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We have all of those except ...

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John C. - Aussie

(B)

In Reply to: Some others to watch for... posted by SR on June 12, 2002 at 11:31:43:

... the two Drottingham ones you mention. Our copy of "Abduction" is the Covent Garden version under Solti and there are two versions of "Marriage of Figaro" - the Kiri Te Kanawa version referred to underneath and the Abbado/Vienna Staatsoper version (which like all of Sony's LD operas lacks subtitles). We have the DVD version of Don Giovani by Teatro Alla Scala but all the rest are laserdisc. Our copy of "Amadeus" is also laserdisc.
Altogether we have 10 Mozart operas on LD and LD in the collection of 68 LD & 33 DVD complete opera sets. I love opera. Unfortunately my beloved does not share my enthusiasm so I can only wallow in them when we have company or she goes out :-(
John

Peace at AA

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Re: We have all of those except ... - SR 21:37:08 06/12/02 (4)
I've become a big opera fan also, but its been only over the last two years. I think Mozart is far and away the most gifted composer of opera, although there are certainly many fine works by others. Last year I bought season tix to the LA opera. Our final production was Turandot just last week. LA Opera presented it with a new ending (as you know Puccini died before it was complete). I loved the production but hated the new ending. I think Puccini is my #2 man behind Mozart. His best arias were as good as Mozarts best, but the overall quality of music and his fitting of that music to story was not as skillful.
Puccini got stuck in this rut of killing off the heroines.
Steve
- What was the new ending, Steve? - psgary 22:15:59 06/12/02 (3)
  I like Turandot very much. I'm a big fan of Puccini. Pavarotti still "owns" "Nessun Dorma" in my book. Who has ever topped him on that aria?
  - Re: What was the new ending, Steve? - SR 15:38:20 06/13/02 (2)
    It's difficult for me to describe in that I've never seen the Alfano ending. I've just read about it. I will be picking up a DVD of this opera soon. I understand the traditional ending has Turandot instantly becoming "nice" and quickly ends with the Nessun Dorma theme.
    The new end is written by Luciano Berio using Puccini sketches. It features a lengthy (did I say long ?) instrumental "transformation" of Turandot which has her threaten suicide with the knife pulled from Liu then finally become willing to become the faithful wife, taking Calaf's hand and walking off into the sunset. Brand new music without a trace of Nessun Dorma, also without a trace of any vocal, also IMHO without a trace of Puccini. A guy sitting next to my wife had seen Turandot "at least 15 times". He hated this ending. I hated this ending without ever having seen any other. I enjoyed the Toscannini story that when he conducted the premiere in 1926 he just stopped at Puccini's end and announced "This is where the maestro died". I tink I would enjoy that the most.
    The LA opera performance was however spectacular. Not a hint of weakness anywhere in the cast. This Franco Farino who sung Calaf could give Paverotti a run. His Nessun Dorma was spectacular.
    Steve
    - LA Opera Turandot
    - DVD Turandot - John C. - Aussie 00:26:07 06/14/02 (0)
      Hi Steve
      I love this opera. Absolutely stupid story but great music so who cares.
      I have a couple of laserdisc versions (came up at Big Emma at prices which could not be resisted by weak kneed me) - the Arena di Verona which is spectacular, the SanFrancisco version with Eva Marton and I am drooling for the chance to see the DVD one performed in China at the Forbidden City by Mehta at some multi million dollar cost.
      We saw a documentary about the making of this Chinese epic. The Chinese insisted they replace all costumes and only use authentic Ming Dynasty ones. Some or all of this documentary is on the DVD also.
      Lucky you seeing a live performance even if the ending was crap.
      John
      
      Peace at AA
    - Thanks - psgary 20:42:28 06/13/02 (0)
      Without seeing it, the new ending does seem like it would stink. Bad form for two to commit suicide with the same knife.
      I've always admired Toscannini's integrity for stopping. Lots of great music before Puccini was forced to stop. Who needs someone else's fill-in tunes?
      Thanks again.

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