The Opera Lady Favorites

One of the most popular pieces I've played (more than once) on the show is Richard Strauss' Four Last Songs. Beautiful!

Porgy and Bess. Composer: George Gershwin Performer: Simon Rattle, Willard White, et al. Label: Emi Classics - #56220 Audio CD (September 23, 1997) Number of Discs: 3 ASIN: B000002RX8. The opera that proves you don't need gods on a mountaintop or royalty to tell a story of love and betrayal, violence and life on a grand scale.

Rodelinda: Composer: George Frideric Handel Performer: Sophie Daneman, Daniel Taylor, et al. Label: Virgin Records - #45277 Audio CD (July 28, 1998). This is one of those great baroque operas where people are dealing with all sorts of inner torments. There's a courtly intrigue of power and love, with Justice Conquering All at the end. Simply beautiful.

Emilio Arrieta's Marina tells the story of a woman who longs to marry her long-time guardian, who longs to marry her back -- until he mistakenly believes she loves another man. This Spanish opera combines passionate, forbidden, and finally joyous music for a lovely (and under-appreciated) performance.

Arabella. Composer: Richard Strauss Performer: Gwendolyn Bradley, Gilles Cachemaille, et al. Label: Polygram Records - Audio CD (October 25, 1990) ASIN: B00000E3AG. One of his lesser-known operas, a little frenetic, but so beautiful! And it has a happy ending! (gasp)

L'incoronazione di Poppea. Composer: Claudio Monteverdi Conductor: Anne Sofie von Otter, John Eliot Gardiner Performer: Bernarda Fink, Sylvia McNair, et al. Ensemble: The English Baroque Soloists Label: Polygram Records - #447088 Audio CD (June 11, 1996) Number of Discs: 3 ASIN: B0000057F0. The curtain rises, and Poppea has already seduced Emperor, Nero. Now she must take on Otho, her discarded lover, the legitimate empress Octavia, and Seneca, Nero's honorable tutor. Playing on Nero's sexual obsession, Poppea manipulates her way past all three in her path to the throne. You GO, girl!