This was the first baroque opera I'd ever seen, & thought it was magnificent! I especially loved the ritornelli & dancing. I thought Rachel Yakar was perfect for the senuous Poppea & I was emotionally drained by the end of the opera. I've not seen any baroque operas since that are as beautifully staged as Harnoncourt's Monteverdi operas. Rachel also dubbed the voice of a prettier Eurydice in L'Orfeo..
@hansl72 The film was made in 1979 I fact one should bear in mind before making sweeping statements. I've become a little sceptical of the "period" purists who seem to have some inside knowledge of period performance practice. Remember, in his day Harnoncourt was considered one of the leaders of the historically informed early music movement. We will never know exactly how this music sounded in Monteverdi's time, we can only make informed presumptions.
I think that it is very likely that whatever is considered "period" at a given time will be countered by other later "better informed" theories. Of course such scientific approaches are interesting and entertaining, they are also a good catalyst to avoid a stagnant routine in performance. However, the fact that a masterpiece such as this can resist so much musicological vivisection is a homage to the genius who manages to speak to us regardless of the "period" flavour of the month.
@drfp2000 The casting of Nerone as a tenor is not philologically coherent, the role was written for a castrato (not a countertenor as has become the practice today), using a tenor is old fashioned, personally I'd prefer a woman in the role. Having said that, a personal remark to you drfp2000: you can take your offensive remarks elsewhere, the faggot who posted this video doesn't tolerate hate speech, not just because he is gay, he doesn't tolerate it aimed against any group on his YT videos.
@CzarDodon For me, the problem with falsettists is the reference to that horrific human rights violation of the baroque, especially since it was supposed to be done for the glory of Almighty God.
This is so erotic. You'd need a cold shower after singing this......or watching it :P Fabulous music, and a wonderful visual spectacle as well -I need to find this film.
well, to give Van Halen some credit this is awful....the perfomance i mean (not Monteverdi's music-though he did not write this section).....it is dated and spoiled by syrupy 'modern' orchestrations....
Well, to give Mr. Romanus some credit this IS awful...not Monteverdi's music obviously (though apparently this section is by another composer- possibly Cavalli) but the performance....this is one of those 'modern' reconstructions where an arranger has drowned the original in syrupy orchestration....this is a very dated performance....to judge the work fairly you must listen to a more historically informed interpretation
@jeanhaliburtonwills More historically informed? Both of these roles were probably sung by castrati. I can't imagine too many singers nowadays putting their hands up to go to that extreme for historical accuracy. IMO a major quality of great art, literature or music is that its themes continue have relevance for contemporary society. Therefore works, like this, will continue to be revisited and reconceptualised - which is how it should be.
@miriamnz You hit the nail bang on the head, Indeed period instruments and performance practice are all very fine, but it is of vital importance that the work speak to us. The great works of art become greater than the artist who created them, they live a life of their own and change with the times. Some great works have to wait for their time to come and others lose or gain with time, maybe the greatest are timeless, but we instead are mortal so it is not for us to judge in this absolute sense.
@vanhalen8200 because *obviously* i only listen to hip hop...well, I don't. I, in fact, listen to symphonic gothic metal as well as "classical" (using the term in the general sense to refer to more than just the musical period). I love Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, I love hundreds of classical pieces and listen to them regularly. But this...this is awful.
@HarbingerRomanus the key to listening to any music is to get a feeling for the language. I don't mean the Italian language, though Monteverdi is completely in tune with the language here and every word is perfectly measured and the text is great poetry in itself: Monteverdi makes very refined theatre. I mean the musical language which has a style, logic, structure, expression and pace that is its own. Monteverdi is a hundred years before Bach and he is Italian in decadent Venice.
Harbinger, don't worry, adolescence comes to an end as do music classes, one day you'll think back on this comment you left and you'll say to yourself "I was such a cocky little jerk!" - and it doesn't matter whether you like this "stuff" or not
@Nuker1337@vanhalen please be civilized, 'this is better than that' arguments are simply infantile. If you are here just to have a fight and call names I'll delete you,
I saw a production of this at the English National Opera in London a few years back. Nerone was sung by a wonderful counter-tenor. The love duet is arguably one of the most beautiful ever.
Claudio Monteverdi è, secondo la più recente corrente di pensiero musicologico, il più importante, il più insigne e il più versatile autore espresso da 20 secoli di storia della musica italiana.
grande Monteverdi : oramai vecchio e sempre giovane . Profondo conoscitore dell'animo umano , ha messo in musica questo dramma con grazia e maestria . Purtroppo il suo ultimo capolavoro .
Not to spoil your enthusiasm about this opera - but it is unlikely Monteverdi finished this piece himself. He was already in bad health and most likely had Cavalli (an equal genius, though) work out some of the libretto. Pur ti miro, the final piece was probably attached later, because it does not belong to the libretto. The lyrics are in fact by composer Benedetto Ferrari, and the music bears strong resemblance to his style of music. Still a masterpiece though.
This opera will perform in H.K.on 24th of March.2011
MrAlgykcho 11 months ago
This was the first baroque opera I'd ever seen, & thought it was magnificent! I especially loved the ritornelli & dancing. I thought Rachel Yakar was perfect for the senuous Poppea & I was emotionally drained by the end of the opera. I've not seen any baroque operas since that are as beautifully staged as Harnoncourt's Monteverdi operas. Rachel also dubbed the voice of a prettier Eurydice in L'Orfeo..
MIMIFORSAGE 1 year ago
there is nothing "period"in the way of singing. In any of these fragments. In fact, the first duet in this vid has been violated beyond recognition.
hansl72 1 year ago
@hansl72 The film was made in 1979 I fact one should bear in mind before making sweeping statements. I've become a little sceptical of the "period" purists who seem to have some inside knowledge of period performance practice. Remember, in his day Harnoncourt was considered one of the leaders of the historically informed early music movement. We will never know exactly how this music sounded in Monteverdi's time, we can only make informed presumptions.
CzarDodon 1 year ago 4
I think that it is very likely that whatever is considered "period" at a given time will be countered by other later "better informed" theories. Of course such scientific approaches are interesting and entertaining, they are also a good catalyst to avoid a stagnant routine in performance. However, the fact that a masterpiece such as this can resist so much musicological vivisection is a homage to the genius who manages to speak to us regardless of the "period" flavour of the month.
CzarDodon 1 year ago 3
@CzarDodon What is nice about this performance, and likely fully intended, is the presentation of Poppea as a monster.
P1B1U1H1 8 months ago
This is the best interpretation. At last Nero is a convincing lover and not a faggot...
drfp2000 1 year ago
@drfp2000 The casting of Nerone as a tenor is not philologically coherent, the role was written for a castrato (not a countertenor as has become the practice today), using a tenor is old fashioned, personally I'd prefer a woman in the role. Having said that, a personal remark to you drfp2000: you can take your offensive remarks elsewhere, the faggot who posted this video doesn't tolerate hate speech, not just because he is gay, he doesn't tolerate it aimed against any group on his YT videos.
CzarDodon 1 year ago 8
@CzarDodon For me, the problem with falsettists is the reference to that horrific human rights violation of the baroque, especially since it was supposed to be done for the glory of Almighty God.
P1B1U1H1 8 months ago
This is so erotic. You'd need a cold shower after singing this......or watching it :P Fabulous music, and a wonderful visual spectacle as well -I need to find this film.
miriamnz 1 year ago
For some this would be an ultimate paradigm shift akin to explaining relativity to a chimpanzee.
fnersch 1 year ago
Nerone looks like a lion. Awesome peice.
Viperplayer187 1 year ago
well, to give Van Halen some credit this is awful....the perfomance i mean (not Monteverdi's music-though he did not write this section).....it is dated and spoiled by syrupy 'modern' orchestrations....
jeanhaliburtonwills 1 year ago
Comment removed
miriamnz 1 year ago
Well, to give Mr. Romanus some credit this IS awful...not Monteverdi's music obviously (though apparently this section is by another composer- possibly Cavalli) but the performance....this is one of those 'modern' reconstructions where an arranger has drowned the original in syrupy orchestration....this is a very dated performance....to judge the work fairly you must listen to a more historically informed interpretation
jeanhaliburtonwills 1 year ago
@jeanhaliburtonwills More historically informed? Both of these roles were probably sung by castrati. I can't imagine too many singers nowadays putting their hands up to go to that extreme for historical accuracy. IMO a major quality of great art, literature or music is that its themes continue have relevance for contemporary society. Therefore works, like this, will continue to be revisited and reconceptualised - which is how it should be.
miriamnz 1 year ago
@miriamnz You hit the nail bang on the head, Indeed period instruments and performance practice are all very fine, but it is of vital importance that the work speak to us. The great works of art become greater than the artist who created them, they live a life of their own and change with the times. Some great works have to wait for their time to come and others lose or gain with time, maybe the greatest are timeless, but we instead are mortal so it is not for us to judge in this absolute sense.
CzarDodon 1 year ago
@vanhalen8200 because *obviously* i only listen to hip hop...well, I don't. I, in fact, listen to symphonic gothic metal as well as "classical" (using the term in the general sense to refer to more than just the musical period). I love Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, I love hundreds of classical pieces and listen to them regularly. But this...this is awful.
HarbingerRomanus 1 year ago
@HarbingerRomanus the key to listening to any music is to get a feeling for the language. I don't mean the Italian language, though Monteverdi is completely in tune with the language here and every word is perfectly measured and the text is great poetry in itself: Monteverdi makes very refined theatre. I mean the musical language which has a style, logic, structure, expression and pace that is its own. Monteverdi is a hundred years before Bach and he is Italian in decadent Venice.
CzarDodon 1 year ago
@HarbingerRomanus What makes it awful for you?
qw3rtydud3 1 year ago
Beautiful music for two people who died so horribly.
Teofane 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
I am being forced to watch and listen to this for an Intro to Music class...and I have never seen or heard (but especially seen) anything worse.
I really feel sorry for the people who look like this.
HarbingerRomanus 2 years ago
Harbinger, don't worry, adolescence comes to an end as do music classes, one day you'll think back on this comment you left and you'll say to yourself "I was such a cocky little jerk!" - and it doesn't matter whether you like this "stuff" or not
CzarDodon 2 years ago 4
@HarbingerRomanus You're pathetic. The music you listen to is shit, unlike this.
Nuker1337 1 year ago 2
@Nuker1337@vanhalen please be civilized, 'this is better than that' arguments are simply infantile. If you are here just to have a fight and call names I'll delete you,
CzarDodon 1 year ago
I saw a production of this at the English National Opera in London a few years back. Nerone was sung by a wonderful counter-tenor. The love duet is arguably one of the most beautiful ever.
gabrielledepauw 2 years ago 3
Claudio Monteverdi è, secondo la più recente corrente di pensiero musicologico, il più importante, il più insigne e il più versatile autore espresso da 20 secoli di storia della musica italiana.
mozartbg 2 years ago
Such a pity he kicked her to death.
ansketil 2 years ago 2
Amore looks so much like Jane Horrocks!
bouleauxdesuede 2 years ago
i love it !!!!!! very nice finale
taticitam 2 years ago 5
beautiful
Viperplayer187 2 years ago
merveilleux Eric Tappy. thanks
ravinecab 3 years ago
artscape in cape town
tebza84 3 years ago
grande Monteverdi : oramai vecchio e sempre giovane . Profondo conoscitore dell'animo umano , ha messo in musica questo dramma con grazia e maestria . Purtroppo il suo ultimo capolavoro .
MYVE58 3 years ago 4
love this finale
saw the opera yesterday with a south african cast the best
tebza84 3 years ago
Not to spoil your enthusiasm about this opera - but it is unlikely Monteverdi finished this piece himself. He was already in bad health and most likely had Cavalli (an equal genius, though) work out some of the libretto. Pur ti miro, the final piece was probably attached later, because it does not belong to the libretto. The lyrics are in fact by composer Benedetto Ferrari, and the music bears strong resemblance to his style of music. Still a masterpiece though.
JohnDowl 3 years ago 5
Divine... just divine... I do believe Monteverdi is the best musician ever.
CaballeroCatalan 3 years ago 2
Beautiful finale. A masterpiece!
rickhelm 3 years ago 5