Pietro Mascagni: L'Amico Fritz

1. L' amico Fritz, opera (commedia lyrica) in 3 acts
   Composed by Pietro Mascagni
   Performed by Turin Radio Symphony Orchestra
   with Armando Giannotti, Giulia Abba Bersone, Ferruccio Tagliavini, Amalia Pini, Pia Tassinari, Pierluigi Latinucci, Saturno Meletti
   Conducted by Pietro Mascagni
   
   

Pietro Mascagni: L'Amico Fritz,Pietro Mascagni,Pietro Mascagni,Turin Radio Symphony Orchestra,Amalia Pini,Armando Giannotti,Ferruccio Tagliavini,Giulia Abba Bersone,Pia Tassinari,Pierluigi Latinucci,Saturno Meletti,Mondo Musica,Classical,Classical Music,Italian Romantic Opera,Opera,Opera / Operetta / Oratorio,Opera/Operetta

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Average customer rating: Cornucopia of Pavarotti's works Don't...!!! Great Tenor - Poor CD Quality Great Music......Horrible Mastering Surely I am proud to be an Italian-American!!

Pavarotti: Greatest Hits Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Flotow | Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Franck, César | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Lehár, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italy | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Romantica: The Very Best Of Luciano Pavarotti The Best of the Three Tenors Luciano Pavrotti: The Best (Farewell Tour) Amore: Romantic Italian Love Songs Carreras · Domingo · Pavarotti ~ the three tenors in concert / Mehta ASIN: B0000042HZ Release Date: 1997-09-30

Tracks:

1. Turandot: Nessun dorma
2. La Boheme: Che gelida manina
3. La Traviata: Brindisi
4. Aida: Se quel guerrier io foss ... Celeste Aida
5. L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
6. Rigoletto: Questa o quella
7. Martha: M'appari
8. TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
9. Fedora: Amor ti vieta
10. Pagliaccci: Recitar!... Vesti la guibba
11. Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai
12. Rigoletto: La donna e mobile
13. L'africana: Mi batte il cuor ... O paradiso
14. Werther: Pourquoi me reveiller
15. Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee
16. Manon Lescaut: Ma se vi talenta ... Tra voi, belle
17. La Gioconda: Cielo e mar!
18. TOSCA: Recondita armonia
19. La Favorita: Spirito gentil
20. II torvatore: Di quella pira
21. L'amico Fritz: Suzel, buon di

Tracks:

1. O sole mio
2. Torna a Surriento
3. Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna: Core 'ngrato
4. Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna: Funiculi Funicul
5. Notte 'e piscatore
6. O Holy Night (Cantique de Noel)
7. Panis angelicus
8. Ave Marie: Ave Maria
9. Mattinata
10. La danza
11. Caro mio ben
12. Caruso
13. My Way
14. Santa Lucia
15. Tu che m'hai preso il cuor
16. Mamma
17. La mai canzone al vento: La mia canzone al vento
18. Volare
19. Passione
20. Granda: Granada

Customer Reviews:

Cornucopia of Pavarotti's works.......2007-03-01

This is a "Super hits" CD, with over forty different cuts (quite a few of which have appeared elsewhere, of course). For those who are aficionados of Pavarotti, this is what might be called "hog heaven."

Disc 1 features estimable works such as "Nessun dorma" (well done, with his voice showing to good effect), "Che gelida manina" (excellently done, with good characterization), ""Celeste Aida" (elegantly sung), "Di quella pira" (a much better than average version), "E lucevan le stelle" (Pavarotti does a nice job in the Puccini-Verdi repertoire), "La donna e mobile" (sung with aplomb), "Recondita armonia" (the other aria from Tosca, which also shows Pavarotti's voice off to good effect), and so on.

Disc 2 is especially interesting, because it features a more popular set of works, from the redoubtable "O sole mio" (richly orchestrated and nicely sung, not overpowered by Pavarotti's operatic voice), "Core n'grato" (compare with Caruso's version), "Oh, holy night," "La danza" (spritely sung with excellent breath control in a treacherous song), "Santa Lucia" (again, smoothly sung), "Ave Maria" (seemingly sung with respect and affection).

A cornucopia of Pavarottiana. For those fans of Pavarotti, this "greatest hits" collection will be welcome. For those who may not be aware of this tenor when his voice was still fresh, this is a fine entrée to his work.

Don't...!!!.......2005-01-24

To combine a voice as beautiful as Pavarotti's with some of the world's greatest music and outstanding orchestras, and end up with this...`thing'...is unforgivable. After buying and listening to it, it brought to mind those painful words "A fool, a fool. I saw a fool today. I saw him in the mirror."

R. J. Rogers

Great Tenor - Poor CD Quality.......2004-10-11

I have never been a huge fan of Maestro Pavarotti but I must admit that this compilation is a masterful collection of his operatic highlights.

I particularily enjoy the first disc which contains just about all the major tenor arias. The singing is superb and listening to this CD it becomes obvious what the fuss over the pre-3 Tenors Pavarotti was all about - the man really did have one of the greatest tenor voices of all time.
His diction was flawless, his line perfect and his interpretation in keeping with the greatest of the Italian tenors of days gone by.

The second disc is interesting in that it is a bit uneven. It contains a few neapolitan standards, a x-mas song, a duet with Frank Sinatra and some other random selections.

Overall this is a 5 star CD but due to the extremely low volume, particularily on the first and most important disc I can only give it a 4 star rating.

On a final note, anyone puzzeled by the current hype over the now againg and commercially over-blown Pavarotti should purchase this CD. This is the great tenor in his prime and as such a CD well worth having...even if you're not a Pavarotti fan.
I'm still not, but I recognize greatness when I hear it.

Great Music......Horrible Mastering.......2004-07-24

Pavarotti has a voice that can take hold of you and change your entire mood...even if you don't know Italian. The problem with this set is the mastering (mastering evens out the volumes and signal to noise ratio on an album). The first CD in this collection is so quiet that you literally have to crank your player to get any kind of volume. For a professional CD this is absolutely unacceptable.
The song choices are good with the exception of "My Way" with Frank Sinatra. Both singers sound ....ummm...let's just say less than their best on the recording. It sits out like a boil on a pretty girl's face.

Surely I am proud to be an Italian-American!!.......2004-06-26

With his wondrous soaring vocals and the humble demeanor within his strong body, Pavarotti is an inspiration to Italian- Americans everywhere - Italian-Americans like me. My family plays his beautiful operas on vinyl nearly every day in me Papa's little wine and cheese shop on 18th and Broadway. The customers compliment the music with glee, pinching my plump cheeks with merriment and wishing me well on their way out the door. Ah, how I love this land of America!!

Oops, I am sorry, Nana.

My Nana has shushed me to "pipe down, little bambino."

I must go down to the dark cellar to count our day's earnings, for it is almost night, and stern Papa will be back soon to close shop and make sure all is well.

Average customer rating: Another supeb tenor. The one. A New Star voice Quite Good Promising debut by new lyric tenor

Italian Opera Arias Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Rolando Villazon - Gounod · Massenet Arias Rolando Villazon: Opera Recital Opera Recital [Includes Bonus DVD] Verdi: La Traviata Gitano ASIN: B00018TIOA Release Date: 2004-02-10

Tracks:

1. Lamento: E La Solita Storia
2. Recitativo E Romanza: Inosservato...Angelo Casto E Bel
3. Aria: Quanto E Bella
4. Aria: Una Furtiva Lagrima
5. Recitativo Ed Aria: Tombe Degli Avi Miei...Fra Poco
6. Aria: Il L'ho Perduta...Io La Vidi
7. Aria: Io L'ho Perduta...Io La Vidi
8. Aria: O Figli...Ah! La Paterna Mano
9. Scena Ed Aria: Ella Mi Fu Rapita...Parmi Veder
10. Canzone: La Donna E Mobile
11. Scena, Aria E Cabaletta: Lunge De Iei...De' Miei Bollenti...O Mio Rimorso
12. Aria: Che Gelida Manina
13. Aria: E Lucevan Le Stelle
14. Aria: Anche Tu Beppe Giungi...O Amore
15. Aria: Vergini, Muse...Quando Al Soave Anelito

Amazon.com

This is a glorious debut recital by a tenor, from whom, if he sings the right roles and keeps way from jet-setting and too much singing, might just be the lyrico-spinto tenor we've been waiting for. He has the class of Carlo Bergonzi and a ringing tone which is somewhere between Domingo's big, dark sound and Pavarotti's brightness; he sings with a true mezza voce (not a falsetto); he always obeys the composer's markings and delineates character. He seems incapable of vulgarity, refusing to gulp or sob when a musically expressive gesture will do. The opening aria here--from L'Arlesiana--is so beautifully, touchingly sung that it's a heartbreaker; he doesn't take the usually opted-for high note near the end, but never fear: in the Traviata and Bohème excerpts, Villazon offers big, whopping high Cs. This CD is a knockout; let's hope it's only the beginning of an illustrious career, both recorded and live. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Another supeb tenor........2007-05-13

We can be thankful that the old guard of the opera stage has been replaced by a trio of youthful artists. Villazon along with Calleja and Florez makes a great addition to the world of opera.

The one........2006-06-24

He's the real deal. Domingo-like burnished voice, great actor. Not just hype, he's genuinely worthy of all the praise.

A New Star voice.......2005-09-25

Rollando Villazon can't fail to impress a listener. He is an enourmous breath of fresh air for people waiting for a new generation of Opera superstars to emerge. Those somewhat dissapointed by the somewhat ncomfortable edge to Salvator Licitra's voice, may take refuge in the freshness of Villazon.
I don't really want to ruin the magic of his singing, with caddy comparisons, but it is sufficient to say that he excellent. Many compare his to Domingo, to that I would say that Villazon has an ease to his top that Domingo never had, but perhaps lacks the focus and thickness of Domingo's lower registers.
Overall what hits you most about Villazons performance, is the induviduality of his interpretations and voice. The top of his voice has a ring and tone that sets his apart from the pack.
To my ear, he sounds at his best in the Mid Period verdi, where the cut of voice come through in the long high-lying passage, (expecially the cut from Traviata,
Enjoy this incredible singer

Quite Good.......2005-05-26

A very promising debut album with some excellent burnished tenor sound. To the reviewer who went on and on about Mr. Villazon only being in his 20's -- I hate to burst your bubble, but he was born in 1972, which makes him 33! And, by the way, the age of the singer is not a "huge" advantage; let us remember that some of our greatest singers didn't come into their element until their 40's (e.g., Flagstad, Milanov...)

Promising debut by new lyric tenor.......2005-05-05

Rolando Villazon immediately made himself a name we should all watch out for, after his appearance on a NY City Opera telecast of Boheme, as Rodolfo. Since then he has become a regular artist in leading lyric roles at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, has sung two parts at the Met already, and obviously has much ahead for him. The voice itself has a number of virtues, evenness of tone across the different registers, and the ability to encompass long lines without taking unnecessary breaths and showing the control to taper many lines off softly. It has also taken on perhaps a prematurely dark quality, in contrast with what I remember of the La Boheme telecast.

This recital of Italian opera arias presents Villazon near the alpha of his career (one appearance as the Steersman on the Barenboim Flying Dutchman before, for Teldec) and the conductor at his omega - the just deceased Marcello Viotti, at the age of 52, who suddenly replaced Sinopoli in Berlin for the second of two performances of Verdi's Aida in 2001. Sinopoli had passed away at 54 the night of the first performance that weekend in Berlin.

On first impression, Federico's lament from Cilea's L'Arlesiana is taken too slowly, and yet from repeated listening to this disc, it is one of nearly half a dozen selections that contribute the most to making this an interesting recital. The lachrymose manner and delivery here, though, sets a little too much of an overall tone for the rest of the recital, including its several or so lighter numbers. Said to also be a Caruso favorite, the aria from Donizetti's Duca d'Alba is a real highlight as close to being Schubertian in feeling as some Verdi - as late into Verdi's work as Forza and Don Carlo. Villazon's singing here is as warmly ardent as you'll find anywhere on this disc, and his personal identification with the character of Don Carlo, several tracks later, is as complete as that of its best interpreters of the recent past, Placido Domingo especially.

The two Elisir d'amore selections are pleasant vocally, but too dark, especially the start to so many phrases of "Una furtiva." The remorse felt during the opening aria of the Tomb Scene from Lucia, after a slightly uncertain start, is entirely felt. Oronte's brief aria from Verdi's Lombardi is handled with an easy, pleasant swagger from both Villazon and Viotti, leading one to expect similar lightness in selections that soon follow, and which is not entirely forthcoming; the beginning of the recitative to "Parmi veder" from Rigoletto shows a palpable anxiety in this peculiar moment for the Duke in which he finds himself. Intonation falters momentarily at the end of this aria. "Ah! la paterna mano", after good recitative, gets pushed a little too forward, robbing the crest of several lines in it their full expressive potential. Contrast of expression between Alfredo's aria and cabaletta from Traviata is so minimal, almost to have been erased altogether; Viotti here, so deft and highly musical an accompanist he is for most of the rest of this disc, is similarly disengaged. Connecting music between aria and cabaletta and repeat of the latter both get awkwardly cut.

That leaves four verismo tracks for the remainder of this disc. Most distinctively sung is "E lucevan le stelle" from Tosca, but frequently quite close to sounding a copy of Domingo's interpretation. The honeyed placement for the top of the staff, once the voice takes on the melodic line, could hardly remind you of anyone else. "Che gelida manina" is also given a fine performance here, but begins to lose all consonants on a couple of words right before the ascent to the high C in the aria. After hearing Dino Borgioli and Cesare Valletti as Fritz, each more of a benchmark than Pavarotti, it is hard to identify the villager Fritz, from how disinteresed Villazon sounds. A slight cut is taken between two portions of recitative before Fritz's Act III aria. "Quando al soave anelito" from Mascagni's Nerone, obviously a rarity, is one for which I can only find a Domingo recital before. Here, the singing is fine, but the youthful sense of wonderment for Nero, in his vision of Venus, as wordly-wise a fellow he is, gets understated. Accompaniments to these four arias are mostly as fine as the others, but all come to abrupt endings, the endings of Boheme and Amico Fritz which lose all their shimmer here.

Much criticism here, but there is also much hope felt from listening to this disc, for a bright future for Mr. Villazon still. He is only seldom a conscientious and musical performer, but as opposed to what the liner notes might say, part of being musical in singing such selections or opera in general, is being specific for each character being portrayed here. Villazon should also take note that his singing is most interesting and also most easy to distinguish from his widely celebrated mentor, when he sings lightly. First impressions are strong - I first anticipated awarding this disc five stars - but unfortunately it just barely deserves four. Sound quality, if a bit heavily miked for climaxes and a bit recessed for the orchestra, especially at closings to arias, is warm and full.

Average customer rating: Poor mix a fine example of two shining opera stars...... A musical marriage made in heaven! A Nice Collection, But Something's Missing Perfection

Roberto Alagna & Angela Gheorghiu - Duets & Arias Pietro Mascagni , Jules Massenet , Gaetano Donizetti , Jacques Offenbach , Leonard Bernstein , Charles Gounod , Gustave Charpentier , Hector Berlioz , Giacomo Puccini , Richard Armstrong , Roberto Alagna , Angela Gheorghiu , and Covent Garden Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Gheorghiu, Angela | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Essential Angela Gheorghiu Puccini Angela Gheorghiu - Arias Diva Roberto Alagna - Opera Arias ASIN: B000002RWA Release Date: 1996-04-23

Tracks:

1. Suzel, boun di...
2. L'amico Fritz, Atto 2: Tutto tace
3. Manon, Acte 3: Je suis seul! . . . Ah, fuyez
4. Toi! Vous! . . . Oui, c'est moi! . . .
5. Manon, Acte 3: N'est-ce plus ma main
6. Anna Bolena, Atto 2: Al dolce guidami castel natio
7. Don Pasquale, Atto 2: Tornami a dir
8. La Belle Helene, Acte 1: Au Mont Ida, trois deesses
9. West Side Story, Act 1: Only you . . .Tonight
10. Il se fait tard . . .
11. Faust, Acte 3: O nuit d'amour
12. Louise, Acte 3: Depuis le jour
13. Les Troyens, Acte 4: Nuit d'ivresse
14. 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.

Average customer rating: A beautiful, gentle opera from Pietro Mascagni (1863-1945) Utterly beguiling! Pavarotti and Freni (and all, really) at their best Amico mio! Like a breeze on a spring day........

Mascagni - L'amico Fritz / Freni, Pavarotti, Sardinero, Gavazzeni Pietro Mascagni , Gianandrea Gavazzeni , Mirella Freni , Luciano Pavarotti , Laura Didier Gambardella , Vincente Sardinero , Luigi Pontiggia , Benito di Bella , Malvina Major , and Royal Opera House Covent Garden Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music 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 Similar Items: Mascagni: Iris / Patanè, Domingo Leoncavallo: Zazà Verdi - Don Carlo / Domingo · Caballé · Raimondi · Milnes · Verrett · Estes · Giulini Massenet: La Navarraise / Horne, Domingo, Milnes, Bacquier, Zaccaria, Davies, LSO, Lewis Massenet: Le Jongleur de Notre Dame ASIN: B00004VVZL Release Date: 2000-08-15

Tracks:

1. L'amico Fritz: Preludietto
2. L'amico Fritz: Ma questa e una pazzia! (Fritz, David, Hanezo, Caterina)
3. L'amico Fritz: Son pochi fiori (Suzel, Fritz)
4. L'amico Fritz: Orsu, vieni tra noi, al fianco mion (Fritz, Suzel, Hanezo, Federico, David)
5. L'amico Fritz: Chi mai sara? (Hanezo, Fritz, David, Suzel, Federico, Beppe)
6. L'amico Fritz: Laceri, miseri, tanti bambini (Hanezo, Fritz, David, Federico, Beppe)
7. L'amico Fritz: Viva lo zingaro! (Hanezo, Fritz, David, Suzel, Federico, Beppe, Caterina)
8. L'amico Fritz: Per voi, ghiottoni inutili (David)
9. L'amico Fritz: Il suo sermone e splendido! (Beppe, Federico, Fritz, David, Hanezo)
10. L'amico Fritz: Son gli or fanelli (Hanezo, Beppe, Federico, Fritz, David)
11. L'amico Fritz: Ah! le belle ciliege! (Suzel)
12. L'amico Fritz: Bel cavalier, che vai per la foresta (Suzel)
13. L'amico Fritz: Suzel, buon di!
14. L'amico Fritz: Tutto tace (Fritz, Suzel)
15. L'amico Fritz: Oh! chi e che giunge? (Fritz, Suzel, Beppe, David, Hanezo, Federico)
16. L'amico Fritz: Vediamo un po'! (David, Suzel)
17. L'amico Fritz: Faceasi vecchio Abramo (Suzel, David, Fritz)
18. L'amico Fritz: Come va? (Fritz, David)
19. L'amico Fritz: Quale strano turbamento (Fritz)
20. L'amico Fritz: Fritz, noi partiamo. Addio! (Federico, Fritz, Hanezo, Beppe)
21. L'amico Fritz: Che piu s'aspetta? (Federico, Fritz, David, Suzel)

Tracks:

1. L'amico Fritz: Intermezzo
2. L'amico Fritz: Tutto ho tentato (Fritz)
3. L'amico Fritz: Buon giorno, Fritz!
4. L'amico Fritz: O pallida, che un giorno mi guardasti (Beppe, Fritz)
5. L'amico Fritz: O amore, o bella luce del core (Fritz)
6. L'amico Fritz: L'amico Fritz fantastica d'amore! (David, Fritz)
7. L'amico Fritz: Povero Fritz, l'amore in te si desta (David, Suzel)
8. L'amico Fritz: Non mi resta che il pianto ed il dolore
9. L'amico Fritz: Come s'e fatta pallida!
10. L'amico Fritz: Ah! ditela per me quella parola (Suzel, Fritz)
11. L'amico Fritz: Amici, ho vinto , ho vinto! (David, Fritz, Beppe, Caterina)
12. L'amico Fritz: Tu sposi, Fritz? (Federico, Hanezo, David, Fritz)

Customer Reviews:

A beautiful, gentle opera from Pietro Mascagni (1863-1945).......2007-07-07

"L'Amico Fritz" (1891) was Mascagni's follow up to his stunning debut opera "Cavalleria Rusticana" (1890). In contrast to the blood and thunder of "Cav", "L'Amico Fritz" is a as sweet and gentle an opera as one could imagine.

Although it contains no "hits", there is much beautiful music to be found here - wonderful melody seems to flow endlessly from Mascagni's pen. The biggest flaw in this opera - and no doubt the reason for its lack of enduring success - is the slight story. Fritz an avowed bachelor falls in love with Suzel and asks for her hand in marriage - that's about it!

The performance is as good as one can imagine with Pavarotti and Freni in their freshest voice. "L'Amico Fritz" is a beautiful, lyrical opera - and despite the slight storyline - deserves to be better known.

Utterly beguiling!.......2005-11-13

Both Pavarotti and Freni are at their absolute best on this recording. Their singing is technically perfect and so beautiful it makes you want to hug them! It's one of those recordings that make drama redundant. Who needs dramatic tricks in a world so beautiful? Sardinero isn't chopped liver either. And Gavazzeni is such a sympathetic conductor who allows the music to flow. The light opera isn't packed with arias but the singers make the most of what they've got. Beautiful recording that reminded me what great singers Freni and Pavarotti were.

Pavarotti and Freni (and all, really) at their best.......2002-04-13

If you want to enjoy in Pavarotti's great talent, don't look any further. In this great opera Pavarotti shows why is he actually one of the greatest singers of the 20th century.

But to put it this way would be unjust towards all the other musicians that contributed to this fabolous recording. All, without exception, are inspired. Probably thanks to the electrifying presence of Gavazzeni, the gifted although not so famous director. It must be him, I don't see any other way that every single musician could bring out the best in him or her for this recording.

This recording truly deserves EMIs title of "GreatRecordings of the Centruy".

Amico mio!.......2002-03-06

This is a wonderful opera that deserves to be performed more often! Freni and Pavarotti are wonderful in their roles, Freni singing with really heart felt pathos and Pavarotti singing with honeyed tone and real introspection. He even sings soft! Unfortunately now he only sings fortissimo and is boring to listen to. This set shows why he became one of the great tenors of the century. The supporting cast strong and Gavazzeni conducts beautifully with vigor and refinement, as if he had written the opera himself. I agree with the other reviewer: buy this opera, as you will regret it when it goes out of print! A great example of the young Freni and Pavarotti!

Like a breeze on a spring day...............2001-01-23

This is *such* a beautiful opera. I can't understand why it is under performed here in the United States, but in Italy it is a perennial favorite. This recording is absolutely perfect too. A young Pavarotti & Freni just breathe the blossoms of spring into a very happy opera (no one dies!!) The music is youthful romance captured. There is some heartache and the aria "Non mi resta" is really heart-wrenching. There is so much good music here too. From the first act aria "Son pochi fiori" to the "Cherry Duet" and the scene "Facea si Vecchio Abramo" and the final love duet. Which I feel is as passionate & fulfilling as the Verdi love duet from "Un Ballo" because of the feeling that despite obstacles, once love has finally come, it is a feeling of unsurpassed joy. Don't pass on this opera. One day this will be out of print & you'll wish you'd gotten the best possible recording of it.

Average customer rating: OPERA HEAVEN Incredibly Beautiful . . . Ultimate Aria Ultimate indeed

The Ultimate Aria Collection ~ A Passion for Opera Georges Bizet , Giuseppe Verdi , Giacomo Puccini , Gaetano Donizetti , Ruggero Leoncavallo , Gioachino Rossini , Gustave Charpentier , Leo Delibes , Vincenzo Bellini , Christoph Willibald Gluck , Pietro Mascagni , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Francesco Cilea , Edouard Lalo , Camille Saint-Saens , Arrigo Boito , George Frideric Handel , Alfredo Catalani , Amilcare Ponchielli , Charles Gounod , Jules Massenet , Ambroise Thomas , Fritz Wunderlich , Rome Opera Theater Orchestra & Chorus , Maria Callas , Elisabeth Schwarzkopf , Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala , Wiener Philharmoniker , Orchestre de Paris , Carlo Maria Giulini , Tullio Serafin , Sir Charles Mackerras , Francesco Molinari-Pradelli , Riccardo Muti , and Leone Magiera Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Boito, Arrigo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Delibes, Léo | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gluck | Gluck, Christoph W. | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Lalo, Edouard | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Thomas | Thomas, Ambroise | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Caballe, Montserrat | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Callas, Maria | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Freni, Mirella | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Most Famous Opera Arias The Most Famous Opera Duets Aria II: A Passion for Opera Aria: A Passion for Opera Rapture: Opera's Most Heavenly Moments ASIN: B000009OQL Release Date: 1998-08-11

Tracks:

1. Carmen: Quand je vous aimerai? ...L'amour (Habanera)
2. I Pagliacci: Recitar!... Vesti la giubba
3. Madama Butterfly: Un bel di vedremo
4. L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
5. Nabucco: Va pensiero (Chorus Of The Hebrew Slaves)
6. Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro
7. Rigoletto: La dona e mobile
8. The Barber Of Seville: Largo al factotum
9. Louise: Depuis le jour
10. Lakme: Flower Duet
11. Turandot: Nessun dorma
12. Norma: Casta diva
13. Gianni Schicchi: A vete torto!
14. TOSCA: Vissi d'arte
15. TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
16. La rondine: Chi il bel sogno di Doretta
17. Il Trovatore: Di quella pira

Tracks:

1. L'Elisir d'Amore: Quanto e bella, quanto e cara!
2. Orphee et Eurydice: J'ai perdu mon Eurydice
3. La Boheme: Che gelida manina
4. La Boheme: Si, mi chimano Mimi
5. La Traviata: Di Provenza il mar
6. L'amico Fritz: O amore, o bella luce del core
7. Le nozze di Figaro: Voi che sapete
8. TOSCA: Recondita armonia
9. Adriana Lecouvreur: Ecco, respiro appena...lo son l'umile ancella
10. Le Roi d'Ys: Puisqu'on ne peut... Vainement, ma bien-aimee
11. Samson et Dalila: Mon coeur s'ouvre a'ta voix
12. Mefistofele: Dai campi, dai prati
13. Manon Lescaut: In quelle trine morbide
14. Serse: Ombra mai fu
15. Turandot: Signore, ascolta
16. Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai
17. La Wally: Ebben? ne ando lontana
18. La Gioconda: Cielo e mar

Tracks:

1. Aida: Se quel guerriero io fossi...Celeste Aida
2. Romeo Et Juliet: L'amour, l'amour...Ah, leve-toi soleil
3. Mefistofele: L'altra notte in fondo al mare
4. Werther: Toute mon ame est la...Pourqui me reveiller
5. Barber Of Seville: Una voce poco fa
6. Cosi Fan Tutti: Un aura amorosa
7. Le Villi: Se como voi piccina
8. Un Balle en Maschera: `Se come voi piccina`
9. Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jette
10. La forza del destino: Pace, pace mio Dio
11. Adriana Lecouvreur: L'anima ho stanca
12. La Gioconda: Suicidio
13. Don Giovanni: Dalla sua pace
14. La Traviata: De' miei bolenti spiriti
15. La nozzi di Figaro: Porgi amor
16. Turandot: Non piangere, Liu
17. Mignon: Elle ne croyait pas dans sa candeur naive

Amazon.com

Put together in evident haste, this collection is nevertheless a surefire, appetite-whetting starter kit both for the budding operaphile and for the simply intimidated. The samplings include some of the greatest voices from EMI's vaults: here you'll find the polar opposites Callas and Caballe, the golden wonder of Wunderlich and early Carreras, and a host of other singers who've made their stamp on this century. Emphasis is on the soprano and tenor range, while the lower voices are given short shrift, and the selections cleave predictably to standard Italian and French repertory (with an occasional surprise, such as an aria from Lalo's Le Roi d'Ys). Still, the nearly three and a half hours of music represented will make a ready convert of anyone who hasn't experienced the specially heightened, time-stopping expressivity--beyond the power of mere song--that is the aria's function and will likely spark a desire to explore the larger operatic context in several cases. And though the lack of a booklet with texts or at least bios of the artists is frustrating, this is a good place to begin for an overview of the mesmeric power extraordinary voices can wield. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

OPERA HEAVEN.......2002-12-13

Probely this is a good buy for someone who is gest getting into the world of OPERA.Still a very good purchaes with fimiluar songs.

Incredibly Beautiful . . ........2001-10-27

If you love opera - this collection of some of the lovliest arias ever sung by artists from Caballe to Freni, from Delibes to Puccini - will inspire you. It is a wonderful gift for friends or for yourself.

Ultimate Aria.......2001-08-03

In my small operetic mind, this set of Cd's has completely captured me for the Opera. I was a young and upcoming musician in my youth. I'v been around the block "as it were" with the Classics. This collection is indeed, the benchmark upon which all others would hope to aspire.

Congradulations EMI for an incredible vision of the greatest opeatic moments recorded.

Gosh what's next?

Ralph Hassman

Ultimate indeed.......2000-08-02

If you don't like the idea of buying whole operas, or if you're a newcomer to opera - this is an extremely good collection / introduction, worth every single cent. The collection features many of the worlds greatest singers, giving their interpretations of some of the world's greatest arias. The compilation itself is very tasteful and covers a wide range from Handel to early 20th century composers. You won't miss any important stuff from the history of opera, except maybe Wagner and the most modern operas - I'll come back to that fact later. The compilers have actually put some lesser known, although no less beautiful, arias here, that oftenly are neglected on ordinary opera-collections, why the name `ultimate collection' is more than correct in that aspect.

EMI have a enormous archive to pick their recordings from, and that of course makes it easy to find first rate interpretations of all the arias included in this collection, and I do think that almost all of the arias are wonderfully sung here. It may be possible to find better performances of single numbers here and there, but I've not yet heard a more complete, wellmatched, and so thrillingly sung collection.

Well then, is there nothing wrong with this compilation? You might find it a little odd that there are so many soloarias and so few duets, terzettos a.s.o, especially since the drama in operas oftenly is greater in numbers with more than one singer. You might also wish that some of the recordings had been a little more modern (most of these recordings were made during the 50's, 60's & 70's) giving place to younger performers that still are singing on the stages, but those are minor objections when the over all quality is so high.

The maybe strongest objection to this collection is that there is not one single part from any of Wagner's operas, and not any number sung in german, nor is there any parts from modern or russian operas. That may be a miss if you're interested in Wagner, russian and modern opera - on the other hand I think you should watch Wagners, russian and modern operas before listening to recordings of them - and if you've seen them and liked them you will probably buy the whole opera anyway. Therefor I still think that this is a extremely strong and complete compilation - the best I've run into so far. Easy to listen to, yet never banal.

Average customer rating:

Overtures & Intermezzi Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cherubini, Luigi | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Humperdinck, Engelbert | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mendelssohn | Mendelssohn, Felix | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schmidt | Schmidt, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Weber | Weber, Carl Maria von | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music | Cantatas | Romances Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Opera & Vocal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Intermezzo Tango Song & Dance Vivaldi: The Four Seasons/Tartini: The Devil's Trill ASIN: B00005NPK4 Release Date: 2003-01-07

Tracks:

1. Overture
2. Meditation
3. Overture
4. Overture
5. Intermezzo
6. Intermezzo
7. Intermezzo
8. Intermezzo
9. Overture
10. Overture, Op.26

Average customer rating: Bang for your buck Nicely thought out program... A Great Intro to Some of Opera's Orchestral Moments

Intermezzo Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Fauré, Gabriel | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Humperdinck, Engelbert | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schmidt | Schmidt, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Sibelius | Sibelius, Jean | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Stenhammar | Stenhammar, Wilhelm | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Incidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Cantatas | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music 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 German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music $6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Fauré, Gabriel | ( F ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Humperdinck, Engelbert | ( H ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Schmidt, Franz | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Sibelius, Jean | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Stenhammar, Wilhelm | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Overtures & Intermezzi Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana / Herbert von Karajan The Best of Fauré ASIN: B00004RGDR Release Date: 2000-04-11

Tracks:

1. Prld To Carmen - Czecho-Slovak RSO/Alexander Rahbari
2. Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo - Czecho-Slovak RSO/Alexander Rahbari
3. I Pagliacci: Intermezzo - Czecho-Slovak RSO/Alexander Rahbari
4. Notre Dame: Interlude - Budapest SO/Michael Halasz
5. Hansel & Gretel: Dream Pantomime - Slovak RSO/Peter Breiner
6. Manon Lescaut: Intermezzo - BRT PO/Alexander Rahbari
7. Tausend Und Eine Nacht: Intermezzo - Sslovak State PO/Christian Pollack
8. Thais: Meditation - Janos Selmeczi
9. Carmen: Act 3: Entr'acte - Czecho-Slovak RSO/Alexander Rahbari
10. Pelleas & Melisande: Sicilienne - NSO Of Ireland/John Georgiadis
11. The Song: Interlude - Helsingborg SO/Okko Kamu
12. Karelia Ste: Intermezzo - Czecho-Slovak RSO/Kenneth Schermerhorn
13. The Tales Of Hoffmann: Barcarolle - Slovak State PO
14. L'Amico Fritz: Intermezzo - Czecho-Slovak RSO/Ondrej Lenard
15. La Traviata: Act 1: Prld - Czecho-Slovak RSO/Alexander Rahbari
16. La Traviata: Act 3: Prld - Czecho-Slovak RSO/Alexander Rahbari
17. La Gioconda: Dance Of The Hours - Czecho-Slovak RSO/Ondrej Lenard

Customer Reviews:

Bang for your buck.......2007-05-23

Lots of good music on this compilation. Originally bought it with just one piece in mind and ended up discovering numerous tracks that I enjoy as well. The music quality is well-above average and for less than $10, you can't beat it.

Nicely thought out program..........2007-02-09

This one disc contains many of the most beloved orchestral excerpts from opera(Sorry, no Wagner). They are competently played by a variety of NAXOS's usual roster of artists and orchestras. As I have stated before!
The NAXOS producers seem to include not so typical repetoire on most of their compilations. The lush interlude from Schmidts "Notre Dame" is a gem. Strauss's little known "1001 Nights" gives us a Viennese twist on the Arabian fantasy. The gushing brass of the introduction to Stenhamar's interlude to the "Song" leaves us wanting for more. Sure, you don't get Karajan or Bernstein like performances, but the disc as a whole is worth the budget price asked. Recording quality varies from track to track, good to excellent.

A Great Intro to Some of Opera's Orchestral Moments.......2003-12-20

Some of opera's (or related stage works') best orchestral moments are included on this CD. Starting with the joyous Prelude to Carmen and ending with the tour de force of the Dance of the Hours, this CD has it covered, at least as well as any near eighty minute CD can. If you are not familiar with classical music, this is a great opener. None of the tracks are "hard" to listen to- they just gracefully take you off to another world. For beginners make sure you listen to the Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana, Barcarolle from The Tales of Hoffman, Dance of the Hours from La Giocanda [I promise you, you will know it], and Meditation from Thais [no matter how supposedly "overplayed" it is, it is still one of the most beautiful songs], and Prelude to Carmen. For beginners and seasoned music aficionados [which I do not pretend to be], I beg you to listen to Interlude from Notre Dame by Schmidt. This is one of the most surprising songs on the entire CD. Very nice and every bit as enjoyable as the most popular ones. This piece is not often found on other CDs; thank goodness Naxos included it. For those with massive CD collections the few dollars you spend on this CD is worth Interlude from Notre Dame, and for the beginner, you will not find a better group of famous and not-so-famous songs.

Average customer rating: decent collection, good for the car

My Heart's Delight Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Lehár, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music ASIN: B00000423J Release Date: 1994-03-08

Tracks:

1. Madama Butterfly: Addio fiorito asil
2. Turandot: Signore, ascolta!
3. Turandot: Non piangere, Liu!
4. Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro
5. La Boheme: Che gelida manina
6. La Boheme: Si. Mi chiamano Mimi
7. La Boheme: O soave fanciulla
8. Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo
9. Cavalleria Rusticana: Mamma, quel vino e generoso (Addio alla madre)
10. Carmen: Seguidilla: Pres des remparts de Seville
11. L'amico Fritz: Suzel, buon di
12. Die lustige Witwe: Vilja
13. Il paese del sorriso/Das Land des Lachelns: Tu che m'hai preso il cuor (Dein ist mein ganzes Herz/You Are My Heart's Delight)
14. Porgy And Bess: My Man's Gone Now
15. Granada
16. Manon Lescaut: Tra voi, belle
17. Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai
18. Porgy And Bess: Summertime
19. La mia canzone al vento
20. 'O sole mio
21. La Traviata: Brindisi

Customer Reviews:

decent collection, good for the car.......2007-05-28

Live concert of chestnuts with Pavarotti and Nuccia Focile. I prefer the Pavarotti from the 1970's with his sweeter voice, but he's OK here.

Nuccia Focile gave a simply knockout solo recital in 2006 that I was so fortunate to attend. The best recital I've ever attended. She brought tears to my eyes. Unfortunately, her in person commitment to the music doesn't travel that well here. She's decent on the recording, but other singers do it better.

I listen to this a lot in the car.

Average customer rating:

Aurora -- Opera Arias Manufacturer: Avie ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Boito, Arrigo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Jose Cura - Puccini Arias / Domingo Song of Love Boleros Artist Portrait Jose Cura Anhelo: Argentinian Songs ASIN: B00007EA3N Release Date: 2004-03-22

Average customer rating: Showcase for a powerful voice Bravo Mario!!! A force of Nature!

Mario del Monaco: Opera Arias Manufacturer: Testament UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Flotow | Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Mario del Monaco: Historical Recordings 1950 - 60 Grandi Voci: Mario del Monaco The Very Best of Franco Corelli The Very Best of Beniamino Gigli ASIN: B000003XIL Release Date: 1994-09-13

Tracks:

1. Aida: Celeste Aida
2. Otello: Esultate!
3. Otello: Ora E per Sempre Addio
4. Otello: Dio Mi Potevi Scagliar
5. Otello: Niun Mi Tema
6. La Boheme: Testa Adorata, Piu Non Tornerai
7. I Pagliacci: Vesti La Giubba
8. I Pagliacci: No, Pagliacci Non Son
9. Manon Lescaut: Donna Non Vidi Mai
10. Turandot: Nessun Dorma
11. L'amico Fritz: O Amore, O Bella Luce Del Cor
12. Cavalleria Rusticana: O Lola Ch'hai Di Latti La Cammisa
13. Cavalleria Rusticana: Mamma, Quel Vino E Generoso
14. Andrea Chenier: Un Di All'azzurro Spazio
15. Andrea Chenier: Si, Fui Soldato
16. Andrea Chenier: Come Un Bel Di Di Maggio
17. Adriana Lecouvreur: La Dolcissima Effigie
18. Adriana Lecouvreur: L'anima Ho Stanca
19. L'africana: O Paradiso
20. Marta: M'appari Tutt'amor
21. Carmen: Il Fior Che Avevi A Me To Dato
22. Werther: Ah! Non Mi Ridestar
23. Lohengrin: Da Voi Lontan

Customer Reviews:

Showcase for a powerful voice.......2007-02-26

Mario del Monaco reached his professional peak in the 1950s, as analog recording technologies approached their golden age. This cd remasters excellent recordings of del Monaco's truly magnificent voice.

Bravo Mario!!!.......2002-06-18

The Greatest Tenor of Them All. Del Monaco is in wonderful voice here, a voice filled with both Power and Beauty. Just listen and you will hear why Del Monaco is the Tenors Tenor.
Bravo Mario!!!!!!

A force of Nature!.......2001-01-31

This is the most commonly used sentence when someone wants to describe the voice of Mario Del Monaco.Not many tenors can sing those high notes which del Monaco reaches, with such ease!

Loathed by many for this high sound and accused for not being able to sing below forte, especially in the late stages of his carreer, no one can deny the fact that he has performed and recorded operas with some of the greatest singers of all times:Renata Tebaldi, M.Callas, J.Sutherland, M.Olivero, A.Cerquetti, G.Simionato, E.Bastianini, C.Siepi and many others. The list is long. Perhaps not the best tenor choice for all the roles he performed, Mario del Monaco was sublime when the role suited his voice. Such examples are Ottelo, Andrea Chenier, Canio (Pagliacci), Des Grieux (Manon Lescaut), Johnson (Fanciulla del West) and many of these performances are heard on this collection. He had a certain sound that made his voice very dramatic thus so good for these roles.

Concluding, those who like him will find this collection of exceptional value. Those who don't, just stay away since this Cd is full of Mario del Monaco.

Meditation Music:

1. Puccini: La Boheme
2. Puccini: Manon Lescaut
3. Puccini: Tosca: Opernquerschnitt in destcher Sprache
4. Puccini: Turandot
5. R. Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier [Box set]
6. Richard Strauss: Die schweigsame Frau
7. Richard Strauss: Elektra
8. Rigoletto: Opernquerschnitt in deutscher Sprache
9. Rossini, Verdi, Bizet and others
10. Simon Boccanegra

Meditation Music

meditation music

Meditation Music

Vive le Rock [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Verdi: Un ballo in maschera

Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Complete Ballet)

Music: System Express

We Love Music [Import]

United States of Trance

Vague a L'home [Import]

Whale Rider (Score) [Soundtrack]

Universal Masters Collection [Import]

Times They Are a-Changin'

Walking Shoes/Swing House [Import]

Tributo a Mis Amigos

Tropics for the World, Vol. 2

Christian Music christian-music-04

Quadromania