I have no recommendations for this month, and frankly, I'm not sure why it should even continue. I don't read like I should, and I never will either, nor does it make any difference what I recommend as I don't get any feedback. I'm tired of books and reading - it doesn't bring me joy anymore. Therefore, I'm no longer going to be doing recommendations. If someone else would like to continue it, that's fine, but I just don't have it in me.

I'm sorry it had to end this way. Things change. This is probably a long time coming, anyway. In this environment, I probably won't be able to afford books, so I just want to be done with it altogether. I haven't been truthful with myself.

So farewell. I hope you'll find someone else - someone more faithful in reading - who can deliver a fuller experience for yourselves.

I may come back later, but I have to get some books behind me and rediscover my passion. Until then, I have to disappear.

Fall has officially begun, as has the witching season. In honor of that, and as an annual tradition, I present to you a work of classic horror, both in book and film, to hold you over. Sure, there are lots more out there, and you should check them out too this season, but let these recommendations serve as a starting point!


Reading: Psycho (1959) by Robert Bloch

This novel is the best-known work by veteran horror author and screenwriter Bloch, so much so that pretty much all of his other works have remained out of print for a few decades (until recently, when small press Valancourt Books has acquired the rights to reprint several significant titles). It's a comparatively short but fun title, an early dive into the psyche of a serial killer before the genre became extremely popular and filled with morbid content. Time may have softened the subversiveness of the text, but it's good to experience a cornerstone of pop culture in its original form and context.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Psycho-Novel-Robert-Bloch/dp/1590203356/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Psycho-Novel-Robert-Bloch-ebook/dp/B07MXD9L2M/



Viewing: Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)

The novel is a great piece of fiction, in my opinion, but what really cemented it in the popular consciousness is its film adaptation under the direction of the legendary Hitchcock, with its schizophrenic title credits from Saul Bass, film noir black-and-white cinematography from John L. Russell and all-string soundtrack from Bernard Hermann, as well as its famous cast (including Anthony Perkins in a watershed role as Norman Bates) and twists both mid-film and at the end. A landmark in cinema considered one of Hitchcock's best works, it still holds up on repeated viewing, both for its contribution to the horror genre and as a piece of sophisticated suspense.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Psycho-Anthony-Perkins/dp/B0087ZG7UW/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Psycho-Blu-ray-Anthony-Perkins/dp/B08CPLDRQH/
4K: https://www.amazon.com/Psycho-4K-Ultra-Blu-ray-Digital/dp/B08Y49Y66T/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Psycho-Anthony-Perkins/dp/B009CGRGDC/


I hope that fills your October, at least as a start. Happy Halloween!

We're now in the final third of the year, with fall just around the corner. This time around, I'm going back to Tolkien accompanied by a film that I've had on my mind for quite some time.

Reading: The Silmarillion (1977) by J. R. R. Tolkien

This is less of a novel as it is a chronicle of myths that form the implied backstory for both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, edited by Christopher Tolkien (and an uncredited Guy Gavriel Kay), and, as a result, it's a bit less complete than the two previously published works, being constructed from notes in various states of completion and revision, but altogether it's an important milestone in Tolkien's writing. Showing inspiration from the Kalevala of Finland, Norse and Greek sagas, and Germanic poetry, the vast assortment of gods, heroes and villains form a lively saga that shoould keep any lover of mythology spellbound.

Mass Market: https://www.amazon.com/Silmarillion-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0345325818/
Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Silmarillion-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0544338014/
Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/Silmarillion-Illustrated-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0063280779/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Silmarillion-J-R-R-Tolkien-ebook/dp/B007978PGI/



Viewing: The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, 1943)

This is the story of a British soldier's career over the course of the 20th century up until World War II, satirizing the changing norms of the codes of conduct while remaining pro-British. Through the use of impressive Technicolor camerawork, wonderful makeup and an outstanding cast, the 2-hours-and-43-minute runtime doesn't feel long at all - in fact, not a moment in the film feels wasted or unnecessary. In the modern age of quick popcorn entertainment, it's the kind of film that doesn't seem to be made anymore, artistic without being pretentious, perhaps even timeless.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Death-Colonel-Blimp-Criterion-Collection/dp/B00AQ6J64O/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Death-Colonel-Criterion-Collection-Blu-ray/dp/B00AQ6J5CC/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Death-Colonel-Blimp-Roger-Livesey/dp/B00BH1C90U/


Have a great September, everyone!

August signals the last stretch of summer - it seems to have gone so quickly! These are tough times, but there's also reason to hope, so I'm feeling pretty good myself. For this month, I'd like to continue Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain and accompany it with a fantasy film that's always been a favorite of mine.

Reading: The Castle of Llyr (1966) by Lloyd Alexander

Set a little more than a year after the second book, this story finds Princess Eilonwy (who Taran finds himself falling in love with) being sent to the Isle of Mona to study being a proper lady, while also being possibly betrothed to a clumsy yet good-hearted prince. But it's more than just thwarted romance that's at stake, as Taran and his companions find that Queen Achren, Eilonwy's cruel sorceress aunt (last encountered in The Book of Three), is collaborating with the chief steward of Mona's kingdom to capture the princess and use her for her own ends. Personally speaking, this is the book I remember least, but to be fair, I had only read it once about a couple decades ago. It's still Alexander's great writing, mixing Welsh mythology with the story of the city of Ys from Brittany, and more of the backstory is revealed as well as furthering character motivations.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Castle-Llyr-Chronicles-Prydain-Book/dp/0805080503/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Castle-Llyr-Chronicles-Prydain-Book-ebook/dp/B005KJV5E6/



Viewing: Time Bandits (Terry Gilliam, 1981)

Considered the first of Gilliam's "Trilogy of Imagination" (which includes Brazil and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen), this is a fine, funny family film in which a young boy with an abiding interest in history encounters a team of dwarfs, formerly employed by the Supreme Being of the Universe, who have stolen a map that shows holes in the fabric of space and time and intend to use it to steal treasure; unfortunately, the personification of evil (simply named Evil) desires the map to escape his confinement in the Fortress of Ultimate Darkness and usurp the power of the Supreme Being. It's an irreverent film, but it's got a good heart and great production value, filled with that trademark Monty Python-style humor (as well as featuring a couple Python alumni in cameos). I'd gladly return to it again and again, and I hope you will too.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Bandits-Criterion-Collection-Connery/dp/B00NMUCHMY/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Bandits-Criterion-Collection-Blu-ray/dp/B00NMUCHNS/
4K: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Bandits-Criterion-Collection-UHD/dp/B0BYLLNMCM/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Bandits-John-Cleese/dp/B0040J2W1M/


Happy August, everyone!

Summer's underway and everything's heating up! (Sometimes uncomfortably so.) For this July, I can't say that my choices are necessarily seasonally appropriate, but for me, it's comparatively new and I wanted to share it. I hope you like it.


Reading: The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920) by Agatha Christie

On sick leave during the First World War, Arthur Hastings is vacationing at the old house of Styles Court in Essex when his hostess, Emily Inglethorp, suddenly dies overnight from strychnine poisoning. Amidst the rest of the family being thrown into turmoil, suspecting murder, Hastings takes advantage of the fact that a group of Belgian refugees is being housed nearby and recruits his old friend, former policeman Hercule Poirot, to investigate, leading to several twists and turns before the culprit is finally revealed. This was Christie's first novel, as well as the first of about 33 novels and 13 short story collections to feature the legendary Poirot, and it's a fine entertainment from a truly talented writer.

Trade 1: https://www.amazon.com/Mysterious-Affair-Styles-Hercule-Mysteries/dp/0062984632/
Trade 2: https://www.amazon.com/Mysterious-Affair-Styles-Hercule-Mysteries/dp/0063375907/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Mysterious-Affair-Styles-Hercule-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B000FC12ZU/



Viewing: Murder on the Orient Express (Sidney Lumet, 1974)

This lavish film with an all-star cast, released a couple years before Christie's death and directed by Hollywood legend Sidney Lumet, was one of two films to meet with the author's approval as to faithfulness to her writing (her only gripe being the perceived less-than-magnificence of Poirot's mustache). Having booked the titular Orient Express from Istanbul to London, Hercule Poirot is accosted by a suspicious man wishing to hire him, but the detective turns him down; one morning, after a snowstorm, the strange man is found dead, having been stabbed twelve times. Suspicion turns to the motley assortment of characters aboard the train, leading to many shocking revelations and a strange end to a sad tale several years in the making. The movie managed to be a box office hit, earning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for co-star Ingrid Bergman as Greta Ohlsson, in addition to nominations for Actor (Albert Finney as Poirot), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography, and Costume Design.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Orient-Express-Lauren-Bacall/dp/B06XGG697H/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Orient-Express-Lauren-Bacall/dp/B09M5CZN6B/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Orient-Express-Albert-Finney/dp/B076KHB4LX/



Keep cool, everybody!

Now we're halfway through the year already, and in just a couple weeks, it'll officially be summer. It feels great to have warm weather again, though it might become too hot down the road. For this month, I've chosen to finish off Tolkien's epic in reading and finally recommend what many have probably been waiting for in viewing. I hope it makes for a good start to the summer season.


Reading: The Lord of the Rings, Part Three: The Return of the King (1955) by J. R. R. Tolkien

The final installment of Tolkien's Ring cycle brings the Fellowship to the city of Minas Tirith, capital of Gondor, where Sauron directs his armies in the last great battles of the War of the Ring, while Frodo and Sam draw ever closer to Mount Doom, the temptation of the Ring growing stronger while doing so. It's a tale with a nominally happy ending, but it's also about passings, featuring both the shadow of death and the end of an age - a conclusion of ambivalence with some hope on the horizon.

Mass Market: https://www.amazon.com/Return-King-Lord-Rings-Part/dp/0345339738/
Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Return-King-Being-Third-Rings/dp/054792819X/
Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/Return-King-Lord-Rings-Part/dp/0618260552/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Return-King-Being-Third-Rings-ebook/dp/B007978P18/


Viewing: The Lord of the Rings (Peter Jackson, 2001-2003)

It's only fitting to recommend the entire trilogy of films as one to accompany the last book. A massive undertaking once thought impossible, with years spent in the making, Jackson's films are technical marvels mixing practical effects with wonderfully rendered CGI and capturing the spirit of Tolkien's books, if not the exact letter. All three won Oscars in several categories and became cinematic milestones spawning several imitators (much like the books themselves), but only this trilogy has the real heart. Comparable with Star Wars, it comes highly recommended as essential to any filmgoing experience.

DVD [Theatrical Versions]: https://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-Collection-Theatrical-Version/dp/B00HFFE8HE/
Blu-Ray [Theatrical Versions]: https://www.amazon.com/Motion-Picture-Trilogy-Theatrical-Remaster/dp/B09CGBNKC2/
Blu-Ray [Extended Editions]: https://www.amazon.com/Picture-Trilogy-Extended-Blu-ray-Remaster/dp/B09CGMTF6R/
4K [Extended and Theatrical Versions]: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KQBYM1Y/
Amazon Video [Extended Editions]: https://www.amazon.com/RingsTM-Motion-Picture-Trilogy-Extended/dp/B08TQXB4CC/


Happy June, everyone!

May is here, and with it comes the early graduation of high school seniors, Mother's Day, and (hopefully) fully blooming flowers. I'd like to take a break once again before we complete Tolkien's Ring cycle to continue a series I recommended some time ago, as well as a movie sequel long overdue.

Reading: The Black Cauldron (1965) by Lloyd Alexander

Picking up a year after the last book (The Book of Three), young Taran finds himself roped into a new quest: to seize and destroy the mystic cauldron which Arawn of Annuvin uses to create his undead soldiers. Things become complicated quickly when it is discovered that the cauldron has already been taken, and in pursuit of a young, arrogant prince seeking to claim the glory, Taran and his companions find themselves on their way to the Marshes of Morva, home of the three odd witches who are the real caretakers of the cauldron. They learn that victory can be achieved only at a high price, and it may come sooner than later, because the cauldron is valuable for other parties as well.

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Cauldron-Chronicles-Prydain/dp/080508049X/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Cauldron-Chronicles-Prydain-Book-ebook/dp/B005EYXACW/



Viewing: Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (George Miller, 1981)

Considered one of the greatest sequels ever made, this film seared the popular imagery of the post-apocalyptic wasteland where only the strong survive into the public consciousness. Max Rockatansky is left scavenging the Australian wilderness for both food and fuel when a chance encounter with the pilot of a makeshift helicopter leads him to a band of settlers under siege from savage marauders; initially only out for himself, bargaining for his necessities, Max is eventually coerced by circumstances into helping the settlers escape to safer areas by driving a semi-truck full of gas, leading to a long, memorable car chase down the highway when their enemies come out in full force. The movie was a tremendous success both commercially and critically, spawning a fan following that continues to this day.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Mad-Max-2-Road-Warrior/dp/B00UHAJ2LQ/
4K HD + Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Mad-Max-Warrior-Blu-ray-Digital/dp/B09NRTPW7M/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Mad-Max-2-Road-Warrior/dp/B003DGZCLK/


I hope you enjoy my choices. Have a great May!

I apologize for the lateness - I had my choices picked out already, but I just kept putting it off.

Anyway, it's April now, so spring is underway. As I write this, lambing season has started, and we've also experienced a total solar eclipse. For reading, I'll continue where I left off a couple months ago, while I introduce a sci-fi/horror classic for your viewing pleasure.


Reading: The Lord of the Rings, Part Two: The Two Towers (1954) by J. R. R. Tolkien

Now we move into the middle part of the tale, where the Fellowship has been split up due to tragic circumstances and the story subsequently takes two viewpoints. The first follows Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli hunting down the Uruk-hai who have captured Merry and Pippin, which leads to the kingdom of Rohan and the horse-riding Men who must make a stand against Saruman's forces at the fortress of Helm's Deep; the second follows Frodo and Sam on their journey to Mordor, where they acquire an unlikely guide - the pitiful Gollum, victim of the Ring - as well as encountering Boromir's noble brother, Faramir, and the repulsive giant spider-creature Shelob. It's a darker turn with both sorrowful and triumphant moments featuring the first great battle, but the journey is only halfway done.

Mass Market: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345339711
Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Two-Towers-Being-Second-Rings/dp/0547928203/
Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/Two-Towers-Lord-Rings-Part/dp/0618260595/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Two-Towers-Being-Second-Rings-ebook/dp/B007978PKY/



Viewing: Alien (Ridley Scott, 1979)

A breakthrough for the director, this film was near instantly iconic, introducing a movie monster for the ages and subsequently setting off a new franchise. A group of blue-collar workers in space are summoned by what appears to be a distress signal to an uncharted planet, where they come upon a derelict starship containing a group of strange eggs. One of them hatches and attacks a crew member, setting off a chain of events where their own ship becomes a cage in which they find themselves picked off one by one by the extraterrestrial beast. Featuring incredible set designs for the human settings from Roger Christian as well as the alien creature and ship from legendary artist H. R. Giger, the film is a classic of atmosphere and special effects working in tandem to create a real, foreboding environment, in addition to minimal yet sufficient character development and a premise that would be imitated numerous times over the decades.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/ALIEN-Tom-Skerritt/dp/B00MBNYMDU/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Blu-ray/dp/B00MBNZER8/
4K: https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Anniversary-Blu-ray-Ridley-Scott/dp/B07P83ZXX4/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Sigourney-Weaver/dp/B00498VS1E/


Have a happy April!

March is here, bringing Spring with it, and it feels great. It took me a bit of thinking, as I didn't want to immediately continue from last time (I'll save that for next time), but I found something for this month. With the reading, I don't actually know if I've read the originals per se, but I've gotten close enough to it to recommend them. As for the viewing, it's something similar to serve as an accompaniment.


Reading: The Complete Fairy Tales (2010) by Charles Perrault

Collected here are what may be the first fairy tales as we understand them today, written by an influential member of the Academie Francaise, though scholars still debate whether they were completely original or based on older variants from earlier sources. Classics such as "Little Red Riding Hood", "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood", "Puss in Boots" and "Cinderella" mingle with less familiar works, all told with a moral attached to each one. For those interested in the development of the fairy tale and children's literature, this is a must-read.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Oxford-Classics-Hardback-Collection/dp/0199585806/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Oxford-Classics-Hardback-Collection-ebook/dp/B005PUWU3A/



Viewing: Beauty and the Beast (Jean Cocteau, 1946)

The Disney film is so popular that viewers may be forgiven for overlooking an earlier version from France itself, now considered a high point in French cinema, directed by one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, (Cocteau was a poet, novelist, playwright and visual artist as well as a filmmaker). Told with the simplicity of a children's story mixed with surrealist imagery, the film is a postwar tour-de-force and remains one of Cocteau's best known works.


DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Beast-Criterion-Collection-Marais/dp/B00007L4I6/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Beast-Criterion-Collection-Blu-ray/dp/B004WPYO8I/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Beast-English-Subtitled/dp/B004CV8OGU/


Happy Spring, everyone!

Here's another recording I have that I forgot to mention.

-Amilcare Ponchielli: LA GIOCONDA [THE HAPPY WOMAN] – London Opera Chorus & National Philharmonic Orchestra feat. Montserrat Caballé (Gioconda), Luciano Pavarotti (Enzo), Agnes Baltsa (Laura), Sherrill Milnes (Barnaba) & Nicolai Ghiaurov (Alvise): Bruno Bartoletti (conductor) [1980]



Also, here are the recordings I DON'T have as of this posting but plan to get down the road. In many cases, once again, there's something of a consensus in them being the best recordings, but others may be of personal opinion; in any case, these are pretty much all complete, so keep an eye out for them.


-Vincenzo Bellini: I PURITANI [THE PURITANS] – Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden & London Symphony Orchestra feat. Dame Joan Sutherland (Elvira), Luciano Pavarotti (Arturo), Piero Cappuccilli (Riccardo) & Nicolai Ghiaurov (Sir Giorgio Valton): Richard Bonynge (conductor) [1973]


-Vincenzo Bellini: LA SONNAMBULA [THE SLEEPWALKER] – London Opera Chorus & National Philharmonic Orchestra feat. Dame Joan Sutherland (Amina), Luciano Pavarotti (Elvino) & Nicolai Ghiaurov (Count Rodolfo): Richard Bonynge (conductor) [1980]


-Vincenzo Bellini: NORMA – Orchestra & Chorus of the Welsh National Orchestra feat. Dame Joan Sutherland (Norma), Luciano Pavarotti (Pollione), Montserrat Caballé (Adalgisa) & Samuel Ramey (Oroveso): Richard Bonynge (conductor) [1984]


-Alban Berg: WOZZECK – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Philharmonic feat. Franz Grundheber (Wozzeck), Hildegard Behrens (Marie), Aage Haugland (Doctor), Philip Langridge (Andres), Walter Raffeiner (Drum Major) & Heinz Zednik (Captain): Claudio Abbado (conductor) [1987]


-Hector Berlioz: LA dratATION DE FAUST [THE dratATION OF FAUST] – Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus feat. Kenneth Riegel (Faust), Frederica von Stade (Marguerite), José van Dam (Méphistophélès) & Malcolm King (Brander): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1982]


-Hector Berlioz: LES TROYENS [THE TROJANS] – Montreal Symphony Orchestra & Chorus feat. Gary Lakes (Enée), Françoise Pollert (Didon) & Deborah Voigt (Cassandre): Charles Dutoit (conductor) [1994]


-Georges Bizet: CARMEN – Ambrosian Singers & London Symphony Orchestra feat. Teresa Berganza (Carmen), Plácido Domingo (Don José), Ileana Cotrubas (Micaëla) & Sherrill Milnes (Escamillo): Claudio Abbado (conductor) [1977]


-Alexander Borodin: KNYAZ IGOR [PRINCE IGOR] – Sofia National Opera Chorus & Orchestra feat. Boris Christoff (Prince Galitsky/Khan Konchak), Constantin Chekerliiski (Prince Igor Svyatloslavich), Julia Wiener (Yaroslavna) & Todor Todorov (Vladimir Igorevich): Jerzy Semkow (conductor) [1966]


-Benjamin Britten: PETER GRIMES – Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden feat. Jon Vickers (Peter Grimes), Heather Harper (Ellen Orford) & Jonathan Summers (Balstrode): Sir Colin Davis (conductor) [1978]


-Claude Debussy: PELLÉS ET MÉLISANDE – Montreal Symphony Orchestra & Chorus feat. Didier Henry (Pelléas), Colette Alliot-Lugaz (Mélisande), Gilles Cachemaille (Golaud), Pierre Thau (Arkel), Claudine Carlson (Geneviève) & Françoise Golfier (Yniold): Charles Dutoit (conductor) [1990]


-Gaetano Donizetti: DON PASQUALE – Ambrosian Opera Chorus & Philharmonia Orchestra feat. Mirella Freni (Norina), Sesto Bruscantini (Don Pasquale), Leo Nucci (Dr. Malatesta) & Gösta Winbergh (Ernesto): Riccardo Muti (conductor) [1983]


-Gaetano Donizetti: L'ELISIR D'AMORE [THE ELIXIR OF LOVE] – Ambrosian Opera Chorus & English Chamber Orchestra feat. Dame Joan Sutherland (Adina), Luciano Pavarotti (Nemorino), Dominic Cossa (Belcore), Spiro Malas (Dr. Dulcamara) & Maria Casula (Giannetta): Richard Bonynge (conductor) [1970]


-Gaetano Donizetti: LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR – Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden feat. Dame Joan Sutherland (Lucia), Luciano Pavarotti (Edgardo), Sherrill Milnes (Enrico) & Nicolai Ghiaurov (Raimondo): Richard Bonynge (conductor) [1971]


-George Gershwin: PORGY AND BESS – The Cleveland Orchestra & Chorus feat. Willard White (Porgy), McHenry Boatwright (Crown), François Clemons (Sportin' Life), Leona Mitchell (Bess), Florence Quivar (Serena) & Barbara Hendricks (Clara): Lorin Maazel (conductor) [1976]


-William S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan: THE MIKADO – D'Oyly Carte Opera feat. Michael Ducarel (Mikado), Bonaventura Bottone (Nanki-Poo), Deborah Rees (Yum-Yum), Eric Roberts (Ko-Ko), Malcolm Rivers (Pooh-Bah), Susan Gorton (Katisha), Yvonne Patrick (Peep-Bo), Gareth Jones (Pish-Tush) & Thora Ker (Pitti-Sing): John Pryce-Jones (conductor) [1990]


-Mikhail Glinka: RUSLAN AND LYUDMILA – Orchestra & Chorus of the Kirov Opera feat. Anna Netrebko (Lyudmila), Vladimir Ognovienko (Ruslan), Larissa Diadkova (Ratmir), Gennadi Bezzubenkov (Farlaf) & Galina Gorchakova (Gorislava): Valery Gergiev (conductor) [1997]


-Christoph Willibald Gluck: ORFEO ED EURIDICE [ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE] – Ambrosian Opera Chorus & Philharmonia Orchestra feat. Agnes Baltsa (Orfeo), Margaret Marshall (Euridice) & Edita Gruberová (Amor): Riccardo Muti (conductor) [1981]


-Charles Gounod: FAUST – French Army Chorus & Chorus and National Orchestra of the Capitol of Toulouse feat. Cheryl Studer (Marguerite), Richard Leech (Faust), José van Dam (Méphistophélès) & Thomas Hampson (Valentin): Michel Plasson (conductor) [1991]


-Leoš Janáček: PŘÍHODY LIŠKY BYSTROUŠKY [THE CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN] – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Philharmonic feat. Lucia Popp (Vixen), Eva Randová (Fox) & Dalibor Jedlička (Forrester): Sir Charles Mackerras (conductor) [1981]


-Ruggero Leoncavallo: PAGLIACCI [CLOWNS] – Westminster Symphony Choir & Philadelphia Orchestra feat. Luciano Pavarotti (Canio), Daniella Desì (Nedda), Juan Pons (Tonio), Paolo Conì (Silvio) & Ernesto Gavazzi (Beppe): Riccardo Muti (conductor) [1993]


-Pietro Mascagni: CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA [RUSTIC CHIVALRY] – Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden & Philharmonia Orchestra feat. Agnes Baltsa (Santuzza), Plácido Domingo (Turiddu), Vera Baniewicz (Lucia), Juan Pons (Alfio) & Susanne Mentzer (Lola): Giuseppe Sinopoli (conductor) [1989]


-Jules Massenet: MANON – Ambrosian Opera Chorus & New Philharmonia Orchestra feat. Beverly Sills (Manon Lescaut), Nicolai Gedda (Chevalier des Grieux), Gérard Souzay (Lescaut) & Gabriel Bacquier (Comte des Grieux): Julius Rudel (conductor) [1970]


-Claudio Monteverdi: IL RITORNO D'ULISSE IN PATRIA [THE RETURN OF ULYSSES TO HIS HOMELAND] – Concerto Vocale feat. Christoph Prégardien (Ulisse), Bernarda Fink (Penelope), Christian Högman (Telemaco), Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (Minerva), Martyn Hill (Eumete) & Guy de Mey (Iro): René Jacobs (conductor) [1992]


-Claudio Monteverdi: L'INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA [THE CORONATION OF POPPAEA] – Concerto Vocale feat. Danielle Borst (Poppea), Guillermette Laurens (Nerone), Jennifer Larmore (Ottavia), Axel Köhler (Ottone) & Michael Schopper (Seneca): René Jacobs (conductor) [1990]


-Claudio Monteverdi: L'ORFEO – Concerto Vocale feat. Laurence Dale (Orfeo), Efrat Ben-Nun (Euridice/La Musica), Jennifer Larmore (Messaggiera) & Bernarda Fink (Proserpina): René Jacobs (conductor) [1995]


-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: COSÍ FAN TUTTE [WOMEN ARE LIKE THAT] – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Philharmonic feat. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (Fordiligi), Ann Murray (Dorabella), Marie McLaughlin (Despina), Hans Peter Blochwitz (Ferrando), Thomas Hampson (Guglielmo) & Ferruccio Furlanetto (Don Alfonso): James Levine (conductor) [1988]


-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: DON GIOVANNI – Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus feat. Eberhard Wächter (Don Giovanni), Dame Joan Sutherland (Donna Anna), Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Donna Elvira), Graziella Sciutti (Zerlina), Giuseppe Taddei (Leporello), Luigi Alva (Don Ottavio) & Gottlob Frick (Commendatore): Carlo Maria Giulini (conductor) [1959]


-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: IDOMENEO, RE DI CRETA [IDOMENEUS, KING OF CRETE] – The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus feat. Plácido Domingo (Idomeneo), Cecilia Bartoli (Idamante), Carol Vaness (Elettra), Heidi Grant Murphy (Ilia), Thomas Hampson (Arbace), Frank Lopardo (Gran Sacerdote) & Bryn Terfel (La Voce): James Levine (conductor) [1994]


-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: LA CLEMENZA DI TITO [THE CLEMENCY OF TITUS] – Leipzig Radio Choir & Staatskapelle Dresden feat. Peter Schreier (Tito Vespasian), Júlia Várady (Vitellia), Edith Mathis (Servilia), Teresa Berganza (Sesto), Marga Schiml (Anno) & Theo Adam (Publio): Karl Böhm (conductor) [1978]


-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: LE NOZZE DI FIGARO [THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO] – Chorus & Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin feat. Hermann Prey (Figaro), Edith Mathis (Susanna), Gundula Janowitz (Countess Rosina Almaviva), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Count Almaviva) & Tatiana Troyanos (Cherubino): Karl Böhm (conductor) [1968]


-Jacques Offenbach: LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN [THE TALES OF HOFFMANN] – Radio France Chorus & Orchestre National de France feat. Plácido Domingo (Hoffmann), Edita Gruberová (Olympia/Giulietta/Antonia), Claudia Eder (Nicklausse/La Muse), Gabriel Bacquier (Coppélius), Justino Díaz (Dapertutto) & James Morris (Miracle): Seiji Ozawa (conductor) [1986]


-Jacques Offenbach: ORFÉE AUX ENFERS [ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD] – Orchestra & Chorus of the Opéra National de Lyon feat. Natalie Dessay (Euridice), Laurent Naouri (Jupiter), Véronique Gens (Vénus) & Ewa Podleś (L'Opinion Publique): Mark Minkowski (conductor) [1997]


-Giacomo Puccini: IL TRITTICO [THE TRIPTYCH] – London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Tiffin Boys' Choir & London Voices: Antonio Pappano (conductor) [1997]


-Giacomo Puccini: LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST [THE GIRL OF THE WEST] – Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden feat. Carol Neblett (Minnie), Plácido Domingo (Dick Johnson) & Sherrill Milnes (Jack Rance): Zubin Mehta (conductor) [1977]


-Giacomo Puccini: LA RONDINE [THE SWALLOW] – London Voices & London Symphony Orchestra feat. Angela Gheorghiu (Magda), Roberto Alagna (Ruggero), Inva Mula (Lisette), William Matteuzzi (Prunier/Whistling Man) & Amberto Rinaldi (Rambaldo): Antonio Pappano (conductor) [1997]


-Giacomo Puccini: MADAMA BUTTERFLY – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Philharmonic feat. Mirella Freni (Cio-Cio-San), Luciano Pavarotti (Pinkerton), Christa Ludwig (Suzuki) & Robert Kerns (Sharpless): Herbert von Karajan (conductor) [1974]


-Giacomo Puccini: MANON LESCAUT – Ambrosian Opera Chorus & New Philharmonia Orchestra feat. Montserrat Caballé (Manon Lescaut), Plácido Domingo (Renato), Vicente Sardinero (Lescaut), Noel Mangin (Geronte) & Robert Tear (Edmondo): Bruno Bartoletti (conductor) [1971]


-Giacomo Puccini: TOSCA – John Alldis Choir & New Philharmonia Orchestra feat. Leontyne Price (Floria Tosca), Plácido Domingo (Mario Caravadossi) & Sherrill Milnes (Baron Scarpia): Zubini Mehta (conductor) [1972]


-Camille Saint-Saëns: SAMSON ET DALILA [SAMSON AND DELILAH] – Chorus & Orchestra of the Bastille Opera feat. Plácido Domingo (Samson), Waltraud Meier (Dalila), Alain Fondary (High Priest of Dagon), Jean-Philippe Courtis (Abimélech) & Samuel Ramey (Old Hebrew): Myun-whun Chung (conductor) [1991]


-Bedřich Smetana: PRODANÁ NEVĚSTA [THE BARTERED BRIDE] – BBC Singers & BBC Symphony Orchestra feat. Dana Burešová (Mařenka), Tomáš Juhás (Jeník), Jozef Benci (Kecal), Aleš Voráček (Vašek) & Gustáv Beláček (Mícha): Jiří Bĕlohlávek (conductor) [2012]


-Johann Strauss II: DIE FLEDERMAUS [THE BAT] – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Philharmonic feat. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (Rosalinde), Edita Gruberová (Adele), Brigitte Fassbender (Orlofsky), Wolfgang Brendel (Gabriel von Eisenstein), Richard Leech (Alfred), Olaf Bär (Dr. Falke) & Tom Krause (Frank): André Previn (conductor) [1990]


-Richard Strauss: DER ROSENKAVALIER [THE KNIGHT OF THE ROSE] – Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus feat. Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Marschallin), Otto Edelmann (Baron Ochs), Christa Ludwig (Octavian), Teresa Stich-Randall (Sophie) & Eberhard Wächter (Faninal): Herbert von Karajan (conductor) [1956]


-Richard Strauss: ELEKTRA – Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra & Chorus feat. Éva Marton (Elektra), Cheryl Studer (Chrysothemis), Marjana Lipovšek (Klytaemestra), Bernd Weikl (Orest) & Hermann Winkler (Aegisth): Wolfgang Sawallisch (conductor) [1990]


-Richard Strauss: SALOME – Vienna Philharmonic feat. Catherine Malfitano (Salome), Bryn Terfel (Jochanaan), Kenneth Riegel (Herodes), Hanna Schwarz (Herodias) & Kim Begley (Narraboth): Christoph von Dohnányi (conductor) [1994]


-Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: PIKOVAYA DAMA [PIQUE DAME or THE QUEEN OF SPADES] – Kirov Opera Chorus & Orchestra feat. Gegam Grigoriam (Hermann), Maria Guleghina (Liza), Irina Arkhipova (Countess), Nikolai Puitlin (Count Tomsky), Vladimir Chernov (Prince Yeletsky) & Olga Borodina (Polina): Valery Gergiev (conductor) [1993]


-Richard Wagner: DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜNBERG [THE MASTERSINGERS OF NUREMBERG] – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Philharmonic feat. Norman Bailey (Hans Sachs), René Kollo (Walther von Stolzing), Hannelore Bode (Eva), Julia Hamari (Magdelene), Bernd Weikl (Sixtus Beckmesser) & Kurt Moll (Veit Pogner): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1975]


-Richard Wagner: PARSIFAL – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Philharmonic feat. René Kollo (Parsifal), Gottlob Frick (Gurnemanz), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Amfortas), Christa Ludwig (Kundry), Zoltan Kéléman (Klingsor) & Hans Hotter (Titurel): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1972]


-Richard Wagner: TRISTAN UND ISOLDE – Vienna Singverein & Vienna Philharmonic feat. Birgit Nilsson (Isolde), Fritz Uhl (Tristan), Regina Resnik (Brangäne), Tom Krause (Kurwenal) & Arnold van Mill (König Marke): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1961]




Here's an example of personal opinion: I recommended above the version of Puccini's TOSCA with Zubin Mehta conducting and Leontyne Price in the title role, but whenever people bring up the definitive recording in music spaces, they refer to another one - the 1953 recording by the Teatro alla Scalla Orchestra and Chorus featuring Maria Callas (Tosca), Giuseppe Di Stefano (Caravadossi) and Tito Gobbi (Scarpia), with Victor de Sabata conducting. The reason I didn't go for that one is small: it's recorded in mono sound, not stereo. For me, classical music, especially opera, is best experienced in stereo. However, other people may not feel that way, so I leave this here as an alternative to seek out.

At Raven's suggestion, I'm posting something here that I put of Discord but is bound to get lost.

Another thing about opera is that, unlike rock and jazz and other genres, where there's usually only one definitive recording (not counting live versions), there are numerous recordings available, and some are considered better than others. Everyone has different opinions, but sometimes there is a general consensus, and, being new to opera, I usually do some short amateur "research" to find what many people consider to be the general favorites before I purchase them. Therefore, in the spirit of recommendations, here is a list of the operas I currently own (a lot of them curbed from the topic list) with selected cast members that I (and several others) would direct newcomers to.


-Ludwig von Beethoven: FIDELIO – Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus feat. Christa Ludwig (Leonore), Jon Vickers (Florestan), Gottlob Frick (Rocco), Walter Berry (Don Pizarro), Gerhard Unger (Jaquino), Franz Crass (Don Fernando) & Ingeborg Hallstein (Marzelline): Otto Klemperer (conductor) [1962]


-Mikhail Glinka: ZHIZN ZA TSARYA [A LIFE FOR THE TSAR] – Sofia National Opera Chorus & Sofia Festival Orchestra feat. Boris Martinovich (Ivan Susanin), Alexandrina Pendechanska (Antonida), Chris Merritt (Sobinin), Stefania Toczyska (Vanya), Stoil Georgiev (Commander of the Polish Detachment), Mincho Popov (Polish Messenger) & Konstantin Videv (Commander of the Russian Detachment): Emil Tchakarov (conductor) [1989]


-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL [THE ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO] – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Symphony feat. Cheryl Studer (Konstanze), Elizbieta Szmytka (Blonde), Kurt Streit (Belmonte), Robert Gambill (Pedrillo), Günther Missenhardt (Osmin) & Michael Heltau (Bassa Selim): Bruno Weil (conductor) [1991]


-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE [THE MAGIC FLUTE] – Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin & Berlin Philharmonic feat. Edith Mathis (Pamina), Karin Ott (Queen of the Night), Janet Parry (Papagena), Anna Tomowa-Sintow/Agnes Baltsa/Hanna Schwarz (Three Ladies), Francisco Araiza (Tamino), Gottfried Hornik (Papageno) & José van Dam (Sarastro): Herbert von Karajan (conductor) [1980]


-Modest Mussorgsky: BORIS GODUNOV – Polish Radio Chorus of Krakow & Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra feat. Martti Talvela (Boris Godunov), Nicolai Gedda (Grigory a.k.a. False Dmitry), Leonard Mróz (Pimen), Aage Haugland (Varlaam), Bożena Kinasz (Marina Miniszech), Andrzej Hiolski (Andrey Shchelkalov) & Halina Łukomska (Xenia): Jerzy Semkow (conductor) [1976]


-Giacomo Puccini: LA BOHÈME [THE BOHEMIAN LIFE] – Berlin Philharmonic feat. Mirella Freni (Mimì), Luciano Pavarotti (Rodolfo), Elizabeth Harwood (Musetta), Rolando Panerai (Marcello), Gianni Maffeo (Schaunard) & Nicolai Ghiaurov (Colline): Herbert von Karajan (conductor) [1972]


-Giacomo Puccini: TURANDOT – John Alldis Choir & London Philharmonic Orchestra feat. Dame Joan Sutherland (Turandot), Luciano Pavarotti (Calaf), Montserrat Caballé (Liù), Nicolai Ghiaurov (Timur), Tom Krause (Ping) & Peter Pears (Emperor Altoum): Zubin Mehta (conductor) [1972]


-Gioachino Rossini: GUILLAUME TELL [WILLIAM TELL] – Ambrosian Opera Chorus & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra feat. Gabriel Bacquier (William Tell), Montserrat Caballé (Mathilde), Nicolai Gedda (Arnold), Gwynne Howell (Melchthal), Jocelyne Taillon (Hedwige), Kolos Kovacs (Walter Furst), Mady Mesplé (Jemmy) & Nicolas Christou (Leuthold): Lamberto Gardelli (conductor) [1972]


-Gioachino Rossini: IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA [THE BARBER OF SEVILLE] – Ambrosian Opera Chorus & Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields feat. Sir Thomas Allen (Figaro), Agnes Baltsa (Rosina) & Francisco Araiza (Count Almaviva): Sir Neville Marriner (conductor) [1985]


-Gioachino Rossini: LA CENERENTOLA [CINDERELLA] – Orchestra & Chorus del Teatro Communale di Bologna feat. Cecilia Bartoli (Cenerentola), Enzo Dara (Don Magnifico), William Matteuzzi (Don Ramiro), Alessandro Corbelli (Dandini) & Michele Pertusi (Alidoro): Riccardo Chailly (conductor) [1993]


-Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: YEVGENY ONEGIN [EUGENE ONEGIN] – John Alldis Choir & Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden feat. Bernd Weikl (Eugene Onegin), Teresa Kubiak (Tatyana), Stuart Barrows (Lensky), Julia Hamari (Olga), Nicolai Ghiaurov (Prince Gremin) & Michel Sénéchal (Triquet): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1974]


-Ralph Vaughan Williams: THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – London Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra feat. John Noble (Pilgrim), Raimund Herincx (John Bunyan/Lord Hate-Good), Sheila Armstrong (First Shining One), John Shirley-Quick (Watchful/Porter) & Norma Burrowes (Chorus): Sir Adrian Boult (conductor) [1971]


-Giuseppe Verdi: AIDA – Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden & New Philharmonia Orchestra feat. Montserrat Caballé (Aida), Plácido Domingo (Radamès), Fiorenza Cossotto (Amneris), Piero Cappuccilli (Amonasro) & Nicolai Ghiaurov (Ramfis): Riccardo Muti (conductor) [1974]


-Giuseppe Verdi: FALSTAFF – Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus feat. Tito Gobbi (Sir John Falstaff), Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Alice Ford), Anna Moffo (Nannetta), Luigi Alva (Fenton) & Rolando Panerai (Ford): Herbert von Karajan (conductor) [1956]


-Giuseppe Verdi: IL TROVATORE [THE TROUBADOUR] – Ambrosian Opera Chorus & Philharmonia Orchestra feat. Leontyne Price (Leonora), Plácido Domingo (Manrico), Sherrill Milnes (Count di Luna) & Fiorenza Cossotto (Azucena): Zubin Mehta (conductor) [1969]


-Giuseppe Verdi: LA TRAVIATA [THE FALLEN WOMAN] – London Opera Chorus & National Philharmonic Orchestra feat. Dame Joan Sutherland (Violetta), Luciano Pavarotti (Alfredo) & Matteo Manuguerra (Giorgio Germont): Richard Bonynge (conductor) [1979]


-Giuseppe Verdi: OTELLO – Ambrosian Opera Chorus and Boys' Choir & National Philharmonia Orchestra feat. Plácido Domingo (Otello), Renata Scotto (Desdemona) & Sherrill Milnes (Iago): James Levine (conductor) [1978]


-Giuseppe Verdi: RIGOLETTO – Ambrosian Opera Chorus & London Symphony Orchestra feat. Dame Joan Sutherland (Gilda), Luciano Pavarotti (Duke of Mantua), Sherrill Milnes (Rigoletto), Huguette Tourangeau (Maddalena) & Martti Talvela (Sparafucile): Richard Bonynge (conductor) [1971]


-Richard Wagner: DAS RHEINGOLD [THE RHINE GOLD] – Vienna Philharmonic feat. George London (Wotan), Kirsten Flagstad (Fricka), Claire Watson (Freia), Svet Svanholm (Loge), Waldemar Kmentt (Froh), Eberhard Wächter (Donner), Paul Kuen (Mime), Jean Madeira (Erda), Gustav Neidlinger (Alberich), Walter Kreppel (Fasolt) & Kurt Böhme (Fafnir): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1958]


-Richard Wagner: DER FLIEGENDE HÖLLANDER [THE FLYING DUTCHMAN] – Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus feat. Norman Bailey (Höllander), Janis Martin (Senta), Martti Talvela (Daland), René Kollo (Erik), Werner Krenn (Steuermann) & Isola Jones (Mary): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1976]


-Richard Wagner: DIE WALKÜRE [THE VALKYRIE] – Vienna Philharmonic feat. Birgit Nilsson (Brünnhilde), Hans Hotter (Wotan), Régine Crispin (Sieglinde), James King (Siegmund), Christa Ludwig (Fricka) & Gottlob Frick (Hunding): Sir George Solti (conductor) [1965]


-Richard Wagner: GÖTTERDAMMERUNG [TWILIGHT OF THE GODS] – Vienna Philharmonic feat. Birgit Nilsson (Brünnhilde), Wolfgang Windgassen (Siegfried), Gottlob Frick (Hagen), Gustav Neidlinger (Alberich), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Gunther), Claire Watson (Gutrune) & Christa Ludwig (Waltraute): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1964]


-Richard Wagner: LOHENGRIN – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Philharmonic feat. Plácido Domingo (Lohengrin), Jessye Norman (Elsa), Eva Randová (Ortrud), Siegmund Nimsgern (Telramund), Hans Sotin (Heinrich der Vogler) & Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Herald): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1985]


-Richard Wagner: SIEGFRIED – Vienna Philharmonic feat. Wolfgang Windgassen (Siegfried), Birgit Nilsson (Brünnhilde), Hans Hotter (Wanderer), Gustav Neidlinger (Alberich), Marga Höffgen (Erda), Kurt Böhme (Fafnir) & Dame Joan Sutherland (Woodbird): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1962]


-Richard Wagner: TANNHÄUSER – Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Philharmonic feat. René Kollo (Tannhäuser), Helga Dernesch (Elisabeth), Christa Ludwig (Venus), Manfred Jungwirth (Biterolf), Hans Sotin (Hermann), Kurt Equiluz (Heinrich), Norman Bailey (Reinmar), Victor Braun (Wolfram von Eschenbach) & Werner Hollweg (Walther von der Vogelweide): Sir Georg Solti (conductor) [1970]


-Carl Maria von Weber: DER FREISCHÜTZ [THE MARKSMAN] – Leipzig Radio Choir & Staatskapelle Dresden feat. Gundula Janowitz (Agathe), Edith Mathis (Ännchen), Peter Schreier (Max) & Theo Adam (Kaspar): Carlos Kleiber (conductor) [1973]



Keep in mind, though, that the availability of some of these selections varies from place to place. For instance, the one listed above for Glinka's A LIFE FOR THE TSAR is technically not in print in the United States (I managed to get a copy in good condition secondhand off of Amazon), and the GUILLAUME TELL with Bacquier isn't on iTunes but can be purchased or streamed through Amazon Music.

For more information (even the option to purchase some), check out Presto Music (https://www.prestomusic.com/). They deal exclusively in jazz and classical music, and they say that any purchases go to directly supporting musicians. Plus, it's a good resource center for finding album information.

Happy February! The weather is wonky, but things seem to be going fine, otherwise. Unfortunately, I've still not picked up my reading, so I have to take a shot in the dark for this month's recommendations. It's stuff that you're probably all familiar with, but I think it's worth checking out again.

Reading: The Lord of the Rings, Part One: The Fellowship of the Ring (1954) by J. R. R. Tolkien

Picking up from my recommendation of The Hobbit from a couple months ago, now we have the first part of the epic romance that sparked the fantasy craze of the late 20th century. The magic ring of Bilbo Baggins is revealed to be the One Ring of the Dark Lord Sauron, the master ring which will restore him to power; having been passed into the possession of Bilbo's adopted heir Frodo, a task is raised to carry the Ring - a creation of evil - to Sauron's kingdom of Mordor and destroy it in Mount Doom, where it was forged, but this is complicated because the Ring has a habit of turning minds to corruption, leading to the head of wizards seeking it for himself and opening up a new front in an approaching war, not to mention working withing the heroes' own party. The book is a long introduction to the greater world of Middle-earth and may seem meandering and unfocused to some readers, but there is nevertheless an irresistible charm to it that has captivated the mind of many a fan.

Mass Market: https://www.amazon.com/Fellowship-Ring-Lord-Rings-Part/dp/0345339703/
Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Fellowship-Ring-Being-First-Rings/dp/0547928211/
Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/Fellowship-Ring-Lord-Rings-Part/dp/061826051X/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Fellowship-Ring-Being-First-Rings-ebook/dp/B007978NPG/



Viewing: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (James Cameron, 1991)

Back in the early months of recommendations (a little over a year in), I chose the first Terminator but forgot to come back for this one, so I'll rectify that. Gaining near universal acclaim as one of the best sequels ever made - arguably superior to the first movie - as well as a milestone in both action films and special effects, the story follows a similar setup as the first with subtle variations so as to make it seem like a natural extension without feeling old. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a new model of the T-800 Terminator, this time reprogrammed as a protector of John Connor (Edward Furlong), the young son of Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) destined to lead the human armies of the future to victory against the malicious artificial intelligence Skynet. Pursuing them is the T-1000 (Robert Patrick), an advanced machine made of liquid metal with shapeshifting abilities. Together, they hatch a plan to prevent Judgment Day by destroying the early prototypes of Skynet, while each of them tries to find something that was missing before - for Sarah, hope for the future; for John, a father figure he never had; and for the Terminator, the value of humanity.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Terminator-2-Judgment-Arnold-Schwarzenegger/dp/0784010188/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Terminator-Judgment-Day-Blu-ray-Digital/dp/B00UFMKSDW/
4K: https://www.amazon.com/Terminator-Judgement-Ultra-Blu-ray-Digital/dp/B074486NBN/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Terminator-2-Judgment-Arnold-Schwarzenegger/dp/B07G8FS6X6/



I hope that's good. I didn't want to leave this month without something. I hope you all enjoy it!

Quote from: Raven on January 20, 2024, 12:43:39 PMIt's crazy how much opera I know just from things like cartoons.

Consider "What's Opera, Doc?" and "The Rabbit of Seville."

There's a new Discord server up for The Lost Pathway, and you'll probably hear more about that from Raven. This topic is actually born out of a brief discussion on that server mixed with my current fascination. I've mentioned that, in the event of my reading slowing down to a near halt, I've become deeply interested in opera, and I would love to discuss it with people, but, as one person on Discord said, where do you start?

I would love to easily link to the library book I'm currently reading that works wonderfully as a primer for the uninitiated (Peter Fox Smith's A Passion for Opera: Learning to Love It - The Greatest Masters, Their Greatest Music), but, unfortunately, it's out of print, and while I'm sure other people aren't as fussy over the condition of a book as I am, getting a used copy may end up being an expensive endeavor, so I'll try to summarize in this post what the author recommends as well as a few side mentions. Hopefully, this will give interested parties a head start.


EARLY OPERA

Having originated in Italy, it seems that, according to Smith, the earliest surviving master available that is still played in the modern repertoire is Claudio Monteverdi, who has three operas which survive in their entirety. Other important developments include Henry Purcell from England, George Frideric Handel from Germany, and John Gay (also from England). Serious operatic reforms were carried out by Germany's Christoph Willibald Gluck. Special mention also goes to France's Jean-Baptiste Lully and Jean-Philippe Rameau.

The recommended operas are as follows:
-Monteverdi: L'ORFEO
-Monteverdi: IL RITORNO D'ULISSE IN PATRIA (The Return of Ulysses to His Homeland)
-Monteverdi: L'INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA (The Coronation of Poppea)
-Purcell: DIDO AND AENEAS
-Gay: THE BEGGAR'S OPERA
-Handel: GIULIO CESARE IN EGITTO (Julius Caesar in Egypt)
-Gluck: ORFEO ED EURIDICE (Orpheus and Euridice)


MOZART

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is identified as the "father" of modern opera, and his works are regularly performed around the world. Seven in particular are of significant interest:

-IDOMENEO, RE DI CRETA (Idomeneus, King of Crete)
-DIE ENTFUHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL (The Abduction from the Seraglio)
-LE NOZZE DI FIGARO (The Marriage of Figaro)
-DON GIOVANNI
-COSI FAN TUTTE (Women Are Like That)
-LA CLEMENZA DI TITO (The Clemency of Titus)
-DIE ZAUBERFLOTTE (The Magic Flute)


THE ITALIAN MASTERS OF "BEL CANTO"

In the aftermath of Mozart, there are three figures who tower over the golden age of Italian opera, working in the "bel canto" (good singing) style: Gioachino Rossini, Gaetano Donizetti and Vincenzo Bellini. There's quite a lot to choose from with them, as, between them all, they were quite prolific. Fortunately, Smith's book singles out three operas for each of them for you to start with.

-Rossini: IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA (The Barber of Seville)
-Rossini: LA CENERENTOLA (Cinderella)
-Rossini: GUILLAUME TELL (William Tell)

-Donizetti: L'ELISIR D'AMORE (The Elixir of Love)
-Donizetti: LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR (Lucy of Lammermoor)
-Donizetti: DON PASQUALE

-Bellini: LA SONNAMBULA (The Sleepwalker)
-Bellini: NORMA
-Bellini: I PURITANI (The Puritans)


EARLY GERMAN OPERA

One chapter is devoted to discussing two works by German composers Ludwig van Beethoven (his only opera) and Carl Maria von Weber (his best-known opera).

-Beethoven: FIDELIO
-Weber: DER FREISCHUTZ (The Marksman)


THE MASTERPIECES OF WAGNER

Over the course of two chapters, the major works of Richard Wagner are highlighted.

-DER FLIEGENDE HOLLANDER (The Flying Dutchman)
-TANNHAUSER
-LOHENGRIN
-DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN (The Ring of the Nibelung) - 1. DAS RHEINGOLD (The Rhine Gold) / 2. DIE WALKURE (The Valkyrie) / 3. SIEGFRIED / 4. GOTTERDAMMERUNG (Twilight of the Gods)
-TRISTAN UND ISOLDE (Tristan and Isolde)
-DER MEISTERSINGER VON NURNBERG (The Mastersingers of Nuremburg)
-PARSIFAL


VERDI'S GREATEST WORKS

As a counterpart to Wagner, another two chapters are devoted to the works of Italy's most revered opera composer, Giuseppe Verdi. Of his prolific oeuvre, six are given close consideration.

-RIGOLETTO
-IL TROVATORE (The Troubadour)
-LA TRAVIATA (The Fallen Woman)
-AIDA
-OTELLO
-FALSTAFF

Special mention goes to LA FORZA DEL DESTINO (The Power of Fate) and DON CARLOS.


FRENCH OPERA

When it comes to France, six composers and a corresponding opera are discussed: Hector Berlioz, Charles Gounod, Georges Bizet, Camille Saint-Saens, Jacques Offenbach and Jules Massenet. (In the case of Berlioz, I'm going to add another opera also mentioned as I think it's as important as the chief recommendation.)

-Berlioz: LA D***ATION DE FAUST (The D***ation of Faust)
-Berlioz: LES TROYENS (The Trojans)
-Gounod: FAUST
-Bizet: CARMEN
-Saint-Saens: SAMSON ET DALILA (Samson and Delilah)
-Offenbach: LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN (The Tales of Hoffmann)
-Massenet: MANON


SLAVIC OPERA

Next, we have the operas of Slavic-speaking countries, which includes Russia and surrounding nations. Two composers in particular are focused on: Modest Mussorgsky and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

-Mussorgsky: BORIS GODUNOV
-Tchaikovsky: YEVGENY ONEGIN (Eugene Onegin)

However, the chapter also gives note to several operas that should be familiar to any music student which includes not just another one by Tchaikovsky but those from Mikhail Glinka, Alexander Borodin and Bedrich Smetana (from Czechoslovakia).

-Glinka: ZHIZN ZA TSARYA (A Life for the Tsar) a.k.a. IVAN SUSANIN
-Glinka: RUSLAN I LYUDMILA (Ruslan and Lyudmila)
-Tchaikovsky: PIKOVAYA DAMA (The Queen of Spades or Pique Dame)
-Borodin: KNYAZ IGOR (Prince Igor)
-Smetana: PRODANA NEVESTA (The Bartered Bride)


OPERETTA

The next chapter is about the small mini-operas, or "operettas", that developed as parodies of traditional opera conventions but gained their own renown. Offenbach gets another highlight, and Johann Strauss II and the works of William S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan get the spotlight.

-Offenbach: ORPHEE AUX ENFERS (Orpheus in the Underworld)
-Strauss (J. II): DIE FLEDERMAUS (The Bat)
-Gilbert & Sullivan: THE MIKADO


LATE 19TH-EARLY 20TH CENTURY ITALIAN OPERA

The next chapter is focused on another single figure, primarily, but special mention goes to three composers who turned out significant works that are still in the common opera repertoire: Amilcare Ponchielli, Pietro Mascagni and Ruggero Leoncavallo. All three are famous mostly for a single work each.

-Ponchielli: LA GIOCONDA (The Happy Woman)
-Mascagni: CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA (Rustic Chivalry)
-Leoncavallo: PAGLIACCI (Clowns)

The rest of the chapter is about Giacomo Puccini, who is considered the successor to Verdi as the face of Italian opera. His first two works are briefly mentioned, after which each succeeding opera is analyzed as some of the best of its kind.

-MANON LESCAUT
-LA BOHEME (The Bohemian Life)
-TOSCA
-MADAMA BUTTERFLY
-LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST (The Girl of the West)
-LA RONDINE (The Swallow)
-IL TRITTICO (The Triptych) - 1. IL TABARRO (The Cloak) / 2. SUOR ANGELICA (Sister Angelica) / 3. GIANNI SCHICCHI
-TURANDOT


WAGNER'S SUCCESSOR

Once again, as a counterpoint, the next chapter posits Richard Strauss (of "Also sprach Zarathustra" fame) as the successor to Wagner in German opera. While it is said that all of his operas are worth tuning in to, only three are studied at length:

-SALOME
-ELEKTRA
-DER ROSENKAVALIER (The Knight of the Rose)


20TH CENTURY OPERA

The book finishes up with a discussion of opera in the 20th century, giving particular attention to six individuals with one opera apiece: Claude Debussy, Bela Bartok, Alban Berg, Leos Janacek, George Gershwin and Benjamin Britten.

-Debussy: PELLEAS ET MELISANDE
-Bartok: A KEKSZAKALLU HERCEG VARA (Duke Bluebeard's Castle)
-Berg: WOZZECK
-Janacek: PRIHODY LISKY BYSTROUSKY (The Cunning Little Vixen)
-Gershwin: PORGY AND BESS
-Britten: PETER GRIMES

However, in the lead-up to the discussion, several other composers with important works are pointed out, including Gustave Charpentier, Maurice Ravel, Francis Poulenc, Frederick Delius, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Arnold Schoenberg, Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, Antonin Dvorak, Igor Stravinsky, Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich, Francesco Cilea, Gian Carlo Menotti, Scott Joplin, Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein and William Mayer. A few other compositions by Britten and Janacek are also pointed out.

-Charpentier: LOUISE
-Ravel: L'ENFANT ET LES SORTILEGES (The Child and the Spells)
-Poulenc: DIALOGUES DES CARMELITES (Dialogues of the Carmelites)
-Delius: A VILLAGE ROMEO AND JULIET
-Vaughan Williams: RIDERS TO THE SEA
-Britten: BILLY BUDD
-Britten: THE TURN OF THE SCREW
-Britten: DEATH IN VENICE
-Schoenberg: MOSES UND ARON (Moses and Aaron)
-Brecht & Weill: DIE DREIGROSCHENOPPER (The Threepenny Opera)
-Dvorak: RUSALKA
-Stravinsky: OEDIPUS REX
-Stravinsky: THE RAKE'S PROGRESS
-Prokofiev: L'AMOUR DES TROIS ORANGES (The Love for Three Oranges)
-Shostakovich: NOS (The Nose)
-Shostakovich: LEDI MAKBET MTENSKOGO UYEZDA (Lady Macbeth of Mtensk)
-Cilea: ADRIANA LECOUVREUR
-Menotti: AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS
-Joplin: TREEMONISHA
-Barber: VANESSA
-Bernstein: CANDIDE
-Mayer: A DEATH IN THE FAMILY
-Janacek: JENUFA
-Janacek: KATA KABANOVA
-Janacek: VEC MAKROPULOS (The Makropulos Affair)



That sums up what the book pointed out. It's quite a bit, and it might be overwhelming, but I'd rather give you a wide berth to pull from rather than just a couple common choices. The world of opera is a lot bigger than this, and I would hope that this is an adequate introduction. If you'd like to discuss this more, feel free to do so in the comments or the Discord server (if you find us).

Happy New Year, everyone!

First off, I should set the record straight: in addition to what I said last month about my heart not really being in it anymore, I've allowed my own personal reading to come to a screeching halt - I have several books started but none finished. As a result, I'm running low on things to recommend. I still have a couple things left book-wise to put your way, and it hasn't been all bad - I've acquired a deeper fascination with opera and am currently doing a bit of amateur research on it. So I hope I'm starting off the new year right.


Reading: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950) by C. S. Lewis

The classic book that contributed to the rediscovery of fantasy, this has the confusing honor of being the first book written but second chronologically of the land of Narnia, encountered this time through a wardrobe in a countryside house; we are introduced to the Pevensie children (Peter, Susan, Edward and Lucy), the devious White Witch, and the transcendent lion Aslan, all of which are now intimately familiar to readers the world over. While it has garnered criticism from both friends and opponents, it's still a good story told with all the trappings of fairy tales, with as much to offer adults as children.

Mass Market: https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Witch-Wardrobe-C-Lewis/dp/0064471047/
Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Witch-Wardrobe-Chronicles-Narnia/dp/0064404994/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Witch-Wardrobe-Chronicles-Narnia-ebook/dp/B001I45UFC/



Viewing: Sullivan's Travels (Preston Sturges, 1941)

Originally released to mixed reviews, this film has gradually gained acceptance as one of the best comedies ever made by one of the masters of screwball madcap madness. John L. Sullivan, director of profitable comedies, wants to tackle a film adaptation of a recent novel of social justice and human drama amongst the poor and suffering, but it's quickly pointed out that, due to his rather privileged life, he doesn't know much about suffering. Therefore, he disguises himself as a vagrant in order to observe the life of the poor firsthand, picking up an eccentric young blonde woman along the way. Trouble soon follows, and Sullivan learns both about real destitution and what can bring joy to an otherwise miserable life.


DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Sullivans-Travels-Joel-McCrea/dp/B00SC8KTHG/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Sullivans-Travels-Blu-ray-Joel-McCrea/dp/B00SC8KV4M/
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Sullivans-Travels-Joel-McCrea/dp/B00AAKBEE6/


I hope this fills up your January. Happy New Year, once again!