Opera. Stick your favorite, please!

Chucky wrote:Is Maria Callas single?; does she like Irish men?

She was beautiful, honey but forget your intentions. You know that she´s dead. I don´t think you practise necrophilia.
As for the Irish men, I know one that is really handsome!

Is she really dead? - Oh no, I actually did not know that. Which Irish man is attractive... ...Pierce Brosnan?; Bertie Aherne?

I know one 'Latina' who is muy muy bonita!

No, I don´t like Pierce Brossman at all. I was thinking of Bono.
Nonsenses, You know that my favourite Irish guy is YOU!

I go on with my last obsession "Opera" I have discovered this singer, Franco Corelli. My God, he looks like my Grandad José (I love you grandad, wherever you were, you´re in my heart)
To the topic,

Opera: Otello
composer: Verdi
performance by this magic creature who I have just discovered: Franco Corelli.
Scene: Esultate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=motUFYY4d-g


O sole mio (by Franco Corelli)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZZMP_KnAyU

The female voice is generally more beautiful than the male's, but O sole mio is a good example of a male voiced opera.

I was thinking exactly what you says, when I heard his voice.

This thread has made me realise that I know un poco sobre la opera. Las senoritas son 'sopranos' et los senores son 'tenors' - si?

Kevin

Sure, when they have a high-pitched voice: females (sopranos) males(tenores);
If they have a middle voice they are classified like this: females( Mezzo-soprano) and males(barítonos).

Classically-trained mezzo soprano, here. I discovered opera in high school, when we all had to traipse to Music Hall, through some of the worst parts of the city. My first opera was a one-act thing, Schwanda the Bagpiper. Not the best in the world, but it infected me.

As a mezzo (next-highest female voice), I tend to favor Verdi, Puccini, Bizet, et al. Mozart usually wrote for the lyric sopranos (highest female voice, and the first to go), and Brahms for the contraltos (lowest official female voice, and longest lasting).

I had to learn "O Mio Babbino Caro" and "Habanera," studied the incomparable Maria Callas, and even discovered Cecilia Bartoli. Because of the piss-poor way I handle strong emotions, I could never really perform well. When I put my all into it, I couldn't get through the song. When I didn't, it was dull.

My favorite opera to date is Verdi's "La Traviata."
La Traviata: Addio del Passato - Maria Callas. Troppo bella per le parole
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOUs0y_QpAE

I'd like to see Samson et Dalila - Camille Saint-Saens as well. Sang this aria in my senior recital (not nearly as well):
Samson et Dalila: Mon Coeur S'ouvre a ta voix
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9piRiiZ0C4Q

<edit>One more performance that brings tears of joy to my eyes:
Turandot: Nessun Dorma - as performed by...Aretha Franklin. I get goosebumps every time. She gives it a little soul, and sings it in English (American), but I still think Puccini would have liked it.</edit>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUvJZ26shqc

Chucky wrote:This thread has made me realise that I know un poco sobre la opera. Las senoritas son 'sopranos' et los senores son 'tenors' - si?

Kevin

Female, highest to lowest (in English): lyric soprano, mezzo soprano (me), contralto
Male, highest to lowest: tenor (Pavarotti), baritone, bass

Opera types: Opera classico - serious, everyone dies (La Boheme); Opera buffo - comic (Die Zauberflote); Operetta - includes spoken lines (Pirates of Penzance - also comic). Those are the ones I can remember.

Operas in one act are usually a good introduction, since they're not particularly long. I personally feel operas should be performed in the language written, since the composer had that language in mind when he wrote the music. Messes up the cadences, flow, grace, beauty, etc. I prefer surcaps, translations on a screen above the stage. If nothing else, the viewer can entertain themselves with the realization the opera plot is thinner than the plot of the movie "The Blues Brothers."

I was gonna be a music teacher when I grew up.

Lisa