Post by Beagle December 3, 2006 (1 of 7)
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Thank you, Robert 'Oakland' Lang for your involuntary review of this disc. I almost picked up its rival (Ludwig/Berry/LSO) from a brick-and-mortar store on Friday, but hesistated, not knowing what the alternatives were. This one is DSD, and your one-legged conversion argues in favour of it. Like you, 'I am not an opera fan, but I have an open mind'. And likewise, its attraction for me is the music, NOT the misogynist plot (maybe its a good thing that it's in a non-indoeuropean language...).
Anyone have any comments on the other Bluebeard?
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Post by tailspn December 3, 2006 (2 of 7)
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I consider The Fischer Bluebeard one of the top ten SA-CD's I know. Everything, from the wonderful interpretation and execution, the macabre story line, the sensitive and emotional characters, the FANTASTIC recording by Polyhymina's Erdo Groot and Hein Dekker, I could go on and on.
I first heard it live about twenty years ago under Seiji Ozawa and the Boston Symphony. I didn't know the piece at all, and nearly fell out of the balcony on that great cord of the opening of fifth door.
Get it, learn the story, follow the libretto, and fall in love with it. Like the best opera, it will bring you many years of emotional joy.
Tom
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Post by Claude December 4, 2006 (3 of 7)
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Beagle said:
Anyone have any comments on the other Bluebeard?
It's the reference recording for this work. I only have a Decca Classic sound CD, which sounds very good. I don't know if it is worth an SACD upgrade.
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Post by Beagle December 22, 2006 (4 of 7)
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tailspn said:
Everything, from the wonderful interpretation and execution, the macabre story line, the sensitive and emotional characters, the FANTASTIC recording by Polyhymina's Erdo Groot and Hein Dekker...
The disc arrived today, and everything you say is true! I think this is the best sacd recording of human voices, very intimate. I haven't heard Blubeard's Castle in decades, and so it is almost a new experience now. This recording is obviously a treat for those here who complain of a lack of opera -- but it is also ear-candy for those who like appreciate works on a smaller scale.
As mentioned above, I am not an operamane, but I do enjoy the odd opera. Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande is such, odd enough to be barred from the definition of 'opera' by some ('it has no arias...'). Bluebeard's Castle reminds me in many ways of that Debussy work (of which, the young Bartók was at lease aware): the one-on-one dialogues, the ominous dank castle with deep secrets....
Pity, there's not a sacd of DEBUSSY's Pelléas et Mélisande (we have Sibelius' and 2 Fauré's!).
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Post by pgmdir May 13, 2011 (5 of 7)
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Yes, I can confirm this is a superb SACD. IMHO, it's the best thing Fischer has recorded for the medium - before he started doing primarily very safe and MOR repertoire for CC. Brahms, Beethoven, Dvorak and Mahler: just how many recordings - particularly of the latter - do we need?
We know Fischer can do 20th Century, but it would be nice to hear some; so the forthcoming Stravinsky is welcome, of course.
Back to the the original Philips/Bartok recording. It also sounds sensational - to my ears and system, rather clearer, further back, focussed and airier than the increasingly dark-tinged (mellow?) Budapest recordings from Channel.
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