I’d suggest you get copies of Puccini’s Madam Butterfly – try the recording with Leontyne Price and Richard Tucker – and Mozart’s The Magic Flute – conducted by Oestmann, Abbado, or Sawallisch – and give them a listen.

Thanks for writing. And Stephen, thanks for the tip, that’s definitely something I’ll do more research on this weekend and see what other bloggers (from the 1st bloggers night) I can get to come along with me!

Lisa,

I spoke to my friend who has seen many a performances in Berlin and she strongly suggested I go to the Opera instead of the Symphony, so this is something that I’d like to check too. But, I have this sense that I need to take a class first to understand all the history and context behind the Opera first – not unlike trying to really appreciate Shakespeare or the Canterbury Tales (Ahh, Highschool reading).

Cheers,

Daniel

http://therehearsalstudio.blogspot.com/2007/07/taming-rachmaninoffs-monster.html

There is yet to be a recording process that can do justice to the overwhelming volume of notes in just about any Ives score. The November program will include the NEW ENGLAND HOLIDAYS symphony. This will be my second chance to hear MTT conduct the full cycle, and the first one just blew me away entirely.

Lisa is right, too. There is rarely an adequate substitute to a “live” opera performance, particularly where the sound is involved. Now that the balcony at the War Memorial Opera House has its new video system, you can enjoy the sound and not have to worry about bringing binoculars!

I was invited, but wasn’t able to attend this event, because I was out of town last week. Glad you had a good time, and I hope you’ll go to the Symphony again.

I will mention that opera is also pretty darned different in the flesh than on CD.

– Lisa
Iron Tongue of Midnight