Mira

Amazon.com
Florida may be the Sunshine State, but Tallahassee's Mira sound like they've been on the short end of one too many rainy days. Not that that's a bad thing--especially when you're on a record label that prides itself on being den mother of all things goth. Yet while Mira exude a certain moroseness, there's something decidedly un-goth about them. For one thing, they're a rock band. Synth excess and hazy atmospherics are eschewed in favor of stripped-down guitar-bass-drums arrangements that share a bond with the early-'90s shoegazer sound. And vocalist Regina Sosinski possesses a confident, clear voice that floats with a stately beauty over Tom Parker's sparse guitar. The effect is a cross between My Bloody Valentine (whose "When You Sleep" is covered here) and Mira's label mates Love Spirals Downwards, with dollops of Cocteau Twins and Sundays thrown in here and there. Pleasant, introspective, pretty--even gorgeous in places--but perhaps ultimately a little too familiar. --Steve Landau

Mira,Mira,Projekt Records,Dark Ambient,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

Average customer rating: RIP, BEVERLY SILLS 1929-2007 Brava Sills! Sills fits my bill The Great American Soprano My Favorite Woman

The Great Recordings Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Lehár, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Sills, Beverly | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music New York Philharmonic Orchestra | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Rossini, Gioacchino | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: The Very Best of Beverly Sills Art of Beverly Verdi: La Traviata / Sills, Gedda, Panerai; Ceccato Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor: Complete Opera (with full libretto and translation) Beverly Sills: Made in America ASIN: B0001Y4JG6 Release Date: 2004-05-11

Tracks:

1. Son Vergin Vezzosa - Paul Plishka
2. Eccomi... Oh! Quante Volte
3. Mira, O Norma
4. Santo Di Patria... Allor Che I Forti Corrono... Da Te Questo
5. Contro Un Cor Che Accende Amore - Nicolai Gedda
6. Che M'apporti? - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
7. Quel Sangue Versato Al Cielo S'innalza - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
8. Vorrei Spiegarvi, Oh Dio, K.418
9. Amor, Op.68 No.5

Tracks:

1. Martern Aller Arten
2. E Strano! E Strano!
3. Ah, Fors'e Lui
4. Follie! Follie!
5. Sempre Libera
6. Ces Murs Silencieux - Pardonnez-moi, Dieu De Toute Puissance - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
7. Toi! Vous! - Oui! Je Fus Cruelle Et Coupable! - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
8. N'est-ce Plus Ma Main? - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
9. Robert, Toi Que J'aime
10. Tu Ne Chanteras Plus?
11. Chere Enfant Que J'appele
12. Meine, Lippen, Die Kusen So Heiss
13. Wien, Wien, Nur Du Allein
14. Always Through The Changing

Customer Reviews:

RIP, BEVERLY SILLS 1929-2007.......2007-07-03

The great American diva's passing was announced today.

This wonderful CD set is a perfect compilation of her art as can be found anywhere. Her finest roles and performances are captured here, most of them derived from the Westminster/Audio Treasury recordings from her prime. Listening to them again demonstrates to me why she was so special, and such an inspiration to music lovers everywhere.

Brava Sills!.......2007-02-02

A very nice compilation of Sillsiana. The different cuts on this CD provide a nice illustration of her work. Let me briefly describe my response to a sampling of the works on this CD:

Bellini, I Puritani, "Son vergin vezzosa." Wonderful. Sutherland owns this--but so does Beverly Sills. Contemporary sopranos such as Netrebko and Gruberova have also sung this on their respective CDs, and while their product is nice, it simply does not compare. Sills is remarkably agile with her voice; the trills are well done; she cleanly hits high notes; the overall effect can only be described as wonderful.

Bellini, Norma, "Mira, o Norma". This is smoothly sung and very melodic. The technique that she exhibits does not overwhelm the music.

Rosini, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, "Contro un cor che accende amore." Again, her agile voice is well deployed. The florid singing is well done.

Donizetti, Roberto Devereaux, "Che m'apporti." Her clean, light voice matches well with this aria. Smoothly sung. Her "Quel sangue versato al cielo s'innalza," which follows, is well done. High notes cleanly hit, a smooth line.

Verdi, La Traviata, "E strano. . . .Sempre libera." Again, what agility! In "Sempre libera," she reveals a rich voice and, again, wonderful agility. This is an animated version of one of Verdi's showcase pieces.

Lehar, Giudetta. "Meine Lippen." A lot of fun! This is smoothly sung.

In the final analysis, this is a nice potpourri of Beverly Sills' repertoire. Those not familiar with her work will find this a nice entree to her oeuvre; those familiar with her will find this a good compilation.

Sills fits my bill.......2006-03-13

This recording is another in an all too small CD collection of Sills recordings. I eagerly await more.

The Great American Soprano.......2005-10-01

This is a great collecition featuring arias from the Classical and Romantic periods. Fabulous!!!!!

My Favorite Woman.......2005-08-05

I would have to say that when I first heard Beverly Sills sing, I was entranced. I couldn't take my eyes off of her and I became angry at any rustling around me, because I was afraid I would miss one note. It was so addictive....that is what she is....addictive! A c.d. will never properly capture her style. She is an amazing leader in opera, taking it into a new frontier and I believe this c.d. showcases that.

Average customer rating: Opera for Aficianados as well as Newbies superb! beatiful music Best Opera CD ever Rapture

Rapture: Opera's Most Heavenly Moments Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Academy of Ancient Music | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: The Most Famous Opera Duets The Most Famous Opera Arias The #1 Opera Album The Best Opera Album in the World...Ever! The Best of Italian Opera ASIN: B00006L3K2 Release Date: 2002-10-08

Tracks:

1. Casta Diva - Renee Fleming
2. Barcarolle - Edita Gruberova
3. Ebben? Ne Andro Lontana - Maria Chiara
4. Intermezzo - Herbert Von Karajan
5. Letter Duet - Edith Mathis
6. Che Faro Senza Euridice - Grace Bumbry
7. Va Pensiero - Giuseppe Sinopoli
8. Una Furtiva Lagrima - Gosta Winbergh
9. Porgi Amor - Gundula Janowitz
10. Humming Chorus - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
11. Soave Sia Il Vento - Kiri Te Kanawa
12. Overture (Excerpt) - Philharmonia Orchestra
13. Un'aura Amorosa - Hans-Peter Blochwitz
14. Un Bel Di - Mirella Freni
15. Depuis Le Jour - Montserrat Caballe
16. La Ci Darem La Mano - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
17. Quando Le Sere Al Placido - Placido Domingo
18. Mir Ist So Wunderbar - Lucia Popp

Tracks:

1. Flower Duet - Joan Sutherland
2. The Pearl Fishers Duet - Bryn Terfel
3. Lascia Ch'io Pianga - Kiri Te Kanawa
4. Prelude - Bayerisches Staatsorchestra
5. O Silver Moon - Renee Fleming
6. When I Am Laid In Earth - Tatiana Troyanos
7. Miserere - Placido Domingo
8. Vissi D'arte - Mirella Freni
9. Intermezzo - Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
10. Softly Awakes My Heart - Grace Bumbry
11. Ombra Mai Fu (Largo) - Bryn Terfel
12. Pilgrim's Chorus - Chorus Of The Bayreuth Festival
13. Ruhe Sanft - Kiri Te Kanawa
14. Flower Duet - Teresa Berganza
15. Entr'acte - Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
16. Mira O Norma - Marilyn Horne
17. Hochsten Heiles Wunder - Chorus Of The German Opera Berlin

Customer Reviews:

Opera for Aficianados as well as Newbies.......2007-06-11

If you are looking for peaceful, beautiful music this is for you. It is a delightful mix of some of opera's most memorable moments. Long time opera fans will be familiar with most of the arias and newcomers to opera will recognize music that has become identified with movies and commercials.

superb! .......2007-05-12

If you love wonderful operatic moments then this cd is a great buy for all of the wonderful and spectacular music on it. You get two cds for the price of one great opera cd, and all of the talented singers that were taken and put on these tracks do definate justice to all of the composers listed. A great cd to add to your collection especially if you are an aspiring singer or a student in music. Absolutely Fantastic!

beatiful music.......2007-02-23

former reviews are no exaggeration, this is the most beautiful music I have come across. I have many opera CDs but this is one I never tire of.
I listen to the CD everyday and it is always soothing, uplifting and inspiring. I wish I could find another as wonderful.

Best Opera CD ever.......2007-02-16

I have orderd plenty of classical CD's and DVD's on this webside.
Most were phantastish but this one is the best.
I listen so often to this CD that it should have grooves.
I never get tired of it.
I recommend this CD highly.
Roswitha

Rapture.......2007-01-24

Wonderous---Melodious----
This compilation of Opera's finest moments is positively wonderful!!!!Unquestionably the best buy I have made in Opera Music..No kidding,I have trays full of CDs covering every facet of Opera,but none as beautiful...A full 2 1/2 hours of the best of the best....Heavenly Moments says it ALL...I vote 6 stars!!!!!

Average customer rating: Excellent selections

Opera's Greatest Duets Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Bellini, Vincenzo | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Gershwin, George | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Offenbach, Jacques | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Puccini, Giacomo | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Caballe, Montserrat | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Freni, Mirella | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Horne, Marilyn | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Price, Leontyne | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music $7.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Caballé, Montserrat | ( C ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Freni, Mirella | ( F ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Horne, Marilyn | ( H ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Price, Leontyne | ( P ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Most Famous Opera Duets Operas Greatest Moments / Domingo, Price, Caballé, Kraus, Norman, Lanza Opera's Greatest Love Songs Great Operatic Duets Bellezza vocale ~ Beautiful Opera Duets ASIN: B000003FRB Release Date: 1994-09-27

Tracks:

1. Otello: Gia nella notte
2. Les pecheurs des perles: Au fond du temple saint
3. Il Trovatore: Se m'ami ancor ... Ai nostri monti
4. Don Giovanni: La ci darem la mano
5. Madama Butterfly: Scuoti quella fronda (Flower Duet)
6. La forza del destino: Solenne In quest'ora
7. La Boheme: O soave fanciulla
8. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Belle nuit (Barcarolle)
9. Don Carlo: E lui! desso! l'Infante! ... Dio, che nell'alma infondere
10. Porgy And Bess: Bess, You Is My Woman Now
11. La Traviata: Parigi, o cara
12. La Boheme: In un coupe? ... O Mimi, tu piu non torni
13. Norma: Mira, o Norma
14. Otello: Ah! mille vite ... Si, pel ciel marmoreo giuro!

Customer Reviews:

Excellent selections.......2001-12-26

Excellent opera selections. Good range of different operas. The singers themselves are well known. Highly recommended to anyone getting into classical music.

Average customer rating: Superlative collection Great value for the money Great for the money and a good starter on opera.... Amazing Value

100 Best Opera Classics Manufacturer: EMI Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Delibes, Léo | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gluck | Gluck, Christoph W. | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Lalo, Edouard | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mussorgsky | Mussorgsky, Modest | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Thomas | Thomas, Ambroise | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Weber | Weber, Carl Maria von | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Allen, Thomas | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Paris Symphony Orchestra | ( P ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Most Famous Opera Arias Best Classics 100 The Most Famous Opera Duets The Best of Italian Opera The #1 Opera Album ASIN: B0007QOERC Release Date: 2007-05-14

Tracks:

1. Voi Che Sepate - Teresa Berganza
2. Porgi Amor - Heather Harper
3. Deh, Vieni Alla Finestra - Thomas Allen
4. Batti, Batti, O Bel Masetto - Elizabeth Gale
5. Der Holle Rache - Edda Moser
6. O Isis Und Osiris - Cornelius Hauptmann
7. Temerari...Come Scoglio - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
8. La Calunnia E Un Venticello - Ruggero Raimondi
9. Nei Giardin Del Bello - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
10. Casta Diva - Maria Callas
11. Se Quel Guerrier...Celeste Aida - Franco Corelli
12. Tenesta La Promessa...Addio Del Passato - Beverly Sills
13. Niun Mi Tema - Jon Vickers
14. Un Bel Di Vedremo - Renata Scotto
15. E Lucevan Le Stelle - Placido Domingo
16. Si, Mi Chiamano Mimi - Mirella Freni
17. In Quelle Trine Morbide - Montserrat Caballe
18. Signore, Ascolta - Kiri Te Kanawa
19. Recitar...Vesti La Giubba - Jose Carreras
20. Amor Ti Vieta Di Non Amor - Roberto Alagna

Tracks:

1. Le Veau D'Or Est Toujours Debout - Boris Christoff
2. Ou Va La Jeune Hindoue? - Mady Mesple
3. L'Amour, L'Amour...Ah! Leve-Toi, Soleil - Alfredo Kraus
4. Allons! Le Faut...Adieu Notre Petite Table - Ileana Cotrubas
5. Toute Mon Ame Est La Pourquoi Me Reveiller - Nicolai Gedda
6. Quand La Flamme De L'Amour - Jose Van Dam
7. L'Amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle - Victoria De Los Angeles
8. A Cette Voix...Je Crois Entendre Encore - Alain Vanzo
9. Une Puce Gentille - Gabriel Bacquier
10. Je Vais Mourir...Adieu, Fiere Cite - Regine Crespin
11. Mon Coeur S'Ouvre A Ta Voix - Rita Gorr
12. Wie Todesahnung...O Du Mein Holder Abenstern - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
13. Johohoe! Traft Ihr Das Schiff Im Meere An? - Anja Silja
14. In Fernem Land - Chor Der Wiener Staatsoper
15. Heil Dir, Sonne! - Siegfried Jerusalem
16. Mild Und Leise - Helga Dernesch

Tracks:

1. Che Faro Senza Euridice? - Agnes Baltsa
2. Der Vogelfanger Bin Ich Ja - Walter Berry
3. Finch'Han Dal Vino - Nicolai Ghiaurov
4. E Susanna Non Vien!...Dove Sono - Barbara Hendricks
5. Abscheulicher! - Christa Ludwig
6. Ne M'Abandonne Pas, Espoir De La Vengeance...Asile Hereditaire - Nicolai Gedda
7. Largo Al Factotum - Tito Gobbi
8. Ella Giammai M'Amo! - Ruggero Raimondi
9. La Donna E Mobile - Alfredo Kraus
10. Di Quella Pira - Franco Corelli
11. Esultate! - James McCracken
12. Dio! Mi Potevi Scagliar - Placido Domingo
13. Vissi D'Arte, Vissi D'Amore - Maria Callas
14. In Questa Reggia - Ghena Dimitrova
15. Tanto Amore - Janine Micheau
16. O Mio Babbino Caro - Montserrat Caballe
17. Ed Anche Beppe Amo - Luciano Pavarotti
18. Poveri Fiori - Maria Callas
19. Come Un Bel Di Di Maggio - Roberto Alagna

Tracks:

1. Les Grands Seigneurs...Ah! Je Ris De Me Voir Si Belle - Victoria De Los Angeles
2. Marie, Avec L'Enfant Jesus - Jules Bastin
3. Heureux Petit Berger - Janine Micheau
4. Connais-Tu Le Pays - Jane Rhodes
5. Elle Ne Croyait Pas Dans Sa Candeur - Nicolai Gedda
6. Votre Toast, Je Peux Vous Le Rendre...Toreador - Victoria De Los Angeles
7. Les Oiseaux Dans La Charmille - Mady Mesple
8. Maintenant, Chantons...Devant La Maison De Celui Qui D'Adore - Gerard Souzay
9. Depuis Le Jour - Beverly Sills
10. Da Geht Er Hin - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
11. Einsam In Truben Tagen - Regine Crespin
12. Dich, Teure Halle - Hildegard Behrens
13. Leb Wohl, Du Kuhnes, Herrliches Kind - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
14. Hojotoho! Hojotoho! - Ute Walther

Tracks:

1. Non Piu Andrai - Thomas Allen
2. La Ci Darem La Mano - Graziella Sciutti
3. Duo: Pa-Pa-Pa - Andreas Schmidt
4. Soave Sia Il Vento - Delores Ziegler
5. Mira, O Norma - Maria Callas
6. Il Dolce Suono - Edita Gruberova
7. Com'e Gentil - Alfredo Kraus
8. Una Voce Poco Fa - Maria Callas
9. Libiamo Ne' Lieti Calici - Alfredo Kraus
10. Gualtier Malde!...Caro Nome - Michele Pertusi
11. Ritorna Vincitor - Birgit Nilsson
12. Ave Maria - Katia Ricciarelli
13. Nessun Dorma - Franco Corelli
14. Che Gelida Manina - Nicolai Gedda
15. Ebben? Ne Andro Lontana - Barbara Hendricks

Tracks:

1. Mes Amis, Ecoutez L'Histoire - Nicolai Gedda
2. Mieux Vaut Mourir...Amour Sacre De La Patrie - Alfredo Kraus
3. Ah! Je Veux Vivre Dans Ce Reve - Mady Mesple
4. Puisqu'on Ne Peut Flechir...Vainement, Ma Bien-Aimee - Henry Legay
5. Suis-Je Gentille Ainsi?...Je Marche Sur Tous Les Chemins - June Anderson
6. Belle Nuit, O Nuit D'Amour - Jessye Norman
7. La Fleur Que Tu M'Avais Jetee - Jose Carreras
8. C'est Toi!...Au Fond Du Temple Saint - John Aler
9. Werther, Werther, Qui M'Aurait Dit...Ces Lettres! - Tatiana Troyanos
10. Viens, Mallika - Mady Mesple
11. Ah! Je Suis Seule Enfin...Dis-Moi Que Je Suis Belle - Beverly Sills
12. Alerte, Alerte!...Anges Purs, Anges Radieux - Nicolai Ghiaurov
13. Boris's Farewell - Boris Christoff
14. Schreckensschwur! - Gary Lakes
15. Die 'Selige Morgentraum-Deutweise'...Selig, Wie Die Sonne - Peter Schreier
16. Was Am Besten er Kann...Nothung! Nothung! - Siegfried Jerusalem

Customer Reviews:

Superlative collection.......2006-10-11

A collection of 100 individual arias and ensembles from the EMI catalogue of complete works recorded between 1955 and 2003. It includes selections from operas by Italian, Austrian, German, Russian and French composers. The French composers are especially well represented unlike most such anthologies. And there are several more obscure contributions, such as an aria from Catalani's La Wally. A well-judged balance of musical periods and styles, and the very best singers of the last half of the last century. And remarkably, the whole collection of 6 CDS, over 7 hours of music, is being sold for the cost of only 1 CD !

Great value for the money.......2006-04-23

This is simply the best collection of opera arias that I have seen. It's not 100% in that there are a few well-known arias that are not here, but what is here is simply a treasure. The organization is a bit strange, but there's some logic. For example, Disk 6 is mostly from French operas. A seemingly endless amount of glorious music. Just fabulous. You won't be disappointed.

Great for the money and a good starter on opera...........2006-01-07

This cd is a splendid collection of songs, and the price is unbeatable; I have but a few minor complaints about the overall product. The cd would have been much more enjoyable if they had put the music in some sort of order, rather than jumping around from artist to artist sporatically. My only other complaint would be that they could have chosen some better vocalists to play some of the songs. For example, in CD 6, track 3: Romeo et Juliette, the singer was not nearly as strong and definative as she should have been and I've definately heard in various other versions that were way better than this. This disappointed me greatly. But even with these few small complaints, this collection is still great and the price is amazing. It includes MOST of the famous opera pieces, as well some great songs that are often overlooked such as the beautiful song from Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg (CD 6, track 16) along with others.

Amazing Value.......2005-08-23

I am so impressed by this collection that I must share my joy at getting so many beautiful arias, duets, et al in one collection. It captures many of the great operatic voices in stellar performances spanning the last 50 years. If you are enchanted by beautiful operatic highlights, removed from their operatic storylines, this set is for you. Hours of gorgeous music for practically pennies!

Average customer rating: The most noble voice PURCHASE THIS JEWEL WHILE YOU CAN luminous artistry from a genius A special Dignity and an Unfailing Beauty of Voice.

Songs Of Spain / De Los Angeles, et al Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Falla | Falla, Manuel de | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Granados, Enrique | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Morales, Cristóbal de | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Turina | Turina, Joaquin | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Guitar | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Spain | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Folk Songs | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Madrigals | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Partsongs | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: Isabel Bayrakdarian ~ Azulão The Fabulous Victoria De Los Angeles The Maiden and the Nightingale: Songs of Spain The Very Best of Victoria de los Angeles On the Wings Of Song and Zarzuela Arias - Victoria de los Angeles ASIN: B00000I4KQ Release Date: 1999-02-23

Tracks:

1. El rossinyol
2. El testament d'Amelia
3. Adios meu homino
4. Mina nay por me casare
5. Tengo que subir
6. Ahi tienes mi corazon
7. La vi llorando
8. Ya se van los pastores
9. Campanas de Belen
10. Jaeneras que yo canto
11. A dormir ahora mesmo
12. Granadinas
13. Hincarse de rodillas
14. Cancion de trilla
15. Parado de Valldemosa
16. Nik baditut
17. Andregaya
18. Din, dan, boleran
19. Mariam matrem
20. Ay, triste vida corporal!
21. Que es mi vida, preguntais?
22. Porque es, dama, tanto quereros?
23. No me llames segalaherba
24. Ay, luna que reluces
25. En esta larga ausencia
26. Molinillo que mueles amores
27. Confiado jilguerillo
28. Seguidillas religiosas
29. Cancion de cuna
30. El jilguerillo con pico de oro
31. El canape

Tracks:

1. Ah, el novio no quiere dinero
2. Coma la rosa en la guerta
3. Estavase la mora
4. Aquel rey de Francia
5. Damos gracias a ti, Dios
6. Sobre Baca estaba el rey
7. Ay que non hay!
8. Rosa das rosas
9. Maravillosos e piadosos
10. Tres moricas m'enamoran
11. Paseabase el rey moro
12. Dime a do tienes las mientes
13. Si no's huviera mirado
14. Dexo la venda
15. Puse mis amores
16. Aqui me declaro su pensamiento
17. Pues que me tienes
18. Gentil dama, non se gana
19. Mi querer tanto vos quiere
20. Una hija tiene el rey
21. Una matica de ruda
22. Si la noche se hace oscura
23. Pastorcico, non te aduermas
24. Ay triste que vengo
25. No soy you quien la descrube
26. Pase el agua, Julieta
27. Aquel caballero, madre
28. Duelete de mi, Senora
29. De Antequera salio el Moro
30. De los alamos vengo, madre
31. Enfermo estaba Antioco
32. Dame acogida en tu hato
33. Morenica, dame un beso
34. Senora, si te olvidare
35. De donde venis, amore?

Tracks:

1. La rosa enflorece
2. Ven querida
3. Adio, querida
4. Durme, durme, hermozo hijico
5. Paxaro d'hermosura
6. Avrix, mi galanica
7. Irme quiero, la mi madre
8. Ya viene el cativo
9. Yo m'enamori d'un aire
10. Una matica de ruda
11. Anda, jaleo
12. Los cuatro muleros
13. Las tres hojas
14. Los mozos de Monleon
15. Las morillas de Jaen
16. Sevillanas del siglo 18
17. El cafe de Chinitas
18. Nana de Sevilla
19. Los pelegrinitos
20. Zorongo
21. Romance de Don Boiso
22. Los reyes de la baraja
23. La tarara
24. El combat del somni: Damunt de tu, nomes les flors
25. A l'ombra del Lledoner: Canco de grumet
26. Canciones negras: Cancion de cuna para dormir a un negrito
27. Cuatro madrigales amatorios: De los alamos vengo, madre
28. Coleccion de tonadillas: Callejeo
29. Coleccion de tonadillas: El tra la la y el punteado
30. Seis canciones castellanas: No quiero tus avellanas
31. Seis canciones castellanas: Jota
32. Panxolina
33. Tu pupila es azul
34. Cantos populares espanolas: Malaguena
35. Cantos populares espanolas: Granadina
36. Cantos populares espanolas: El Vito
37. Cantos populares espanolas: Pano murciano
38. Clavelitos
39. Adios, Granada
40. Madrigal

Tracks:

1. Coleccion de tonadillas: Amor y odio
2. Coleccion de tonadillas: Callejeo
3. Coleccion de tonadillas: El majo discreto
4. Coleccion de tonadillas: El majo olvidado
5. Coleccion de tonadillas: El majo timido
6. Coleccion de tonadillas: El mirar de la maja
7. Coleccion de tonadillas: El tra la la y el punteado
8. Coleccion de tonadillas: La maja de Goya
9. Coleccion de tonadillas: Las currutacas modestas
10. Tres majas dolorosas: Oh muerte cruel!
11. Tres majas dolorosas: Ay majo de mi vida
12. Tres majas dolorosas: De aquel majo amante
13. Goyescas: La maja y el ruisenor (Rosario)
14. 'La vida breve': Vivan los que rien! (Salud - Act 1)
15. 'La vida breve': Alli esta! Riyendo! (Salud - Act 2)
16. 'Acis y Galatea': Confiado jilguerillo
17. El tripili
18. Llorad, corazon
19. Iban al pinar
20. No lloreis, ojuelos
21. Mananica era
22. Mira que soy nina
23. Gracia mia
24. El pano moruno
25. Seguidilla murciana
26. Asturiana
27. Jota
28. Nana
29. Cancion
30. Polo
31. 'La Tempranica': Zapateado (La tarantula e un bicho mu malo)

Customer Reviews:

The most noble voice.......2004-05-28

Victoria de los Angeles' voice not only has a silken quality and fascinating glow to it but it is one of the most regal, noble sounds you'll ever hear. She illuminated those moments of quietness, gentleness and noble, feminine pride and elegance like no other soprano before and after her. This release of her "Spanish Songs" has never been surpassed. The songs of her homeland seem to have been written for her beautiful instrument alone, she fills every piece with special beauty and charm, religious flair and beautiful, noble simplicity. Buy this recording and see why Victoria is one of the best sopranos ever having come from Spain.

PURCHASE THIS JEWEL WHILE YOU CAN.......2002-01-08

FOR A LONG TIME "SONGS OF SPAIN" HAS BEEN MY FAVORITE ALBUM OF CLASSICAL, POPULAR, SECULAR AND RELIGIOUS (CHRISTIAN AND SEPHARDIC) SPANISH SONGS. DE LOS ANGELES DEFIES A RIVAL IN THIS GENRE. DE LARROCHA, SORIANO AND ZANETTI PROVIDE UNEQUALED ACCOMPANIEMENTS. THE RECORDINGS ARE SECOND ONLY TO LIFE PERFORMANCES. I UNDERSTAND THAT EMI INTENDS TO TAKE THIS SET OUT OF PUBLICATION. PURCHASE THIS JEWEL WHILE YOU CAN! I JUST PURCHASED MY THIRD SET FROM AMAZON AND I TREASURE IT AS MUCH AS MY FIRST!

luminous artistry from a genius.......2000-12-26

the vocal artist of vocal artistsdisplays her absolutely gorgeous voice and musical understanding of spanish feeling with a warmth that is unmatched anywhere.the only thing better was to hear her in person!

A special Dignity and an Unfailing Beauty of Voice........2000-09-17

This set offers four generously-filled CDs comprising almost 140 Spanish songs from Victoria de los Angeles' repertoire. To all of them she brings a special dignity and an unfailing beauty of voice. The earliest recordings date from 1950 and the last is the items she sang at the opening of the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. Yes, you will find the ubiquitous "Clavelitos!" here, and a later version of "La maya el ruisenor" from "Goyescas". The enclosed booklet provides illuminating notes by Lionel Salter, who also translated many of the texts which are also included. Accompanists include Gerald Moore and Alicia de Larrocha, and Victoria de Los Angeles provides a guitar accompaniment herself in one song. The last track of all, a zapateado from a zarzuela, recorded live in New York, must almost have brought the house down.

Average customer rating: Marilyn Horne scintillates One Of The Greatest Voices of All! Not 100% satisfied with the selections, but what artistry! Vive Madame Horne !

Just for the Record: The Golden Voice Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Copland | Copland, Aaron | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Foster, Stephen | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gluck | Gluck, Christoph W. | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Thomas | Thomas, Ambroise | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Horne, Marilyn | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Bellini, Vincenzo | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Bernstein, Leonard | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Donizetti, Gaetano | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Gluck, Christoph W. | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Copland, Aaron | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Foster, Stephen | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Handel, George Frideric | H to L | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Meyerbeer, Giacomo | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Ponchielli, Amilcare | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Rossini, Gioacchino | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Saint-Saens, Camille | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Schubert, Franz | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Schumann, Robert | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Thomas, Ambroise | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Folk Songs | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: The Spectacular Voice of Marilyn Horne: Rossini / Horne Great Duets & Trios / Sutherland, Horne, Pavarotti Dolora Zajick - The Art of the Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano An American Songbook [Australia] La Stupenda ~ The Supreme Voice of Joan Sutherland ASIN: B0000TAYR0 Release Date: 2003-11-11

Tracks:

1. L'amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle (Habanera)
2. Mon Coeur S'ouvre A Ta Voix
3. Eccomi Al Fine In Babilonia
4. Cruda Sorte!
5. Hence, Iris, Hence Away
6. Dove Sei, Amato Bene?
7. Che Disse! Che Ascoltai!
8. Addio, Addio O Miei Sospiri
9. O Pretres De Baal... O Toi, Qui M'abandonne
10. Elle Est La! Pres De Lui!
11. Mura Felici
12. Tanti Affetti

Tracks:

1. Superbo Di Me Stesso
2. Il Segreto Per Esser Felici - London Symphony Chorus
3. Mi Chiami, O Norma!
4. Deh! Con Te, Con Te Li Prendi
5. Mira, O Norma
6. Si, Fino All'ore Estreme
7. Soli Or Siamo... Condotta ell'era In Ceppi - Luciano Pavarotti
8. Non Son Tuo Figlio? - Luciano Pavarotti
9. Mal Reggendo - Luciano Pavarotti
10. E Un Anatema! - Renata Tebaldi
11. Nacht Und Traume, D 827
12. Abendlied
13. Traume
14. Jesus De Nazareth
15. Shenandoah
16. I Bought Me A Cat
17. The Lord's Prayer
18. Somewhere
19. At The River (Lowry)
20. Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair

Customer Reviews:

Marilyn Horne scintillates.......2007-05-20

This 2-CD set includes 32 separate "cuts." Thus, it provides a perspective on the broad range of works that Marilyn Horne mastered. While some pockets of work may be given somewhat short shrift (e.g., Rossini), overall this shows off her skills nicely. Born in Bradford, Pennsylvania (one of the coldest places in the nation during winter), she made her operatic debut in 1954. In liner notes copyrighted in 2003, she notes that: "Can't believe it's time for a 70th birthday celebration. . . ." And neither can I, since I recall hearing her perform at the Met (via the old Texaco opera show), and it does not seem all that long ago!

Some cuts well depict her artistry across a range of genres and composers.

The "Habanera" from Bizet's "Carmen" is, to be sure, an old chestnut by now, but she sings it with a rich and lustrous voice. She sings a seductive aria seductively.

"Eccomi al fine in Babilonia" is from Rossini's "Semiramide" and shows off her skills nicely. This piece shows off the range of her voice well. Her voice is very agile, as it would need to be to do Rossini justice. There are some nice runs; the cabaletta showcases her agility and allows her to display well sung ornamentation.

From Handel's "Semele," we hear "Hence, Iris, Hence Away." This is a sprightly piece that is characteristically well sung by Horne.

Handel's "Rosalinda" features a nice work for mezzos, "Dove sei amato bene?" If I hear correctly, Horne begins this with a trill in piano; there are a number of nicely executed trills in this work. This cut is smoothly and richly sung throughout.

"Addio, addio o miei sospiri" comes from "Orfeo ed Oridice" by Gluck. A sprightly paced work. Horne shows off excellent ornamentation; her coloratura technique is terrific.

From "Norma" (by Bellini) there are 4 cuts (from a longer scene), featuring collaboration with Joan Sutherland. The two singers worked well together in a number of operas, and this set of works illustrates that synergy beautifully. "Mi chiami, o Norma!" starts things off. The two voices meld extremely well together. "Deh! Con te, con te li prendi" features fine work all around. Both singers display good vocal dexterity. Horne hits one high note with a bit of harshness, but not an issue of any moment. "Mira, o Norma" is ravishing; Sutherland's and Horne's duet is absolutely wonderful. Finally, "Si, fino all'ore estreme." This is a fast paced duet, with both singers manifesting considerable vocal agility and sound coloratura technique. When they sing together, their voices almost sound "twinned."

Finally, "Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair." Horne sings this straight, without the ghastly "opera-tizing" that some singers cannot resist. Sung simply and powerfully. Her rich voice produces a very good vocal effect.

And so on.

Although this CD does not fully represent her repertoire, it does provide a good sense of the art of Marilyn Horne and it suggests the range of her singing. For those wanting to get a sense of Horne's oeuvre, this is one recording that provides entrée to her body of work.

One Of The Greatest Voices of All!.......2006-01-29

I am not the only one who regards Marilyn Horne's voice as exceptional. During the seventies and eighties she was regarded by The New York Times Music Critic as possessing the greatest voice of our time. One only has to sample this "golden" collection to prove how right he was. Her "mezzo" handles Handel and Rossini like no other. Brava all the way (To say nothing about Dalila's famous aria!) And I must even mention her "Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair". This is a two CD that is a MUST for those who appreciate the glories of the human voice (To say nothing about the warmth and spirit than accompany it.)

Not 100% satisfied with the selections, but what artistry!.......2004-11-03

Decca's release of this career-spanning Marilyn Horne recital contains many "golden" nuggets, but isn't the absolute best representation of her artistry, in my opinion.

There was certainly plenty of material to choose from, as Horne was one of the most recorded mezzos in the twentieth century. As advertised, Madame Horne personally approved the final recital list, and the diva undoubtedly has sentimental attachment to certain selections. Furthermore, a conscious attempt was made to represent the different genres explored during her decades-spanning career. This approach, however, leaves out some truly stunning material that would have made an even stronger case on why she was such an operatic institution.

In summary:

The first disc begins with the Habanera from Carmen. Horne was very proud of her Carmen, noting that it surpassed sales of Callas's Tosca at one point. It deserved to be included, but I don't think she was "THE" Carmen, and besides, the whole opera is so warmed-over by now, it's hard to get anyone excited about it!

From then on, we are treated to a bonanza of wonderful arie and scena. The aria from Samson et Delilah is a real gem. Horne was certainly not the most glamorous singer, but My God, the interpretation is heavenly. This is what the aria sounds like in the hands of a world-class contralto. Eccomi in Babilonia follows, and by anyone's measurement, she is the finest Arsace on record. Blessed with an extraordinary range, she is as fulminating in both the top and bottom registers. What's more, her spirited delivery magnifies the pure genius of Rossini's music. As for Cruda Sorte, "ditto," as Marilyn herself might say.

Next, we are treated to two excellent Handel arias. Iris, Hence Away gives me goosebumps everytime I hear it. This was recorded in the early sixties, for inclusion in the Age of Bel Canto recital she shared with Joan Sutherland and Richard Conrad. Now, if she had recorded this a few years later, she might have drove the coloratura harder. However, at this point, the voice had a somewhat lighter quality, thus the aria isn't sung with that all-purpose "Marilyn Horne" voice we are so used to. Speaking of lightness, Dove Sei, Amato Bene will send shivers down your spine. Again, Marilyn wasn't known for her subtlety, but she proves here that she was more than capable. Just listen to the fluttering trills and fil di voce, and dare to disagree with me! One of my major complaints is it there isn't more Handel on the recital. Sure, a whole recital of Handel arias by Horne is still available, but in this best-of disc, there was room at least for Or La Tromba, the trumpet aria from Rinaldo, and a personal favorite. Also, nothing is included from Vivaldi's Orlando Il Furioso, another travesty.

The pinnacle of the first disc is Addio, I Miei Sospiri, from Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice. This is Horne magified to the nth power. Where to start? A scrumptiously sung recitativo, then the aria itself, with Marilyn pulling out all the stops. The bronzed tone, perfect breath control, spectacular coloratura fireworks, superlative diction, evenness and security from top to bottom, and Marilyn's own way of generating excitement will floor you. This is bravura singing at the highest level.

After a few other selections from the French reperetoire, the disc closes with two Rossini warhorses. Again, the "ultimate" Horne best-of would have saved room for more Rossini, on the second disc. But the evidence here is ample enough to proclaim her honorific as the leading interpreter of Rossini in the last century.

The second disc is less satisfactory. The first selection, Superbo Di Me Stesso sounds like it came from an inferior source, and wasn't remastered properly. Il Segreto Per Esser Felici, from Lucrezia Borgia is fine enough, but Marilyn could have ornamented more, and that snare drum is too loud! Then, we have an extended scene from Il Trovatore. Now, Marilyn herself stated that she wasn't perfect in Verdi. As she put it, she sang Verdi by not taking "both feet" out of the bel canto waters, so that she could go on singing the roles that brought her the most fame. This is understandable, but if that's the case, then we didn't need this long scene. Perhaps she wanted to highlight her collaboration with Luciano Pavarotti, and I'm sure Decca saw this as a way to lure the casual listener. For my money, though, they should have just included Stride La Vampa, and called it a day. This would have freed up lots of room for the stuff for which she's better recognized!

Now, another extended scene, from Norma, is completely justified. Equally important to Marilyn's legacy as an individual artist is her legacy as one-half of the Sutherland/Horne duo. I don't need to write more- the music speaks for itself.

The rest of the second disc throws in a bit of verismo (Horne is unrecognizeable in Ponchielli; Simionato she's not), a bit of German lieder, and some patriotic tunes. Along with Leontyne Price, Marilyn Horne was the most conciously patriotic singer out there, and to have left out her American recordings would have been a disgrace. But, again, we are given an ample serving of it, when it could have been scaled back some to make room for her operatic triumphs.

All in all, there is enough glorious material here for any fan of the legendary Marilyn Horne, and also those who want a taste of how a superlative mezzo/contralto sounds like.

Vive Madame Horne !.......2004-01-09

Je suis soufflée, et tout bonnement reconnaissante à Decca pour avoir sorti cette compil qui rend si bien honneur à une des mes interprètes préférées. Voix de velours, aisance dans le grave et médium unique au Monde, Marilyn a été, dans toutes ses incarnations, un pur produit américain, certes, mais quel produit ! Bien évidemment son timbre si particulier, que d'aucuns ont défini androgyne, peut plaire ou non... Ce qui compte c'est l'apport émotionnel qu'elle donne à tout ce qu'elle chante, et sans que cela n'enlève rien à la pure beauté de sa voix à la technique sans faille. Merci Mme Horne, pour nous avoir livré une des plus mémorables leçons de chant de l'histoire, et joyeux 70ème anniversaire (car il n'est pas déplacé que de dire votre âge, étant donné la vitalité qui vous caractérise depuis toujours).

Average customer rating: Excellent Material for Ms. Upshaw. Keeps Getting Better The Barber alone is worth five stars Buy this disc...twice! Dawn Upshaw, vocal actress extraordinaire

Knoxville Summer of 1915 Manufacturer: Nonesuch ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Barber | Barber, Samuel | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Menotti | Menotti, Gian Carlo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Stravinsky | Stravinsky, Igor | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Upshaw, Dawn | ( U ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Barber, Samuel | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Stravinsky | Stravinsky, Igor | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Upshaw, Dawn | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Forgotten Songs: Dawn Upshaw Sings Debussy Long Time Ago - Copland / Dawn Upshaw & Thomas Hampson Voices of Light Barber: Knoxville Summer of 1915/Dover Beach/Hermit Songs/Adromache's Farewell Angels Hide Their Faces: Dawn Upshaw Sings Bach and Purcell ASIN: B000005IZ3 Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Knoxville: Summer Of 1915
2. The Old Maid And the Thief: Act I, Scene 6: What A Curse For A Woman Is A Timid Man
3. Mirabai Songs: I. It's True, I Went To The Market
4. Mirabai Songs: II. All I Was Doing Was Breathing
5. Mirabai Songs: III. Why Mira Can't Go Back To Her Old House
6. Mirabai Songs: IV. Where Did You Go?
7. Mirabai Songs: V. The Clouds
8. Mirabai Songs: VI. Don't Go, Don't Go
9. The Rake's Progress: Act I, Scene 3: No Word From Tom

Amazon.com essential recording

Barber's Knoxville, Summer of 1915 is a setting of a lovely chunk of prose text by James Agee describing an evening from his childhood. An accomplished singer himself, Barber's vocal writing is expert, and this work must rank as one of the finest examples of the art of word-setting in any language. Barber perfectly captures the conversational quality of the text, while at the same time clothing the words in an atmosphere of gentle nostalgia. It's a masterpiece that Dawn Upshaw sings with keen insight and lovely tone. The remainder of the program is creatively chosen as well, making this one of the finest vocal recitals available by an American singer. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Material for Ms. Upshaw........2006-04-26

'Knoxville: Summer of 1915' is a performance of a selection of operatic pieces by Americans such as Samuel Barber or Europeans transplanted to the United States, such as Igor Stravinsky. Ms. Upshaw shines with material, which is good for her, since she is just slightly out of her league with the material covered by the likes of Renee Flemming on the operatic front and Ute Lemper and Lotte Lenya on the Euro/American popular musical stage.

Like any good sampler, this recording's strongest draw is the fact that it makes one interested in tracking down the complete works by Barber, Menotti, Harbison, and Stravinsky. And, while the package includes all lyrics, everything is in perfectly clear English. A perfect addition to other American classics such as 'Porgy and Bess'.

Keeps Getting Better.......2005-03-02

I have had this disc for years, and I'm more impressed with it as the years roll by. I bought it for Barber's "Knoxville, Summer of 1915" which is a glorious piece of music caught here in a luminous performance. I didn't initially warm up to the Harbison songs, but they have grown on me over the years to the point that I listen to them far more often than the Barber now. I think it just took me a while to absorb Harbison's style and understand how deftly and ingeniously he uses it to take the listener into Mirabai's world. Not to be missed!

The Barber alone is worth five stars.......2004-01-16

People are always saying that they find a particular piece of music is "haunting." For me Barber's "Knoxville: Summer of 1915" is such a work. Dawn Upshaw's reading of this great American masterwork is the best I have yet heard. She won her first Grammy Award for this recording - and deservedly so. If you're a fan of either Upshaw or Barber you'll want to add this beautiful CD to your collection.

Buy this disc...twice!.......2002-07-20

Extraordinary!! This has got to be the definitive Knoxville--rich, touching, elegant and as close to perfect as it can probably ever be. Upshaw has the perfect voice for this work, and she gives it all the loving attention that it requires. This is a performance of Knoxville that will make you weak in the knees. For the Knoxville alone, buy this disc....twice! There is, however, just a little bit of downside here. The other works on this disc just aren't very captivating.

Dawn Upshaw, vocal actress extraordinaire.......2002-01-01

This is the CD that made me fall in love with Dawn Upshaw's singing. I had heard her before and admired her work, but this disc made me a real fan. As it's one of her early recordings, her voice is somewhat "fuller" than on later work; she later started moving the voice "forward," simplifying the sound. Either way, her immense talent for communicating the essence of the text is the outstanding aspect of all her work. It's amazing how she can sound angry, desperate, hopeful, melancholic, all while producing a beautiful sound and tackling all the vocal challenges of the music she's singing. She inhabits the characters, the narrators, of each of the pieces on this disc, and makes it more than just a collection of songs or arias.

I want to make special mention of the Harbison _Mirabai Songs_, as it seems to have been maligned somewhat in other reviews here. This was the work that most kept me coming back to this disc when I first bought it. I think it is a masterpiece, and one of Harbison's best and most important works. (Apparently I'm not alone in my admiration of the piece, because I've heard it on a number of live concerts in recent years, so it seems to be having a successful performance life.) Harbison's song cycle is by turns exciting, sensual, driving, longing, beautiful. The orchestration for the small ensemble is masterful (as Harbison's efforts at scoring always are), and Upshaw expresses all of Mirabai's complex emotions enchantingly.

The _Rake's Progress_ aria also deserves individual comment. In this engrossing example of Stravinsky's neoclassical style, Upshaw assumes Anne's air of fierce determination, and brings the disc to an absolutely thrilling climax on a concluding high C.

All of the music on this terrific CD is very accessible, and the performances are stellar. The recorded sound is very clear and immediate, as one would expect from Nonesuch. It's one of my favorite discs in my entire collection, and would probably be so for the Harbison and Stravinsky alone.

Average customer rating: Simply Remarkable The Spirit of Joy and Peace beautiful voices great cd Great alternatives to 'Silent Night'! Buy It! A little holy night's music

On Yoolis Night: Medieval Carols & Motets - Anonymous 4 Anonymous 4 , Marsha Genensky , Susan Hellauer , and Johanna Rose Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Sacred & Religious | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems Vocal & Song | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems Anonymous 4 | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Chants | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Opera & Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Similar Items: Wolcum Yule: Celtic and British Songs and Carols - Anonymous 4 with Andrew Lawrence-King An English Ladymass: Medieval Chant and Polyphony Legends of St. Nicholas: Medieval Chant & Polyphony 1000: A Mass for the End of Time / Anonymous 4 American Angels ASIN: B0000007DY Release Date: 1993-09-01

Tracks:

1. Antiphon: Hodie Christus natus est
2. Motet: O nobilis nativitas / O mira dei / O decus virgineum / Apparuit
3. Antiphon: Lux de luce
4. Carol: Alleluya: A nywe werke
5. Hymn: Verbum supernum prodiens
6. Motet: Balaam de quo vaticinans
7. Carol: Ave Maria
8. Song: Gabriel, fram heven-king
9. Carol: Lullay: I saw a swete semly syght
10. Motet: Prollis eterne genitor / Psallat mater gracie
11. Hymn: Vox clara, ecce, intonat
12. Rondellus: De supernis sedibus
13. Antiphon: Omnes de Saba
14. Motet: Puellare gremium / Purissima mater
15. Carol: Lullay, lullay: Ais I lay on Yoolis night
16. Responsory: Tria sunt munera
17. Motet: Orto sole serene / Origo viri / Virga Iesse
18. Song: Peperit virgo
19. Carol: Ecce quod natura
20. Hymn: A solis ortus cardine
21. Carol: Ther is no rose of swych vertu
22. Antiphon: Videntes stellam
23. Carol: Nowell: Owt of your slepe aryse

Amazon.com essential recording

This follow-up to Anonymous 4's debut "hit," An English Ladymass, is even better. From the choice of repertoire to the proficiency of the singing to the recorded sound, this is a standard-setting production. The 23 works--plainchants, carols, songs, and motets--invoke various aspects of the Christmas story: the visitation of the angel Gabriel, tributes to the Virgin Mary, gifts of the Magi, and hymns of praise for the birth of Christ. The sound is stunning: resonant yet intimate, warm yet vibrant. And while you can hear the individual character of each voice, together these four women make a sound of uncommon purity and beauty. The technical facility is evident with each closing phrase, each perfect unison. Critics are advised to jealously reserve such words as outstanding, excellent, and superior. But this is one of those recordings that deserve all those descriptions. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

Simply Remarkable.......2007-03-24

I have 13 of their CD's . This one is the best . Four exquisite voices , painstaking research , facinating liner notes , all of their music has this in common . What sets this apart is the clairity of the recording . Each of these ladies have amazing voices that come alive with a good set of speakers . All of the reverberations and harmonics are there , and in phase . Turn it up and listen to the crispness of each voice on every note . This is one of my favorite CD's of all time .

The Spirit of Joy and Peace.......2006-04-29

On Yoolis Night. Medieval Carols and Motets. Performed by Anonymous 4 (Ruth Cunningham, Martha Genensky, Susan Hellauer, Johanna Rose). Recorded in November, 1992, at the Campion Center, Boston, Massachussetts. Harmonia Mundi HMU 907099. Total time: 68'03".

Record companies who dare to publish CDs with medieval music are often glad if they can manage to sell a few hundred copies; this CD, the second by Anonymous 4, stormed to the top of the Billboard charts when it first appeared in 1993. And not because it compromised or attempted any kind of "crossover", but simply because both the music and the performance (four delightfully pure, unaccompanied, vibrato-less female voices: three sopranos and one alto) are so beautiful that even the uninitiated can catch something of the spirit of joy and peace that this disk captures so eminently well. Yes, there are seven pieces of Gregorian-type chant here, and chant was "in" during the early 90's, but my feeling is that it was probably the polyphonic motets and carols that made this recording an early music hit. The sound is difficult to describe; the only comparison that comes to mind is the swirling, many-voiced and often extremely beautiful, but also highly volatile, effect of "singing in the spirit" or "sung glossalalia" in some well-ordered charismatic and pentecostal churches where one can, on occasion, feel translated into heavenly regions. Much the same can be said of this disk, which, as one might imagine, contains exclusively Christian material from what are generally known as the "Dark Ages" from the 5th to the 15th centuries A. D. Well, judging purely by the music presented here, those ages were, perhaps, not so dark as we moderns sometimes imagine. And the Christmas texts sung here so deliciously by Anonymous 4 are, surprisingly, much less Mary-orientated and much more directed towards Jesus than those on, for example, "An English Ladymass" (the group's first CD), thus being a lot less offensive to my evangelical sensibilities and providing well over an hour of rapt listening, and that not only at Christmas time. Absolute five-star plus rating!

beautiful voices great cd.......2006-02-27

Quite accidentally I discovered the Anonymous 4, thanks to the feature on Amazon.com that permits one to listen to an excerpt of the cd. I immediately became a big fan of this group. Now I am disappointed that they split up, but I intend to collect all of their works. An amazing talent.

Great alternatives to 'Silent Night'! Buy It!.......2005-11-06

`On Yoolis Night' performed by the quartet, Anonymous 4 is another collection of works dedicated to the worship of the Virgin Mary from medieval England. Unlike `An English Ladymass' and `a Lammas Ladymass', these are more like `incidental' music for the Christmas season or, as the subtitle states, `medieval carols & motets'. Thus, these do not comprise a complete mass and there is very little polyphony. There is much more singing in unison and `chanting'.

Six (6) of the 23 tracks are in Old or Middle English and may not be much more understandable to our modern ear than the 17 tracks in Latin. While seven (7) of the works are described as `carols', including one entitled `Ave Maria', not one will be known to either your neighborhood Christmas carolers or to the Shubert fans among us. In fact, it would be very interesting to compare this `Ave Maria' with that of Shubert and to determine the history of this particular title through the ages.

This is a great change and relief for our Christmas listening after being drowned in `Silent Night' and `Away in the Manger'.

A generous 68 minutes of a different kind of Christmas music.

A little holy night's music.......2005-10-11

'On Yoolis Night' is a collection of motets, carols, hymns, antiphons and a few other pieces in honour of the nativity - this is a medieval Christmas album. During the Middle Ages, when Europe was swept with adoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, many of the songs around Christmas would be as much around her character as with Jesus. These works deal with the various legends, biblical and extra-canonical, as well as the traditional stories of Christmastide, primarily taken from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries. However, the earliest piece dates from the fifth century (A solis ortus cardine) to the polyphony of the fifteenth century, which means that this disc in fact contains a thousand years of history. Also included are a few anticipatory pieces from Advent, such as the Vox clara chant (the voice of him crying in the wilderness...).

These are beautiful pieces, stunning in performance and quite remarkable - compared to modern Christmas carols, these are pieces with depth and richness, certainly devoid of much of the mercantile and later accretions that have overlaid holiday seasons in the Western world.

This is definitely a holiday album with a difference.

-- Liner Notes --
This text accompaniment to this disc is very full, so much so that the booklet is not contained within the jewel case, but rather within a slipcover in which both the CD/jewel case and the booklet reside. The liner notes include a description of the work, a brief piece about the quartet, and the lyrics of the songs both in original language and in translation - all repeated in English, German, and French sections.

-- Anonymous 4 --
Contrary to the implication of their name, the Anonymous 4 are not anonymous. This is a vocal quartet made up of Ruth Cunningham, Marsha Genensky, Susan Hellauer, and Johanna Rose at the time of this recording (Ruth Cunningham will later go on to a solo career early, and another member will join - Jacqueline Horner). They came together as a formal group in 1986, and have been ensemble-in-residence at St. Michael's Church in New York City, giving concert series in New York as well as throughout North America. They have been featured a number of times on national media in North America as well as Germany. They then went on to yet more success, eventually performing more that 1000 concerts worldwide.

Their specialty is working with chant, monophonic and polyphonic music, and working with medieval texts. According to one source, 'The group takes its name from an anonymous music theorist of the late 13th century, Anonymous IV, who is the principal source on the two famous composers of the Notre Dame school, Léonin and Pérotin.'

The group ended a touring career of nearly two decades in 2004.

Average customer rating: Valuable compendium Rareties available on CD at last! Heavenly WHO ELSE CAN SING LIKE THIS TODAY?

The Art of Joan Sutherland Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Arne | Arne, Thomas Augustin | ( A ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Delibes, Léo | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Fauré, Gabriel | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Paisiello | Paisiello, Giovanni | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Piccinni, Niccolò | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Thomas | Thomas, Ambroise | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Weber | Weber, Carl Maria von | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Academy of Ancient Music | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Sutherland, Dame Joan | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Odes | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Joan Sutherland: BBC-Recitals 1958, 1960, 1961 Serate Musicali The Art of the Prima Donna Bellini - Norma / Sutherland, Tourangeau, Bonynge The Voice of the Century ASIN: B000654OUQ Release Date: 2005-03-15

Customer Reviews:

Valuable compendium.......2007-01-24

This set is extremely valuable, not only as an overview of Dame Joans career but because it contains three complete LP sets that have been very hard to find. The sets are the 2 LP French opera (operetta) set, the Mozart album and the Wagner album. Although some of these do not show her to her best advantage (the Wagner set) they all have some very beautiful things and the French items are superb. The annotations and photos are interesting as well and there are some piano songs with Bonynge that are released here for the first time along with a scene from a live Covent Garden Norma.

Rareties available on CD at last!.......2006-03-29

While Joan Sutherland has recorded a number of impressive aria collections throughout the many years of her recording career, they tend to get lost in the shuffle of the countless reissues Decca/London has endlessly repackaged. While some of the original collections have appeared intact on CD--"The Art of the Prima Donna," "The Age of Bel Canto," "Love Live Forever" (her operetta collection that was originally titled "The Golden Age of Operetta"), to name a few--others are currently represented in the CD catalogue by only a few selections on discs that also include excerpts from complete opera recordings or duplicates of selections from other original collections. As a result, it has been impossible to assemble a CD collection of her recordings without a LOT of duplication, and some of the most interesting collections are still unavailable (e.g. "Command Performance" and "Serate Musicale").

While this newest set does include a lot of bits of this and that, ranging from her very first LPs to excerpts from complete recordings most Sutherland fans already have and a few "live" performances, what is perhaps most significant about it is that it features the complete contents of the "Sutherland Sings Wagner" LP--a real repertoire departure for her--and the double-LP album called "French Opera Gala" (in the U.S.--the British title was "Romantic French Arias"), neither of which, to the best of my knowledge, has been available on CD before. "Opera News" magazine once ran an article in which they asked various stars to name the one album that they felt best represented their artistry for future generations, and Dame Joan selected the "French Opera Gala," so for Sutherland fans, this is a long-awaited treat.

I'm not going to waste space saying how miraculous I consider Dame Joan's artistry. If you are familiar with her work already, you know whether you adore her or not; and if you aren't, this massive set is probably not the best place to start (that would be "The Art of the Prima Donna" album that introduced her to most listeners decades ago)--especially since this newest set doesn't contain the lyrics, a must for newcomers. Let's hope Decca/London gets around to releasing the rest of her recordings intact instead of endlessly scrambling and repackaging the same selections over and over.