Opera on DVD/Blu-ray/CD Chat

303322 Views 235 Replies 53 Participants Last post by Amara, 2 d ago

Herkku

Discussion Starter · Feb 6, 2011 (Edited by Moderator)

Almaviva here:

I thought that we should create a sticky thread for chat that is not exactly a review of operas on DVD and blu-ray, so that we keep this kind of talk here, without multiplying the number of threads, to make it relatively easy to find the various composer threads.

This hasn't been a problem so far - there hasn't been a lot of talk outside the reviews themselves (or the light banter, fun comments in the context of the reviews). But it could become a problem in the future, so, I thought that it would be prudent to start this thread.

One example of the kind of thing we can post here:

Herkku had started a thread with the creative title of "Houston, is there a problem?" - and I moved the thread here, but since the software makes the oldest post be the first one, the only way to start the thread by the above introduction was to edit it into Herkku's original post.

So here is Herkku's post:

-------------------------------------------------

I just watched Stravinsky's formidable Le Rossignol on DVD. I had a vague recollection of it having already been reviewed here and would have found it with the Search function, if I had entered both Stravinsky and Le Rossignol in the query. Then I began to browse the Miscellaneous and Modern threads before finally finding it in the Russian thread. Well, so much about my logic, but I found new material in the Miscellaneous thread, reviews of works that I had totally missed.

This may appear totally insane, but should we have a kind of log book thread, where new reviews would be announced? And is it possible to make it sticky, so that it would always be on the top, preferably the newest messages also coming first?

I was and am all for the subthread, and this was a problem with the single thread, too, if you missed a couple of weeks. But with the several threads dedicated to single composers or larger entities, messages are still easily lost, when new ones are added. What do you think?

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Almaviva

· #2 · Feb 6, 2011

Herkku said:
I just watched Stravinsky's formidable Le Rossignol on DVD. I had a vague recollection of it having already been reviewed here and would have found it with the Search function, if I had entered both Stravinsky and Le Rossignol in the query. Then I began to browse the Miscellaneous and Modern threads before finally finding it in the Russian thread. Well, so much about my logic, but I found new material in the Miscellaneous thread, reviews of works that I had totally missed.

This may appear totally insane, but should we have a kind of log book thread, where new reviews would be announced? And is it possible to make it sticky, so that it would always be on the top, preferably the newest messages also coming first?

I was and am all for the subthread, and this was a problem with the single thread, too, if you missed a couple of weeks. But with the several threads dedicated to single composers or larger entities, messages are still easily lost, when new ones are added. What do you think?

I guess so, but I hope all members will remember to write down the new review on the log book, with a link. We'll still miss reviews by new members who are unaware of all these rules, but I guess it will make it a little easier.

But what I do is: any time a thread is highlighted in bold meaning that there are unread messages, I scroll up as well to see if there is anything new above the last message. I think this fixes the problem, but a log book might help as long as everybody adheres to it. Otherwise it will just be another thing to click on, which for me is the main downside of the sub-forum = too many things to click on, and less foot traffic.

Maybe the log book should be a sticky in the regular forum, to improve the problem of less foot traffic in the subforum.

Herkku

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 6, 2011

I understand that it would require extra work, but I also hate the situation, in which possibly interesting reviews will be hidden by completely innocuous comments made to other threads. Comments and conversation are important, but I suggest the log book thread as a means to keep track of new reviews. Obviously we have to wait for other comments. In fact, we are a rather small community, where a new policy shouldn't be too difficult to adopt.

Almaviva

· #4 · Feb 7, 2011

Herkku said:
I understand that it would require extra work, but I also hate the situation, in which possibly interesting reviews will be hidden by completely innocuous comments made to other threads. Comments and conversation are important, but I suggest the log book thread as a means to keep track of new reviews. Obviously we have to wait for other comments. In fact, we are a rather small community, where a new policy shouldn't be too difficult to adopt.

Sure, but like I said, when you open the subforum, you see all the review threads that have had new posts. Then if you click on them and scroll up, you'll find any new post that you haven't read. (I know, the problem is that most posts will be useless myaskovsky2002's posts).

But like I said, if you're adamant about this log book, you have my support, for all that it's worth. Talk to Gaston.

Again, if we go for it, I'd rather see it placed in the general forum, due to foot traffic. Sometimes I think that reviews in the subforum get lost there because not many (especially new users) even know of the subforum. For instance, a new guy posted a series of questions about Les Indes Galantes DVD, and not once went to the subforum to check the appropriate thread. It's the biggest downside of the subforum, it is known to us, but not to the community at large.

Gualtier Malde

· #5 · Feb 7, 2011

Almaviva said:
But what I do is: any time a thread is highlighted in bold meaning that there are unread messages, I scroll up as well to see if there is anything new above the last message. I think this fixes the problem, but a log book might help as long as everybody adheres to it.

Much more conveniently, you can just click the little blue arrow on the left ("go to the first unread post"). Of course, if you've been away for a while, the number of new posts can easily overwhelm you (a problem I've become familiar with recently), but, obviously, no gadget we might come up with will take care of that.

Almaviva

· #6 · Feb 7, 2011

Gualtier Malde said:
Much more conveniently, you can just click the little blue arrow on the left ("go to the first unread post"). Of course, if you've been away for a while, the number of new posts can easily overwhelm you (a problem I've become familiar with recently), but, obviously, no gadget we might come up with will take care of that.

Oh wow, I didn't know of this blue arrow. Thanks, Gualtier!
@ Herkku - I guess this solves the problem entirely and makes the log book unnecessary, Herkku.

Herkku

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 7, 2011

OK, I didn't know about it either! So, we can forget my suggestion.

Gualtier Malde

· #8 · Feb 8, 2011

Almaviva said:
Oh wow, I didn't know of this blue arrow.

To be perfectly honest, I analyzed your post for a quite a while for signs of irony or hidden messages or allusions because at first, I couldn't believe that the Forum Guru is unfamiliar with the little blue arrow, but when I couldn't come up with anything, I concluded this had to be the explanation after all. Smiley!

Anyway, that's my standard technique for forum use: right click the little blue arrows for all boldface threads and then take it from there.

(Normally I'm the guy who doesn't know how things work with computers.)

mamascarlatti

· #9 · Feb 8, 2011

Gualtier Malde said:
To be perfectly honest, I analyzed your post for a quite a while for signs of irony or hidden messages or allusions because at first, I couldn't believe that the Forum Guru is unfamiliar with the little blue arrow, but when I couldn't come up with anything, I concluded this had to be the explanation after all. Smiley! Anyway, that's my standard technique for forum use: right click the little blue arrows for all boldface threads and then take it from there.

(Normally I'm the guy who doesn't know how things work with computers.)

:lol: :lol:

I didn't know about the little blue arrow either.

Almaviva

· #10 · Feb 8, 2011 (Edited)

Gualtier Malde said:
To be perfectly honest, I analyzed your post for a quite a while for signs of irony or hidden messages or allusions because at first, I couldn't believe that the Forum Guru is unfamiliar with the little blue arrow, but when I couldn't come up with anything, I concluded this had to be the explanation after all. Smiley!

Anyway, that's my standard technique for forum use: right click the little blue arrows for all boldface threads and then take it from there.

(Normally I'm the guy who doesn't know how things work with computers.)

Forum guru? I only joined in August 2010. There are plenty of technical features of this forum that I don't know about. Natalie is good at this. (Edit - oops, Natalie, I've just noticed that you didn't know about it either, LOL)

No, I was truly thanking you. The blue arrow is awesome. I've been using it non-stop ever since you told me about it.:tiphat:

World Violist

· #11 · Feb 8, 2011

I've spent something on the order of three and a half years on this forum (counting the while I spent away from it... maybe closer to just three) and I just found out about the blue arrow a few months ago. These forum things aren't as intuitive as they're made out to be...

Gualtier Malde

· #12 · Feb 9, 2011

You guys are dedicated. I would have left long ago without the little blue arrows.

Quite seriously, I think they are an indispensable tool to impose a semblance of order onto this chaos (especially in active, rapidly growing threads).

Almaviva

· #13 · Mar 7, 2011 (Edited)

Opera on DVD/Blu-ray chat

I got $205 in gift cards from friends for my birthday, and went on a shopping spree today.
I got:

Thomas' Hamlet - DVD
Verdi's Stiffelio - DVD
Rossini's La Gazzeta (Blu-ray)
Cherubini's Medea - DVD
Gallupi's L'Olimpiade - DVD
Rameau's Les Boreades - DVD
Gluck's Alceste - DVD
Halevy's Clary - DVD
Zandonai's Francesca da Rimini - DVD
Rossini's Stabat Mater (not an opera) - CD

$6 left. I think I did well!

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rgz

· #14 · Mar 7, 2011

Happy birthday! Though, I must say you did yourself a disservice by not picking up the Damrau Zauberflote (I remember you saying you didn't have that one in the voting thread). It is perhaps my favorite opera dvd -- though if we include operetta, the balance might tip to the Dessay Orphee aux Enfers.

In any event, nice haul. How large is your UWP now?

World Violist

· #15 · Mar 7, 2011

OMG is this a chance to revive the UWP??? YES!!!

I have a bad feeling I'll be taken away any moment now. I've got Wozzeck on my mind but not in my CD player.

Almaviva

· #16 · Mar 7, 2011

rgz said:
Happy birthday! Though, I must say you did yourself a disservice by not picking up the Damrau Zauberflote (I remember you saying you didn't have that one in the voting thread). It is perhaps my favorite opera dvd -- though if we include operetta, the balance might tip to the Dessay Orphee aux Enfers.

In any event, nice haul. How large is your UWP now?

Thanks. The actual birthday is Tuesday, but I had my party yesterday (much better on a Saturday, to be able to clean up and cure the hangover on Sunday before heading back to work).

Sure, regarding this Zauberflöte, I thought of patching the gap of best versions, but then I decided against it, and thought I should use the entire amount to buy operas that I don't own on DVD yet. Oh, and I almost bought the Orphée aux Enfers with Dessay, but due to same principle, I didn't because I own another version (although much inferior to hers which I've seen but don't own).

My UWP - I think it just hit 50 again - it was at 41 before the buying spree. I only keep track on a Word file of operas that are new to me - I'm not counting additional versions of operas that I already own on DVD, nor operas that I have already seen on streaming media and then decided to buy the DVD. Also, I'm not counting other genres such as ballet or symphonic concerts or even opera documentaries. If I count everything, I believe the size of the UWP is somewhere around 80.

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mamascarlatti

· #17 · Mar 7, 2011

World Violist said:
OMG is this a chance to revive the UWP??? YES!!!

Mine never went away, but I'm just keeping quiet in case they get the goldfish.

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mamascarlatti

· #18 · Mar 7, 2011

Almaviva said:
Thomas' Hamlet - DVD

Good one!

Verdi's Stiffelio - DVD

Domingo or Carreras? The Domingo one is good but has the three-hundred pound Sharon Sweet in and the thought of two guys fighting over her is unlikely to say the least.

Rossini's La Gazzeta (Blu-ray)
Gluck's Alceste - DVD

Pse report back.

Cherubini's Medea - DVD

With AC Antonacci? Powerful stuff.

Gallupi's L'Olimpiade - DVD

OMG Why? Beautiful but soooooooo mind-numbingly boring. My least favourite DVD of the 220 I own.

Rameau's Les Boreades - DVD

I love this.

Halevy's Clary - DVD

Got that in the UWP

Zandonai's Francesca da Rimini - DVD

The same one as in Met player?

Rossini's Stabat Mater (not an opera) - CD

The Pappano one?

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Almaviva

· #19 · Mar 7, 2011

mamascarlatti said:
Good one!

Yep, with Dessay and Keenlyside.

Domingo or Carreras? The Domingo one is good but has the three-hundred pound Sharon Sweet in and the thought of two guys fighting over her is unlikely to say the least.

Carreras, Malfitano.

Pse report back.

Sure. But who knows when? The UWP is huge.

With AC Antonacci? Powerful stuff

Yep.

OMG Why? Beautiful but soooooooo mind-numbingly boring. My least favourite DVD of the 220 I own.

Really? Darn! There were very good reviews here - miscellaneous thread. Alan said: "So far, this is a winner. The music is excellent, the characters credible and well-acted, and most of the musical performances gripping."

I love this.

I know, that's one of the reasons why I got it.

Got that in the UWP

So we'll compare notes, later.

The same one as in Met player?

Oh no, it is in Met Player? I shouldn't have bought it, then, but watched first. Maybe I'll watch it there and if I don't like it, I'll return it unopened.

The Pappano one?

Yep.

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mamascarlatti

· #20 · Mar 7, 2011

Almaviva said:
Really? Darn! There were very good reviews here - miscellaneous thread. Alan said: "So far, this is a winner. The music is excellent, the characters credible and well-acted, and most of the musical performances gripping."

Alan and I had a discussion later - in one of those "wish we hadn't bought it" threads - about how neither of us had succeeded in watching it to the end. It's perfectly lovely for about 20 minutes and then you realise that it's like Groundhog Day, the same thing over and over again. I managed 1 hour the first time and two hours the second.

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