• 712
• Articles
• 08 Nov 2013

To lovers of Italian opera there is something baffling and, certainly frustrating about the adverse criticisms sometimes made of the standard Italian repertoire. It is not uncommon for aficionados of Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi even, to be made to feel embarrassed and defensive by these adversaries who claim for their musical idols superior artistic taste […]

• 966
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• 08 Nov 2013

“Lucia’s Mad Scene is one of opera’s most popular arias, and for a good reason: is there a more true depicition of human madness in music? Although some have come think that Lucia’s aria is only a showpiece for the soprano, it was only a view of the more verisimo-orientated opera world of that time. […]

• 820
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• 08 Nov 2013

June Anderson – “Madness Scene” – “Lucia di Lammermoor – G. Donizetti. New York 1995. “Dans la scène de folie, elle tourne résolument le dos à l’oiseau mécanique, récemment illustré par les Mariella Devia, Luciana Serra et autres coloratures étrangères à ce type de vocalità, pour intégrer, telle Callas, la moindre cadence à un contexte […]

• 691
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• 08 Nov 2013

Maria Callas & Giuseppe di Stefano – “Verranno a te sull’aure” – Duet Lucia & Edgardo – “Lucia di Lammermoor” – G. Donizetti. LIVE in Berlin, Staatsoper, 1955. Conductor M.° Herbert von Karajan. LUCIA Verranno a te sull’aure i miei sospiri ardenti, udrai nel mar che mormora l’eco dei miei lamenti. Pensando ch’io di gemiti […]

• 791
• Articles
• 08 Nov 2013

Maria Callas – “Il dolce suono” – Mad Scene of Lucia – “Lucia di Lammermoor” – EMI 1953. “Although the 1953 Lucia is vocally stronger than the 1959 studio recording, i had always prefered the latter for its beautiful stereo sound. Her high notes aren’t as strong, but they are hauntingly fragile and beautiful. But […]

• 703
• Articles
• 08 Nov 2013

“Es increíble el grado de distorsión y de vulgarización al que han llevado determinadas obras de Donizetti ¿artistas? como Joan Sutherland o Beverly Sills. Gracias a López-Cobos y a nuestra Montse, quien quiera puede disfrutar de la más fiel y auténtica versión de Lucia di Lammermoor; en su tono original y libre de florituras varias, […]

• 668
• Articles
• 08 Nov 2013

Dame Joan Sutherland & Cesare Siepi in the roles of Lucia and Padre Raimondo – “Ebben? Di tua speranza … Ah! cedi, cedi. Al ben de’ tuoi qual vittima.” Conductor John Pritchard – 1961(STU) Orchestra – Santa Cecilia Chorus – Santa Cecilia Usually the conductors cut this beautiful duet. “Lucia di Lammermoor” – G. Donizetti.

• 758
• Articles
• 08 Nov 2013

Eleanor Steber – ” Vater, bist du’s? – “Die Frau ohne Schatten” – R. Strauss. Concert at the Carnegie Hall. October 10, 1958.

• 1020
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• 08 Nov 2013

The world of the invisible spirit god Keikobad is mysterious and unfathomable and encompasses the past, the present, and the hereafter. Act I Twelve months have passed since the Emperor has taken as his wife the daughter of the spirit god Keikobad, whose mother was a mortal woman. For the 12th time in one year […]

• 1009
• Articles
• 08 Nov 2013

Leonie Rysanek – “Vater, bist du?” – “Die Frau ohne Schatten” – R. Strauss. Work on the opera began in 1911. Hofmannsthal’s earliest sketches for the libretto are based on a piece by Goethe, “The Conversation of German Emigrants” (1795). Hofmannsthal handles Goethe’s material freely, adding the idea of two couples, the emperor and empress […]