Operas in English - any recommendations
Posted by: Guido Fawkes on 13 March 2007
I'm very grateful to Tam for opening my ears to two Operas in English.
Smetana - The Bartered Bride
and
Janácek - The Makropulos Case
These are just wonderful to listen to. They stand up us stories/plays, but when one adds great musical settings and the coherence of the performance then you get something very special. I'm not versed in classical music; I simply know these operas sound delightful to my ears (brought up on a diet of folk, prog-rock and psych).
I'd really like to try some more - however when I ventured to make my own choice Rattle's Cunning Little Vixen I was not as enthralled. The version Tam recommended of the same work from Sir Charles at less than half the price and in Czech was superior in every way. I know the story well enough not to mind my inability to understand Czech.
So are there any other Operas in English that I should try - all I'm after is a good story set to great music and an excellent performance would be appreciated (could I ask for a decent recording too - so I can hear all the words). The two sets I have highlighted above meet all these criteria. Are there any more?
Many thanks, Rotf
Smetana - The Bartered Bride
and
Janácek - The Makropulos Case
These are just wonderful to listen to. They stand up us stories/plays, but when one adds great musical settings and the coherence of the performance then you get something very special. I'm not versed in classical music; I simply know these operas sound delightful to my ears (brought up on a diet of folk, prog-rock and psych).
I'd really like to try some more - however when I ventured to make my own choice Rattle's Cunning Little Vixen I was not as enthralled. The version Tam recommended of the same work from Sir Charles at less than half the price and in Czech was superior in every way. I know the story well enough not to mind my inability to understand Czech.
So are there any other Operas in English that I should try - all I'm after is a good story set to great music and an excellent performance would be appreciated (could I ask for a decent recording too - so I can hear all the words). The two sets I have highlighted above meet all these criteria. Are there any more?
Many thanks, Rotf
Dear ROTF,
Glad you've been enjoying them. I don't know if you remember this thread, but there were one or two recommendations there and it has a link to the opera in English section of the Chandos website.
Mackerras's other recordings on Chandos (that I have) are all recommendable. There is more Janacek - Jenufa and the early (but rather fine) Osud with the forces of WNO. However, there is also the exceptional Magic Flute. Wonderfully played and sung throughout - especially the Papageno of Keenlyside (though the story is utterly nuts it hardly matters).
Worth perhaps drawing a distinction with English Opera (i.e. opera that was written in English rather than being performed in translation). John Adams' Death of Klinghoffer is rather an interesting piece (politically rather contentious, but also musically with its claustrophobic mixing of classical instruments and electronic sounds). A caveat - the dialogue could be clearer.
However, my favourite English operas are those of Britten. Paul Bunyan (the story of the mythic American lumberjack), with its wonderful Auden libretto is something very special):
However, it is fair to say that Britten's next efforts are more highly regarded, and works like Peter Grimes (some exceptional orchestral scoring), Albert Herring and Billy Budd are all very fine indeed. Those three (and the less fine Owen Wingrave) can be had as part of a budget box from Decca.
There are no librettos, but then it is cheap and the words are very clear anyway. Colin Davis has recently recorded Grimes for LSO Live, the recording isn't quite perfect (given it's in the Barbican's rather poor acoustic), but the quality of the orchestral playing is quite something.
regards, Tam
Glad you've been enjoying them. I don't know if you remember this thread, but there were one or two recommendations there and it has a link to the opera in English section of the Chandos website.
Mackerras's other recordings on Chandos (that I have) are all recommendable. There is more Janacek - Jenufa and the early (but rather fine) Osud with the forces of WNO. However, there is also the exceptional Magic Flute. Wonderfully played and sung throughout - especially the Papageno of Keenlyside (though the story is utterly nuts it hardly matters).
Worth perhaps drawing a distinction with English Opera (i.e. opera that was written in English rather than being performed in translation). John Adams' Death of Klinghoffer is rather an interesting piece (politically rather contentious, but also musically with its claustrophobic mixing of classical instruments and electronic sounds). A caveat - the dialogue could be clearer.
However, my favourite English operas are those of Britten. Paul Bunyan (the story of the mythic American lumberjack), with its wonderful Auden libretto is something very special):
However, it is fair to say that Britten's next efforts are more highly regarded, and works like Peter Grimes (some exceptional orchestral scoring), Albert Herring and Billy Budd are all very fine indeed. Those three (and the less fine Owen Wingrave) can be had as part of a budget box from Decca.
There are no librettos, but then it is cheap and the words are very clear anyway. Colin Davis has recently recorded Grimes for LSO Live, the recording isn't quite perfect (given it's in the Barbican's rather poor acoustic), but the quality of the orchestral playing is quite something.
regards, Tam