Chandos Opera in English

Sonata said:

I know many people aren't a fan of translated operas, and it wouldn't be my primary method either. But as a side niche it interests me a bit. So what versions of these (or other English translated) operas do you find to be of reasonably good quality? And if you can't actually understand the words feel free to skip it, it'd only be worthwhile if I could actually understand it, I would prefer the original language if I'm not going to understand anyway

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That's me too. I can't understand half of them anyway.

Many in this series are good performances and I have enjoyed listening to a number of them, although I am reminded of a comment in one of the Penguin Guides against La traviata that Verdi in English has a way of sounding rather like Gilbert and Sullivan on record :lol:

Itullian said:

That's me too. I can't understand half of them anyway.

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Haha. I agree with you about that. Listening to translations doesn't usually help me too much...I can maybe pick up some words or phrases here and there, but overall it is very strenuous trying to follow along and understand what they are saying without subtitles. So I just listen in the original language in all its glory and put the subtitles on!

I have Rossini's Thieving Magpie in Opera in English and like it a lot. On the other hand, the Fidelio is not very good.

The only recording I have from this series is The Pearl Fishers which is ok. I bought it mostly out of curiosity and it was one of the few to get reasonable reviews. I agree that it's often difficult to understand much of what is being sung anyway. I can't see me buying more anytime soon.

The Goodall Ring is stately and majestic and has many admirers. I find it a great contrast to Solti and Barenboim.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wagner-Goodall-Cycle-ENGLISH-LANGUAGE/dp/B00005LZVY

Belowpar said:

The Goodall Ring is stately and majestic and has many admirers. I find it a great contrast to Solti and Barenboim.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wagner-Goodall-Cycle-ENGLISH-LANGUAGE/dp/B00005LZVY

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Much as I love Wagner's German, I agree with you here. And the Goodall Ring is the slowest of all versions I know. Makes that heavenly music last even longer.

I was strongly considering the Goodall Ring recently. Unfortunately it's SO expensive. And it's not available on Apple music I did want original German for my first Ring though anyway
I may slowly collect it one volume at a time....or request it for a birthday sometime. Slower tempos are no problem for me!

I have the Goodall Ring, but I am less enthusiastic about it. I really prefer Wagner in German.

Sonata said:

I strongly considered getting Barber of Seville from the series......but as interested as I was I couldn't resist my lovely Beverly Sills so I ordered this instead:

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I really do hope you bought it with the Sills intention, because the opera is not in English, plain Italian :tiphat:

Pugg said:

I really do hope you bought it with the Sills intention, because the opera is not in English, plain Italian :tiphat:

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Thank you for the info, but not to worry I was aware of that. I just decided I'd rather increase my Sills collection rather than have the novelty of an English opera

Sonata said:

Thank you for the info, but not to worry I was aware of that. I just decided I'd rather increase my Sills collection rather than have the novelty of an English opera

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A small, but valuable collection, for the connoisseurs amongst us .:tiphat:

Art Rock said:

I have the Goodall Ring, but I am less enthusiastic about it. I really prefer Wagner in German.

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I have the Goodall Ring and it is unlistenable. Goodall had zero sense of the works drama as evident by his overly plodding tempos. It's downright absurd and ridiculous.

gellio said:

I have the Goodall Ring and it is unlistenable. Goodall had zero sense of the works drama as evident by his overly plodding tempos. It's downright absurd and ridiculous.

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chacun à son goût

for those who haven't heard it, at least this post tells you it's a Ring unlike any other.

Magisterial would be my review of it.

Belowpar said:

chacun à son goût

for those who haven't heard it, at least this post tells you it's a Ring unlike any other.

Magisterial would be my review of it.

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It is unlike any other. Fine singing ruined by a moronic conductor who sought nothing more than to inflate his ego. How else can one explain his ridiculously slow tempos that make absolutely no dramatic sense - like he knew better than Wagner (which is why I label him moronic). I also think the acclaim his set has received is nothing more than a case of the blind following the blind, or in this case - the deaf following the deaf.

gellio said:

It is unlike any other. Fine singing ruined by a moronic conductor who sought nothing more than to inflate his ego. How else can one explain his ridiculously slow tempos that make absolutely no dramatic sense - like he knew better than Wagner (which is why I label him moronic). I also think the acclaim his set has received is nothing more than a case of the blind following the blind, or in this case - the deaf following the deaf.

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Sorry can you speak up, I'm not quite getting the point you are struggling to make!

My life just got simpler, I now have a new external source I can goto to have my opinions trashed.

Previously that was my wife's job but I have recently suspected it's a role she seems to be ever more reluctant to play. One of us is obviously growing wiser.

PS I don't know that much about Goodall, but most commenters refer to him as self effacing.

Belowpar said:

Sorry can you speak up, I'm not quite getting the point you are struggling to make!

My life just got simpler, I now have a new external source I can goto to have my opinions trashed.

Previously that was my wife's job but I have recently suspected it's a role she seems to be ever more reluctant to play. One of us is obviously growing wiser.

PS I don't know that much about Goodall, but most commenters refer to him as self effacing.

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Yeah, you have some good points and I apologize. We all like different things for different reasons. I guess more than anything I am so disappointed in the Goodall Ring because it's in English and I would love to have an English recording that I can listen to. It's just sooooooooooooooooo slow. I can't handle it. I keep trying to come back because opinions change over time, but I have a hard time understanding all the acclaim this set has.

I will let your wife get back to it

P.S. You live in London....lucky you. Best city in the world.

For those who are unfamiliar this is a chance to hear Goodall and Rita Hunter in the finale.