In the Mail….
[Posted by The Angry Clam]
Today I received two compact discs that I ordered via Amazon. Both of which, possibly to m.croche’s horror if he still comes around here, are modern operas.
The first, which really got a lot of the modern opera ball rolling, is John Adams’ Nixon in China, which was originally performed in 1987, and which I’ve been lucky enough to see performed.
The second is a new release from Roger Waters, the one (and future? Live 8 left us all in suspense) Pink Floyd musician, not to mention one of my all-time favorites. It’s his latest work, Ça Ira, a classically styled opera set in the French Revolution and which has been almost 15 years in the making. The recording has been out for about three weeks, so I’m probably the first one on my block to hear it.
Reviews to follow.
I hesitate to say this, given their druggie rep., but I think Pink Floyd’s the best – oh, I mean great. I’ll have to listen to Waters’ CD. ‘Just hope he isn’t as depressing as he has been on some of his solo material.
Tillman (1cf529) — 10/17/2005 @ 8:09 amWe all love Floyd here- Patterico’s a big fan as well, if I recall correctly.
Angry Clam (fa7fff) — 10/17/2005 @ 8:21 amEver get a chance to hear them live? I did once – without Waters – in quad sound. ‘Had bad seats though, then afterwards my boss at the time told me that he could have gotten me first or second row seats! &#$@!!!
Tillman (1cf529) — 10/17/2005 @ 9:20 amBut still, it was magnificent.
I’m not much into opera, modern or otherwise, but Dr Atomic seems tempting.
Kevin Murphy (6a7945) — 10/17/2005 @ 9:41 amYeah, Dr. Atomic is the new one of Adams’ (he’s done, to my knowledge, three operas including it), they all look interesting.
Angry Clam (fa7fff) — 10/17/2005 @ 9:55 amSo, Angry – want to come to Long Beach and see the avant-garde Birmingham “chamber Ring” with Patterico and myself this January?
A.L.
Armed Liberal (e6ad60) — 10/17/2005 @ 6:07 pmI’d love to, but I’m several thousand miles away, sadly.
Also, Ca Ira is astounding. It’s very clearly Waters’ work- the complexities and trademark jarringness are all there. I’m going to have to re-listen to it a few more times.
One thing that bothered me is that its based on a translated libretto, which I think slightly harms the quality.
Angry Clam (a7c6b1) — 10/17/2005 @ 8:09 pm