Advantages: Fine performances all round, especially Ludwig and Corelli Disadvantages: Callas not in best voice
This is often considered one of the finest recordings of Bellini's opera "Norma". That opera is one of the best 'bel canto' operas of the nineteenth century. Norma, the soprano title character, has a secret relationship with the tenor Pollione, a Roman and thus an enemy to her people. She loves Pollione but he loves another priestess, the mezzo Adalgisa. Eventually it transpires that Norma has the power to decide the fate of Pollione and Adalgisa. Pollione is sentenced to death for being found on sacred ground (hoping to elope with/abduct Adalgisa). But rather than point the finger at Adalgisa for breaking her vows Norma admits to breaking her own vows with Pollione. Pollione, seeing Norma's nobility - she had felt pity for Adalgisa having intended to reveal the young priestess' betrayal - realises how much he loved her. They both mount ...
operalover2000 04.04.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Bellini: Norma
Advantages: Appendices make this a useful reference work Disadvantages: No real insight as the author was kept at a distance.
read the book with some of Joy Division's music in the background, as it can help to underline the points about Ian Curtis' state of mind. However, it does say something about the book that the best insights into the man come from the work of the man himself and not from the words of the author. The distance that Ian Curtis kept his wife at for much of their lives together not only had an adverse affect on their marriage, but has also had an adverse affect on this book.
This is a slightly amended version of a review previously published under my name at www.thebookbag.co.uk ...
Advantages: A good Read Disadvantages: I have to wait till next year for her next book
Hurting Distance - Sophie Hannah
I bought this book at my local Tesco on a buy two for £7.00 deal and it was well worth it.
I'm an avid reader and have read about 12 books this month of all different types. I tend to pick books by reading the back cover and then the first page and if it grips me immediately then I can't leave it behind.
The back of this book says "Three years ago, something terrible happened to Naomi Jenkins - so terrible she never told anyone" and the first page is an email she has written to a website called "Speak out and Survive"; you know then from the first page what Naomi's secret is, she's been raped. No I'm not giving the plot away, far from it, that's what I thought as well when I read it. I then though oh well; I'll give it a go anyway.
The next chapter is about a man she is deeply in love ...
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