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Ralph Moore's comparative reviews of opera recordings
Posted by Stephen Jennings on July 28, 2021, 1:52 am
I would like to say a few words to thank Ralph Moore for taking the time to provide further commentary on those opera recordings he considered "hors concours", especially when he considered his series had been concluded. Let me assure him that his reviews are referred to often on several music forums as authoritative, not only in the field of opera but also to his extensive writing on a wide spectrum of the classical repertoire to his great credit.
If I have but one criticism with regard to his reviews of opera recordings, it would be the omission of recordings by certain artists he subjectively dislikes. For instance, the opening commentary on La Traviata recordings in which he gives his reasons for not including those by Scotto, Gruberova and Tebaldi. Unless I am totally cloth-eared, all three provide creditable performances of the title role, especially Scotto's first recording on DG. Of course, I totally get the omission of Muti's recording where he dislikes the voices of the three principal artists - Scotto, Krauss and Bruson.
Obviously, it's Mr. Moore's article and he can write what he wishes. Having said that, it's often more fun to read a negative review than to leave it out altogether. If I may say so, while speaking of Traviata, the greater omission is commentary on any of Virginia Zeani's recordings who performed the role more than any other soprano in history.
Re: Ralph Moore's comparative reviews of opera recordings
Many thanks for your kind and encouraging words, Stephen; I, too, have been surprised to find my surveys quoted in unlikely places but ours is a small and even stuffy little operaphile world.
Point taken about omitting to review recordings I know I do not like. I suppose I do that for a number of reasons: laziness, because it's a chore re-listening to recordings which I don't enjoy; a reluctance to be acid-tongued about artists who have had important careers and others esteem even if I do not - and who am I to denigrate them?; recognition of the fact that reviewing is a very subjective business; an inclination to leave the assessment of such artists to those who find more to admire in their performances than do I.
Having said all that, I do occasionally include quite negative reviews and do not always necessarily feel proud of having done so! I will try to be more even-handed in any future surveys but I do now seem to be truly running out of works to do.
Finally, you might have seen that I have asked for a review of Virginia Zeani's 1968 recording of Violetta to be inserted into my survey of La traviata - and I am pleased to say that I liked it very much.
Re: Ralph Moore's comparative reviews of opera recordings
Thank-you for your response, Ralph. I follow your reasoning about non-inclusion of certain recordings, although I doubt anyone could accuse you of laziness in any way. Also, thank-you for adding the review of Zeani's commercial recording of Traviata. Your review aligns with my own thoughts about it. My recording is on the Vox label which I purchased at a bargain price about 5 years ago. Happily, there is nothing bargain-priced about the performance.