Guillaume Tell Online this Weekend from the Bayerische Staatsoper

Tune in to STAATSOPER.TV on Saturday afternoon for the next live webcast from the Bayerische Staatsoper: 

Rossini's Guillaume Tell 

with Michael Volle, Bryan Hymel, Günther Groissböck, and Marina Rebeka among the cast.

Guillaume Tell Michael Volle
Arnold Melcthal Bryan Hymel
Walter Furst Goran Jurić 
Melcthal Christoph Stephinger
Jemmy Evgeniya Sotnikova
Gesler Günther Groissböck
Rodolphe Kevin Conners
Ruodi Enea Scala
Leuthold Christian Rieger
Mathilde Marina Rebeka
Hedwige Jennifer Johnston

Musikalische Leitung Dan Ettinger
Inszenierung Antú Romero Nunes
Mitarbeit Inszenierung Johannes Hofmann
Bühne Florian Lösche
Kostüme Annabelle Witt
Licht Michael Bauer
Produktionsdramaturgie Rainer Karlitschek
Chöre Sören Eckhoff

Random Thoughts While Listening to Lirico Spinto on France Musique

I wish I understood French. I don't even understand most of the singers' names in French. Even the French singers. 

Most of the time, I really dislike Maria Callas' voice (Sorry, everyone. I know that's a special kind of operatic heresy.) She made some truly dreadful sounds. (Gluck – see below)

Sometimes, I really like Maria Callas' voice. She made some absolutely lovely sounds (now and then)! (Bellini – see below)

Speaking of Bellini, almost everything he wrote sounds the same to me – even the bits that I already know. 

Almost everything Gluck wrote also sounds the same to me – even the bits from Orfeo/Orphee; although I definitely like Gluck better than Bellini.

Anna Moffo had a pretty spectacular voice (I know, that's not really news.) At least Bellini is really pretty when she sings it.

Véronique Gens also has a spectacular voice, especially when she’s singing in French.

James King sounded pretty darned good back in the early 60s – even singing Gluck in German.

Vesselina Kasarova has at least three voices, and she uses them all to great effect, especially in this Orphee excerpt in the Gluck program. (It's credited to an RCA CD, but I think it's the same performance as on this DVD.)

Richard Croft's voice is still god-like. (Also not news, but...oh my!)

Google Chrome continues to aggravate by automatically translating (or trying to translate) any page that's not in English. OTOH, it does provide a hearty giggle now and then. For example, this aria from I Capuleti e i Montecchi  entitled "O, fifty flip" (O, quante volte).  

The Bellini Program

 The Gluck Program

Gratuitous Friday – Matthias Goerne Sings Wotan's Farewell

In my never-ending search for more recordings of Matthias Goerne, I came across this (audio only) excerpt from a 2013 concert with the San Francisco Symphony. While I'm not sure Christoph Eschenbach is my Wagner conductor of choice, I have no complaints about Herr Goerne’ gorgeous singing!

Alexander's Feast – Röschmann, Schade, Finley, and Harnoncourt

Unfortunately, Nikolaus Harnoncourt was not well enough to conduct a performance of Haydn's Seasons for this year's Internationale Barocktage Stift Melk (Michael Schade, Artistic Director). The upside is, in its place, Ö1 re-broacast this 2001 Festival performance (the first year Herr Schade participated in the festival):

Georg Friedrich Händel: 

Alexander's Feast or The Power of Music

Dorothea Röschmann, Soprano

Michael Schade, Tenor

Gerald Finley, Bass

Arnold Schoenberg Chor

Concentus Musicus Wien

Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Recorded December 7, 2001 in the Stiftskirche Melk

Bonus: If you'd rather watch and listen, I just came across this: 

Happy Birthday, Richard Strauss (from Ö1 Radio)

It's hard to find a picture of him smiling!

Here is an edition of the Ö1 program Apropos Musik in celebration of Richard Strauss' 150th birthday. There are some interviews—with Strauss, and with singers who worked with him. Obviously these conversations are a lot more meaningful if one has a good grasp of German. 

What’s most interesting, however, are the Rosenkavalier excerpts conducted by the dude himself and recordings of him at the keyboard (accompanying Anton Dermota and Maria Reining, and playing two Lied arrangements via piano roll.) I highly recommend spending this hour with Strauss and friends. Happy Birthday, Herr Doktor Strauss!