Music
In recent years, I’ve mostly listened to opera and other classical music. I’m especially interested in chamber arrangements of orchestral music, Spanish-flavored music, Giuseppe Verdi, Richard Strauss, Romantic concertos, and Maria Callas. Before that, I was very into musical theatre, particularly Stephen Sondheim.
Monthly Playlist
Favorites
The Beautiful Voice (2000) by Renée Fleming with Jeffrey Tate conducting the English Chamber Orchestra
Beautiful. This album has the most luxurious singing I have ever heard, but it’s almost too much of a good thing. This is an album I listened to when I just started getting into opera, and it absolutely holds up.
Baritenor (2021) by Michael Spyres with Marko Letonja leading the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg
The most astonishing album I’ve ever heard from an opera singer. The strength of this album lies in its eclecticness—there’s a good mix of familiar hits, obscure arias, and twists—and how Spyres so readily pulls it off.
Habanera (2010) by Elīna Garanča with Karel Mark Chichon leading the Orchestra Sinfonia Nazionale della RAI
Super fun! This has a mix of Spanish-flavored stuff as well as the real thing. Contains the stuff she’s famous for (the three Carmen arias, and the original Habanera!) as well as some energetic zarzuela.
Great Baritone Arias (2010) by Peter Mattei with Lawrence Renes leading the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
An outstanding album of standard repertoire. Peter Mattei has the most gorgeous voice.
La traviata (1863/1958) with Callas, Kraus and Franco Ghione at the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos
This is the legendary Lisbon Traviata, my favorite recording of my favorite opera.
Salome (1905/1962) with Nilsson and Solti leading the Wiener Philharmoniker
Intense, passionate, spiky, and even occasionally funny.
Norma (1831/1960) with Callas, Corelli, Ludwig, and Serafin at Teatro alla Scala
Exceptionally beautiful and melodic with a fiery and conflicted main character. This recording has an incredible cast.
Don Carlo (1867-86/1966) with Bergonzi, Tebaldi, Ghiaurov, Fischer-Dieskau, Bumbry and Solti at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden
This opera has everything. An amazing cast for the Italian Modena version. My go-to response for “favorite opera” because I could talk about this for hours.