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4387 Great Opera Composers
We have seen a number of Handel’s works, including ‘Rodelinda’ and it was interesting to see how his very stylized opera seria, using da capo arias, differs from later developments. But these are uncomfortably long and, with their triple repetition, boring.
Everyone raves about Beethoven’s ‘Fidelio’ but, even though he may be the greatest composer of all time, I don't think he did not handle the opera form well; and knew this to be the case!
Bizet’s ‘Pearl Fishers’ is pleasant enough, but it is his ‘Carmen’ which is one of my favourite operas. I have heard it literally dozens of times (where Ethiopian Airlines regularly played it) and seen it perhaps half a dozen times; and loved it almost every time (though best of all was the Glydebourne production).
Above all, though, are the two greats; Mozart and Verdi. We have seen most of their operas; including Mozart’s ‘La Clemenza di Tito’ which is almost opera seria. I like Mozart’s ‘Magic Flute’ and ‘Don Giovanni’; though I was almost put off the latter by a terrible Glyndebourne production – but fortunately recovered with a superb one on television by Peter Brook. Above all, I adore ‘The Marriage of Figaro’. Again I have seen this many times; including, again, a bad production by Glyndebourne. Surprisingly, the best was that put on by Opera Milton Keynes, with which Pat sang. It only had a harpsichord and piano accompaniment and was put on in the 200 seat OU Lecture Theater (albeit directed by one of my favourite directors) but it was superb.
Verdi is, though, perhaps the greatest ever. His ‘Rigoletto’, whilst very somber, is full of ravishing music, as is ‘Aida’. Above all, his ‘La Traviata’ is one of my top favourites – especially the Brindisi. Again Opera Milton Keynes put on a superb production. As much an opera as a religious piece, his (Manzoni) ‘Requiem’ has the most sublime music of all.
I enjoyed the production of Janacek’s ‘Makropoulos Case’ which we saw at Glyndebourne; but was less thrilled by his dour ‘Katya Kabonova’, from their touring company.
In terms of individual arias, the Flower Duet from ‘Lachmae’ by Delibes is ravishing – and is almost impossible to sing badly.
Unlike almost everyone else, I do not rate Puccini, or Gilbert & Sullivan with whom I bracket him! Having said that, I have seen most of their works; in the case of G&S, because Pat was in the local society which put them on, but that only made Gilbert’s librettos even more atrocious. In the case of Puccini, I just felt – because so many rave about his work – I must be missing something. I have yet to find it! ‘Tosca’ and ‘Butterfly’ are just about tolerable; but ‘La Boheme’ is, to my ear, rubbish! Indeed, I thought the musical version of it, Rent, set amongst the gay community in New York was much better.
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