Verdi

Omg, I just got in and switched through the channels and found one where the BBC orchestra were playing loads of choral pieces (conducted by celebrities lol).

One piece they played was from Verdi's requiem and I couldn't beleive what I was hearing! I've never particularly liked opera or choral stuff before but this piece really blew me away...

I've been having a listen to some of verdi's stuff, but if someone who really knows his pieces could please point me in the direction of more of his great music I would be really grateful!

wow!

Ferret,

Verdi is a complete genius of melodrama. Those who say his music is too vulgar and simple are pompous snobbish assholes. I recommend Charles Osborne's book on Verdi's operas and other works (including the Requiem.)

It takes special performances to bring about Verdi's greatness. If you like a more orchestrally complex work with a clear late 19th century tone, I recommend Otello (with either Jon Vickers or Placido Domingo as Otello.) His more famous melodramatic masterpieces, though, are La Traviata, Il Trovatore and Rigoletto. While Il Trovatore isn't as complex, La Traviata and Rigoletto are psychologically deep works which give me chills from beginning to end. In both those operas you should seek Maria Callas. She was a true singing actress whose operatic performances deserve oscars. Without good acting (yes, even - and above all - in sound alone) Verdi's operas are simply not interesting.

Also, to fully enjoy these works it is vital to read the libretto - with its translation - at the same time as you listen. most opera CD's come with this in the booklet.

You're in for a treat.

EDIT: These are the recordings you should seek IMHO.

La Traviata: http://www.amazon.com/Verdi-Traviata-complete-Giuseppe-Orchestra/dp/B00000630Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1219856385&sr=1-1

(you should be warned: though that is a sublime performance, the sound quality is not. There are plenty of good recordings out there with great sound quality, but the performances are a complete bore and you'll probably end up disliking Verdi. Personally I'd rather listen to that a million times better than other performances, which though having good sound quality, have nothing else that's particularly good about them. Be warned, and don't fall into temptation.)

Rigoletto: http://www.amazon.com/Verdi-Rigoletto-Complete-Giuseppe-Stefano/dp/B000002RY6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1219856753&sr=1-1

(You won't have any problems with the sound quality in that one. It's a studio recording and the sound's perfectly acceptable. Though Callas is as glorious as always, the focus is on the equally great singing actor Tito Gobbi, whose performance as Rigoletto absolutely DESTROYS all others. If you're like me, by the time the last track of CD2 is over, you'll be near tears.)

Remember - plenty of people recommend other modern recordings in the reviews of THOSE recordings, simply because of sound quality. You might think I'm biased, but I've heard many recordings of both those works and I can completely assure you they're absolutely not worth it. The performances I linked to are supreme and make any other pale in comparison - few say otherwise. I urge you to listen to my recommendation of getting those recordings first and above all - as always, with the libretto in hand (it comes with the CDs.)

CONDUCTED BY CELEBRITIES???

whoa. o.0

CONDUCTED BY CELEBRITIES???

whoa. o.0

lol yes :P

BBC ? Maestro ? Home

Its actually quite a good program, particularly if you're like me and have never conducted (the celebrities are given lessons from actual conductors).

Althouh sometimes they royally make a mess of things lol :P