Gounod: Sapho

1. Sapho, opera
   Composed by Charles Gounod
   Performed by Saint Etienne Nouvel Orchestra
   with Robert Jezierski, Pierre Driguez, Christian Papis, Michele Command, Sebastien Martinez, Sharon Coste, Olivier Clairet, Lionel Sarrazin, Cecile Maurige, Philippe Georges, Eric Faury
   Conducted by Patrick Fournillier
   
   

Gounod: Sapho,Charles Gounod,Patrick Fournillier,Nouvel Orchestre de Saint Etienne,Cecile Maurige,Christian Papis,Eric Faury,Lionel Sarrazin,Michele Command,Olivier Clairet,Philippe Georges,Pierre Driguez,Robert Jezierski,Sebastien Martinez,Sharon Coste,Koch Schwann (Germ.),Classical,French Romantic Opera,Opera,Opera / Operetta / Oratorio

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Average customer rating: A fab collection of the loveliest soprano voice ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 LA SUPERBA! Madame Caballé is great!!! Amazing collection! Cannot be called an "ultimate" collection

Montserrat Caballé: Ultimate Collection Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Caballé, Montserrat | ( C ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Bellini, Vincenzo | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Donizetti, Gaetano | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Gounod, Charles | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cilea, Francesco | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Massenet, Jules | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Puccini, Giacomo | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Rossini, Gioacchino | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Caballe, Montserrat | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Very Best of Diva:Montserrat Caballe Montserrat Caballe - Beyond Music Grandi Voci: Renata Tebaldi The Very Best of Franco Corelli ASIN: B00000J914 Release Date: 1999-05-25

Tracks:

1. La Boheme: Si. Mi chiamano Mimi
2. Norma: Casta diva
3. L'Assedio di Corinto: Giusto ciel! In tal periglio
4. Sapho: O ma lyre immortelle
5. Semiramide: Serbami ognor... Alle piu calde immagini
6. Otello: Piangea cantando (Willow Song) -
7. Otello: Ave Maria
8. Herodiade: Il est doux, il est bon
9. Lucrezia Borgia: Tranquillo ei posa... Com'e bello!
10. Suor Angelica: Senza mamma
11. Rigoletto: Caro nome
12. La Sonnambula: Ah! non credea mirarti

Tracks:

1. La Traviata: E strano, e strano! -
2. La Traviata: Follie! Follie! -
3. La Traviata: Sempre libera degg'io
4. TOSCA: Vissi d'arte
5. Il corsaro: Egli non riede ancora!
6. Il corsaro: Non so le tetre immagini
7. Armida: D'amore al dolce impero
8. I Pagliacci: Qual fiamma avea nel guardo!
9. Roberto Devereux: E Sara in questi orribili momenti... Vivi, ingrato
10. Il Trovatore: D'amor sull'ali rosee
11. Stabat Mater: Inflammatus et accensus
12. Adriana Lecouvreur: Io son l'umile ancella
13. Anna Bolena: Al dolce guidami
14. Adelson e Salvini: Dopo l'oscuro nembo
15. I Vespri Sicillani: Arrigo! Ah, parli a un core

Customer Reviews:

A fab collection of the loveliest soprano voice ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1.......2005-12-23

First off this two cd set is for the price of one,that is always great.Montserrat caballe is the star of this cdset,and she demonstrates all that is beautiful in singing,on ever track.Her ave maria from othello is included here.It is one of the best performed arias by caballe ever,she ends it with a heavenly piano top note.Also included is her magical casta diva from norma.Caballe sings all these arias with her legendary sound and breath control.On this set there are plenty of examples of long sustained notes,seemless legato,glorious high notes,and magically floated soft notes.Check out the cover to,there are some great photos of Caballe in opera costumes.These cds have great sound,and play for over two hours,too.

LA SUPERBA!.......2005-11-22

Montserrat Caballe is an amazing person and an amazing singer. In my opinion she has a more beautiful voice than Maria Callas. The high notes she reaches are just fantastic! Her Sempre Libera is the best ever! Her Ave Maria is stunning and her Vissi D arte is really moving. Her voice is so beautiful, it's as if it's an angels voice coming from her.

Madame Caballé is great!!!.......2003-04-06

This collection of Caballé's recordings is fantastic! Her soprano is the most beautiful that has been recorded. L. Price, Tebaldi, Ponselle, and a few others have gorgeous voices, but can any of those voices compare with Caballé's? Caballé's singing throughout is of the highest standard. Her "Ave Maria" is spectacular. "Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore" has never sounded more beautiful. I love her "Non so le tetre immagini". Such beautiful singing does not come any better than this. Her "Caro nome" is disappointing. She is clearly not suited to this aria. "Inflammatus et accensus" is glorious. The later recordings are nice, but they are not the best Caballé has committed to disc. "Il est doux, il est bon" betrays a slight wobble in her otherwise still beautiful voice. "Dopo l'oscuro nembo" features very respectable soft singing from Caballé. This version does not do justice to Bellini's exquisite orchestration. For a version that does, check out Opera Rara's "The Collection: Volume 2". That version features competent singing from an inferior-voiced soprano, but the orchestra is ravishing. The one reviewer who mentioned the aria from "I Vespri Siciliani" as having "fioriture effects Berio could sign on to" is incorrect. The aria included here is not "Mercè, dilette amiche". That aria is more famous and much more florid than the aria included in this collection, "Arrigo, parli a un core". By the way, Caballé performs this aria ravishingly well. This is a superb testament to one of the all-time greats in opera.

Amazing collection!.......2003-04-05

I will write this review objectively, but I will not avoid praising Caballé when praise is due.

First off, this compilation is amazing! I have always thrilled to hearing Caballé's voice and this compilation is no different. I am amazed at Caballé's instrument; such extraordinary purity combined with great power! Even when she sings pianissimo, she can be clearly heard! Her voice literally fills up the room. These arias really show off her remarkable voice. Of special note is her rendition of the hauntingly beautiful "Non so le tetre immagini". Amazing! Her "D'amor sull'ali rosee" is exquisite, but she sings it too softly. Her trill is quite weak. Voices like hers don't respond well to being forced to trill. The tracks from the 1990's show off the remarkable preservation of her voice. The voice retains its purity and beautiful timbre, but is now heavier and darker. "Sempre libera" is not that good. Her coloratura is not up to par with Verdi's demands and she cannot hit the high E-flat at the end. However, she sings the main part of Violetta's aria very well, with supple, gorgeous tone and ravishing pianissimos. "Ah! non credea mirarti" is ravishing, but it is missing its energetic cabaletta. Presumably, it was cut because Caballé could not deal with the coloratura. Caballé's legato lines in this aria are superb. Her version of the "Lucrezia Borgia" Prologue is masterful. Elizabeth's last aria from "Roberto Devereux" is noble and touching. She is not quite Sills, but that aria benefits from a spinto voice instead of a soubrette one. Her aristocratic phrasing is very well used throughout the selections, with a few exceptions. Her "Willow Song" is beautiful, first time on CD. However, she fails to completely show Desdemona's despair. Some parts were good, but the whole thing failed to touch the heart. Her phrasing here is too indulgent. I have to say that I prefer Sutherland's touching version on her "The Art of the Prima Donna" recording. However, I loved "Ave Maria". Caballé sounds most beautiful when singing softly and this selection really shows her in the best light. Her cadenzas are intoxicatingly beautiful. "Caro nome" is not really her aria. The coloratura is suspect and some of the staccati are replaced with upward flourishes. She avoids the last short passage of staccati. Her phrasing in this aria is way too indulgent and she really fails to suggest Gilda's innocence. Even Sutherland is better at portraying Gilda's girlish qualities. Her "Armida" aria has some nice coloratura. She does the runs really well and is fearless in the triplet passages. For some reason, she does not sing the second "fronde" in the first line of the third stanza nor does she sing the last line of this stanza, "i muti abitator". She also does not sing the last line of the fifth stanza, "il tempo vorator". Caballé's first recorded version of "Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore" is included here. This just may be the most beautiful version of this aria ever recorded. It certainly is Caballé's best version of the aria. The climax is handled in one breath by Caballé. She diminuendos the big high note twice in the same breath. Amazing! The rolling of the "r" in "Signor" after the last diminuendo is quite nasal and reminds us that the sound we are hearing is coming from a human throat. It also shows that these diminuendos are natural and not studio produced. She infuses Tosca's aria with real feeling and piety. The compilation ends with a knockout reading of "Arrigo, parli a un core". Caballé is at her best in this aria. She sings softly to stunning effect. This version may be the most beautiful of this particular aria ever recorded. RCA has done Caballé justice with this wonderful collection. Caballé is truly a remarkable artist with a million-dollar voice. Brava!

Cannot be called an "ultimate" collection.......2003-02-05

This is a prime example of the a major recording label being fickle with the goods, in order to force you to continue buying other recitals and full-length studio recordings. Of course, any Caballe fan would already want to own those other recordings anyway, so the point is moot.

Other reviewers here have cried out against the exclusion of one of her most essential and artistic roles, Imogene from Il Pirata. I would like to emphatically express the same. In fact, I would even have settled for the exclusion of Casta Diva, in favor of Col Sorriso di Innocenza.

Some other stellar recordings not represented her are the Sleepwalking Scene from MacBeth, and Pace, Pace Mio Dio from La Forza del Destino. Also worth mentioning is her O Patria Mia from Aida. She might not be Leontyne Price or Martina Arroyo, but she gives a superb reading of this wonderful aria.

Of course, brevity does require some editing- a true "Ultimate" Caballe collection would span four or five CDs, at least- but to include late-career and less-than-best selections at the expense of others is a crime.

Perhaps the major Opera labels should start letting fans put together the track lists for these "best of" collections! We could do a much better job.

Average customer rating:

Opéra Français: Le Récital Oublié (The Forgotten Arias Collection) Manufacturer: Bmg Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chausson, Ernest | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Lalo, Edouard | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rameau | Rameau, Jean Philippe | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Thomas | Thomas, Ambroise | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Hadley, Jerry | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music Cantatas | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | 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 Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B0001BFIEQ Release Date: 2004-09-28

Average customer rating: Un repertorio nuevo para Magdalena Kozena Pure!

French Arias Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ravel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Thomas | Thomas, Ambroise | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | 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 Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Lamento Mozart Arias Magdalena Kozená - Le belle immagini (Mozart, Gluck, Myslivecek) Songs: Magdalena Kozena Enchantment ASIN: B0000A2YCU Release Date: 2003-10-14

Tracks:

1. Ah! Quelle Nuit!... Flamme Vengeresse
2. Nuit Resplendissante
3. Que Fais-Tu, Blanche Tourterelle
4. J'ai Verse La Poison
5. Choeur Des Dames
6. Chanson Du Voile
7. Autrefois Un Roi De Thule
8. Oh! La Pitoyable Aventure!
9. J'ai Bien Assez De Mes Tristesses... Ne Pensons Qu'au Plaisir D'aimer
10. Connais-tu Le Pays
11. D'ici Voyez Ce Beau Domaine
12. O Ma Lyre Immortelle
13. Pardieu! J'etais Bien Sur...Voyez-la Sous Son Eventail
14. Reste Au Foyer, Petit Grillon
15. Les Tringles Des Sistres Tintaient

Amazon.com

Having dazzled us with her coloratura ability in arias by Mozart, Gluck, and her fellow Czech, Myslivecek, this luscious young mezzo-soprano now offers us a generous program of French arias--15 of them, widely varied in tone, weight, dramatic intent, and style--and conquers and convinces in them all. Beginning again in coloratura territory, an aria from Auber's rare Le domino noir catches our attention with the heroine's opening words, "Je suis sauvée enfin!" ("I am safe at last!"), in which she paints the picture of our out-of-breath heroine immediately. Throughout the CD we meet the doomed, tragic Sappho in Gounod's opera; Dulcinée in the same composer's Don Quichotte, here presented first as lamenting lover, then as spitfire, with Kozena reaching down into her most sultry chest voice; a dreamy Marguerite in Berlioz's La damnation de Faust; a Princess languorously singing of the night in an exquisite aria from Gounod's all-but-unknown Cinq-Mars; and many others, each of whom Kozena imbues with her individual stamp, flawless technique, musicality, and beautiful tone. Almost as a bonus, the CD ends with Carmen's Gypsy Song - a real razzle-dazzler. Kozena is a great singer and this is a great recital CD--a must. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Un repertorio nuevo para Magdalena Kozena.......2005-07-13

MAGDALENA KOZENA es una mezzosoprano basicamente ligada al barroco, y particularmente a Bach y Haendel. Sorprende por tanto la aparición de este cd dodne interpreta un variado abanico de arias francesas, roles que no ha debutado en teatro y que se alejan de su estilo habitual.
Aun así, Kozena canta estas arias divinamente con estilo propio: impone un timbre seductor, claro y mórbido y un dominio absoluto del canto, aunque el registro agudo no es siempre todo lo homogeneo que sería deseable. Con todo, su interpretación de estas páginas es notable y sorprendente.
Otra baza del disco es el repertorio, que incluye arias de óperas más bien desconocidas, como 'Cleopatre' de Massenet, 'Le Cincq-Mars', 'La dame Blanche', 'Don Quixote', 'Sapho', 'Le domino Noir'....junto a otras más habituales del repertorio como 'Carmen' (aunque no está la popular habanera), 'Don Carlos' (en su versión francesa) o 'La Hora Española', además de un aria para Niclausse de 'Los Cuentos de Hoffmann' que suele cortarse en la mayoría de las representaciones. La selección es acertada y gratificante.
La orquesta, al mano de un MARK MINKOWSKI que siempre se ha interesado mucho por este repertorio, suena a las mil maravillas, y es complemento perfecto para la mezzo. Lo mismo puede decirse del coro y de las más que correctas voces escogidas para algunas partes solistas de arias puntuales.
En conclusión, este 'French Opera Arias' de Kozena es un cd muy recomendable, complemento perfecto a los recientes registros del mismo título de Natalie Dessay y Rolando Villazón (ambos en Virgin Classics)

Pure!.......2004-02-12

this mzzo-soprano is great... she is a lighter and lyric mezzo. In this album... she sung the french arias with phrasing in detail... especially in the "Nuit Resplendissante". The balance between head vioce and chest voice in her singing is good. Her singing can really touches my heart...
it is worthy to buy this album... especially than you are tired in listening to the darker or dramatic mezzo-sopranos.

Average customer rating: More Kasarova's magic... AN HOUR OF FRENCH DELIGHT!!!!

Love Entranced: French Opera Arias Vesselina Kasarova Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Lalo, Edouard | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Thomas | Thomas, Ambroise | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Vesselina Kasarova - Mozart Arias / Sir Colin Davis Vesselina Kasarova - Rossini Arias and Duets / Flórez, Fagan Vesselina Kasarova - Schubert, Brahms, Schumann Lieder Vesselina Kasarova - A Portrait Donizetti - La Favorite / Kasarova, Vargas, Viotti ASIN: B00004STY1 Release Date: 2002-04-09

Tracks:

1. Les Huguenots: Non, non...Vous n'avez jamais, je gage
2. Le Proph: Donnez, donnez
3. Sapho: Os-je?
4. Les troyens: Je vais mourir...Adieu, fi cit
5. Mignon: Connais-tu le pays?
6. Romet Juliette: Depuis hier je cherche en vain mon mae
7. Cinq Mars: Per quel trouble profond suis-je ici ramon
8. Samson et Dalila: Amour, viens aider ma faiblesse
9. Le Cid: Pleurez, mes yeux!
10. Le Roi d'Ys: De tous c j'apers dans le plaine

Amazon.com

The Bulgarian mezzo Vesselina Kasarova here exhibits some new sides to her wonderful voice and interpretive abilities. The rich, creamy sound is very impressive near the bottom of its range (rarely the case with mezzos nowadays, Ewa Podles notwithstanding), and she gets to show it off here. The program is varied: We get Urbain's playful, charming aria from Les Huguenots, followed by Fides' pitiful plea from Le Prophete. Sapho's suicidal lament changes mood again, and Dido's farewell offers more grief--all beautifully portrayed. And so on with six more selections, some quite rare and welcome (an aria from Gounod's little-heard Cinq-Mars), others familiar but well-enough done to sound newly minted (Dalila's Act II aria). This CD lets us know that there's even more to Kasarova than Mozart, Bellini, and Rossini. It's a fine release, highly recommended. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

More Kasarova's magic..........2002-04-16

'This is the stuff of legends' -exclaimed Gramophone in their review of Kasarova's debut disc, released in 1997. I don't know if this new one will create the same excitement in the music press but to me it will always be 'the stuff of legends', maybe even more so than the first. It rarely happens that a singer makes me an addict of repertoire I never really cared about. The last time I was so totally captivated by a vocal recital was with Bartoli's Gluck disc. But Bartoli's task was much easier; I had been a huge Gluck fan for years before her disc appeared. Kasarova's chances of captivating me with her French recital were rather meager but her solo discs are such rarities (I hope it has something to do with her recent pregnancy and not with the caprices of the classical music industry) that I couldn't resist. And the rest is indeed 'the stuff of legends'...
Obviously I can't call myself a connoisseur of this repertoire but I also never thought of myself as a mere 'voice' addict: what mattered more was the repertoire sung, so you'd never see me buying Bartoli's Bellini or Donizetti arias disc if she suddenly decided to record such a thing. So why all of a sudden do I find myself buying a disc of French arias by composers - with the exception of Berlioz - I never really cared about? Well, that's Kasarova's magic... I can't offer you a track by track analysis of this disc - I'll leave it to those who know a bit about French opera of the period - but I can assure you that this is singing of great beauty and unsurpassed artistry (and in beautiful French). It is hard to pick absolute favorites in this collection of gems, but if I had to choose then it would be Massenet's "Pleurez, pleurez mes yeux" (track 9) from "Le Cid" with a marvellous clarinet solo, or "Nuit resplendissante" from Gounod's "Cinq-Mars". In the recitative to Stefano's aria from Gounod's "Romeo et Juliette" ("Depuis hier je cherche en vain mon maitre") I would like to hear a bit more of the arrogance that the text calls for, but this is a small detail.
The orchestral playing of the Munich Radio Orchestra under Frederic Chaslin is a true delight, and this is not one of those casual compliments that one usually adds to a review to make it 'complete'. The playing is really gorgeous and brings as much pleasure to the ear as Kasarova's singing.
Surprisingly, the booklet's essay (by Andre Tubeuf) is not devoted to an introduction to the French opera of the nineteenth century, but talks about the tradition of French singing that was often the domain of foreign singers. Kasarova is continuing this tradition. Says Tubeuf: "If her programme had included the "Tribut de Zamora", her guiding star would have been Gabrielle Krauss; if the "Roi de Lahore", then Josephine de Reszke and if Saint-Saens' "Ancetre", then Felia Litvinne". This may sound like a subtle reproach on Tubeuf's part, for the total timing of the CD is only about 54 minutes. And this is my only quibble about this wonderful release but it is not really important. Artistry of this calibre is so rare that it is well worth the price of the disc, however short. Kasarova's singing has a certain old-fashioned quality, that total dedication that characterizes the artistry of all too few singers today (Bartoli , Fleming and in her own way von Otter are the only other examples I can think of). A wonderful disc and a real treat! (Kicek)

AN HOUR OF FRENCH DELIGHT!!!!.......2002-04-11

It is always a pleasure, when you are listening to an artist singing in your country's language (I am swiss, so almost french), to be able to enjoy each word in its more intimate nature, as only music can do it. Miss Kasarova is a sublime artist and her french is just so exact, so touching, she brings the perfect FRENCH TOUCH. This album is the best collection of great romantic opera arias of the french repertoire that I have ever had in my vast collection of 3500 recordings. The orchestra under the baton of Frederic Chaslin sounds great with a perfect balance, giving both the power and subtility of this music. this is a MUST HAVE!!!!

Average customer rating: A Solid French Recital

Marilyn Horne - Recital Daniel-François-Esprit Auber , Camille Saint-Saëns , Jacques Offenbach , Charles Gounod , Benjamin Godard , Jules Massenet , Gaetano Donizetti , Luigi Cherubini , Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra , Lawrence Foster , and Marilyn Horne Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cherubini, Luigi | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Godard, Benjamin | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Horne, Marilyn | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Horne, Marilyn | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B000005EDX Release Date: 1995-05-02

Tracks:

1. Air De Zerline: O Palerme! O Sicile
2. - Samson et Delila: Mon coeurs s'ouvre a ta voix
3. Ah! que j'aime les militaires - Offenbach
4. O ma lyre immortelle
5. La Vivandiere: Viens avec nous, petit
6. Herodiade: Venge-moi d'une supreme offense
7. La Favorite: Oh! mon Fernand
8. Hero sur la tour solitaire
9. - Medee': Ah! nos peines

Customer Reviews:

A Solid French Recital.......2001-07-15

This is a very good mixture of familiar and unfamiliar arias and Marilyn Horne is still in fine voice at this date (1985). My only quibble is the relatively short timing which seems to afflict other items in this series such as Berganza singing Haydn (also an excellent disc). If you are looking for the full glory of Horne's voice a recital of Handel arias also on Erato from 83 or so is now deleted but keep an eye out for it. Now available for under 6 bucks are two volumes of live excerpts on Gala in very good sound (for "pirate" recordings) one of which has a drop dead 20 minutes or so of Les Troyens.

Average customer rating:

Renée Doria: 50 ans de documents sonores Manufacturer: Malibran [C.D.R.G.] ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Delibes, Léo | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Fauré, Gabriel | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B00005A0NH Release Date: 2001-02-27

Average customer rating:

Grandi Voci: Régine Crespin Manufacturer: Polygram Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gluck | Gluck, Christoph W. | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000422I Release Date: 1994-11-15

Tracks:

1. Cette nuit...O toi qui prolongeas mes jours
2. D'amour l'ardente flamme (Romance de Marguerite)
3. O ma lyre immortelle
4. La voila...L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera)
5. Seguidilla
6. Portez armes...J'aime les militaires
7. Dis-moi Venus
8. Tu n'es pas beau...Je t'adore
9. O mon cher amant, je te jure (Air de lettre)
10. Ah! quel diner
11. Moi je m'appelle
12. Y'a des arbres...C'est sa banlieue
13. Ah! cher monsieur, excusez-moi
14. J'ai deux amants
15. Saison d'amour
16. Je ne suis pas
17. Je t'aime

Average customer rating:

Shirley Verrett in Opera Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gluck | Gluck, Christoph W. | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Shirley Verrett Sings Bellini & Verdi Great Operatic Duets Vivaldi Heroes ASIN: B000003FDP Release Date: 1994-09-13

Tracks:

1. Orfeo Ed Euridice: Amour, Viens Rendre A Mon Ame
2. Anna Bolena: Sposa A Percy
3. Anna Bolena: Per Questa Fiamma Indomita
4. La Favorita: Fia Dunque Vero
5. La Favorita: O Mio Fernando
6. Romeo Et Juliette: Premiers Transports
7. La Damnation De Faust: D'amour L'ardente Flamme
8. Sapho: Ou Suis-Je?
9. Sapho: O Ma Lyre Immortelle
10. Werther: Werther! Qui M'aurait Dit (Letter Scene)
11. Samson Et Dalila: Mon Coeur S'ouvre A Ta Voix
12. La Forza Del Destino: Lasciatelo Ch'ei Vada; Rataplan
13. Un Ballo In Maschera: Zitti!; Re Dell'abisso Affrettati

Average customer rating: Lovely Work A True Star Absolutely hilarious and very special CD

L'Étoile: French Arias Manufacturer: Teldec ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Chabrier | Chabrier, Alexis Emanuel | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ravel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Thomas | Thomas, Ambroise | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Larmore, Jennifer | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Call Me Mister Bravura Diva Songs by Fauré, Hahn and Head; Arias by Rossini and Handel Russian Album Vesselina Kasarova - A Portrait ASIN: B00005NY8G Release Date: 2003-06-17

Tracks:

1. Vois Sous L'archet Fremissant
2. Enfin, Je Suis Ici
3. O Palerme! O Sicile!
4. Mon Coeur S'ouvre A Ta Voix
5. Ah! Ah! Je Vais Mourir - Adieu, Fiere Cite
6. Va! Laisse Couler Mes Larmes
7. O Ma Lyre Immortelle
8. D'amour L'ardente Flamme
9. Oh! La Pitoyable Aventure
10. Connais-tu Le Pays
11. Je Suis Lazuli

Customer Reviews:

Lovely Work.......2004-06-07

This is simply a lovely album, full of many pleasant surprises as far as the material goes, not simply the usual suspects. Larmore has never sounded better. I hope the fact that it took two years to be released is not indicative of a lack of Teldec's commitment to this supremely talented singer.

A True Star.......2004-02-28

Another great CD from the star mezzo! The Massenet selections are very exciting (full recording of Werther should be in order) but it's Sapho (Gounod) that is the highlight. Stunning. Great conducting by de Billy. Thank you Jennifer!

Absolutely hilarious and very special CD.......2003-12-20

Jennifer larmore is one of worlds leading sopranos. this Cd has
astounding absolutely fantastic collection of french arias.
the best is ``O ma lyre immortelle`` from Gounod``s rarely
performed masterpiece ``Sappho``.This is really well performed.
the rest lacks a little of emotional activity, stays vague and
a bit obscure- ``Enfin je suis ici`` sounds like she were not
arriving, though the text of the aria should reassure us.
peeter Hollberg, jennifer larmore fan from rocca al Mare suburbia , tallinn, Estonia

Average customer rating: L'intégrale à ne pas rater

Gounod: Sapho Manufacturer: Gala ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Mascagni: Lodoletta Leoncavallo: Zazà Rinsky-Korsakov: Le Coq d'Or Lalo: Le Roi d'Ys Massenet: Le Jongleur de Notre Dame ASIN: B000083MEC Release Date: 2003-01-28

Customer Reviews:

L'intégrale à ne pas rater.......2006-12-14

De «Sapho», à la fois premier et dernier opéra de Gounod, on connaît surtout le très bel air «Ô ma lyre immortelle» de la fin du troisième acte. Cet enregistrement, un concert de Radio-France de 1979, est une des rares intégrales de l'opéra et il s'agit de la version d'origine de 1851. Sapho est chantée par la mezzo nord-américaine Katherine Ciesinski au beau timbre expressif. Phaon est chanté par le ténor Alain Vanzo. Tous les chanteurs sont français sauf Ciesinski mais cette dernière a une bonne diction. Le chef d'orchestre est Cambreling, alors à ses débuts.
Comme toujours avec le label Gala, on a des bonus un peu étonnants. Dans ce cas il s'agit de 25 minutes extraites du quatrième acte de «Faust» enregistré en 1968 à New York avec des chanteurs nord-américains (Beverly Sills, Norman Treigle et Michele Molese).

Meditation Music:

1. Guiseppe Verdi: La Traviata
2. Handel: Amadigi
3. Il Barbiere Di Siviglia
4. Il Corsaro - Complete Opera
5. Korngold - Der Ring des Polykrates / Siebel
6. La Boheme: Noir [Cast Recording]
7. La forza del destino [Box set]
8. Lagrime Mie: Early Songs of Love and Torment
9. Lauritz Melchior Sings Wagner
10. Lehár: Die Lustige Witwe

Meditation Music

meditation music

Meditation Music

Reverb No Hollowness

Franz Schubert Rosamunde/Der Tod Und Das Mädchen String Quartets

Homenaje a Francisco Asenjo Barbieri [Import]

Music: Noir Et Blanc [Import]

Music Review: 18 Dance Mix Classics

Kitsuné Midnight

Hawaiian Guitar, Vol. 2 [Import]

Hysteria

Im Tempel Des Adlers [Import]

Eagles [Import] [Original recording remastered]

Fuglamal

Fica de Bem Comigo [Import]

Finer Things [Explicit Lyrics]

1930-1941

California Melodies