Gluck's Orfeo

[wagnerfan]

I have many recordings of this great work in all its various guises -
I am hard put to say which ones I really like or dislike most - it
depends on what I'm in the mood for. Whether its the elegance of the
French tenor version with Simoneau, the versions with Italian or
German mezzos or contraltos (I do like Klose) , the dramatic bull
dozer approach of Horne or even the transposed baritone version with
Fischer-Dieskau. It says a lot that the work itself can survive all
these various versions - wondering which the posters like and
why????Wagner fan

[William Sommerwerck]

Minkowski. (Odd that I mentioned him in a post just a few minutes ago.)

[Angelotti]

Post by wagnerfan
I have many recordings of this great work in all its various guises -
I am hard put to say which ones I really like or dislike most - it
depends on what I'm in the mood for. Whether its the elegance of the
French tenor version with Simoneau, the versions with Italian or
German mezzos or contraltos (I do like Klose) , the dramatic bull
dozer approach of Horne or even the transposed baritone version with
Fischer-Dieskau. It says a lot that the work itself can survive all
these various versions - wondering which the posters like and
why????Wagner fan

I agree with the French Simoneau recording, always had it as LP, and
of course on C, still the best and bringing the pleasure of true
french singing.
I own the Richter - Fischer-Dieskau, Muti, Fasano - Verrett and the
live recording from 1959 with Karajan, Simionato and Jurinac, not in
very good sound, but I love it very much.
Only the Muti I find to be very dull.
Hvdlinden

[g***@gmail.com]

Post by Angelotti

Post by wagnerfan
I have many recordings of this great work in all its various guises -
I am hard put to say which ones I really like or dislike most - it
depends on what I'm in the mood for. Whether its the elegance of the
French tenor version with Simoneau, the versions with Italian or
German mezzos or contraltos (I do like Klose) , the dramatic bull
dozer approach of Horne or even the transposed baritone version with
Fischer-Dieskau. It says a lot that the work itself can survive all
these various versions - wondering which the posters like and
why????Wagner fan

I agree with the French Simoneau recording, always had it as LP, and
of course on C, still the best and bringing the pleasure of true
french singing...

What about Gedda?:

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1093&bih=526&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=6ZZwXdyeG4-w0PEPmoyw4A0&q=gedda+orphee&oq=gedda+orphee&gs_l=img.3..35i39.13501.14455..15060...0.0..0.102.284.1j2......0....1..gws-wiz-img.UbshJAQRAQw&ved=0ahUKEwict-7V87jkAhUPGDQIHRoGDNwQ4dUDCAY&uact=5#imgrc=uc_ajLcd09AGjM:

[Christopher Ingham]

Post by wagnerfan
I have many recordings of this great work in all its various guises -
I am hard put to say which ones I really like or dislike most - it
depends on what I'm in the mood for. Whether its the elegance of the
French tenor version with Simoneau, the versions with Italian or
German mezzos or contraltos (I do like Klose) , the dramatic bull
dozer approach of Horne or even the transposed baritone version with
Fischer-Dieskau. It says a lot that the work itself can survive all
these various versions - wondering which the posters like and
why????Wagner fan

Incidentally, does anyone know who did the Monteverdi Orfeo that aired
c. 1980 on Bravo (?), and whether that performance is available on CD
or DVD?

Christopher Ingham

[Tom Wood]

That was likely the Harnoncourt/Ponnelle TV production recorded in
1978. Their Orfeo is excellent, but their Il Ritorno d'Ulise in Patria
is even better. They're available as DGG DVDs. Get the boxed set with
Orfeo, Il Ritorno and L'Incoronazione di Poppea for a real Monteverdi
feast.

Tom Wood

Post by Christopher Ingham

Post by wagnerfan
I am hard put to say which ones I really like or dislike most - it
depends on what I'm in the mood for. Whether its the elegance of the
French tenor version with Simoneau, the versions with Italian or
German mezzos or contraltos (I do like Klose) , the dramatic bull
dozer approach of Horne or even the transposed baritone version with
Fischer-Dieskau. It says a lot that the work itself can survive all
these various versions - wondering which the posters like and
why????Wagner fan

Incidentally, does anyone know who did the Monteverdi Orfeo that aired
c. 1980 on Bravo (?), and whether that performance is available on CD
or DVD?
Christopher Ingham

[Terry]

Post by wagnerfan
I have many recordings of this great work in all its various guises -
I am hard put to say which ones I really like or dislike most - it
depends on what I'm in the mood for. Whether its the elegance of the
French tenor version with Simoneau, the versions with Italian or
German mezzos or contraltos (I do like Klose) , the dramatic bull
dozer approach of Horne or even the transposed baritone version with
Fischer-Dieskau. It says a lot that the work itself can survive all
these various versions - wondering which the posters like and
why????Wagner fan

I like three: Kuijken/Jacobs/Kweksilber, on Accent; Gardiner/Ragin/McNair on
Decca; and Bernius/Chance/Argenta on Sony. Beautiful singing by all three
Orfeos and two of the Euridices (Only Kweksilber disappoints me a tad), and
alert accompaniment by the three conductors. And not one Dance of the
Blessed Spirits to be had, which is a pity I guess.

[The Historian]

Post by wagnerfan
I have many recordings of this great work in all its various guises -
I am hard put to say which ones I really like or dislike most - it
depends on what I'm in the mood for. Whether its the elegance of the
French tenor version with Simoneau, the versions with Italian or
German mezzos or contraltos (I do like Klose) , the dramatic bull
dozer approach of Horne or even the transposed baritone version with
Fischer-Dieskau. It says a lot that the work itself can survive all
these various versions - wondering which the posters like and
why????Wagner fan

My favorite opera.... and Verrett my favorite Orfeo. Then again, I like all the recordings I've heard, except the RCA set led by Monteux. In that case I think it's a combination of the harsh sound and inflated orchestra that turn me off.

[g***@gmail.com]

Post by The Historian

Post by wagnerfan
I have many recordings of this great work in all its various guises -
I am hard put to say which ones I really like or dislike most - it
depends on what I'm in the mood for. Whether its the elegance of the
French tenor version with Simoneau, the versions with Italian or
German mezzos or contraltos (I do like Klose) , the dramatic bull
dozer approach of Horne or even the transposed baritone version with
Fischer-Dieskau. It says a lot that the work itself can survive all
these various versions - wondering which the posters like and
why????Wagner fan

My favorite opera.... and Verrett my favorite Orfeo. Then again, I like all the recordings I've heard, except the RCA set led by Monteux. In that case I think it's a combination of the harsh sound and inflated orchestra that turn me off.

I am a Monteux fan, but found his Gluck Victrola lp unlistenable (after clicking on link below, scroll down page a bit):

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1093&bih=526&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=L4xwXa6WH7PR9APXlIOQBw&q=monteux+gluck+victrola+lp&oq=monteux+gluck+victrola+lp&gs_l=img.3...5923.7819..8085...0.0..0.103.787.7j2......0....1..gws-wiz-img.ski0uN6vhyY&ved=0ahUKEwju6b-46bjkAhWzKH0KHVfKAHIQ4dUDCAY&uact=5#imgrc=_KnXBICOlzo9GM: