Wagner: (The) Great Operas

Advantages: Music to my ears
Disadvantages: Novocaine for my backside

...of the finest pieces of political satire ever written aside from anything else, then onto Tannhauser (about Venus, several knights, and redemption), and then perhaps back to the Ring. WHAT ABOUT THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS? To clear up a popular misconception, Wagner died before Hitler was born. They did not know each other. The music was hijacked by an evil dictator to somehow represent a pure ideal. There is no doubt that Wagner was extremely political as a man, and held extreme and bigoted views. However, the recurring themes in his operas are about love, particularly redeeming love, brotherhood, loyalty, and "doing the right thing". ANYTHING ELSE??? Oh yes, if you can pick up a video anywhere of the accompanying documentary "The Golden Ring" do. Nothing else will every come closer to giving you an idea of what recording a vast... Read review

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Advantages: Not well known but is an important bridge in the historic cycle
Disadvantages: Not well known and quite dated

...and in America. However, Arthur Sullivan was increasingly aware that his high classical ideas were becoming more and more suborned by the operas comique. This was the time when Wagner was interesting a wider audience in Grand Opera and Sullivan always had a great admiration for “The Meistersingers of Nuremberg”. Also in May 1883, Sullivan was knighted by Queen Victoria. As the time for a follow up work loomed, Gilbert resurrected an old idea of his (a magic lozenge that changed one person into another) which Sullivan had already rejected. Gilbert then suggested turning his old three act play “The Princess” into a comic opera. It is said that Sullivan only agreed because the story of the new opera would be less convoluted and “topsy-turvey” than previous works and that he realised that this type of composition could be counted upon to earn... Read review

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Advantages: easy to find the piece of music you want
Disadvantages: maybe too familiar for the expert listener

...This year, I actually got Christmas presents that I enjoyed, not a single returned item! It seemed that my friends and family had really thought about their gifts to me, instead of last minute panic buying. Recently I have begun to explore the world of opera, deciding to inject a little culture in my life! My uncle had definitely been listening to my interests as this CD was one of the great gifts I had. It is a double disc album, cleverly titled 'The Only Opera Album You'll Ever Need! And I can honestly say that this may be a very true claim! Only the most famous arias are included on these cds, covering many composers including Mozart, Wagner, Verdi, Puccini, Dvorak and many more. Each track is listed with the place you'll recognise the song from, such as the British Airways advert, the films Fatal Attraction and Moonstruck... Read review

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