Gioachino Rossini: Arias

L'italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers), opera Act 1, Cruda sorte! Amor tiranno!
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by The City of London Sinfonia
with Helen McQueen, Della Jones, Gerald Finley, Carol Smith, Katherine Staffan, Simon Birchall, Harry Nicoll
La donna del lago (The Lady of the Lake), opera Act 1, Mura felici
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by The City of London Sinfonia
with Helen McQueen, Della Jones, Gerald Finley, Carol Smith, Katherine Staffan, Simon Birchall, Harry Nicoll
Il signor Bruschino, opera Scene 9, Ah, donate il caro sposo
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by The City of London Sinfonia
with Helen McQueen, Della Jones, Gerald Finley, Carol Smith, Katherine Staffan, Simon Birchall, Harry Nicoll
Adelaide di Borgogna (Ottone, re d'Italia), opera Act 2, Salve Italia un di regnante
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by The City of London Sinfonia
with Helen McQueen, Della Jones, Gerald Finley, Carol Smith, Katherine Staffan, Simon Birchall, Harry Nicoll
Adelaide di Borgogna (Ottone, re d'Italia), opera Act 1, Soffri la tua sventura
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by The City of London Sinfonia
with Helen McQueen, Della Jones, Gerald Finley, Carol Smith, Katherine Staffan, Simon Birchall, Harry Nicoll
Otello, opera Act III, Scene 1, Assisa appiè d'un salice
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by The City of London Sinfonia
with Helen McQueen, Della Jones, Gerald Finley, Carol Smith, Katherine Staffan, Simon Birchall, Harry Nicoll
Otello, opera Act III, Scene 2, Assisa appiè d'un salice
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by The City of London Sinfonia
with Helen McQueen, Della Jones, Gerald Finley, Carol Smith, Katherine Staffan, Simon Birchall, Harry Nicoll
Barbiere di Siviglia, opera Una voce poco fa
Composed by Giovanni Paisiello
Performed by The City of London Sinfonia
with Helen McQueen, Della Jones, Gerald Finley, Carol Smith, Katherine Staffan, Simon Birchall, Harry Nicoll
Bianca e Falliero, opera Act 2, Tu non sai qual colpo atroce
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by The City of London Sinfonia
with Helen McQueen, Della Jones, Gerald Finley, Carol Smith, Katherine Staffan, Simon Birchall, Harry Nicoll
La cenerentola (Cinderella), opera Act 2, Nacqui all'affanno
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by The City of London Sinfonia
with Helen McQueen, Della Jones, Gerald Finley, Carol Smith, Katherine Staffan, Simon Birchall, Harry Nicoll

Gioachino Rossini: Arias,Giovanni Paisiello,Gioachino Rossini,Helen McQueen,Katherine Staffan,London Sinfonia,The City of London Sinfonia,Carol Smith,Harry Nicoll,Della Jones,Gerald Finley,Simon Birchall,Chandos,Classical,Classical Music,Italian Classical Period Opera,Italian Romantic Opera,Opera

Average customer rating:

Great for kids!
Mediocre Sound Quality
I was pleased
The Most Famous Opera Arias
Okay But.... - a review of "The Most Famous Opera Arias"

The Most Famous Opera Arias

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco...

ASIN: B000002SCE
Release Date: 1994-07-19

Tracks:

Rigoletto: Act I - Caro nome
Rigoletto: Act III - La donna e mobile
Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro
Carmen: Act I - Habanera: La voila...L'amour est oiseau rebelle
Orfeo ed Euridice: Act III - Che faro senz Euridice
Madama Butterfly: Act III - Un bel di, vedremo
Romeo et Juliette: Act I - Ah! je veux vivre
Le nozze di Figaro: Act II - Voi che sapete che cosa e amor
Samson et Dalila: Act II - Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix
Tosca:: Act II - Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore
Aida: Act I-Celeste Aida
Il Barbiere Di Siviglia: Act I-Una voce poco fa
Lakme: Act II - Ou va la jeune indoue?
La Wally: Act I - Ebben? Ne andro lontano
La Boheme: Act I - Che gelida manina
Die Zauberflote: Act II-Die Holle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen

Customer Reviews:

Great for kids!.......2007-06-27

I'm generally not a fan of music "samplers," but opera can be tough to introduce to children. And hey--even adults played cards, ate, and talked through the recitative sections of the early operas while they waited for the next aria! So I feel that getting kids hooked on opera through great arias probably can't hurt (the next 10 years or so will determine whether I'm right or not). My 4-year-old loves this CD; it's a delight to watch her imitate Anna Moffo (the sincerest form of flattery, for sure). Highly recommended resource for introducing young kids to opera. More top picks: Siberell's Bravo! Brava! A Night at the Opera, and the Black Dog Opera Library CDs.

Mediocre Sound Quality.......2007-03-31

If you note the album was released in 1994, and includes selections from many years prior, you will understand that the quality of the sound engineering is not going to dazzle your ear.

It's a very nice collection to hum along to, but don't expect shivers down your spine as the sound quality is not sufficient to reproduce the dynamic range of these voices.

I was pleased.......2007-02-18

I am by no means an opera expert, but found this to be a wonderful CD. Along with the songs I already knew I liked (such as a song from Carmen,) I found many others I enjoyed. In fact, Samson et Dahlila turned out to be my favorite. If you are just getting started or at any point in your adventure of opera, I would recommend this one.

The Most Famous Opera Arias.......2007-01-05

I was completely surprised in the product as well as the time in which it was delivered.

I would not only refer this seller but I will come back myself.

Okay But.... - a review of "The Most Famous Opera Arias".......2006-08-18

My daughter (6 y.o.) and I like opera; but sitting for two hours to watch Turandot is just not within the realm of possibilities for my 4 year old son right now... so I was looking for an opera CD for the car. He will sit and listen to short arias.

This was the first we purchased and it is okay but not great.

Problem #1 - where is Wagner. No Wagner?
Problem#2 - Elena Obraztsova - she sounds like Carmen's grandmother. Rather matronly for a vixen (imho--lol)

Three Stars. [C+] Great Price and good sound quality for the car. The operatic styles of some of the performers are antiquated and frilly sounding, but I would probably buy this CD again.

Note: We purchased and really preferred "The # 1 Opera Album". It has more selections and better artists in our opinion. Also it's a two CD set. Just something to consider.

Andrea Bocelli - Sacred Arias / Myung-Whun Chung

Average customer rating:

Beautiful music
Andrea Bocelli-Sacred Arias
An "experience" of sacred arias more than "listening" of sacred arias
amazing talent
Perfect arias for the perfect voice

Andrea Bocelli - Sacred Arias / Myung-Whun Chung
George Frideric Handel , Giulio Caccini , Charles Gounod , Franz Schubert , Cesar Franck , Gioachino Rossini , Giuseppe Verdi , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Richard Wagner , Pietro Mascagni , Louis Niedermeyer , Franz Xaver Gruber , John Francis Wade , Jean-Paul Lecot , Myung-Whun Chung , and Andrea Bocelli
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Andrea Bocelli - The Opera Album ~ Aria

ASIN: B00002ND9N
Release Date: 1999-11-09

Tracks:

Caccini/Mercurio: Ave Maria
Mascagni: Sancta Maria
Gounod: Ave Maria
Schubert: Ave Maria
Franck: Panis Angelicus
Rossini: Cuius animam
Verdi: Ingemisco
Mozart: Ave verum
Wagner: Der Engel
Handel: Ombra mai fu
Niedermeyer: Pieta signore
Rossini: Dominus Deus
Schubert/Mercurio: Mille Cherubini in coro
Gruber/Mercurio: Silent Night
Wade: Adeste Fideles
Gloria a te, Cristo Ges

Amazon.com

When he was growing up, Andrea Bocelli recalls finding inspiration in a favorite recording of sacred music performed by tenor legend Franco Corelli. Bocelli--who in the meantime has come to inspire millions of fiercely loyal fans himself--returns to the genre as the guiding theme of Sacred Arias, the release of which coincides with the first English-language biography of the singer. These performances are filled with the singer's phenomenally well-known vocal signature: his flair for long, sweetly floating high notes and the gentle sense of cadence he brings to a melody. It's a mistake to compartmentalize Bocelli into a singer of "operatic" versus "popular" styles: in truth his approach is at heart the same. Lack of color and control in his phrasing remains a drawback, but the emotional empathy Bocelli evokes is never in doubt. The arias collected here sample some of the most famous devotional pieces: Schubert's "Ave Maria" and Mozart's transporting "Ave Verum," as well as an arrangement of "Silent Night" in which Bocelli tries out his English. There's also a decidedly odd choice of bedfellows for a program of "sacred" music, such as a song from Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder (whose "angel" is the object of an overpoweringly erotic attraction) and Handel's figurative ode to a tree, "Ombra mai fu." Still, Bocelli sings with an unfeigned directness that is sure to expand his already enormous following even further. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful music.......2007-01-12

This is my second copy of this CD, I burned the first one out!!
Andrea Bocelli has a very gorgeous voice that is a gift from above. His voice is not affected or braggadoccio but naturally magnificent. I could and do start my day listening to this spiritually uplifting CD almost everyday. It is a wonderful way to get off to a pleasant peaceful start, but also a nice way to come home in the evening if you have a CD player in your car. I highly recommend it to all.

Andrea Bocelli-Sacred Arias.......2006-08-25

Excellent listening. Voice quality and tone is superb. Brings tears to my eyes when I envision listening to this in a church setting.

An "experience" of sacred arias more than "listening" of sacred arias.......2006-04-28

I bought this CD's special edition with DVD, and I am impressed by bocelli's singing in this album. I have heard many voices singing sacred songs, and christmas songs, but very few singers can achieve the "sacred atmosphere" that bocelli devotes when he sings. He may not have a "strong" voice as opera singers, but I think singing these sacred songs, devoting the "sacred atmosphere" to the audience is much more important, the voice actually is just a tool that helps a singer to achieve the result. For real, I have heard some CD by some chorus that perform sacred arias, but they did not move me as much as this CD does, mostly not even close. Personally I like "O come all ye faithful", "silent night", all "ave maria"'s, "domine deus", "cujus animam" the most. When I listen Bocelli's singing I focus on what he tries to devote in singing more than his voice color, because in terms of voice color he surely cant be compared with pavarotti or domingo, so why compares? The way of listening him and listening real opera singers is different man. But the reason I gave only this CD four stars is that I have heard several sacred arias from this album performed by his voice teacher, the legendary tenor Franco Corelli. I tried not to compare both...but I cant, not because Bocelli sings bad, he is already excellent, just Corelli is TOO excellent that cant be described by human language (well I think even Pavarotti is not even close to Franco Corelli, but this is just my opinion). Anyway if you want to "experience" the true beauty of sacred arias, this CD is highly recommended. And this is also a very good sacred aria album for beginning listeners who want to broaden their musical taste to sacred arias.

amazing talent.......2006-03-25

worth the price the songs are breathtaking and talent is indescribable

Perfect arias for the perfect voice.......2006-03-04

These are just terrific. How does Andrea acheive the range he does, and the power he has, without sounding too heavy or too light? His voice sounds like the perfect voice for these perfect arias.

I have noticed one concern with the CD. I have heard several clicks scattered here and there in the songs -- but the CD is clean and I feel confident it is not the machine. Has anyone else noticed this?

Average customer rating:

What an incredible disc
Rossini tenors
Exceptional Tenor!
Worth a listen
Impressed, but not moved...

Juan Diego Florez ~ Rossini Arias
Gioachino Rossini , Riccardo Chailly , Juan Diego Florez , and Orchestra Sinfonica e Coro di Milano Giuseppe Verdi
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Rossini - Il Barbiere Di Siviglia / Juan Diego Florez, Maria Bayo, Pietro Spagnoli, Ruggero Raimondi, Bruno Pratico, Gianluigi Gelmetti, Madrid Opera

ASIN: B00005UT5H
Release Date: 2002-01-08

Tracks:

Ah Dov'e, Dov'e El Cimento
Che Ascolto!
Cessa Di Piu Resistere
Vieni Fra Queste Braccia
Concedi, Amor Pietoso
Terra Amica
Oh Fiamma Soave
Si, Ritrovarla Io Giuro

Amazon.com

This disc by the rising young Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez is a winner. He has a light lyric tenor of quality, stunning coloratura technique, and a real feeling for the Rossini style. He shines in these bravura arias, scattering high Cs and Ds with abandon. There aren't many tenors these days who can fearlessly negotiate the perils of arias like "Cessa di piu resistere" from The Barber of Seville with such aplomb. Nor are there many who can capture both the pathos and the fevered intensity of "Oh fiamma souave" from La donna del lago. Even those who might wish for a warmer, sweeter sound in the bel canto repertory than Flórez's brighter, more brilliant tones should welcome this auspicious solo debut. He's helped by the sure hand of Riccardo Chailly at the helm, ensuring stylistically sympathetic performances. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

What an incredible disc.......2006-03-04

This was my first Juan Diego Florez CD and I was just amazed for what I heard the very first time. Such an elegance while singing, bright and powerfull performance and above all a full respect for what rossini wrote. This is a masterpice and every single collector should have it. Juan Diego Florez sing as no one can: he is the number one. These selection of Rossini arias are among the most difficul ones for the tenor voice and Florez is able to sort them with no apparent effort. By the way if you have not yet bought his last disc, and if you have some affection for Latin America, go for it. That disc, "Sentimiento Latino" is full of the most representative songs from Latin America and Florez manages to master them all as no one has done before. What a great artist.

Rossini tenors.......2005-08-26

At last a real Rossini tenor, as rare as hens teeth! Mr Florez has all the right vocal technique and a stunnning head tone to produce the high, light tenor sound needed for these impossible to sing Rossini arias. I hope he continues to sing roles suited for his fabulous voice and avoids the heavy Verdi and Puccini roles. Juan Diego Florez is the real deal.

Exceptional Tenor!.......2005-01-30

Theo made a very good point when describing Juan Diego Florez. He indeed is all the talents of these legendary tenors combined, along with the exemplary skills of the old school of Italian music. Sure, he doesn't possess the warmth of a Domingo or a Gigli, but what would you expect of a Rossinian tenor? Heavy voice that goes up up up? That is quite uncommon for such a beautiful voice of this timbre. Now if there were indeed a tenor with a dark voice who could tackle such material and do just about anything that the operatic repertoire requires of him, yet maintain a limber quality about his voice when tackling the challenging bel canto repertoire, then we would have Callas reincarnated in the tenor voice (LOL!!). But truly, this is a gem of a recital. No other tenor nowadays can perform such challenging material without resorting to unconventional means of singing. He truly revived the real bel canto voice--fresh, light, yet invigorating in drama. Drama, I say, is exemplified here not through the typical verismo style we are acquainted to nowadays. It is rather inflicted upon the soul in the traditional bel canto manner--through embellishments and dramatic singing without sobs or such and so. He does it with grace. His florid lines will astound, amaze, and astonish you. His high notes are chesty yet beautiful. Take my word for it, this is a tenor you will be very sorry to miss if you don't sample the many delicacies he has to offer.

Worth a listen .......2004-10-10

As you may have determined from the other reviews of this CD, Juan Diego Florez is a controversial artist. With a high tessitura, athletic vocal agility, and penetrating vibrato, Mr. Florez's voice might find more fans in Europe than in the US (where the dramatic arias of Verdi, Puccini and Wagner are more popular than the jaw-dropping vocal fireworks that made Rossini famous). For opera fans who were introduced to Rossini's difficult and now rarely-heard music in the 1980s through such great artists as the Mexican tenor Francisco Araiza (e.g., through the opera film 'La Cenerentola' by Jean Pierre Ponnelle), Florez may be a shock. Mr. Araiza's voice was deeper, darker, and more 'masculine' than Florez's voice yet possessed the same amazing agility and range. However, Juan Diego Florez is worthy of praise and recognition. He has an 'easy top' much like Pavarotti, and high notes that avoid the bone-grating 'slide' up to the high Cs and Db's that other tenors have used in Rossini operas. Being young (barely 30), Mr. Florez will have time to grow into his powerful voice. We should all hope that his talent will be recognized by a wider audience and lead to new, more authentic recordings of Rossini's rare and difficult operas such as Semiramide, Tancredi, and Ermione.

Impressed, but not moved..........2003-06-20

I am sorry, but I only feel I can give this cd three stars. Juan Diego Florez pulls off some very diffcult roulades. His voice is definitely more beautiful in some ways than many of the tenore di grazia's to come before him. However, every note of the arias seems to sound the same. Maybe it is only my personal preference, but I have always enjoyed a bit more text painting. Although he has a solid technique, I think this cd set leaves me completely unsatisfied emotionally and I must admit that I do not particularly care for the shrillness of the high notes. I am impressed, but not moved. I recommend buying this cd just to hear a tenor that may be the best of the young tenors that are out there today(technically). However, I like to be reeled in emotionally and really feel connected to the text due to the singer's interpretive skill. Florez does this for me at no point. The singing is not effortless by any stretch of the imagination, but seems to show that a great deal of hard work was put into attaining the high level of technical achievement. Hopefully, he will continue to improve and blow me away with his next album release.

Jennifer Larmore Sings Great Operatic Arias

Average customer rating:

The Art of Serious Fun
Larmore at her best again!

Jennifer Larmore Sings Great Operatic Arias

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000NY166A
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Tracks:

Star Of the Evening
O My Beloved
Fierce Flames Are Raging
Love Like Mine Is the Light Of Creation
That Ungrateful Man Betrayed Me
Where Was I?
My Beloved
Hence, Iris Hence Away!
Tell Me, My Beating Heart
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O Hated Gift
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Customer Reviews:

The Art of Serious Fun.......2007-07-01

While most opera stars are submitting to record label hype and narrow artistic freedom, Jennifer Larmore seems to be flourishing in the recording studio. With Opera Rara and now Chandos behind her, she continues to offer sumptuous recordings that are both entertaining and of great artistic caliber. Certainly Larmore does not have to prove herself as she has been performing for nearly 25 years. Anyone who has seen her live knows she is the real deal and she is in top form on this arias disc. Now, mind you, she is singing both mezzo and soprano roles here. And in English. I was skeptical. Being a huge Larmore fan, I though "uh, oh"...My last Chandos purchase was Elizabeth Futral's arias disc and I was not impressed. But here the translations (sung in delicious theatrical English), top-notch singing by Je La and perfect conducting by David Parry with the Philharmonia Orchestra combine to make a highly addictive disc that will go down in history with Larmore's classics Where Shall I Fly and Call Me Mister. She really sets the bar high for other singers.

Thankfully, Larmore goes out of her comfort zone and sings some arias that one would not normally associate with this fearless singer. The Don Carlos and Trovatore arias will certainly give her naysayers something to chew on, but she does it! Note the last few bars of "O Hated Gift". I was on the edge of my seat.

The opening number ("Star of the Evening" from Adriana Lecouvreur) alone is worth the price of the disc. Orchestra and singer match brilliantly and Larmore's final bars brought tears to my eyes. It's good stuff.

The weak spots are minor. Poor Colin Lee is left on the floor in the Favorita duet. A more experienced tenor would have made this duet electrifying. On the other hand, Larmore alone (track 2) singing "O My Beloved" from Favorita proves (as she did in 2001 with OONY) that she should be singing this role on the stage and in a full recording while we're at it. She is Leonora and the tension she creates is heartbreaking.

I could have done without Hence, Iris Hence Away, heard on her In Performance DVD and Where Shall I Fly cd (surely there are other Handel arias, but perhaps that's another Chandos disc in the works???!!!), but it displays how she can still sing Handel like no other. The Tancredi aria is a nice surprise.

The Gioconda track is a blood and guts duet thanks to Susan Patterson and Larmore's singing. I love how Opera Rara and Chandos recital cds always include duets and more. Larmore is a generous singer and part of her genius is how she works off other artists.

As with every Larmore recital disc, she closes with a treat. Juliet's Waltz Song from Gounod's Romeo and Juliet???? Is she kidding??? Nope. I've heard many a soprano struggle though this aria and merely pull it off with a pinched high note. Should Larmore be singing this aria? Hell, no...Can she? Hell, yes!!! But what's so special is she sings it with pure pleasure; as if she'd sung this song her whole career. Not as a mezzo slumming it in soprano territory. And I think that's what she's trying to tell us here. Have fun, be true to your art form and never pander to your audience.

Larmore at her best again!.......2007-06-01

Jennifer Larmore is my favorite mezzosoprano since the very first time. Such an extraordinary artist! To enjoy!

Jennifer Larmore es mi mezzosoprano favorita desde la primera vez que la escuché. Es una artista extraordinaria y este nuevo cd, a pesar de estar grabado en inglés, muestra, una vez más, la calidad interpretativa de esta maravillosa cantante. Incluso se permite el lujo de cantar el vals de Juliette con más seguridad que muchas sopranos que la tienen en repertorio.

Average customer rating:

Voice of the 20th Century..
The OTHER essential Bjoerling CD; 10 stars! 20!

Jussi Bjorling: Opera Arias
Giacomo Puccini , Umberto Giordano , Francesco Cilea , Giacomo Meyerbeer , Charles Gounod , Jules Massenet , Friedrich von Flotow , Gioachino Rossini , Nils Grevillius , and Jussi Bjorling
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Jussi Björling: Opera Arias

ASIN: B000002S05
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Tracks:

Act II: 'Una furtiva lagrima': L'Elisir d'Amore
Act III: 'Ah! si ben mio coll'essere': Verdi: Il Trovatore
Act I: Di tu se fedele': Un Ballo in Maschera
Act I: 'Se quel guerrier': Aida
Act I: 'Recitar!...Vesti la giubba': I Pagliacci
Act I: 'Che gelida manina': La Boh
Act I: 'O soave fanciulla': La Boh
Act I: 'Recondita armonia': Tosca
Act Three: 'E lucevan le stelle': Tosca
Act Three: 'Ch'ella mi creda libero': La Fanciulla del West
Act Three: 'Nessun dorma!': Turandot
Act Three: 'Amor ti vieta': Fedora
Act II: 'E la solita storia': L'Arlesiana
'Mi batte, il cor... O paradiso': L'Africaine
Act III: 'Salut! demeure chaste et pure': Faust
Act III: 'Je suis seul!...Ah, fuyez, douce image': Manon
Act III: 'M appari tutt'amor': Martha
Cujus animan: Stabat Mater

Customer Reviews:

Voice of the 20th Century.........2000-07-13

Björling tops most polls as "singer of the 20th century", and justly so. Whether one prefers his velvety,lyrically smooth voice of the 30s and 40s, or his more full-bodied, darker power-tenor of the late 50s (he was ready to take on Lohengrin and Otello just before his death), no other human voice has left a legacy of Björling's caliber in recording history.

This collection is a wonderful presentation of the young Björling. His voice was said to have a direct appeal to emotions. Listen to "Ch'ella mi creda libero" with its almost extraterrestial "lift" and try to keep the lump in your throat from growing!

The-37 "O Paradiso" is a fantastic display of power blended with beauty - which is also the case with the Tosca arias presented here.

"Che Gelida Manina" is by many regarded as Björling's signature aria, just as "La Boheme" was said to be his signature opera. The -36 version here shows Björling aged 25 with wonderful silvery tone and grasp of message, problems with Italian pronounciation or not.

Björling never lapsed into self parodic sobbing or exaggerated shouts or gliding "loops" to get a message across. He insisted on sticking to what the composer actually had written down...and within these vocal restraints, Björling still managed to portray an unexplored universe of human feelings. "Vesti La Giubba" is a good example of this: no sobbing or bitter laughter but downright hartbreaking nonetheless. True art!

His -44 studio version of "Nessun Dorma" makes an interesting comparison with his -59 recording from the complete Turandot. Touch and go which one to go for as the second or third best version of "...Dorma" ever in recording history. The shining beacon is in my opinion from a radio concert in Sweden in 1944, where Björling for once actually DOES go beyond the strict readings of the work. His final B just stretches on and on and on into eternity - read heaven.

As for his famous ringing high notes, his final D flat on Cujus Animan may be THE one most beautiful sound I've ever heard from a human being!

If you do not have any Björling CDs, this may be a perfect introduction to his art.

And where to go from there? Well,"O Paradiso" is one of many excellent collections from the 50s. There's also a Norwegian compilation called "jussi's Beste" (which sold to platinum in Norway 35 years after his death...). This CD contains among other highlights the wonderful Christmas song "O Helga Natt", in which the final high note is sung with such force that it threatens to blow your speakers to oblivion, never mind your ears...(if it is the last sound I will ever hear, it is OK by me...).

If you want a complete opera recording, you just have to invest your hard earned cash (or bank credit as is the case with me) on Beechams "La Boheme".

Someone said elsewhere that once you have listened to Björling, you may never want to listen to any other tenor...ever: HOW VERY TRUE!

The OTHER essential Bjoerling CD; 10 stars! 20!.......1999-03-15

Along with the "Pearl Fishers Duet" CD, to me this is the other essential Bjoerling. (The more than 2 dozen friends who've received those 2 CDs as a gift can testify to that!)

The "Vesti" is completely heartbreaking, maybe because there's none of the histrionic sobbing that usually accompanies it. And of course there is that 1945 recording of "Nessun dorma!", which I have seen referred to as one of the 5 greatest recordings of all time. The arias from Tosca are also outstanding. The only addition that would make this perfect CD "even more perfect" would be the inclusion of the Gonoud "Ah! Leve-toi, soleil!"

Although I have loved classical music since I was a kid, until Jussi every tenor I ever heard sounded like an opera parody. Jussi is different; he doesn't make you think "Now there's a guy taking a deep breath and singing loud." To steal a line from Amadeus, when he opens his mouth you "hear the voice of God"; absolute, divine beauty, untainted by ego or eccentricity. that seems to flow without strain or effort.

Tracks:

Ave Maria
Sancta Maria
Ave Maria
Ave Maria
Panis Angelicus - Norbert Balatsch
Cujus Animam
Ingemisco
Ave Verum Corpus
Der Engel
Frondi Tenere... Ombra Mai Fu
Pieta, Signore - Norbert Balatsch
Domine Deus
Mille Cherubini In Coro - Norbert Balatsch
Silent Night
Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful) - Norbert Balatsch
Gloria A Te, Cristo Gesu (The Hymn Of The Great Jubilee)
Agnus Dei
I Believe

Amazon.com

When he was growing up, Andrea Bocelli recalls finding inspiration in a favorite recording of sacred music performed by tenor legend Franco Corelli. Bocelli--who in the meantime has come to inspire millions of fiercely loyal fans himself--returns to the genre as the guiding theme of Sacred Arias. These performances are filled with the singer's phenomenally well-known vocal signature: his flair for long, sweetly floating high notes and the gentle sense of cadence he brings to a melody. It's a mistake to compartmentalize Bocelli into a singer of "operatic" versus "popular" styles: in truth his approach is at heart the same. Lack of color and control in his phrasing remains a drawback, but the emotional empathy Bocelli evokes is never in doubt. The arias collected here sample some of the most famous devotional pieces: Schubert's "Ave Maria" and Mozart's transporting "Ave Verum," as well as an arrangement of "Silent Night" in which Bocelli tries out his English. There's also a decidedly odd choice of bedfellows for a program of "sacred" music, such as a song from Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder (whose "angel" is the object of an overpoweringly erotic attraction) and Handel's figurative ode to a tree, "Ombra mai fu." Still, Bocelli sings with an unfeigned directness that is sure to expand his already enormous following even further. This new special edition includes two bonus tracks on a CD enhanced with a picture gallery as well as a full-length DVD of Bocelli in concert filmed at the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome. --Thomas May

Album Description

Special Edition includes enhanced CD with bonus tracks and concert DVD.

Customer Reviews:

A spiritual experience.......2003-11-27

The DVD is the full 77 minute concert with two featurettes previously released alone. The CD is the full 72 minute concert previously released alone, except that two bonus tracks have been added. The audio quality of each one is quite good. (If you have a Dolby Digital stereo, then you must go into the setup menu on the DVD to select Dolby Digital sound. The default music track is the stereo 2.0 sound.) The video quality of the DVD is astonishing.

Tracks:

Le nozze di Figaro: Non pirai, farfallone amoroso
Don Giovanni: Deh, vieni alla finestra
Don Giovanni: Madamina, il catalogo uesto
Cosi fan tutte: Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo
Die Zauberfl Der Vogelfer bin ich ja
Tannher: Wie Todesahnung Drung deckt die Lande...O du mein holder Abendstern
Der Fliegende Holler: Die Frist ist um
Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Allez!...Pour te livrer combat...Seintille, diamant
Faust: Vous qui faites l'endormie
Prince Igor: Ni sna ni otdycha izmucennoj duse
Don Pasquale: Bella siccome un angelo
La Cenerentola: Miei rampolli femminini
Macbeth: Perfidi! All'anglo contra me v'unite!
Falstaff: Ehi! paggio!...L'Onore!

Customer Reviews:

Look out world.......2006-01-20

Maestro Terfel throws down the vocal gauntlet in this tour de force offering of selected opera arias and dares any male singer, future or current, to pick it up. From the elegance and humor of Mozart, to the giddy delights of Rossini, and the vocal power of Verdi, Bryn Terfel diplays clearly why he is the preeeminent bass-baritone of our age. Short of some misguided forays into American Musical Theater, there seems to be nothing that this proetean singer cannot do. James Levine leads the bravura Met Orchestra with equal parts style and substance. A must have for a fan of great singing and artful music making.

What fun!.......2005-11-22

This is definitely the best recording of the selections chosen from "le Nozze de Figaro" I have ever heard. Terfel has a wonderful sense of musical humour, and is able to make his voice do seemingly, whatever he likes. In fact I think one could liken his voice to a big red bouncy ball, it's so round and fun to play with, you can tell that he himself has fun using it. However this is the only one of his albums I have really fallen in love with, in spite of listening to quite a few. Some of the same pieces are on his other cds, but not as well-sung as in this one.

I LOVE YOU, BRYN!.......2005-06-03

Terfel is amazing. The voice is warm, wide and sensous, and the acting is top-notch. This recital is the best recording I have heard of him outside full operas, where he is (of course) at his best. Every peice on it is a gem, but especially the first five Mozart arias. You will never hear a better Catologue Aria. I make it a point to listen to his at least once a week.
If you are an opera lover and (God forbid!) have not yet stumbled upon Terfel, this is an excellent introduction. And by the way, you needn't be a singer to appreciate his voice - I know very little of the technicalities of singing (about as much as a year in the church choir can give you), but I play the violin and we violinists are very keen on singers who know what they are doing. In the words of my violin teacher, Terfel is "charming!"

awesome.........2004-03-10

this is an awesome cd. if you're a fan of Bryn Terfel, you should buy this. you'll enjoy every song in this cd. I also recommend his recital dvd.

ps) don't listen to what the guy under my review said. i don't think this person knows how to sing.

Why do people think this guy can SING???.......2004-02-09

It baffles me that people think that Bryn Terfel is a great singer. It sounds like he is SINGING HOLDING HIS NOSE CLOSED. Absolutely AWFUL. Just because you can sing LOUD and POWERFUL does NOT mean you are GOOD. I would rather listen to my dishwasher running than this stuff!! The TONE of the voice is what matters to MOST people, and this guy doesn't have it. If you want to hear a beautiful voice, do yourself a favor and go buy Josh Groban's new CD, Closer. You won't regret it!!

Vesselina Kasarova - Rossini Arias and Duets / Flórez, Fagan

Average customer rating:

Pyrotechnique showcase
Impassioned and polished singing
An exquisite Falcon
Vocally Astounding
Different mezzo voice

Vesselina Kasarova - Rossini Arias and Duets / Flórez, Fagan
Gioachino Rossini , Arthur Fagen , Vesselina Kasarova , Juan Diego Flórez , and Munich Radio Orchestra
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Kasarova, Vesselina | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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Vesselina Kasarova - Mozart Arias / Sir Colin Davis
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Vesselina Kasarova - A Portrait

ASIN: B00000I9LV
Release Date: 1999-03-09

Tracks:

Bianca e Falliero: Tu non sai qual colpo atroce
L'Italiana in Algeri: Per lui che adoro
La Cenerentola: Una volta c'era
Semiradime: Eccomi alfine in Babilonia
Armida: Amor... possente nome!
L'Italiana in Algeri: Cruda Sorte!
Othello: Ah, vieni nel tuo sangue
La Donna Del Lago: Tanti affeti in tal momento

Amazon.com essential recording

Once again, Bulgarian mezzo-soprano Vesselina Kasarova proves that one can forget even the fabulous Cecilia Bartoli. With a voice at least twice that of Bartoli's, with the same agility in fast music, and capable of a similar number of shadings from ppp to fff (Bartoli can go from ppppp to f), Kasarova here tackles some of the same repertory as her Italian counterpart. We discover that her Cenerentola is much more easily wounded and far gentler, and maybe even more appealing than Bartoli's. But forget comparisons and just listen to Kasarova's infectious, seductive scene from L'Italiana and the amazing, breakneck finale to La Donna del Lago. Marvel at her manly singing in Arsace's big scene from Semiramide (totally different from Horne's and no less riveting), and bask in the charm of her Armida. Enjoy a scene from the almost unknown Bianca e Falliero. And just to surprise yourself, listen to Kasarova in a duet from Rossini's Otello and be knocked out by her foray up to a high D natural. Kasarova is joined in this and a couple of other scenes by sweet-voiced tenor Juan Diego Florez. Arthur Fagen conducts throughout as if this were Kasarova's show--which it most certainly is. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Pyrotechnique showcase.......2007-05-02

Reviewers concentrated mostly on Vesselina Kasarova. Certainly, this is a soprano with an astounding range - her aria in track 4 demonstrates a natural contralto voice, yet in more places than one she sores up way beyond the high C, to the envy of many sopranos.
To me, the duets in tracks 3, 5 and 7 with the then 25 year-old Juan Diego Florez are in a similar degree revelations of Florez's amazing voice.
Call him 'graceful tenor' or what not, his is a distinctive voice between a counter-tenor and tenor that only he possesses. But living with the high range is not his only skill - he has fine phrasing, sensitive musicality and wonderful intonation, even at the early age of 25!
The vocal talents displayed by the two singers in this recording are simply mesmerising.

Impassioned and polished singing.......2007-01-09

This is a great CD. At least one critic suggested earlier in her career that Kasarova should stick to the dramatic roles and stay off the bel canto repertoire, but she has certainly developed since then. The performances are beautifully crafted, with the added excitement of a substantial voice and real dramatic flair.

If you want to hear the most exciting performance ever of "Cruda sorte" go to Della Jones. But all in all this is a wonderful CD.

An exquisite Falcon.......2004-02-03

Madame Kasarova is an exquisite Falcon-Soprano (Natural Mezzo capable of doing soprano-roles) in the tradition of del los Angeles. Her mezzo-range is most powerful but she has acuti that would make sopranos pea-green with envy. I love her in Rossini and if you like romantic opera buy "Werther" with her as Charlotte, the most fantastic Charlotte since Victoria de los Angeles. She also AMAZING in Donizetti, esp. as Giovanna in "Anna Bolena". Enjoy this fabulous CD!

Vocally Astounding.......2001-07-12

In terms of vocal power, talent and technique, this may well be the most impressive collection of Rossini arias on record. This is a unique, very powerful voice, with shades of the rare agility of a coloratura contralto, as we are told Malibran was.

Much of the lightheartedness of Rossini's world is lost in these readings, though--and this will be a problem for many listeners accustomed to the aura of playfulness convention has taught us is central to Rossini's work, the tongue-in-cheek naivete of the Rossini Heroine. And while there IS at times more gravity in the readings than the music seems to demand, this untraditional interpretation also challenges many popular preconceptions about the a major composer of the mezzo/contralto repitoire.

And when it works--wow. Kasarova's "Una volta c'era...Un soave non so che" from *La Cenerentola* is the most rivoting performance of the aria I have ever heard. With simply a bit more variation in her shadings, Kasarova will become even better than she is, which is really, really good.

Different mezzo voice.......2001-03-31

By far, this is not a voice like Bartoli's. It is quite different and can not be compared to anyone else. You will not find the chest notes of Horne, neither Bartoli's charm. I am not an expert, but I can tell you that the security and the power contained in this bulgarian mezzo is worth trying.

Sumi Jo - Virtuoso Arias ~ Verdi, Rossini, Donizetti, Meyerbeer

Average customer rating:

I found her
THE BEST!!!!
A Great Showcase For The Great Soprano
Virtuoso Opera Star! The Sumi Jo Album To Own!
Acrobatic singing

Sumi Jo - Virtuoso Arias ~ Verdi, Rossini, Donizetti, Meyerbeer
Giuseppe Verdi , Gioachino Rossini , Gaetano Donizetti , Giacomo Meyerbeer , Léo Delibes , Vincenzo Bellini , Richard Strauss , Leonard Bernstein , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Young-Ha Yoon , Paolo Olmi , Sumi Jo , Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra , Anne Maugue , and Marius Constant
Manufacturer: Erato
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Arias | 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
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ASIN: B000005EDE
Release Date: 1995-02-07

Tracks:

Il Barbiere di Siviglia: 'Una voce poco fa' (Rosina)
La Sonnambula (Act 2): 'Ah non credea mirarti' (Amina)
Lakme (Act 2, Scene 10): The Bell Song (Lakme)
Rigoletto (Act 1, Scene 13): 'Gualtier Maide...caro nome' (Gilda)
Giacomo Meyerbeer: 'Ombres legeres' (Dinora)
Gaetano Donizetti: The Mad Scene (Lucie)
Adriadne Auf Naxos: Zerbinetta's Aria
Leonard Bernstein: 'Glitter And Be Gay' (Cunegonde)
Die Zauberflote: 'Der Holle Rache...' (Queen of the Night)
Boribat

Customer Reviews:

I found her.......2006-12-27

I was looking for a complete recording of Zerbinetta's aria (I still don't know whether I have one, this one is 7 minutes long, 5 minutes were cut from Lucia's mad scene, I thought Zerbinetta's aria was much longer than 7 minutes), I had Gruberova singing it many years ago, but I cannot take her style and got rid of it. Sills (my main reason for buying the DVD) only sings part of it on "Made in America" which was disappointing, as was the entire DVD (all hints and glimpses and snippets, nothing, or very little, complete, very unsatisfying). So damnit just went through Strauss (ick, don't like any of the Strausses) on Amazon looking for the cheapest most likely to be complete recording of this aria and settled on the Sumi Jo. And my god what a jolt! This is the most beautiful new thing I've heard in years! She's another Pons. Good, clear, perfect separation of notes, wonderful range, warm beautiful voice, agile, wonderful Sutherland leaps to the last note of arias. This is it. This is wonderful. Just ordered 2 more of her albums. Should be here in a few days. A reviewer of another of her albums said she can't sing as fast as someone name Kirkby (or something), so immediately looked up Kirkby. Thought I'd found another jewel. Well, no. Kirkby specializes in Renaissance, Baroque and Classical music, mainly religious. That's out. But sigh maybe not. I only went through 3 or 4 or 5 pages of her stuff, then lost interest and stopped. Maybe a Meyerbeer or Donizetti popped up later. I'm not current with the world of music or any other art. No interest. Generally don't like it. And I stick pretty close to Sutherland, Sills, Callas (up to a point), and what Pons I can find. But this album is absolutely wonderful, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes coloratura singing.

THE BEST!!!!.......2005-09-24

No question about it.
Never have I heard such a pure, clean voice.
Perfect colorattura.

A Great Showcase For The Great Soprano.......2004-01-31

Born in Seoul, Korea, Sumi Jo was discovered by the famous and late conductor Herbert Von Karajan. His choices in singers has always been superb- he has been credited for launching the careers of such opera legends as Maria Callas and most recently Cecilia Bartoli. Sumi Jo is a singer of the lyric-coloratura department, but she is equally successfully in spinto, dramatic and bel canto repertoire. Her voice, immediately indicative of sweet youthfulness, passion and stratospheric high notes, can also belt out the long legato phrases of the bel canto operas of Rossini, Bellini and Donizetti. She is "opera fluent" in the languages of German, Italian and French. This album showcases her versatility. It would'nt be called Virtuoso Arias for nothing. These arias are indeed studies in virtuosity for voice. Let's take a look at some of them.

Rosina's Aria From Barber Of Seville: Rossini's Barber Of Seville was the most popular opera he ever wrote. The story tells of the courtship of Count Almaviva and Rosina, with the aid of the clever barber Figaro. Rosini's first aria, "Une voce poco fa" is a beautiful aria which not only shows off a singer's talents but also the character of Rosina herself. She is charming, docile but feisty and fiery. The role of Rosina was written for the mezzo soprano voice. In fact, most if not all of Rossini's heroines were mezzo soprano roles. This is because in Rossini's day, the tenor Manuel Garcia's daughters were employed in the opera and they were both mezzo sopranos. But the allure of Rosina's character has drawn even the most dramatic sopranos, among them Maria Callas. Other interpretors include Joan Sutherland and Beverly Sills and mezzo soprano Cecilia Bartoli, who most efficiently sings the role with more closeness to the original Rossini mezzo soprano Garcia girls. Sumi Jo is able to inflect a "mezzo" voice in the singing but she embellishes passages with dazzling coloratura. It's a tour de force from Sumi Jo.

The Sleepwalking Scene From Sonnambula: Bellini's La Sonnambula is a bel canto opera if there ever was one. It was reportedly Queen Victoria's favorite opera. The story is about a beautiful village girl who falls in love, is temporarily estranged from her love but reunited for a happy finale. The Sleepwalking Scene is a close cousin of the Mad Scene. She momentarily loses grip on reality and revels in a hallucination while she sleepswalks across a bridge in the village. The first portions call for a sweet, lyric voice with long flowing lines. Sumi Jo impresses us with this ability. The last portions demand vibrant coloratura. Sumi Jo has the right stuff for this, as has been mentioned. She leaps with her voice, runs through scales and arpeggios beautifully and ends with squillo high notes.

The Bell Song From Lakme: Delibes' Lakme is a beautiful French opera, made famous by the greatest interpretor Madie Mesple. The Bell Song is a showcase for coloratura and for lyricism. Lakme tells the story of the Pariah's daughter, beginning with tenderness and romance, which is complimented with the romantic and exotic sound of the music and finalizes the aria with bird-like coloratura. Sumi Jo's coloratura is decorative and tasteful. She is a coloratura soprano in the tradition of such names as Lily Pons, Roberta Peters and Beverly Sills.

Gilda's Aria From Rigoletto: Caro Nome is a song about love. Gilda, Rigolettos' daughter, has made the mistake of falling in love with the decadent Duke who is disguised as Gualtier Malde, a music student. Gilda's aria expresses innocent love and exuberance. Sumi Jo's voice is perfect for this kind of role. She is young and her voice comes off as young. In addition, Sumi Jo is a beautiful woman. If she trains her voice for it any further, she might become a successful Verdi heroine. Perhaps Desdemona from Othello is next ? Or perhaps the more famous Violetta Valery from La Traviata ? A great aria in Sumi's hands.

The Mad Scene From Lucia is on here and it's delivery is close to perfect. Sumi comes off as tormented, melancholy and grieving. This is preferable to radical hysteria as some sopranos have made the mistake of doing. Her elegant phrasing matches the music and she tops off the scene with coloratura and high notes.

Zerbinetta's Aria From Ariadne: This aria is considered the most difficult aria for a coloratura soprano. Why that is I don't quite understand. The music is beautiful and flowing, as is the voice that Strauss' music was written for. The aria demands breath control and soaring high notes. Sumi Jo is able to do this perfectly, ranking as one of the divas of this type of singing with such names as Kathleen Battle and Natalie Dessay.

So there you have it. This is a must have for fans of Sumi Jo and fans of virtuosic singing. It is a superb album, despite what comments say, most likely from people who haven't even heard the album and how truly great it is.

Virtuoso Opera Star! The Sumi Jo Album To Own!.......2003-10-22

Korean soprano Sumi Jo has established herself as a remarkable and gifted lyric coloratura soprano in recent years. She has a vast following wherever she goes- whether she is touring Europe, performing in American opera houses or singing in her native Korea. Sumi Jo's good looks, winning personality and acting abilities add to her allure. She's almost the equivalent of Beverly Sills in many ways. Her legato and coloratura technique is thrilling. Her vocal embellishments in any coloratura role is exceptional. Plus, as mentioned, she can really act. I first had the privelege to watch Sumi Jo in a live performance at the Los Angeles Opera. She was performing as Olympia, the doll in Offenbach's "The Tales Of Hoffman." In addition to her vibrant coloratura roulades and passages, she was hilarious and easily won the audience. Among her many roles, she has performed as Rosina (Barber Of Seville), Queen of the Night (Mozart's Magic Flute and long considered her signature role), Lucia Di Lammermoor, Gilda from Rigoletto, Zerbinetta, Lakme, and various other bel canto heroines of Donizetti and Verdi as well as her touching performance as Mimi in Puccini's La Boheme. Sumi Jo has made it as a successful recording artist as well.These days, an opera singer with huge star power cannot dismiss the temptation of recording albums, sometimes in coloraboration with other singers or contemporary rock or pop singers. This album features the best of Sumi Jo in appropriately virtuoso arias from bel canto operas. Especially dazzling is her Zerbinetta and Lakme. I urge any fan of Sumi Jo to get this album. Viva the diva.

Acrobatic singing.......2003-04-20

I love coloratura singers and I find that Sumi Jo is one of the best... in this CD we can listen to different kinds of repertoire: from mozart to bernstein to a folk korean song.
in each track she shows her amazing skill in high and clean notes. If you buy ths cd you won't regret: sometimes you will take her voice for a flute for she is incredibly clean and effortless. In Lakmé aria you will listen at the end the best E sovracuto ever heard: it's clean, it's regular in the "vibrato", it starts and ends in the exact moment it should... wonderful. Glitter and be gay it's astonishing: it seems like she never stops climbing on higher and higher!!! Maybe queen of night's aria is a little bit slower than in other records and may sound less incisive, but it's always a pleasure listening to the perfect acrobatic singing of Ms Jo. With Natalie Dessay (who is even higher than Sumi, but less clear) Sumi is the best coloratura soprano of our times, and this CD shows her ability!

Ewa Podles - Rossini Arias for Contralto

Average customer rating:

Great music and a magnificent voice
No counter-tenors allowed!!
Probablemente la mejor voz femenina rossiniana del momento
A live performance from an engaging singer
Contralto GODESS!

Ewa Podles - Rossini Arias for Contralto
Gioachino Rossini , Hungarian State Opera Orchestra and Chorus , Pier Giorgio Morandi , and Ewa Podles
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Podles, Ewa | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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The Spectacular Voice of Marilyn Horne: Rossini / Horne

ASIN: B00000149V
Release Date: 1996-11-05

Tracks:

The Italian Girl In Algiers: Cavatina - Cruda Sorte! Amor Tiranno! - (Isabella) - From Act I
The Italian Girl In Algiers: Recitativo e rondo - Amici, in ogni evento m'affido a voi...(Isabella) - From Act II
Semiramide: Recitativo e cavatina - Eccomi alfine in Babilonia Ah! quel (Arsace) - From Act I
Trancredi: Recitative e cavatina - Oh patria...Di tanti palpiti (Tancredi) - From Act I
Maometto II: Non temer; d'un basso affetto (Calbo) - From Act II
The Lady Of The Lake: Elena! oh tu, che chiamo (Malcolm) - From Act I
The Barber Of Seville: Una voce poco fa (Rosina) - From Act I
Cinderella: Nacqui all'affanno (Cenerentola) - From Act II

Amazon.com

One generally looks to the Naxos label for inexpensive recordings of the standards by minor European orchestras, and for competent performances of rarities--usually by forces that do not spring to mind as natural fodder for recording stardom--that the bigger labels are afraid to touch. So this remarkable album came as a complete surprise, because the Polish mezzo-soprano Ewa Podles is real star material. The sound has a contralto quality; the range is astounding, the flexibility of the voice incredible. This album has been a best-seller for Naxos, and rightly so. The chorus, orchestra, and conductor are adequate; buy this one for Podles, and for Podles (and Rossini) alone. -- Sarah Bryan Miller

Customer Reviews:

Great music and a magnificent voice.......2006-02-28

The Polish-born Mezzo-soprano is truly magnificent on this CD. Her voice is amazing and one-of-a-kind: it is full, rich and strong with an unbelievable range and a nice coloratura. She maintains full strength throughout her range and her voice never wavers and is never weak or shrill. If you like the beautiful melodies of Rossini and the sound of a great Mezzo-soprano, you'll like this CD.

No counter-tenors allowed!!.......2004-10-14

This is an amazing, surprising and refreshing way of looking/hearing Rossini. After years of hearing most mezzo-sopran and alt roles conquered just by force of numbers by counter-tenors and Cecilia Bartoli (don't get me wrong,she's really good, but have you ever asked yourself why she doesn't perform usually on big stages but on small ones or on studios? Her voice, though wonderful for coloratura, is small for a big audience), I have come to adore, simply adore, this polish singer. Her way of singing, her voice's colour, her strength and her ability to sing the most damned roles written for a low voice....including coloratura (just hear her in "Dovver, iustizia, amor..." from Handel's Ariodante) make her a wholesome alto. Which makes me hope for a better day for alto and mezzo-sopran voices. I must confess I don't like counter-tenors a bit, they sound too un-natural.

Probablemente la mejor voz femenina rossiniana del momento.......2004-06-19

Para los fans de Rossini y de las voces con personalidad sera imprescindible comprar este soberbio recital de la contralto polaca EWA PODLES, que hace un amplio recorrido por las paginas mas celebres del repertorio de Rossini para su cuerda con unos resultados absolutamente sobresalientes, ya que posee una voz extraordinaria en todos los registros. Ademas, tanto la orquesta como el coro rinden a buen nivel al mando de un rossiniano como es el Maestro MORANDI, lo cual redondea un fantastico disco.
De compra obligada.

A live performance from an engaging singer.......2001-12-03

There are precious few opportunities to hear this fantastic singer either live or on recording, which is a pity given her unique sound and impeccably-schooled voice.

One of the hallmarks of a great singer is a unique vocal quality. Such is true of Madame Podles. With the top voice of a dramatic soprano, a middle that sometimes resembles a counter-tenor sound, and a bottom voice that is almost baritonal, her sound may recall another singer's voice here and there, but ultimately, it is one-of-a-kind.

Ms. Podles has the perfect vocal qualities necessary to sing Rossini -- an incredible range, enormous flexibility, and subtle vocal coloration. On top of that, she has a unique vocal color and phrases beautifully.

The only possible quibble I can find with this recording is that a couple of the characterizations are a bit on the heavy side -- particularly Rosina. Although the notes are in place (and very impressive) and the coloratura impeccable, this Rosina sounds a bit older, perhaps more serious, than Rossini seems to require. In a later reading of the same aria, in a live 1998 concert in Poland (Rossini Gala recorded on DUX), her Rosina bubbles with youthful energy.

In general, that recording shows her in more brilliant voice, though both discs are impressive. Although several arias are common to the two, each has arias that the other lacks. Both are welcome additions to any vocal library, though if only one is possible, I'd recommend the 1998 recording over this one.

Contralto GODESS!.......2001-09-08

In the world of rare voices and trouser roles, Ewa Podles is quite possibly the MOST underappreciated singer in our generation. Her coloratura is near faultless, and her range of color and tone are something to be reckoned with. Having a range significantly larger than many low voices, she tends to create witty and daring cadenzas and ornaments that must make the golden singers of the past jealous. The only thing that kept this album from being a 5 is that, at times the sound quality is slightly less than perfection and that I prefer her baroque interpretations to the Rossini. Still an amazing album and an unbeatable price!

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