| 1. What's My Name (Clean Radio Mix) |
| 2. What's My Name (Clean Club Mix) |
| 3. What's My Name (Explicit Club Mix) |
| 4. What's My Name (LP Version) |
| 5. What's My Name (Instrumental) |
What's My Name?,Snoop Doggy Dogg,Interscope,G-Funk,Rap,West Coast Rap
Average customer rating:
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Russian Choral Music-Russian Easter
Manufacturer: Melodiya ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000001HC2 Release Date: 1996-03-26 |
Tracks:
- The Laura's Bell-Ringing And Procession
- The Easter Beginning (Moscow Tune)
- The Easter Canon (Moscow Tune Of The Kiev Chant)
- The Collect-Hymn Of Easter (Tune Of The Trinity-St. Sergius Laura)
- The Ikos Of Easter (Valaam Tune)
- The Angel Cried
- The Exapostilarion Of Easter (Greek Chant)
- The Canticles Of Easter (Tune Of The Zosima Hermitary)
- Christ Is Risen
- Come, O Ye People, Let Us Worship The Godhead In Three Persons (Tune Of The Trinity-St. Sergius Laura)
- The Great Litany
- Dogmatik, The 7th Tone (Znamenny Chant)
- The Great Gradual: What God Is So Great As Our God (Moscow Tune)
- The Stanza For The Assumption Of The Most Holy Birth-Giver Of God (Great Znamenny Chant)
- Lord, Now Lettest Thou (Demestvenny Chant)
- Praise Ye The Name Of The Lord (Kiev Chant)
- The Exaltation Of Pentecost (Znammey Chant)
- The Assembly Of The Angels (Znamenny Chant)
- In That We Have Beheld The Resurrection Of Christ (Kiev Chant)
- Chosen By The Lord Of Hosts
- A Prayer To St Sergius
- An Exaltation To St Sergius (Putevoi Chant)
- The Lord Is My Light
- Many Years (Tune Of The St Sophia Cathedral In Novgorod)
Customer Reviews:
Breathtaking Solemnity.......2001-01-25
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The Essential Leontyne Price: Spirituals, Hymns & Sacred Songs
Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000003FWE Release Date: 1997-01-14 |
Tracks:
- Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit - Various Artists
- Let Us Break Bread Together On Our Knees - Various Artists
- His Name So Sweet - Various Artists
- 'Roun' About The Mountain - Various Artists
- Swing Low , Sweet Chariot - Various Artists
- Sit Down, Servant - Various Artists
- Were You There - Various Artists
- He's Got The Whole World In His Hands - Various Artists
- Deep River - Various Artists
- Honor! Honor! - Various Artists
- My Soul's Been Anchored In De Lord - Various Artists
- On Ma Journey - Various Artists
- A City Called Heaven - Various Artists
- Ride On, King Jesus - Various Artists
- I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free - Various Artists
- Sinner, Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass - Various Artists
- Sweet Little Jesus Boy - Various Artists
- There Is A Balm In Gilead - Various Artists
- Let Us Cheer The Weary Traveler - Various Artists
- Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit - Various Artists
- My Way Is Cloudy - Various Artists
- Nobody Knows The Touble I've Seen - Various Artists
- I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray - Various Artists
Tracks:
- Holy, Holy, Holy - Leontyne Price
- Lead, Kindly Light - Leontyne Price
- Blessed Assurance - Leontyne Price
- Ave Maria - Leontyne Price
- What A Friend We Have In Jesus - Leontyne Price
- Amazing Grace - Leontyne Price
- The Lord's Prayer - Leontyne Price
- Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior - Leontyne Price
- The Church's One Foundation - Leontyne Price
- Bless This House - Leontyne Price
- I Need Thee Every Hour - Leontyne Price
- Schlesische Volkslieder: Fairest Lord Jesus - Leontyne Price
- I Wonder As I Wander - Leontyne Price
- Ave Maria - Leontyne Price
- Porgy And Bess: Summertime - Leontyne Price
- America The Beautiful - Leontyne Price
- Lift Ev'ry Voice And Sing - Leontyne Price
- A Mighty Fortress Is Our God - Leontyne Price
- Battle Hymn Of The Republic - Leontyne Price
Customer Reviews:
The Price Club.......2005-04-28
"Ave Maria" sounds heavenly no matter which way you slice it, and as for "I Wonder As I Wander," it brings tears to your eyes. If you have a heart that's beating you will be moved by this rendition. "Ein feste Burg" is pretty strong, but Price seems more comfortable with the traditional spirituals, though perhaps it is the slightly off-kilter sounds of the Ambrosian Singers (what a name) who back her up on many of these tracks, that detract slightly from the experience. Compare "Lead Kindly Light" for a clear sense of what constitutes authority vs. what is a wee bit overproduced. If you had this compilation, and perhaps one of Leontyne Price's Christmas albums, you could attain nirvana any time you wanted to, just flip a switch and close your eyes, let her lift you up on wings of song.
A living legend.......2005-03-10
not your daddy's old timey spiritual.......2004-06-23
Immaculate Vocals of Leontyne Price.......2003-12-31
Great Gospel Stuff.......2001-04-12
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Spirituals in Concert
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000001GDC Release Date: 1991-03-08 |
Tracks:
- In That Great Getting Up Morning
- Sinner, Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass
- Over My Head/ Lil' David
- Oh, What A Beautiful City
- Lord, How Come Me Here
- I Believe I'll Go Back Home-Lordy, Won't You Help Me
- Ride On, King Jesus
- Swing Low, Sweet Chariot-Ride Up In The Chariot
- You Can Tell The World
- Scandalize My Name
- Great Day
- Oh, Glory
- Calvary-They Crucified My Lord
- Talk About A Child
- Gospel Train
- My God Is So High
- There Is A Balm In Gilead
- He's Got The Whole World In His Hand
Customer Reviews:
"Lord, How Come Me Here".......2007-06-18
And the VERY funny "Scandelize My Name" is also worth the price of the total album!
Alinde O'Malley
WOW!.......2007-03-22
uhm......yeah right!!.......2006-06-21
scadalise my name.......2004-10-29
Broadway takes on the spiritual ..........2004-01-29
I'm going to be the dissenting voice here: thank goodness I signed this disk out of the public library 'cause I'm sure not going to listen to it twice.
There is nothing wrong with the performances. Jessye Norman and Kathleen Battle sing beautifully, and there's no problem with the pick-up orchestra under James Levine.
The problem, and it's huge, is the conception of the show and the musical arrangements. To make the video marketable, I suppose, the producers decided that the concert had to be big: big names, big arrangements, big effects. So we have eighteen spirituals given the musical theatre treatment, with a philharmonic chorus providing chain-gang sound effects, big brass, and big percussion -- including a chinese gong. A chinese gong in a spiritual??? Spare me! Almost every track turns out sounding like either a curtain-raiser or a big, end-of-act production number with cute and predictable modulations between some of the stanzas and the sort of curly-cue orchestral ornamentation typical of Broadway shows.
And you know what? It all kills the spirituals stone dead. The spiritual is one of those musical forms where less is more and very little is best of all. That's how they started, after all. That's how and why they worked for their original audiences, and that's why they were powerful enough to make the transition from folk song to art song. If you want to hear Battle sing spirituals that are irresistible, listen to the set on her Salzburg recital CD, also with Levine (ASIN B00000E31B). There, the music speaks for itself and speaks with a strength and a beauty that the tracks on this disk never approach.
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Lay Aside All Earthly Cares: Orthodox Choral Works in English
Manufacturer: Cappella Romana ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000AXWHE4 Release Date: 2005-09-13 |
Tracks:
- Bless the Lord, O my soul
- O gladsome Light
- Lord, now let Thy servant
- Rejoice, Virgin Theotokos
- Praise the Name of the Lord
- The Great Doxology, No.1
- Bless the Lord, O my soul
- The Second Antiphon
- Only begotten Son
- Holy God, No.2
- Alleluia, No.1
- Cherubic Hymn (Special melody: The thief beheld)
- A mercy of peace
- It is truly meet
- Our Father / One is holy / Praise the Lord, No.1
- Praise the Lord from the heavens, No.2
- I will receive the cup, No.2
- Their proclamation has gone out, No.2
- Rejoice in the Lord
- Receive the Body of Christ, No.1,2,1
- Blessed be the name of the Lord
- Psalm
- All of creation
- Troparion for the Sunday of Orthodoxy
- Let my prayer arise
- Now the Powers of heaven
- Taste and see
- Thy bridal chamber
- The wise thief, No.2
- The wise thief, No.3
- Let all mortal flesh
- What shall we call you, Mary
Customer Reviews:
Just heavenly.......2007-01-30
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Robert Ward: The Crucible
Manufacturer: Albany Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000049L5 Release Date: 2006-10-24 |
Tracks:
- Act l: Beginning - Gloria Wynder/Joyce Ebert/Patricia Brooks/Naomi Farr/Paul Ukena/Maurice Stern
- Act l: 'Gently, Sirs, Gently' - Eunice Alberts/Paul Ukena/Chester Ludgin/Maurice Stern/Spiro Malas/Joyce Ebert
- Act l: 'Jesus, My Consolation' - Eunice Alberts/Paul Ukena/Chester Ludgin/Maurice Stern/Joyce Ebert/Patricia Brooks
- Act l: 'For Much In the World' - Joyce Ebert.John Macurdy/Naomi Farr/Eunice Alberts/Patricia Brooks/Gloria Wynder/Spiro Malas...
- Act l: 'Oh, How Many Times Mr. Parris' - Gloria Wynder/Naomi Farr/John Macurdy
- Act l: 'Jesus, My Consolation' - Gloria Wynder/Naomi Farr/John Macurdy/Patricia Brooks
- Act II: Beginning - Frances Bible/Chester Ludgin
- Act II: 'I've Forgotten Abigail' - Chester Ludgin/Frances Bible
- Act II: 'But, Oh, The Dreams' - Frances Bible/Chester Ludgin/Nancy Foster
- Act II: 'For Sarah Good Confessed' - Nancy Foster/Chester Ludgin/Frances Bible/John Macurdy/Richard Krause
- Act II: 'You Will Go To That Court' - Chester Ludgin/Nancy Foster
Tracks:
- Act III: Beginning - Patricia Brooks/Chester Ludgin
- Act III: In The Courtroom - Richard Krause
- Act III: 'Open Thou, My Lips, O Lord' - Jack DeLon/Richard Krause/Paul Ukena/Maurice Stern/Joyce Ebert
- Act III: 'These Girls Never Saw A Spirit' - Chester Ludgin/Joyce Ebert/Paul Ukena/Nancy Foster/Patricia Brooks/Jack DeLon/New York City Opr...
- Act III: 'No, No, It Is A Natural Lie To Tell' - John Macurdy/Jack DeLon/Patricia Brooks/Nancy Foster
- Act IV: Beginning - Gloria Wynder//Richard Krause/Patricia Brooks
- Act IV: 'But Sir, You Stir Rebellion' - John Macurdy/Jack DeLon/Joyce Ebert/Frances Bible
- Act IV: 'What Word Of The Children - Chester Ludgin/Frances Bible/John Macurdy/Joyce Ebert/Paul Ukena/Jack DeLon/Eunice Alberts
- Act IV: 'God Does Not Need My Name' - Chester Ludgin/Jack DeLon/Joyce Ebert/John MacurdyEurnice Alberts/Frances Bible.
Customer Reviews:
An opera that deserves consideration by a major company.......2003-10-04
This is still the only recording available and, overall, it is excellent. The leads perfectly embody the roles of John and Elizabeth Proctor, while the balance of the cast, a few vocal duds notwithstanding, competently fill in the many character roles.
The CD sound is very good and far superior to my old vinyl disks.
If you've never heard "The Crucible," give this recording a chance. It is well worth your time.
Soaring majesty!.......2001-12-19
a favorite opera with an old and inconsistent performance.......1999-03-23
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Witness: What a Mighty God - Spirituals and Gospels for Chorus
James Bohn , Michael Jorgenson , Steve Burger , Gordon Johnson , Jay Young , Michael Abels , Dale Adelmann , Harry T. (Henry) Burleigh , Brazeal W. Dennard , Adolphus Hailstork , Jester Hairston , Jack Halloran , Robert A. Harris , Moses Hogan , Sanford Moore , Robert Scholz , Richard Smallwood , William Henry Smith , Andre Thomas , Philip Brunelle , Sigrid Johnson , Joe Pulice , Robert Commodore , Charles Kemper , Yolanda Williams , Brian Link , Vocal Essence , and VocalEssence Ensemble Singers Manufacturer: Clarion ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0001FVEPE Release Date: 2004-02-10 |
Tracks:
- Witness: Jack Halloran
- Hush! Somebodys CallinMy Name: Arranged by Brazeal W. Dennard
- Death Is Gonna Lay His Cold Icy Hands on Me: Arranged by Andrhomas
- Walk Together, Children: Arranged by William Henry Smith
- Were You There?: Arranged by Robert Scholz
- Elijah Rock: Arranged by Moses Hogan
- This Train: Arranged by Sanford Moore
- Jesus, Lover of My Soul: Music by J.S. Bach; text by Charles Wesley, Arranged by Richard Smallwood
- My Lord,What a Mornin : Arranged by Harry T. Burleigh
- Go Down, Moses : Arranged by Robert A. Harris
- In Dat Great GittinUp Mornin: Arranged by Jester Hairston
- Crucifixion: Adolphus Hailstork
- Go Where I Send Thee:Arranged by Andrhomas
- Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: Arranged by Dale Adelmann
- Go,Tell It on the Mountain: Arranged by Sanford Moore
- What a Mighty God : Arranged by Michael Abels
Album Description
Stirring spirituals and rousing gospel melodies sung by the superb voices of VocalEssence conducted by the renowned conductor Philip Brunelle, joined by vocal jazz ensemble Moore by Four.Customer Reviews:
Historically important choral music, wonderfully performed!.......2004-05-25
WHAT A MIGHTY GOD presents 20th Century choral arrangements of music from the African American spiritual tradition rooted in spirituals and gospels, including Harry T. Burleigh's "My Lord, What a Mornin'" (1929), "Walk Together Children" (William Henry Smith, 1937) and more contemporary composers like Sanford Moore's "Go Tell It On The Mountain" (1993.)
There are excellent notes about the genre, however, in light of the historical significance of this music I'm surprised and disappointed to find no biographical information about the composers, not even birth and/or death dates, with this CD. I feel this is a crucial component in an "outreach" project like this, especially since most of these composers are not well known. Still I highly recommend it for the music alone.
The other three CDs are available as single titles, or in the boxed set THE WITNESS COLLECTION which includes:
WHAT A MIGHTY GOD: Spirituals and Gospels for Chorus
DANCE LIKE THE WIND: Music of Today's Black Composers
GOT THE SAINT LOUIS BLUES: Classical Music in the Jazz Age
SKYWARD MY PEOPLE ROSE: Music of William Grant Still
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Wings (1995 Studio Cast)
Arthur Perlman Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000003FZ2 Release Date: 1996-08-13 |
Tracks:
- The New Daredevils of the Air/Catastrophe - Leo Daignault/Linda Stephens
- The Hospital/Globidge - William Brown/Ora Jones/Linda Stephens
- Wait-Stop-Hold-Cut - Linda Stephens
- My Name Then... - Ora Jones/Linda Stephens/William Brown
- All in All - Linda Stephens
- Let Me Call You Sweetheart - Dominic Cortese
- Makey Your Naming Powers - William Brown/Ora Jones/Linda Stephens
- I'll Come Back to That - Linda Stephens/Hollis Resnik
- Let Me Call You Sweetheart #2 - Hollis Resnik/Linda Stephens
- I'll Come Back to That #2 - Linda Stephens
- Yum, Yummy, Yum - Ora Jones/Linda Stephens
- I'll Come Back to That #3 - Linda Stephens/William Brown
- Tither - William Brown/Linda Stephens/Ora Jones
- All in All #2/I Don't Trust Him - Linda Stephens
- Malacats - Linda Stephens
- Needle - Linda Stephens
- Interlude-Wings Theme - Linda Stephens/Hollis Resnik
- Out on the Wing - Linda Stephens/Hollis Resnik
- Out on the Wing #2 - Linda Stephens/Hollis Resnik
- I Wonder What's Inside - Linda Stephens/Russ Thacker/Hollis Resnik
- Let Me Call You Sweetheart/Therapy Scene - Hollis Resnik/William Brown/Linda Stephens/Russ Thacker/Ora Jones
- A Recipe for Cheesecake - Russ Thacker/Hollis Resnik and Patients
- Like the Clouds - Linda Stephens
- Brownie Scene - Russ Thacker/Linda Stephens
- Record Player Scene - Hollis Resnik/Linda Stephens
- The New Daredevils of the Air/Preparing for Flight - Leo Daignault/Linda Stephens
- Winter Scene I - Hollis Resnik/Linda Stephens
- Snow - Linda Stephens/Hollis Resnik
- Winter Scene II - Linda Stephens/Hollis Resnik
- Wings - Linda Stephens
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful Show.......2006-12-17
Average customer rating: |
R.A.B. vol. 2 [CD & DVD] 28 Tracks Plus 6 Short political short films that you just have to see...
Favorite Son - Green Day (unreleased) / Let Them Eat War - Bad Religion / Unity - Operation Ivy / Necrotism: Decanting the Insalubrious (Cyborg Midnight) Part 7 - The Lawrence Arms (unreleased) , We Got the Power - Dropkick Murphys (rare) / Drunken Lullabies - Flogging Molly / Doomsday Breach - Only Crime / Gas Chamber - Foo Fighters (rare) , Status Pools - Lagwagon (unreleased) / What You Say - Sugarcult / 7 Years Down - Rancid / Off With Your Head - Sleater-Kinney (rare) , Scream Out - The Unseen (unreleased) / Violins - Yellowcard (unreleased) / Like Sprewells on a Wheelchair - Dillinger Four (unreleased) / Chesterfield King live - Jawbreaker (unreleased) , Born Free live - Bouncing Souls (unreleased) / No Hope live - Mad Caddies (unreleased) / Kids Today - The Dwarves (unreleased) / Can't Wait to Quit - Sick of It All (rare) , Comforting Lie - No Doubt / State of Fear - Useless ID (unreleased) / I'm Thinking - Autopilot Off (unreleased) / My Star - The International Noise Conspiracy (unreleased) , and Time's Up - Donots (unreleased) / Kill the Night - Hot Water Music (unreleased) / You're Gonna Die - Thought Riot / Fields of Agony acoustic - No Use For a Name (unreleased) ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000QXKUWE |
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Russian Opera Arias
Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005UO8J Release Date: 2002-04-16 |
Tracks:
- Overture
- Hermann's Arioso (Act I) I Do Not Know Her Name
- Hermann's Arioso (Act I) Forgive Me, Heavenly Creature
- Hermann's Arioso (Act III) What Is Our Life? A Game!
- Overture
- Levko's Aria (Act I) The Sun Is Low
- Levko's Recitative & Song (Act III) Sleep, My Beauty
- Waltz (Act II)
- Lensky's Aria (Act I) I Love You, Olga
- Polonaise (Act III)
- Lensky's Aria (Act II, Scene 2) Where, O Where Have You Gone?
- Ecossaise (Act III)
- Gopak
- Grit'sko's Song (Act I) Why, O Heart, Do You Sob And Groan?
- Overture
- Song Of The Off-Stage Singer My Heart Quivers
Customer Reviews:
An Interesting Collection of Russian Tenor Arias.......2005-09-19
Two of the sets of arias are from Tchaikovsky's well known QUEEN OF SPADES and EUGENE ONEGIN. Grishko does a particularly fine job with the three arias from QUEEN OF SPADES, displaying the lyrical quality of his voice. He does a good job with the ONEGIN arias as well. Since the other operas with arias are not all that familiar to most non-Russian listeners (including me), it is hard to say whether he does an exceptional job or his interpretations are on the mark, but it is safe to assume that with the beauty of his voice, his pace and control, and overall delivery of the pieces that he does them justice as well. An added bonus to this disc are the orchestral excerpts including the well known Waltz and Polonaise from ONEGIN and the familiar Gopak from SOROCHINTSY FAIR, as well as lesser known works such as Arensky's overture to DREAM ON THE VOLGA and Rimsky Korsakov's overture to MAY NIGHT.
This disc will be a great addition to any opera recording library and fans of great tenors may discover a new rising star. Since he is young and his voice is in excellent shape, he may also be a name we hear with critical acclaim in the future.
Another Naxos winner........2002-06-06
The tenor arias are allocated to Vladimir Grishko, a Ukrainian tenor whose career seems to date from several prize winning appearances he made in competitions in 1989. He enunciates beautifully, his voice is free of wobble, and the tone is free and open throughout the whole range. All the orchestral forces are Russian and the orchestral items are conducted by Theodore Kuchar, who secures wider dynamic extremes that are usually heard in the popular Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov and Mussorgsky items.
A final word of praises is for the format of this CD. Juxtaposing orchestral and vocal excerpts from the selected Russian operas makes for 67 minutes of varied and well-programmed listening.
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Carmen (Sung in English)
Bizet , Bardon , Gavin , Plazas , Magee , and Parry Manufacturer: Chandos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00007JGRN Release Date: 2003-03-11 |
Tracks:
- Prelude
- In The Plaza
- Just Look At That Delicious Morsel
- Here Come Our New Soldier Boys
- Jose! There Was A Girl Here Looking For You Just Now
- Off With You Old Soldier Boys
- Corporal! Sir!
- We Have Heard The Bell Summon Us To Meet Here
- Ah, Just Look!
- But Why Hasn't She Come, Our Carmencita?
- Love's A Bird Wild As Any Rebel
- Carmen! We Will Follow You High And Low!
- The Cheek Of It!
- Give Me News Of My Mother!
- Your Dear Mother And I Were Leaving Church This Morning
- I See My Mother's Face!
- Wait A Moment - I'm Going To Read The Letter
- Come And Help
- So, Corporal: Tell Me What Happened
- Well, Carmencita: What Do You Have To Say For Yourself?
- Where Are You Taking Me?
- There's An Old Bar In The City
- Careful - It's Lieutenant!
- Entr'acte
- From Far Away Mysterious Sounds
- Bravo, Bravo! More! Keep Dancing!
- Hurrah! Hurrah! The Torero!
- Who's That? It's Escamillo, The Bullfighter From Granada
- Hurrah! Hurrah! The Torero!
- You're Most Kind
- We'll Come With You, Senor Torero
- Toreador, Be Ready!
- At Last! We Got Rid Of Them As Quickly As We Could
- There's A Little Job That We're Starting!
- Being In Love Is Not A Reason
Tracks:
- To Bid You Welcome To Our Bar
- La La La La La La La La...
- Back To Camp!... Go At Once!
- That Flow'r You Threw To Me I Treasured
- No, It's Not Love At All!
- Hello! Carmen!
- Lieutenant Fair, It's True
- The Sky Above The Open Road
- Entr'acte
- Keep Going, Dear Old Friend, Kep Going!
- Right! Let's Stop For A While
- Shuffle! Cut Them!
- In Vain You Would Avoid The Bitter Things They're Saying
- You're Back!
- As For That Man, It Should Be Easy!
- Is This The Place?
- I Say That There's Nothing To Fear
- It's Him! I'm Sure It's Him Over There!
- Escamillo Is My Name, And I Come From Granada
- She Had A Lover Here
- Hola! Hola! Jose!
- You Should Take Care, Carmen
- Alas! Jose, Your Mother Is Ill
- Entr'acte
- A Few Cuartos! A Few Cuartos!
- Here They Come! Here They Come!
- If You Love Me, Carmen
- It's You! It's Me!
- Viva! Viva! What A Corrida!
Customer Reviews:
English is an asset and a drawback.......2004-07-20
Unfortunately, the performance suffers from being sung in English. The singers declaim their parts with such proper British diction that Carmen comes across as a school marm. The spoken dialog is delivered beat for deliberate beat and is dripping with reverb. It makes the plaza, tavern and mountain pass all sound like a sewer pipe.
This is a good first Carmen for someone trying to understand the work. The libretto itself is a good investment for further listening. For an enjoyable performance with an emphasis on character and action, I recommend Regina Resnik on the London Double Decker set.
You Will Love Opera After Hearing Carmen In English.......2004-02-09
The real strength of this version is the dynamic drama. With the advantage of being sung in English, we get better insight on characters' emotions and motives, and we understand the drama a lot better. Carmen is all about great drama. Bizet drew the plot from the French writer Prosper Merimee's dark short story. Carmen is the ultimate femme fatale- a devil-may-care, sexy Gypsy living in Spain, seduces the conservatively raised soldier Don Jose, stealing him away from his fiancee, the passive Micaela, living a life of underground smuggling and rowdy taverns. "Habanera" and "The Gypsy Song and Dance" are very expressive of Carmen's extraordinarily liberal lifestyle. Don Jose, however, has fallen deeply in love- as he shows us in his song/aria "The Flower Song". But Carmen soon becomes tired of his constancy. Don Jose wants a committed, monogamous relationship with Carmen. But Carmen will not submit to love, since she is first and foremost a carnal creature. Eventually, she falls for the handsome Toreador Escamillo. Don Jose, consumed by jealousy, stabs Carmen at a bullfight after Carmen declares her love for Escamillo and rejects Don Jose's love. Don Jose's crazed, obscessive personality shines through in the English version as well. This tragedy has been done in English before so don't think this is the first time. Back in the 50's, there was a film, starring black actors "Carmen Jones" which was treated the same way as this opera- more like an English Broadway musical and with the dubbed singing voice of Marilyn Horne as Carmen. All in all, this recording is excellent.
A wholly credible "Carmen" -- finally!.......2003-09-17
I love Carmen!.......2003-08-15
And what of this recording? Carmen sits well in English, so it is good to hear in translation, although some of the detais in the text jar. Escamillo refers to Jose as "my dear", which sounds rather peculiar, and the guide's line to Micaela: "it's not exactly inviting, is it?" sounds distinctly Middle England rather than Rural Spain. Some of the performers, not least Carmen herself, make the words work, although there are long tracts, especially with the chorus, where the language is distinctly indistinct.
The soloists are, by and large, strong. Patricia Bardon's deep, Handel-friendly voice adapts well to Carmen and she colours the music with phenomenal detail, sounding sexy and provocative from the start with an edge of pride and anger that emerges as the show goes on. She is out of her depth above the stave, though, and some extra top notes in the second act don't show her off to her best advantage. I have previously said that Julian Gavin is poorly served by recordings, though here he sounds much more even and gives a thrilling and musical performance (but his wooden spoken lines let him down). Mary Plazas is a lovely Micaela, rich-voiced and sincere (and word-perfect), but Garry Magee sounds miscast as Escamillo, lacking the ballast at the bottom of the voice to do justice to this tricky role.
The supporting cast is good (Mary Hegarty seems to do nothing but Frasquita these days!) but the really treasurable thing is the conducting. Stepping out of Italian Ottocento, David Parry turns his hand to this French Comedie with an appropriate lightness of touch. His pacing and handling of the set pieces is exemplary and the enrtractes go with a real swing.
A pleasure, then, for the Carmen naive or a novelty for the Carmen-acquainted. I nearly wrote Carmen-weary - but I don't think it's possible.
Dance Music:
- Whoa! [CD-single] [Import]
- Whut? Thee Album
- You Nasty [Explicit Lyrics]
- Zoolife [Explicit Lyrics]
- 5th Dog Let Loose [Explicit Lyrics]
- 681 [Explicit Lyrics]
- A J-1: Revelation
- Ackin' Badd [Explicit Lyrics]
- Adonis [Explicit Lyrics]
- Anybody Cou Die [Explicit Lyrics]
Dance Music
The Original Ellington Suite [Original recording remastered]
Baby Come to Me: The Best of Regina Belle
Andy Williams Live-Christmas Treasures [Live]
Alfredo Catalani: Complete Piano Music/"Impressioni" (10)