Donizetti: Dom Sébastien

Dom Sébastien, roi du Portugal, opera
Composed by Gaetano Donizetti
with Kevin Maynor, Neil Wilson, Klara Takacs, Darren Nimnicht, Lajos Miller, Greg Ryerson, Richard Leech, Sergej Kopcak
Conducted by Eve Queler

Donizetti: Dom Sébastien,Gaetano Donizetti,Eve Queler,Richard Leech,Darren Nimnicht,Greg Ryerson,Kevin Maynor,Klara Takacs,Lajos Miller,Neil Wilson,Sergej Kopcak,Sergej Koptchak,Legato Classics,Classical,Opera,Romantic Opera

Donizetti: Dom Sebastien, roi de Portugal

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Long overdue
Masterpiece restored!

Donizetti: Dom Sebastien, roi de Portugal

Manufacturer: Opera Rara UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Mercadante: Maria Stuarda [Highlights]
Rossini: Adelaide di Borgogna
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Donizetti: Il diluvio universale
Matilde Di Shabran - Juan Diego Florez

ASIN: B000N6UGPU
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Customer Reviews:

Long overdue.......2007-07-24

A professional recording of this opera has been missing from the catalogue for altogether too long. Thanks be to Opera Rara for yet another noble effort! The presentation is up to the high standard that they have set for themselves, including a lavishly illustrated, multi-language libretto with a fascinating essay by Jeremy Commons.
The score ranks with Donizetti's best, naturally nearer to "La favorite" than to "Lucia." There are melodies galore and plenty of musical place settings, be it Iberia or Morocco. The complete ballet music is included. I followed the recording with the Ricordi Critical Edition of the vocal score and can testify to the performance's completeness.
Conductor Mark Elder draws an impassioned performance from the Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Of the principals, honours go to Giuseppe Filianotti in the title role for his dramatic conviction and clear, ringing tone; and to Simon Keenlyside as the beautifully sung, but menacing, villain. Alastair Miles plays the other villain equally well. As the heroine, Vesselina Kasarova offers plenty of passion in a language that sounds only vaguely like French. I understand that Carmelo Corrado Caruso was a last minute replacement who left me wondering if it was really that difficult to find someone to step in for a concert performance. His sense of pitch is so imprecise that his melodies come accross only in the orchestral accompaniment. It really is too bad as this is the only blight on this recording. However, this should not dissuade a purchase of this set, even if I have knocked off of star on his account.
This is an enjoyable and welcome addition to my opera collection.

Masterpiece restored!.......2007-06-05

It's wonderful that this opera is being performed again (allbeit not in a fully staged version yet). This was Donizetti's last work before he went mad from syphillis. It's a cross between bel canto and French grand opera. This is sung in original French and uses the edition by Mary Ann Smart.

The CD is a live recording from 2 performances that opened the ROH's 2005 season. Great sound engineering! The audience is so quiet and the voices and the orchestra are captured so well it could pass as a studio recording.

Mark Elder leads a well defined and passionate performance by the orchestra (tho occasionally too loud), and the lead singers are well sung. Giuseppe Filianoti has really gorgeously clear and noble voice as Dom Sebastien and sings beautifully (omitting the high notes for his big aria 'Seul sur la terre', however). Vesselina Kasarova is a very exotic sounding Zayda. Pretend you don't understand French when she is singing, and she will carry you off into the sands of Africa and the parapets of the spanish castle (really wonderful voice actress, but really can't sing French inteligibly either).

Simon Keenlyside is the Abayaldos to die for. So heroic and utterly convincing that the irony that he is supposedly the bad guy of the show is prominent. I want to fight for the dude when I hear him rather for the supposedly good guys. Carmelo Caruso was a late substitute as Camoens, and he sings well, though has such a prominent vibrato that everything sounds shaky. All the minor roles are well sung and the chorus is awesome.

The music is really wonderfully descriptive and moves the story forward well. I quite love the Act III funeral music (snippet of it is introduced as the overture). The dratted thing is that after Act III, the final 2 acts don't stand up quite well to what comes before it.

At any rate, this is the best recording of this opera available. Very nice packaging by Opera Rara, too. The 3 CDs set comes with a thick booklet detailing the history of the opera and the real life events it was based (loosely) on, with complete synopsis and libretto in French and translated English. Worth every penny of the retail price to me!

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window into the past
timeless beauty
A Very Good Place to Start with Caruso's Art
There is No Better...
Best singer to date; period !

Prima Voce - Caruso

Manufacturer: Nimbus Records
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Binding: Audio CD

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Italian Songs: The Digital Recordings
The Legendary Enrico Caruso: 21 Favorite Arias
Great Caruso
Prima Voce: Enrico Caruso, Opera Vol. 3
Prima Voce: Caruso in Opera, Vol. 2

ASIN: B0000037J4
Release Date: 1992-12-02

Tracks:

Manon: Il Sogno ('En Fermant Les Yeux')
Tosca: E Lucevan Le Stelle
l'elisir D'amore: Una Furtiva Lagrima
Il Trovatore: Di Quella Pira
L'africana: Mi Batti Il Cor .... O Paradiso
Pagliacci: Recitar .. Vesti La Giubba
Don Sebastiano: Deserto In Terra Solo
Rigoletto: Questa O Quella
La Forza Del Destino: Della Natal Sua Terra ....
La Regina Di Saba: Magiche Note
PagliacciI: No! Pagliaccio Non Son
Aida: Se Quel Guerrier Io Fossi .. Celeste Aida
Manaon: Je Suis Seul ...Ah! Fuyez Douce Image
Un Ballo In Maschera: Di Tu Sse Fedele
Un Ballo In Maschera: Forse La Soglia ...Ma Se M'e Forza
Lo Schiavo: Qui Fortuna Insistenza ...Quando Nascesti Tu
Rigoletto: Ella Mi Fu Rapita ...Parmi Veder Le Lagrime
Manon Lescaut: Donna Non Vidi Mai
Il Duca D'alba: Angelo Casto E Bel
La Juive: Rachel, Quand Du Seigneur

Amazon.com

Sounding across the years, through the haze of primitive (though remarkably vivid) recordings, the voice of Enrico Caruso is still a miracle. The sense of style, the feeling of effortless control and power held in reserve, and, most of all, the uncanny expressiveness that comes through in Caruso's combination of phrasing, accent, and intensity: it all compels the greatest admiration. Nimbus helpfully specifies the provenance of the takes collected on this disc. They span a period of 17 years, from several matrices recorded early in 1904--two years after Caruso had made his first recordings for The Grammophone Company--to a 1920 Victor recording of "Rachel, quand du Seigneur" from Halévy's La Juive, one of the tenor's signature pieces. Caruso died at the age of 48, when a lot of today's tenors are just reaching their peak. But as these selections show, he was a seasoned artist from the time he was 28. No wonder the world fell at his feet. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

window into the past.......2006-03-24

What a great recording! Basically, a digital version of recordings made on the first analog recording technology. The beauty of Caruso's singing, his anachronistic melodramatic style and the bumps and scratchings of the orgininal recording blend together for a total effect that is quite persuasive and effective. Love it.

timeless beauty.......2004-11-24

When one hears the richness of Caruso's voice, and the depth of the emotion he expresses, it's hard to fathom that some of these recordings date back 100 years. The tracks are in chronological order, from February 1904 to September 1920.
The first three selections from 1904 are exquisite, and have only a solo piano accompaniment. The "Una Furtiva Lagrima" (track # 3) has a grace and luminosity that is breathtaking.
There are many arias that have remarkable aspects to them, like "Magiche note" from Goldmark's "La Regina di Saba", where he does a series of pianissimos, and of course, his most famous role was as Canio, in Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci", and this CD has both "Vesti la giubba" from 1907, and "No ! Pagliacco non son" from 1910. The latter is phenomenal, and has a deep, dark quality, sounding more like a baritone than a tenor.

There are some rarely heard pieces here, like the Goldmark aria, and "Deserto in terra solo" from Donizetti's "Don Sebastiano", and only occasionally heard is the beautiful "Rachel, quand du Seigneur" from Halevy's "La Juive", and no one can equal Caruso's interpretation of it.
What stands out most about his singing aside from the glorious sound is his phrasing, which is dramatic as well as supremely musical...one of the many reasons the name Caruso has become synonymous with "Italian operatic tenor".

The booklet insert has liner notes on Caruso's career, and a brief synopses for each aria.
The sound considering the age is a marvel, re-mastered from 78 RPM recordings, and states "A breakthrough in archive sound reproduction, Nimbus Natural Ambisonic Transfer technology preserves the immediacy and fidelity of the original performance". Thank goodness Caruso's emergence as a singer and the gramophone came into existence at the same time, so that recordings like this can still be heard.
Total playing time is 74'58.

A Very Good Place to Start with Caruso's Art.......2004-04-03

The best transfer of Caruso I can lay my hand on so far. There is no surface noise and the beauty of his voice is not at all compromised, it sounds as though it is recorded in the 50s !

Caruso eclipses the great tenors of all other ages with ease. However be reminded that to some audience, his singing is dated at least so in term of taste. Others may wish to add more songs or arias to show the best of his voice etc.

The fact is, this CD runs 69.31 minutes which is more than sufficicinet to give the audience a good profile of the greatest voice of the century.

There is No Better..........2003-10-05

Caruso has no better in the male sphere of singing in terms of his range and the beauty of his voice. This recording verifies the case completely. He truly puts the so called 3 tenors of 2000 immediately into the background of mediocrity.

My feeling with regard to Caruso is that he sang songs that he really didn't always convince me about. When you hear this CD, which I must say buy, buy, buy, you will understand. It is possible to float the most beautiful male vox over nonchalance; it certainly is done quite regularly. I think if Caruso had created his own songs on a regular basis, I would be even more convinced of him being the greatest male singer of all time. There is no better...

Matthew Hahn...

Best singer to date; period !.......2001-02-28

Thank you Nimbus Records for getting this CD out. I have owned this CD since 1998 and have listened to it numerous times.

Enrico Caruso is one of my most favorite singers. Truly, after listening to Caruso sing you will agree that his talent was just enormous. In number after number the VOICE will engulf you, and move you to new heights. Listen to track thirteen, "Ah! Fuyez Douce Image". You will not find a better rendition ANYWHERE.

Customer Reviews:

RIP, JERRY HADLEY 1952-2007.......2007-07-18

Among his numerous recordings of opera, concert and lighter works, this one CD best serves the late tenor's art. Arias, both familiar and not, exemplify his clear, clean singing, wonderful diction and musicality. Although it is currently unavailable, I'm hoping RCA will see fit to reissue it soon in memory of a truly fine American-trained artist and singer.

INTERESTING REPERTOIRE, WELL SUNG.......2003-11-14

While currently out of print BMG might well reissue the album so some comments are in order. The album has a repertoire that is, under any conditions, exceptionally demanding with the arias from Dom Sebastien, La dame blanche, Les Huguenots, etc., being among the most difficult to sing in the tenor literature. For the most part Hadley proves a wealth of beautiful, well posed tone running into trouble only when he must deal with troublesome top notes that have never been his forte. The top c-sharp taken in the aria "Seul sur la terre" from Dom Sebastien in pure head tone( read falsetto )is really stylistically correct but the versions by Marcelo Alvarez, Roberto Alagna, Luciano Pavarotti( as "Deserto in terra" ), and, of course, Alfredo Kraus are much more thrilling with the top note ringing out in full voice. Kraus was well into his 60s but his ageless voice took the top notes with consummate ease.

The arias from Lucia di Lammermoor, L'elisir d'Amore, Mignon, Lakme, and The Bohemian Girl are all well done with really beautiful tone and stylistic elan. The arias from Les cloches de Corneville, L'eclair, and The Rose of Castille and Sigismondo are well sung but so new to me as music that a critical evaluation is not possible.

The aria from Martha sung in the original German as "Ach, so fromm" is, at the climax, rather stressful and strained.

The sound is excellent and the direction of the English Chamber Orchestra by Richard Bonynge is a real plus for both Hadley and the listener.

Overall this album is worthy of Hadley's reputation as an outstanding lyric tenor who has proven his worth in any number of difficult, demanding operatic roles. Listen, for example, to his clear runs, etc. While Hadley isn't the ideal tenor for operas like Tosca, Il Trovatore, etc., he can and does provide much pleasure in the type of repertoire recorded here and in modern works.

Luciano Pavarotti - Donizetti Arias ~ Una furtiva lagrima
Average customer rating:

"The" Voice!

Pavarotti Arias

Achingly, Heartwrenchingly, Beautiful

Luciano at his best

this is a wondeful recording

Luciano Pavarotti - Donizetti Arias ~ Una furtiva lagrima
Gaetano Donizetti , Richard Bonynge , Sir Edward Downes , Leone Magiera , Luciano Pavarotti , Nicolai Ghiaurov , Eric Garrett , Ambrosian Singers , and Roger Soyer
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Very Best of Nicolai Gedda

Arias

Here's to the Ladies

Arias by Verdi and Donizetti

Amore: Romantic Italian Love Songs

ASIN: B000009OUA
Release Date: 1998-08-11

Tracks:

Ah! mes amis ... Pour mon ame: La Fille du regiment
Pour me rapprocher de Marie: La Fille du regiment
Quanto e bella: L'elisir d'amore Romani
Una Furtiva Lagrima: L'elisir d'amore
Una vergine, un'angel di Dio: La favorita Royer, Vaez
Si, che un solo accento: La favorita
Favorita del re! ... Spirto gentil: La favorita
Inosservato, penetrava ... Angelo casto e bel: Duca d'Alba Scribe
Deserto in terra: Don Sebastiano
Com'e gentil: Don Pasquale
Ah! rimiro il bel sembiante: Maria Stuarda
Tombe degli avi miei: Lucia di Lammermoor
Tu che a Dio spiegasti l'ali: Lucia di Lammermoor

Amazon.com essential recording

This CD contains arias recorded by Pavarotti between 1967 and 1975, and it would not be an overstatement to say that it is probably the most beautiful CD by a tenor ever released. This was Pavarotti in his early prime--indeed, a couple of the arias are first bloom. It covers music from eight Donizetti operas, from the almost startlingly virtuosic "Ah! mes amis..." (La Fille du Régiment), with its nine perfectly placed high Cs, through the ever popular "Una furtiva lagrima" (L'Elisir d'Amore) and three stunners from La favorita to Edgardo's final scene from Lucia and more. But the two priceless pieces of music here are from the little-known Il Duca d'Alba and Don Sebastiano, two arias of such exquisite beauty that were they the only things Donizetti had ever composed--or the only extant singing by Pavarotti--both would still be considered great. This is a treasure trove. Grab it. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

"The" Voice!.......2007-02-15

If ever a human voice sung fom heaven, Luciano Pavarotti in this album is that voice.
He is reported to have said that Juan Diego Florez has taken over from him the 'King of high Cs' title.
Well, to me at least, that is an overtly over-statement, even if coming from Pavarotti himself.
Juan happened to possess a voice that could sing high passages with ease. Of course, he sings it well, too.
Even so, any one that have heard Pavarotti in his 'Regiment' aria "Ah! mes" would agree that it is entirely different from Juan's version. Not that Juan does not sing the notes beautifully. Rather, it appears to be that Pavarotti's timbre is more 'grounded' or 'earthy', thereby throwing the 9 High Cs to greater 'relief' (or contrast) than does Juan.
I agree that this recording captures Pavarotti in his younger and even more beautiful voice than his more mature works.
Everyone should own this CD as a real tribute to Luciano.

Pavarotti Arias .......2006-06-26

This is a very high quality recording made by the greatest tenor of our time, singing arias we all know and love.

Achingly, Heartwrenchingly, Beautiful.......2004-03-13

Pavarotti is arguably the most gifted and accomplished operatic tenor of the twentieth century. While other contemporary tenors may be stylistically flawless and a joy to listen to, Pavarotti is in a class by himself. He drifts effortlessly from the low, lyrical passages to soaring high notes which have a tendency to sound strained when anyone but Pavarotti (and of course, the incredible Mario Lanza) attempts them.
As many of the reviews mention, this IS Pavarotti in his prime, and this is most apparant in his flawless command of the stratospheric high C's. He's not known as "The King of the High C's" for nothing! In addition, unlike many opera compilations that trundle out the most overplayed snipits from the most well known works, Una Furtiva Lagrima gives us some of the greatest arias from one of opera's most talented composers, Donizetti. This album is a celebration not only of Pavarotti's brilliance, but Donizetti's as well. For an introduction to opera, this album is great. For an introduction to Donizetti, this album is excellent. And for a showcase of the power and range of one of opera's greats, this album is fantastic!

Luciano at his best.......2003-01-22

I can only repeat what has been said above. Pavarotti singing Donizetti in his prime years - outstanding. His voice is pure gold and suits perfectly for Donizetti. Especially the arias from Il Duca d'alba and Don Sebastiano are wonderful.

this is a wondeful recording.......2002-05-09

all I can do is echo the Amazon reviewer. This is if not the most beautiful recording ever made by a tenor at least one of the most beautiful. Pavarotti's voice and musicianship are outstanding. This is just a wonderful CD for anyone interested in Donizetti, in Pavarotti, or in great singing. At the price, it's a bargain.

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The Complete Caruso

Manufacturer: RCA
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ASIN: B0001TSWQO
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Average customer rating:

This cd shows why Kraus is the BEST tenor in last 50 years

Incomparable Alfredo Kraus

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Very Best of Alfredo Kraus

ASIN: B0000041B7
Release Date: 1995-06-13

Tracks:

'Il Etait Une Fois A La Cour D'Eisnach'
'E La Solita Storia'/'Anch'io Vorrei Dormir Cosi'
'Partir Degg'io'/'T'amo Qual S'ama Un Angelo'
'Ah Mes Amis'/'Pour Mon Ame'
'Quel Trouble Inconnu Me Penetre?'/'Salut! Demeure Chaste Et Pure'
'Deserto In Terra'
'Puisqu'on Ne Peut Flechir Ces Jalouses Gardiennes'/'Vainement Ma Bien...
'La Maitress Du Roi?'/'Ange Si Pur'
'Popoli Dell'Egitto'
'Prendre Le Dessin D'un Bijou'/'Fantaisie Aux Divins Mensonges'
'Di Rigori Armato Il Seno'

Customer Reviews:

This cd shows why Kraus is the BEST tenor in last 50 years.......1998-09-29

This record was recorded in 1994, when Kraus was 67 years-old. Believe me, I've heard Kraus' records recorded in virtually any step in his career:singing Spanish popular songs, neapolitan songs, zarzuela arias, standard repertoire arias, etc.THE SPECIAL THING ABOUT THIS CD IS THAT HERE KRAUS PRESENTS THE BEST VOICE OF HIS ENTIRE LIFE!!! Singing Arias from the standard repertoire and rare arias,he choose too some of the most difficult arias. The record starts with the Kleinzach Legend aria from "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" in which Kraus shows his perfect pronunctiation and gives a shining high note at the end of the aria. He sings too the aria known as "Il Lamento di Federico" fron Cilea's L'Arlesiana, with the high optional high note at the end and with a perfect delivery of every phrase of this legendary aria. Between others,Kraus sings the famous "Aria di Tonio" from "La fille du régiment", which made Pavarotti famous by singing 9 repeated high C's, here Kraus gives them fully chested and without any effort.The aria that I found the most thrilling in this record is a rare aria from "Il crociato in Egitto" by Meyerbeer, called "Popoli dell'Egitto".It requires repeated high C's and D's with many up-and-down-the-scale fragments, as it is the initial heroic declamation, sweet belcanto singing in the middle,and heroic finish. The record presents the famous aria "Salut! Demeure chaste et pure" from Gounod's Faust and the italian-singer aria "Di rigori armato in seno" from Strauss' "Der Rosenkavalier".In most of them Kraus applies a personal touch with shining high notes that add vitality and meaning to the arias, as well as beatiful belcanto singing where required. The record also comes with a booklet that contains biographical info and contains the lirics and translations of the arias. This record is a real collectors piece. In each and every one of the arias Kraus shows the best voice os his life, of a career lasting more than 40 years. That's why he is the best tenor of the last 50 years: He has avoided the extremes that has ruined every tenors voice, and has kept intact one of the most beautiful and complete voices of history, with perfect pronuctiation, extraordinary range (specialy in the acute) and complete feeling of every phrase he sings. Long live the King-Kraus!

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A reminder of what once was a great, great voice
LUCKY LUCIANO

Arias by Verdi and Donizetti

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Luciano Pavarotti - Donizetti Arias ~ Una furtiva lagrima
Arias

ASIN: B0006M4ROC
Release Date: 2005-03-08

Customer Reviews:

A reminder of what once was a great, great voice.......2005-07-29

Forget the wheezing & bellowing of the Three Tenors performances, or getting booed at La Scala. This will remind you that, once upon a time, there was a good reason that Pavarotti was the most celebrated Italian tenor of his generation. All one gets to enjoy is a pure, uncorrupted voice of the most stellar nature. The sound quality on these recordings is sometimes less than perfect --- there are times he sounds like he singing from inside a box --- but this is a minor quibble. A magnficent tone, good phrasing --- it will make one almost forgive Luciano for become the besotted grotesque that he is today.

LUCKY LUCIANO .......2005-03-31

Decca has reissued this, the first Pavarotti recital recording. Forget all the recent hype, innumerable recent CDs (both studio and live) and extramusical noise be it admirable or otherwise. Turn the clock back and enjoy what all the excitement was originally about. Here is the voice - warm, sincere, pure, unspoiled and undeniably Italian. This is how I like to think of Mr. P as the handsome, whiskered, dimpling, lovely fellow in the gold scarf peeking around the corner. The original LP issue knocked me out when I first heard it, and it still does.

The Golden Age of Singing: Vol. 3 1920-1930

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Great Voices of the 1920s in Opera and Operetta.

The Golden Age of Singing: Vol. 3 1920-1930

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ASIN: B000058TFX
Release Date: 2001-03-06

Tracks:

Romeo Et Juliette: Je Veux Vivre Dans Ce Reve (Waltz Song) - Lucrezia Bori
Andrea Chenier: Un Di, All'azzuro Spazio - Beniamino Gigli
Die Tote Stadt: Gluck, Das Mir Verblieb - Maria Jeritza
Don Giovanni: Or Sai Chi L'onore - Frida Leider
I Puritani: Son Vergin Vezzosa - Amelita Galli-Curci
Carmen: La Fleur Que Tu M'avais Jetee - Richard Tauber
Die Entfuhrung Aus Dem Serail: Martern Aller Arten - Maria Ivogun
Cavalleria Rusticana: O Lola (Siciliana) - Aureliano Pertile
Don Sebastiano: Deserto In Terra Solo - Alfred Piccaver
Il Barbiere Di Siviglia: Una Voce Poco Fa - Toti Dal Monte
Benvenuto Cellini: De L'art Splendeur Immortelle - Giuseppe De Luca
La Boheme: Mimi E Una Civetta - Antonio Cortis
Die Schone Galathea: Trinklied - Lotte Schone
Rigoletto: Pari Siamo - Carlo Galeffi
Resurrection: Dieu De Grace - Mary Garden
Le Nozze Di Figaro: Voi Che Sapete? - Elisabeth Schumann
Don Quichotte: Death Scene - Feodor Chaliapin/Olive Kline
Marina: Brindis: 'A Beber' - Miguel Fleta/Emilio Sagi-Barba
Le Nozze Di Figaro: Porgi Amor - Lotte Lehmann

Tracks:

Pagliacci: No, Pagliaccio Non Son - Giovanni Martinelli/Grace Anthony
I Vespri Siciliani: O Patria...O Tu Palermo - Ezio Pinza
Aida: Nile Scene: O Patria Mia - Elisabeth Rethberg
Der Fliegende Hollander: Wie Aus Der Ferne - Friedrich Schorr
Les Pelerins De La Mecque: C'est Un Torrent Impetuex - Lucien Fugere
Il Trovatore: Il Balen Del Suo Sorriso - Apollo Granforte/Guglielmo Masini
Der Wildschutz: Wie Freundlich Strahlt - Gerhard Husch
Prince Igor: Jaroslavana's Aria - Nina Koshetz
Norma: Meco All'altar Di Venere - Giacomo Lauri-Volpi
Turandot: In Questa Reggia - EVA TURNER
Lohengrin: Einsan In Truben Tagen (Elsa's Dream) - Hina Spani
Werther: Va Laisse Couler - Ninon Vallin
Les Huguenots: Nobles Seigneurs - Sigrid Onegin
Bernice: Si Tra I Ceppi - Alexander Kipnis
Tannhauser: Inbrunst Im Herzen...Da Sah Ich Ihn - Lauritz Melchior
Otello: Ora E Per Sempre Addio - Renato Zanelli
Un Ballo In Maschera: Eri Tu - Lawrence Tibbett

Customer Reviews:

Great Voices of the 1920s in Opera and Operetta........2001-12-30

The Nimbus method of reprocessing historical recordings is particularly kind to singers who recorded by the acoustic process, before the advent of electric recording in 1925. In this third issue of their "Golden Age of Singing" series, Nimbus Records cover the years 1920-1930. About a dozen recordings from the pre-electric era are found here, including items by Galli-Curci and de Luca who featured in the second issue in this series. Other singers featuring again in this third series include Lotte Lehmann and Giovanni Martinelli, heard here in 1927 recordings.

Whatever criteria you use to assess anthologies of great singers, you will probably be well satisfied with this splendid issue. If you collect the works of particular singers, you will find not only representative but also rare items. I count the Pinza item as both. It shows him at his best, and has hitherto not found its ways into my CD collection. Occasionally items are not sung in their original language. Frida Leider's "Don Giovanni" aria sung in German in 1922 is preferred to her 1927 remake sung in Italian. Hina Spani sings Elsa's Dream in Italian. Some singers are recorded at the very end of their careers. Scottish soprano Mary Garden, Debussy's first Melisande, is heard in 1927 at her last recording session. Representing a miracle of good singing and longevity is Lucien Fugère recording a Gluck aria in 1928 at the age of 80. Tauber is heard near the beginning of his career in 1923. Youngest of all is the German baritone Gerhard Hüsch, aged 27.

Album Description

Disc 1: Donizetti Arias from L'elisir d'amore, Maria Stuarda, Lucia di Lammermoor, La Fille du Regiment, Linda di Chamounix, La Favorita, and Don Paquale

Disc 2: Bellini/Donizetti/Verdi Includes arias from I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Norma, La Sonnambula (1976 Duet Recording), I Beatrice di Tenda, I Puritani, Don Sebastien, Il Duca d'Alba, I Lombardi, I due Foscari, Ernani, and Attila

Disc 3: Verdi 1 Includes arias from Macbeth, Luisa Miller, Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, La Traviata, and Les Vepres Siciliennes

Disc 4: Verdi 2 Includes arias from Un Ballo in Maschera, La Forza del Destino, Don Carlos, Aida, Otello, and Requiem

Disc 5: Puccini Includes arias from La Boheme, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot

Disc 6: Puccini and Verismo Includes arias from Cavalleria Rusticana, Manon Lescaut, Pagliacci, Andrea Chenier, and Tosca

Disc 7: Arias 1 Includes arias from La Griselda, Atalanta, Orfeo ed Euridice, Don Giovanni, Cosi fan Tutte, Guillaume Tell, and more. Includes Unreleased Material.

Disc 8: Arias 2 Includes arias from Martha, Mefistofele, La Giocanda, Adriana Lecouvreur, Rosenkavalier, Fedora, Werther, Faust, Carmen, and more

Disc 9: Italian Songs Includes: In questa tomba oscura, Me voglio fa'na casa, Non t'amo piu, Pace non trovo, and more

Disc 10: Neapolitan and Italian Popular Songs Includes: O sloe mio, Torna a Surriento, Core 'ngrato, Funiculi Funicula, Non ti scordar di me, Mamma and more

Bonus CD: The 1964 EP (previously unreleased) "Che Gelida Manina," "E lucevan le stelle," "Questo o quella," "La Donna e mobile," and "Parmi veder" with Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Edward Downes conducting

Customer Reviews:

Beyond all description..........2006-09-19

As a boy, I heard so many hyperbolic references to the legendary Enrico Caruso that I chose to purchase a remastered copy of his "Greatest Hits" when I first began to acquire recordings as a young man. Soon after, I discovered Pavarotti and my life was changed by his music. Caruso ended up in the Goodwill Store. I am convinced that in 500 years, should the earth cool again and the Muslim hoards abate, the civilized world will still tell tales of the greatest tenor. I have often found myself grumpy when searching for recordings of Pavarotti because of the inconsistent fidelity of the recordings. That search for the definitive Pavarotti recordings, regarding both content and fidelity, has ended with the release of this extraordinary collection. Worth it's weight in gold, the Puccinni Volume (#5) alone is enough to send someone like me into hyperspace. I am astounded by the beauty and power of these performances. I will always remember the day, not long ago, when a NPR commentator glibly mentioned between the weather and the night's playlist the terrible words, "Luciano Pavarotti has announced that he is retiring from Opera." I felt as if something indescribably beautiful was fading from the world. Of course, beauty in all of its earthly forms is fleeting at best, but these discs contain a reflection of it that will surely bolster any soul.

An Absolute Must-Have for Any Pavarotti Fan.......2004-01-09

...and that certainly goes without saying. My one tiny little problem with it is that his recordings of "Santa Lucia" and "Caruso" are not on this incredible box-set. Even though I have those recordings on other CDs, I still think those are very important pieces to include on this set (assuming that this set of Pavi hits would be the only compilation that that any fan of this phenomenal tenor would have). He is probably my biggest idol, and he deserves to have been one of the biggest opera stars in history.

Wonderful!!!!.......2002-11-07

This Pavarotti set; The Pavarotti Edition; is a wonderful collection of Arias and songs that cover Luciano's great career. Pavarotti is THE Voice of the 20th Century and this set does him justice. It includes 10 CDs with over 750 minutes of music; Includes Music from All of His roles; has a beautiful 76 page full color booklet; Has a wonderful write up; and includes a bonus CD of Pavarotti's fist album, a 45, from 1964, which has never been released on CD before this set. Every Song is hear, This SET is a must have for every Pavarotti Fan.

Average customer rating:

I agree with the Above Reviewer....
An excellent CD for young baritones
A marvelous sound....
Quintessential bel cantos
The best Baritone in the world, period.

Songs of Love and Desire
Gioachino Rossini , Gaetano Donizetti , Vincenzo Bellini , Ion Marin , and Dmitri Hvorostovsky
Manufacturer: Philips
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
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ASIN: B000004155
Release Date: 1994-09-20

Tracks:

Il Barbiere di Siviglia: Largo Al Factotum
La Favorita: Vien, Leonora
Il Duca d'Alba: Nei Miei Superbi Gaudi
La Favorita: A Tanto Amor, Leonora
Poliuto: Di Tua Beltade Immagine
Il Pirata: Si, Vincemmo
L'Eliser D'Amoure: Come Paride Vezzoso
Don Pasquale: Bella Siccome Un Angelo
Guglielmo Tell: Resta Immobile
I Puritani: Per Sempre Io Ti Perdei
Don Sebastiano, Re Del Portogallo: O Lisbona, Alfin Ti Miro
Lucia di Lammermoor: Cruda, Funesta Smania

Customer Reviews:

I agree with the Above Reviewer...........2004-10-25

simply the greatest baritone of our time! As an aspiring baritone, I can only aspire to achieve the kind of vocal perfection that Hvorostovsky displays so well. I first encountered his voice in 2001, when I was looking around in a Borders for baritone recordings; the CD I found was "Passion di Napoli" (Delos, I believe). I listened to it and was completelely blown away. Since then, I've seen him in the Met's production of "Don Giovanni" a while back, as the title character, and I've bought other albums of his. Honestly, I was amazed with his voice back in 2001, and I'm amazed now, perhaps moreso, with more of a vocal education. I envy his voice full-heartedly. I would not be ashamed to develop a voice similar to Hvorostovsky's. In fact, I would deem it a gift from God if this happens. I highly recommend this recording, and any other Hvorostovsky recordings out there, to anyone who wants to hear what the greatest singer in the world (sorry Terfel and Allen, but Hvorostovsky's got you beat) sound like. If you value operatic vocal music at all, then DO NOT OVERLOOK THIS SINGER! Off the charts!

An excellent CD for young baritones.......2004-03-29

With so many young baritones listening to powerhouses like Robert Merrill and Ettore Bastiannini singing monstorous arias, it is nice to find a CD from a well known baritone like Hvorostovsky singing on the more lyrical side of the baritonal spectrum. Hats off to Dimitri on this one. It truly is a "must-have" for any aspiring young baritone, let alone the average listener.

A marvelous sound...........2003-08-20

... and his Italian is wonderful. I'm not going to say that he's today's greatest baritone, but he's sure up there. His sound is simply delicious, fat and round, not an unpleasant tone in the bunch. Moreover, he is so personable even unseen. I like him a LOT.

Quintessential bel cantos.......2002-03-23

You can't say enough about this brilliant baritone. Hvorostovsky is the quintessential lyric baritone of all time. He is much gifted and just too good to be true. He made himself a big star out of winning at Cardiff Singer of the World Competion. He's been riding high ever since. Thanks to his star power, he has pretty good discography as for his recital albums. His superb singing and sheer beauty of his voice is showcased in this bel canto collection. It's easy to get addicted to intoxicating Dmitri sounds. I can't get enough of him and it happened to many people.

He has done stage productions of Puritani, Favorita, Barbiere, and L'elisir d'amour so far. I'v heard his Favorita at Carnegie Hall, and it was stanning performance. I still can't get over. I'd very much like to hear more of his bel canto operas but he became very good dramatic actor and his temperament is towards Verdi's. So you can't expect much of bel canto out of him yet at least he can do good recital program with them, I hope. My dying wish is to have all his bel canto repertories in full length commercial recordings. So help me God!

The best Baritone in the world, period........2000-12-17

OK, I know its a bold statement, but this artist has something going for him. I kid you not when I say, he has a phenomenal voice! If you know anything about classical voices then upon first hearing this man's voice you will agree that he deserves much more recognition. The power, line, and sheer beauty he possesses is unbelieveable. I know I keep going on and, but you must check Dmitri out. Forget Bryn Terfel and his breathy tone. His voice lacks the sheer vocal potency that Dmitri has. Listen to the first track on this CD, one of the most famous and vocally demanding in opera, he has it all. The track from La Favorite showcases Dmitri's ability to sing a beautiful melodic line and still retain vocal consistancy. Decca needs to pick this artist up. Enjoy, he is definitely someone to look forward to in the future.

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