The Verdi Tenor

 1. Aida / Act 1 - Se quel guerrier io fossi!..Celeste Aida 4:46
 2. Un ballo in maschera / Act 3 - Di tu se fedele... 3:21
 3. Un ballo in maschera / Act 3 - Forse la soglie attinse...Ma se me forza perditi 6:03
 4. Luisa Miller / Act 2 - Fede negar... 2:09
 5. Luisa Miller / Act 2 - Quando le sere al placido 3:59
 6. Luisa Miller / Act 2 - L'ara, o l'avello apprestami 3:24
 7. La forza del destino / Act 3 - La vita è inferno 3:43
 8. La forza del destino / Act 3 - Oh, tu che in seno 3:27
 9. Il Trovatore / Act 3 - Quale d'armi fragor poc'anzi intesi? 2:23
10. Il Trovatore / Act 3 - Ah! si, ben mio 3:18 
11. Il Trovatore / Act 3 - L'onda de suoni mistici 1:41
12. Il Trovatore / Act 3 - Di quella pira 3:16
13. I Lombardi / Act 2 - "La mia letizia infondere" 2:14
14. Ernani / Part 1 - Merce diletti amici...Come rugiada al cespite 3:27
15. Ernani / Part 1 - Dell'esilio nel dolore...O tu, che l'alma adorata 3:22
16. Don Carlo / Act 1 - Io l'ho perduta... Io la vidi, a suo sorriso 3:46
17. Macbeth / Act 4 - "O figli miei...Ah, la paterna mano" 3:48
18. Otello / Act 4 - Niun mi tema 5:58

It is really nice sung.

AND THEN THERE IS THIS  from Decca

And this is Verdi Tenor Arias in true Verdi chronology.

OBERTO - Son fra voi! - Già parmi udire il fremito 5:23 Stuart Neill 1 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1997
OBERTO - Ciel che feci! Di qual sangue ho machiato il brando mio 3:48 Carlo Bergonzi 2 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1975
UN GIORNO DI REGNO - Pietoso al lungo pianto 2:26 José Carreras 3 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1978
NABUCCO - Che si vuol? - Il maledetto non ha fratelli 2:44 Chorus, Bruno Prevedi 4 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1965
I LOMBARDI - La mia letizia infondere 4:42 Carlo Bergonzi 5 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1978
ERNANI - Mercè, diletti amici - Come rugiada al cespite 5:59 Mario del Monaco 6 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1958
I DUE FOSCARI - Ah si, ch'io senta ancora - Dal più remoto esilio 5:34 Mario del Monaco 7 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1969
I DUE FOSCARI - Notte perpetua notte - Non maledirmi, o prode 5:56 Carlo Bergonzi 8 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1975
GIOVANNA D'ARCO - Nel suo bel volto - Sotto una quercia parvemi 6:13 Carlo Bergonzi 9 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1975
ALZIRA - Un Inca. Eccesso orribile 5:36 Ramon Vargas 10 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 2000
ALZIRA - Miserandi avanzi - Irne lungi ancor dovrei 4:55 Carlo Bergonzi 11 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1975
ATTILA - Ella in poter del barbaro 2:41 Carlo Bergonzi 12 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1975
ATTILA - Qui del convegno è il loco - Che non avrebbe il misero 5:24 Carlo Bergonzi 13 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1975
JERUSALEM - L'Emir auprès de lui m'appelle - Je veux encore entendre ta voix 5:23 Marcello Giordani 14 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 2000
MACBETH - O figli miei - Ah, la paterna mano 3:10 Mario del Monaco 15 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1955
I MASNADIERI - Quando io leggo in Plutarco 10:51 Carlo Bergonzi 1 av 14 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1975
I MASNADIERI - Come splendido e grande 4:04 Mario del Monaco 2 av 14 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1969
IL CORSARO - Come liberi volano i venti - Tutto parea sorridere 5:08 Chorus, José Carreras 3 av 14 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1976
IL CORSARO - Eccomi prigionero 4:33 José Carreras 4 av 14 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1976
LUISA MILLER - O fede negar potessi - Quando le sere al placido 5:42 Luciano Pavarotti 5 av 14 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1968
LA BATTAGLIA DI LEGNANO - O magnanima e prima - La pia materna mano 3:49 José Carreras 6 av 14 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1978
STIFFELIO - Vidi dovunque gemere 6:23 José Carreras, Sylvia Sass, Matteo Manuguerra 7 av 14 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1980
RIGOLETTO - Questa o quella 1:49 Luciano Pavarotti 8 av 14 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1971
RIGOLETTO - Ella mi fu rapita! - Parmi veder le lagrime 4:46 Luciano Pavarotti 9 av 14 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1971
RIGOLETTO - La donna è mobile 2:23 Luciano Pavarotti 10 av 14 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1971
LA TRAVIATA - Lunge da lei - De' miei bollenti spiriti 3:39 Carlo Bergonzi 11 av 14 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1975
IL TROVATORE - Ah si, ben mio 3:01 Carlo Bergonzi 12 av 14 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1958
IL TROVATORE - Di quella pira 3:17 José Carreras, Katia Ricciarelli 13 av 14 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1980
I VESPRI SICILIANI - E di Monforte il cenno - Giorno di pianto 9:29 Carlo Bergonzi 14 av 14 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1975
AROLDO - Sotto il sol di Siria ardente 2:08 Mario del Monaco 1 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1969
SIMON BOCCANEGRA - O inferno! - Sento avvamper nell'anima 5:11 José Carreras 2 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1977
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA - La rivedrà nell'estasi 2:02 Luciano Pavarotti 3 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1985
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA - Di' tu se fedele 3:17 Luciano Pavarotti 4 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1985
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA - Forse la soglia attinse - Ma se m'è forza perderti 5:35 Luciano Pavarotti 5 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1985
LA FORZA DEL DESTINO - Qual sangue sparsi 4:58 Gegam Grigoriam 6 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1997
LA FORZA DEL DESTINO - La vita è inferno all'infelice 5:38 Mario del Monaco 7 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1955
DON CARLO - Fontainebleau! - Io la vidi e al suo sorriso 4:28 Carlo Bergonzi 8 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1975
AIDA - Se quel guerriero io fossi - Celeste Aida 5:00 Carlo Bergonzi 9 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1958
MESSA DA REQUIEM - Ingemisco 3:35 Luciano Pavarotti 10 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1967
DON CARLOS - Fontainebleau! Forêt immense et solitaire 4:10 Plácido Domingo 11 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1985
OTELLO - Tu?! Indietro, fuggi - Ora per sempre addio 2:12 Mario del Monaco 12 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1961
OTELLO - Dio! mi potevi scagliar - Cassio e la 4:03 Mario del Monaco 13 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1961
OTELLO - Niun mi tema 4:52 Mario del Monaco 14 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1961
FALSTAFF - Dal labbro il canti estasiati vola 4:09 Carlo Bergonzi 15 av 15 Verdi Tenor Arias VERDI, Giuseppe (1813 - 1901) 1975

TENORS: Carlo Bergonzi, Bruno Prevedi, Jose Carreras, Gegam Grigorim, Luciano Pavarotti, Marcello Giordani, Mario del Monaco, Placido Domingo, Ramon Vargas & Stuart Neill.

I think I will buy Carlo Bergonzi's Verdi Arias.



For reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com
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Monday, 15 October 2012

The strangest week of my life

On Saturday night (October 6th  2150 I was told that my mother had had a fall and she was sent to hospital. She had broken a leg, they thought. I did not immediately think to travel to my mother but as I put the phone down and looked around I just decided to go. After all my doctor had on Friday said I was well enough to go to work on Tuesday so I thought to myself then I will be well enough to take the night bus (7hrs with bus) to Oslo and from there to my hometown. It was all ready mostly from my hospital stay. I did forget to check how it would be best to travel from Oslo to my hometown so I did some not too good choices but it only meant I went to the airport when I should have taken the night bus to Oslo Bus Terminal. But it just added another train ride and then at Oslo Central Train Station I took the train home at 0720 otherwise I would waited until at least 11 to take a bus.

Sunday morning. My hometown is chilly. And I went Home and tried to sleep after a not so sleep-full night on the bus. Then I went to the hospital with everything I had taken with. Stupid, yes, but it made sense at that time. When my uncle phoned me that morning he was surprised that I was already at the hospital. And so I went to see my mother. First, I meet my aunt. She told me that my mother was very weak, had a bad cough but had not broken any bones in the fall in the bathroom. And so I saw my mother. I was just over a fortnight  that I saw her last. She was changed, she was more tired, weaker than ever before. We talked a little, my mother slept in between exchanges of words. I helped her a bit with the water glass and the yoghourt. I saw her struggle. My mother needed rest, to sleep, so my aunt meant it was better for me and her to go home with all my luggage and come back later. I went back Home. I relaxed as well as anyone with worries on her mind and heart. I went back for evening hospital visit hours 18-19. At 18 I saw my mother sleeping. My aunt was at home resting a short time for her vigilance towards her sister. I went down and sat in the hospital vestibule contemplating my mother and whether to go home. Luckily at 1845 I went up, I hugged my mother, told her Good-Night, my mother told me it was too hard to talk. When I went Home that night I did not know it was the Last Time.

Early Monday morning my aunt calls me that my Mother died this morning at 0520 (Oct 8, 2012). I knew it was coming, but I did not know. It was a shock. But I had something to be grateful for, 1 decision to take the night bus on Saturday, 2 the early visit on Sunday where I saw that it was better for my mother to be free from the struggle Life had become for her, 3 the late visit with the good-night etc. GRATEFUL. And naturally super grateful that my aunt was with my mother the moment she died. She and her husband have done so many things for my parents. From April 13th when my mother was told her cancer had spread until her death on October 8th they have been there for my parents. April 13th, 2012 was the day their eldest sister (died April 1, 2012) was buried and October 8th it was the middle sister death day. Now my aunt is the only sister left with 2 brothers. My aunt was handed papers to sign at the hospital and did much phone calls and official writing. And then my father was driven Home to get the news in a familiar setting instead  of at the dementia centre where he lives now. And then we met up with the funeral agent.

From Monday to Friday many phone calls to tell people about my mother's death. Naturally phone here and there to find out what should one really do and who and what to call. Many calls to cancel things.  But you know what, it is OK to cry on the phone and one often can do more than one think and luckily I am over 40 now so things does not scare me too much. You will be all right too, just welcome the help people offer. It can be nice crying together and sometimes laughing together because of memories. You will be all right and sometimes a mess but that is ok too.

Saturday 13th was a strange day because I had an opera ticket for I Capuleti ed i Montecchi by Bellini in Oslo's new Opera House. And it started on Friday with abdominal pains, and on Saturday morning it was certainly not better. I vomited at 0530 and the pain just did not go away, it came back with a vengeance again and again. But I had a visitor who was coming at 1230. First my uncle and aunt came, gave help, advise and so on. Then they left after all I would not be all alone someone would visit me. And then SHE came. We could just talk, but she noticed that I was not well so she drove me directly to the hospital. Naturally that was NOT the thing to do. First one must call the doctor and then get an appointment for the doctor in the hospital. OK my time was 1500 but luckily we did not have to wait that long. The friendly doctor was willing to try to get me into the hospital but he said he thought it was my mother's death that was my abdominal pain and if I just drank enough during the day and had soups and other fluids I would be better without a stay in the hospital. My painkillers was sort of working. I was in pain on and off but could function ok. After the hospital we took the round tour of our home town. Ended it with visiting my father at the demens centre. And so I felt well enough for an opera trip to Oslo. It was late and so in the end I took the latest bus that would be in time for opera. It was stress. The opera concertant was good. The Norwegian soprano was extremely good. It was OK. If my mother had not recently died it would have been wonderful. Romeo and Juliet was so far from my life that could not relate but that was good too, otherwise the opera would have been too powerful. After the opera I almost catched the earlier bus home. Still, I was in bed just before midnight. Strange day, strange days, strange week. I think 2012 is going to be a strange year for me.

Gratefulness is my blessing!!

For reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com
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Sunday, 14 October 2012

It was Vesselina Kasarova's debut in Oslo's new opera house (Oct 13, 2012)



2012-10-13 I Capuleti ed i Montecchi (Bellini), Den Norske Opera & Ballett (Oslo)

Giulietta = Marita Sølberg
Romeo = Vesselina Kasarova
Capellio = Magne Fremmerlid
Tebaldo = Diego Torre
Lorenzo = Yngve André Søberg

Antonio Fogliani, conductor


It was Vesselina Kasarova's debut in Oslo's new opera house, but it was Marita Sølberg's triumph.

It was strange being in Oslo for an opera. This was a concertant opera. But that was not it. My mother died early Monday morning. And now on Sunday this opera, I Capuleti ed i Montecchi, a Romeo and Julia story. My mother died of breast cancer. This time it had spread through her body.

I still liked Bellini's music and the opera, but I could not get into it. It was too far away from my life. Marita Sølberg was fantastic. Her voice is so warm and so she was the ideal Giulietta. Vesselina Kasarova is, of course, the famous Bulgarian mezzo, but I have never really warmed up to her. She was a teenage Romeo, walking strangely about. Her voice was more soprano than mezzo. Diego Torre was a wonderful Tebaldo. Loved his tenor voice. Magne Fremmerlid as Cappelio and Yngve Andre Søberg as Lorenzo are two amazing basses who sang well. The conductor Antonio Fogliani worked hard to get the right sounds from the orchestra. The chorus sang well. It would have been wonderful if it could have become staged this opera, but that was not to be this time.


For reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com
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