Sarka-Complete Opera

Amazon.com
Sarka is the Czech version of Zena: Warrior Princess, or something like that. She's the leader of a band of female warriors who are sworn to avoid men at all costs. Then, a Prince Charming type shows up and she falls for him, ultimately betraying her fellow warriors who suffer defeat at the hands of the men. So she jumps off a cliff. Fibich was the third (and least well known) of the great trio of Czech Romantic composers--the other two were Dvorák and Smetana. He had a good theatrical instinct. This opera is brief, punchy, and full of good tunes. It deserves to be better known outside of the Czech lands, and this fine recording should accomplish precisely that. --David Hurwitz

Fibich:Sarka,Z. Fibich,Koch Entertainment D,Classical Music

---

Average customer rating: Astounding debut album Love it! Bravo Paul Just got mine today and it was well worth the wait! Paul Potts is amazong!

Paul Potts [United Kingdom]: One Chance Manufacturer: Sony / Bmg Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco... The Best of Italian Opera Puccini - Turandot / Franco Zeffirelli - Marton, Domingo, Mitchell, Plishka, Cuenod - James Levine, MET (1988) The #1 Opera Album The Most Famous Opera Arias ASIN: B000SKO0OY Release Date: 2007-07-31

Tracks:

1. Nessun Dorma
2. Time to Say Goodbye [Con Te Partir
3. Amapola
4. Everybody Hurts [Ognuno Soffre]
5. Caruso
6. Nella Fantasia
7. You Raise Me Up [por Ti Ser
8. My Way [A Mi Manera]
9. Cavatina
10. Music of the Night

Album Description

2007 debut album from the winner of the first season of Britain's Got Talent. Potts' winning performance of Puccini's 'Nessun Dorma' is now one of the most watched clips in You Tube's history (10 million+). The album includes that track as well as the equally captivating 'Time To Say Goodbye', a Spanish version of 'My Way' and Italian version of REM's 'Everybody Hurts'. 12 tracks. RCA.

Product Description

This Unassuming Man, a 36 Year Old Phone Salesman from South Wales and Amateur Opera Singer, Stepped Up to the Microphone on Simon Cowell's British Itv Show "Britain's Got Talent" and Literally Stole the Show. Many Anticipated Another William Hung, but Instead Got a Caruso! the Performance Brought the Entire Audience to their Feet, Even Winning High Praise from Cowell Himself. Potts Went on to Resoundingly Win the Competition! his is a Real Rags to Riches Tale, Having Been £30,000 in Debt and Suffering Years of Bullying and Recovering from a Serious Motorbike Accident. His Winning the Competition Got Him Signed to a Lucrative Recording Contract and He Gained Considerable Media Exposure all Over the World. This Debut Album Naturally features the Piece He Auditioned with (Puccini's "Nessun Dorma") as Well as his Heart Stopping Version of "Con Te Partiro/Time to Say Goodbye", the Song He Sang in the Finals, Originally Made Famous by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli.

Customer Reviews:

Astounding debut album.......2007-08-01

This album gets 4 stars because the engineers tried too hard to drown out Mr. Potts in the second selection. I also wish there had been at least one more real opera hit. "Nessun Dorma" is sung really well, including a small chorus in the interlude of the aria. The balance of the album is Italian (or Spanish) schlock. Good schlock, please understand, but standard pop stuff. Sort of a solo version of "Il Divo."

The difference here is Potts himself. His voice is ever so slightly reedy. He does have the timbre and size of voice to pull off his signature tune, "Nessun Dorma", but I'd hate to see him try the entire opera. Unlike say Mario Lanza, when he tackles the more intimate songs, he lets the focus shift away from all-out operatic singing. yet he never gets the "microphone" voice that Boccelli uses at times. Potts is just able to tune his sound to the material at hand. He is always connected emotionally, too, which some greater singers than he is can't say. I have many complete operas in my collection, and yet I bought this album because I found his performing to be quite moving. Pity Paul Potts? Never! He is a real singer and not the product of some over processed sound machine.

Love it!.......2007-08-01

I just received my Paul Potts CD and absolutely love each arrangement - listening to him brings tears to my eyes. After watching him on YouTube, I can visualize his wonderful eyes with such intense focus, and he always steps back and bows to his audience with great sincerity and humility. I will be buying more Paul Potts' CDs for gifts. Thank you, Amazon, for allowing us to preorder this fabulous CD!

Bravo Paul.......2007-08-01

I received my CD today and Paul is fabulous. I don't care if there are those out there who say he is untrained, has a language problem, or whatever. I lived in Italy five years and his Italian sounds just fine to me. We have you now Paul and you aren't getting away. I don't see you selling phones again anytime soon.

Just got mine today and it was well worth the wait! .......2007-08-01

Actually, I'm surprised they got this one out so quickly after his incredible win on Britain's Got Talent. If you are waiting to buy this in the United States, I believe it isn't due for release till Sept but I just couldn't wait.

I know there will be critics of Potts (each to his or her own) but I think the great strength of this CD is that it may (finally) bring opera to the masses again and perhaps that is why they stuck with so many classic works. Potts does a fine job, at least as well (or better) than his performances on television. For those who are longtime opera lovers, they may find fault with some of his notes or delivery but please consider that this man does not have a long career backed by professional production and that the CD was put out rather quickly.

PLEASE BE AWARE THE SONGS ARE SUNG IN ITALIAN. For me, that makes the CD even more special because I can focus on the emotion and not the lyrics.

Here are my favorites and my thoughts:
Nessun Dorma - the song that stunned the world. It says something that this rather humble man's performance was forwarded to people via email, on video sites and had a record number of viewings - and for opera, not even rock or country music! Definitely a surprise that the average person took to this so well, except that his voice was (and IS) truly stunning. This piece is hauntingly lovely.

Con de Partiro (Time To Say Goodbye) - I wish he'd sung without so much accompaniment but other than that, I have no complaints. A love song that I could listen to again and again.

Paul Potts is amazong!.......2007-07-31

I'm one of the 8 million plus viewers of Paul Potts on youtube and I pre-ordered his CD from amazon right after I heard him. I just received it today and am totally blown away by his magnificent voice. The included songs will be familiar to most people, some opera, some popular and all just a total joy to listen to.

I will be anxiously awaiting his future CD's.

Average customer rating: Now it makes more sense... Where's my Philip Glass? This is an unique soundtrack More score, less opera please Best movie soundtrack of 2007

No Reservations Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD 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 Glass | Glass, Philip | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: Hairspray (Soundtrack to the Motion Picture) Evening Ratatouille The Best of Paolo Conte Nomad: The Warrior ASIN: B000RHRGQC Release Date: 2007-07-24

Tracks:

1. Truffles And Quail - Conrad Pope
2. Sway - Michael Buble
3. Celeste Aida - Luciano Pavarotti
4. O Mio Babbino Caro - Renata Tebaldi
5. Zoe & Kate Watch Video - Phillip Glass
6. Libiamo Libiamo - Joan Sutherland
7. Via Con Me - Paolo Conte
8. La Donna E 'Mobile - Joseph Calleja
9. Un Bel Di 'Vedremo - Renata Tebaldi
10. Zoe Goes To the Restaurant - Phillip Glass
11. Cielo E Mar - Luciano Pavarotti
12. Mambo Gelato - Ray Gelato
13. Nessun Dorma - Luciano Pavarotti
14. Count On My Love - Liz Phair

Customer Reviews:

Now it makes more sense..........2007-07-30

It appears that some of the most memorable score cues from the movie are actually from Mark Isham's soundtrack "Life As A House" (Listen to track 11 from "Life As A House" for example.)

Now I'm beginning to understand why there seems to be such a paucity of score cues on this CD. I think either Glass' score was partially rejected or he only scored a small part of the movie to begin with.

Where's my Philip Glass? .......2007-07-30

The other music on the cd is perfectly fine. It's good music actually, but I wanted more score. I was hoping the two score cues would be longer than they were.

Philip Glass only used a few motifs (three tops) in the movie...would it have been so hard to include all of them (as opposed to 1)?

Shame on Decca...unless they're planning on releasing a score-only CD.
Hope they do.

This is an unique soundtrack.......2007-07-29

This is an unusual soundtrack. It combines instrumental music with opera music. This disc also has two songs from popular singers. I love the track "Sway" by Michael Buble. I also enjoyed the track "Mambo Gelato" These two tracks make me want to grab someone and dance. The opera tracks on this disc are excellent. The best of the bunch is "La Donna E Mobile" by Joseph Calleja. This track is very uplifting and playful. "Cielo E Mar" is a romantic sounding track from Pavarotti. "Nessum Dorma" is a really soothing track from Pavarotti too. He has such a powerful voice. Philip Glass is a talented composer for the film. I love his instrumental restaurant theme here. It is a beautiful piece of music. "Count On My Love" is a great song that fits the tone of the movie well. I really enjoyed listening to the music on this soundtrack.

More score, less opera please.......2007-07-28

Phillip Glass's score was exceptional, why there isn't more of it on the rousing soundtrack, I can't imagine, but the lack leaves a hole in the overall CD.

Best movie soundtrack of 2007.......2007-07-28

There isn't much good to say about the film but this soundtrack really is beautiful.

Average customer rating: Bocelli is the Best Amore I just can't get into it, maby if it was in english Very romantic Beautiful music

Andrea Bocelli - Amore Andrea Bocelli Manufacturer: Sugar ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Italy | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Romanza Andrea Ancora Andrea Bocelli: Under the Desert Sky [DVD Included] Awake ASIN: B000CC1TGA Release Date: 2006-01-31

Tracks:

1. Amapola
2. Besame Mucho
3. Les Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Leaves)
4. Mi Manchi - featuring Kenny G
5. Somos Novios (It's Impossible) - Duet with Christina Aguilera
6. Solamente Una Vez
7. Jurame
8. Pero Te Extrano
9. Canzoni Stonate - Featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica and vocals
10. L'Appuntamento
11. Cuando Me Enamoro
12. Can't Help Falling In Love - Live At Lake Las Vegas
13. Because We Believe
14. Ama Credi E Vai (Because We Believe)

Product Description

Romance. Passion. Emotion. These words are synonymous with the voice of Andrea Bocelli. Almost ten years ago he exploded onto the international music scene with Romanza, and has since sold nearly 50 million albums worldwide. Amore--released amongst the glamor of the Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy (where he will perform at the closing ceremony) and the romance of Valentine's Day--finds Bocelli straying from the carefully groomed classical ground in which he is most familiar. The concept of the album came from famed producer and longtime Bocelli fan David Foster along with co-producers Humberto Gatica and Tony Renis, who posed the question: Why not take the most beautiful love songs in the world and pair them with the most romantic voice in the world? The result is a beautiful album of pop standards that Foster has publicly claimed is "one of the most beautiful records I have ever been part of."

Embarking on a new era, Amore unveils a fresh sensuous sound that gently moves Bocelli into new territory. Spanish guitars flourish, traditional Latin percussion seductively keeps the tempo, accordions and harmonicas provide charming melodies, while sometimes Bocelli shares the spotlight with just a grand piano. Recorded late in the summer at Bocelli's Tuscan home studio overlooking the coast, the album exudes the natural beauty and breathtaking surroundings evident in Italy. Amore marks the only album David Foster has made outside of his Californian studio complex in two decades. This was also most musically gratifying for Bocelli: "I've been presented with opportunities I once could only dream of, challenges I longed to confront and experiences I will cherish forever, but while recording this album I realized that now is the perfect moment to arrive at an album of this repertoire, with the perfect producers, the perfect musicians and the perfect selection of songs."

More CDs from Andrea Bocelli

The Storyteller	Romanza	Cieli di Toscana
Verdi	La Bohème	Sacred Arias

Customer Reviews:

Bocelli is the Best.......2007-07-30

On a recent trip to Italy on an escorted tour - our bus driver would play Bocelli during lulls in the tour guides commentaries. It was so soothing and relaxing to listen to while dirivng along the highways in Tuscany.
I came home and decided this would be great music to listen to while at work.....and it is - it's very calming in a sometimes stressfull environement.

Amore.......2007-06-13

Molto buon! Andrea Bocelli has gone over the top on this album. l'amora della mia vita.

I just can't get into it, maby if it was in english.......2007-06-08

I heard andrea bocelli on a sarah brightman CD and it was amazing, but some of it was in english and the song was a great one, I just can't get into this CD maby if it were in english I'd enjoy it. It could be the songs but since it's not in english I can't say for sure.

Very romantic.......2007-05-24

This cd is a very good mix of all the best romantic songs that Andrea Bocelli could sing. His voice is so perfect for the lyrics that makes the original singers not to sing so good. A must have, specially if you have your loved one closer with a bottle of wine in a perfect romantic place.

Beautiful music.......2007-05-08

I ordered this CD after seeing him perform on a PBS program. The music has a relaxing energy I haven't found in any other music. I can listen to it day after day.

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: Bias I Confess An Italianized Englishman... Romancing the listeners Amazing!!! Andrea in the 90's

Romanza Andrea Bocelli Manufacturer: Philips ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bocelli, Andrea | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Italy | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Bocelli, Andrea | A to B | Featured Performers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Andrea Bocelli - Amore Sogno Andrea Cieli di Toscana Time to Say Goodbye ASIN: B0000041OG Release Date: 1997-09-23

Tracks:

1. Con Te Partiro
2. Vivere
3. Per Amore
4. Il Mare Calmo Della Sera
5. Caruso
6. Macchine Da Guerra
7. Le Tue Parole
8. Vivo Per Lei
9. Romanza
10. La Luna Che Non C'e
11. Rapsodia
12. Voglio Restare Cosi
13. E Chiove
14. Miserere-Live
15. Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro) - A Tribute To Henri Maske

Amazon.com essential recording

From his childhood on the family farm in rural Tuscany to the worldwide stage, Andrea Bocelli has achieved phenomenal success. His singing is only partially the point, and his fame owes much more to the aura of romance and the romantic archetype that's attached to him. Romanza is by far Bocelli's largest success, winning adoration thanks to the swooning vocals and the easy, sometimes lush, always pop-safe instrumental textures and melodies. As far as his opera chops go, Bocelli has won the approval of Pavarotti but likely will not wow enthusiasts. The upside is that Bocelli will likely grow the opera pie, convincing labels to take on more operatic projects. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

Bias I Confess.......2007-07-06

I confess to loving Italian music and opera in addition to Rock & Roll, Country and music in general.

This music is good when you want to relax or have a lady over 40 you want to entertain.

An Italianized Englishman..........2007-06-01

Is the Devil incarnate." (Inglese italianato e un diavolo incarnate) Or so I've heard. I suppose the author (I read it in a copy of Machiavelli's The Prince) could be forgiven for not having heard Don Bocelli and Donna Brightman sing "Con Te Partiro" - can we now say Inglese italianata e un angelo incarnate?

The rest of the album is a collection of ballads, most of which suffer from weak or clashing instrumentals. An exception is "Macchine Da Guerra" which has a pleasant and comparatively strong piano accompaniment.

I'd like to thank Kenny McCormick of South Park, CO for turning me on to Don Bocelli.

Romancing the listeners.......2007-05-30

What a voice, it soars with the arias and bops with the more contemporary. Especially love the song about Caruso. Andrea is un cantante bello, un uomo bello! Turn this one up with the top down and let it sing you home.

Amazing!!!.......2007-05-18

I bought this cd again after losing my original copy that I bought the year it was released. Out of all my Bocelli cds this is my favorite. It has a good mix of classic opera with popera and really shows his abilities. I have used this cd to turn people on to opera and popera, and the results have been incredible! Once you hear him, you cannot deny his talent and passion. Simply AMAZING!!!

Andrea in the 90's.......2007-04-20

Andrea is incredible.His romantic poetry with music is unparalleled.The only downside to this album is the inescapable 90's feel.If you don't mind it,then buy this album.If you do,then buy 'Time To Say Goodbye'off iTunes and get Sogno,Andrea,or Cieli di Toscana.

Average customer rating: Phantom Revisited A disappointment after the film soundtrack. Phantom of the Opera Awesome! must get for Phantom or opera fans.... The Phantom Of The Opera (1986 Original London Cast)

The Phantom of the Opera (Original 1986 London Cast) Charles Hart Manufacturer: Decca Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Contemporary Musicals | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Brightman, Sarah | A to B | Featured Performers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Broadway & Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Box Sets | Stores | Music General | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Les Miserables (1987 Original Broadway Cast) Cats (1982 Original Broadway Cast) The Phantom of the Opera (Two-Disc Special Edition) The Phantom of the Opera (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) The Phantom of the Opera (2004 Movie Soundtrack) ASIN: B00004YTY2 Release Date: 2001-02-06

Tracks:

1. Prologue
2. Overture
3. Act One, Scene I: Think Of Me
4. Act One, Scene 2: Angel Of Music
5. Act One, Scene 3: Little Lotte.../The Mirror (Angel Of Music)
6. Act One, Scene 4: The Phantom Of The Opera
7. Act One, Scene 5: The Music Of The Night
8. Act One, Scene 6: I Remember.../Stranger Than You Dreamt It...
9. Act One, Scene 7: Magical Lasso...
10. Act One, Scene 8: Notes.../Prima Donna
11. Act One, Scene 9: Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh
12. Act One, Scene 10: Why Have You Brought Me Here.../Raoul, I've Been There
13. Act One, Scene 10: All I Ask Of You
14. Act One, Scene 10: All I Ask Of You (Reprise)

Tracks:

1. Entr'acte
2. Act Two, Scene 1: Masquerade/Why So Silent...
3. Act Two, Scene 3: Notes.../Twisted Every Way...
4. Act Two, Scene 5: Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
5. Act Two, Scene 5: Wandering Child.../Bravo, Monsieur
6. Act Two, Scene 7: The Point Of No Return
7. Act Two, Scene 8: Down Once More.../Track Down This Murderer

Amazon.com essential recording

What's left to be said about Andrew Lloyd Webber's adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera a decade after its premiere? That it's maddeningly ubiquitous? A stitch-up of various themes shoplifted from the Italian operatic repertoire? A critic-proof crowd pleaser that's probably being staged somewhere in the world as you read this? A megahit that will likely outlive Titanic in the pop-culture pantheon, Phantom has largely redefined--for better or worse--the manner in which modern musicals are conceived, staged, and marketed. Its influence has reached far beyond the traditional confines of London and Broadway. A favorite example: an abridged version that was the centerpiece of Los Angeles's longest-running transvestite revue, replete with 14-inch chandeliers and a man-playing-a-woman-playing-a-man in the title role. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Phantom Revisited.......2007-07-25

Listening to this excellent set of 2 cd's I can relieve my recent trip to NY when I saw Phantom front row center. Wonderful!

A disappointment after the film soundtrack........2007-06-11

I apologize in advance if this review is too cynical and overly-critical for some tastes, but I am mostly disappointed with the London Cast recording. I'll start with my biggest irritations and work my way down, then say some good things about this particular version of "Phantom".
Sarah Brightman overpronounces to the point of absurdity with her hebrew "heard" and "operar" in "Why Have You Brought Us Here." In "Down Once More" I only know what she's saying because I already knew the words from Emmy Rossum in the film. Brightman sounds no more elegant than Carlotta, whose voice I actually prefer because, ironically, it's more pure and understandable. However, Brightman is a fabulous opera singer with wonderful vibrato and a very impressive range... but Rossum is still the preferable choice.
Michael Crawford... man or woman? He may be a high-flying tenor, but sometimes that just goes too far, making him sound whiny and weak. Another major note: he cannot act! He may be more operatic than Gerard Butler in his singing, but he is a horrendous actor. "Down Once More" was turned from the heart-wrenching ultra-powerful piece I know into a disappointment thanks to Crawford's terrible "acting." Also, "Music of the Night" is a disaster when he sings it. Not only does his bad acting tear it down substantially, but he tries to sing bass notes. Tries and fails, mind you. He ends up making the piece a strangled, overpronounced, over-legato mess. He is a wonderful opera tenor, with truly inspiring vibrato, but his sometimes whiny voice and horrible job with the role of the Phantom make him somewhat lesser than Gerard Butler.
As for Raoul, either one is just as skilled as the other. One is more youthful and soft, while the other is more masculine and bass. I think they are equally skilled in all categories.
Every piece in this soundtrack I prefer the film version of, although sometimes there are parts of songs which I feel differently about. The only full song I prefer from this over the film soundtrack is none other than "The Phantom of the Opera." The film version has too many drawn out instrumental bits, which can get tedious. Also, it is missing my favorite verse. The "Phantom" from this soundtrack has vastly better vocal performances from both singers, since Gerard is very strained and this song is all about singing, not really acting.
The only song I like more in this version is "Phantom of the Opera." All others are, for the most part, a disappointment. Just a plain disappointment.

Phantom of the Opera.......2007-05-21

I love love love this soundtrack!!! I have seen on broadway in NY when I was younger and fell in love with it. Now I own every version of it. But this is by far the best cast.

Awesome! must get for Phantom or opera fans...........2007-05-17

I saw this performance in London and this is just like being there, awesome quality, amazing vocals......when I listen, I can feel the red velvet seats in the theater and taste the gin and tonic from the intermission......far superior performances than the recent movie.....I had to throw it away after hearing the real deal.....You will be happy with this one.....

The Phantom Of The Opera (1986 Original London Cast).......2007-05-10

I never received the CD's but the seller was super at trying to trace down what happened to it. I would recommend the seller to any one. Very Honest person.

Average customer rating: a great successor to black halo Kamelot has created their own Metal Genre! good but could be better Missed their mark! Well worth the money!!! Bogus DVD or not!

Ghost Opera Kamelot Manufacturer: Steamhammer/SPV ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Paradise Lost Unia Systematic Chaos Systematic Chaos The Black Halo ASIN: B000PA9PMY Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

1. Solitaire
2. Rule The World
3. Ghost Opera
4. The Human Stain
5. Blücher
6. Love You To Death
7. Up Through The Ashes
8. Mourning Star
9. Silence Of The Darkness
10. Anthem
11. EdenEcho
12. The Pendulous Fall (bonus track)

Amazon.com

Kamelot's latest power metal offering seems unlikely to win the collective the kind of major attention its sought for more than a decade now. While vocalist Roy Khan still emits his signature siren wail and guitarist Thomas Youngblood crafts riffs that crunch with more power than your average fast food taco, the band still lacks a unique identity, alternating between its status as a Queensryche retread or vying for listeners more attuned to Korn and Avenged Sevenfold. "Rule the World" certainly stands as one of the outfit's heaviest works to date and "Mourning Star" carries with it its own kind of majestic beauty but repeat listens reveal that Ghost Opera is little more than by-the-numbers power metal, of the kind that didn't really work when Helloween released Keeper of the Seven Keys two decades ago and still fails to satisfy today.--Jedd Beaudoin

Album Description

American Melodic Metal masters Kamelot are back with the follow-up to their breakthrough epic The Black Halo. Ghost Opera is simply one of the most diverse metallic listening experiences of the year, containing all of the melody, power, passion and crunch that have earned them the undying respect of metal-heads around the country and around the world. The first pressing contains a bonus DVD featuring the video of Ghost Opera and a making of feature. Catch Kamelot on tour across North America late this summer!

Customer Reviews:

a great successor to black halo.......2007-07-31

The Black Halo is consistently one of my favorite albums. I was expecting to be let down by their next work. It's a bit different than their last album, but after several spins it has grown on me. I'll leave it to more capable reviewers to detail and contrast the albums. If you liked The Black Halo, then pick this up.

Kamelot has created their own Metal Genre!.......2007-07-27

Ghost Opera takes the band another step forward and now it seems with massive touring and videos that set a new standard the band is finally getting the recognition they so long have deserved. The new album experiments with several new ideas but somehow they never lose or abandoned their sound. The band has really created their own Genre since they sound like noone else!!

good but could be better.......2007-07-27

I have been a fan of Kamelot for five years now and this is far from thier best work. Don't get me wrong, the cd does grow on you the more you listen just like most of thier work. If you want to hear this band at the top of thier game i would suggest the forth legacy or karma.

Missed their mark!.......2007-07-26

Songs seem very repetitive. Also, has some rip-off "Phantom" music to create the ghostly effect. Khan needs to stop with the attempt at soft singing. His vibrato kills all of the ballad style singing and his voice sounds way over trained. I am all about great vocals and this album does a poor job of showcasing them. Khan can sing better than this. Lose the heavy vibrato. I am a Kamelot fan but the album left me wanting more. Maybe next time guys.

Well worth the money!!! Bogus DVD or not!.......2007-07-23

I REALLY like this album and am glad to see that Kamelot is continuing to evolve and mature. So many bands of this genre begin to get stagnant and eventually stale after every album begins to sound the same.

But I'm kind of conflicted as well due to one simple fact. I can think of many, many cases where a certain album by a band is a better album overall than it's predecessor, but that predecessor just happens to have that one single song that is better than anything on the newer release. Of course this is all personal opinion but two genre examples that quickly come to mind are Ozzy and Maiden.

I feel that Diary of a Madman is better overall than Blizzard of Oz though nothing on Diary quite equals the one-two punch of "Revelation (Mother Earth)" and "Steal Away the Night". And while I think Piece of Mind is superior to Number of the Beast overall, it doesn't have anything that tops the magnificent "Hallowed Be Thy name".

Ghost Opera is like this; while I think it's (slightly) better overall, I haven't heard anything that tops Black Halo's "March of Mephisto". But, reading the reviews, I see that many fans like Halo better overall anyway.

In any case, I really like "Rule the World", "Love you to Death", "Up Thru the Ashes", "Edenecho" and the bonus track "The Pendulous Fall". And, if the band continues to evolve in this way...I can't wait for the next one!! But I have to say the "bonus" DVD wasn't worth it, only 2 videos and one was a making of..., but, then again I haven't seen one yet that didn't come with the DVD so I wonder how much cheaper it would have been?

Now if they'd just come to Atlanta (or anywhere closer than a 10 hr drive) so I can go see them!!!! Because, judging by the "One Cold Winter's Night" DVD and what I'm hearing on Ghost Opera..... I'd sure like to!!!

Average customer rating: Here's what the fuss was all about! Beverly Sills - The Best Beverly Sills' highs are breathtaking! THE 2005 OPERA CD OF THE YEAR EMI Does It Again: Beverly Sills - A Tribute

The Very Best of Beverly Sills Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Lehár, Franz | ( 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 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 Sills, Beverly | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music New York Philharmonic Orchestra | ( N ) | 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 Donizetti, Gaetano | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Massenet, Jules | 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 Lehar, Franz | H to L | 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 Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Great Recordings Beverly Sills: Made in America Art of Beverly Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor: Complete Opera (with full libretto and translation) Verdi: La Traviata / Sills, Gedda, Panerai; Ceccato ASIN: B0006VYELE Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

1. Una Voce Poco Fa - Sherrill Milnes
2. Dunque Io Son - Sherrill Milnes
3. Contro Un Cor - Sherrill Milnes
4. Ah, Qual Colpo Inaspetatto! - Sherrill Milnes
5. E Il Sol Dell'anima... Addio! Speranza Ed Anima - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
6. Gualtier Malde... Caro Nome - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
7. Tutte Le Feste Al Tempio... Compiuto Pur Quanto... Si, Vendetta - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
8. V'ho Ingannato... Lassu In Cielo - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
9. Quel Guardo Il Cavaliere... So Anch'io La Virtu Magica - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
10. Pronta Io Son... Vado, Corro - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
11. Via, Caro Sposino - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
12. Tornami A Dir Che M'ami - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
13. La Morale In Tutto Questo - Ambrosian Opera Chorus

Tracks:

1. Vilia - Beverly Sills
2. Ah! Je Suis Seule... Dis-Moi Que Je Suis Belle - Beverly Sills
3. Cielo! Che Diverro?... Si, ferite... Dal Soggiorno... Ah! Che Spiegar - Beverly Sills
4. Libiamo Ne' Lieti Calici - John Alldis Choir
5. Un Di Felice, Eterea - John Alldis Choir
6. E Strano... Ah, Fors'e Lui... Follie! Follie!... Sempre Libera - John Alldis Choir
7. Pura Siccome Un Angelo... Ah! Dite Alla Giovine - John Alldis Choir
8. Che Fai? - John Alldis Choir
9. Addio Del Passato - John Alldis Choir
10. Parigi, O Cara - John Alldis Choir

Amazon.com

Beverly Sills hardly needs an introduction. She sang on the radio as a child and on the operatic stage as a teenager; her meteoric international career was launched by appearances in several virtually unknown bel canto operas at the New York City Opera. This compilation of arias and ensembles from some of her signature roles, recorded in the 1970s, with splendid partners like Nicolai Gedda, Alfredo Kraus, and Sherrill Milnes, displays her unique vocal and dramatic artistry at its peak. Her voice, effortlessly produced over an enormous range, is bright, pure, infinitely variable in color, inflection and intensity. Her intonation is impeccable even in huge leaps, and her breath is endless. The coloratura roulades are like strings of perfect, luminous pearls, clearly articulated in seamless legato. But this stunning technique (whose only flaw is a sometimes wide, wobbly vibrato) is never used for show; every note has life and expression, serving the music and the dramatic situation. Indeed, her characters are flesh-and-blood human beings, whose thoughts, emotions and interactions, from inwardness to ecstasy, from lamentation to overflowing joy, she projects with riveting concentration. Rosina in Rossini's The Barber of Seville is a charming, mischievous minx who succumbs to delighted tenderness; Pamira's great scene from his Siege of Corinth shows clearly why her Metropolitan Opera debut in that role was a sensation. In Verdi's Rigoletto, Gilda's hopeful innocence turns into hopeless despair: she dies, palpably, on a floating, celestial pianissimo. In his La traviata, Violetta's initial cool, hesitant restraint gradually melts as she opens herself (and her voice) to Alfredo's ardor and the bliss of love. The vocal balance in their final duet is uncanny; its tremulous tenderness in the shadow of death breaks the heart, as does her duet with Germont. Massenet's Thais is sensuous; Donizetti's Don Pasquale and Lehár's The Merry Widow provide comic relief. --Edith Eisler

Album Description

Details TBA. EMI. 2005.

Customer Reviews:

Here's what the fuss was all about!.......2007-07-17

It would have been even better if they had included at least one Cleopatra aria and something from Baby Doe, but it doesn't really matter, because this collection will allow younger listeners especially to hear what the fuss was all about! There are moments listening to Sills, especially from Traviata or Manon, that are so beautifully sung and so genuine that they are heartbreaking. I feel so fortunate to have heard her Queen of the Night, Manon, Violetta, and Baby Doe. She was so generous as a performer and as a humanitarian, and she really brought opera into the American mainstream.

Beverly Sills - The Best.......2007-04-01

What a voice. No coloratura can compare, and she makes it seem so easy.

Beverly Sills' highs are breathtaking!.......2006-09-18

Adio del Passato is incredible! Beverly's high, floating coloratura is no less than ethereal which takes you to another world. Her voice has given me so much joy that it is hard to say one recording is better than another because I love her Mozart album equally with her Bellini/Donizetti. It is so wonderful to have these recordings captured on CD! Enjoy!

THE 2005 OPERA CD OF THE YEAR.......2006-08-19

THIS CD WAS THE BEST OPERA CD ISSUED LAST YEAR, AND HAS CAUGHT THE WORLD'S EAR IN NO TIME. I WAS BUSY WRITING IN SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL, WHILE THE STATEOWNED FM RADIOSTATION, DEDICATED TO CULTURE, WAS SOFTLY PLAYING OPERA ARIAS IN THE BACKGROUND. SUDDENLY I HEARD THE MOST FANTASTIC RENDERING OF "SEMPRE LIBERA" FROM "LA TRAVIATA". I GOT UP, SAT BY THE RADIO AND WAITED TO KNOW WHO WAS SINGING... THEN GOT BACK TO THE COMPUTER TO ORDER THIS CD FROM AMAZON! INCREDIBLE: ONLY 17 BUCKS FOR THIS, WHILE QUITE A BIT OF TRASH IS SOLD FOR 30.40 AND MORE...
A LADY FRIEND ONCE TOLD ME SHE COULD NOT LISTEN TO THE DUET IN "MADAMA BUTTERFLY" WITH MIRELLA FRENI AND LUCIANO PAVAROTTI (RECORDED IN 1974, BY VON KARAJAN) WITHOUT CRYING. WELL, YOU CANNOT LISTEN TO SILLS IN "LA TRAVIATA" DRY-EYED, NO MATTER WHO THE TENOR IS. SHE PROJECTS THE SAME DRAMATIC FEELING OF "LA DIVINA" CALLAS WITHOUT THOSE SHRIEKED HIGHNOTES; SHE OFFERS THE SAME COLORATURA VOCAL GYMNASTICS AS "LA STUPENDA" SUTHERLAND BUT WITH WARMTH... WHEN BEVERLY SANG, AS IN EVERYTHING ELSE SHE DID, SHE ALWAYS GAVE HER UTMOST. SHE WAS "LA GENEROSA" TO BE SURE.
DON'T JUST SIT THERE READING WHAT OTHERS THINK.
ORDER THIS CD NOW AND MARVEL AT HOW THIS GREAT AMERICAN LADY, IN SO MANY OTHER WAYS, ALSO COULD SING!

EMI Does It Again: Beverly Sills - A Tribute.......2005-07-22

EMI's "Very Best Of" series are perfect introductions to operatic singers of the 20th century. Once you hear these artist tribute albums (much like The Singers series) you will get hooked on the singer and seek out their full-length studio recordings. Beverly Sills was the first truly famous American opera star. One may argue that she was not, that she was merely a continued tradition of American divas such as Mary Garden and Lily Pons and which still continues today with Renee Fleming, Elizabeth Futral and Susan Graham. Beverly was raised in New York City, which is still her home, and which is the home of the New York City Opera and the Met, opera houses which rocketed her to fame. Her first success (not featured in this recording...UH WHY ?) was Cleopatra of Handel's Julius Caesar, a performance she sang opposite the illustrious baritone Norman Treigle. Those performances were legendary because coincidentally at the same time the Met was opening its new theatre and season with what became a disastrous Samuel Barber's Antony and Cleopatra starring Leontyne Price in an overblown, big-budget, epic fiasco. The great roles that followed the 1965 Cleopatra were Manon, Queen Elizabeth I in Roberto Deveraux, Maria Stuarda and Anna Bolena in the Donizetti Tudor Queen operas, Pamira in The Siege of Corinth (which were Sill's La Scala and belated Met debut. None of the Queens are featured in this recording, though its supposedly the Very Best Of. An aria from Rossini's Siege of Corinth is featured here however. What we are treated to however are fine lyric roles- Beverly Sills shone brightly and acted convincingly as Gilda in Rigoletto (the final scene is featured here) as Violetta in La Traviata, Thais, The Merry Widow (the beautiful Vilja is featured here)and the ingenue role of Norina in Don Pasquale is also showcased here. To each of these roles, Beverly Sills delivered an authenticity and dramatic interpretation, not ot mention beautiful, sweet tone. I love her pianissimos, her high notes, her chest register. It was the voice of Beverly Sills who first hooked me into opera. For a recording that should showcase her best work, Manon is not featured nor any of her prized French heroines- Marie in The Daughter of the Regiment and the heroines in Tales of Hoffman. Also not in here is the role that was her first success- the Broadway opera Ballad of Baby Doe. Even as such, the arias here are gorgeous. The Barber of Seville is in here and as Rosina she is playful and charming. Sills was a modern singer, with a voice that was beautiful but willing to sacrifice beauty for the sake of dramatic content. When Sills was once asked what she thought of the supposed rivalry with Joan Sutherland (which was never real and only gossip from partisan fans) Beverly said something to this effect -Joan and I are apples and oranges in our take on opera, we are Picasso and Monet. She would do anything for the effect of beauty and tone, I'd sacrifice beauty for the sake of dramatic text. Even as such, I see no ugliness to any of the roles here. All of them are beautiful to hear, full of rich floating celestial tones. It would have been nice to hear the roles that did call for Sills to step up the tense drama - Norma, will her recording ever be reissued by EMI ? Also, few people know that Beverly Sills sung role most would consider dangerous for her voice (though she sang them long before her career even took off)- Aida and Carmen!!

Average customer rating: The beautiful gift of opera... Pretty darn good The Opera #1 Opera Album Excellent assortment Great Selections

The #1 Opera Album Giacomo Puccini , Giuseppe Verdi , Léo Delibes , Georges Bizet , Umberto Giordano , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Richard Wagner , Gioachino Rossini , Alfredo Catalani , Jacques Offenbach , Ruggiero Leoncavallo , Charles Gounod , Gaetano Donizetti , Pietro Mascagni , Antonin Dvorak , Richard Bonynge , Herbert von Karajan , Alberto Erede , Lamberto Gardelli , Giuseppe Patane , John Mauceri , Zubin Mehta , Charles Dutoit , Gyorgy Fischer , Riccardo Chailly , Istvan Kertesz , Leone Magiera , Evelino Pido , Gianandrea Gavazzeni , Renée Fleming , Cecilia Bartoli , Luciano Pavarotti , Jussi Bjorling , and Renata Tebaldi Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Delibes, Léo | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music 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 Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( 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 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 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 Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | 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 Allen, Thomas | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | 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 | 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 More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Delibes, Léo | ( D ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Dvorák, Antonín | ( D ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Allen, Thomas | ( A ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Performers, 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 Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Most Famous Opera Duets The Most Famous Opera Arias The Best of Italian Opera Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco... The Best Opera Album in the World...Ever! ASIN: B000059RXO Release Date: 2001-02-27

Tracks:

1. Carmen: Act 1: Prld - LPO/Sir Georg Solti
2. La Traviata: Brindisi: Libiamo, Ne'lieti Calici - Luciano Pavarotti/Joan Sutherland/London Opr Chor/Terry Edwards
3. La Boheme: Che Gelida Manina - Luciano Pavarotti
4. Lakme: Flower Duet: Dome Epais Le Jasmin - Joan Sutherland/Jane Berbie
5. Fedora: Amor Ti Vieta - Jussi Bjorling
6. Carmen: Habanera: L'amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle - Tatiana Troyanos/John Alldis Chor/John Alldis
7. Nabucco: Chor Of The Hebrew Slaves: Va Pensiero - Chicago Sym Chor/Margaret Hills
8. Le Nozze Di Figaro: Dove Sono - Kiri Te Kanawa
9. Rigoletto: La Donna E Mobile - Luciano Pavarotti
10. Lohengrin: Bridal Chor: Treulich Gefuhrt Ziehet Dahin - Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor/Walter Hagen-Groll
11. Gianni Schicchi: O Mio Babbino Caro - Renata Tebaldi
12. Il Barbiere Di Siviglia: Largo Al Factotum - Leo Nucci
13. La Wally: Ebben?... Ne Andro Lontana - Angela Gheorghiu
14. Madama Butterfly: Humming Chor - Wiener Staatsopernchor/Norbert Balatsch
15. Carmen: Flower Song: La Fleur Que Tu M'avais Jetee - Placido Domingo
16. Les Contes D'Hoffmann: Barcarolle: Belle Nuit, O Nuit D'Amour - Joan Sutherland/Huguette Tourangeau/Chor De La Radio Suisse Romande, Pro Arte De Lausanne Et Du...
17. Tosca: E Lucevan Le Stelle - Placido Domingo
18. Madama Butterfly: Un Bel Di - Mirella Freni
19. Les Pecheurs De Perles: C'est Toi... Au Fond Du Temple Saint - Gregory Cross/Gino Quilico

Tracks:

1. Die Walkure: The Ride Of The Valkyries - Wiener Phil/Solti
2. Le Nozze Di Figaro: Voi Che Sapete - Cecilia Bartoli
3. Pagliacci: Recitar!... Vesti La Giubba - Luciano Pavarotti
4. La Boheme: O Soave Fanciulla - Mirella Freni/Luciano Pavarotti/Roland Panerai
5. Il Trovatore: Anvil Chor: Vedi! Le Fosche - Chicago Sym Chor/Margaret Hillis
6. Manon Lescaut: Donna Non Vidi Mai - Jose Carreras
7. Don Giovanni: La Ci Darem La Mano - Lucia Popp/Tom Krause
8. Mattinata - Andrea Bocelli
9. Faust: Soldiers' Chor - Ambrosian Opr Chor/John McCarthy
10. L'elisir D'amore: Una Furtiva Lagrima - Roberto Alagna
11. Turandot: Signore, Ascolta! - Montserrat Caballe
12. Don Giovanni: Champagne Aria: Finch'han Dal Vino - Bryn Terfel
13. Cosi Fan Tutte: Trio: Soave Sia Il Vento - Renee Fleming/Anne Sofie Von Otter/Michele Pertusi
14. Il Trovatore: Di Quella Pira - Luciano Pavarotti/Joan Sutherland/London Opr Chor/Terry Edwards
15. Tosca: Vissi D'arte - Kiri Te Kanawa
16. Carmen: Toreador Song - Jose Van Dam/Tatiana Troyanos/Norma Burrowes/Jane Berbie/Thomas Allen/Pierre Thau/John Alldis...
17. Madama Butterfly: Love Duet: Vogliatemi Bene - Mirella Freni/Luciano Pavarotti
18. Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo - Nat PO/Gianandrea Gavazzeni
19. Rusalka: O Silver Moon - Renee Fleming
20. La Boheme: Si. Mi Chiamano Mimi - Angela Gheorghiu
21. Turandot: Nessun Dorma - Luciano Pavarotti/John Alldis Chor/John Alldis

Amazon.com

The labels that are now gathered under the Universal Classics umbrella have a pretty impressive scorecard in the area of classical compilations. We've seen The Greatest Opera Show on Earth, The Yellow Guide: Classical Music, Best of the Millennium, and now there's The No. 1 Opera Album. But that's no surprise, since Universal has some of the finest interpreters in its catalogue to draw from. This two-CD set (at the price of one), for example, brings together the likes of Cecilia Bartoli, Renée Fleming, Luciano Pavarotti, Kiri Te Kanawa, Sir Georg Solti, Herbert von Karajan, and many more. Yet the other key to a successful compilation is canny anthologizing, and here again, you have a nice selection to give you a smattering of opera's heavyweights from the Italian, German, and French repertory (there's even a step outside the standard framework with an aria from Dvorák's lovely Rusalka). Ranging from 1959 to 1997, the choices from back catalogue will doubtless be the entry ticket for many into this grandest of the arts. --Sarah Chin

Customer Reviews:

The beautiful gift of opera..........2007-07-17

This 2-CD set is absolutely wonderful! You can close your eyes and feel like you're actually at the opera, listening to those beautiful voices bringing tears to your eyes. Nessun Dorma still stirs up emotions in me, no matter how many times I hear it. Great examples of opera to give someone wanting to get interested in this style of music.

Pretty darn good.......2007-07-04

This CD set has a lot of familiar music on it, so if you're a newbie, you might want to try starting with this. There are some great pieces on the first CD. I usually don't even make it to the second.

The Opera #1 Opera Album.......2007-06-07

The music is wonderful. The production is terrible!! The sound fades in and out and is very scratchy in some places.

Excellent assortment.......2007-05-12

I'm not a big opera fan but I wanted to expose an assorted selection for my kids. This was perfect since it included several recognizable selections.

Great Selections.......2007-03-31

This Cd, has the very best of Opera
covering mainly from the classcal
to the to the romantic periods, a most
memorable selection here is Leo Nucci
in a lagendary performance of Rossini's
"Largo al Factotum" from "Il Barbiere di Seviglia"
also Andrea Bocelli in his performance of Leoncavallo's
memorable "Matinatta" here in an orchestrated version.
Indeed some of opera's most loved arias are in this recording
various conductors, orchestras, and soloists. All in their
very best. Indeed a five-star recording...

Average customer rating: Disappointing Great! A Piece Of Heaven On Earth A Pure Joy.......... Celtic Treasure - Hayley Westenra

Celtic Treasure Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Monk, William Henry | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Australia & New Zealand | International | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Folk Songs | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Odyssey Hayley Westenra - Live From New Zealand Celtic Woman - A New Journey: Live at Slane Castle, Ireland Lisa A New Journey ASIN: B000MTDRJA Release Date: 2007-03-13

Tracks:

1. Let Me Lie
2. Scarborough Fair
3. Shenandoah
4. Summer Fly
5. Whispering Hope
6. Danny Boy
7. Summer Rain
8. The Last Rose of Summer
9. One Fine Day
10. Sonny
11. The Water Is Wide
12. Melancholy Interlude
13. Abide With Me

Amazon.com

Having sung before royalty and performed with the Irish super-group Celtic Woman, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, and Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel, the very young and remarkably beautiful singer is back with a tribute to her Celtic ancestry. As with her previous Platinum-selling releases (she is already a huge star in her native New Zealand, Japan, Australia, and the UK), the orchestrations are lush, with sighing phalanxes of strings and woodwinds. But in keeping with the avowed theme, there are also soft touches of soulful, wavering tin whistles and vaguely fiddle-like violin vamps. The program is more varied than the album's title might lead one to expect, encompassing everything from "The Last Rose Of Summer" and "Danny Boy" to "Shenandoah," "Scarborough Fair," "Abide With Me," and even a couple of more pop-oriented songs penned by Westenra herself. However, brief sideways winks toward Nashville or the Great White Way do not adulterate the album's overall mood of ethereal, remote bliss. The one misstep is an English-language cover of "Un Bel Di" ("One Fine Day") from Puccini's Madama Butterfly: an aria unsuited to the artist's fragile, bell-like soprano and placid temperament. This aside, established classical crossover/theatrical divas like Sarah Brightman would be wise to begin looking to their laurels. --Christina Roden

Album Description

Hayley's third solo album is a very personal collection of classical arias, Irish and Maori folk songs - representing treasured people and places on her remarkable musical journey. Recorded in Dublin, Ireland, Hayley's third solo album is a very personal collection of classical arias, Irish and Maori folk songs - representing treasured people and places in her remarkable musical journey. For the first time the album also includes several original tracks written by Hayley herself. Celtic Treasure is a celebration of Hayley's family roots, and her grandparent's journey across the World on the first boat that left Ireland for New Zealand in the 1880s - taking with them a rich musical heritage. Her grandmother - a singer, and her grandfather, who played the accordion, were to be important influences on Hayley's musical development. Hayley grew up hearing her grandmother singing Italian opera arias in English. Hayley has continued this tradition by recording the well-known aria One Fine Day... ('Un bel di) from Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Hayley's grandmother also sang Irish folk tunes, and Hayley includes one of them - Danny Boy on the album as a tribute to her. Another Irish folk tune Sonny, is the first recording in which Hayley accompanies herself on the piano. In the same vein as Hayley's signature song Pokarekare Ana from her debut album Pure, Hayley's deep sense of pride as a New Zealander, and the simple beauty of her voice come together in E Para Ra - a Maori lovesong reflecting her own love of her homeland. Hayley's first recordings of her own songs bring together all these musical influences. They include her compositions Let Me Lie and Summer Rain and her lyrics to a haunting lute song by the Elizabethan English composer John Dowland, called simply Melancholy Interlude.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2007-07-13

We first encountered Westenra as a member of the Celtic Woman group. She was great -- as were all the girls. Based on that, I selected this CD after reading the reviews on Amazon. This one seemed to get the best overall reviews.

This CD is pretty uninspired and Westenra's voice sounds just average on several of the tracks. There are a few impressive spots but generally I thought the CD was less than expected.

Great!.......2007-07-13

Hayley does a great job with this cd. Its relaxing and interesting, instead of boring like some opera kind of vocalists can be. I recommend her cd, Pure, as well. She will definitely impress and soothe you!

A Piece Of Heaven On Earth.......2007-07-13

If you could hear the angels singing this is exactly what they would sound like. Please do yourself a favor and get the dvd too. They are both beyond amazing.

A Pure Joy.................2007-06-20

This album of Celtic standards is truly one of the most beautiful I've heard in a long time. For a girl of 19 to have this kind of vocal maturity is amazing... she gets better with each new recording.

Hayley has a clear, and pure voice that makes these familiar songs sound brand new. Though the whole album is a treat, the two hymns are inspiring. Others have done this repitoire, and done it well; none has done it better.

Hayley has a new recording of "West Side Story" due out soon; I can't wait. In the meantime, do not fail to grab this one.

Celtic Treasure - Hayley Westenra.......2007-06-20

Love the beautiful voice that I have come to expect from the Celtic Women lasses and the eclectic choice of songs really accentuates her range and flexibility to sing classic and contemporary. She shines with every choice. I await her next CD.

Meditation Music:

1. Schoeck: Das Schloss Dürande
2. Simon Boccanegra
3. The American Music Theater Festival Production of Harry Partch's Revelation in the Courthouse Park
4. The Best Of Verdi
5. The Orchestra Sings
6. Umberto Giordano: Andrea Chénier
7. Verdi Heroines
8. Verdi: Il Trovatore
9. Verdi: Nabucco
10. Verdi: Rigoletto

Meditation Music

meditation music

Meditation Music

Sheena Easton

À travers le grillage

Sueno [Import]

Music: Non Zero Sumness [Import]

Versus Rather Interesting [Import]

Urban Junglist

Untitled [Import]

Us and Them [Limited Edition]

The Italian Job/Shotgun Eyes

Tonite Let's All Make Love in London [Import] [Soundtrack]

Thousand Kisses Deep [Import]

Um Dia De Chuva [Import]

Unstoppable 90's: Hip Hop

Front and Center

Live at Glen Miller Cafe 1