Location: Granes - Haut Vallee de l'aude - EU
Posts: 2,831
I'm Richard.
Streamer: NovaFidelity X40, Turntable: Rega RP3, Arm: Rega RB303, Cartridge: Audio Technica AT120E, Amp: Belles Aria, Loudspeakers: Quadral Aurum Montan VIII, Rack: Creaktiv Trend 1, Cables: Beresford, Chord, Coherent, MCRU, Rega, TCI.
I enjoy listening to Classic Opera performed by Opera singers - Renée Fleming, Angela Gheorghiu, Diana Damrau, Natalie Dessay, Roberto Alagna, Juan Diego Flórez and the like. Singers and actors who have performed this type of music within context and therefore have the understanding of the story and libretto to be able to convey the emotion in the musical pieces to an audience be that audibly on a recording or together with the complimentary visuals in a performance.
Just as I am not a fan of 'Greatest Hits' albums in pop & rock I am not a fan of Operatic style albums or 'Highlights & Aria' type albums from singers who have never performed in any kind of opera - I'm thinking here of the likes of Il Divo, Katherine Jenkins, Charlotte Church et al
This is the Coffee Table music listened to by the masses that will buy the current #1 Album and the likes of The Canadian Tenors, Jonathan & Charlotte etc... my Mother would probably like it but what does she know; she turned her nose up at 'The Four Last Songs' album I bought her a couple of years ago performed by the superb Renée Fleming.
Nothing wrong with liking Coffee Table music sung in an operatic style if that is your bag but it really shouldn't be compared to real opera and possibly fits in more with the general easy listening genre rather than proper Easy Listening... Sinatra, Bennett, Peggy Lee etc
I don't question or doubt the genuine talent or ability of these people to sing in some instances but just like listening to Susan Boyle, singing and hitting all the right notes in the right order doesn't make it an enjoyable performance.. It needs and deserves so much more, then and only then does it start to make sense and you can begin to share the emotion conveyed.
Now whilst I like Opera and have been to see a couple with my good Lady I really don't get ballet at all!
Best Wishes
Christopher D
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Main System: Vinyl - Technics SL1200 Mk1, Technics Mk2 Headshell , Audio Technica AT_VM95C, Cambridge Audio Azur 551P Phono Stage: CD - Marantz CD 6005: Amp - Cambridge Audio Azur 351A: Speakers - B&W DM600
Second System (WIP) : CD - NAD C 521i : Cassette - Technics RS-BX404: Amp - Technics SU-V470 PXS : Speakers - Wharfdale Laser 60
Streaming: Audio Interface - Focusrite Scarlett 8i6: Active Monitors - Adam Audio T5V
Really
Streamer: NovaFidelity X40, Turntable: Rega RP3, Arm: Rega RB303, Cartridge: Audio Technica AT120E, Amp: Belles Aria, Loudspeakers: Quadral Aurum Montan VIII, Rack: Creaktiv Trend 1, Cables: Beresford, Chord, Coherent, MCRU, Rega, TCI.