After 4 minutes i thought this will go on for hours. Unfortunately it didn't. With Abbado it's often "close but no sigar" in my limited experience, as for example his Beethoven and Schubert symphonic cycles. I was not aware of that Schubert opera, thanks for the tip, as that Mussorgski one (which I needed to google to get the name right, "Khovanshchina"). Also the MacBeth, my favorite Verdi opera, is interesting (have the Sinopoli).. (But i'm not very keen on buying opera's on cd, have about 30 on VHS and 20 on DVD. and quite a lot on DVD-R from TV broadcasts.)
Oooh, we come out differently on the Don Giovanni. I think the women are quite good, but the men are the best assembled for any recording and the singing stands up as well as any other performance. What the conducting might lack in drive in some moments, the singers more than compensate and it’s my go to performance of the opera. The singing in the Marriage of Figaro doesn’t eclipse any other classic casts, but the Giovanni, to my ears, does. To my ears, Best Pélléas out there. This is my go to Carmen performance, the duet at the end of the third act with Domingo and Milnes is the best performance of it anyone ever recorded. The Falstaff is phenomenal. The French Don Carlos is worth hearing and the Pappano performance is the better one.
Since you are doing popular requests: One ( "Cult"-)Conductor with a huge following you haven't covered yet: Sergiu Celibidache. Would be fun.....
YES PLEASE!!!!
Since you mention both operas, would love to see a "Best Recording" video on Wozzeck and Pelleas....
Have you reviewed the Boehm opera box? It seems a greater achievement than Abbado's, and would be fun to hear your insights on it.
No, but I'll take a shot at it soon.
After 4 minutes i thought this will go on for hours. Unfortunately it didn't.
With Abbado it's often "close but no sigar" in my limited experience, as for example his Beethoven and Schubert symphonic cycles.
I was not aware of that Schubert opera, thanks for the tip, as that Mussorgski one (which I needed to google to
get the name right, "Khovanshchina"). Also the MacBeth, my favorite Verdi opera, is interesting (have the Sinopoli)..
(But i'm not very keen on buying opera's on cd, have about 30 on VHS and 20 on DVD. and quite a lot on DVD-R from TV broadcasts.)
Oooh, we come out differently on the Don Giovanni. I think the women are quite good, but the men are the best assembled for any recording and the singing stands up as well as any other performance. What the conducting might lack in drive in some moments, the singers more than compensate and it’s my go to performance of the opera.
The singing in the Marriage of Figaro doesn’t eclipse any other classic casts, but the Giovanni, to my ears, does.
To my ears, Best Pélléas out there.
This is my go to Carmen performance, the duet at the end of the third act with Domingo and Milnes is the best performance of it anyone ever recorded.
The Falstaff is phenomenal.
The French Don Carlos is worth hearing and the Pappano performance is the better one.
The Abbado groupies are on 🔥! 😄