Opera Bubbles

Ildar Abdrazakov’s first solo CD has been released on 7 th of January 2014 with the title «Power Players - Russian Arias for Bass» !  Lately, to be honest, I tend to listen to more male vocal than to female one. I don’t know…I guess that’s my must for now!) And Ildar is its essential part! Last year I heard and read a lot of stuff concerned his voice, personality. I’d had no idea about Ildar before (Shame on me!!!). I was waiting for his CD for a long time. I think it’s unfair to have made us wait for so many years!!! He is a very experienced and famous singer and just now he has recorded his first album! But anyway…when I got a chance to hear it, I was no longer angry at people!). So I wanna tell you what you’re gonna find there!

«Oh the weather outside is frightful But the fire is so delightful Since we've no place to go Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…»  Today it’s orthodox Xmas Day!!! Magic is here! Today I was singing Christmas songs with my choir in the White Temple (one of our local temple)! It’s a very special feeling when you sing such songs on this day! You become very happy and cheerful till the rest of the day! And it was snowing during the day, I was catching giant snowflakes with my hands…ooohhh…it was a real magical moment!!! Anyway, I thought it would be cool to write a Xmas post today! I’m sure that one of main elements of any holiday is food on the table, so I’d like to suggest a very good idea for opera-lovers! My very close friend bought a book for me three months ago (Thanks to her again!!!). It is called «The Opera Cooks» .  Who doesn’t know it’s a recipe-book in which you can learn how to cook favourite dishes of many operstars like Roberto Alagna, N...

It’s almost the end of the year!!! OMG!!! Time flies like a bee! Actually, I haven’t been posting anything for some time cause I had too many things to do or to think about so… the whole writing process was going vEry slooowww… Having read some posts of other good bloggers I’ve become inspired a lot by them and the whole idea of just sitting and summing up all good opera memories I’ve had this year. So… here I want to present you my, let’s call it, OperaBubbles Awards! My list of all «besties» is divided into several categories. My choice of winners is based only on my personal XP, on what I’ve seen or heard or attended this year.

My relationship with baroque music is developing in a very special way. In my childhood I listened a lot of this music during the lessons at my music school: Bach, Handel, Haydn, Vivaldi etc. I liked it especially the most famous melodies but…I wouldn’t say it moved me very much. So for some time my attitude to this was kind of «it’s old music». EMI  Classics  2012 Some months ago I had an amazing experience in rediscovering the beauty of baroque music. It happened thanks to Joyce DiDonato’s «Drama Queens»! Before that moment I’d come across her CD too often here or there and I really liked the photo on the cover to ignore it so long:). So I decided to give it a chance! And I have no regrets. I suddenly realized how powerful this music could be! It’s not less emotional than the music of more modern composers! I like all the tracks and I know all of them by heart! They are rarely recorded arias belonging to various opera queens! My absolutely favorite is « Sposa, s...

I think the best way to explain the meaning of today’s bubble is just to say «О, как мне тяжело! Опять Онегин…» (rus) (How this torments me! Again, Onegin…).  Recently, I’ve watched Met HD new production of «Eugene Onegin» in my local cinema theatre. In general, I have to say I like it. I was touched by acting and singing. And it gave me an idea to compare it with the previous Met production of «Onegin» in 2007 which I love and adore and to find out what is better maybe:). So it’s kind of a battle between two director’s points of view and two casts of great singers. Let’s do this!!!

Finalmente (it.)!!! I’ve sat and dedicated one of my evenings thinking about Verdi’s music again! Time is so limited for me lately…but I stick to my plan and intention to share my thoughts and emotions about this great composer with you!!! As I’ve said in the previous post this part will be not only about CDs! In this bubble I would like to tell you about two amazing Verdian singers whom I adore very much and hope you do too:). I would even call it «The Radvanovsky-Hvorostovsky Bubble» . If you don’t know I mean Dmitri Hvorostovsky , a Russian baritone, and Sondra Radvanovsky , an American (partly Canadian) soprano.

The other days (October the 10th) there was a big event for the whole opera world! The Giuseppe Verdi's bicentenary!!! No doubts that his contribution to the classical music is priceless and I’m sure that he’ll always be one of the greatest composers of all time! Due to this occasion some opera singers have released CDs dedicated to Verdi this year. I consider it’s a very good way to celebrate such a big date (especially for fans :) ). And I’ve decided not to stay aside of it but to join by listening to these recordings! It took a lot of time…that’s why I post it so late:), but I strived to enjoy all of them and to make a review the most useful for you! The first part of my review is about new Verdi CDs and the second part….let’s say…will be not only about that! (Intrigue!!!). You’ll know later! Anna Netrebko – « Verdi »  (2013) This was the first Verdi CD I listened to cause I adore Anna and try to keep up with all her career changes. I’ve already ...