Giacomo Meyerbeer Richard Bonynge Fiona James - Meyerbeer Semiramide +Album Reviews

More Great Meyerbeer

Kenneth Gilman | Miami Fla | 07/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This, one of Meyerbeer's earliest Italian operas, is a great find. Opera Rara has done a fine job recording other Meyerbeer rarities but this Naxos recording is a wonderful addition to the music of Meyerbeer available on cd (though the singing is nowhere near the quality of Opera Rara recordings). Though a live preformance the sound is excellent with almost no distracting noise from the audience except applause. While not in the same league with Meyerbeer's later French grand operas, considering how early a piece this is, the music is very mature, with great soprano arias & duets. My only fault with the music is that it has no flavor of the time (ancient Babylon) in which the opera is set. Other than that the music is a delight. A must for anyone who enjoys bel canto opera & anyone who loves Meyerbeer in particular.

Since writing this review another recording of this opera on Dynamic has appeared. The Dynamic performance is much better sung & seems a more complete version than this Naxos edition. I own both, but if you only want one, the Dynamic is the one to own."

Good opera, well performed

Bruce Bogin | rural France | 09/30/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This opera of Meyerbeer's early days got a bad rap from a reviewer for whom I have nothing but the utmost respect. You will find that review on Classics Today which I consult several times a day. Compared to Robert Levine my knowledge of music and opera is nil and his is vast, and so I am going to chalk this up to a difference in taste. Frankly I bought this item because I enjoy Meyerbeer's music and I couldn't resist the price. After reading Mr. Levine's review I must say I was more than pleasantly surprised. This opera is not great but it is good and pleasurable to listen to. I find the singers and particularly the soprano to have extremely fine voices. I am enjoying this opera immensely and recommend it unreservedly, not just to Meyerbeer fans but to all who like early 19th century opera."

Rare but good

K. Wong | Virginia, USA | 08/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Not all Meyerbeer sounds like Rossini, but this one does. The opera moves in a rather quick pace. Music is good in general, but singing, I say, is four stars, not five. You probably won't complain about bad singing but there is nothing to write home about either. However, since you are not going to get a major company recording this one with big names, this one is pretty good. I am grateful that Naxos is offering rarity like this, therefore five stars. If you are already a Meyerbeer fan, you won't want to miss this one."

A joy

Dr. J. J. Kregarman | Denver, Colorado United States | 12/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you have an ear for Rossini, do not hesitate. This recording is a joy from start to finish. At it's price, it must be one of the best buys of the year. I often have found Meyerbeer a bit short winded. Not here. The melodies flow and the singing is indeed fairly good."

Delightful

John Cragg | Delta(greater Vancouver), B.C Canada | 03/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I happily confess a preferance for Meyerbeer's early -- Italian -- operas to his later French grand operas which I often find tedious. That said, it must be admitted that this is not really very self-confident bel canto writing and is as much an example of how opera practice -- at least in Italy -- was adapting to Rossini's revolution while mixing it with influeces that clearly come from previous composers, including what sounds like some direct -- but very watered down -- references to Mozart. The result is a delightful diversion -- possibly a curious description of an opera seria, but it must be noted that Naxos does not include a libretto -- let alone an English translation in their accompanying very brief booklet that does include a synopsis so it is easy not to take the plot and words very seriously. (Though this is not Rossini's peculiar aesthetic where the same melody could be made to serve equally well in comedy and tragedy.)

The two great strengths of this recording are the hugely skilled conducting of Richard Bonynge (this is the sort of music that he can really bring to life -- and interestingly here without stellar performers) and the enthusiasm with which the principals, chorus and orchestra enter into the proceedings. That none of these are really top drawer is easily forgotten as the whole performance hangs together to provide very pleasant listening. While as another reviewer noted, the forces are not of the quality that Opera Rara usually brings to similarly obscure works, there is less of a feeling of rescuing an overly neglected work and more one of putting on a performance because the music is indeed worthwhile on its own merits. Finally, the price cannot be beat while the recording quality is good."

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	Giacomo Meyerbeer, Richard Bonynge, Fiona James Meyerbeer: Semiramide Genre: Classical
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