Opera/Tosca

Only one horse in this race, as far as I'm concerned. Callas/Gobbi/Serafin in many different versions of the same recording on EMI. There is a version for example, without a libretto, a bargain offer, a full boxed set.

The sound is mono, but it doesn't seem to matter.

Whoops!

It was conducted by Victor de Sabata, not Serafin. But that's not the issue. Catalogue number of the full version is 7243 5 56304 2.

Callas was fabulous in this role. Our local classical DJ on radio in LA comparied it with the 60s Leontyne Price (who had a great melodic voice) and a new version with Angela Ghiorghu SP? which has the latest recording quality. Hands down he said Callas is perfection.

I'll be adding it to my collection soon.

Diccus
I've got probably the worse (at least recording wise) Renata Tebadi as Tosca, conducted by Arturo Basile - sounds like it was recorded from Row Z! My only advice is to ignore any highlights CD's and get the whole opera. The Callas version is fantastic, it was playing as we wandered around Puccini's birth place (now a museum) in Lucca and then spookily a few years later when we visited his house in Torre del Lago - so if it is good enough for them...
Steve

quote:

Originally posted by Diccus62:
Also i like Andea Bocelli's Sentimento...

Diccus

He's on tour this year! Not in Durham (but then it seems no one goes there - just watched Lyle Lovett in "The Player" he's great in that):


September 6, 7, 8 & 9
New York, NY - Avery Fisher Hall
Concerts with the New York Philharmonic


I don't usually go for "snippets" albums but bought Mrs Steve
Viaggio Italiano - Special Edition
Christmas a couple of years ago, sounds wonderful on Nim kit!

Steve

quote:

Originally posted by SteveGa:

quote:

Originally posted by Diccus62:
Also i like Andea Bocelli's Sentimento...

Diccus

He's on tour this year! Not in Durham (but then it seems no one goes there - just watched Lyle Lovett in "The Player" he's great in that):


September 6, 7, 8 & 9
New York, NY - Avery Fisher Hall
Concerts with the New York Philharmonic


I don't usually go for "snippets" albums but bought Mrs Steve
Viaggio Italiano - Special Edition
Christmas a couple of years ago, sounds wonderful on Nim kit!

Steve

Steve

We seem to get good folk stuff in Durham, Rachel Unthank, Kate Rusby and I saw a crackin Steely Dan tribute band a few years ago (Nearly Dan?). In 78 I saw Siouxsie/Banshees at the University (my first ever gig) and later Dire Straits, Dr Feelgood and the Rezillos amongst others.

Can't imagine Mr Bocelli would grace us with his prescence but he would sound good in the Cathedral

Steve, what is a Nim system, is it parts of a Nimrod fashioned in a hi fi stylee?

Diccus

quote:

Originally posted by SteveGa:
Diccus
I've got probably the worse (at least recording wise) Renata Tebadi as Tosca, conducted by Arturo Basile - sounds like it was recorded from Row Z!
Steve

I think thats the one i've got

Diccus

quote:

Originally posted by Diccus62:
Steve, what is a Nim system, is it parts of a Nimrod fashioned in a hi fi stylee?

Diccus

I play all my CD's on the superior "Klondinski's Nim Engine". Sadly the only CD's it plays are by Nim that well known Swedish electronica artist and of course Nim Vind (but only when powered by compressed methane). It only works when it is standing on a nim kruasaeng painiting:



I find this gives the best in terms of a comprehensive soundstage with presence and space to the fore - the blacks are black, the whites are white but teh blues are a bit muddy in the mid-range. However it improves things by at least 43.76%.

Marine iguanas don’t eat coconut, but no one had ever told Fred. - Nim also knows this.

Thread hijack - off

My A does not work as well as all the other keys! Damn Sony Vio.

Steve

Diccus
Andrea Bocelli is coming close(ish) to you:

October 4
Glasgow/Scotland - SECC (on sale March 24)
tickets are available through
www.getlive.co.uk or 0870 400 0688

October 5
Manchester /England - MEN Arena
tickets are available through
www.getlive.co.uk or 0870 400 0688

October 7
Birmingham /England - NIA
tickets are available through
www.getlive.co.uk or 0870 400 0688

October 8
London /England - Wembley Arena (!!)
tickets are available through
www.getlive.co.uk or 0870 400 0688

Steve

Thanks Steve. Unfortunately we have no baby sitters for an overnight or longish drive. Will have to continue listening on my stereo.

By the way am in the middle of playing NIM. Grand game



Diccus

The definitive?

Steve.

Cheers Steve

Any other general Opera recommendations anyone to broaden my horizons

Thanks

Diccus

quote:

Originally posted by Steve S1:


The definitive?

Steve.

Any idea where i can buy it. Amazon have this but it is highlights



Thanks

Diccus

A Tosca that's come highly recommended, though I haven't heard it yet, is the one with Milanov, Bjoerling and Warren with Leinsdorf conducting on BMG. Supposed to be very good.

Hi Diccus
Have a look at www.hmv.co.uk. They have at 12.99



at 9.99



"Naxos Historical is proud to announce the reissue of the Maria Callas opera recordings of the early 1950s. The first in the series is of course the legendary 1953 Tosca, restored by Mark Obert-Thorn.

Arguably the finest studio recording of a complete opera ever made, this performance has never been out of the catalogue in the past half century. However, no previous release has been free from mastering or editing problems; the original LPs featured pitch discrepancies between and even within sides, as well as bad edits and sudden, obtrusive volume fluctuations.

For this new transfer, Mark Obert-Thorn assembled no fewer than ten LP copies of the set, and spent the greater part of eight weeks transferring, listening, comparing and reworking the project until satisfied with the results. As Obert-Thorn himself stated, “The uncompromising perfectionism which Walter Legge, Victor de Sabata and the other musicians brought to the original recording demanded no less a response”.

at 10.99



Steve

I missed one:



at 23.99 at hmv, maybe someone in the know can explain the difference between all these sets?

Steve

Diccus - the one directly above (23.99 at HMV) is here at Amazon at £17.99.
Steve

The one with the black/white/silver cover is from the Callas Edition, remastered and reissued by EMI in the late 1990s at full price.

That reissue was superseded in every way by the black and gold one (with orange/red facsimile of the original sleeve) reissued and re-remastered by EMI as part of their Creat Recordings of the Century series a couple of years ago at midprice. It is the definitive version and comes with full libretto, fascinating booklet notes abd even B&W postcards of Callas.

If you don't need the libretto, etc, the brown EMI Historic issue has the same remastering but only basic notes, although it comes at budget price.

All EMI issues were sourced from the mastertapes.

The Naxos issue, by contrast, is dubbed from old LPs and is best avoided.

G

I had heard a few bad reports about NAXOS, thanks for pointing that out Graham.

So this looks like the definitive one?



for £12.99

Thanks Steve for all the research and everyone else



Diccus

And thanks from me too. I have ordered a copy from HMV - £12.99 looks like a bargain - it's £19.99 on Amazon.

It's so helpful to get such useful guidance.

Nigel

bugger its just gone up to £17.99

Diccus

£12.99 again at HMV

Thanks Steve, it's ordered.

Diccus

My copy arrived yeaterday and is absolutely terrific. I have also ordered a 'modern' version with Angela Gheorhiou, which will be an interesting comparison.

Nigel

quote:

Any other general Opera recommendations anyone to broaden my horizons

Thanks

Try almost the same forces (Callas, Gobi, Di Stefano) this time conducted by Serafin (also on EMI) in Verdi's Rigoletto, as a composer Verdi ate Puccini's lunch and the sack it came in.