...forthcoming from Dynamic, conducted by the excellent John Neschling, who gave us the same composer's Il Guarany:
https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/lo-schiavo/hnum/9426749 (https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/lo-schiavo/hnum/9426749)
Gomes is an underrated composer, his operas are certainly derivative of middle-period Verdi, but none the worse for that. This is, potentially, good news.
Wow. I've just recently been looking for a recording of this. It's considered his masterpiece, hope it lives up to the hype.
It'll all depend on how well sung it is...
Of course ;)
It's probably worth mentioning that this production will be issued on CD, as well as on DVD and Blu-Ray.
I'll have the CDs.
Lovely opera. Terrible tenor. More anon...
Maybe so, I don't know yet, but my current recording of this fine work was released years ago by an obscure Brazilian label and is a live performance in atrocious sound, so anything will likely be an improvement.
Oh, I'll be buying this, but it'll be partly spoilt by the poor casting for sure. Typical, I'm afraid, of second-tier Italian operatic recordings - and not a patch on the fine recording of Il Guarany.
Indeed. But then, very few recordings of unsung operas are unfortunately.
In my opinion we are very fortunate to get these recordings of unsung/obscure operas bad tenors or no.
Yes, I tend to agree, but obviously it would be preferable for the performers to up to scratch. That said, it doesn't seem to be a problem confined to obscure operas. There are plenty of mainstream performances with below-par principals.
Yes standards are not what they used to be. We have to accept that we are not living in the golden age(era) of classical recordings any more, nor will we ever see one again.
Still, some recordings are pretty 'golden', though not often in the field of opera these days. Standards of vocal coaching have sadly declined: we can't even match the recordings of the 70s and 80s, let alone those of earlier periods.
I'm impressed with Bru zane, their standards seem thankfully quite high. They're doing a great job unearthing rare french operas, a particular favourite of mine is Gounod's Le Tribut Zamora and Saint-Saen's Ascanio on B records.
You're right. But they're probably spending rather more money...
This is quite lovely. Very melodic and richly orchestrated. It's nicely dramatic in a Verdian vein I'd say(nothing wrong with that in fact it helps the work). I found it a better work than Il Guarany. Decently sung and conducted too. I'm greatly impressed with the work, I look forward to further listens.
I'm still unsure whether to buy this on account of the very provincial singing. Try track 12:
https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/lo-schiavo/hnum/9426749 (https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/lo-schiavo/hnum/9426749)
I think the trick with so many of these recordings of unsung operas is to enjoy them for what they are, rather than pine for what they might have been. Surely it's better to have something than nothing, and that really would often be the alternative.
The problem for me is simply this: I'd listen to it once to find out what it's like and then never listen to it again because of the singing. As I said: try track 12. If you dare!
It's an irritation I appreciate, but I suppose you'll just have to be grateful for the ability to sample extracts online and resign yourself to more disappointment, as I doubt we'll see that many unsung opera recordings released with all high-ability casts. For myself, I'd prefer a cup half full to no cup at all.
QuoteI think the trick with so many of these recordings of unsung operas is to enjoy them for what they are, rather than pine for what they might have been. Surely it's better to have something than nothing, and that really would often be the alternative.
QuoteIt's an irritation I appreciate, but I suppose you'll just have to be grateful for the ability to sample extracts online and resign yourself to more disappointment, as I doubt we'll see that many unsung opera recordings released with all high-ability casts. For myself, I'd prefer a cup half full to no cup at all.
Yep, I agree with this. I'm just grateful that I'm able to experience such obscure works while I'm still alive, I'm not getting any younger, bad performances or not.
I guess it's the level of irritation that decides here. For me to cast such dreadful singers is inexcusable.