Monk~koknee 5:20 Thu Jun 21
Classical Music and Opera
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There are a lot of passionate and knowledgeable popular music (in all its genres) on here but what are your experiences with classical music and even opera?
I have often thought I may be missing out on something but have never really been able to get into it. Probably like many others I am familiar with the well-known bits that appear in movies or adverts but beyond that I struggle. I have made some abortive attempts to become educated but it just seems to be long boring bits between the occasional memorable interlude. I have been once to the Opera (La Boheme) which was OK but mainly because it didn’t go on too long and once went to an Opera night held at an Italian restaurant which was enjoyable because it consisted of well known excerpts.
So any WHOers into classical music? If I want to give it another try to appear cultured where should I start?
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Replies - Newest Posts First ( Show In Chronological Order)
Monk~koknee
1:59 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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Yep that rings a bell. Good memory.
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Far Cough
1:55 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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This Week
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Monk~koknee
1:54 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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Not off hand. Remind me.
I think the song was from the Ars Longa Vita Brevis album. That's all I can remember.
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Far Cough
1:51 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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Can you remember what tv prog it was the intro for?
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Monk~koknee
1:49 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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Far Cough 12:20 Thu Jun 21
I have that by Nice.
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Monk~koknee
1:31 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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Thanks one and all. WHO can be an amazing source of info.
Some great recommendations and advice there. I will take some time to follow each up and check them out. A few downloads in the first instance I think.
Ashy - thanks for the offer but as I am not in the UK it may be quite difficult to arrange.
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MrBen
1:26 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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P.S. Avoid newly commissioned pieces of classical music. Usually terrible.
Classical music died many, many years ago.
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Far Cough
1:24 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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1st Movement*
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Far Cough
1:23 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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I loved Gilels interpretation of Tchaikowsky's 1st Piano Concerto but nothing, I mean nothing can beat Van Cliburn's rendition
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MrBen
1:21 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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A few comments / recommendations;
Royal Opera House - expensive and many of its productions are 10+ years old (music can be relied upon to be great but the production looks a little tired). If you can, look-out for new productions. I saw a new production last year of 'Niobe, Regina di Tebe' - the male soprano Jacek Laszczkowski's (sang more like a castrato!) voice alone will live long in the memory.
The best Opera-offering on these Isles is the summer festival at Glyndebourne - great, inventive productions in one of those quintessentially English-toff environments (the Opera version of Ascot, Henley, etc).
Orchestral music - The BBC Proms are an institution at the Albert Hall but I no longer go - the venue is too dated, it's a pain to get to and you have to put-up with hundreds of old duffers coughing their way through a piece.
I tend to use the Barbican mostly (Festival Hall is another good shout) for my recital fix.
In terms of what music / Orchestras to select I firstly go by reputation of Orchestra (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra > Berliner Philharmoniker > Vienna Philharmonic > Chicago Symphony Orchestra > LSO, etc) then I look into the piece that they are playing (I try to avoid too many funeral marches i.e. Verdi's Requiem).
Additionally, there may be a classical 'star' backed-up by a competent Orchestra that is usually worth looking-out for (i.e. Those still with us - Lang Lang; Evgeny Kissin; Midori; Itzahk Perlman; Maxim Vengerov; Angela Hewitt etc. Those that have long since kicked-the-bucket; Paganini; Pablo Casals; Chopin; Bach; Beethoven, etc).
From that little list above you can ascertain that I lean towards pieces which are heavily strings or piano-based (I'm not a fan wind instruments - reminds of Bavarian oompah bands).
A few recommended recordings to download;
Bach - Cello Suites (Pablo Casals)
Beethoven: Symphonies (Arturo Toscanini & NBC Orchestra)
Brahms: Piano Concertos #1 & 2 (Emil Gilels, Eugen Jochum & Berliner Philharmoniker)
Mahler: Symphony #9 (Simon Rattle & Berliner Philharmoniker)
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Big E
1:11 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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Classical I can sit and listen to in the background. Doesn't offend me and quite like it, just know nothing about it.
Opera - couldn't bear the thought of it up until I was taken to see La Traviata last year and thouroughly enjoyed it. Went to see Madam Butterfly last month as well and that was great.
Prefer the ENO over the ROH, purely based on leg room!
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Ashy
1:05 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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I work for a distributor of classical & opera CDs. If you are looking for something in particular WHOmail me and I'll see if we have it on any of our labels.
We have all the good old stull, but also some really obscure things.
Our latest "Big Hit" is the 9th Symphony by Philip Glass.
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Agent Scud
12:29 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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Coffee 10:35 Thu Jun 21
Mars, The Bringer of War is the first piece. The last is Neptune, The Mystic.
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Big H
12:29 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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Sorry...Zadok the Priest
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Big H
12:28 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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Still love Zodak The Priest - Handel.
Wonder how long before we hear it again?!
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147man
12:24 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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I sometimes enjoy classical music and will listen to it when I think the mood is right, I'll be honest and say that this is not too often but in essence I "Get it" - I can understand why people would enthuse over it.
Opera, however, is a totally different thing, I am currently working in Vienna and decided that as I have never once attended an opera in my life I should put this to rights so I went to see a production of "The Barber of Seville".
Although I could appreciate the skill/artistry of the performers I was bored rigid, I just didnt connect with it at all (despite the fact that there was a screen in front of me which transalated all of the lyrics into English)
For me Opera is "Emperors New Clothes" and I shall not be going again
Still, at least I tried it and now have an informed opinion
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Far Cough
12:20 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtIw5AkUEsE
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Far Cough
12:20 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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I've suggested this before but it's worth another go:
Sibelius Karelia Suite - Intermezzo
Fast forward to 0.50 to get over the quiet bit, if this doesn't move you, you're dead
Oh and it might be instantly recognisable to our older fans
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mentor
12:14 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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Faure, Saint-Saens, Delius, Vaughan Williams, Borodin...all worth a listen.
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Morpheus
11:09 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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Been getting into classical myself recently, but there are so many composers/artists/conducters etc it can be a bit overwhelming. Best thing to do is listen to Classic FM and when you here a piece you look find more from that composer.
Dvorak is pretty good his sympthony number 9, the New World one, has loads of familiar melodies.
Elgar listen to the Enigma Variations or Pomp and Circumstances marches for something rousing.
Strauss (II) has some beautful waltzes and marches.
Einuadi contemporary composer who does some very chilled ambient stuff
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ted fenton
11:06 Thu Jun 21
Re: Classical Music and Opera
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Monk~koknee 9:04 Thu Jun 21
Well I certainly do.
Mars is very powerful !
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