A/V Veteran

Up until the last hundred years or so music, and the musicians who performed it, were nearly always both heard and seen. Perhaps it was a local (or travelling) minstrel attracting a curious crowd in the town square. Or it might have been the upper crust gathered in a concert hall. In either case the music was heard and the musicians were seen. The experience was always savored. Music at the time was rarely an everyday event.

But today music can be called up and experienced at will. Concerts by local or travelling musicians are relatively common, but most often our music arrives on recordings where it's heard but not seen. Not that there's anything wrong with that; music lovers have an almost limitless access to music from a wide range of sources. But most of the time you can't see the artists involved in the event. We've become so accustomed to this that we think of it as normal. But as much as we love it, and will continue to do so, it isn't the full experience.

Nevertheless, audio accompanied by video of some sort is now available to most of us. This can serve a range of purposes, from dramas on film and television to the subject of interest here: allowing us to experience the musicians that produce the music we love. This can range from individual musicians to a symphony orchestra complete with soloists and a full choir. When hearing music audio-only it's easy to forget that music is a performance art. You don't always need to experience it with both your ears and eyes, but it's enlightening to occasionally do so. Apart from audio/video discs, there's now a vast store of streamed music accompanied by video.

YouTube is one source for this, with its own immense catalog. Its music streams employ digital compression on both the audio and video. Digital compression of audio is controversial with audiophiles, but the YouTube audio I've experienced can be surprisingly effective. If such digital audio compression troubles you, however, YouTube streaming still has value. It might be useful for sampling program material that interests you and can be r purchase later on a physical disc with uncompressed digital audio.

One annoying YouTube issue in its free, non-subscription downloads is that it invariably includes annoying pop-up advertisements. These can run from a few seconds to a minute or more. Sometimes these commercial breaks offer a defeat button, but more often they don't. A paid, advert-free, YouTube prescription service is available and should bypass this nonsense, but so far I've resisted temptation to open my wallet.

The music selections offered below are worth a look and listen despite the occasional adverts. You might even find yourself investigating music genres you've never considered before. But try to listen with the best sound available to you, whether that's a TV with decent internal audio (rare, but they do exist), a good soundbar, or your home theater.

Most of the selections here are classical, including opera arias without subtitles. But even if you think you don't like such music, give these link a fair try. You may have never before heard opera with visuals. Only once have I sat through a live opera from beginning to end. It was years ago on a trip to Vienna. The opera was Giacomo Puccini's Turandot, not the most accessible choice for a newcomer. But I wasn't bored, and standing-room tickets were an irresistible $1. Try to find that today!

The Barber of Seville - Michael Spyres - Royal Albert Hall Michael Spyres is an America Baritenor. A Baritenor is a Baritone who can sing high enough up into the Tenor range to navigate at least some roles that might normally go to a true Tenor. Spyres has a lot of fun here, as does his audience.

Pirates of the Caribbean' - Liverpool Philharmonic at the Royal Albert Hall (5.56 minutes) The themes from this comic-action film still hold up and are popular with orchestras that regularly include light film music in their concerts. Superbly done here.

Andre Rieu & Mirusia - Ave Maria Beautiful lady, beautiful voice.

Borodin - Polovtsian Dances From Prince Igor The recommended version here has a visible tag, "RTV SLO," in the upper left hand corner. This version includes a chorus; others might not. The themes from this Russian composer's best known music were brilliantly adapted for the songs in the 1950s Broadway musical Kismet. That successful show was later made into a far less successful MGM film.

Josef Kaufmann - Nessun Dorma The intended link here is of a rehearsal in which tenor Josef Kaufmann is wearing a casual red shirt. This five-star German Tenor flawlessly navigates one of Italian composer Giacomo Puccini's most popular and difficult arias. Don't miss Kaufmann's intense reaction to the result following the climactic final bars, as if he has just scored a touchdown! In a nearby link you'll also find a full-dress, with audience, performance of the same aria.

Saint-Saens Organ Symphony No: 3 - London Philharmonic Orchestra Most symphonies have multiple sections or "movements." This clip features only the last movement of this famous piece, but it's so spectacular that it's impossible to resist. The percussionists and the organist may be the stars, but the orchestra also works its way into a frenzy. Without the visuals here you can't fully appreciate the efforts by everyone involved. And don't miss how long the conductor manages to hold the orchestra in suspension before ending the final bars!

Aretha Franklin "Nessun Dorma" LIVE Bonus. The late Luciano Pavarotti was acclaimed for his performances, particularly for his Nessun Dorma. He was once scheduled to perform it at a Grammy Awards ceremony in New York's Radio City Music Hall but had to cancel due to sickness. But his good friend Aretha Franklin agreed to sing it in Lucian's place. Aretha Franklin singing opera!? It wasn't exactly operatic, but it certainly was something very special. Watch it to the end for the rousing audience reception!