Classical Music for Aficionados

gdnrbob,

I enjoy listening to non-professionals as well. When I was in college, I seized every opportunity to hear student and faculty piano recitals that came along. There were many times when I was shocked at the quality of the playing, and it always kept me coming back for more. Even after I graduated I continued to attend these recitals for years until I finally moved out of the area.
And yes, it surely does give a greater appreciation for the world-class musicians.

I get to see Imogen Copper live on Saturday , she plays a bit .

Interesting that there is so little posting on opera performances and recitals that it is quite indicative of the quick loss of interest in this art form over the last few decades. Is it the none existence of the greatest of singers that once upon a time would throw audiences into a frenzy or has the sound of the operatic voice somehow become exaggerated and alien for the most part to us. 

The New York City Opera is no more. Why? Met performances have plenty of empty seats. On all these pages there is only one mention of a specific opera recording and a few nods to people like Bjoerling, Tebaldi, Corelli, Baker and Hampson. But really not much.

Do most of you not like opera and not have the patience for it? Opera recordings used to be huge sellers even at a time when people could also hear phenomenal exciting live performances. The Met sat afternoon broadcasts were hugely popular across the nation for those who did not have access to great opera houses.

This has all been lost and is not coming back. You could point out exceptions and to this and that but it really no longer has any major hold on cultural life.

Any recording by the great Dutch soprano Elly Ameling.  The great ones make it sound so easy.  Also the wonderful American soprano Barbara Bonny.  

I will be able to contribute more when you start an LP thread. To the people complaining about the lack of opera recommendations, I have about 150 opera sets. I have listed two below, and an “oratorio” and a dance song cycle. Opera is not dead: these are 20th century works. The clip of the performance of the Adams opera is outstanding. 

For now, I recommend

Philip Glass - Violin concerto
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kJoClZ7JosM
Sister Marie Keyrouz - Chant Traditionnel Maronite
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FPWHi2zKBiM
Frederick Rzewski - 36 Variations on a Chilean Theme: The People United Will Never Be Defeated
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WHVFlYsVi9o
Frederick Rzewski - Coming Together (“oratorio”)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RSuuwJFw4wU
John Adams - Nixon in China (opera)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0mtMI_huRtY
Curt Weill / Bertolt Brecht - The Seven Deadly Sins of Small Time Citizens (songs for dance)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg_Iu-mxHLk
and
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9T62J1A6AkY
Robert Ashley - Celestial Excursions (opera)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FQuwQKxcOUQ