Best place to find good opera, how not to waste money on inferior sound quality?

Question

I discovered opera music at 14 years old at my local library, I picked up a Pavarotti album (yes him,no teasing please) just because I was so sick to death of everything I heard on the radio that I wanted something different. When I heard Pavarotti sing "Caruso" I knew that if there is a heaven, that's what it sounds like. However, I have failed time and again to find good sound quality. My copy of "Carmen" for instance sounds like it was recorded on the other side of a wall of cotton! Help me opera buffs I know you're out there! P.S. I am admittedly ignorant. I am no kind of opera expert I basically just search & listen, search & listen until I find something I like. So, you know, feel free to give raves of your faves........

Answer 1

you might want to look into the Met Opera on demand music service its a paid subscription service typical MP3 quality but if you don't like your choice just down load something else. great for a beginner learning there way round the opera world.

Answer 2

I'd check out the Met Player. It's my addiction, and the place I go to when I want to watch an opera. It is a compilation of different operas performed at the Met Opera House. It's a mix of audio and video, so some you can only listen to the music and others you can watch an entire performance. It has a great selection, and they're always adding to it. Not a waste of money if you're computer can handle it. The computer I'm currently typing on is slow and trying to watch an aria is very annoying because it is so choppy. Before signing up, I suggest you listen to one of the free arias available and make sure it isn't choppy and that the subtitles appear. It does cost about fifteen dollars per month.

http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/



Another great resource is emusic. This is where I buy about 85% of my music. It has a vast selection of all sorts of classical music. The sound quality could be either good or bad, so take a listen with the preview button available before buying. For thirty downloads per month, it costs about twelve dollars, but when you first sign up you can get about fifty more. Plus, you can suspend your account for a while if you wish to keep the account but not spend the money on more downloads at the time.

http://www.emusic.com/



And then you could always turn to itunes. Another great site for music. It has the latest CDs and recordings. Usually about $0.99 per download, but the quality is great.



Youtube is another resource. Sure, you can't take it with you to listen on in the car or around the house, but it can be very useful. Not familiar with an aria or an opera? Go youtube it. Most likely it will have several recordings with different singers and different productions. Find a performance you like? Then check out amazon and see if it is available to buy.



Need a new opera to get into? Check out operas written by the composers of your favorite operas. Or check out this wiki site with a bunch of different popular operas. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_important_operas

Once you've found an opera you like, wiki it. Wikipedia usually gives a great synopsis on different operas, and usually a list of famous arias from the work. Then just go from there.



Some other sites that might help you:

http://www.aria-database.com/

http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/history/stories/

Answer 3

you are looking for studio recordings and at this point and more toward the newer ones. so check the recording date to be sure it was recorded in a studio in stereo don't go back earlier than the 1960s ... when you get more familiar with opera you will appreciate the performances of the less than pristine sound of the pirates and older recordings but until then let yourself enjoy enjoy the sound .......... personally I have at least 2 copies (sometimes more) of most operas a newer clearer version to be able to hear all the nuances and then an older or live performance just because the interpretation is so marvelous .. perfect example is Gounod's Romeo et Juliette the newer version is with Ruth Ann Swenson and Placido Domingo (he actually sounds young!) it is a fine recording of the opera but I also have a live version from the 1940s of Jussi Bjoerling and Bidu Sayao it is a phenomenal interpretation (I really can't emphasize how wonderful it is) of this opera but the sound quality isn't really all that ........... just explore and find what you like

Answer 4

It sounds as if you are buying pirate copies, or cheap 'off air' recordings. Unfortunately, the market was flooded with nasty recording of doubtful provenance following the Three Tenors phenomenon Pavarotti recorded for Decca and anything on that label should have a decent sound. Similarly, any recording by the any of the majors should have good sound..

Answer 5

once you're in a hurry then by all way you haven't any time to pass someplace else or cry approximately that food is sweet for you. speedy foodstuff places have salads. you could ask for a water cup. Its all appropriate to the choises you're making, no longer what all and sundry else needs you to consume

Answer 6

la traviata on rca,robert merril,anna moffo,who else,,,,uh leontyne price

the fist act,instrumental intro,are beautiful,croce delizio,,,,com e bello

robert first auditioned for an orchestra whose name and conductor escapes me,but

sr direttatore told robert,"you have a beautiful quality to the voice,but it lacks something,

tell me about yourself",,,,robert replied where he grew up,who he studied with,he was married and expecting a child,,,,maestro replied,,'ah,that is it then,young man you come back again after the child eez born,and do the audeetion again!,,,,,he did and maestro was happy,,,so sounds robert in that performance.If this record can be found on vinyl,that is optimum,if it is on cd or dvd,and is not doctored,sped up,thats good too,dcs are often altered in speed,and artificially boosted,if you buy from used shops they are mush less expensive