Watched act one of the opera The Birds - interesting production and the music is incredible. Now listening to the von Karajan Madama Butterfly with Mirella Freni and Pavarotti. This was my first Butterfly. I'm pretty sure it was Butterfly that I saw at least some of back in grammar school on a field trip - it's a vague memory but one I haven't forgotten. Might have been junior high, too, but I seem to remember being much younger. Anyway, I've always loved this recording, which I bought on LP in 1974. I also love the Leontyne Price that's on RCA SACD conducted by Leinsdorf, just because of that early stereo sound - but this is still superb after all this years and the Vienna Phil is incredible. This is a remastering of the original CD release that I really didn't like the sound of at all - here, they've fixed all of it and it's fantastic. And this comes with a Blu-ray Audio disc two, so that should sound even better. Some of these Decca Blu-ray Audio things come so beautifully packaged - no jewel cases - more like a Big Little Book, for those who remember. Eventually, I'm going to get as many of these as I can because once they're gone the prices are going to sky rocket.
