Gaetano Donizetti: Anna Bolena

Anna Bolena, opera
Composed by Gaetano Donizetti
Performed by La Scala Theater Orchestra & Chorus
with Plinio Clabassi, Luigi Rumbo, Gabriella Carturan, Gianni Raimondi, Nicola Rossi-Lemeni, Maria Callas, Giulietta Simionato
Conducted by Norberto Mola, Gianandrea Gavazzeni

Gaetano Donizetti: Anna Bolena,Plinio Clabassi,Gaetano Donizetti,Gianandrea Gavazzeni,Norberto Mola,Gabriella Carturan,Giulietta Simionato,La Scala Theater Orchestra & Chorus,Maria Callas,Gianni Raimondi,Luigi Rumbo,Nicola Rossi-Lemeni,Capitol,Classical,Classical Music,Italian Romantic Opera,Opera,Opera / Operetta / Oratorio

Donizetti - Three Queens (Anna Bolena ~ Maria Stuarda ~ Roberto Devereux)

Average customer rating:

How LUCKY We ARE to have THESE recordings!
The great Beverly Sills on Cd in these masterpieces!
The Most Wonderful Compilation of the Tudor Queens
"3 Queens, 1 Soprano"
Please give it a rest!

Donizetti - Three Queens (Anna Bolena ~ Maria Stuarda ~ Roberto Devereux)
Charles Mackerras , and London Symphony
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor: Complete Opera (with full libretto and translation)
Massenet: Manon
Rossini: L'Assedio di Corinto
The Ballad of Baby Doe
Handel - Julius Caesar / Treigle · Sills · Forrester · Wolff · NYCO · Rudel

ASIN: B000050I2W
Release Date: 2000-11-07

Tracks:

Anna Bolena: Sinfonia (Overture) - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Act 1 - Scene 1 - Introduzione - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Ella di me, sollecita - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Si taciturna e mesta - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Deh! Non voler costringere - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Come, innocente giovane - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Legger potessi in me! Non v'ha sguardo - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: O! qual parlar fu il suo! - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Si: l'avrete - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: La mia fama e a' pie dell'ara - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Ella pure amor m'orrfia - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Ah! qual sia cercar non oso - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Act 1 - Scene 2 - Chi veggo?...in Inghilterra - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Da quel di che, lei perduta - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Ah! cosi nei di ridenti - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Desta si tosto - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Io sentii sulla mio mano - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Or che reso ai patri i lidi - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Questo di per noi spuntato - Beverly Sills (Anna)

Tracks:

Anna Bolena: Act 1 - Scene 3 - E'sgombro il loco... - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Ah! parea che per incanto - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Basta...basta...tropp'oltre vai... - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Anna! - Riccardo! - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: S'ei t'aborre, io t'amo ancora - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Ah!...per pieta del mio spavento - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Alcun potria ascoltarti - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Tace ognuno - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: In quegli sgardi impresso - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: In separato carcere - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Act 2 - Scene 1 - O! Dove mai ne andarono - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: O mie fedeli - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Dio, che mi vedi in core - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Sul suo capo aggravi un Dio - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Dal mio cor punita io sono - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Va, infelice, e teco reca - Beverly Sills (Anna)

Tracks:

Anna Bolena: Act 2 - Scene 2 - Ebben? dinanzi ai giudici - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Scostatevi...il Re giunge... - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Ambo morrete - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Al Consiglio sien tratti - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Sposa a Percy - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Per questa fiamma indomita - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Stolta! non sai... - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Ah! pensate che rivolti - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Act 2 - Scene 3 - Tu pur dannato a morte - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Vive tu, te ne scongiuro - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Nel veder la tua costanza - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Chi puo verderla - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Piangete voi? - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Al dolce giudami castel natio - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Qual mesto suon?... - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Cielo, a miei lunghi spasimi - Beverly Sills (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Coppia iniqua - Beverly Sills (Anna)

Tracks:

Maria Stuarda: Overture - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Act 1: Preludio - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Act 1: Qui si attende - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Act 1: Si, vuol di Francia il Rege - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Act 1: Ah! quando all'ara scorgemi - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Act 1: Fra voi perche - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Act 1: Hai nelle giostre - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Act 1: Questa immago - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Act 1: Sei tu confuso? - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Act 1: Quali sensi - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Act 2: Allenta il pie, Regina - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Act 2: Oh nube! - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Act 2: Ah! non m'inganna la gioia! - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Act 2: Da tutti abbandonata - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Act 2: Qual loco e questo? - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Act 2: E'sempre la stessa - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)

Tracks:

Maria Stuarda: Act 2 - Deh! I'accorgli! - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Va, preparati furente - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Act 3 - E pensi? E tradi? - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Quella vita - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Si!...Regina! - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: D'una sorella, o barbara - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: La perfida insultarmi - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Che vuoi? - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Oh mio buon Talbo! - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Quando il luce rosea - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Vedeste? Vedemmo - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Anna?...Qui piu sommessi favellate - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Deh! Tu di un umile preghiera - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Oh colpo!... - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Giunge il Conte - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)
Maria Stuarda: Ah! se un giorno da queste ritorte - Christian du Plessis (Cecil)

Tracks:

Roberto Deveraux: Overture - Richard Val Allan (A Servant Of Nottingham)
Roberto Deveraux: Act 1 - Geme!...pallor funereo - Richard Val Allan (A Servant Of Nottingham)
Roberto Deveraux: All' afflito e dolce il pianto - Richard Val Allan (A Servant Of Nottingham)
Roberto Deveraux: Duchessa...Alle fervide preci - Richard Val Allan (A Servant Of Nottingham)
Roberto Deveraux: L'amor suo mi fe beata - Richard Val Allan (A Servant Of Nottingham)
Roberto Deveraux: Nunzio son del Parlamento - Richard Val Allan (A Servant Of Nottingham)
Roberto Deveraux: Donna reale, a' piedi tuoi... - Richard Val Allan (A Servant Of Nottingham)
Roberto Deveraux: Un tenero core - Richard Val Allan (A Servant Of Nottingham)
Roberto Deveraux: Roberto...Che?...fra le tue braccia! - Richard Val Allan (A Servant Of Nottingham)
Roberto Deveraux: Forse in quel cor sensibile - Richard Val Allan (A Servant Of Nottingham)
Roberto Deveraux: Duca, vieni... - Richard Val Allan (A Servant Of Nottingham)
Roberto Deveraux: Qui ribelle ognum ti chiama - Richard Val Allan (A Servant Of Nottingham)
Roberto Deveraux: Tutto e silenzio - Richard Val Allan (A Servant Of Nottingham)
Roberto Deveraux: Dacche tornasti, ahi misera! - Richard Val Allan (A Servant Of Nottingham)

Tracks:

Roberto Devereux: L'ore trascorrono - Beverly Sills (Elizabeth, Queen Of England)
Roberto Devereux: Ebben? - Beverly Sills (Elizabeth, Queen Of England)
Roberto Devereux: Segui!... - Beverly Sills (Elizabeth, Queen Of England)
Roberto Devereux: Non venni mai si mesto - Beverly Sills (Elizabeth, Queen Of England)
Roberto Devereux: Ecco l'indegno!... - Beverly Sills (Elizabeth, Queen Of England)
Roberto Devereux: Scellerato!...Malvagio!... - Beverly Sills (Elizabeth, Queen Of England)
Roberto Devereux: Va, la morte sul capo ti pende - Beverly Sills (Elizabeth, Queen Of England)
Roberto Devereux: Ne riede ancora il mio consorte! - Beverly Sills (Elizabeth, Queen Of England)
Roberto Devereux: Non sai che un nume vindice - Beverly Sills (Elizabeth, Queen Of England)
Roberto Devereux: Ed ancor la tremeda porta - Beverly Sills (Elizabeth, Queen Of England)
Roberto Devereux: A te diro' negli ultimi singhiozzi - Beverly Sills (Elizabeth, Queen Of England)
Roberto Devereux: Bagnato il sen di lagrime - Beverly Sills (Elizabeth, Queen Of England)
Roberto Devereux: E sara in questi orribili momenti - Beverly Sills (Elizabeth, Queen Of England)
Roberto Devereux: Vivi, ingrato, a lei d'accanto - Beverly Sills (Elizabeth, Queen Of England)
Roberto Devereux: Che m'apporti? - Beverly Sills (Elizabeth, Queen Of England)
Roberto Devereux: Quel sangue versato al ciel - Beverly Sills (Elizabeth, Queen Of England)

Amazon.com

Gaetano Donizetti didn't actually set out to compose a cycle based on the tragic histories of the Tudor Queens. The three works gathered here--including his breakthrough opera, Anna Bolena, Roberto Devereux, and the long-neglected Maria Stuarda--were created at various points in his maniacally prolific career, and each has its own rather complicated, haphazard genesis. But the belated reappreciation given to these works at New York City Opera during the heyday of the bel canto revival--a crucial step in the overall revival of Donizetti as well--conferred a sort of post facto sense of unity thanks to the signature contributions of Beverly Sills. These roles were, quite unpunningly, her crowning achievement. Yet despite a brief efflorescence of celebrity (even extending to a Time magazine cover) when she was considered perhaps the rival to Joan Sutherland, Sills slipped through the cracks. For all her formidable acting skill--a substantial aspect of her accomplishment in these interpretations--she never quite made it to the era of opera telecasting, and her problematic recorded catalog and relatively early retirement from the stage hindered the Sills legend from extending to a new generation.

But now, there's no excuse to overlook the Sills achievement. Coupled with the belated reissue of her early triumph in The Ballad of Baby Doe, this Donizetti box set gives a fuller portrait of the artist Sills. This is quite simply a can't-miss bonanza for Donizetti-heads and, for that matter, fans of beautiful singing. The original project started off with Roberto Devereux--recorded in London in 1969--and continued until the summer 1972 recording of Anna Bolena, but this is the first time the old LPs have been made collectively available on CD in remastered format. The box includes facsimiles of the original lengthy liner notes (with astute background, commentary, and translations--full libretti included--by William Ashbrook) and a bonus booklet of photos from the original NYC Opera productions.

Just as the musical content varies in quality from opera to opera, indeed within each opera, the level of performance is by no means seamless or at the same peak pitch throughout. Some listeners will prefer the less liberal but profoundly attentive and intuitively rich conducting of Charles Mackerras in Devereux, while others will overlook the rather surprisingly sloppy string ensemble and figuration committed by the London Symphony in Anna Bolena for the hectic energy and pacing Julius Rudel could conjure. The challenges demanded by Donizetti's heavy writing for Elisabetta in Devereux can manifest as strain, but this part also registers Sills's vocal acting with a powerful punch: just listen to the range of emotional content she sails through in the scene of her conflicted first duet with Roberto, beginning with "un tenero core" (Act I). One of the joys here is zeroing in on your own favorite passage, scena, flicker of insight: perhaps it's Anna in prison, the outburst of two queens meeting in the park outside Fotheringhay (who cares if history has been amended to suit dramatic license?), or Elisabetta's horrifying realization upon the execution of her beloved. And despite some unevenness in the casting, this set offers a number of other vocal treasures to set beside Sills's artistry: the utterly compelling Giovanna (Jane Seymour) of Shirley Verrett in Anna Bolena, Eileen Farrell's return to the studio for Maria Stuarda's imperious Elizabeth (interesting to compare with Sills's earlier slant on the queen from Devereux), Paul Plishka's imposing Henry the 8th, Peter Glossop's scheming Nottingham. If you're not already an addict, this set will bring you back for fix after fix. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

How LUCKY We ARE to have THESE recordings!.......2007-07-07

Well, I guess it's time I added my comments on these recordings.

First, however, I'd like to say that I do not understand "bashing". This has been going on, in my remembrance at least, since Callas/Tebaldi in the 50's. How stupid is this! Does one REALLY think that two different singers, with two different voices and/or approaches to a role can be, truthfully, compared to one another? I have never understood this kind of thinking. I LOVE Callas (in nearly everything she sang), but she had an ugly voice....do I let this bother me or lead me to compare her to others??? NO! She was, unquestionably, the greatest singing actress of our time, period! Tebaldi...was there EVER a voice as beautiful as hers?? Sills...Was there ever a voice as light and as fresh as hers??? Sutherland?? She wasn't called La Stupenda for nothing, folks. I could go on, but I think the point is made. Every one of these singers (and others) are themselves, with their own interpretations of roles. Some sing some roles better than others, but bashing??? I don't think so!!! This shows one's uncomfortable shallowness quite clearly, I believe.

The review:

Sills had a wonderously light and silvery voice, that I find quite her own. I simply love her Baby Doe, and her Traviata, as her voice is simply made for the parts. Her Lucia is, also, really good. Casting her as the three Tudor Queens was a wonderful thing, it made her a real solid star at the New York City Opera. She was the only one singing these roles at the time, and it was good for her career, and, also, good for the music world to become familiar with these three great tragic, long neglected, works of Donizetti.

But, as they were really beyond the capability of her instrument, she, eventually, damaged her voice with the parts, especially Elizabeth in Roberto Deveraux. This is, I guess, inevitable, as most singers do at some point in their careers, delve deeply into waters beyond their capability, and the downward progression begins. Repeatedly, singer after singer has done this.

That aside, let me say that we are so very fortunate to have these three recordings, even with their flaws (and there certainly are flaws), both as a remembrance of Beverly Sills, and her colleagues, but also documentation of her performances and the presentation of Donizetti's works. All three of these works are so rarely performed, much less recorded, that they are a treasure for sure.

Personally, Roberto Deveraux, I feel, hangs together the strongest in Mackerras' leadership. Sills is, admittedly, pushing the limits of her capabilities...but, by doing the role in sessions, she is really very good on the recording. Admittedly, in a live performance, straight through, there is the electricity of interaction with other characters on stage, taking the heights up a notch, and this is where she really did the damage to her voice. Her compatriots here are all really serviceable...we are so lucky to have this recording, why be objectionally picky? DG has done a remarkable job remastering this particular recording. I remember the ABC pressing on LP years ago, and am pleased with the care attended here to the remastering.

Maria Stuarda, is, again, another special recording....Eileen Farrell came out of retirement to do this recording as a favor to Beverly, and we are very lucky to have them paired together. I must admit that I wish Mackerras was again at the helm here, however. There is no doubt in my mind that the whole would have been greater with his control and "color" on the orchestra. But, with the only other exceptions the old Callas with great cuts, and the Sutherland, we have few choices, and we take this recording most gladly. It is commendable.

I feel that Anna Bolena is the weakest of the three works, but it has some extrodinary things in it, particularly the confrontation in the garden! Man, the first time I heard this, I stood right up out of my chair! Paul Plishka was a wonderful Henry, and Shirley Verrett certainly made her mark with Jane Seymour. Again, most commendable.

I, as stated above, remember the old ABC LP pressings....they were terrible, as we all know! It is so wonderful to have these recordings, again, this time in pristine, lovingly remastered editions. Thank You, DG/Universal for lavishing the care on these lovely old recordings that you have for our enjoyment.

A tremendous, and fitting, tribute to Beverly Sills.

I might add that I feel you might wish to pick up this set very soon, as lately things have been getting re-issued in budget sets without libretti and informational booklets, and this is a shame, especially with a great set like this one. Also, noting the complaints about them being so "expensive"....come on, folks, wise up!!! You're getting three operas here for $80 or less, through secondary dealers, just how expensive does one really think this is? OK, enough preaching! Enjoy this set, and be thankful that we have it! ~operabruin

The great Beverly Sills on Cd in these masterpieces!.......2007-07-03

It is July 3rd and Beverly Sills has passed away..it is very sad, but, when you listen to these cds nothing about her career as a singer was at all sad.

I treasure these and all of her other works. She was the glory of American opera.

Buy all of her cds and see how persuasive they are, how ravishing, and how generous. Her presence on the Met Live Broadcasts was so invigorating, and her wonderful praise of Anna Netrbko, and others singing her repertoire. It is hard to imagine Lincoln Center without her, a presence so positive, so high vibration...

The stars are brighter with her as our representative in the heavens!

The Most Wonderful Compilation of the Tudor Queens.......2006-12-26

Donizetti revolutionized the way dramatic opera was written when he penned the scores of Anna Bolena, Maria Stuarda, and Roberto Devereux. These were the operas that put tragedy on the map after a long history of Italian opera constantly refurbished for a comic ending to please the tastes of the public. Donizetti's magnificent music, with its complex runs and melodramma-infused composition, changed all of that, and history owes much of the great Verdi and Puccini dramas to Donizetti. Take the confrontation between Maria Stuarda and Elisabetta, for example. This scene alone was the inspiration for the several great soprano-mezzo confrontation scenes that would grace the plots of Aida and Don Carlo, to name a few of the operas that Donizetti influenced. Anna Bolena, one of my favorite operas, was the first opera that put tragedy on the operatic map, eliminating the necessity to give operas comic endings (remember that Tancredi had to be revised by Rossini to please the public). Roberto Devereux, a product of Donizetti's more mature musical skills, combines many of these great attributes that makes Donizetti so exciting and gives the prima donna a chance to display her vocal and dramatic prowess.

Of course, the very critical art lover would scrutinize the Donizetti librettos with disdain after he slashed these operas and turned fact around to give way to dramatic fireworks. But who cares if he did this especially if Mary Stuart calls Elizabeth a "vil bastarda!?" With such dramatic pyrotechnics in these operas, one would imagine that perhaps a heftier voice with the Norma metal is needed to make these roles more vivid, such as that of Maria Callas. Beverly Sills, however, makes these roles so real, regal, and dramatically powerful that one forgets all the shortcomings that come as a result of the lightness of her voice. Among these three recordings, if I had to pick any one of them, I would say that her greatest achievement is her Roberto Devereux made with Sir Charles Mackerras. Every vocal gesture, inflection, emotion, and firework is covered by Sills with a grace and technique that escapes several of today's Elizabeths. She is the queen incarnate, and if it did cut ten years out of her career, I am only glad that she sang the queen. She is partnerred by a cast that is not up to her level, but her singing alone makes her queen worthwhile. A definitive recording there.

Her Maria Stuarda is also perhaps the most satisfying account of the opera that I've heard. With Eileen Farrell as Elizabeth hurling dynamites whenever her mouth opens and Sills is superb form as Maria, I would say that this recording is my favorite Maria Stuarda on disc. The confrontation scene is simply to die for, and the last act with Sills saying her prayer is heartfelt and beautiful. Ceccato is not the most exciting conductor, but Stuart Burrows makes a very sensitive and graceful Leicester. I must add this though: if you really want to find a great Maria Stuarda, you must search very hard for a live recording of the opera from New York made in 1972 with Beverly Sills and Marisa Galvany as the colliding queens. The heat of that recording is simply out of this world and if you cannot find it, I am willing to burn you a copy. Just send me an email.

Anna Bolena is no weak link either. Some people would compare this to Maria Callas' live Scala performance, a legendary night which in my opinion would never be repeated again. Sills was no Callas in terms of voice, but she was equipped with a voice that could handle the role in her own special way. Sills had a very touching Anna Bolena with a conductor, supporting cast, and a complete score that makes her Bolena essential. Her Giovanna Seymour is Shirley Verrett, a perfect foil to Sills vocally and dramatically. Verrett also sounds younger than Simionato, which is an asset to this recording of the opera. My favorite recording though, is another pirate recording. This recording is a live performance from New York with the superb, magnificent, mind-blowing soprano Marisa Galvany as Bolena, Olivia Stapp as Seymour, and Samuel Ramey's definitive Henry. A recording that must not be missed, and one that you must hunt for.

"3 Queens, 1 Soprano".......2003-08-23

Sills was most renowned for her fiery portrayal as Elizabeth, and i believe she worked the hardest on that particular role. She researched the character, studied her personality, practiced gestures, practically slept with the books under her pillow. And here, we can hear the results (without even seeing!). Of course, Beverly already was great with voice acting to begin with, but add on top of it all the research, commitment, and unflawed singing...you get a truly astounding recording!

In Maria Stuarda, check out the confrontation scene. This is one of the most dramatic moments in opera. And there's the added bonus of having the underrecorded but extremely talented dramatic soprano Eileen Farrell as Elizabeth. Hear how they lash out at each other. Incredibly exciting! And Maria's final scene is touching. In one NYCO performance a woman cried out, "NO!" just when Maria's head was going to be chopped off (lights go out-blackout). If this isn't dramatic I don't know what is.

For me the most exciting scene in Anna Bolena is the mad scene. This is actually just as great as Lucia's mad scene, in my opinion. Anna, though being in jail, has illusions of herself being with King Henry. When reality comes crashing back on her, WOW, get ready for the intense madness. Coppa Iniqua is heartbreaking. Sills uses a weeping timbre, and outbursts of anger in her voice, all to incredible effect.

I have begun listening to opera only about 3 years ago. I feel very happy that these 3 recordings together gave me a sense of what opera can be- incredible musical theatre. Beverly Sills and the 3 Queens will always have a special place in my heart.

Please give it a rest!.......2003-08-13

This is a Callasfan speaking. I love Callas and Sills, I think this and "The art of the Primadonna" (With Joanie) is supreme. But hear me out: I think it's obvious that only the famous Callas-recs on Emi are slandered and the efforts on other labels judged fairly, even if the reviewers didn't like Callas. Lets get back to balance and fairness. I never wrote a one-star review on Beverly and I never will. Here and there I complained and fought against fanatism. Neither Callas-fanatism nor Sutherland-fanatism nor Sills-fanatism is good. Neither of them was perfect. Both had their pros and cons. Please, you guys, edit your reviews and write them fairly. Thus we'll prevent an even greater outrage. Us operafans should stick together. I'm willing to start. Please, lets be on this together!

Average customer rating:

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

Montserrat Caballé: Ultimate Collection

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000J914
Release Date: 1999-05-25

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tracks:

Suzel, boun di...
L'amico Fritz, Atto 2: Tutto tace
Manon, Acte 3: Je suis seul! . . . Ah, fuyez
Toi! Vous! . . . Oui, c'est moi! . . .
Manon, Acte 3: N'est-ce plus ma main
Anna Bolena, Atto 2: Al dolce guidami castel natio
Don Pasquale, Atto 2: Tornami a dir
La Belle Helene, Acte 1: Au Mont Ida, trois deesses
West Side Story, Act 1: Only you . . .Tonight
Il se fait tard . . .
Faust, Acte 3: O nuit d'amour
Louise, Acte 3: Depuis le jour
Les Troyens, Acte 4: Nuit d'ivresse
La Boheme, Atto 1: O soave fanciulla

Customer Reviews:

Poor mix .......2006-02-20

There is no climatic piece in the whole album. It appears it was gathered selections...by that I mean, somebody said "oh let's use this one and this one..." The selections just drift from one to the next and carry little emotional impact on this listener. Yet I love Angela, but Roberto is second rate. Overall, not much on here to remember.

a fine example of two shining opera stars.............2005-10-28

How perfect is it that tenor Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu are a madly in love, married opera couple with voices like angels? I remember when this album first came out in the mid-1990s. At the time, I didn't have a CD player, and their album was a motivation for me to get one, if that says anything about how much I LOVE both of them, as well as the music samples I first heard on NPR.

Alagna's resonance is clear, but, never piercing. Gheorghiu's clean-sounding soprano is expressive, but never shrill, and exhudes a warmth, as well as a softness, when she attacks the really high notes. What sets Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu apart from the pack of young opera stars is their own original, highly energetic and sincere interpretations of popular opera duets, featured here. They include "Tonight" from West Side Story (which I really wouldn't consider opera, but, more an example of musical theatre), and "O soave fanciulla" from La Boheme. I guarantee that listening to this album will make you fall in love with these two wonderful singers.

A musical marriage made in heaven!.......2003-12-01

In the early 1990s I began following the careers of two immensely talented young singers then on the verge of international stardom. The French tenor Roberto Alagna wowed Covent Garden audiences as Romeo and Rodolfo, and had received rave reviews throughout Europe. The splendid Mimi of Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu enlivened an otherwise lackluster 1994 Metropolitan Opera broadcast, and an astounding triumph at Covent Garden as Violetta followed. I had often longed for these two splendid young artists to sing together, and I got my wish in spades when it was publicly announced that they were madly in love - this disc was recorded 6 months before and released in the U.S. 4 days before their real-life marriage. While I and many opera fans are hopeless romantics who are delighted by such things, what really matters is that their VOICES are married. Let's just say that I have heard other singers who are either married or otherwise romantically involved who do not have nearly the rapport that these two people do. They are supremely sensitive to and supportive of each other's artistry and even more importantly, are ultimately the servants of the composer.

Alagna's sweet, warm, earthy tenor and Gheorghiu's velvety, starlit soprano blend so perfectly that it often seems one voice is coming out of two mouths. Nowhere is this more true than on the triumph of the disc, 'Nuit d'ivresse' from Hector Berlioz's 'Les Troyens'. This is a good candidate for the best joint recording they have ever made and is certainly their best individual duet recording. While it is usually sung by a tenor with a heavier voice and a mezzo-soprano, the sheer lyricism of their voices renders this music utterly ravishing - I have never heard this piece sung more beautifully. And how many typical operatic 'love duet' albums would include something this rare? Their 'one voice' quality is also evident in 'Tornami a dir' from 'Don Pasquale', a triumph of heady sweetness, and again, not exactly standard fare. Throughout these selections, and indeed the entire album, we hear superb dynamic sensitivity and gorgeous pianissimo singing, and everything is sung with such dramatic intensity and immersion in character that you think you're hearing a live performance and not a recording. About the only quibble I have is that Alagna's diction in both French and Italian is so perfect that Gheorghiu's comes up a bit short by comparison.

The Cherry Duet from 'L'Amico Fritz' which begins the album is full of sweet affection and wistfulness. In the Saint Sulpice scene from 'Manon', Gheorghiu is irresistibly seductive and tender and Alagna believably torn between Des Grieux's pain at Manon's betrayal and his love for her. Some may actually prefer this version of the duet to the slightly more 'verismo' and less subtle rendition of their complete recording under Antonio Pappano. The Garden Scene from 'Faust', albeit not quite as intense as in their recent Metropolitan Opera performances, is still a triumph of French style, sensitivity, and drama, again with absolutely gorgeous pianissimo singing, this time at 'Eternelle!'. This should be no surprise to anyone who has heard them sing 'Romeo et Juliette'. And, of course, these masters of Gounod's version of 'Romeo and Juliet' also make something special of Bernstein's. I don't believe I've ever heard 'Tonight' more beautifully and musically sung - and as Gheorghiu pointed out in an interview, this is not 'easy' music to sing. The only problem here is that 'West Side Story' is more about Anglo/Puerto Rican culture clash than about family feuds, and so it hurts somewhat that the singers have the wrong (and more importantly, too similar) accents. Nevertheless, their English is clear and understandable, and as usual they mean every word they sing. The disc concludes with a radiant 'O soave fanciulla', where Rodolfo's and Mimi's romance is off to a tender and teasing start.

In addition to the six duets, each singer has two solo arias. Alagna's first is a splendid 'Ah, fuyez douce image', where he not only begins the aria pianissimo, but he makes more of the words than just about any tenor since Georges Thill. He follows this with a rollicking version of Paris' Entrance from 'La Belle Helene'. While not even Alagna can negotiate the B flat octave leaps with the ease of Jussi Bjorling (in his unsurpassable 1938 Swedish-language recording), he has the considerable advantage of native French speech, and a far better appreciation of the piece's humor. Gheorghiu has surpassed her two solo selections since making this recording - the 'Al dolce guidami' on her 'Casta Diva' bel canto disc and the 'Depuis le jour' on her live Covent Garden recital - but these versions demonstrate her ravishing top, command of legato, and extraordinary emotional expressivity.

Richard Armstrong (the music director of the Scottish Opera, who also conducted Alagna's solo debut album) is with his singers all the way and he has the Covent Garden Orchestra play gorgeously . In particular, his molding of the orchestral line and color in the Berlioz is very impressive. Excellent documentation, with full texts and translations, by British vocal collector John Steane. Although this is focused (as it should be) on the music rather than the singers, there is also brief biographical information on both Alagna and Gheorghiu, which none of their subsequent EMI CDs have had.

In short this album is a triumph from beginning to end and an absolute must for any lover of the human voice, absolutely giving lie to the common whine of 'all the great singers are gone forever'. Of course, you'll also have to buy Alagna's and Gheorghiu's complete opera recordings, their equally stunning Verdi duets CD, and too many individual solo albums to count. Almost anything either of these splendid artists do, separately or together, is worth buying and devouring. They're a Golden Age all by themselves!

A Nice Collection, But Something's Missing.......2003-11-09

Since Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu are opera's favorite lovebirds, and real life husband and wife, it is not inconceivable that EMI would release a disk of arias and duets featuring the couple. The disk is reasonably good. It has the standard duets such as "O Soave Fanciulla" from LA BOHEME and "The Cherry Duet" from L'AMICO FRITZ as well as a few lesser known pieces that make the disk interesting. The Broadway stage is also included in a duet from Leonard Bernstein's WEST SIDE STORY. As beautiful as Bernstein's music is, it somehow does not fit in this recording. The two do a reasonably good job, both as soloists and together, but the disk lacks power. The two fail to generate the energy on this disk that the two seem to have on television and in video performances. Their acting abilities surpass many "Golden Age" stars, but their music, while technically good, fails to generate the same excitement as a Corelli--Price, Pavarotti--Freni, or a Callas--Di Stefano pairing would generate. None-the-less, the recording is not bad, and it will certainly be pleasing to fans of the two.

Perfection.......2001-12-06

This is lovely from beginning to end. These two singers really know how to put together a recital CD. It's always satisfying no matter how often I listen to it. The selections they sing are well suited to their voices. It's a pleasure. I can't recommend this CD enough. It's truly a shared program with neither one overwhelming the other. They each get their solo turns and the duets are wonderful.

Maria Callas - Life & Art (2 CD's & Bonus DVD)

Average customer rating:

The Fascinating Maria Callas
Stupenda! A great compilation...
wonderful representation of Callas artistry

Maria Callas - Life & Art (2 CD's & Bonus DVD)

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | 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

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Verdi: Arias by Maria Callas (includes DVD - rare performance of Callas on film)
Callas - A Documentary Plus Bonus / John Ardoin, Franco Zeffirelli
Maria Callas - Passion / A Film by Gerard Caillat
The Passion of Callas
Maria Callas - The Callas Conversations (EMI Classic Archive)

ASIN: B0002Z83KW
Release Date: 2004-11-16

Tracks:

Bellini: Norma - Casta Diva (Act I)
Donizetti: Anna Bolena - Al dolce guidami castel natio (Act II)
Verdi: Il trovatore - D'amor sull'ali rosee (Act IV)
Catalani: La Wally - Ebben? ne andrr lontana (Act I)
Giordano: Andrea Chinier - La mamma morta (Act III)
Puccini: La bohhme - Donde lieta uscl (Act III)
Puccini: Tosca - Vissi d'arte (Act II)
Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana - Voi lo sapete o mamma
Boito: Mefistofele - L'altra notte in fondo al mare (Act III)10. Puccini: Madama Butterfly - Un bel dl vedremo (Act II)
Puccini: Turandot - Signore, ascolta (Act I)
Puccini: Manon Lescaut - Sola, perduta, abbandonata (Act IV)
Ponchielli: La Gioconda - Suicidio! (Act IV)
Verdi: Aida - Ritorna vincitor! (Act I)
Bizet: Carmen - Carreau ! Pique ! (Card Scene) (Act III)
Massenet: Le Cid - De cet affreux combat...Pleurez, mes yeux ! (Act III)

Tracks:

Bellini: La sonnambula - Compagne, teneri amici...Come per me sereno...Sovra il sen la man mi posa (Act I)
Bellini: I puritani - Son vergin vezzosa (Act 1)
Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor - Regnava nel silenzio...Quando rapito in estasi (Act I)
Verdi: Rigoletto - Gualtier Maldh...Caro nome (Act I)
Verdi: La traviata - Ah, fors'h lui (Act I)
Puccini: Gianni Schicchi - O mio babbino caro
Cilea: Adriana Lecouvreur - Ecco: respiro appena. Io son l'umile ancella (Act I)
Thomas: Mignon - Ah, pour ce soir...Je suis Titania (Act II)
Gounod: Romio et Juliette - Ah ! Je veux vivre dans ce rjve (Act I)
Gounod: Faust - Un bouquet !...Ah ! je ris (Jewel Song) (Act III)
Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust - D'amour l'ardente flamme (Part IV)
Massenet: Werther - Werther ! Qui m'aurait dit...Des cris joyeux (Letter Scene) (Act III)
Bizet: Les Pjcheurs de perles - Me voil` seule...Comme autrefois (Act II)
Saint-Saens: Samson et Dalila - Printemps qui commence (Act I)
Charpentier: Louise - Depuis le jour ( Act III)

Tracks:

Massenet: Le Cid - De cet affreux combat...Pleurez, mes yeux (Acte III) (DVD)
Bizet: Carmen - Prilude; Habanera (Acte I); Entr'acte (Acte III); Siguidille (Acte I) (DVD)
Verdi: Ernani - Surta h la notte...Ernani, involami (Atto I) (DVD)
Rossini: La Cenerentola - Nacqui all'affanno e al pianto...Non piy mesta (Atto II) (DVD)
Verdi: Don Carlo - O don fatale, o don crudel (Atto III) (DVD)

Customer Reviews:

The Fascinating Maria Callas.......2007-01-10

The DVD of her life was the most interesting part. I was really hoping for a wide selection of arias on the CDs, rather than the two full operas that came in the set.

Stupenda! A great compilation..........2006-08-23

First off, I think this is a great compilation of Maria Callas' work. It has a little bit of almst everything. It picks the right records and highlights them quite well. I liked the idea of splitting the album into two discs. One of lighter romantic arias. The other with tragic and dramatic arias. Now, to the point...
I listen to many operas as it is my music of choice. Whenever I find myself at a loss with a certain soprano for either character or tone I always find myself coming back to Callas. Not having the most tonaly beautiful voice she does for me what is more important. She adds life and passion to the music instead of just singing it. She knows the characters and their motivations. This rare feat comes thru in her voice. Capable of singing almost any soprano role from a light lyric coloratura such as Lakme or to the heavy demands of a Wagnerian role such as Norma. Not only does her range impress but her voice was capable of such colors and shades of those colors. She imparts such pathos and depth with her voice. This for me is most important. A singer can have the most tonaly beautiful voice, but if there is no heart and emotion behind it, forget about it. Callas has that in spades. Maybe that is why 30 some odd years after her death I still find myself turning to her for inpsiration.

wonderful representation of Callas artistry.......2006-04-29

This 2 set CD and additional DVD are a great sampling of Maria Callas singing various operatic arias. They demonstrate not only her remarkable vocal range but her ability to perform expressively as well. No artist in my opinion can act today as well as Callas. Callas voice may have been flawed later on during her career, but her ability to act truly makes up for any vocal imperfections. After all, she is the only operatic soprano I know of who possessed not only the natural talent for acting, but the ability to sing anything from mezzo to soprano. If you are a fan of Callas, then I highly recommend this set. Even those not familiar with Maria Callas should hear her perform at least once.

Donizetti: Anna Bolena (complete opera live 1957) with Maria Callas, Gianni Raimondi, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan

Average customer rating:

Also available on Opera d'Oro
Anna bolena, complete opera
Famous live performance from La Scala
A great performance of a great opera
Best Anna Bolena on Disc

Donizetti: Anna Bolena (complete opera live 1957) with Maria Callas, Gianni Raimondi, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan
Gaetano Donizetti , Gianandrea Gavazzeni , Maria Callas , Giulietta Simionato , Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala di Milano , Nicola Rossi-Lemeni , Gianni Raimondi , Gabriella Carturan , and Plinio Clabassi
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | 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

Callas, Maria | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Cherubini: Medea (complete opera live 1953) with Maria Callas, Fedora Barbieri, Leonard Bernstein, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan
Verdi: Macbeth (complete opera live 1952) with Maria Callas, Enzo Mascherini, Victor de Sabata, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan
Bellini: La Sonnambula (complete opera live 1955) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe Modesti, Leonard Bernstein, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan
Verdi: La Traviata (complete opera live 1955) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Carlo Maria Giulini, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan
Bellini: I Puritani / Callas, di Stefano, Rossi-Lemeni, Panerai; Serafin

ASIN: B00000630Z
Release Date: 1998-03-17

Tracks:

Anna Bolena: Act One - Scene One: Ne venne il Re?
Anna Bolena: Act One - Scene One: Ella di me, sollecita (Giovanna, Smeton)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Scene One: Si Taciturna e mesta mai non vidi assemblea (Anna, Giovanna, Smeton)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Scene One: Deh! non voler costringere (Smeton, Anna, Giovanna)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Scene One: Come, innovente giovane (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Scene One: Ma puche omai rimangono (Anna, Giovanna)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Scene One: Non v'ha sguardo cui sia dato (Anna, Giovanna, Smeton)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Scene One: O! qual parlar fu il suo! (Giovanna)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Scene One: Tremate voi? Si, tremo
Anna Bolena: Act One - Scene One: La mia fama e a' pie dell'ara
Anna Bolena: Act One - Scene One: Anna pure amor m'offria
Anna Bolena: Act One - Scene One: Tu mi lasci?
Anna Bolena: Act One - Scene One: Ah! qual sia cerar non oso (Enrico, Giovanna)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Act Two: Chi veggo? In Inghilterra (Percy)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Act Two: Da quel di che, lei perduta (Percy)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Act Two: Gia la caccia si raduna (Percy)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Act Two: Ah! cosi nei di redenti (Percy)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Act Two: Desta si tosta (Enrico, Anna, Percy)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Act Two: Voi, Regina! E fia pur vero (Percy, Anna, Enrico)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Act Two: lo sentii sulla mia mano (Anna, Enrico, Percy)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Act Two: Or che reso ai patrii lidi (Enrico, Percy, Anna)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Act Two: Questo di per noi spuntato (Anna, Precy, Enrico)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Act Three: Tutto e deserto (Smeton)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Act Three: Bada, bad troggoltra vai (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Act Three: Ne uscir poss'io! (Smeton, Anna, Percy)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Act Three: S'ei t'aborre, io t'amo ancora (Percy, Anna)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Act Three: Alcun potria ascoltarti in quste mura (Anna, Percy, Smeton, Enrico)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Act Three: Tace ognuno, e ognun tremante! (Enrico, Smeton, Percy, Anna)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Act Three: In quegli sguardi impresso
Anna Bolena: Act One - Act Three: In separato carcere tutti costor sien tratti (Anna, Enrico, Ciovanna, Smeton, Percy)
Anna Bolena: Act One - Act Three: Ah! segnata e la mia sorte (Anna, Giovanna, Smeton, Percy, Enrico)

Tracks:

Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene One: Oh! Dove maai ne andarono le turbe adulatrici
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene One: Regina! Duolmi l'amaro incarco (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene One: Dio, che me vedi in core (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene One: Piange l'afflitta
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene One: Tali son trame ordite
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene One: Sul guanciale del regio letto
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene One: Dal mio cor punita io sono
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene One: Ba, infelice, e teco reca (Giovanna, Anna)
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene Two: Ebben? dinanzi ai giudici
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene Two: Ecco, ecco Hervey
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene Two: Scostatevi, il Re giunge (Enrico)
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene Two: Arresta, Enrico
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene Two: sSaro fra poco innanzi
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene Two: Fin dall'eta pio tenera
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene Two: Salira d'Inghilterra sul trono (Anna, Enrico, Percy)
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene Two: Sposa a Percy
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene Two: Anna vid'io, l'intesi (Enrico, Giovanna)
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene Two: Per questa fiamma infomita (Giovanna)
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene Two: Stolta! non sai (enrico, Giovanna)
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene Two: Ah! pensate che rivolti (Giovanna)
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene Three: Chi puo vederla a ciglio asciutto
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene Three: Piangete voi? D'onde tal pianto? (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene Three: Al dolce guidami castel natio (Anna)
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene Three: Qual mesto suo? (Anna, Percy, Smeton)
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene Three: Cielo, a' meie lunghi spasimi
Anna Bolena: Act Two - Scene Three: Coppia iniqua, l'estrema vendetta

Customer Reviews:

Also available on Opera d'Oro.......2007-07-31

A very fine performance, indeed, and a must for every Callas fan. It's available too on Opera d'Oro at a lower price. Sometimes their Callas "pirates" are better than EMI's "pirates" but not always. You might want to check it out. I'm perfectly satisfied with my Od'O set.

Anna bolena, complete opera.......2007-03-08

Unfortunately one of the CD's was badly marked and therefore virtually unplayable. I would never buy 2nd hand CD's again

Famous live performance from La Scala.......2007-01-16

SOURCE: Live performance from the opening night of the new Visconti production of "Anna Bolena" at La Scala in Milan, April 14,1957.

SOUND: By current standards, the mono sound is boxy and limited. By the standards of Callas' recorded live performances, it is well above average. Voices are generally well-caught in a sort of AM radio-ish way, the orchestra slightly less so. The audience at La Scala that opening night was unusually quiet for an Italian crowd. Perhaps they were a little awed by the occasion. Certainly, they were unfamiliar with the opera. Their recorded responses are positive, generous and at more or less the appropriate spots. All that aside, anyone who listens to this "Anna Bolena" should do so for the performance, not the sound reproduction.

CAST: Anna Bolena, Queen of England - Maria Callas (soprano); Enrico VIII, King of England - Nicola Rossi-Lemeni (bass-baritone); Giovanna Seymour, lady-in-waiting to Queen Anna, king's mistress and next Queen of England - Giulietta Simionato (mezzo-soprano); Percy, a nobleman dangerously in love with Anna - Gianni Raimondi (tenor); Smeton, a young page and musician idiotically in love with Anna - Gabriella Carturan (soprano); Lord Rochefort, Anna's brother who has a talent for being in the wrong place at the wrong time - Plinio Clabassi (baritone); Lord Hervey, a courtier who is acutely aware that his career will not be advanced by being Anna's friend - Luigi Rumbo (baritone). CONDUCTOR: Gianandrea Gavazzeni with the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala, Milano.

DOCUMENTATION: Libretto with English translation. Short history of the opera and brief summary of the plot.

TEXT: This was the second major production of "Anna Bolena" in the modern bel canto revival. There are substantial cuts, from which the role of Percy is the greatest sufferer. Many reviewers clearly suffer the vapors at the very thought of losing a single bar of the golden legacy. I am not among their number. Sometimes, less actually is more. I have seldom found note-complete performances, especially those with pseudo-bel canto ornamentations created on the spot, to offer a markedly improved artistic experience. Sometimes, as in the horrifying example of Wagner-length "complete" "Tales of Hoffmann," it can be a dismal downer. In this case, the shortened text of "Anna Bolena" works well enough.

"Anna Bolena" premiered at La Scala on December 26, 1830. It was the big hit that catapulted the 32-year old composer into the great bel canto triad with Rossini and Bellini. For all its success, the opera shared in the general collapse of bel canto fortunes and lay dormant until the 1950s. The post-World War II era saw a revival of the bel canto repertory, largely driven by the presence of Maria Callas and the subsequent development of a group of divas who combined enormous power with extraordinary vocal agility.

(Here in the Twenty-first Century, we find ourselves amid a drought of such divas once again. Where is the next great Medea, Lucia, Norma or Anna Bolena to be found? Almost certainly not among the troops of Handel specialists who come pouring out of today's academies.)

The libretto of "Anna Bolena" rests only lightly on the dreary historical facts. Anne Boleyn is conceived as a fairly typical bel canto heroine, even to the extent of being granted a short mad scene. The reputation Henry VIII is completely slagged in Romani's telling of the tale. The king hasn't a single vestige of honor, generosity or loyalty. He lacks even the self-awareness that makes Shakespeare's monstrous Richard III so entertainingly charming.

It is a part of the received lore among opera fans that the role of Anna is a voice killer. Why this should be when Norma, say, and Turandot and Isolde are not, I can't say. Whatever the dangers, the voice of Callas in 1957 was more than a match for them. Fans of La Divina quite properly regard this as one of her great triumphs. Critics, on the other hand, profess to detect the earliest cracks in the noble vocal facade. Perhaps that is so, but I for one do not choose to ignore the virtues of a performance while searching for its faults.

Callas is better supported by the rest of the cast than is often the case with her live recordings. Nicola Rossi-Lemeni, with his somewhat wooly voice, was not one of the great singers of the Twentieth Century, but he was a good one, nevertheless. I saw him in San Francisco a couple of times toward the end of his career. He was a solid performer who could carry an audience with him. Simionato was very much an A-list singer and sounds like it here, despite the oddly offhand dismissal to be found in the review published by the Good Grey Gramophone Magazine. (Years later she described this "Anna Bolena" as the highlight of her career.) Gianni Raimondi sounds fine to me in what remains of the part of Percy, although some would doubtless argue that his is not the proper type of voice for the role. (The very same argument could be made about Callas herself, despite the too-confident insistence of fans that the remarks of the critic Stendahl about the first Anna, Giudita Pasta, show her to have been something of a Nineteenth Century pre-iteration of Callas.) The singers in the smaller roles, the orchestra, the chorus and the conducting all uphold the reputation of La Scala.

A famous live performance in decent sound with Callas in full La Divina-mode--five stars, of course!

A great performance of a great opera.......2005-12-12

Well, let's get over the caveats first. The performance is heavily cut and this is a live performance from 1957, so the sound is certainly lo-fi, though not completely unacceptable. Otherwise, this is a treasurable account of a historic and absolutely thrilling night at La Scala. The cast is not totally ideal; Rossi-Lemeni as Enrico has great authority but his tone is woolly and leaks air at every emission; Raimondi doesn't have the florid technique for Percy (and consequently much of his role is cut), but he does have the requisite italianate tone. The rest is pure gold. Simionato as Giovanna shows just how exciting a singer she was on the stage; her studio recordings do not do her justice. A high point of the set is the duet with Anna, Callas and Simionato first striking sparks off each other and then blending in sublime harmony. As for Callas, this captures her at the absolute height of her interprative powers in a role that was absolutely right for her at this stage of her career. From the gentle, plangent tone she uses in the first aria, through the fire and brimstone of the Act 1 finale, to the exquisite pathos of the final mad scene, she is sublime. A high point of the set is her voicing of "Guidici ad Anna!" just before the Act 1 finale, where all Anna's queenly outrage is brought to bear with almost unbearable intensity. The finale is capped with a ringing high D and the audience quite rightly goes mad. But it is also in quiet moments that Callas is unique. The ovation she receives after the cavtina in the mad scene is the natural outcome from an audience quite obviously unable to hold its breath any longer - and remember this opera was almost completely unknown at the time. Though EMI did not record Callas in many of her greatest roles, it is good to see that they are now repairing the omission with the official release of some of these live performances. Not to be missed.

Best Anna Bolena on Disc.......2005-11-23

Maria Callas is known as one of the greatest artist of the century because she was responsible for the revival of neglected bell canto operas. April 14, 1957 is one of those memorable days. It is the opening night of a new production of a great neglected opera Anna Bolena. This was staged in the La Scala. I am very happy that this particular event was documented in this recording. At least were able to listen to this spectacular memorable night. The Characterization of the La Divina is one of the most exciting she has done. This is probably because Anna's tragedy comes as a fusion of all the wounded characters she had played previously. This seems to be the catalyst she needed to pour deep emotions for the role. The final scene of this recording will make everybody understand why the La Divina is considered the greatest singing actress of the 20th century. It shows her at the height of her talent both as a tragic actress and of course as a singer. Despite poor recording and untolerable hisses in some parts. This recording should not be missed for any reason for this is the best Anna Bolena on Disc.

Average customer rating:

Verrett Is a National Treasure
Caballe & Verrett dazzle in bel canto, Verdi AND verismo!
Top-quality duet singing
Absolutely Magnificent
WOW!!! These women are butter!

Great Operatic Duets

Manufacturer: RCA
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Very Best of

ASIN: B000003F4Y
Release Date: 1991-08-09

Tracks:

Semiramide
Anna Bolena
Norma
Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Aida
Madama Butterfly
La Gioconda

Customer Reviews:

Verrett Is a National Treasure.......2003-11-11

The two tracks of these women singing Rossini and Bellini are more than worth the price of this CD! I have an extensive collection of operatic LPs and CDs and have heard many others sing all the duets on this CD. These two women do it best! If you can recall seeing Olympic ice-skater Scott Hamilton in his prime, imagine TWO perfect voices PRECISELY hitting their "marks" (notes) in a beautifully prancing, rapid succession the way Hamilton's feet used to do! And Diva Verrett, now about 70, is currently passing her craft on to others at U Michigan as a voice professor! I only wish that more of her recordings were available now. If you are new to bel canto singing, this is an excellent CD to begin with. If you are a more experienced listener, this CD belongs in your collection!

Caballe & Verrett dazzle in bel canto, Verdi AND verismo!.......2003-03-26

One thing that is enjoyable with this CD is that it includes duets from operas of different styles. Here we have bel canto, late Verdi and verisimo.

It is amazing how exquisitely these two ladies sing all the different styles! Moreover, they feel every word they sing. Other reviewers compared this duo with the Sutherland-Horne one. I admire both Joan and Marilyn but they show little understanding of what they are singing; they are too busy impressing us with their high notes and fast coloratura.

The best moments are the bel canto duets (if only there was more). Caballe is unsurpassed in this area. Try to get her complete recordings (Norma, Il Pirata, Lucrezia Borgia). Verrett too had a big success in this repertoire. Pity they didn't record the Stuarda duet as well. The Barcarolle is ethereal, the best I've ever heard while the Aida duet passionate and moving, just as it should be. Caballe and Verrett don't really have verisimo voices but the two selections on this CD are enjoyable.

I join the praise of the previous reviewers and highly recommend this recording!

Top-quality duet singing.......2003-03-11

This recording is fantastic! Both Caballé and Verrett are great. Caballé has her lush, powerful voice. Verrett has her dark, rich, equally powerful voice. The two sing very well and are involved dramatically. The duet from "Semiramide" is great. However, Sutherland and Horne do it better. Their coloratura is cleaner and more spectacular than Caballé's and Verrett's. The duet from "Anna Bolena" is done well. However, I prefer Verrett's version with Sills. Sills is dynamite as Bolena and she has a top register equal to that of Verrett's. The duet from "Norma" is fantastic. In the case of this duet, I find Caballé and Verrett to be every bit as good as Sutherland and Horne. The duet from "Les Contes d'Hoffman" is great. Their voices blend beautifully. The duet from "Aïda" is done very well. Verrett is a subtly menacing Amneris, which is quite effective. The duet from "Madama Butterfly" is terrific. Caballé did not sing Butterfly very well, but here, she is magnificent. Verrett is a sympathetic Suzuki. I don't think she ever sang the role on stage. The last duet is from "La Gioconda". No complaints here. Both singers are in top form. I wish they had included the Confrontation Scene from "Maria Stuarda". All they needed to do was to cut out the lines of the other singers in the scene. Caballé and Verrett were great together on stage as Maria Stuarda and Regina Elisabetta, respectively.

This duet album is the perfect compliment to "Belleza Vocale" with Hei-Kyung Hong and Jennifer Larmore.

Absolutely Magnificent.......2002-10-08

Of all the great opera solo and duet recital discs (Jussi Bjoerling singing almost any Verdi or Puccini; Sutherland/Horne in Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti; Fritz Wunderlich, Edda Moser or Margaret Price in Mozart; [name your favorites]), this is probably the most thrillingly beautiful I've ever heard. The gorgeous sound of these 2 great voices and the almost palpable excitement they generate are as glorious now as when I first heard this on LP about 25 years ago. Whenever I'm trying to convince a non-lover of opera what he or she is missing, this is my ultimate weapon when all else has failed -- it always works!

WOW!!! These women are butter!.......2002-02-03

I bought this CD based on the reviews and am thrilled with it. I agree that the price is worth it just for the The Tales of Hoffman: Barocelle. This song is exquisite and the voices blend so perfectly that it is the most moving piece of music that I've experienced. Check this out!!!

Average customer rating:

Viveca sparkles
Pure pleasure....
More Bravura
Bel Canto Arias; Vivica Genaux
BRAVA! BRAVA! BRAVA!

Bel Canto Arias; Vivica Genaux
Vivica Genaux , Gioachino Rossini , Gaetano Donizetti , John Nelson , and Ensemble Orchestral de Paris
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000BWTK1
Release Date: 2003-09-16

Tracks:

Nacqui All' Affanno
Cruda Sorte! Amor Tiranno!
Amici, In Ogni Evento...Pensa Alla Patria
Nella Fatal Di Rimini
Il Segreto Per Esser Felici
Popolo, Amici, Sanguinosi Allori... Ah! Si, Da Tanti Affani
E Sgombro Il Loco... Un Bacio, Un Bacio Ancora
Mura Felici
Eccomi Alfine In Babilonia... Ah! Quel Giorno Ognor Rammento
Una Voce Poco Fa

Customer Reviews:

Viveca sparkles.......2007-01-04

If you love Bel Canto and Mezzo Sopranos, you will love Vivica Genaux!

Pure pleasure...........2006-05-19

I have her Farinelli CD, as well. I also saw her on A&E some time ago. My only criticism was her excessive chin movements but, then, I don't get all bent out of shape over Bartoli's grimaces -- and the voice is the thing, after all.

As for Fach, a singer doesn't need to enjoy merely one, although many are restricted to such. What I like about Genaux, aside from the absolutely beautiful tone, is that she is NOT mannered. She has just the right take on every one of these arias. Spare me from the singers who just MUST emote all over the place when simplicity and class are sufficient.

I've had this CD since for some time and decided to see what others thought of it -- I'm always interested in other opinions.

Nancy Eckert

More Bravura.......2006-03-23

When I read a review stating that Vivica sang with two little volume on this recording, I found that very hard to believe. Everything I had previously heard of her showed a voice with unlimited power. However, when I purchased this set I agreed that Vivica sings with to little volume and possibly emotion. This is puzzling; I think it must have been an artistic decision that doesn't really work.

However, I can't agree with the other reviewer about this being the wrong repertoire. Most of Genaux's early roles were Rossini and her Bel Canto technique is superb. I love the selection of music, and despite the shortcomings, I really enjoy listening to this CD. I just wish she used a little more emotion and power in the parts that call for it.

Bel Canto Arias; Vivica Genaux.......2005-09-26

Vivica Genaux seems to have a lovely personality not to mention an absolutely fabulous voice both live and on disc, but some of these arias just don't work for her voice, some are just too.....well.... Bel Canto but the arias by Rossini I liked, especially
"Una Voce Poco Fa".
I also feel I should mention that Vivica is NOT a soprano
as "Sergey Tsoy "Dallas Opera"" states in his review, but rather a Mezzo-soprano.

BRAVA! BRAVA! BRAVA!.......2004-12-20

In my opinion, Vivica is a fantastic singer and an outstanding artist. I have heard her singing live in Rossini's La Cenerentola, and it was literally breathtaking. Many sopranos sing well and have beautiful voices, but it is perhaps their choice of vibrato which makes them sound extremely out of tune, weak, irritating, and just ugh! Also, many of them sing just loudly. I am not a singer, but to my ears, Vivica is absolutely the best soprano (or at least, one of a few) whom I have heard live - beautiful, pure, in tune (yes, fortunately and unfortunately it matters, too), great vibrato, wild tempi, rock-solid consistency of musical ideas, convincing stage presence, logical, elegant, and so forth. It is all these things add together, which make a true impression. I still wonder, how is it possible to sing with such clarity, presicion, and beauty? Because it is often either, or. But she somehow combines everything, and that's just marvelous. And also, her tonal quality is so fresh and sounds really out of the ordinary. Although I have never heard her CDs, I have no second thoughts about this particular one, which I have just bought and wait with great impatience until it arrives. Brava to Vivica, for, to my mind, her type of artistry comes in a truly short suply nowadays! It is my personal opinion.

Average customer rating:

Kasarova and the Amazing Multi-Colored Dream Voice
Very good
Kasarova Is the Current "Gold Standard" of Living Mezzos
Very unique and enjoyable voice

Vesselina Kasarova - A Portrait
George Frideric Handel , Christoph Willibald Gluck , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Gioachino Rossini , Gaetano Donizetti , Vincenzo Bellini , Munich Radio Orchestra , Friedrich Haider , Vesselina Kasarova , Bavarian Radio Chorus , Tim Hennis , Isolde Mitternacht-Geibendorfer , Barbara Muller , Dankwart Siegele , Leonid Savitzky , and Andreas Schulist
Manufacturer: RCA
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Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000003G3T
Release Date: 1996-11-12

Tracks:

Rinaldo: Or la tromba in suon festante
Orfeo ed Euridice: Che farnza Euridice?
Le nozze di Figaro: Voi che sapete che cosa mor
Don Giovanni: Batti, batti, o bel Masetto
La Cenerentola: Nacqui all'affanno e al pianto
Il Barbiere di Siviglia: Una voce poco fa
L'Italiana in Algeri: Pronti abbiamo e ferri e mani...Amici in ogni evento...Pensaalla patria
Anna Bolena: Sposa a Percy...Per questa fiamma indomita...Ah! Pensate che rivolti
La Favorita: Fia dunque vero...O mio Fernando!
I Capuleti e i Montecchi: Se Romeo t'uccise un figlio...La tremenda ultrice spada

Amazon.com

The title "A Portrait" would suggest some sort of a cohesive look at this talented Bulgarian mezzo-soprano. But she is so astonishingly versatile, one wonders if there are at least two singers at work here. Her more athletic coloratura moments in the Rossini and Donizetti arias would suggest some sort of slavic Cecila Bartoli while her more soulful, lyrical moments in Gluck's Orfeo would suggest a heavier voice like Kathleen Ferrier. Could it be that she has it all--or at least as much as one could hope for in a single singer? --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews:

Kasarova and the Amazing Multi-Colored Dream Voice.......2006-04-06

This was my introduction to Vesselina Kasarova CD. I first saw her in a clip of Il Barbiere di Siviglia (singing Una voce poco fa) on Classic Arts Showcase program one night and was amazed at how beautifully she sings the coloratura piece while doing complicated acting manuevers on stage.

The really great thing about Kasarova is how she communicates the essence of each aria with her voice. She doesn't sing 'Konzertzant'. Her instrument, for some reason, doesn't sound as big on recording as it does live (where it is quite plenty big, very lusterous and agile), and she uses many vocal colors to bring out the different character of her roles (a lot of time in the same aria to show the change of emotion). It is unconventional, but it works really well in the story telling.

Her coloratura is amazing. It is fast and fluidly effortless sounding... and she sings all the notes!! A true Rossinian mezzo with great extension at the top. She also incorporates the ornaments into the music so well it gives the piece a character rather than standing out at odd with the music. Kasarova is so subtle in her interpretations that each time I replay an aria I catch some nuances I missed before.

Her 'Che faro senza Euridice' may sound 'simple' on the first try, but it is quite understatedly wistful and gives the picture of a devastatingly drained Orfeo who has lost all hope. It gets better the more closely you listen to it. Her 'Voi che sapete' is of a Cherubino who is young and enthusiastically in love.

She uses wider vibrato in her bel canto pieces which fit the music well. Her Rosina has a split personality demarcated at 'ma', a note that turns an perky love-struck young thing into a potentially vengeful witch in such dramatic way that I can visualize her eyes narrowing and her fangs growing just by hearing it. Her renditions of 'o mio Fernando' and 'Se Romeo t'uccise un figlio' are unforgetable. Kasarova gives you all she has and it is wonderful.

Very good.......2004-03-19

I find this collection interesting, but not necessarily to the singers advantage. She sings what she sings well, but there is an "overblown" quality from time to time. Sona la tromba (the first selection) has a rough edge to it. I like this singer very much in other things I have her in. This is a good CD, but I think it would have served her more to choose some other selections. Her Verdi is excellent, but we are not treated to it. Her Orfeo lacks that really rich lower register that would make it tell. Still, a great buy and a great collection.

Kasarova Is the Current "Gold Standard" of Living Mezzos.......2003-11-14

When this CD was first released, I happened to hear the track with "Una voce poco fa" played on a classical-music radio station. For over 50 years I had been a devoted "fan" of instrumental classical music, but, in just 3 minutes, Kasarova's performance expanded and altered my mind and heart. When I attempted to purchase an audio tape of her singing, I discovered none was for sale anywhere. My solution? Buy the CD--and THEN buy a CD player. Five or six years later, I own over 1800 CDs, about 2/3 of them operatic music. My preferences are now mainly for bel canto singers who are mezzos or contraltos. Rossini, Handel, and Bellini are my favorite comp