Amor del Alma

1. Tu Mejor Amigo

2. Corazones Al Desnudo

3. Angel Caido

4. Que Lástima

5. Contigo Si

6. Amor del Alma

7. Insaciable

8. Cuatro

9. Te Llevo Dentro

10. Probadita

Amor del Alma,Alvaro Torres,EMI International,Bolero,Latin,Latin Pop

Artists Of The Century - Jussi Bjorling, The Ultimate Collection

Average customer rating:

Excellent older music
A Golden Voice!
Heaven
The Ultimate Tenor Anthology
The biggest hype I've ever seen or heard

Artists Of The Century - Jussi Bjorling, The Ultimate Collection

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Jussi Björling Rediscovered
The "Pearl Fishers" Duet
The Very Best of Beniamino Gigli
Jussi Bjorling: Opera Arias
The Very Best of Franco Corelli

ASIN: B00000J911
Release Date: 1999-05-25

Tracks:

Aida: Se quel guerriero io fossi; Celete Aida
Manon Lescaut - Donna non vida mai
Rigoletto - La Donna ? mobile
Rigoletto - Ella mi fu rapita; Parmi veder le lagrime
Cavalleria Rusticana - Siciliana: O Lola - Frederick Schauwecker
Faust - Salut, demeure chaste et pure - Robert Merrill
Pagliacci - Vesti la guibba
La Boh?me - Che gelida manini - Licia Albanese
Prince Igor - Vladimir's Recitative and Cavatina
Andrea Cher - Come un bel di di maggio
Martha - M'apparutt'amor
L'elisir d'amore - Una furtiva lagrima
Eugene Onegin - F, f (Lensky's aria)
Turandot - Nessun Dorma
Tosca - Recondita armonia
Tosca - E lucevan le stelle
Tosca - O dolci mani
The Trout (Die Forelle)
An Silvia: Was ist Silvia?
Stchen D. 957/4

Tracks:

The Pearl Fishers - Au fond du temple saint
Tosca - Mario, Mario, Mario!
Don Carlo - lo l'ho perduta!; Dio, che nell'alma infondere
Manon Lescaut - Oh, sar pila!; Tu, tu, amore? Tu?
La Boh - In un coup Mimtu pitorni
La Forza Del Destina - Solenne in quest'ora
Aida - La fatal pietra; O terra addio
Turandot - Signore, escaolta!; Non piangere, Li
Otello - Oh! monstruosa colpa!; Si, pel ciel marmorea giuro!
A Dream
Turandot - Nessun Dorma
Zeignung, Op 10, No. 1/Dedica

Amazon.com

Surely Björling was one of the greatest tenors of his or any other time, not only for the clarion ring, the purity, and the melting lyricism of his voice, but for his effortless lightness, impeccable intonation, endless breath control, and natural phrasing and line, enhanced by old-fashioned but wonderfully expressive scoops and slides. On this generous two-disc set, he is heard in a huge selection of arias and some duets with distinguished colleagues; most of them were recorded separately, and a few are excerpted from complete opera recordings--unfortunately not very skillfully, stopping abruptly in mid-phrase if not mid-note. No matter; the miraculous thing is that Björling, whether singing an entire role or a single aria, can instantly create a character and bring him to vibrant life. He sings everything in the original keys--his high B-flats, B's, and C's are thrilling--and almost everything in the original language, including a few songs by Schubert, Strauss, and Grieg. Recorded live in recital, they are delightful--only one is too operatic. Among his partners, soprano Zinka Milanov and baritone Robert Merrill stand out. This recording presents an incomparable artist at his incomparable best. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Excellent older music.......2007-04-05

He is obviously one of the best of his time and puts to shame some of the newer singers. You get alot for your money on this CD too. I highly recommend it for a Sunday morning to enjoy your coffee, newspaper, and scones :}

A Golden Voice!.......2006-07-31

In opera circles everyone knows about Jussi Bjorling. But, I am writing this for the many people who never heard of him. He died in 1960 at the age of 49 so he hasn't been around for 46 years. Thus, the younger generation have only heard of Pavarotti, Domingo, Correras and some newer fellows. Believe me, the sweet, honeyed, golden voice of Bjorling will impress you. His voice..his "instrument".....is...is....what can I say, it's "beautiful". If you haven't heard him before you have an enormous treat ahead of you! If you love the beautiful sound of a "trained" voice, you'll love this guy! Enjoy!
(Some guy below is comparing Bjorling to DeStefano and Corelli and some others and was critical of Bjorling. The guy who wrote that must be suffering from hearing loss! ALL the tenors he mentioned are/were great artists. DON'T BELIEVE HIM...BELIEVE ME! :o) Email:boland7214@aol.

Heaven.......2004-12-13

I used to buy two separate CDs for people I was introducing to Bjoerling - the Pearl Fishers one, and the one with the Nessun dorma on it... So I was delighted when this 2 CD set came out.

To me, NO other tenor I've ever heard matches Bjoerling. His voice is one of the few that reduce me to tears just trying to EXPLAIN it to people. I've loved classical music since childhood but was never able to get into opera until I heard Jussi ... all the tenors alive today - feh, sorry, but to me they just sound like guys taking deep breaths and singing loud, not like "the voice of God" ...

The Ultimate Tenor Anthology.......2003-10-26

For anyone who has for some reason fallen in love with some other tenor voice, the discovery of Jussi Bjoerlings voice may be heartbreaking. This is not a tenor who can only sing superbly in lyric opera or only in dramatic opera, or only in song and lieder. This singer can sing whatever he wants and more; he does it equally brilliant whatever to the vocal demands may be. That, more than anything makes him absolutely unique in the record history.
In the opening selection of this compilation; "Celeste Aida", this essentially lyric voice demonstrates for every heroic and dramatic tenor how to sing dramatic opera. It is a sheer singing lesson. In the strenuous recitative, he does not shout or use other non-musical effects, but shows that true dramatic expression is characterized by tonal intensiy and not by volume, although he had plenty enough of that. The beautiful and incredibly free flow of lyric tones in the Pearlfishers duet, the Faust cavatina and in the gorgeous "Che gelida manina" is absolutely exemplary. Yet, who could replicate the beauty of those effortless high C`s? I cannot think of anyone.
The only thing that could better this and give the set 5 stars in the book, is a compilation of the same selections, transferred from the original tapes and not excessively remastered as on this occasion. The sound is at times overly bright and the voice sounds thin and even sharp. But the singing is so far unmatched.

The biggest hype I've ever seen or heard.......2003-07-27

This tenor is a tiny patch if compare to Corelli or Del Monaco, not to even mention Pavarotti. His high notes are strain to the max and he sounds like he's singing in half falsetto.
A total disappointment. I recommend Gigli and Del Monaco instead.

Average customer rating:

Focus on the Recordings
This is a fantastic deal!
Excellent, Broad Selection
$70....when was this???
$70/40... you do the math.

Vivaldi: The Masterworks (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00062FLHY
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Customer Reviews:

Focus on the Recordings.......2007-07-23

I've made this small review of the Vivaldi Masterworks set because it is SO difficult to find a review of such a big collection.

The price is killer and you HAVE to buy it, but be warned: these are not the best recordings, you get what you pay for.

First of all, I'm not a Vivaldi expert, but I've heard his compositions throughout my life in so many different places and recordings and have a vague idea of how some have to be played. Secondly, I'm not a classical music connoisseur, but I love it and have over 300 discs of various composers and styles. Third, I know what a good audio recording should sound like and this will influence my critique of some discs in the collection. Finally, it's easy to get lost among all the tracks contained, so in some cases I will give you my favorite tracks in a disc.

I'm sorry, but I've only reached disc 20 of the box-set, as I listen to more this review will be expanded.

DISC 1:
Why would you use an AAD recording as a first impression for a 40 disc box-set and for the "Four Seasons", which is probably Vivaldi's best know work. The concertos are played enthusiastically, but lack any additional virtuosity to put it ahead of other much better recordings out there.

DISC 2:
Same as DISC 1, played and recorded by the same people.

DISC 3:
The pieces in this disc are VERY well played, nonetheless, you can hear heavy breathing from the soloist which can be a bit annoying.

DISC 4:
Very well performed as well, heavy breathing is less present.

DISC 5:
A very good recording, excellent execution by the hapsichord and good by the recorder.
Tracks 4, 6, 7 and the whole "La Notte" are extraordinary.

DISC 6:
Exquisitely recorded and performed by the Budapest Strings.

DISC 7:
Marvelous performance on the whole disc.
Tracks 22 & 24 are non-plus-ultra.

DISC 8:
Great performance too.
Suggested tracks: 7, 12, 15, 24

DISC 9:
To have an original baroque organ playing is a plus.
Solo strings are lacking in quality (for example: tracks 6 & 7).
Suggested tracks: 1, 4, 8, 15

DISC 10:
Despite being and ADD recording, the quality is fairly good. The cello is very well played.
Suggested tracks: 3, 4, 12
Excellent track: 13

DISC 11:
Same musical group and soloist as DISC 10. The contrabass is extremely distorted sometimes, and if you take into consideration that this is an ADD recording, it can get pretty bad. Some background noise is perceived.
Suggested tracks: 3, 6, 9

DISC 12:
The compositions are somewhat boring, either way the performance is plain decent.
Suggested tracks: 10, 12

DISC 13:
Good performance and sound quality.
Suggested tracks: 1, 4, 6, 7
Excellent track: 12

DISC 14:
Good performance and sound quality too.
Suggested tracks: 10, 14, 16
Excellent track: 5

DISC 15:
Badly mixed, the basoon is blocking the whole ensamble by being in the foreground.
The playing precision is lacking.
An AWEFUL thing about this recording is that you can hear the basson key-sticking with the instrument and the saliva. It's horrible.
Such a pity, the sound of the basson with other instruments can be pretty interesting.

DISC 16:
Violins sound a bit off tempo.
Suggested tracks: 4, 8

DISC 17:
Good sound quality and performance.
Suggested tracks: 1, 7, 9

DISC 18:
Despite being an old recording, it is a very welcome one.
The performance is very well above par. Tempo is fantastic.
The quality of the recording could have been better due to some string plucking that is heard and which can become bothersome.
These are some of Vivaldi's best know tunes.
Suggested tracks: 4, 6, 13
Excellent tracks: 1, 3

DISC 19:
Lively recording.
Track 6 is the same piece found in another disc in the collection, but with a better performance.

DISC 20:
By now you've heard all of this pieces before in the other discs. Nothing new here, nor better.

This is a fantastic deal!.......2007-02-25

If you are a fan at all of the Four Seasons you should love this music. I will admit right now that I am a classical music fan. I don't write or perform it. I am a novice listener. I have never taken any music lessons(though I am leaning in that direction) and certainly have not gone through any university music training. I started out in rock and roll but found classical as I got older and fell in love with it a few years ago.

With that context in mind I do hope I am able to recognize quality and this work is of the highest. It helps when you are starting with good ingredients in the first place. You can't bake great bread without great ingredients and Vivaldi's music library has some of the greatest musical ingredients of the last 300 years. They are very much the foundation for modern western culture and music. His talent is woven through what we are

The first 26 CDs are instrumental starting with the four seasons and working through many of the Master's many popular works. I will admit the four seasons are not the best interpretation I have heard but it is definitely acceptable. The rest of the music shows us many facets of the Baroque style and you can see themes emerging through some of the pieces that give us a 'fingerprint' of Vivaldi's style and the parameters of the stylistic leanings of the genre at the time. If you want to immerse yourself in 18th century music this is your chance

This music would be ideal for someone who owns a store and is looking for background music. With over 26 CDs of instrumental music alone you could have those constantly looping and you'd probably never get bored of them(OK I may be stretching it a little there). The reason is that the music does not leave a bad 'aftertaste' in your mind. It fits into the background as easily and naturally as it is to listen to it consciously in the foreground. If you are a fan of classical Baroque you don't usually need to be in the mood for this, it will adjust your mood to itself and Vivaldi's music is almost always of an uplifting sort if this collection is any indication. If you want something to listen to at your job 8 hours per day this is good for the mind and it would take you over a week to get through it if you listened to it every minute of every work day. You will also work without the worry of the music distracting your concentration. I find it enhances it when I'm working. I don't know how well this would work on school kids but teachers might want to try playing this during school time. You may create a few geniuses, we certainly could use more!

If you are looking for something to ease your sleep and oil your dreams I have put these CD's on in the background. Not only can I easily fall asleep when they are playing quietly in the background but it helps you sleep and you wake up in a very pleasant atmosphere if the music is still playing quietly when you wake(you probably would need to rip them to your MP3 player to do that). It's like napping at a classical music concert without the worry of being nudged by your spouse or offending the other concert goers with your snoring. That will be quite a unique experience for you and possibly give you some real sweet dreams. It has for me

So to wrap it up this is very intelligent, uplifting music that is great for your mind and your soul. It is definitely worth the purchase if you are a fan of the Four Seasons and the Baroque genre in my novice classical music fan's opinion

Excellent, Broad Selection.......2007-01-25

This 40-cd collection affords me a rare pleasure almost daily: the thrill of hearing something new by Vivaldi. Despite my best efforts over the years, I've managed to miss hearing a lot of great works by the master. Listening to a single CD now and then, catching tunes on the radio... you can't possibly get a comprehensive understanding of Vivaldi's output that way.

But when you work your way systematically from CD 1 through 40, you're sure to find many pleasant surprises. I've been skipping through everything I already know -- in some cases, it has only taken me about a minute to get through a whole CD (first 3 seconds of each track is usually enough). But then I stop and listen carefully three or four times to anything that's new.

Ah, what a pleasure. I've already acquired some new favorites. And some old standbys have proved even more rewarding, e.g. at first I thought RV 127 (CD 7, tracks 10-12) was performed too slowly (Naxos No: 8.553742 is much faster), but now I'm not sure; maybe it's BETTER that way! I can't recommend this set highly enough.

$70....when was this???.......2006-11-25

Wish the cost was $70 now. Guess the record producer (or Amazon) got tired of making less than $2 per CD.

$70/40... you do the math........2006-04-07

No, I don't own this collection...yet. However, the price of the collection compels me to review it beforehand. Never have I seen such a complete collection of Vivaldi compositions at such an incredibly low price. At $1.75 dollars a CD, the record producer (Brilliant Classics) isn't making much of a profit. The compilation pulls some of its works from DG Achiv Produktion's vault (see Standage), such as the violin concertos, as well as from unknown producers (the Poland Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra is heavily featured). The collection is so complete that it is academic, and I would not be surprised if music libraries quickly emptied it from Amazon's shelves. The collection is simply worth it for the incredible price (English Concert's recording of the violin concertos cost nearly 30 bucks, and is exactly featured here). Overall, the price alone makes this collection exceptionally attractive, and the ensembles featured aren't bad either.

Handel Operatic Duets ~ Amor e gelosia / Ciofi · Di Donato · Il Complesso Barocco · Curtis

Average customer rating:

Stellar Singing
From still waters to fireworks in baroque singing - Duets sung exquisitely
Supreme Handel Duets Lack Dramatic Context But Still Lovely
A feast
A sumptuous feast of Handel

Handel Operatic Duets ~ Amor e gelosia / Ciofi · Di Donato · Il Complesso Barocco · Curtis
George Frideric Handel , Patricia Ciofi , Joyce Di Donato , Alan Curtis , and Il Complesso Barocco
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Cecilia Bartoli ~ Opera Proibita (Handel · Scarlatti · Caldara) / Les Musiciens du Louvre · Minkowski

ASIN: B0001CTKD0
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Tracks:

Caro Amico Amplesso!
Scherzano Sul Tuo Volto
Non Ti Basto, Consorte/Io T'abbraccio
Mio Diletto, Che Pensi?/Sol Per Te, Bell'idol Mio
Per Le Porte Del Tormento
Del Destin Non MI Lagno/Caro, Tu M'accendi
Amarilli?/Amarilli? Oh Dei! Che Vuoi?
Vivo Senz'alma, O Bella
Finche Prendi
Perfidi! Ite Di Poro/Se Mai Piu Saro Geloso
Macedoni Guerrieri/Se Mai Turbo Il Tuo Riposo
Sinfonia To Act 3
Gran Pena E Gelosia!
Lode Agli Dei/Se Mai Turbo Il Tuo Riposo
Alma Mia, Dolce Ristoro
Ricordati, Mio Ben
Addio, Mio Caro Bene

Amazon.com

In baroque opera, the spotlight was usually reserved for the bravura arias, designed to show off the singers' brilliant coloratura and skill in improvising ornamentation. The ensembles, on the other hand, were left to languish in the shadows. This record aims to right that wrong in a program of 17 duets drawn from 13 mostly unfamiliar Handel operas. In an attempt to create some cohesion, these primarily short selections are arranged under the heading "Love and Jealousy," with love predominating and usually prevailing. If the title sounds a bit gimmicky, never mind: the music's the thing and it is wonderful. Expressed with Handel's inimitable dramatic intensity and deeply felt inwardness, it encompasses every amorous emotion from tenderness, ardent protestation and rapturous joy to fear of loss, anguish and mournful farewell, using an infinite variety of form, texture and character. Some duets begin with a recitative; the voices separate and unite, conversing, interweaving, joining in imitation or harmony. The orchestra, a period-instrument group of soloists, provides introductions, interludes and postludes which set mood and atmosphere and contribute greatly to contrast and diversity. The performances are splendid. The two singers prove that the duet is as fertile a vehicle for virtuosic display as any aria, and they find plenty of opportunities for ornamentation in the da capos. Their voices can blend and merge as well as remain distinctly individual in timbre and color, and they succeed in creating, or at least suggesting, situations and personalities even in the shortest selections. The playing is impeccable: rhythmically crisp and pungent, texturally transparent, and very expressive. The only cavil is that the selections often follow each other without a pause, making it difficult to be sure where one ends and the next begins. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Stellar Singing.......2007-01-04

I must admit that, before becoming a dedicated Joyce DiDonato fan, I probably wouldn't have purchased a CD of Handel duets, or any Baroque duets for that matter. Like other reviewers have observed, the duets are performed out of dramatic context. I also prefer the full opera, particularly when it comes to Handel.

In the case of this CD, who cares? This is literally some of the loveliest Baroque ensemble singing I have ever heard. The pairing of Joyce DiDonato with Patrizia Ciofi was a stroke of brilliance. Their voices match perfectly. Their intonation is spot on, all the time. Their ornamentations, particularly the da capo ornamentations, are intelligently selected and brilliantly executed. The balance is just right between the singers and the chamber musicians.

I have a big thanks to give to Virgin Veritas and these two wonderful artists for this CD. It will get lots of play in my home.

Highly recommended.

From still waters to fireworks in baroque singing - Duets sung exquisitely.......2005-11-28

Handel was a master of his medium - his music paints with elegance and soul-stirring emotion upon the canvas of the human heart. His duets often exhibit particular indebtedness to Steffani (truly a genius of duet writing), and they are gorgeous duets indeed!

I note that some other reviewers quibble with a) duets only on this recording; and b) a sense of disjointedness.

Addressing both of those issues, let's admit that any recital disc is going to give some disjointedness in the absolute and literal sense. To take a portion of an opera out of its setting and perform it separately is a sort of amputation, be it an album of arias OR an album of duets. Should singers then avoid putting out solo recordings of Handel arias? I find no reason to come to THAT conclusion - and for the same reason, I have no quarrel at all with the recording of an album of Handel duets.

Of course, to enjoy Handel to the fullest degree, do get full recordings as well... but even in Handel's time, singers would pull specific bits of their roles out of context, perform them separately... so it's a time-honoured practice! Let us simply enjoy the high standard of the music without worrying about context in any recording of arias, duets, trios, or operatic scenes.

Handel's duets vary so much in their shape, melodies, harmonies, rhythms - there's plenty of variety. It comes down to a question of the singers involved having suitable voices, singing appropriately for the style, the playing of the orchestra, and the particular variety of duets chosen.

On all points, this album scores highly! Both Ms Ciofi and Ms Di Donato have beautiful voices, clearly trained in baroque singing, and they have equally clearly put in a lot of work to achieve a lovely blend and similar approach within these duets. What a joy to hear gifted singers perform these duets with such intelligence, emotional involvement and lovely, lovely tone!

This recording is a favourite of mine - not just because I perform many of the duets on this CD with another soprano, but because I am genuinely delighted to hear appropriately performed Handel singing in a duet album. I've found fault with some other duet albums because I consider them under-rehearsed, insufficiently blended, and inappropriately embellished - but this album shows none of those faults, and I am very happy to recommend it highly and without reservation. Beautiful singing, beautiful works - you can scarcely wish for more!

Supreme Handel Duets Lack Dramatic Context But Still Lovely.......2005-01-08

I was fortunate to see and hear Renée Fleming and the astounding David Daniels sing "Io t'abbraccio" together in the magnificent Stephen Wadsworth production of Handel's "Rodelinda" at the Metropolitan Opera last week. There is nothing here that can match the ethereal quality and overwhelming melancholy of that duet performance, but sometimes this recording comes pretty close under the masterful baton of Alan Curtis. Soprano Patrizia Ciofi and mezzo-soprano Joyce Di Donato blend quite well together with Ciofi's often fiery coloratura floating easily over the verses and Di Donato's contrasting darker, fuller tone.

It's a nice idea to make a disc of just Handel duets but also a bit risky since they usually represent the major dramatic highpoints of his operas, mostly coming at the end of an act or of the entire opera. Given that fact, one would think there would be plenty of exhausting dramatic fireworks by providing one duet after another. In fact, the higher profile duets, such as the aforementioned "Io t'abbraccio" and the equally famous "Scherzano sul tup volto" from "Rinaldo", feel a bit lackluster probably because their gorgeous music crowns the end of scenes full of tension and drama. The joy in hearing two characters sing together, especially after hearing each of them express their individual sentiments, acts as a catharsis. But here the duets become lovely moments partially robbed of their dramatic impact because the organic synthesis of character and music is lost. Certainly it's not easy to deliver a recital containing only music that Handel devised for key dramatic moments. Yet, it more often does work here perhaps because there are a treasure trove of little-known gems such as "Caro, tu m'accendi" from "Faramondo", "Se mai turbo il tuo riposo" from "Poro" and "Alma mia, dolce ristoro" from "Admeto". The performances really become more like chamber music pieces, almost understated and always tasteful. Toward that end, the singing is expressive and stylish as Ciofi and Di Donato play lovers who quarrel and console in these duets. Together they bring this recording to a consistently high level regardless of the dramatic shortcomings, and their emotional availability makes their unified voices all the more resonant as they get lost in each other.

A feast .......2004-09-28

The programme maybe disjointed, but it doesn't matter, because the singing is some of the most glorious I have EVER heard. A shining feast of articulation, phrasings and harmonies, heavenly executed by Ms Ciofi and Ms Di Donato.

Just buy it for an unparalleled vocal chord experience; marvel at the singing. Any other considerations are entirely oblivious.

A sumptuous feast of Handel.......2004-08-04

Alan Curtis has here chosen to bring to life some of the more memorable duets of Handel's many operas. Quite apart from chewing over some of the more well-known operas he has chosen some duets from Silla, Sosarme (Per le porte del tormento), Faramondo, Atalanta, Poro and Muzio Scevola, few of which have had decent recordings in the last number of years.

His band is small, one player per part, withe the resultant effect rather to make the duets seems like chamber music. There is a danger in that with duets such as Io t'abbraccio (end of Act 2 Rodelinda) taken out of context that the dramatic moment of the music would be lost. However, by arranging the duets in a sequence (as Curtis writes in the notes) from love's joy through self-doubt and jealousy, back to undying love, the duets out of context sound superb.

Both singers, Patrizia Ciofi (Soprano) and Joyce di Donato (Mezzo) sound thoroughly at home in the idiom of baroque opera, and in fact their cadenzas and ornamentation are delightfully understated, rather than the sort of shrieking 'I can go higher still' of some more lauded performers. I look forward to Curtis' forthcoming recordings of Lotario, Rodelinda and Radamisto, if these performers are to be retained.

In short this is a delightful enterprise showing the genious of Handel in dealing with the most basic of human emotions - love and jealousy. Well done Alan Curtis!

Canzoni e Danze: Wind Music from Renaissance Italy

Average customer rating:

Triumphant!
Excellent Renaissance Faire. Buy it!
Definitely Worth the Listening
Superb musicianship on ancient instruments....
Piffaro Renaissance Band Superb

Canzoni e Danze: Wind Music from Renaissance Italy
Joan Ambrosio Dalza , Heinrich Isaac , Francesco Bendusi , Giorgio Mainerio , Rossino Mantovano , Costanzo Festa , Anonymous , Fillippo Azzaiolo , Jacques Arcadelt , Vincenzo Ruffo , Orazio Vecchi , Lodovico Agostini , Giovanni Ferretti , Cesario Gussago , Aurelio Bonelli , Eric Anderson , Grant Gerreid , Adam Gilbert , Joan Kimball , Gwyn Roberts , Robert Wiemken , Thomas Zajac , Piffaro , and The Renaissance Band
Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music
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Music From the Odhecaton

ASIN: B0000057EX
Release Date: 1995-11-14

Tracks:

Piva
Palle, Palle - Ne piu bella di queste - La mi la sol
Recorders: Pass'e mezo ditto il Romano - Moschetta - Bandera
La Parma - Un sonar de piva in fachinesco (Lirum bililirum)
Regem archangelorum - Alma, che scarca dal corporeo velo
Aldi, dolce ben mio - Bona via faccia barva (Venetiana) - Gentil madonna, del mio cor padrona
Donna, quando pietosa - El travagliato - La gamba in basso e soprano - Amor e foco e ghiaccio
Putta nera ballo furlano
All'arm', all'arm' - Com'al primo apparir - Sonata 'La facca'
Canzona 'Istrina' - Sonata 'La fontana' - Canzona 'Licori'
la morte de la ragione (Pavane) - La traditora (Gagliarda) - Bel fiore - La rocha el fuso (Gagliarda) - El desperato (Saltarello) - La lavandara (Gagliarda)

Amazon.com

Piffaro discs make this sedentary fool want to get up and dance. Renaissance dance music is a much-underrated source of general delight, anyway. You don't have to be the kind of specialist listener who loves medieval masses to get a kick out of this tasty, highly rhythmic music--the disco of an earlier era. The tunes are appealing, the sounds of the varied instruments consistently delightful. I rate discs of Renaissance dances not so much by their authenticity, a debatable matter anyway, but rather by their danceability. Piffaro discs rank consistently high in this respect, and they are realistically recorded. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Triumphant!.......2006-12-01

This is truly one of the best albums of Renaissance music currntly available! Purely instrumental! Much of it appears to be music for a royal court event or the like, with much use of brass and wind instruments. There are also many selections for the festival setting, usually involving the bagpipes and hurdy-gurdy. Too many albums of ancient music "pad" the content with monotonous choral polyphonic selections, perhaps starting out with one or two really good instrumental pieces. However, they did not do that in this one!

Excellent Renaissance Faire. Buy it!.......2005-11-15

'Piffaro The Renaissance Band' is a Philadelphia group who has done several superior albums of Renaissance music for the label 'Archiv', late of Deutche Grammaphone, now part of Polygram. I was astonished when I heard from a student of one of the directors, Robert Wiemken, that the band is paid virtually nothing to make the record and have it distributed. While I would expect that from a minor label, it is surprising that an act should make it to Deutche Grammaphone and not be paid for their recording. I go into this minor digression because I am especially impressed by this recording and all their others as well.

I do take issue with it's being labelled a recording of 'wind' music, as there is ample representation from the family of string instruments, most famously the guitar and the hurdy gurdy.

Although I really enjoy 'old music', I'm not an expert on it, but I set out to distinguish this music from modern stuff, and the two I can find are the presence here of a lot of drone instruments such as the bagpipe and the hurdy gurdy and the absence of instruments such as the clarinet which give us that lushly woody tenor we hear in pieces such as 'Rapsody in Blue' or in some of Kurt Weill's German stage pieces. We also certainly miss the rich sounds of the piano, as the pianoforte has not been invented yet.

If you like old music, this band is a 'must hear'!

Definitely Worth the Listening.......2004-01-26

Simply lovely. Some whimsical, some more technically serious. In all, definitely worth the money and the time. One of my new favorites.

Superb musicianship on ancient instruments...........2001-10-03

I wish composers were still writing for hurdy-gurdy @ crumhorn...what a wonderful sound. I especially liked "La Parma". I do believe a modern tunesmith has taken that melody @ recently made a rather haunting popular song from it; a female vocalist, I think. If anyone out there can remember what the name of that modern tune is @ will post it here, it will save me some on-going mental annoyance. You won't go wrong in buying this album!

Piffaro Renaissance Band Superb.......2001-05-20

This CD has me dancing in the streets. I have played holes in the recording. The musicianship is extraordinary with excitement, love and a great warm sense of pleasure taken by everyone involved. Renaissance instruments are not generally known for subtlety or nuance, but these players work miracles. The percussion sections are also integral to the whole and thrilling, where appropriate. Piffaro, please keep your music coming.

Verdi: Il Trovatore (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Herbert von Karajan, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan

Average customer rating:

a source of consumer surplus.
A Leonora For All Time
The greatest Leonora!
Brilliant!
The best Leonora forever

Verdi: Il Trovatore (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Herbert von Karajan, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Verdi: Rigoletto (Complete Opera); Maria Callas; Tito Gobbi; Giuseppe di Stefano
Puccini: La Boheme (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Anna Moffo, Antonino Votto, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan
Verdi: Un Ballo In Maschera (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tito Gobbi, Antonino Votto, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan
Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana & Leoncavallo: Pagliacci (2 complete operas) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tito Gobbi, Tullio Serafin, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan
Puccini: Manon Lescaut (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tullio Serafin, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan

ASIN: B000002RY8
Release Date: 1997-08-19

Tracks:

Act One, Scene One: All'erta! All'erta! - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act One, Scene One: Di Due Figli Vivea Padre Beato - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act One, Scene One: Abbietta Zingara, Fosca Vegliarda! - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act One, Scene One: Brevi E Tristi Giorni Visse - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act One, Scene One: Sull'orlo Dei Tetti - Nicola Zaccaria
Act One, Scene One: Che Piu T'arresti? - Maria Callas
Act One, Scene One: Tacea La Notte Placida - Maria Callas
Act One, Scene One: Quanto Narrasti Di Turbamento M'ha Piena L'alma! - Maria Callas
Act One, Scene One: Di Tale Amor - Maria Callas
Act One, Scene One: Tace La Notte! - Rolando Panerai
Act One, Scene One: Il Trovator! Lo Tremo!...Deserto Sulla Terra - Rolando Panerai
Act One, Scene One: Anima Mia!...Piu Dell'usato - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act One, Scene One: Di Geloso Amor Sprezzato - Maria Callas
Act Two, Scene One: Vedi! Le Fosche Notturne - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act Two, Scene One: Stride La Vampa! - Fedora Barbieri
Act Two, Scene One: Mesta E La Tua Canzon! - Giuseppe Di Stefano
Act Two, Scene One: Soli Or Siami - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act Two, Scene One: Condotta Ell'era In Ceppi - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act Two, Scene One: Non Son Tuo Figlio! - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act Two, Scene One: Mal Reggendo All'aspro Assalto - Giuseppe Di Stefano
Act Two, Scene One: L'usato Messo Ruiz Invia!...Mi Vendica! - Renato Ercolani
Act Two, Scene One: Perigliarti Ancor Languente - Giuseppe Di Stefano
Act Two, Scene Two: Tutto E Deserto - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act Two, Scene Two: Il Balen Dei Suo Sorriso - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act Two, Scene Two: Qual Suono! Oh Ciel! - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act Two, Scene Two: Per Me Ora Fatale - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act Two, Scene Two: Ah! Se L'error T'ingombra - Rolando Panerai
Act Two, Scene Two: Perche Piangete? ... O Dolci Amiche (Leonora, Ines, Conte, Coro) - Maria Callas
Act Two, Scene Two: E Deggio Posso Crederlo? - Maria Callas

Tracks:

Act Three, Scene One: Or Co' Dadi, Ma Fra Poco - Nicola Zaccaria
Act Three, Scene One: In Braccio Al Mio Rival! - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act Three, Scene One: Giorni Poveri Vivea - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act Three, Scene One: Deh! Rallentate, O Barbari - Rolando Panerai
Act Three, Scene Two: Quale D'armi Fragor - Maria Callas
Act Three, Scene Two: Ah Si, Ben Mio, Coll'essere Io Tuo - Giuseppe Di Stefano
Act Three, Scene Two: L'onda De Suoni Mistici Pura Discenda Al Cor! - Maria Callas
Act Three, Scene Two: Di Quella Pira, L'orrendo Foco - Renato Ercolani
Act Four, Scene One: Siam Giunti, Ecco La Torre - Maria Callas
Act Four, Scene One: D'amor Sull'ali Rosee - Maria Callas
Act Four, Scene One: Miserere... Quel Suon, Quelle Preci - Maria Callas
Act Four, Scene One: Di Te, Di Te Scordami Di Te - Maria Callas
Act Four, Scene One: Udiste? - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act Four, Scene One: Mira, D'acerbe Lagrime - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act Four, Scene One: Conte! ... Ne Basti! - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act Four, Scene One: Colui Vivra...Vivra! Contende Il Giubilo - Maria Callas
Act Four, Scene Two: Madre, Non Dormi? - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act Four, Scene Two: Si, La Stanchezza Mopprime - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act Four, Scene Two: Ai Nostri Monti Ritorneremo - Giuseppe Di Stefano
Act Four, Scene Two: Che! Non M'inganna - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act Four, Scene Two: Parlar Non Vuoi?...Ha Quest'infame L'amor Venduto - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano
Act Four, Scene Two: Ti Scosta! - Maria Callas
Act Four, Scene Two: Prima Che D'altri Vivere - Maria Callas

Amazon.com essential recording

Maria Callas's voice was never noted for its sheer beauty, but she was in her best form for this session and she knew exactly what to do with what she had. She might not make the distraught figure of Leonora rationally credible, but she knows more about acting with her voice than anyone this side of Sir John Gielgud. And she puts Leonora's emotions, her vulnerability, her whole-hearted, self-sacrificial love, squarely before the listener. Herbert von Karajan's conducting brings logical coherence to a work not noted for that quality. In short, this is vintage Callas, at the top of her form in some of the greatest music and some of the most intensely emotional situations ever devised for a soprano. Von Karajan--young and not yet burdened with the mannerisms of his later years, is an ideal partner. The other singers, though dwarfed by Callas, provide substantial support. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews:

a source of consumer surplus........2007-07-26

Don't even think twice, just buy it! Stellar cast exhibiting fearless performances.

I haven't heard the Azucena Barbieri recorded earlier with Milanov & Bjorling that many people prefer over her performance in this one, but here she is superb: her voice is strong and so dark that you really get a sense of Azucena's baleful schema.

Of course, the selling point is Callas. In this recording, she demonstrates just how supremely gifted she is as an artist. There are numerous wonderful surprises in her phrasing throughout that keep you always spellbound by her character.

It's an amazing, essential recording for any opera lover.

A Leonora For All Time.......2006-04-08

I have always considered the Trovatore Leonora to be one of Callas's very greatest roles. Here , less obscured by her undoubted dramatic gifts, we can enjoy the pure musicality of her singing. The timbre is perfect for Leonora - dark, plangent & (apart form at the very top of her register)surpassingly beautiful. The role displays her perfect legato, incredible breath control & accurate coloratura. She also has a wonderful understanding of just how to phrase a Verdian cadenza, quite different from anything she would do in Bellini or Donizetti. You only have to hear her first few phrases to know that this Leonora is an aristocrat. Leontyne Price is undoubtedly another great Leonora, and she too has a voice perfectly suited to the role, but occasionally she mars the vocal line with unmusical cadenzas, appearing more interested in laying out her voice for admiring display, where Callas is more intent on letting us hear Verdi. The rest of the cast is just about as perfect as was possible at the time & a good deal better than anything we could manage today. True, Di Stefano lacks the requisite weight, but he sings with such face, it is readily forgiven. His "Di quella pira" may not have the heroic heft of a Corelli, but he sings "Ah, si ben mio" quite beautifully. Panerai, Barbieri & Zaccaria could hardly be bettered & Karajan was at this time the perfect conductor for the project. He conducts with great style & dash, while at no time apologising for the occasional vulgarities in the score. More modern recordings are uncut & here we have the cuts traditional at the time, but at least we get one verse of Leonora's cabaletta "tu vedrai". The sound has also been remarkably well freshened up in it's present transfer. Unless you really have to have modern stereo digital sound, buy it. And, even if you have another recording, acquire this as well. You won't regret it!

The greatest Leonora!.......2004-07-02

I couldn't agree more with the reviews stating that Callas' Leonora is unsurpassed. Björling called this Leonora "sheer perfection". Unbeatable!

Brilliant!.......2004-06-13

The dream-team Callas-di Stefano comes together once more to record I'll Trovatore! And how beautifully they did it! Herbert von Karajan's conducting is supreme, Callas sings the definite Leonora, di Stefano sounds passionate and loving as Manrico and Barbieri kicks ass as Azucena. To the guy who said that if Callas had Milanov as a rival she'd fall on her face, Callas and Milanov performed at the same time! So there! The best Trovatore ever!

The best Leonora forever.......2004-05-16

Period! Di Stefano sounds surprisingly on fire as the ill-fated Manrico, Barbieri COMMANDS as Azucena and Panerei is a fabulous di Luna. Von Karajan conducts mastefully. Not the only Trovatore but one of the very best!

Average customer rating:

Bon appetit!

Essential Mozart Opera

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
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Essential Opera
Essential Puccini
Mozart: Great Opera Moments 1
Essential Mozart: 32 Of His Greatest Masterpieces
Mozart: Great Opera Moments II

ASIN: B00008J2NZ
Release Date: 2003-03-11

Tracks:

The Marriage Of Figaro: Overture
The Marriage Of Figaro: Voi, Che Andrai
The Marriage Of Figaro: Non Piu Andrai
The Marriage Of Figaro: Dove Sono
The Marriage Of Figaro: Se Vuol Ballare, Signor Contino
The Marriage Of Figaro: Cosa Mi Narri!...Che Soave Zeffiretto
The Marriage Of Figaro: Pace, Pace, Mio Dolce Tesoro
The Magic Flute: Der Vogelfanger Bin Ich Ja
The Magic Flute: Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Papagena!
The Magic Flute: Der Holle Rache Kocht In Meinem Herzen
The Magic Flute: O Zittre Nicht, Mein Lieber Sohn!
The Magic Flute: Ach, Ich Fuhl's, Es Ist verschwunden
The Magic Flute: Hm! Hm! Hm! Hm! Hm! Hm! Hm!
The Magic Flute: O Isis Und Osiris, Welche Wonne
Idomeneo: Placido E Il Mar, Andiamo
Idomeneo: Zeffiretti Lusinhieri
Idomeneo: Scenda Amor, Scenda Lmeneo
La Clemenza Di Tito: Overture
La Clemenza Di Tito: Parto, Parto, Ma Tu, Ben Mio

Tracks:

The Abduction From The Seaglio: Overture
The Abduction From The Seaglio: Martern Aller Arten
The Abduction From The Seaglio: Vivat Bacchus, Bacchus Lebe
The Abduction From The Seaglio: O, Wie Will Ich Triumphieren
Don Giovanni: Madamina, Il Catalogo E Questo
Don Giovanni: La Ci Darem La Mano
Don Giovanni: Dalla Sua Pace
Don Giovanni: Fin Ch'han Dal Vino Calda La Testa
Don Giovanni: Batti, Batti, O Bel Masetto
Don Giovanni: Il Mio Tesoro Intanto Andate A Consolar
Don Giovanni: In Quali Eccessi, O Numi...Mi Tradi Quell'alma Ingrata
Don Giovanni: Deh, Vieni Alla Finestra, O Mio Tesoro
Cosi Fan Tutte: Un'aura Amorosa Del Nostro Tesoro
Cosi Fan Tutte: E Amore Un Ladroncello
Cosi Fan Tutte: Soave Sia Il Vento
Cosi Fan Tutte: Ei PArte...Per Pieta, Ben Mio, Perdona
Cosi Fan Tutte: Temerai! Sortite...Come Scoglio

Customer Reviews:

Bon appetit!.......2006-09-01

This 2CDs set is quite a good compilation of arias from Mozart's best known operas. The cast is awesome, too.

The trouble is Mozart wrote so many wonderful arias that when you try to compile them from many operas, lots of the great ones like 'Non piu di fiori' and 'Deh per questo istante solo' from La clemenza di Tito get left out (tho having Teresa Berganza's version of 'Parto ma tu ben mio' makes up for it somewhat). A lot of chorus pieces from Idomeneo but none of Idamante's arias, no Elettra's famous rage aria, and no 'Traurigkeit' from 'Die Entfuehrung'?

Bottom line, all the arias included are marvellously sung. I think the line up could have been better, tho. It won't fill you up, perhaps, but it will wet your appetite for complete set of the operas included.

Average customer rating:

Still the Best
The best for many years, but now surpassed
A Classic Trovatore --- but by far not the best!
A REMINDER OF THE WAY OPERA USED TO SOUND!
Down with the director!!

Verdi: Il Trovatore

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Milanov, Zinka | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana
Verdi: Aida
Verdi: Rigoletto
Puccini: Manon Lescaut
Puccini: Tosca

ASIN: B000003EPY
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Il Trovatore: All'erta, all'erta
Il Trovatore: Di due figli vivea
Il Trovatore: Che piu t'arresti
Il Trovatore: Tacea la notte placida
Il Trovatore: Di tale amor che dirsi
Il Trovatore: Tace la notte
Il Trovatore: Deserto sulla terra
Il Trovatore: Non m'inganno
Il Trovatore: Di geloso amor sprezzato
Il Trovatore: Vedi! Le fosche notturne spogile (Anvil Chorus)
Il Trovatore: Stride la vampa!
Il Trovatore: Soli or siamo
Il Trovatore: Condotta ell'era in ceppi
Il Trovatore: Non son tuo figlio?
Il Trovatore: Mal reggendo
Il Trovatore: Inoltra il pie
Il Trovatore: Perigliarti ancor languente
Il Trovatore: Tutto e deserto
Il Trovatore: Il balen del suo sorriso
Il Trovatore: Quel suono! Oh cie!
Il Trovatore: Per me ora fatale
Il Trovatore: Ah se l'error t'ingombra
Il Trovatore: Perche piangete
Il Trovatore: E deggio e posso crederlo

Tracks:

Il Trovatore: Or co'dadi
Il Trovatore: Squilli, echeggi la tromba guerriera
Il Trovatore: In braccio al mio rival
Il Trovatore: Quale d'armi fragor poc'anzi intesi
Il Trovatore: Ah, si ben mio
Il Trovatore: L'onda de' suoni mistici
Il Trovatore: Di quella pira
Il Trovatore: Siam giunti
Il Trovatore: D'amor sull'ali rosee
Il Trovatore: Miserere d'un'alma gia vicina
Il Trovatore: Udiste?
Il Trovatore: Mira, di acerbe lagrime
Il Trovatore: Vivra contende il giubilo
Il Trovatore: Madre, non monti?
Il Trovatore: Ai nostri monti
Il Trovatore: Che, non m'inganno

Amazon.com

This is the most beautifully sung Il Trovatore on record, but is by no means the most dramatic and is far from the best-conducted. Those who insist on stereo sound (which has substantial advantages for opera recordings in terms of dramatic presence and impact) may opt for the Zubin Mehta or James Levine treatments. But Jussi Bjoerling and Leonard Warren respond intensely to the score theatrically and, above all, musically, Zinka Milanov sings with a haunting beauty most of the time, Fedora Barbieri approaches the role of the Gypsy woman Azucena as if she were born to sing it, and the relatively small, well-disciplined chorus sings with a clarity and precision comparable to that of Levine's powerful Metropolitan Opera Chorus. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews:

Still the Best.......2005-03-25

Despite shortcomings, such as mediocre conducting, cuts and the "old" sound, not least the miscast tenor, this "Trovatore" remains unsurpassed for the beauty of singing. Milanov is simply the best Leonora ever, both in her grand arias and the dramatic coloratura segments. Bjoerling is not heroic enough for my taste. He is perfect for "Ballo," "Faust" and "Manon," but not for "Aida" or "Il Trovatore." But he makes up for the lack of heroic stature with the beauty of voice and singing. If only Milanov could sing this opera with Corelli, what a glorious "Trovatore" that would be!

The best for many years, but now surpassed.......2003-11-04

Most of the reviewers below have covered the majority of good and bad points about this recording, so I will be brief. Beautiful and mostly accurate singing but lacking dramatic credibility from the soprano and tenor; decent conducting but a terrible, thin-sounding orchestra; no sense of "sound-staging," very little drama except from Barbieri and Warren, and a very incomplete version of the score with numerous large and small cuts.

Of competing versions, pride of place goes to the new Ghiorghiu-Alagna set, even though Alagna pushes the voice a little too hard at times and holds the high C in "Di quella pira" well beyond its written length. The 1970 Mehta set has a good Leonora in Price and a decent Manico in Domingo, but Milnes' baritone lacks the proper bite for Di Luna and Cossotto is a joke as Azucena once one has heard Barbieri or Diadkova.

So, basically, we are still waiting for a really great "Trovatore." If you like Milanov and Bjorling, get this set. If you want a good balance between singing, drama and completeness, get the Pappano-Alagna set.

A Classic Trovatore --- but by far not the best!.......2003-01-23

This 1952 set has been acclaimed since its debut, and while it does feature some of the most passionate Italian singing on disc, it is poorly conducted and hopelessly boring. Bjoerling is second-rate (at best), and Cellini never quite captures the dramatic urgency of this gripping work. But the RCA Victor orchestra plays well in spite of it all, and the chorus work is most impressive.

Still, this recording is a must-own for its two leading women, Zinka Milanov and Fedora Barbieri, the latter being indisputably the best Azucena on disc. Zinka Milanov is ideal as Leonora, better than even Antonietta Stella on Serafin's recording; though she doesn't deliver as much intensity as Callas in Herbert von Karajan's inspired performance (who would?), she sings with soaring beauty and smart, focused characterization. The highlight, though, is the exquisite Azucena of Fedora Barbieri, one of the most underrated singers of the 20th century. She is glorious and exciting, bringing some much-needed thrill to this otherwise lackluster performance. She can also be found the aforementioned von Karajan set -- but believe it or not, she's better here.

Here's a summary of great Trovatore recordings: One of the best efforts, in certainly the best sound, is Mehta's 1970 recording with Domingo and Price as the leading roles. It's fantastic, with an all-star cast and superb orchestral work. I've mentioned von Karajan's more than once on this review, and his recording with Callas, di Stefano and Barbieri is a supreme addition to the catalogue. Callas fans should snatch it up without a moment's pause. But don't get it if you want sheer vocal perfection from the leading roles. I guess my No. 1 Recommendation is actually Tullio Serafin's version with Bergonzi as my favorite Manrico of all time. Other cast highlights include Antonietta Stella as a wonderful Leonora and Fiorenza Cossotto as a frightening Azucena. Enjoy!

A REMINDER OF THE WAY OPERA USED TO SOUND!.......2002-08-18

I'm going to make this very short and to-the-point. They simply don't sing like this anymore ----- sopranos and tenors
like Milanov and Bjoerling are an extinct breed, and we are the poorer for it. Ditto for Fedora Barbieri and Leonard Warren ------- two more outstanding singers ---- all of whom could be heard regularly at the Metropolitan Opera in the 1950's. But then again, so were many other great singers. We don't have voices like this today --- and one hearing of this recording of "Trovatore" sadly proves it. Recorded in 1952, it still sounds acceptable --- and no subsequent "Trovatore" has matched it, though the famous 1962 broadcast from Salzburg with Leontyne Price, Franco Corelli, Giulietta Simionato, and Ettore Bastianini, all under the baton of Herbert von Karajan, comes the closest.

Down with the director!!.......2002-06-11

I think this is a nice version from Trovatore, but musicaly, It lacks of intensity and drama coming from Cilario and Bjoreling. I must admit that Milanov, Merril and Barbieri are superb in each of their roles, but I didn't like that much Bjorleing's singing in this opera. With so little power in his "di quella pira". Good but not great!
As for the director I don't understand how they let him direct an orchestra!! he is Owghfull, no strenght. Maybe I'm overreacting with Cillario, but I heard so much better performances of the orchestra than this, an when I come back and listen to this one I get every day more disapointed.
Is a good choice if you think in the singers, but a terrible one if you think in the director.
Listen to Correlli's, Pryce version.

Average customer rating:

Just the best of the best.

Maria Callas Live

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Maria Callas 100 Best Classics
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Lyric & Coloratura Arias by Maria Callas (EMI's Great Recordings of the Century)

ASIN: B000AMUU9E
Release Date: 2005-11-08

Tracks:

Casta Diva...Fino Al Rito...Ah! Bello A Me Ritorna
Oh, Rimembranza!...Ah Si, Fa Core
Perfido! Or Basti!
Mira, O Norma...Cedi, Deh Cedi!...Si, Fino All'ore Estreme
In Mia Man Alfin Tu Sei
Deh! Non Volerli Vittime
Sorgete; E In Me Dover...Quando A Un Tratto - Various Artists
Ah! Lo Sento
Cedo Al Destin Orribile
Oh! S'io Potessi Dissipar Le Nubi...Col Sorriso D'innocenza..Oh, Sole! Ti Vela Di Tenebra Fonda

Tracks:

Care Compagne...Come Per Me Sereno...Sovra Il Sen
Son Geloso Del Zefiro Errante
D'Un Pensiero E D'un Accento...Non Piu Nozze - Various Artists
Ah! Non Credea Mirarti
Ah! Non Giunge
Regnava Nel Silenzio...Quando Rapito In Estasi
Qui Di Sposa...Verranno A Te
Soffriva Nel Pianto...Tu Che Vedi Il Pianto Mio
Chi Mi Frena - Various Artists
Il Dolce Suono...Ardon Gli Incensi...Spargi D'amaro Pianto - Various Artists

Tracks:

Dei Tuo figli...O Fatal Vello D'or
Creonte A Me Solo
E Che? Io Son Medea!
Come, Innocente Giovane...Non V'ha Sguardo
Io Sentii Sulla Mia Mano - Various Artists
Ove Sono?...In Quegli Sguardi Impresso...Ah! Segnata E La Mia Sorte - Various Artists
Va, Infelice
Fin Dall'eta Piu Tenera...Salira D'Inghilterra Sul Trono
Piangete Voi?...Al Dolce Guidami...Qual Mesto Suon?...Coppia Iniqua - Various Artists

Tracks:

Di Mio Padre...Deh! Pelopea Stirpe!...O Tu, Che In Tua Pieta Crudel
Sommi Dei!...O Sventurata Ifigenia
Il Voto Pago Andra...Io Ti Veggio
Ah! L'esecrando Rito...Io T'imploro Anelante
Di Quai Soavi Lagrime
Omai Da Lunge...Perche Di Stolto Giubilo
Donna...Che! Possente Numi!...Quest'alma E Troppo Debole
Ah! Fuggi Da Morte
Ecco Il Segnal!
Ecco L'orrido Campo...Ma Dall'arido Stela Divulsa
Teco Io Sto...O Qual Soave Brivido
A Tal Colpo...Morro, Ma Prima In Grazia

Tracks:

Libiamo, Ne' Lieti Calici
E Strano! E Strano...Ah! Fors'e Lui...Sempre Libera
Non Sapete...Ah! Dite Alla Giovine
Dammi Tu Forza, O Cielo!
Teneste La Promessa...Addio Del Passato
Ah, Violetta!...Se Una Pudica Vergine - Various Artists
Ritorna Vincitor!
Al Tuo Consiglio Io Cedo...Gloria All'egitto - Various Artists
Qui Radames Verra!...O Patria Mia
Ciel! Mio Padre!
O Terra, Addio

Tracks:

Nel Di Della Vittoria...Vieni! T'afferetta!...Or Tutti Sorgete
La Luce Langue
Una Macchia E Qui Tuttora
Gente La Dentro!...Mario! Mario!...Non La Sospiri, La Nostra Casetta
Orsu, Tosca, Parlate - Various Artists
Vissi D'arte
Senti, L'ora E Vicina...Amaro Sol Per Te...Presto! Su, Mario! - Various Artists
Ecco L'altare...Ervate Possente
Come Sa Amare!...La Mamma Morta
Benedico Il Destino! - Various Artists

Tracks:

Ben Io T'invenni...Anch'io Dischiuso Un Giorno (Abigaille, Act II)
Dov'e L'indiana Bruna? (Bell Song) (Lakme, Act II)
Tutte Le Torture (Costanze, Act II)
Ahime! Che Notte Oscura...Ombra Leggera (Shadow Song) (Dinorah, Act II)
Depuis Le Jour (Louise, Act III)
D'amore Al Dolce Impero (Armida, Act II)
Bel Raggio Lusinghier (Smiramide, Act I)
Ma Chi E Questa Bella...Ai Vostri Giochi...Ed Ora A Voi (Ofelia, Act IV)
Vanne, Lasciami...D'amor Sull'ali Rosee (Leonora, Act IV)
Pace, Pace, Mio Dio! (Leonora, Act IV)
Dolce E Calmo (Liebestod) Isolde, Act III)

Tracks:

Una Voce Poco Fa (Rosina, Act I)
Tu Che Vedi Il Mio Tormento (Tu Che Invoco) (Giulia, Act II)
Surta E La Notte...Ernani! Nernai, Involami (Elvira, Act I)
Tu Che Le Vanita (Elsabetta, Act IV)
Si. Mi Chiamano Mimi (Mimi, Act I)
L'altra Notte In Fondo Al Mare (Margherita, Act III)
L'amour Est Un Oiseau rebelle (Habanera) (Carmen, Act I)
Pres Des Remparts De Seville (Seguedille) (Carmen, Act I)
Nacqui All'affanno...Non Piu Mesta (Cenerentola, Act II)
Je Ne Suis Que Faiblesse...Adieu, Notre Petite Table (Manon, Act II)
Werther! Qui M'aurait Dit...Des Cris Joyeux (Charlotte, Act III)
Tu? Tu? Piccolo Iddio (Butterfly, Act II)
O Mio Babbino Caro (Lauretta)

Customer Reviews:

Just the best of the best........2006-02-08

From all the compilations of Maria Callas EMI has issued this is BY FAR the best one.

Unlike her studio recitals, unequal and mostly recorded when her voice was starting to decay, this live records take you back to the glorious early fifties when the young Callas was changing the history of opera forever.

The first 6 CD's are scenes from stage performances and the last 2 from recitals.

Chronollogically, this compilation starts with the legendary (and controversial) 1951 Mexico-City "Aida" and ends with the 1964 Covent Garden "Tosca" (when Callas' voice was just the shade of itself but at the peak of her dramatic skills).
Listen to the electrifying poetry of the 1952 "La sonnambula", to the devorating flame of 1955 "La traviata" and "Lucia". Not to forget the 1952 "Norma", the 1957 "Ana Bolena" and some rarities like "Andrea Chénier", "Ifigenia in Tauride" and "Poliuto".
The only great absent of this collection is "Armida"...

As for the the 2 recital CD's, the first one contains arias from concerts between 1952 and 1958, when Callas was in full command of her voice. Nobody else was capable of singing arias from Nabucco and Lakmé on the same recital! And listen to the last aria: Wagner's Isolde's dead.

The second one, contains arias from 1959 to 1963. Here, Callas voice had diminished considerably and she was not anymore capable of the same technical miracles, but she still managed to give thrilling dramatical interpretations (listen to the dead scene of Madama Butterfly of the 1963 Paris recital!!!)

In 80% of this compilation you can hear the young Callas creating her own legend, giving herself completly on the stage.

Anne Sofie von Otter - Opera Arias (Mozart, Haydn, Gluck) / Pinnock

Average customer rating:

A real gem on a great recording.
FANTASTIC!!! AN 18th CENTURY VOYAGE
A Charming Disc

Anne Sofie von Otter - Opera Arias (Mozart, Haydn, Gluck) / Pinnock
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Christoph Willibald Gluck , Franz Joseph Haydn , Anne-Sofie von Otter , The English Concert , Paul Goodwin , Jane Coe , Anthony Robson , Anthony Halstead , and Colin Lawson
Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Otter, Anne Sophie von | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson: Handel Arias
For the Stars
The Inner Voice : The Making of a Singer

ASIN: B000001GWW
Release Date: 1997-06-10

Tracks:

Opera Arias: 'Voi che sapete' Le nozze de Figaro
Opera Arias: 'Oh, del mio dolce ardor' Paride ed Elena
Opera Arias: 'In quali eccessi ... Mi tradi' Don Giovanni
Opera Arias: 'Non vi turbate' Alceste
Opera Arias: 'Dunque sperar poss'io - Il tenero momento' Lucio Silla
Opera Arias: 'Dolce d'amor compagna' La finta giardiniera
Opera Arias: 'Una donna como me' Il mondo della luna
Opera Arias: 'Ad un sguardo' Orlando paladino
Opera Arias: 'Batti, batti, o bel Masetto' Don Giovanni
Opera Arias: 'Vedrai carino' Don Giovanni
Opera Arias: 'Che puro ciel' Orfeo ed Eurideice
Opera Arias: 'Che farnza Euridice?' Orfeo ed Eurideice
Opera Arias: 'Deh socorri un'infelice' La fedeltremiata
Opera Arias: 'Ecco il punto - Non pifiori' La clemenza di Tito

Customer Reviews:

A real gem on a great recording........2007-02-27

I have to tell you how horribly upset I was to have this CD stolen from me by my friends (who dared not admit it!)
I bought this together with Ms. Bartoli's "Arie Antique". I love both discs to death.
Ms. von Otter has a very different timbre from Ms. Bartoli. However, in terms of singing, both artists were at their absolute peak in those two discs.
My favorite song on this disc, Gluck's 'Oh, del mio dolce ardor bramato oggetto', though also an Italian 'antique' composition, was NOT on Ms. Bartoli's disc. Ms. von Otter sung it with such soul and voice that I really wonder (increasing more so these days) if Ms. Bartoli could be as good!
I heard both their 'Voi che sapete', and must say that I preferred von Otter's, though Bartoli gave an almost equally good interpretation in her own Mozart album.
Having reacquired this lost album recently, I would add that Ms. von Otter's interpretations in the rarer Mozart operatic works are a real wonder. Compared with Ms. Fleming's Mozart album wherein contained a number of Mozart's rare works, the singing of Anne Sofie von Otter clearly is of a much more convincing standard. As the singer herself puts it: 'On passionate women and moustaches', undoubtedly this disc demonstrates the full musical capability of hers in both genres to a fascinatingly high standard.

FANTASTIC!!! AN 18th CENTURY VOYAGE.......2001-04-23

AN EXCELLENT VOICE! AND A VERY WELL THINK REPERTORY. I REALLY HIGHLY RECOMEND THIS BEAUTIFUL CD EITHER IF YOU LIKE THE GREAT VOICE OF VON OTTER OR THE CHARMING ARIAS OF MOZART, HAYDN AND GLUCK.

A Charming Disc.......1999-03-05

This collection finds Von Otter at top form and paired with a very sympathetic accompanist. (Would that Pinnock did more vocal pieces, his Haydn Mass is also lovely.) While I am not usually a fan of the scattershot recital approach, this one works. If you like either Von Otter (and how could you not?) or Pinnock, this disc is self-recommending.