05-18-2011 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree tuga Posts 174 Joined on 12-26-2007 Post #: 1 Post ID: 16280 Reply to: 16280 Pikovaya Dama / Queen of Spades fiogf49gjkf0d I listened to a fragment of a Queen of Spades aria while driving home this evening and it never ceases to amaze me how Tchaikovsky's music can touch me so deeply as I was able to identify the music's author after just a few chords considering that I am a relative newcomer to classical music. Anyway, I was hoping someone would suggest a couple of recordings for a first approach to the full work.Russian singers, preferably. Thanks, Ric "Science draws the wave, poetry fills it with water" Teixeira Pascoaes

05-18-2011 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree Romy the Cat Boston, MA Posts 10,156 Joined on 05-28-2004 Post #: 2 Post ID: 16282 Reply to: 16280 No good Queen of Spades out there.... fiogf49gjkf0d Ric, I have love/hate relationship with Queen of Spades, it is complicated…. Unfortunately Queen of Spades, even it is a popular and well performed and recorded opera, never had in my view, a definitive committed to recording event. I think I have most, if not all recordings from end of 30s and I do not like any of them. Sure they have own moments but as opera in whole I do not think that Queen of Spades was performed “interestingly” and recorded. Partially it the opera’s fault I think… The Cat "I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

05-20-2011 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree tuga Posts 174 Joined on 12-26-2007 Post #: 3 Post ID: 16291 Reply to: 16282 Gergiev??? fiogf49gjkf0d Thanks. Since there's hardly any chance I'll get to listen to it live or again on the radio I'm getting a recorded version anyway...Gergiev? Cheers, Ric "Science draws the wave, poetry fills it with water" Teixeira Pascoaes

05-20-2011 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree Romy the Cat Boston, MA Posts 10,156 Joined on 05-28-2004 Post #: 4 Post ID: 16292 Reply to: 16291 No cigars in singing.... fiogf49gjkf0d Yes, Gergiev’s version of Queen of Spades probably in the top of the list but only as there is nothing else available. Gergiev is in my view a very good opera conductor but he has no good singers in his disposal.  Do not get me wrong, the singer with OK with Gergiev but they did not break the back, if you know what I mean. In the Gergiev’s version of Queen of Spades you will not find the Maria Callas as Norma, the Tito Gobbi as Scarpia, Renata Tebaldi as Tosca or Mimi. Music of Queen of Spades is fantastic, beyond fantastic, but I think the opera as a whole it still waits own definitive version. "I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche