Music Chat: Opera Without Words!

[@JackBurttrumpetstuff]

The Szell Wagner features two wonderful 'Ho-jo-to-hos!" from the great trumpeter Bernie Adelstein in the 'Ride of the Valkyries'. In the opera it is a unison call from the Valkyries, which, when missing, leaves an otherwise empty two measures.... I love it! No one else does it. I asked Adelstein about it, and he told me that Szell came over to him before the recording session with a little slip of paper, saying, "Would you be so kind as to play this? I'll show you where..."

[@toddschurk8143]

And interestingly enough, Szell doesn't add that little trumpet call in the earlier ('56) mono recording of Ring excerpts that he did for the Epic label.

[@maxhirsch7035]

Thanks for this, particularly the Wagner selections! Will be checking a lot of this out!

[@geraldmartin7703]

Speaking of long orchestra names, I remember on Vox a Horenstein Brahms recording with The Orchestra of the Southwest German Radio, Baden Baden.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

It got longer...Baden Baden und Freiburg.

[@petertaplin4365]

A couple more beautiful Puccinis -' Kingsway' Symphony Orchestra with Camerata on Decca in beautiful sound and playing, and another featuring a selection from 'Boheme' arranged by Christopher Palmer with Sir 'nifty' Nev and the Academy of St. Martins!

[@maxhirsch7035]

Kempe and Mackerras both recorded instrumental suites of the Cunning Little Vixen, by Janacek, but coming from someone who generally hates opera, I have to say that the opera itself is so great that it's just worth getting the whole thing, particularly Mackerras's recording of it. Other potentially quite-likable opera for people generally allergic to it- The Nose, by Shostakovich; Stravinsky's operas (I mean, it's Stravinsky, it WILL stay focused- and not go overboard).

[@nicksiegenthaler2944]

Thank you for all your magnificent reviews, Dave! Mazel’s Ring Without Words got me into Wagner, opera as a whole, and later your reviews (which in turn introduced me to the very best of Bruckner and Mahler). I wish it were higher profile because it really is an ideal gateway drug to a whole musical universe.

[@billyb7465]

In addition to the excellent Verdi disc, it's worth noting that Kunzel and Cincinnati also did a Puccini one. One of my favorites!

[@stevenklimecky4918]

Exactly - that's what I've always felt about Carmen - every piece and number in the opera is great. I can't say that about too many operas.

[@richardgrassia5225]

I heard Lorin Maazel perform The Ring without words with the Pittsburgh in Philadelphias' Academy of Music! Really awesome! It was a cold windy and rainy night and I heard one of the ushers say What a perfect night for Wagner!

[@walkure48]

Opera Without Words also happens to be one of my favorite Westminster Gold covers - a bare shouldered Brünnhilde with prominent tan lines, a furry horned hat, her mouth taped shut and looking VERY unhappy :) As far as Wagner goes, I prefer the words, and if it's without them, then they need to keep the music moving since "dreadfully slow" and "profound" are rarely synonymous.

[@Brandon55638]

I always thought that a Wagner opera without words would end up sounding like one super long symphonic fantasia.

[@nickhamshaw1234]

Hello Dave. Another great set of recommendations, thank you. May I make a suggestion to those out there looking for more of the same? There is a glorious series of Janacek Opera excerpts in much the same vein, under Peter Breiner on Naxos. It’s all such richly melodic music, but still with the characteristic Janacek ‘edge’.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

You mean like the ones I discuss extensively in this video about them? kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2iWcqWKo7J9mJY

[@nickhamshaw1234]

Yes those. And now the comments reference them, neatly linking things up. Wouldn’t want anyone to miss them!

[@hallingerman2168]

Thank you, Dave, for mentioning recordings of voiceless, colorful orchestral selections from operas. May I also share with your readers the thrilling orchestral arrangements arranged by Domenico Savino and the Rome Symphony Orchestra. These are older but fine sounding recordings, and they are very beautiful, filled with the lovely melodies and stirring moments drawn from different, larger sections of various operas. Finally, may I also mention a beautiful Chesky CD, "An Evening of Opera," with Rene Leibowitz conducting orchestral excerpts from operas of Bizet (Carmen), Puccini (Intermezzo from Manon Lescaut), Auber (Crown Diamonds Overture), Dukas, Offenbach, Borodin and Mozart. Full dynamic range and dramatic renditions by Leibowitz and the RPO.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thanks for adding these titles, but the Leibowitz hardly qualifies as "Opera Without Words." It's basically just a collection of overtures and intermezzi, and there are a million similar things out there.

[@jesustovar2549]

Thanks David for hearing you singing as a baritone, you sound like a Looney Tunes cartoon, which reminds me of "What's Opera Doc" with Bugs Bunny and Elmer parodying Wagner's operas, which could serve as an introduction for several children, since I have seen references to The Valkyrie in other media over the years, not just the use of Ride of the Valkyries which is already a musical "meme" (no matter what you say about Lohengrin's act 3 prelude, Forest murmurs and Siegfried Idyll, I still like them, anyway, your humor sense is welcome), thanks for more orchestral recommendations from Wagner, and I had already listened to that Järvi's disc, I listened to De Vlieger's Wagner Ring with Het Radio Philharmonic here on KZbin and I like it, and I recognize that Puccini disc also. By chance, yesterday I was listening to Carmen's suites, with Dutoit Montreal (Decca) which also includes L' Arlesienne, very worthy. It was also fun to hear you speaking Spanish without any specific accent, I wonder to listen to that Gould's Falla, this discs could be a very good introduction to opera, especially the Wagner's Ring ones (, looks like you read my suggestions, I'm from South America so that should count as America (that topic is already very messy), but Make the World Classical Again sounds better.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

No, it doesn't. It has to be "America." That is the joke--just as the color has to be red.

[@bbailey7818]

I once heard Stokowski do the entire Immolation Scene, Gotterdammerung, 20 minutes without the soprano, just a few instrumental cues where the orchestra couldn't fill in. It was the most gawdawful boring thing I'd ever heard short of Philip Glass. WITH soprano it can be gripping and so moving. Sometimes you need the screeching and screaming. And when the screaming is done by a Flagstad or a Nilsson, there is nothing else in the classics to match the unique emotional power and frisson of it.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I think that goes without saying, but some still prefer it without the voices, and I understand that too. I've heard the Brünnhilde BBQ minus the guest of honor and it sounded terrific. A great steak doesn't need sauce.

[@waverly2468]

If you are shopping for a cd of "Siegfried's Rhine Journey" you should listen to the various recordings first on Spotify. Some of them leave out the big brass fanfare. One newer recording that doesn't have that horrible cut is Gerard Schwartz and the Seattle Symphony.

[@q1.280]

Considering the quality of modern opera singers, opera without words is a more important concept than ever! Quite sad for the state of opera, but the music is great nonetheless.

[@ewmbr1164]

It pains me to read your comment - while sighing and saying that I could not agree with you more. Imagine a world without the tehnology by which we still have access to great Wagner singing for times long past... On the other hand - as Dave noted recently in one of his presentations - there is a fine and abundant crop of baroque opera singers to whom I can listen endlessly.

[@q1.280]

@@ewmbr1164 @Edgar Brenninkmeyer Well, baroque music should be sung no different than any other music, with a properly trained and developed voice. Listen to Jerry Hadley singing Händel's Messiah (available on KZbin), no modern singer comes even close. That's a great lyric tenor right there who wasn't limited in his repertoire due to great technique. I really don't believe in teachers calling someone e.g. a 'Mozart tenor', which usually is a reason to lighten the singer's voice. You should be able to sing everything, or let's say more than just baroque music, with proper voice development, which is sadly lacking in most of today's singers.

[@ccgrueter]

A Richard Strauss Opera without Words CD would be neat (I don't know of any). There's plenty of fabulous underscoring in Strauss' operas.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Manfred Honeck did a pretty cool symphonic arrangement of Elektra, and of course there are some excellent suites and other arrangements (Erich Leinsdorf's of Die Frau ohne Schatten, for example)

[@estel5335]

Lately, one of these wonderful people here raved about his love for Grofé's Grand Canyon Suite - i think it was on the topic of 'Music we imprinted on' or something. I just finished listening to it and it's absolutely gorgeous, a knock-out (courtesy of Dorati & Detroit on Decca) ! It was a really picturesque, wonderfully impressionistic joyride just like Copland's Appalachian Spring (also courtesy of Dorati & Detroit!). It comes coupled with a stupendous Porgy & Bess - Symphonic Picture - what a hidden gem, what a forgotten marvel - both! Dave, you should contemplate making a video about it. Happy listening, folks =)

[@morrigambist]

Some critics dislike that Grofé/Gershwin disc, but it's extremely exciting, even the slow "Sunrise".

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Yes, and the Copland is gorgeous.

[@martinhaub2602]

I really enjoy these Operas Without Words and you gave the reason: they're great to have in the CD player when driving. I wish there were more of them. The Tchaikovsky operas seem like good material; the Svetlanov orchestral excerpts are tantalizing. Even the Dvorak operas.

[@simonvaughan6017]

Speaking of Renes' Wagner, it's worth mentioning his superb disc of orchestral music from Schreker's operas. It took me a few listens to get into it, but it's now a favourite.

[@jesustovar2549]

Oh, Schreker, I really wish to know more about his work, another underrated late romantic just as Zemlinsky.

[@simonvaughan6017]

@@jesustovar2549 In that case, I recommend the disc I mentioned above (it's on the BIS label).

[@FCarraro1]

just a little correction, as I am italian, the "Va' Pensiero" was actually never our national anthem. It had a significant patriotic meaning during the "Risorgimento" when the italian Reign was born in 1861 but the official anthems have only been the Royal March, "Piave's song" just before the Republic was born in 1946 celebrating WW1 and the "Brothers of Italy " which is the current one ;) some ultraconservative parties have proposed the "Va' Pensiero" as national anthem to replace the current one but it was never a thing. Thanks for the video and keep up the good work.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Whoops! Thanks for the correction. Actually, my recollection (now that I'm not talking about it) was that it was proposed but found to be too short. They certainly remedied that with "Brothers of Italy!"

[@fr.alesposito8067]

I truly enjoy your informative and entertaining presentations! Thank you very much. I have a question for you. I am thinking of adding another Mahler cycle to my collection. I am considering Neumann or Bertini. What is your recommendation?

[@ewmbr1164]

Hi friend, I am not Dave, but hope you will appreciate my reply to you. Go for Bertini. I happen to have that cycle, and there is very little that is ok. The rest, that is: the very most, is simply very, very good, and at times even superb. Still, I do not easily cast aside Neumann (I've got his cycle as well) - it's the Czech Phil playing. What is there more to say? Dave has stated millions of times here how wonderful their sound is. Given the fact that Mahler was born and grew up just across the border between Bohemia and Moravia, I think it's fair to say the Czech Phil's sound might have a bit of "echt home mahlerish" character. In sum: if you are willing to afford both, please do. If you prefer to choose only one cycle, go for Bertini. Happy listening!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Bertini.

[@fr.alesposito8067]

Thank you!

[@fr.alesposito8067]

Thank you!

[@whistlerfred6579]

Slightly off topic, but I'd love my own "Make America Classical Again" tee-shirt. Are they available for sale?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

They will be soon. Hang in there--I'll be promoting them like crazy once the merch site goes live. It's in testing now.

[@tony-hifi-music951]

Hi David im new to this, i was wondering is there a list of opreas without words on the internet if so have you a link or somehow i can get one cheers from UK ilove your channel m learning a lot keep up the great work.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Not that I know of. Sorry!

[@frankgyure3154]

Off topic. With yesterday’s DG video I asked about the future viability of UMG labels DG and Decca. This morning I came across this press release. Looks like DG will not be “your father’s DG.” Do not think of Deutsche Grammophon as exclusively classical. It is doing its level best to blur the boundaries. Here’s the blurb… Deutsche Grammophon introduces the genre-defying Fragments. What happens when some of the most groundbreaking creative talents on the electronic music scene are invited to reimagine works by a pioneer from the past? This intriguing new series holds the answers. Fragments will spotlight the music of a single composer, issuing twelve reworks as e-singles over a period of months, culminating in a full album release. At the heart of the series is a dynamic dialogue between past and present, tradition and innovation, creation and re-creation. Fragments begins by focusing on the music of eccentric French genius Erik Satie, forefather of modern minimalism and an enduring influence almost a century after his death. The Satie series kicks off in style with a rework by Berlin-based duo TWO LANES, known for music rich in both acoustic and electronic elements. Based on the same work from the composer’s Pièces froides (“Cold Pieces”), their “Danses de travers No. 2” launches the series. “When we set out to find artists to work on Satie’s music, the idea was met with unanimous enthusiasm,” says Marc Fritsch, Director Special Projects at Deutsche Grammophon. “This has led to an original and eclectic collection of remixes and reworks. Fragments moves between different creative worlds - classical and electronic, online and offline, old and new. It brings together different artforms and gives musicians the opportunity to engage with timeless traditions of making music in ways that are sure to be surprising, stimulating and satisfying, just as Satie’s compositions were when they were new.”

[@AlexMadorsky]

Shanah tova Uncle Dave! I absolutely fell in love with the Morton Gould “Carmen for Orchestra” when you mentioned it in a prior video; it’s the kind of fun, exciting work I could listen to every day and the LP is still in heavy rotation at my house. I’ll have to listen to Serebrier’s “Carmen Symphony” soon. The Naxos box Serebrier did of Stokowski transcriptions is truly wonderful and I imagine this opera without words is as well.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Back atcha!

[@Don-md6wn]

I can't believe you left out Thielemann's disc of Wagner opera highlights with Philadelphia! (ducking)

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

That is not "opera without words," as I explained the concept.

[@Don-md6wn]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Didn't think about that even though I watched the video. Thanks for the clarification.

[@richardwilliams473]

Thanks,David with your perfect pronunciation of foreign composers and your unabashed singing ! You are an absolute joy to watch ! Richard ( Timpanist )

[@simonvaughan6017]

Prokofiev was very considerate in preparing orchestral suites from many of his operas (and ballets) or reworking them as symphonies.

[@dr2549]

Hi Dave, Shana Tova from Tel-Aviv. Thank you for ridding us of any guilt concerning OWW. You did your share of TASHLICH (casting off sins to the sea). From now on I'm going to wildly indulge myself in all those shamefully-tucked-away Orchestral Puchinis that I have!

[@leslieackerman4189]

A Gid Yur, Shanah Tovah, Feliz Año Nuevo, frohes neues Jahr, Bonne Année: We salute you.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thank you, and same to you.