Puccini: Great Arias

1. Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera Un bel dì
   Composed by Giacomo Puccini
   with Mirella Freni, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
   
   
2. La bohème, opera Che gelida manina
   Composed by Giacomo Puccini
   with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Luciano Pavarotti
   
   
3. La bohème, opera Sì. Mi chiamano Mimì
   Composed by Giacomo Puccini
   with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Luciano Pavarotti, Mirella Freni
   
   
4. La bohème, opera Quando men vo
   Composed by Giacomo Puccini
   with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Rolando Panerai, Michel Senechal, Mirella Freni
   
   
5. La fanciulla del West (The Girl of the Golden West), opera Ch'ella mi creda
   Composed by Giacomo Puccini
   Performed by National Philharmonic Orchestra
   with Luciano Pavarotti
   Conducted by Oliviero de Fabritiis
   
   
6. Manon Lescaut, opera In quelle trine morbide
   Composed by Giacomo Puccini
   Performed by Vienna Folk Opera Orchestra
   with Maria Chiara
   Conducted by Nello Santi
   
   
7. Turandot, opera Signore, ascolta
   Composed by Giacomo Puccini
   Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
   with Piero de Palma, Tom Krause, Pier Francesco, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Montserrat Caballe, Luciano Pavarotti
   Conducted by Zubin Mehta, John Alldis
   
   
8. Turandot, opera Non piangere, Liù
   Composed by Giacomo Puccini
   Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
   with Piero de Palma, Tom Krause, Pier Francesco, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Montserrat Caballe, Luciano Pavarotti
   Conducted by Zubin Mehta, John Alldis
   
   
9. Turandot, opera Ah! per l'ultima volta
   Composed by Giacomo Puccini
   Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
   with Piero de Palma, Tom Krause, Pier Francesco, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Montserrat Caballe, Luciano Pavarotti
   Conducted by Zubin Mehta, John Alldis
   
   
10. Turandot, opera In questa reggia
    Composed by Giacomo Puccini
    Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
    with Luciano Pavarotti, Joan Sutherland
    Conducted by Zubin Mehta, John Alldis
    
    
11. Turandot, opera Nessun dorma
    Composed by Giacomo Puccini
    Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
    with Luciano Pavarotti
    Conducted by Zubin Mehta, John Alldis
    
    
12. Suor Angelica, opera Senza mamma, o bimbo, tu sei morto
    Composed by Giacomo Puccini
    Performed by Vienna Folk Opera Orchestra
    with Maria Chiara
    Conducted by Nello Santi
    
    
13. La fanciulla del West (The Girl of the Golden West), opera Minnie, dalla mia casa
    Composed by Giacomo Puccini
    Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
    with Sherrill Milnes
    Conducted by Silvio Varviso
    
    
14. Tosca, opera Recondita armonia
    Composed by Giacomo Puccini
    Performed by Saint Cecilia Academy Orchestra
    with Alfredo Mariotti, Franco Corelli
    Conducted by Lorin Maazel
    
    
15. Tosca, opera Vissi d'arte
    Composed by Giacomo Puccini
    Performed by Roma Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
    with Birgit Nilsson
    Conducted by Lorin Maazel
    
    
16. Tosca, opera E lucevan le stelle
    Composed by Giacomo Puccini
    Performed by Roma Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
    with Franco Corelli
    Conducted by Lorin Maazel
    
    
17. La Rondine (The Swallow), opera Sogno di Doretra
    Composed by Giacomo Puccini
    Performed by New Philharmonia Orchestra
    with Renata Tebaldi
    Conducted by Oliviero de Fabritiis
    
    
18. Gianni Schicchi, opera O mio babbino caro
    Composed by Giacomo Puccini
    Performed by Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra
    with Renata Tebaldi
    Conducted by Lamberto Gardelli
    
    

Puccini: Great Arias,Sherrill Milnes,Giacomo Puccini,John Alldis,Lamberto Gardelli,Lorin Maazel,Nello Santi,Oliviero de Fabritiis,Silvio Varviso,Zubin Mehta,Berliner Philharmoniker,Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,London Philharmonic Orchestra,Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra,National Philharmonic Orchestra,New Philharmonia Orchestra,Orchestra dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia,Santa Cecilia National Academy Orchestra Rome,Wiener Volksopernorchester,Joan Sutherland,Mirella Freni,Montserrat Caballé,Renata Tebaldi,Franco Corelli,Luciano Pavarotti,Michel Sénéchal,Alfredo Mariotti,Birgit Nilsson,Maria Chiara,Nicolai Ghiaurov,Pier Francesco,Piero de Palma,Rolando Panerai,Tom Krause,Polygram Records,Classical,Classical Music,Italian 20th/21st Century Opera,Italian Romantic Opera,Opera,Opera / Operetta / Oratorio

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Average customer rating: The End of the Big Voice? Fla Gator Lady 20 Great Tenor Arias Plesantly surprised... Absolutely Agree About Corelli

Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco... Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Flotow | Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | 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 Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( 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 Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | 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 Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | 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 German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Paul Potts [United Kingdom]: One Chance The Most Famous Opera Duets The Most Famous Opera Arias The #1 Opera Album The Best of Italian Opera ASIN: B000007OTX Release Date: 1998-06-09

Tracks:

1. La Boheme: Che gelida manina
2. Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai
3. Carmen Bizet: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee (Flower Song)
4. Luisa Miller: O! fede negar potessi .. Quando le sere al placido
5. La Traviata: Lunge da lei ... De' miei bollenti spiriti
6. Martha: M'appari
7. Giordano: Amor ti vieta
8. L'Africaine: Mi batte il cuor .. O paradiso
9. La Favorita: Favorita del re . . . Spirto gentil
10. Werther: 'Pourquoi me reveiller'
11. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: 'Morgenlich leuchtend in rosigem Schein'
12. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: O Dieu! De quelle ivresse
13. TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
14. Pagliacci: Recitar! ... Vesti la giubba
15. Il Trovatore: Di quella pira
16. Aida: Se quel guerrier .. Celeste Aida
17. TOSCA: Recondita armonia
18. L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
19. La Gioconda: Cielo e mar!
20. Turandot: Nessun dorma

Customer Reviews:

The End of the Big Voice?.......2007-04-16

This CD, which is truly fine overall, reminds me of Marilyn Horne's lament that we have probably seen the end of the big voice and it makes me sad. I agree with the reviewer who refers to "microphonies". And more justice could be done to Bjorling's voice with a better transfer. But at some point, music becomes a matter of taste and I prefers singers who have the instrument and the support and the training, whether formal or not, to just let fly and take a chance on making a mistake. Domingo can be wonderful and so can his musicianship but he tends to be so stiff. I have to wonder at the virulence and asperity with which some people go after Pavarotti. It's true that late in his career he made some questionable recordings but the answer to that is simple: don't buy them. At his best, he belongs for all time in the top echelon of tenors. I love this CD and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys great (big) voices.

Fla Gator Lady.......2007-01-12

Highly recommend this CD with these beloved arias of the greatest tenors in opera. I have owned this CD for a couple of years and purchased another for a friend who always requests that I play it ... perfect for listening in the car, dinner, bridge games, relaxation ... just so perfect. You won't be disappointed in this one.

20 Great Tenor Arias.......2007-01-09

A great disc,combination of the greatest tenors of the 20th century and some of the most beautiful music ever written in any century,a must addition to any opera lovers collection.

Plesantly surprised..........2006-01-14

I don't remember how I found this CD the other day surfing through the "Amazon" such as it is, but I did. I listened to a few clips provided & on the strength of that, I purchased this CD.

First it is a great buy. A booklet with pictures of each tenor, a small bio, the year recorded and TRANSLATIONS of each aria are provided. This is really nice. It seems more & more that translations are being left out. Being a former opera singer, I may know most of the words, but sometimes it's just nice to read along (sometimes it's just nice to listen too).

Being on the Decca label, there is admittedly quite a few Pavarotti selections. Out of 20 selections, he has 6 of them. But I love Pavarotti, so this is no problem for me. These are all early recordings & his voice is magnificent! Being a singer, I still marvel at his ability to sing "All'armi!" on a high D and still say the 2nd syllable "mi" on such a note! WOW. There is also of course his very sweet, impassioned and lyrical turn as Rodolfo in "La Boheme" as well as the lesser known (although I still have it on casette) "La Favorita" which has a particularly high tessitura.

Also featured are a young Plácido Domingo singing a VERY nice "Flower song/ La fleur que tu m'avais jetée" from Carmen. He usually sounds too pushed for me on the top notes (as one might expect from a Pavarotti fan, I like free top notes) but in this recording he is pretty darn fabulous. He also sings an aria from "Tales of Hoffman/Les Contes d'Hoffman" and I have always felt that he, like Neil Schicoff, were well suited to this role.

Lamentably there are only one selection each from Carreras, Correlli, Monaco, Aragall & Kollo. Especial kudos to the young recording they feature for Aragall. He had a very free and nice high tenor well suited to Verdi. Of course as his career went forward with the natural darkening of his voice and the "heavier" roles, he did start to develop a wobble. But this recording is before that. His top, his phrasing are all beautifully done in his featured aria from "La Traviata."
Mario del Monaco's "E lucevan le stelle" is hauntingly beautiful and has such a wonderful pianissimo in it that it makes you just want to gasp for beauty's sake. I now know every tenor I've heard sing this aria was trying to emulate what he did.

This is a great CD because it does bring together on one CD some of the greatest singers of the 20th/21st century. Bergonzi, di Stefano, Björling, in addition to the previously mentioned artists is quite an impressive collection. I'm sure there's only one of each for Carreras, Aragall (I believe they are formerly EMI/Angel artists) and perhaps some of the others because they are "imported" from another label. There's so much Pavarotti on this CD because he IS a Decca artist.

A highly recommended CD, affordable, not the usually obscure and unpolished artists that are sometimes found on compilations. Plus acutal linear notes and translations. Nicely done, Decca!!!

Absolutely Agree About Corelli.......2005-05-27

Franco Corelli's "Nessun Dorma" is still the best of them all - clear, passionate, and exciting. (And those final two notes...! Gives me chills just to think of it.) I was fortunate enough to see him live in both "Turandot" and "Romeo and Juliet" a year before his retirement, and he was still a Calaf and a Romeo to die for... as, of course, Liu and Juliet did! As it is, I tend to buy compilations depending on how much Corelli they include - though Bjorling is a strong second, and I have happy memories of Domingo. Long live the Golden Age of Operatic Tenors!

Average customer rating: heywhattsamattayou full of passion and love Absolutely Beautiful! Where is Amore I?

Amore II ~ Great Italian Love Arias Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Paris Symphony Orchestra | ( P ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music $7.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Paris Symphony Orchestra | ( P ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Amor--Opera's Great Love Songs The Most Famous Opera Arias The Best of Italian Opera The Most Famous Opera Duets Rapture: Opera's Most Heavenly Moments ASIN: B00004C4MX Release Date: 2000-02-01

Tracks:

1. Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro
2. La rondine: Chi il bel sogno di Doretta
3. La Boheme: Quando m'en vo
4. La Boheme: Mi chiamano Mimi
5. La Boheme: Che gelida manina
6. TOSCA: Vissi d'arte
7. Madama Butterfly: Un bel di
8. Madama Butterfly: Bimba dagli occhi pieni di malia
9. Turandot: Tu, che di gel sei cinta
10. Rigoletto: La donna e mobile
11. Rigoletto: Caro nome
12. La Traviata: Lunge da lei...De miei bollenti spiriti...oh mio rimorso
13. Aida: Celeste Aida
14. L'Elisir d'Amore: Prendi, per me sei libero
15. L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
16. Don Pasquale: Quel guardo il cavaliere
17. Fedora: Amor ti vieta
18. Turandot: Nessun dorma

Customer Reviews:

heywhattsamattayou.......2007-06-12

i'm a tellin you..... if you dont a like a this music....well you musta been born with the stone for a heart...heh

full of passion and love.......2007-03-31

This CD is full of passion and love. Whenever I listen to it, I get the butterfly feeling in my stomach...must have CD!!!! I strongly recommend!

Absolutely Beautiful!.......2002-03-02

Two words describe the music found on this CD: ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! The beauty of the vocals and music combine to allow one to transcend from the daily grind to a world of beauty. Bravo!

Where is Amore I?.......2001-02-16

This CD is a selection of arias from Italian operas. Most of the time when you get a compilation like this, you feel lucky if you like 2/3 of the selections. In this case, whoever did the selecting did a great job, there isn't a clinker in the lot. About half of the arias are by Puccini, the rest are by Verdi, Donizetti, and Giordano. Singers include Kiri Te Kanawa, Luciano Pavarotti, Richard Tucker, and Andrea Rost. There is enough variety to keep the whole CD interesting, yet the mood is consistent throughout. The sound is generally quite good, and while I am not generally a fan of live recordings, the audience response in the performance by Pavarotti really does add excitement to the presentation. Given the title of this CD, I assumed this was the second in a series, and I liked it so much I went looking for the original. Unfortunately, I can find no other CD on the Sony label titled Amore - too bad.

Average customer rating: The best opera album ever Beautiful Music, Nice price

Puccini: Great Opera Arias Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | 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 Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Sony | Computers Brands | Computers Features | Electronics | Desktops | Monitors | Networking | Notebooks Similar Items: The Ultimate Puccini Collection The Most Famous Opera Arias Puccini Without Words Puccini: Arias Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco... ASIN: B00005YQLA Release Date: 2002-01-29

Tracks:

1. Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro
2. Gianni Schicchi: Firenze e come un albero fiorito
3. La Rondine: Chi il bel sogno di Doretta
4. La Boheme: Si, mi chiamano Mimi
5. La Boheme: Quando m'en vo
6. Madama Butterfly: Un bel di vedremo
7. Madama Butterfly: The Flower Duet
8. Madama Butterfly: The Humming Chorus
9. Madama Butterfly: Tu? tu? Piccolo iddio
10. Tosca: Dammi i colori
11. Tosca: Vissi d'arte
12. Tosca: E lucevan le stelle
13. Turandot: Signore, ascolta!
14. Turandot: In questa reggia
15. Turandot: Nessun dorma
16. La Fanciulla Del West: Ch'ella mi creda libero e lontano
17. Suor Angelica: Senza mamma, o bimbo
18. Le Villi: Se come voi piccina io fossi
19. Manon Lescaut: In quelle trine morbide
20. Manon Lescaut: Sola, perduta, abbandonata

Customer Reviews:

The best opera album ever.......2007-01-26

I have listened this album almost every day for the past 4 years. For begginers and amateurs in this kind of music, the album rocks in every song with the exception of track 2 and 5.

Beautiful Music, Nice price.......2007-01-04

I purchased this CD for my daughter while searching specifically for arias. She was very pleased and I find myself enjoying it as well.
A wonderful collection for a terrific price, super fast shipping too- as always.

Average customer rating: Jewel Song 20 Great Soprano Arias Sutherland, Battle, Te Kanawa.....Need I say More? A good selection A few real jewels with a couple of paste ones mixed in... Very Nice

Jewel Song ~ 20 Great Soprano Arias / Crespin, Freni, Te Kanawa, Sutherland, Jo, Tebaldi, Cotrubas, Caballé, Cerquetti... Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Dvorák, Antonín | ( 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 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | 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 Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Czech | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: The #1 Soprano Album Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco... The Most Famous Opera Duets Ten Top Sopranos Mad About Sopranos ASIN: B000024581 Release Date: 2000-09-12

Tracks:

1. Dove Sono: Le Nozze di Figaro
2. Un Bel Di: Madama Butterfly
3. Merce, Dilette Amiche (Bolero): I Vespri Siciliani
4. Deh Vieni, Non Tardar: Le Nozze di Figaro
5. Ebben? ... Ne Andro Lontana: La Wally
6. Suicidio! La Gioconda
7. Signore, Ascolta! Turandot
8. Convien Partir! La Figlia del Reggimento
9. Chi il Sogno di Doretta (Doretta's Dream): La Rondine
10. Morro, Ma Prima In Grazia: Un Ballo in Maschera
11. O Dieu! Que de Bijoux! (Jewel Song) Faust
12. Vissi d'Arte: Tosca
13. O Mio Babbino Caro: Gianni Schicchi
14. Si. Mi Chiamano Mimi: La Boheme
15. Mesicku na Nebi Hlubokem (O Silver Moon): Rusalka
16. Quando m'en Vo (Musetta's Waltz Song): La Boheme
17. Tu Che di Gel Sei Cinta: Turandot
18. Welch Wonne, Welche Lust: Die Entfuhrung Aus Dem Serail
19. Du Bist der Lenz: Die Walkure
20. Der Holle Rache: Die Zauberflote

Customer Reviews:

Jewel Song 20 Great Soprano Arias.......2006-06-26

Recording quality excellent
A must for the soprano voice lover

Sutherland, Battle, Te Kanawa.....Need I say More?.......2005-12-30

This truly is a marvellous recording of the top Soprano's of our time in their prime. The Album starts with Kiri Te Kanawa singing Mozart's "Dove Sono", in which she captures the true essence of a wife questioning her marriage that has disintegrated over the years. And her phrasing in this song is heavenly. Battle's version of "Welche Wonne" is the best I've heard to date. I've listened to numerous other recordings of this aria and still havent found one that measures up to this one. Sutherland pulls off gounod's "O dieu, que di bijoux" excellently, with the greatest of ease. I could go on and on, but I'll end my review with this: These are excellent recordings of excellent singers at their very best, singing music by the masters. It would be worth your money.

A good selection.......2004-11-04

I rate this as a very valuable sampler. It gives the listener not only a reasonable introduction to various operatic works and styles (though there is a prominent Puccini verissimo presence) but a good introduction to the different artists. I like the fact that some operas feature more than one work on the CD because there's less of a chance you'll fall in love with one aria and go buy the entire opera, only to discover that the aria is nearly all that you enjoy.

As for the sopranos... I adored nearly all of them. I have listened to many of their recordings and I can vouch for these arias as good indicators of their outstanding talent....the few exceptions will follow, however.

I make special mention of some sopranos. Leontyne Price's Tosca, is the first. Her Aida has been her crown jewel but I would place her Tosca as a very strong rival. Also, the Turandot recording with Monsterrat Caballe is perhaps the finest on CD, and her Liu here shows why: she is blessed with a heart-melting upper register. Pilar Lorengar's Russalka was a very pleasant surprise...I wish I could find a complete recording of her singing the title role. I believe we will just have to contend with this however. I'd never heard of Virginia Zeani prior to this CD but I loved the secure purchase and `sanguine tinge' of her voice...I'll be on the look out for her in the future. Of course, we get a reliable performance from Mirella Freni: touching and delicate as usual, but never weak. Kathleen Battle proves why she can get away with her notoriously despicable attitude: she really was the golden voice of the Met! Sumi Jo's technically perfect and stunning aria (again a good indicator of what you can generally expect from her) is the perfect, exciting end to this compilation.

The exceptions? I found Graziella Sciutti's tone to be too `heady'... if you'll forgive the crude term. I imagined the sound to come from an old woman. This will be a matter of preference. Renata Tebaldi is a touchy subject for some people because of some petty bashing that sometimes takes place. While I'm no `basher,' I never found her voice aesthetically appealing. I find her tone metallic and hard. Here, however, is the best I've heard her (I've heard her Cavaleria Rusticana, her La Wally and her Turandot). While her La Rondine here is not bad, Angela Georghiu's interpretation is one example of a soprano who is vastly superior in my opinion. Finally, the `immortal' Kirsten Flagstad performs "Du bist der Lenz" from Die Walkure in Wagner's Ring cycle. The old sound quality aside, I would not have enjoyed her Sieglinde, `full-throated' as it was. I wrote this off immediately as an idiosyncrasy for Flagstad fans. Apologies if anyone is offended (and this is sincere) but the whole musical effect is that of some lumbering leviathan...this is the stereotypical tedium that people ascribe to Wagner. All-in-all, however, I found the experience invaluable. I certainly am more aware of recordings that I'm not likely to enjoy and so have avoided making mistakes. When saying so, however, these sopranos are truly legendary. But as in all things, preferences will vary and so I have stated mine.

A few real jewels with a couple of paste ones mixed in..........2004-11-04

Most aria/song compilations suck. That's just the nature of compilations in general - It's hard to get a good mix of singers, arias and performances that will appeal to a broad audience.

This one mostly succeeds with a few exceptions. The singers are, over-all, excellently selected. Most of the performers are excellent singers, and their respective selections show them at the highest level of their careers. This was a treat to realize, because quite often, compilations fall back on using poorer quality artists.

There are a few, however, that don't match up to the performances of some of the other soprani on the album. That's not to say that they don't have their own talent and value, but it's hard to appreciate their lesser stars when faced with the brilliance of Caballe, L. Price & other similar talents.

The selection of arias was also not to my taste. I personally could live in peace the rest of my days without hearing another "O Mio Babbino Caro," but personal taste aside, it would have been nice to hear some of the greater, but less frequently performed arias, as well as some of the commonly done but more appealing arias, too.

Out of all the music written by Mozart and Wagner, the best they could do was Welche Wonne, welche Lust & Du bist der Lenz?

This probably isn't a great album to introduce newbies to opera in general, but there is some good listening on it - particularly Caballe's Signore, Ascolte & Tebaldi's Che il bel sogno di Doretta.

Very Nice.......2002-09-01

As a big fan of the many "Top such and such sopranos" type CDs, I found this to be one of the best yet. It exemplifies the highlights of each sopranos career...and leaves you with a great impression of them all.

Also, the CD is quite enjoyable, for it varies from heavy, matured sopranos..to those younger, more glittering and creamy. I found this to truly be money well spent, for it a wonderful addition to my "opera hits" collection. One point off for the rather stereotypical selection fo arias and such ...otherwise...Enjoy!

Average customer rating: Great Voice Florez shines in enticing variety, versatility of repertoire Third album by Florez Florez in another dazzling disc! Muy bien cantado...Pero falta algo

Great Tenor Arias Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cimarosa, Domenico | ( 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 Gluck | Gluck, Christoph W. | ( G ) | 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 General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | 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 The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Juan Diego Florez ~ Rossini Arias Una Furtiva Lagrima Sentimiento Latino Sentimiento Latino Rossini - Il Barbiere Di Siviglia / Juan Diego Florez, Maria Bayo, Pietro Spagnoli, Ruggero Raimondi, Bruno Pratico, Gianluigi Gelmetti, Madrid Opera ASIN: B0002K6ZWU Release Date: 2004-09-14

Tracks:

1. J'ai Perdu Mon Euridice
2. Pietoso Al Lungo PiantoAlfin M'arride Amore...Deh! Lasciate A Un'Alma Amante
3. La Speranza Piu Soave Gia Quest'Alma Lusingava
4. Eccomi Finalmente...Feste? Pompe? Omaggi? Onori?
5. Loin De Son Amie Vivre Sans Plaisirs
6. Languir Per Una Bella
7. La Donna E Mobile
8. Pria Che Spunti In Ciel L'aurora
9. Com'e Soave Quest'Ora Di Silenzio Al Mio Dolente Cor... Anch'io Provai Le Tenere Smanie D'un Puro Amore
10. Avete Torto!...Firenze E Come Un Albero Fiorito

Amazon.com

Here the remarkable young Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Florez not only offers us what we've become accustomed to---gorgeous, graceful singing of very difficult bel canto gems (in this case, high-flying, virtuosic arias from Rossini's Semiramide and L'Italiana in Algeri. He also ventures into unknown waters. He sings an aria added by Donizetti for an Italian production of The Daughter of the Regiment ("La figlia" rather than the usual "La fille") which turns out to be just right for his voice, and he charms with his crisp diction and youthful approach. Paolino's aria from Cimarosa's Il matrimonio segreto is a substantial piece of bel canto writing, with some nice coloratura fireworks near the end which Florez sails through with ease, and Rinuccio's ditty from Puccini's Gianni Schicchi---perhaps the most heavily orchestrated piece he's sung and stylistically the opposite of anything else on the CD---is also tossed off with true élan. On the other hand, Florez has a lot to learn about the Gluckian style, judging from his Romantic approach to Orphée's aria, and his French could use some brushing up if he's going to sing anything from Halévy's La Juive, although the vocal hurdles that the composer put in the tenor's way do not seem to bother him at all. A surprising disappointment is "La donna e mobile," which is over-sung and charm free. But can any tenor around be expected to sing all of these (and a few others, too) perfectly? Florez remains a true delight, his sound beautiful, his production easy from top to bottom. Despite reservations, highly recommended. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Great Voice.......2007-05-13

This young tenor is a worthy successor to Carreras, he will be a superb singer.

Florez shines in enticing variety, versatility of repertoire.......2005-03-14

An altogether delightful disc. The arias on here that do not require heavy pryotechnics are delightful and reveal a very pleasant insouciance of tone and character that are very fitting, only very intermittently offset by a slight hardness of tone on top. The aria from Semiramide and cabaletta to the charming Cimarosa aria serve up the fireworks, so common on the first disc and perhaps the one that followed it, for those listeners who are attracted to this disc by having heard especially the first and highly brilliant all-Rossini outing. Rossini is also well represented here by a charming romanza and lively cabaletta from Italiana in Algeri.

Several rarities are included, unlike with the above, and he makes something very charming and inviting of the selection from Verdi's Un giorno di regno (Verdi's rarely performed comedic second opera). The alternate Italian aria from Fille du regiment is a welcome supplement to his having recorded the more famous aria for Tony on his second recital disc. The aria from Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia (an easy equal to Lucia in inspiration) is also a highlight, Florez's insouciance of manner here particularly telling, as it has fatal consequences for his character and all this character's buddies in this opera. Eleazar's aria, or one of them, from Halevy's La Juive reveals the possibility of a little greater reach into repertoire that approaches the dramatic for this tenor - but one senses as well that he will and can, should take his time getting there. The tribute to Firenze from Gianni Schicchi at or toward the end of this recital is compelling enough to convince the most hardened travel cynic buying this disc to call the airlines/hotels, inns to book for there right away. The "Che faro" from Orfeo (but sung in French) is an ideal vehicle from which Florez can deliver such a sublime and heartfelt lament, as heard here, albeit a bit too closely recorded.

Carlo Rizzi, not always dependable, gives fine accompaniments here. The engineering does place the voice just a bit too forward, however, yet ironically a voice that has developed full body and better evenness than when his first all-Rossini disc was recorded (yet still certainly too early to tackle the part of Eleazer on stage as of yet), erasing any concerns I may have had at that time. For some readers, any problem with the sound quality here might demote this outing to four stars, but taking the singing, the interesting repertoire chosen for this disc, and the fine, deft accompaniments from Rizzi and the Verdi orchestra from Milan (some alternate band to Muti's peerless one at La Scala? - the endless nature of so much politics in music), have me sticking with five, and with a mind about several other vocal recital discs that have been getting rated too highly on this website.

Ditto. Just received credible correction from Vince Chau of one piece of misinformation I submitted here. The aria that Florez sings from La Juive belongs to the second tenor part of Leopold, not that of Eleazar. While I am on the subject of corrections of my reviews, he also had said that I had incorrectly challenged Gheorghiu's Laggiu nel Soledad for having ended on a high C. Not having been so graphic as that in how I describe what happened there, I had led him to believe and perhaps a few others that I was saying there was no high C in the aria at all, so I have just taken pains to fully explain the situation on the new Gheorghiu Puccini recital by thereby editing my review of it. I would not trade Gina Cigna's ONLY high C TOWARD the end of Laggiu nel Soledad for all the gold in Fort Knox, or Nilsson's or Tebaldi's ...

Third album by Florez.......2005-01-01

This, the young Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Florez' third album, includes more of the bel canto repertory with which he has risen to international fame. Hearing Lindoro's scene from L'Italiana in Algeri, to cite one example, will make the first-time listener realize why. The tenor's firm, even tone, agility in coloratura and secure high notes--all the way up to a solid high D in one selection--are still sources of wonder.

"Great Tenor Arias" also includes forays into other areas of the repertory, from operas which Florez has not yet sung and may never sing on stage. Indeed, one hopes that no one talks him into trying Verdi's Duke of Mantua any time soon--his rendition of "La Donna e Mobile" is solid, if a bit lacking in charm, but the entire role would surely overtax his vocal resources. Puccini's Rinuccio, from the evidence of Florez' take on the aria from Gianni Schicchi that concludes this somewhat short (less than an hour of music) CD, would be a more comfortable fit, but he is already too much of a marquee name to take on what is basically a supporting role.

If this CD as a whole leaves a slightly unsatisfying impression, it is because the experiments by Florez remain just that--vocal explorations rather than performances undertaken out of deep dramatic or musical conviction. In addition, some of the more obscure music, Cimarosa and early Verdi in particular, is not of the highest quality, and here Florez' comparative inability to characterize vocally becomes a liability. All in all, despite the outstanding singing, a newcomer to this tenor's art would probably be better served by starting with one of his two earlier albums, the first of Rossini, the second Bellini/Donizetti.

Florez in another dazzling disc!.......2004-11-25

Juan Diego Florez is definitely on a spin and that well-deserved
journey is the product of fine training, excellent coaching, and a keen sense of pacing in a career that tends to push the gifted ones too quickly. Though Florez' crowning gifts are in the bel canto repertoire, with this recording he just starts there and pushes into the range of more lyrical arias, and to these ears he succeeds in demonstrating how special is this beautiful voice.

Even the decision about lineup of arias on this fine recording is intelligent: Florez moves from Gluck, Cimarosa and Rossini into Donizetti, Verdi and Puccini with great ease. Here is a tenor who can belt out the high notes to please the balcony but who is equally sensitive to the diminuendos and barely audible phrases that mark the true artist.

Dashingly handsome, and physically as well as vocally a fine actor on stage, this CD simply further demonstrates that Juan Diego Florez is one of the brightest tenors before us today. It is interesting to see how many Latin American tenors are suddenly becoming so important - Villazon, Calleja, Alvarez, Florez, etc. Refreshing! GRady Harp, November 2004.

Muy bien cantado...Pero falta algo.......2004-11-07

JUAN DIEGO FLOREZ es sin duda alguna el mejor tenor de la actualidad en su repertorio (Rossini y ciertos roles belcantistas) y sus trabajos discograficos siempre consiguen los mas fervientes aplausos. Yo mismo, ya elogie en su dia aqui sus dos registros anteriores en solitario con este mismo sello.
Pero ahora, en este tercer trabajo, la magia no se produce de igual manera que las veces anteriores: la voz sigue estando ahi, bellisima y con un alarde de agudos bastante importante...Pero el repertorio no es el mas adecuado a la vocalidad de Florez, por lo que le ofrece escasas posibilidades de lucimiento. Un repertorio como este, en la voz de un tenor desconocido que comienza pudo haber sido interesante, pero en la voz de un tenor ya consagrado como es Florez, deja una sensacion de vacio bastante grave. Habra que esperar al cuarto (ya se anuncian "Canciones latinoamericanas" en lo que puede ser un interesante cambio de registrio) para ver si se vuelve a producir la magia.
CARLO RIZZI y la orquesta rinden a un buen nivel, mucho mayor que la orquesta y el director del disco anterior de Florez.

Average customer rating: The CD in my collection most loved by friends.. Wonderful selection of great singing.

Amore: The Great Italian Love Arias Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Flotow | Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Donizetti, Gaetano | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Giordano, Umberto | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Flotow, Friedrich von | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Puccini, Giacomo | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Te Kanawa, Kiri | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Amore II ~ Great Italian Love Arias Amor--Opera's Great Love Songs The Most Famous Opera Duets Viva Italia! Festive Italian Classics The Most Famous Opera Arias ASIN: B0000026Z5 Release Date: 1989-10-24

Tracks:

1. O Mio Babbino Caro (From Gianni Schicchi) - Kiri Te Kanawa
2. Chi Il Bel Sogno Di Doretta (From La Rondine) - Kiri Te Kanawa
3. Quando M'en Vo' Soletta (From La Boheme) - Kiri Te Kanawa
4. Che Gelida Manina (From La Boheme) - Luciano Pavarotii
5. Mi Chiamano Mimi (From La Boheme) - Eva Marton
6. Donde Lieta Usci (From La Boheme) - Eva Marton
7. Recondita Armonia (From Tosca) - Richard Tucker
8. Vissi D'arte (From Tosca) - Kiri Te Kanawa
9. E Lucevan Le Stelle (From Tosca) - Richard Tucker
10. Un Bel Di Vedremo (From Madama Butterfly) - Kiri Te Kanawa
11. Addio, Fiorito Asil (From Madama Butterfly) - Richard Tucker
12. Tu, Tu, Piccolo Iddio (From Madama Butterfly) - Eva Marton
13. Tu, Che Di Gel Sei Cinta (From Turandot) - Eva Marton
14. Ch'ella Mi Creda Libero (From La Fanciulla Del West) - Richard Tucker
15. Il Lamento Di Federico (From L'Arlesiana) - Richard Tucker
16. La Donna E Mobile (From Rigoletto) - Luciano Pavarotti
17. Vesti La Giubba (From Pagliacci) - Luciano Pavarotti
18. Caro Nome Che Il Mio Cor (From Rigoletto) - Ileana Cotrubas
19. Amor Ti Vieta (From Fedora) - Luciano Pavarotti
20. Celeste Aida (From Aida) - Richard Tucker
21. Una Furtiva Lagrime (From L'Elisir D'amore) (Mono) - Richard Tucker
22. Ah! Si Ben Mio (From Il Trovatore) (Mono) - Richard Tucker
23. M'appari (From Martha) - Richard Tucker

Customer Reviews:

The CD in my collection most loved by friends.........2000-01-03

This remarkable collection of arias, with consistently high sound quality sound, was my introduction to opera, an addiction that turned feverish. Most singular, however, is the reaction of anyone who hears it. I have had it for 8-9 years and all those friends who wrote down the title have been unable to find it. On a whim, I tried a search on Amazon, and now have a long list of people to call. It is rich, lustrous music, that always leaves me with my arm hairs raised. The ultimate test. Get it and addict your friends, minus the frustration of not having a source for them to find it.

Wonderful selection of great singing........1999-10-12

Even if you don't like "Opera Highlights", you probably will love this. Some great artists recorded at their best. Everyone I play it for, goes out and buys the CD.

Average customer rating: Even better on Hybrid SACD - Florez in another dazzling disc!,

Great Tenor Arias [Hybrid SACD] Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cimarosa, Domenico | ( 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 Gluck | Gluck, Christoph W. | ( G ) | 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 General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | 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 The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Rossini - Il Barbiere Di Siviglia / Juan Diego Florez, Maria Bayo, Pietro Spagnoli, Ruggero Raimondi, Bruno Pratico, Gianluigi Gelmetti, Madrid Opera Una Furtiva Lagrima Sentimiento Latino Juan Diego Florez ~ Rossini Arias Arias [Hybrid SACD] ASIN: B0002K6ZX4 Release Date: 2004-11-09

Customer Reviews:

Even better on Hybrid SACD - Florez in another dazzling disc!, .......2006-12-04

Juan Diego Florez is definitely on a spin and that well-deserved journey is the product of fine training, excellent coaching, and a keen sense of pacing in a career that tends to push the gifted ones too quickly. Though Florez' crowning gifts are in the bel canto repertoire, with this recording he just starts there and pushes into the range of more lyrical arias, and to these ears he succeeds in demonstrating how special is this beautiful voice.

Even the decision about lineup of arias on this fine recording is intelligent: Florez moves from Gluck, Cimarosa and Rossini into Donizetti, Verdi and Puccini with great ease. Here is a tenor who can belt out the high notes to please the balcony but who is equally sensitive to the diminuendos and barely audible phrases that mark the true artist.

Dashingly handsome, and physically as well as vocally a fine actor on stage, this CD simply further demonstrates that Juan Diego Florez is one of the brightest tenors before us today. It is interesting to see how many Latin American tenors are suddenly becoming so important - Villazon, Calleja, Alvarez, Florez, etc. Refreshing! Grady Harp, December 06

Average customer rating: Heppner -"Beauty and the Beef" He is DEFINATELY NOT Del Monaco or Corelli Ben Heppner is One of the Best Tenors of All time! Finally, a real dramatic tenor voice. Heppner just may be the perfect tenor.

Ben Heppner - Great Tenor Arias Ruggero Leoncavallo , Giuseppe Verdi , Giacomo Puccini , Georges Bizet , Jules Massenet , Umberto Giordano , Munich Radio Orchestra , Bavarian Radio Chorus , Roberto Abbado , Michael Glaser , and Ben Heppner Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD 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 Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( 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 Heppner, Ben | ( 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 | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Ideale: Songs of Paolo Tosti Ben Heppner - German Romantic Opera My Secret Heart - Songs of Parlour, Stage and Screen Heppner Sings Wagner Ben Heppner - Airs Francais / LSO, Myung-Whun Chung ASIN: B000003FO4 Release Date: 1995-08-15

Tracks:

1. La Boheme: Musetta! O gioia della mia dimora!....Testa adorata
2. La forza del destino: Oh! fede negar potessi... Quando le sere al placido
3. La forza del destino: La vita e inferno all'infelice... Oh, tu che in seno agl'angeli
4. Aida: Se quel guerrier io fossi!... Celeste Aida
5. Il Trovatore: Ah si, ben mio
6. Il Trovatore: Di quella pira
7. Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai simili a questa!
8. Turandot: Nessun dorma
9. La Fanciulla del West: Ch'ella mi creda libero e lontano
10. Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee
11. L'Africaine: Pays merveilleux... O Paradis
12. Herodiade: Ne pouvant reprimer... Adieu donc, vains objets
13. Le Cid: Ah! tout est bien fini... O souverain, o juge, o pere
14. Andrea Chenier: Come un bel di di maggio
15. Andrea Chenier: Colpito qui m'avete ov'io geloso... Un di all'azzurro spazio

Amazon.com

Not since the days of Lauritz Melchior have we had a true heldentenor, a singer who can take on the big Wagnerian parts and the other roles that require a voice of real weight and heft. The Canadian tenor Ben Heppner is the closest we come these days, but he is both less and more than that--less because he has so far not attempted the bigger Wagnerian roles, more because (unlike most such tenors, and as demonstrated on this disc) he has successfully mastered the idiom of French and Italian operas. He has a big voice, flexible and even, capable of a good legato line when needed (e.g., in nicely sung performances of "Ah si, ben mio" from Verdi's Il Trovatore and "O Paradis" from Meyerbeer's L'Africaine). But while his brilliant sound and dramatic intensity make him often thrilling to hear, there is also a sense of effort and a lack of charm in his singing that can put a listener off, and RCA has done him no favors with their rather distant miking. Still, he is an exciting singer, and this is a recommended disc. --Alex Morin

Customer Reviews:

Heppner -"Beauty and the Beef".......2006-11-02

Comparing tenors is always risky-no matter what, someone's feelings get hurt.Ben Heppner is, as others have suggested, the leading heldontenor of the day.What seems to separate him from others, with whom he has been compared-Corelli,del Monaco,Melchior, is the obvious fact that Heppner has a stunning lyrical quality to his sound.Many of the Mellochi, dropped larynx technique singers, are simply incapable of producing a "sweet" sound.Size isn't everything.Volume and a sweet sound are qualities that when combined add so much more musical, and hence listening value.Heppner can sing everything, because his lyrical sound is listenable.When will they get it right...a triple forte presentation all the time isn't all there is to singing opera. With Heppner we have a sense of line, modulation and all the musical aspects that make performances enjoyable. As well, Heppner is a fine musician. I dislike over done portamento. Heppner sings and delivers as the composer intended-at least as far as one can tell.I loved Corelli's sound but his magnificence was diminished by a chronic failure to follow the score.And I don't think Del Monaco ever sang anything pianissimo.I am sorry fans, but that isn't good singing.With Heppner we have an artist who delivers music with great musicality. What a concept!This CD offers example after example of how it can and should be done.
This CD has all the goods to illustrate the point.Big sound plus sweet sound equals success.Great tenor arias from a great tenor!

He is DEFINATELY NOT Del Monaco or Corelli.......2005-04-27

For all of the people out there reading the reviews on here make sure you take them with a grain of salt. Most peoples ear for voice is terrible. If you had heard Del Monaco or Corelli live you would know what complete and utter bullcrap these reviews are. Although Ben Heppner's voice may be considered large by todays standards it is small compared to Corelli and ESPECIALLY Del Monaco. In this age of state of the art recording equipment everyone sounds like they have a big voice. Mr. Heppner also lacks the core and squillo that Del Monaco and Corelli (and countless others) had. The ring in their voices is where all of the harmonics happen. It is these kinds of comparisons that have allowed the opera to decline to the level that it is today. Intstead of saying, "Why are'nt people singing like DelMonaco and Tebaldi and Nilsson anymore?" we have people trying to bring lesser voices up to their level. Very sad.

Ben Heppner is One of the Best Tenors of All time!.......2000-01-28

The only reason that Ben Heppner would not be able to fill the shoes of Corelli, or del Monaco is because Ben wears a bigger size. Heppner not only has the large full ranged voice, mentioned by the previous reviewer, but he also has impecable artistry. Unlike del Monaco he knows what dynamics are. Unlike Corelli he can get to his top register without scooping, and unlike Corelli he knows how to count, and doesn't write the music as he sings it. Don't get me wrong Corelli, and Del Monaco are two of my favorite tenors, but they are by no means better than Heppner

Finally, a real dramatic tenor voice........1999-09-29

Since the days of Del Monaco and Corelli, there have not been many dramatic tenors worthy of note. The few dramatic tenors I have seen live in recent years, namely the Russians, Atlantov and Bogachev, and the Americans, Margison and O'Neill, have indeed had big voices but not particularly attractive ones. They have also lacked the musicianship and style of singers like Del Monaco and Corelli, not to mention their top registers! Now comes a tenor like Heppner who, although he cannot fill the shoes of Corelli and Del Monaco, as indeed who can, is nevertheless worthy to walk in their footsteps. Heppner has an immense, bronze colored tenor voice. It is not darkly shaded like Corelli's or perhaps as stentorian as Del Monaco's. But Heppner displays a rich, even timbre throughout his singing, from bottom to top. In many of the arias on this CD, Heppner effectively employs dynamic shading for someone with as big a voice as his. But, above all, Heppner offers us a clinic in fine, subtle legato phrasing. His musicianship is impeccable. Heppner has enough voice and breadth to be patient with these arias, shaping the phrases in long, flowing lines without tiring or compromising his tone. Although sometimes Heppner thins out at the top, I suspect that's more of a problem with the engineering than the voice. One small criticism to be made, however, is that perhaps Heppner's performance is too controlled, lacking the spontaneity and thrill characteristic of performances by greats such as Corelli and Del Monaco. Nevertheless, we should consider outselves lucky to have this wonderful heroic tenor on the stage today.

Heppner just may be the perfect tenor........1999-09-28

How on earth did I miss this one?! Recorded in 1995, I just stumbled across it the other day. What a voice! Here is that true rarity: a genuine Heldentenor with a sweet, flexible, well-placed voice; and he is definitely NOT a tenor-baritone. I've heard "Nessum Dorma" a thousand times, sung by a hundred tenors, but never like like this--your hair will stand on end! Who said a so-called dramatic tenor can't hit a decent high-C? Heppner not only hits it--dead center--he demolishes it. And the "Un di all'azzurro spazio" is a "textbok" in vocal agility. I know of no other tenor today (or yesterday) who can so perfectly handle the two distinct "styles" of the aria, at times lyrical, and others dramatic. This aria was meant to be difficult and, although many can sing it with fair success, only Heppner grabs it, shakes it for all it's worth, and conquers it. How nice to have a North American (albeit from British Columbia) do us so proud,

Average customer rating:

Puccini: Great Arias Manufacturer: Polygram Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B0000041U3 Release Date: 1990-10-25

Average customer rating: Quite a miracle

Amor ti vieta: Great Opera Arias Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Boito, Arrigo | ( 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 Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Caruso, Enrico | ( C ) | 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 | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Boito, Arrigo | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Donizetti, Gaetano | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Giordano, Umberto | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Gounod, Charles | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Puccini, Giacomo | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Caruso 2000 Italian Songs: The Digital Recordings ASIN: B0002JUWY8 Release Date: 2004-08-10

Amazon.com

This disc can make a hardened realist believe in miracles. The first is technological: superimposing a new instrumental background on "vocals" recorded between 1902 and 1913. To listeners who cherish Pearl's re-issues of the Caruso Edition, where the voice comes through in all its glory while the orchestra sounds like a village band several miles away, this is naturally a vast improvement. It is also strangely disorienting: with brand-new accompaniments played by an excellent orchestra, the vocal sound shows its age; instead of leaping out from its surroundings, it almost seems upstaged by it. However, the ear quickly adjusts, just as it did to the originals' orchestral sound. The second miracle is Caruso's unique vocal and dramatic artistry. The program features favorite arias as well as unfamiliar ones, such as the disc's title track from Giordano's Fedora and Canio's final aria, rather than the famous earlier one, from Leoncavallo's I Pagliacci. An aria from Verdi's Otello, which he was to sing for the first time at the Metropolitan Opera in 1921, brings home the tragedy of his death at 48 that year. The disc includes some of his earliest recordings (with the orchestra taking over the original piano accompaniments played by the composers), as well as several he made after his operations, when his bright, honeyed, "golden" voice took on its famous baritonal quality: darker, warmer, somewhat heavier. In close juxtaposition, the difference is quite startling, creating the illusion of hearing two different singers. What remains unchanged are his incomparable technique and his inimitable style, though the early tendency toward what now seem excessive slides, portamentos, fermatas, gradually abates. His top notes retained their thrilling, heroic ring, his agility its effortless ease; his breath-control remained uncanny, his charm infectious. Perhaps most striking is his ability to create mood and character, drawing you instantly into the heart of the scene and the person portrayed. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Quite a miracle.......2005-05-16

I bought the first digital Caruso CD, "Caruso 2000", and loved listening to it. Although it was more interesting than artistic. I found the digital process fascinating, however it seemed that too much was erased from the digital recordings, to the point that Caruso's voice lost some nuance. This CD however (the third in this series) manages to somehow filter out (most of)the surface noise and the original accompiament while keeping the voice mostly intact. The balance between the old and the new is also more convincing. Detractors of the Caruso 2000 CD should definitely check this one out. They might be surprised

Meditation Music:

1. Puccini: Tosca
2. Puccini: Tosca
3. Richard Wagner: Das Rheingold (Part 1 of The Ring Of The Nibelungen)
4. Richard Wagner: Götterdämmerung
5. Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser
6. Rossini: Il Turco in Italia
7. Rossini - L'inganno felice / Massis, Giménez, Gilfry, Spagnoli, Regazzo; Minkowski
8. Rossini - La Cenerentola / Bartoli, Dara, Matteuzzi, Corbelli, Pertusi; Chailly [highlights]
9. Siegfried Wagner: Schwarzschwanenreich
10. Strauss Die Ägyptische Helena

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