Mario del Monaco is one of the singers I don’t really know anything about. And really haven’t listened to either. But damn, this Tosca recording is awesome. Starts of mellow and moves with the music to a truly stunning peak. Awesome, so awesome.Hat tip to Red-Eyed Jenna for the showing the stuff to me in the first [...]
fungrimLong time since I posted any YouTube opera. Here comes a movie version of Nessun Dorma, from Turandot, with Franco Corelli. It might not be beautiful all the time, but damn, listen to the man as he reaches higher, it just doesn’t stop. What a flow. It is one of the few times I think running water comes to mind, it’s like a [...]
fungrimLately I’ve started reading Stephen Law. Don’t really know why I picked him up, but so far so good, most of the stuff he publishes is very nice. In fact I shall have a look around for his books as soon as I’ve finished my current stack.In particular, his take of the problem of evil, is gratifying, The God of Eth: This [...]
fungrimPavarotti dead? And now Zawinul as well? By damn…Update: Oh yes, a few of my non-opera friends have heard Paul Potts on YouTube and asked me if he was really any good. Well, he was. But for those of you interested, this is how the same song sounded when Luciano sang it. New York, 1980. One of the greatest tenors [...]
fungrimThere’s only one Norma in my mind. I’m not an opera expert, I’m sure Callas did a great job of it, but I doubt this particular role will ever be the same for me. You see, I have this performance on DVD. And… Watching Casta Diva nearly brought me to tears, which is a rare thing indeed. If you’re one of those [...]
fungrimThe CD’s Alice Cooper, The Last Temptation Birgint Nilsson Sings Verdi Alanis Morisette, So Called Chaos Nothing too exciting here. I’ve been slightly in love with Alanis since Jagged Little Pill. And the Cooper album is surprisingly good. If you’re one of those that believes Alice was only good in the seventies, you [...]
fungrimBirgit Nilsson. Ok, I’ll say it one more time: Birgit Nilsson. As we move on, we’ll find it harder and harder explaining to people what a legend that woman was. I don’t know about you, but hers is one of the few graves outside my family I have ever visited to pay my respects.Side one. Gentle, Lyrical. With an excuisite [...]
fungrimFor some reason I can’t embed YouTube here. Well… Here’s a link instead.Update: Oh. I can! :-)[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdj-q06IuvY]
fungrimMan… This is magic. Ettore Bastianini, 1958, and Urna Fatale. The entire production can be bought on DVD. Corelli, Tebaldi, Bastianini, Christoff, Capecchi. I used to have it, but stupidely forgot it on a train ride from Lund to Stockholm. I am going to buy it again. Great, great, great stuff.This is where I realized axactly how [...]
fungrimWell, well, well. I hadn’t dawned on me that YouTube was actually being used by Opera-fans as well. Thanks to the Drakmiklos for the tip. Let’s start exploring shall we?I have to start with Wixell. Those of you who now me well, will not be surprised.Tosca, ‘Te Deum‘. Hum, of course. This isn’t the best [...]
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