Page 1 of 1 [ 5 posts ] 

BetwixtBetween
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 25 Feb 2014
Age: 42
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,543
Location: Mostly in my head

25 Jan 2015, 9:51 am

This is a re-post from the Television and Film section where it received no responses:

Someone gave me an Amazon gift card. I've never seen Arabella (the opera), but I've always wanted to. I'm kind of hoping someone on here can point me to a good DVD version. I'm leaning towards the one with Kiri Te Kanawa. I love listening to her. Certain kinds of voices grate on me, and hers doesn't at all, quite the opposite. Does anyone know of any reason why I shouldn't get that version? Is there, in any of your opinions, a better version out there?



nerdygirl
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 16 Jun 2014
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,645
Location: In the land of abstractions and ideas.

25 Jan 2015, 10:04 pm

I know nothing about this opera or the singer. But if she sings quite a bit in this opera, you should get this version since you know you like her voice. Why risk getting another recording that someone else likes that you may or may not like? Go with what you know.



BetwixtBetween
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 25 Feb 2014
Age: 42
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,543
Location: Mostly in my head

26 Jan 2015, 8:30 am

The problem with doing that is that the other singers might have an abrasive quality to their voice which could completely turn me off, or there could be lighting issues or uneven recording (thinking of a Glyndebourne production), or it could be badly costumed or made up, or it could be badly acted, and so on. I like her, as I said, and I really want to see this, as I said, but I've bought and borrowed from the library productions that had problems.



nerdygirl
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 16 Jun 2014
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,645
Location: In the land of abstractions and ideas.

26 Jan 2015, 8:36 am

Oh, I see.

Can you read any customer reviews? They should at least comment on lighting and such, though voice quality may be subjective.

What about reviews on other productions by the same recording company?



BetwixtBetween
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 25 Feb 2014
Age: 42
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,543
Location: Mostly in my head

12 Feb 2015, 9:37 pm

I was really hoping to have a reply from someone on here, because I know there are people on here who have the same issues I have, and the reviewers might be less sensitive to or bothered by that sort of stuff. I praise the day tagless shirts were invented because tags had previously been the bane of my existence. None of my NT friends understand.



Last bumped by BetwixtBetween on 12 Feb 2015, 9:37 pm.