Blitzstein: Regina
List Price:
Our Price: $26.99
You Save: $6.99 (21%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $19.95 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Composer: Marc BlitzsteinConductor: John Mauceri
Orchestra: Scottish Opera Orchestra & Chorus
Performer: Katherine Ciesinski
Performer: Samuel Ramey
Performer: Angelina Reaux
Performer: Sheri Greenawald
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
Published: 1992-10-13
CD Release Date: 1992-10-13
Music Label: London
Music reviews of Blitzstein: Regina
Music Review: Which Regina to choose
Rating: 4 Stars
Now that the 1958 City Center Opera recording of Regina is available through Arkiv CD, I have gone back and listened to both in a short time span, something I have NEVER done before, so a comparison is really possible.
The strengths of this recording are that it opens up some fairly lengthy cuts, sanctioned by Blitzstein for either the Broadway production (only a brief run) or the City Center opera production which was revived a few years later (total of about 20 performances). Blitzstein was alive when the production was first done but had been murdered by the time the revival took place. In my mind these cuts are very damaging, in that they alter the openings of two of the acts and destroy important dramatic contrast. Blitzstein wrote music for Addie and the field hands, contrasting with the focus of the rest of the acts, the Giddens family turmoils. When it is missing on the Columbia set, I miss it, having heard it on this one.
The Columbia cast is more theatrical in their roles, having played them on stage, but Maucieri's cast has some stronger voices. The Horace of Samuel Ramey is better sung than by Joshua Hecht, but both make a strong impression and so on down the cast list. Its a tough call, theatrical vividness vs. the quality of first rate operatic voices. In the end, the biggest choice is between the singers in the title role. Brenda Lewis is a true dramatic soprano and Katherine Ciesinski is a solid mezzo. This requires a couple of key changes. Blitzstein originally wrote the part in the lower Mezzo keys and raised them for the broadway production. What did he want, what he originally wrote or what he changed it to, who knows. The reality is that most of the part is unchanged, but Regina's waltz is down a third and has a different aural center.
If I could have my druthers, I would like the Columbia set, with the cuts restored. Since this is not possible, a clear cut choice is not possible. I like the piece a lot, have always dreamed of being involved with a good production some day, but they don't happen nearly enough for my tastes, so that is not likely. Sarasota Opera has just begun a new project, to do an American Opera every season, to go along with their traversal of the entire Verdi canon (including multiple versions of the same opera). Their first choice is John Ward's The Crucible, which is an interesting choice for down the road, but would not have been my choice for the first opera in the series. So many worthwhile American operas; I hope they catch Regina, as well as Sussanah, The Ghosts of Versailles, Nixon in China, Ballad of Baby Doe, Rake's Progress (is this American? Stravinsky was an American citizen by the time he wrote it) and so many others.
More Blitzstein: Regina free music reviews:
1
1
Classical CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Classical CDs
Winterscapesby London Philharmonic
Prophetic Voice; Published: 2000-07; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $2.75
Price in other shops:
The Queen, the Bear, & the Bumblebeeby Dini Petty
Children's Group; Published: 2001-03; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $13.38
Price in other shops:
Classical Kids - Beethoven Lives Upstairs CdrRelease date: 2000-04-05; Music CD
Best price: $24.98
Tchaikovsky (Life and Works (Naxos))by Malcolm Sinclair, Jeremy Siepmann
Naxos; Published: 2003-11; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $35.99
![Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS] Image](/images/Jose-Carreras-Jubileum-Concert-VHS-1584481471-X.jpg){kind=small}
Jose Carreras - Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS]Sling Shot; Release date: 2000-04-18; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $5.86
Price in other shops:
![Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS] Image](/images/Tchaikovsky-The-Nutcracker-Nureyev-Park-Royal-Ballet-VHS-156127092X-X.jpg){kind=small}
Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-09-09; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.89
Price in other shops:
![Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS] Image](/images/Lonely-Town-Lonley-Street-Sergeant-Early-Dream-VHS-1561270857-X.jpg){kind=small}
Rambert Dance Company - Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-10-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
Winter Music: Composing the Northby John Luther Adams
Wesleyan; Published: 2004-11-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $21.90
Price in other shops:
![Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] Image](/images/Puccini-La-Fanciulla-del-West-Santi-Domingo-Neblett-Royal-Opera-Covent-Garden-VHS-0769720382-X.jpg){kind=small}
Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $6.38
Price in other shops:
![Verdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] Image](/images/Verdi-Falstaff-Giulini-Bruson-Ricciarelli-Nucci-Royal-Opera-Covent-Garden-VHS-0769720358-X.jpg){kind=small}
Verdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $12.95
Price in other shops:
Similar CDs
Bernstein Century - Bernstein: Trouble In Tahiti / FacsimileRelease date: 1999-03-16; Music CD
Best price: $4.34
Price in other shops:
Passing ByRelease date: 2010-09-14; Music CD
Best price: $9.00
Price in other shops:
Death Takes a Holiday (Original Off-Broadway Cast)Release date: 2011-10-11; Music CD
Best price: $9.83
Price in other shops:
The Book of Mormon (Original Broadway Cast Recording)Release date: 2011-06-07; Music CD
Best price: $10.68
Price in other shops:
Joyce DiDonato - Diva, DivoRelease date: 2011-01-25; Music CD
Best price: $9.42
Price in other shops:
Follies (New Broadway Cast Recording)Release date: 2011-11-29; Music CD
Best price: $12.24
Price in other shops:
Marc Blitzstein - No For An Answer: An American Opera (1941 Original Cast)Release date: 2005-08-23; Music CD
Best price: $21.30
The Cradle Will Rock: Original 1985 Cast RecordingRelease date: 1999-05-04; Music CD
Best price: $12.30
Price in other shops: