José Carreras

L'elisir d'amore, opera
Composed by Gaetano Donizetti
with Yasuko Hayashi, Sir Geraint Evans, Lillian Watson, Sir Thomas [baritone] Allen, Jose Carreras
Conducted by Sir John Pritchard
Dolente immagine di figlia mia, for voice & piano
Composed by Vincenzo Bellini
with Jose Carreras
Conducted by Sir John Pritchard
Vaga luna, che inargenti, song for voice & piano
Composed by Vincenzo Bellini
with Jose Carreras
Conducted by Sir John Pritchard
I Capuleti e i Montecchi, opera Ecco la tomba...Deh! Tu bell'anima
Composed by Vincenzo Bellini
with Jose Carreras
Conducted by Sir John Pritchard
Il Sospiro ("Donna infelice..."), for voice & piano
Composed by Gaetano Donizetti
with Jose Carreras
Conducted by Sir John Pritchard
L'esule ("Qui sempre ride in cielo"), for voice & piano (Péchés de vieillesse, book 3), QR iv/25
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
with Jose Carreras
Conducted by Sir John Pritchard
La pietra del paragone, opera "O come il fosco impetuoso...Quell'alme pupille"
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
with Jose Carreras
Conducted by Sir John Pritchard
L' Africaine, grand opera in 5 acts Act 4: O Paradis Sorti de l'Onde
Composed by Giacomo Meyerbeer
with Jose Carreras
Conducted by Sir John Pritchard
Chatterton, opera Tu sola a me rimani
Composed by Ruggero Leoncavallo
with Jose Carreras
Turandot, opera Act 3: Nessun dorma!
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
with Jose Carreras
Conducted by Sir John Pritchard

José Carreras,Vincenzo Bellini,Gaetano Donizetti,Ruggero Leoncavallo,Giacomo Meyerbeer,Giacomo Puccini,Gioachino Rossini,Sir John Pritchard,José Carreras,Lillian Watson,Sir Geraint Evans,Sir Thomas Allen [baritone],Yasuko Hayashi,Legato Classics,Classical,French Romantic Opera,Italian Romantic Opera,Opera,Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard,Vocal

Average customer rating:

The Andrew Lloyd Weber Collection
Andrew Lloyd Webber
The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection
The Best You'll See from Sarah
The Angel of Music

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection

Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
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Love Changes Everything: The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection, Vol. 2
Sarah Brightman Classics
Time to Say Goodbye
La Luna
Harem

ASIN: B00000I0XW
Release Date: 1999-06-01

Tracks:

The Phantom Of The Opera: The Phantom Of The Opera
Song & Dance: Unexpected Song
Aspects Of Love: Chanson D'enfance
The Phantom Of The Opera: All I Ask Of You
Evita: Don't Cry For Me Argentina
Evita: Another Suitcase In Another Hall
Aspects Of Love: Love Changes Everything
Friends For Life
Cats: Memory
Cats: Gus: The Theatre Cat
Aspects Of Love: Anything But Lonely
Cats: Macavity: The Mystery Cat
Tell Me On A Sunday/Song & Dance: Tell Me On A Sunday
The Phantom Of The Opera: Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
Requiem: Pie Jesu
The Phantom Of The Opera: The Music Of The Night

Amazon.com essential recording

Sarah Brightman's career was launched by her success in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera, so it's no surprise to hear the soprano paying homage to the composer on this disc. Really a Brightman best-of, the album includes the Phantom theme (a duet with Michael Crawford), the light-opera fare of "Chanson D'enfance" from Aspects of Love, "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" from Evita, and numerous other Lloyd Webber classics. Throughout, Brightman's diminutive voice lends a fragility to these musical theater tunes that you'll either love or despise. On Evita's "Another Suitcase, Another Hall" and Cats' "Memory," she literally chirps through the vocal lines. No matter. The growing legion of Brightman fans wouldn't have it any other way. --Jason Verlinde

Album Details

Another Compilation of Stage Favourites - Some Tracks Are Hard to Find Elsewhere.

Customer Reviews:

The Andrew Lloyd Weber Collection.......2007-05-12

Sarah Brightman sings in good form classic songs and does a great job!!

Andrew Lloyd Webber .......2007-02-12

Excellent Broadway music--a true master. Sing along or just listen. First heard her on PBS.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection.......2007-01-05

Sarah Brightman has always been a favorite of mine, and this CD is outstanding. The duet with Jose Carreras (Friends for Life) is especially good--worth buying the CD for that song alone.

The Best You'll See from Sarah.......2006-09-09

This CD is - wow! I have so much to say about it and so little time! This album features three pieces from "The Phantom of the Opera" - Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, The Music of the Night, and The Phantom of the Opera theme. They're all beautiful. The second piece on the album is "Unexpected Song". It has beautiful octaves and orchastrations. Chanson d'Efance is an amazing French piece with vibrato - and then some. I forgot to mention that there is another piece from The Phantom of the Opera - All I Ask of You - except that the song is not sung by the original cast from the musical. The next few pieces are fairly decent, until you get to Memory from Cats. WOW - is it spectacular! Then we get to two other pieces from Cats - Gus: The Theater Cat and Macavity: The Mystery Cat. Gus is a song that just tells about a cat and his history. A man speaks the lines that Gus would say in the actual musical - and it makes the song interesting. Macavity is AWESOME! I know that I said that I didn't prefer this song for Brightman on her album "Surrender". I finally listened to it more carefully, and found that it's really interesting to listen to! My favorite song on the whole entire album - however - has to be "Tell Me on a Sunday". Beautiful lyrics, orchestrations, and overall spectacular voice talent ties the whole song together. Pie Jesu is a fairly nice piece from both Brightman and Paul Miles-Kingston - the 16 year old boy soprano. His voice is pure and straight with minimal vibrato. However, Brightman's voice shows a little bit TOO much vibrato! Overally, it's a good piece from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requium. THIS CD IS AMAZING! If you love Sarah from the Phantom of the Opera, then this collection of Lloyd Webber's work is just for you.

I also recommend Charlotte Church - (in her earlier career) - including Voice of an Angel and her self-titled album. I also recommend Love Changes Everything - The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection Vol.2 - just another grouping of Webber's classics. I also recommend Andrea Boucelli - he's awesome!

The Angel of Music.......2006-03-13

This is the third copy of this I've purchased. I wear them out listening to them. Awesome, Awesome music. Sarah's range and depth is so powerful!

Carreras · Domingo · Pavarotti ~ the three tenors in concert / Mehta

Average customer rating:

delivery went ok
A knockout performance
The night that started it all!
Great singing from the three tenors
Excellent. Like summer sunshine. manna from heaven!

Carreras · Domingo · Pavarotti ~ the three tenors in concert / Mehta
Francesco Cilea , Giacomo Meyerbeer , Giacomo Puccini , Franz Lehar , Vencenzo De Crescenzo , Salvatore Cardillo , Ernesto de Curtis , Agustin Lara , Pablo Sorozabal , Umberto Giordano , Leonard Bernstein , Vincenzo d' Annibale , Anonymous , Andrew Lloyd Webber , Alexander Sergeyevich Dargomizhsky , Juan De Dios Filiberto , Louis Louiguy , Ruggiero Leoncavallo , Rudolf Sieczynski , Joseph M. Lacalle , Eduardo di Capua , Zubin Mehta , Plácido Domingo , Luciano Pavarotti , and José Carreras
Manufacturer: Decca
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Similar Items:

The 3 Tenors in Concert 1994
The Best of the Three Tenors
Three Tenors: In Concert
The Three Tenors Christmas
Paris 1998

ASIN: B0000041XX
Release Date: 1990-09-05

Tracks:

Il Lamento Di Federico
O Paradis
Recondita Armonia - Luciano Pavarotti
Dein ist Mein Ganzes Herz
Rondine Al Nido - Luciano Pavarotti
Core 'ngrato
Torna A Surriento - Luciano Pavarotti
Granada
No Puede Ser
L'impovviso
E Lucevan Le Stelle
Nessun Dorma
Finale Medley: Maria - Tonight, 'O paese d' 'o sole, Cielito lINDO
Memory, Ochi tchorniye, Caminito
Mattinata ; Wien, Wien, Nur Du Allein, Amapola, 'O sole mio
Encore: 'O sole mio
Encore: Nessun Dorma

Amazon.com

Magic was created one starlit night in July 1990, when Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and José Carreras met onstage at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome and became the Three Tenors. They eschewed competitive instincts and cooperated in the spirit of mutual admiration to create one of the greatest musical events ever. This concert is an awe-inspiring orgy of the greatest hits for the tenor voice. Domingo and Pavarotti sing perfectly. The audience wins as these vocal supermen compete to seduce the hearts of the audience. One moment Domingo brings thrilling fire and pain to "E lucevan le stelle" from Tosca; the next, Pavarotti rises to heavenly heights in an inspired rendition of "Nessun dorma" from Turandot. Carreras is the competent little brother, one step behind the greatness of the big brothers from opera's Ponderosa. His singing isn't as captivating as that of the big boys; but his enthusiasm and passion are unrivaled. Mehta exquisitely captures the largeness of this bonanza through the grandiose orchestra. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Customer Reviews:

delivery went ok.......2006-11-14

the item was delivered to me on-time and with no problems. however,i was looking for a DVD and not a audio Cd. might be good to clearly differentiate when the product is being advertised or shown.

A knockout performance .......2006-05-28

Like so many of the reviewers here I am not an opera aficionado. But I sensed immediately the night I saw this concert on television that this was one of those 'remarkable' artistic events. Domingo and Pavarotti both have such strength and beauty in their voices that they overwhelm. Carreras adds flavor and enthusiasm.
One of the most remarkable music performances I have seen.

The night that started it all!.......2005-11-02

You can read the technical information about the contents of this CD above. That is not what this review is about. I became intrested in opera about 1 1/2 years ago because of happening upon Mario Lanza. Since then, I have experienced many great truly operatic voices, including the "King," Pavarotti.
If you are just discovering opera, suffice it to say; Buy this album!!! It was the concert that launched the 3 Tenors phenomenon. It is full of uplifting, heart- tugging favorites, and you will find yourself listening to it over and over. Buy the dvd as well. It imparts absolute electricity! I am a young pianist and vocalist, and this concert is truly inspiring to me! You won't regret one penny you spend on this!

Great singing from the three tenors.......2005-06-23

This cd is a must-have for anyone interested in opera - or beautiful singing. And when you're at it - why don't buy the dvd from the concert? It will make you appreciate the cd even more.

First of all I have to comment on the editorial review of this cd. I felt the reviewer is "belittling" José Carreras here by saying he's one step behind the big brothers and his singing isn't as captivating as that of the big boys.....?!?!? Of course I can only speak for myself, but I feel she's way out of line. And I'm starting to wonder if she's been listening to the cd at all? In my opinion you have to be dead not to be touched by his rendition of "Lamento di Federico" and "L'improvviso". If anybody can deliver a line it has to be Carreras. When it comes to his interpretation of "Granada" even conductor Zubin Mehta was gobsmacked. Watching the dvd you can see him putting down his baton and applauding. He even steps down from his podium to hug José.

I have to say I'm not too keen on the two other tenors, although I have to admit I loved Pavarotti's "Torna a Surriento" and "Rondine al nido". The thing about Pavarotti is that he has a great singing technique and he's also in possession of this "push-button" which make him sing a lot of high notes, but that alone isn't enough to stir emotion.

As for Domingo, even if he's giving it all in every song, and his "No puede ser" was great,I think he's a bit too much on the nasal side. He's okay when they all perform together, but his "E lucevan le stelle" is sending shivers down my spine - and not of delight. I'm practically unable to sit still and listen to his solos. If you really want "fire and pain" you should check out Carreras in the Tosca-recording from -80, or his recording from -76. It's really breathtaking and I promise you'll end up in tears!

At the end of this concert the three tenors perform a medley together. Their voices blend perfectly and it's powerful to listen to them giving it all. A lot of people are talking about their mis-pronounciations. I for one, think it only adds to the charm of the performers. Pavarotti has some problems with the English songs (okay, big problems..), Domingo stumbles in the words in the beginning of "Wien Wien nur du allein", and (this you'll see in the dvd) in the same song Carreras is actually reading the text from a piece of paper as he's singing and his facial expressions when getting his head around the German words are really hilarious. O sole mio as an encore is fabulous when Pavarotti pushes his button and shakes out all his high notes.... And I love it when the two other join forces and repeat his stunt to perfection.

All in all this is a wonderful album. And well worth 5 stars.... José alone gets 10 stars!!!

Excellent. Like summer sunshine. manna from heaven!.......2004-05-28

This CD is terrific on so many levels. In celebration of one of the world's great sporting events - the World Cup of football (soccer to us stateside), three great tenors and one masterful conductor (Zubin Mehta) were brought together in one of the world's great cities - Rome -- for a special evening that we are blessed to have been able to listen to again and again.

The concert was held during the World Cup in 1990 at the Baths of Caracella, which are ruins of the once great Roman baths. In this beautiful setting Luiciano Pavrotti, Jose Carreas and Placido Domingo came together for one of the best CD's ever made.

The singing is exquisite. The passion of the crowd in this live performance should equal the reaction of the listener. This is art at its highest level. It is a celebration of great music, not just of opera, but in my opinion, the soaring human spirit. What power to move the soul! You don't need to be an opera fan to enjoy this music. If you like any kind of music, you cannot help but be affected by the power of this special evening. And what an evening, those in attendance were lucky to have been there!!

The casual listener will already know some of these arias, as they are from some the great operas of all time. However, I believe even the most hardenend opera fan, unless he or she is a real stiff, cannot be helped to be but moved by this music.

Tracks:

Turnadot: Nessun Dorma!
Gianni Schicchi: O Mio Babbino Caro
Manon Lescaut: Donna Non Vidi Mai
La Boheme: Musetta's Waltz Song
Tosca: Recondita Armonia
Madame Butterfly: Un Bel Di
TOSCA: E Lucevan Le Stelle
La rondine: Il Sogno Di Doretta
La Boheme: Che Gelida Manina
La Boheme: Si, Mi Chiamano Mini
La Boheme: O Soave Fanciulla - Love Duet, Act I
Ch'ella mi creda libero
TOSCA: Ah, Quegli Occhi...Qual'occhio Al Mondo - Love Duet, Act I
TOSCA: Vissi D'Arte
Madame Butterfly: Vogliatemi Bene - Love Duet, Act I
La Boheme: Donde Lieta Usci
Turandot: Signore, Ascolta!
Turandot: In Questa Reggia

Amazon.com essential recording

Ordinarily, it pays to be wary of collections such as these, which often promise a lot but deliver a mishmash of disconnected excerpts. This disc, however, is something of an exception: you really do get just about all of Puccini's best arias, which is possible, because he didn't write so many operas that choosing the best moments becomes a matter of the producer's personal taste. Also, Puccini's operas are so popular that every major label has excellent complete recordings of all of them, so in making this compilation it was possible to cast from strength: all the singers here are fine. In fact, the only proviso that needs to be made before you rush out and add this disc to your collection is that it's wrong to assume that all of Puccini's best tunes lie in his arias. The opening 10 minutes of any one of his operas will tell you that's not true. So by all means enjoy this disc--then start sampling the operas complete. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Correction to the entry by "sergiocqh".......2005-11-08

"Quando m'en vo" is not omitted from this CD; it is just called "Musetta's waltz song." It is the same aria.

Fantastic!.......2003-10-14

This is one of the first opera CDs I ever got. It's wonderful for just about any body;from the newbies like me or the opera fanatics. I especially like 'In Questa Reggia'. Buy it now!!

HATE OPERA? THIS ONE WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND.......2003-09-04

The Ultimate Puccini Collection features some of Puccini's most arias and will appeal to even the most ardent operaphobes.

A great listening experience featuring some of the greatest opera performers of all time.

"Ultimate" only if you like your opera "al fresco"!.......2002-06-13

The music is without question, among the most beautiful ever written. But the quality of the fidelity tells me that many of the selections were recorded live in concert in outdoor venues. I wish that was clear to me before I bought the disc. So, is the music the ultimate? YES! Is the recording the ultimate? NO!

Wonderful Performance but Average Recording Quality.......2002-02-18

I love opera! I love Puccini! Not only is the vocalism important to me, but the quality of the recording as well. I enjoy my hi-tech sound system. I like to feel as if I am sitting in the front row of the first balcony when I listen to opera. This CD is excellent! The vocalists were well chosen. The technical performances are eloquent and emotional, as Puccini should be. However, the quality of the recording is not very good. No matter how you adjust your sound system, the recording is a bit tinny and as a result, the emotional high points of the arias are not as vibrant as they could be if the recording were of better quality. I would recommend this CD to anyone who loves Puccini and who is not as finicky as I!

Average customer rating:

Misa Luba 5 stars, everything else 0 stars
Ahhhhh, Missa Luba!
Almost missed the Luba!

Misa Criolla/Missa Luba/Misa Flamenca

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Missa Luba: An African Mass
Misa Criolla/Misa Luba/Misa Flamenca
Misa Criolla
Fanshawe: African Sanctus, Salaams
Ariel Ramirez: Misa Criolla; Navidad en Verano; Navidad Nuestra

ASIN: B0002JZ28O
Release Date: 2004-08-10

Tracks:

Misa Criolla: Kyrie (Vidala-Baguala)
Misa Criolla: Gloria - Boniface Mganga, Muungano National Choir
Misa Criolla: Credo
Misa Criolla: Sanctus
Misa Criolla: Agnus Dei (Estilo Pampeano)
Missa Luba: Kyrie
Missa Luba: Gloria
Missa Luba: Credo
Missa Luba: Sanctus
Missa Luba: Benedictus
Missa Luba: Agnus Dei
Misa Flamenca: Kyrie (La Ca
Misa Flamenca: Gloria (Cantes de Mga) - Boniface Mganga, Muungano National Choir
Misa Flamenca: Credo (Cantes Gitanos) - Boniface Mganga, Muungano National Choir
Misa Flamenca: Sanctus (Cantes del Campo) - Boniface Mganga, Muungano National Choir
Misa Flamenca: Agnus Dei (Cantes de Cz)

Tracks:

Missa Luba: Titles and Introduction - "Mgondo Dora" [DVD] - Boniface Mganga, Muungano National Choir
Missa Luba: Kyrie [DVD] - Boniface Mganga, Muungano National Choir
Missa Luba: Gloria [DVD] - Boniface Mganga, Muungano National Choir
Missa Luba: Visit to Namyeri [DVD] - Boniface Mganga, Muungano National Choir
Missa Luba: Credo [DVD] - Boniface Mganga, Muungano National Choir
Missa Luba: Visit to Oyugis [DVD] - Boniface Mganga, Muungano National Choir
Missa Luba: Sanctus [DVD] - Boniface Mganga, Muungano National Choir
Missa Luba: Visit to Nyeri [DVD] - Boniface Mganga, Muungano National Choir
Missa Luba: Agnus Dei [DVD] - Boniface Mganga, Muungano National Choir
Missa Luba: Visit to Wundanyi [DVD]
Missa Luba: Bwana Ni Nani [DVD] - Boniface Mganga, Muungano National Choir
Missa Luba: Visit to Mzeras [DVD] - Boniface Mganga, Muungano National Choir
Missa Luba: Kyrie (Reprise) [DVD]
Missa Luba: Nyenyeki [DVD]
Missa Luba: Sanctus (Reprise) [DVD]

Customer Reviews:

Misa Luba 5 stars, everything else 0 stars.......2007-03-12

Finally the original (circa 1960's) Misa Luba is available on CD. That makes this CD well worth owning. The Misa Crolla and Misa Flamenca that are also on this CD are no more than filler and add nothing except inconvenience to the CD. I would much prefer a CD that contains both sides of the original LP of the Misa Luba and nothing else. Unfortunately, this CD omits the off side of the LP.

The DVD contained in this package is about the Kenya National Choir production of the Misa Luba (circa 1990), a much inferior rendition compared to the original which is contained in this CD, and is of virtually no interest. Why would the consumer care about a biopic of a poor impersonation?

Despite all the filler, this is definitely worth owning.

Ahhhhh, Missa Luba!.......2006-12-23

My much-loved LP was lost in a move a few years ago, and now after much prodding Philips has reissued the original Missa Luba on an absolutely glorious CD -- with a DVD kicker to boot. Thank you, Philips! The sound is spectacular; the purity and enthusiasm of the voices inspiring. The accompanying Misa Criolla (based on South American folk songs) and Misa Flamenca (Andalusian) are added treats. [Not being familiar with Misa Criolla, I can't comment on RJHamilton's review, but I found the entire disc enthralling.]

Buy it ... you'll love it.

Almost missed the Luba!.......2006-03-02

The music is great, comes with a DVD of the Missa Luba's origins in Africa (nice touch). The only problem is that whilst the Missa Creola has been produced extremely well it now, it now features Jose Carrera and the producers have 'remodelled' parts of the mass to demonstrate his voice. Unfortunately, in my opinion, neither Mr Carrera's voice nor the remodelling have proved to be adequate foils to the previous issues of this mass.

Average customer rating:

The best opera album ever
Beautiful Music, Nice price

Puccini: Great Opera Arias

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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The Ultimate Puccini Collection
The Most Famous Opera Arias
Puccini Without Words
Puccini: Arias
Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco...

ASIN: B00005YQLA
Release Date: 2002-01-29

Tracks:

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

Verdi - Simon Boccanegra / Freni, Cappuccilli, Carreras, Ghiaurov, van Dam, Foiani, Teatro alla Scala, Abbado

Average customer rating:

Perfection
The best Verdi opera in Abbado's Studio discography
Filler
A superb Verdi opera not to be missed
The Greatest Account Of Simon Boccanegra Available

Verdi - Simon Boccanegra / Freni, Cappuccilli, Carreras, Ghiaurov, van Dam, Foiani, Teatro alla Scala, Abbado
Giuseppe Verdi , Claudio Abbado , Mirella Freni , José Carreras , Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala , Piero Cappuccilli , Nicolai Ghiaurov , José van Dam , Giovanni Foiani , and Maria Fausta Gallamini
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Verdi: Macbeth
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Verdi - Falstaff / Gobbi · Schwarzkopf · Moffo · Karajan

ASIN: B000001GXJ
Release Date: 1998-01-27

Tracks:

Simon Boccanegra: Preludio - 'Che Dicesti?'
Simon Boccanegra: 'L'Altra Magion Vedete?'
Simon Boccanegra: 'A Te L'estremo Addio ... Il Lacerato Spirito'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Suona Ogni Labbro Il Mio Nome'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Oh, De Fieschi Implacata'
Simon Boccanegra: Preludio : L'Aurora
Simon Boccanegra: 'Come In Quest'ora Bruna'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Cielo Di Stelle Orbato ... Vieni A Cerula Marina Tremolante'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Propizio Ei Giunge!'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Il Doge Vien'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Orfanella il tetto umile ... Figlia! ... A Tal Nome Io Palpito'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Che Rispose'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Messeri, Il Re Di Tartaria Vi Porge'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Ferisci! - Amelia!'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Amelia, di Come Fosti Rapita'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Plebe! Patrizi! Popolo .., Piango su voi'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Ecco la spada ... Sia maladetto!'

Tracks:

Simon Boccanegra: 'Quei due vedesti?'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Prigioneri in qual loco m'adduci?'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Udisti?' - 'Vil disegno!' ... 'Sento avvampar nell'anima' ... ' Cielo pietoso, rendila'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Tu qui?' - 'Amelia!'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Figlia! - Si afflitto, o padre mio?'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Oh! Amelia ... ami ... un nemico ... Perdono, Amelia'
Simon Boccanegra: 'All'armi, all'armi, o Liguri'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Evviva il Doge!'
Simon Boccanegra: 'M'ardon le tempia ... Come un fantasima Fiesco l'appar'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Piango, perche mi parla in te'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Chi veggo!'
Simon Boccanegra: 'Gran Dio, li benedici'

Customer Reviews:

Perfection.......2007-07-11

An opera tends to boast, by nature, a fairly convoluted story. Figaros are suddenly recognized as Rafaellos, Pinkertons return with Kates, and Sparafuciles accidentally stab Gildas to death. However, this opera, with a strikingly poetic libretto by esteemed Verdi collaborators Francesco Maria Piave and Arrigo Boito, is singularly confusing enough to warrant a brief summary:

The story opens in Genoa in 1339. Simon Boccanegra, a corsair, has had an affair with Maria Fiesco, daughter of Jacopo Fiesco, the leader of the patricians; this liaison produced an illegitimate child (named after her mother), whom Boccanegra ordered reared in secret on the faraway shore of Pisa by a matron named Giovanna. The opera opens with Paolo Albiani and Pietro, two plebeians, plotting how to elect a suitable doge for Genoa; the current candidate favored by the plebeians, Lorenzino, is negated by Paolo, who asserts that he has "sold himself to the Fiesci." The two come to the conclusion that Boccanegra will be the best candidate: he will be easily manipulated and willing to reward his supporters. Boccanegra is at first unwilling to place himself in the political fray and he assents only when Paolo suggests that Maria will marry him if he is elected. However, the subsequent appearance of Fiesco informs the listener that Maria has died, and the nobleman has sworn lifelong vengeance upon Boccanegra for inflicting such shame upon her. Boccanegra attempts to calm the enraged patriarch, but the latter insists that he will only forgive the former if he is allowed access to his estranged grandchild; Boccanegra then reveals the fact that Giovanna died and the young child, alone in the world, disappeared from her humble home. Fiesco coldly leaves Boccanegra in shambles; the latter enters the palace of the Fiesci, only then to discover that his beloved Maria is dead. Moments later, Paolo and Pietro announce that he has been elected doge of Genoa.

The remainder of the opera occurs twenty-five years later. During this time, Boccanegra has eliminated most of his political enemies by exiling them and confiscating their properties and riches. Fiesco, also exiled, now lives under the pseudonym of "Andrea" and resides in the palace of the Grimaldi, his allies, outside Genoa. The Count of Grimaldi's daughter, who lived in a convent in Pisa, died some years ago; that same day, a young, wandering foundling appeared at the convent. The count, in his beleaguered grief, adopted her almost instantly. "Andrea" has acted as her guardian in recent years and has given her the name "Amelia Grimaldi," so that the riches of the noble family will not be confiscated by Boccanegra. (Fiesco does not, however, understand that "Amelia" is actually his granddaughter.) This summation will suffice; the rest of the opera is no more difficult to follow than any other.

Claudio Abbado is unsurpassed as a Verdian conductor; with Macbeth (Shirley Verrett, Piero Cappuccilli, Nicolai Ghiaurov, and Plácido Domingo), Don Carlo (Domingo, Katia Ricciarelli, Ruggero Raimondi, Lucia Valentini-Terrani, and Leo Nucci), Aida (Ricciarelli, Domingo, Elena Obraztsova, and Nucci), or Falstaff (Bryn Terfel and Thomas Hampson), his lyrical and clever triumphs are unsurpassed. This recording, however, is easily the greatest victory of his expansive career, regardless of the fact that it has boasted marvelous productions of every opera from Mozart to Mussorgsky to Berg; it ranks among the finest recordings of Italian opera produced, and it has been restored immaculately by Deutsche Grammophon engineers. The Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala plays with expected precision and depth. The opening sweeping, rustic strings immediately transport the listener to an Italy of yesteryear, of sun-drenched beaches, of hills carpeted in olive groves, and of imposing, shadowy, marble, Romanesque cities. The prelude to Act I, a strikingly uncharacteristic departure for Verdi, is also a distinct victory for the orchestra; it is an impressionistic musical introduction to a burgeoning dawn. One can see the pastel hues of the morning sky and smell the salty air cast up from the lapping waves; even the flowers and foliage of Maria's verdant garden, gently swaying in the wind, are vibrantly painted.

Piero Cappuccilli brings the multi-faceted, tortured Simon Boccanegra, a helpless man used for (and eventually murdered over) politics, to life with dramatic fury that Guinness and Gielgud would find impressive. His Prologue duet with Ghiaurov ("Suona ogni labbro il mio nome" ... "Se concedermi vorrai"), in which he is pleading and genuinely distraught and the latter is coldly retaliatory and scornful, is a masterful palate of the deep male register. Conversely, he is simultaneously majestic and terrifying as he condemns Paolo in Act I ("In te resiede l'austrero dritto popolar"); the frightful damnation closes malignantly with the Genoese populace hissing "May he be accursed" ("Sia maledetto!"). Boccanegra's subsequent lament in Act II ("Doge! Ancor proveran la tua clemenza") is a brittle, despondent tapestry of doom; as he drinks from the poisoned goblet, the scene is transformed into a dreamy, almost phantasmagoric state as he plunges into a drugged slumber.

Nicolai Ghiaurov is thunderous and appropriately hostile as the wronged and mourning father Jacopo Fiesco. His performance of "A te l'estremo addio...Il lacerato spirito," one of the most impressive arias ever conceived for the bass voice, in the Prologue, is rapturous. (The Coro del Teatro alla Scala is also successful here; the gentle, female choral intonations are pale and ghostly, but equally reverent and serene.) The sumptuous Act I duet ("Vieni a me, ti benedico") between Ghiaurov and Carreras is also superb; the Bulgarian bass is especially touching as the consenting patriarch, allowing the impassioned youth to marry his charge. Fiesco's music is classically lyrical but Gabrielle's music is strikingly antiquated and almost mystical.

Mirella Freni is a veritable goddess as Maria, Simon Boccanegra's estranged daughter, during her oscillating Act I aria ("Come in quest'ora bruna"). José Carreras is a portrait of masculine ardor as Gabrielle Adorno. His future vocal downfall and premature retirement, brought on by leukemia, is a distant thought from this endearing, astounding performance. His offstage introduction ("Cielo di stelle orbato"), set to the ecstatic, entranced plucking of harp, was a superb technical stroke of genius for Abbado; he is equally lyrically sumptuous during his Act II aria ("Sento avvampar nell'anima ... Cielo pietoso, rendila"), a hellish becoming for Boccanegra's torturous end and the subsequent lament for his supposedly wronged Maria. He and Freni, who excelled as Don Carlo and Elisabetta and (less admirably) as Aida and Rademès, are angelic as the young lovers during "Vieni a mirar la cerula," a charming duet of infatuation and "Sì, sì, dell'ara il giubilo," a frenzied, panicked exchange as Maria begs Gabrielle to marry her and save her from the advances of the "favorite" of the Doge.

José van Dam is the consummate schemer as the rapacious, deceiving Paolo Albiani. He is a spitting cobra in his brief but poignant Act II monologue ("Me stesso ho maledetto!...Qui ti stillo una lenta"); thumping bass strings and descending woodwinds perfectly animate his diabolical mind as he drips what is certainly an inky, turbid potion into Boccanegra's carafe. Giovanni Foiani is an august, weighty Pietro, Paolo's majordomo in plotting.

Some of the most impressive instances of the recording are the puissant Verdian ensembles. In the finale of the second scene of Act I ("Plebe! Patrizi! Popolo"), Cappuccilli is thunderous as the livid Boccanegra who shrewdly soothes his councilors by painting a pastoral panorama of the Italy conjured in the opening strains of the opera; an ensemble of the most succulent and gorgeous complexity emerges, with Freni begging for peace among fellow Italians, Ghiaurov lamenting Boccanegra's rule over Genoa, and Carreras confessing his affections for Maria. The smaller Prologue ensemble ("L'atra magion vedete?"), with van Dam cunningly turning the Genoese plebeians against the Fiesci with the opaquely mysterious, tragic tale of Boccanegra's Maria, is a marvelous meshing of a single voice with a chorus.

However, there are two areas of the recording which are unsurpassed by any other sector: the Act I duet ("Orfanella il tetto umile" ... "Figlia!...a tal nome io palpito") between Boccanegra and Maria and the entirety of the brief third act. The former is one of those operatic duets that erupts with so much passion that one cannot help but be swept away with the characters. The ecstatic Act I exchange between Butterfly and Pinkerton and the closing conversation between Onegin and Tatyana are two comparable examples. This is also one of Verdi's most tender duets, and it is surely more endearing than the exchange between Rigoletto and Gilda. Boccanegra, who has spent much of his life in an exhaustive search for his daughter, has finally found her; Maria, who was been equally perplexed by her bleak past, has been reunited with her true father. Freni is ineffably touching as Maria, but Cappuccilli is the star here: Boccanegra is a man who has found his redemption. His suffering and searching is ended and, though he has been the doge of Genoa for nearly a quarter of a century, now he can truly be joyful. The finale, constructed upon a heart-breaking blanket of strings and the soothing voice of the harp and Cappuccilli's last ecstatic utterance of "Daughter!" ("Figlia!"), could easily melt the iciest of hearts.

Oppositely, Act III is a pinnacle of Verdian tragedy. It is a marvelous outpouring of Italian melody and passion, from the opening choral shouts of jubilant victory to the closing moans of bereavement, accentuating by the saturnine pulse of a bass bell. Cappuccilli's bereft entrance ("M'ardon le tempia...un'atra vampa sento") recognizes that Boccanegra is a broken man, worthy of the pen of Thomas Hardy. He has been eaten from within by Paolo's vicious poison, and only the shell of the former seaman and adventurer is left. The frothy strings of the sea breeze restore, if only momentarily, his peace and health. It is once again affirmed that Boccanegra was not a politician, which adds a deeper vein to the tragedy of the story; he was a man manipulated by political corrupters onto the throne of the doge, a title he never had any desire to achieve. Ghiaurov's entrance ("Delle faci festani al barlume") is totally vindictive; Fiesco, the old, Godunovian lion, now an ancient nobleman after years of wrongdoing and hatred, has finally received the ultimate gift. Boccanegra is ruined; he is a mere shade of his former greatness and the purple of his nobility has rotted to nothing as he dies in lonesome shame. Their reconciliation ("Piango, perché mi parla") is one of the most touching musical portraits Verdi ever penned; both, though Boccanegra has finally received the forgiveness of Fiesco, are left broken after their years of separation. One was ruined by the fiend who catapulted him to power, the other by his all-consuming revulsion for the former. Ghiaurov is unimaginably tragic and Cappuccilli is desolating in his bewildered ecstasy. The act closes with a final ensemble ("Gran Dio, li benedici"); mustering his last tremor and ounce of human strength, Boccanegra blesses the marriage of Maria and Gabriele Adorno, his former enemy. The two downcast children harken in brokenhearted agony and Fiesco bemoans aside in woe. With his last breath, Boccanegra hands his throne to Adorno and whispers the name of his only beloved, "Maria."

It is, perhaps, a fortune in disguise that Simon Boccanegra remains the "black horse" of Verdi's later operas. No other possible recording, short of the resurrection of Boris Christoff and Jussi Björling, could be comparable to this masterwork, either in musical and vocal precision or in dramatic interpretation. This is, in short, a testament to the mastery of the conductor, orchestra, and singers involved, and it can crown numerous careers as a work of Verdian perfection.

The best Verdi opera in Abbado's Studio discography.......2007-06-14

Claudio Abbado's reign at La Scala produced some of the finest productions of Verdi's operas ever mounted on the stage. From that prolific era came his dark and revolutionary Macbeth (Verrett, Cappuccilli, Tagliavini), the greatest Don Carlo (Freni, Carreras, Cappucilli, Ghiaurov, Obraztsova), the most powerful Aidas (Arroyo, Domingo, Cossotto, Cappuccilli), and this outstanding Simon Boccanegra. Although I regard Don Carlo as one of Verdi's greatest achievements, I think this Boccanegra is the crown jewel in Abbado's extensive discography of great performances. He led a fascinating team of soloists with the La Scala orchestra and the great Italian opera producer Giorgio Strehler in what was the greatest stage production of Simon Boccanegra in operatic history. I don't think even Giancarlo del Monaco's dark, elegant sets combat this magnificent production in terms of symbolic lighting, stage direction, and production value.

Credit must be given primarily to Abbado for handling such a complex Verdi score. The luminescent and chiaroscuro shades and the dramatic colors begged by the 1881 revision of the score presents a challenge to any conductor willing to undertake the difficult task of presenting the work before an audience. In several aspects, I think Simon Boccanegra is second only to Don Carlo and Otello as the most difficult works of Verdi to conduct. In my opinion, only Abbado, Serafin, Mitropoulos, and recently, Fabio Luisi, have been able to successfully bring out the shades of ochre, crimson, and sienna that characterize this masterpiece. Abbado, of course, attained perfection in his interpretation of the score when he realized the many subtleties. The La Scala strings have never sounded more shimmering and beautiful, and the typical Verdian musical language is gracefully incorporated by Abbado into producing dramatic moments rather than distinctive arias. No, Abbado doesn't treat it like Otello, but rather as the continuous drama that it should be with elements of early Donizettian style taken from his incubation period to the thespian sense of his latter years.

Saying that, I think the cast also contributes to the success of this recording. In the history of the opera's performances, there is perhaps no Amelia more successful than Mirella Freni, and by that I say that she is better than Renata Tebaldi, Zinka Milanov, Antonietta Stella, Astrid Varnay, Karita Mattila, and Kiri te Kanawa, among the other singers who have assumed this demanding spinto role. Her beautiful, youthful timbre, her natural sense of phrasing, her mastery of the language, and her impeccable legato line allow her to focus herself on the drama of the performance, thus giving us a three-dimensional portrait of Amelia often turned into a cardboard cut character by most sopranos. A definitive performance indeed, and perhaps her greatest Verdi character on record. Gabriele Adorno is played by the youthful Jose Carreras, whose youthful, sweet tone is a refreshing change of pace among the dramatic bulls who have no business sticking their noses in a role where lyricism favors dramatic weight. I would say that he and Carlo Bergonzi are the greatest exponents of this short yet elegant tenor role. The roles of Paolo and Fiesco are taken respectively by Jose Van Dam and Nicolai Ghiaurov, two of the greatest low male voices in the history of opera. Nicolai Ghiaurov gives a searingly noble characterization of Fiesco, much like the grand portrayal he gave of King Filippo II in Don Carlo. I would say that he and Ferruccio Furlanetto are the only basses to have given so much insight to this role.

In addition to all those amazing singers, I believe that the reason to get this recording is to listen to the Doge of Piero Cappuccilli. There is no doubt that he was one of the greatest Verdi baritones of a bygone era, and in perspective with his Amonasros, Rodigros, di Lunas, and Iagos, there is perhaps no greater assumption of this role than what Cappuccilli has to offer. There is a nobility, a compassion, and a elegiac quality to his singing that elevates his Boccanegra to a definitive status. Without a doubt, one of the greatest characterizations in his long career.

My verdict? This is the best recording of the opera that you will find in the market, so I hope you don't waste a chance to grab it.

Filler.......2007-03-25

A little too patriarchal for me. Anyway Rigoletto is much the better opera. The father figure is much more simpatico because of his physical handicap, and humiliating career choice.
I just got this opera because a) I needed to fill out the order of the useless Bodum glass beaker replacement part I got with it, so I could get the free shipping,and b) I liked the sound of the name Simon Bocanegra

A superb Verdi opera not to be missed.......2007-01-13

All too many opera fans of a particular composer content themselves with the most popular of that composer's works. Thus it is difficult to geet a Bellini fan to venture beyond Norma or to get a Donizetti fan to go beyond Lucia di Lamermoor. Many Verdi fans will not go beyond Trav-Trov-Rig and Aida. This is a shame. All of these composers wrote many operas and there is hardly a bad one in the bunch. Simon Boccanegra has some of the most exciting music Verdi wrote, and this item boasts one of the finest all-star casts that could possibly be assembled. Forget what people say about the plot. Most opera plots are terribly contrived. An opera is about music. If you are a fan of Verdi and have not ventured farther than the standars, do yourself an immense favor and buy this edition of Simon Boccanegra.

The Greatest Account Of Simon Boccanegra Available.......2006-01-31

This critic will not be expressing anything new in light of the many reviews for this 1977 studio recording of Verdi's obscure masterpiece Simon Boccanegra. The 5 principal singers - Piero Cappuccilli, Mirella Freni, Jose Carreras, Nicolai Ghiaurov and Jose Van Dam - are singing with glorious voice and dramatic commitment, making their characters alive with electrifying realism. The marriage of Verdi's darkly brooding music, lyrical melodies and virtuosic arias make for a truly grand opera. Originally a failure at the premiere, its libretto was later revised by the famous composer/librettist Arrigo Boito and enjoyed immense success. However, today it's an operatic rarity and only the baritone arias, like "Come en questa ora bruna" are featured in showcase albums. This recording is also available in a live taping of its La Scala performance in 1977. Claudio Abbado conducts with his usual greatness, attention to detail and subtleties. The haunting music is expressive and dramatically effective. It's too bad that this opera is not performed more often. It is a tale about a father's love for his long-lost daughter, of his mistrust for the man she loves. Personal conflict is pitched against a greater political struggle in Renaissance Venice, during the reign of the Doges. This theme of political problems and family problems was already used up by Verdi in both Don Carlos and Aida. As this opera is a later Verdi opera- 1870's- a little before Verdi wrote Otello and Falstaff- the music is far more mature and the storyline is broader (even confusing!) than earlier operas of his like the simple Traviata or Rigoletto. The music is really quite is really moving, dark, intense.

I would go as far as to say Boccanegra ranks among Verdi's best operas along with Don Carlos, Aida and Otello. The Council Chamber Scene is included here. It was featured in the later revised libretto and is opera's most beautiful moments. Each singer sings of their woes in a most moving manner and soaring above the ensemble is the soprano's cries of "Pace! Pace! (Peace! Peace!). Mirella Freni as Maria Boccanegra/Amelia is a revelation. Other than sounding like a pure lyrico-spinto or dramatic soprano, she sings with subtleties, with sweetness and with vigorous passion. While I still think that Verdi wasn't a particularly great repertoire for her, she does excell in this particular role as well as Queen Elisabeth Di Valois in Don Carlo. She sang Aida and that recording is on Deutsche Grammophone which also stars Cappuccilli and Jose Carreras but that is not the way Aida should be sung. As the Doge's daughter in this one, she is excellent and here we have a very fine dramatic singing-actress. Plus, she blends beautifully with Jose Carreras's rich, dark, velvety tenor voice. Although I would have preferred Placido Domingo in the role of Gabriel, which doubtless suited him, Carreras sings with unbeatable dramatic and lyric grandeur. All his arias are perfect for him. He was a terrific Verdi tenor.

This opera, however, is not a star vehicle for the tenor and soprano, which is the most unusual thing! Therefore, don't expect to hear much of the singing to come from Jose Carreras and Mirella Freni. The star is the Doge himself, sung by baritone Piero Cappuccilli. This is a magnificent showcase for a Verdi baritone, which Cappuccilli is. His singing is emotive, grand, invective, heart-felt and human, so human. The masculine timbre is fatherly and regal. This is exactly the kind of singing a Verdi baritione should have. Cappuccilli died only about a year ago, but his legacy as a great baritone is well documented in a few films and plenty of recordings. He made a terrific Macbeth, Amonasro and King Nabucco. Verdi was his specialty and on this recording, he pulls out all the stops.

Likewise, Jose Van Dam sings with supreme musicality, intoning every phrase with bravura, but to a lesser extent than the star Piero Cappuccilli. Fans of Van Dam will want to own this recording, as he was in his prime, singing with versatility. Only two years later he would be seen as Leporello in Joseph Losey's dark film version of Don Giovanni starring Ruggero Raimondi. He has a very virile quality to his singing and excellent control of breath. And as if the dark lower voices of Cappuccilli and Van Dam were not enough, Nicolai Ghiaurov has a part in this opera too. His bass never bordered on a growl. It was deep, beautiful and majestic. His fans will want to own this recording as well. This is a superb album.

Average customer rating:

A Collector's Item
STUPENDOUS!!!!
a great partial overview of an extraordinary career
What a beauty!
He answered my SOS - with his soul

José Carreras: The Golden Years

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Carreras · Domingo · Pavarotti ~ Favorite Arias by the World's Favorite Tenors
Bravo Domingo
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ASIN: B00000J9GN
Release Date: 1999-06-15

Tracks:

La Boheme: Che gelida manina
TOSCA: Recondita armonia
TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai
Turandot: Nessun dorma
L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
Un Ballo in Maschera: Forse la soglia attinse
Rigoletto: Parmi veder le lagrime
Ernani: Come rugiada al cespite
II Trovatore: Di quella pira
La Battaglia di Legnano: La pia materna mano
Pagliacci: Vesti la giubba
Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee
Werther: Je ne sais si je veille
Das Land des Lachelns: Dein ist mein ganzes Herz
II Tedesco: Plaisir d'amour
Serse: Ombra mai fu
Rinaldo: Lascia ch'io pianga
Caro mio ben

Tracks:

Misa Criolla: Kyrie
A vucchella
La Serenata
Marechiare
Malia
L'ultima canzone
Ideale
Non t'amo piu
Good-bye
Mattinata
O sole mio
Core 'ngrato
Funiculi, funicula
Torna a Surriento
Granada
La Danza
You Belong To My Heart
Because
West Side Story: Tonight
Be My Love
Because You're Mine
Cats: Memory

Customer Reviews:

A Collector's Item.......2007-03-09

This is a different voice than you hear on recordings of "The Three Tenors." Of course, it's his earlier years, but the light, lyrical quality of his voice is amazing. Thank goodness for recordings, and digital remastering. I love this CD.

STUPENDOUS!!!!.......2005-06-20

I have a Carreras-recording of Tosca from 1980 and up till now I thought it was the ultimate recording of "Recondita armonia" and "E lucevan le stelle". I honestly thought that no one could sing these arias better. And in a way I'm right. The only one that did it was himself - a few years earlier.....(The two arias in this "golden years cd" are taken from a -76 recording of Tosca). And after listening to these songs I can't imagine that anyone dare say that he is/was the weakest of the three tenors. In my opinion he possesses something that the others don't. (I won't tell you what it is - listen and find out yourself). Even if his voice has changed over the years (and I mean changed, not declined..) something remains unchangeable and that is his ability to evoke emotions. No one can deliver a line like him. And that's something that's going to stay with him forever, because what makes his singing so special comes from within. It's not dependent on the quality of the voice. But in the songs on this cd his voice is pure gold.

Even though I like the whole album, some of the songs on the first cd (which consists of operatic arias) stand out to me - like "Una furtiva lagrima", "donna non vidi mai", "vesti la giubba" and "nessun dorma" (Sorry Pavarotti - José is way ahead of you interpreting this song. It's not enough to sing it on full blast....) Here's also the loveliest rendition of "Forse la soglio attinse". In 1975 the audience at La Scala in Milan went absolutely crazy after he had sung this aria. I have a recording from that night and it sounds as if they are standing on their seats, cheering and applauding. And it's almost like I want to do the same myself after listening to his singing on this album. And in the song "dein ist mein ganzes hertz" he makes me believe that his whole heart really is mine......In my opinion Carreras has the best rendition of this song ever. No one else comes even close to this one. And I mustn't forget his "che gelida manina" from La Bohême. I have the -79 recording it's taken from and it's the ultimate Bohême ever.

The second cd has a "lighter" repertoire with songs from composers like Tosti, Cardillo, Lara and others. My personal favourites here are "Core n'grato", "Ideale" and "Granada". In my opinion no one sings these songs like Carreras. Or rather - no one sings like Carreras. Period!

His singing will no doubt give you goosebumps all over and make your hair stand on end. If not, I bet you're either a Pavarotti or Domingo-fan....

a great partial overview of an extraordinary career.......2005-04-09

Now a household name by being one of the Three Tenors alongside Pavarotti and Domingo, Carreras' finest recordings were actually done in the 1970s, when his voice had a brilliance and luster that few singers have equaled. Born in Spain in '46, Carreras was a child prodigy, and by his late 20s was a shining star in all the major opera houses. Tragically, in '87, he learned he had leukemia, a disease he battled and won, going on to greater fame than ever before.
Though his voice is powerful and full of beauty, those with keen ears will detect his voice losing a tiny bit of its magnificence starting in the early 80s, and one wonders if the stress and exhaustion of stardom contributed to this as well as to the illness, or whether it was because the seeds of leukemia were taking root.

CD One is the operatic disc, and the two most sublime cuts are both from '76, Puccini's "E lucevan le stelle" (Tosca), and Verdi's "Forse la scoglia attinse" (Un Ballo in Maschera). Another track I adore is the heavenly Lehar "Dein ist mein ganzes Herz" (Das Land des Lachelns), from 1978, and few have performed this popular piece with more loveliness.
CD Two is in a lighter vein, and starts with a stupendous rendition of Ariel Ramirez' "Kirie" (Misa Criolla), sung softly and with extraordinary tenderness and artistry.
There are lots of heavenly melodic Italian songs, like "O Sole Mio", and a few in English like the song made famous by Lanza (who according to the liner notes, inspired Carreras to be a singer when he saw "The Great Caruso" at the age of six) "Be My Love " (Brodszky/Cahn).
The foldout insert has complete track list info and liner notes, and mention must be made of the incredible, sensitive sepia portrait of this handsome singer on the cover. Total playing time for CD One is 75'32, and for CD Two 75'47.
A must for Carreras fans, and anyone who appreciates the finest in operatic voices.

What a beauty!.......2005-01-13

This great double CD set shows us the true Carreras. All the great songs and arias are on this(although I would've liked to hear pourquoi me reveiller) and in pure Carreras style.
Some of the opera recordings are live, and that adds a lot to them. Both sides of the CDs have fantastic repetoire.
Definately a worthy buy!

He answered my SOS - with his soul.......2004-02-07

I came upon the genius of Mr. Carrera quite accidentally. I was in Warsovie (Warsaw), Poland. My purse was stolen, so I lay miserable and penniless and alone in the home of my Ex, with a copy of the Vampire Chronicles and Dostoevsky's Notes from the Underground (only books in English). The maddening drone of the hydro-dam nearby moved me to turn on the radio to my favorite college station. I was no opera buff, so when they announced that they would cover some Enrique Caruso songs, I was panicked to find a station that I could relate to.

Jose Carrera covered the full gambit of Caruso's classics. They must've played him for 2 hours straight. I was mesmerized. I could have touched him and put his hand to my face, his voice was so close. He sang with such emotion and outcry that I wanted to take him into my arms and console him. "Damn" is all that I could verbalize, when the program ended.

I'm not into Jose Carrera singing pop tunes, but he completely blows me away when he's in his own element. I was never feeling the three tenors, and although I remember Pavarotti and our school taking us to the Met in the 80's, Jose Carrera, is an animal of an entirely different species. He's one of a few artists that I can only listen to on my Bose, all alone, to fully appreciate the gravity of talent.

Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Premiere Collection Encore
Average customer rating:

What happened to the Original Recording ?

Premier Collection a hit

It is a great CD.

Problem

Okay

Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Premiere Collection Encore
Andrew Lloyd Webber , Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , Trevor Nunn , Sarah Brightman , Jose Carreras , Michael Ball , Barbra Streisand , Lon Satton , and Ray Shell
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Premiere Collection: The Best Of Andrew Lloyd Webber (Original Cast Compilation)

Gold: The Definitive Hits Collection

The Very Best Of Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Broadway Collection

Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Premiere Collection Encore

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection

ASIN: B000001E0E
Release Date: 1993-03-09

Tracks:

Amigos Para Siempre ( Friends For Life) - Jose Carreras, Sarah Brightman
Love Changes Everything - Michael Ball
Memory - Barbara Streisand
I Am The Starlight - Lon Satton, Ray Shell
Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again - Sarah Brightman
Argentine Melody - San Jose, Rodriguez Argentina
Oh What A Circus - David Essex
Seeing Is Believing - Michael Ball, Ann Crumb
The Jellicle Ball - The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Any Dream Will Do - Jason Donovan
Everything's Alright - Sarah Brightman
Close Every Door - Phillip Schofield
The First Man You Remember - Michael Ball, Diana Morrison
Anything But Lonely - Sarah Brightman
Point Of No Return - Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman
Hosanna - Placido Domingo

Customer Reviews:

What happened to the Original Recording ?.......2007-07-25

I have the original 1988 tape but wanted to get it now on CD
for many reasons: TAKE THAT LOOK OFF YOUR FACE (Martie Webb)( ALL I ASK OF YOU (Cliff Richard & Sarah Brightman) THE MAGICAL MR MISTOFFELLEES (Paul Nicholas) VARIATIONS (Julian Lloyd Webber) MNEMORY (Elaine Paige - how could Barbara Streisand possibly render this any better) TELL ME ON A SUNDAY (Marti Webb), ANOTHER SUITCASE IN ANOTHER HALL (Barbara Dickson)
What a huge disappointment that these marvellous renditions have not been transferred to CD. Does anyone know why, or better still how I can get a copy.

Premier Collection a hit.......2006-05-10

Loved this c.d.
Streisand's rendition of MEMORY has always been my favorite version of the song outside of the show...Betty Buckley's is my favorite within the show. I am a Streisand afficiando, and this is my FAVORITE Streisand song period..so it must be good...
Michael Ball singing anything is wonderful...It captures the wonderful feeling of being on a cloud when you listen to this album

It is a great CD........2005-10-14

Whenever I listen to this CD, my heart and my soul are deeply touched.

Problem.......2003-11-02

Has no one else noticed that on the version of this CD produced in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada "Past the Point of No Return" from "The Phantom of the Opera" is NOT Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman? The male is obviously Colm Wilkenson (most famous for originating the role of Jean Valjean), apparently the soprano is Rebecca Caine?

Okay.......2003-04-17

If you are an Andrew Lloyd Webber fan, you probably already own some of the versions of songs on this CD. Having them all in one package is nice. I like to listen to this at work, as I know the music so well that it is nice background. I could do without Amigos Para Siempre.

Average customer rating:

Phenomenal
Great Music by a Great Composer
5 Stars aren't enough!

The Best Of César Franck

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Best Of Weber
Franck: Quintet in Fm; Chausson: String quartet in Cm
César Franck: Piano Music
Franck: Symphony in Dm; Chasseur maudit
The Best of Fauré

ASIN: B00000419D
Release Date: 1994-08-16

Tracks:

Violin Sonata In A: Allegretto ben moderato
Violin Sonata In A: Allegro - Quasi lento - Tempo l. Allegro
Violin Sonata In A: Recitativo - Fantasia. Ben moderato - Largamente - Molto vivace
Violin Sonata In A: Allegretto poco mosso
Piece haroique In B Minor
Choral No. 2 In B Minor
Panis angelicus
Variations symphoniques

Tracks:

Les Eolides: Les Eolides - Symphonic Poem
Prelude, choral et fugue: Prelude
Prelude, choral et fugue: Choral
Prelude, choral et fugue: Fugue
Cantabile In B: Cantabile In B - Pierre Cochereau
Symphony In D Minor: Lento - Allegro ma non troppo - Allegro
Symphony In D Minor: Allegretto
Symphony In D Minor: Allegro non troppo

Customer Reviews:

Phenomenal.......2005-07-11

Undoubtedly one of the best contemporary classical works. The Violin and Piano Sonata is in itself worth the price of the CD. The grace of this music perfectly reflects the optimism and progress in late 19C-early 20th century Western civilization. No composer since has captured the magic of classical music as Franck has done.

Great Music by a Great Composer.......2003-08-21

Cesar Franck (1822 -- 1890)was born in Belgium but spent most of his life in France. For much of his career, he was a church organist and professor of organ at the Paris Conservatory. He wrote music from an early age. His early works consist mostly of piano music or works for the organ. But he discovered himself as a composer only in the last decade or so of his life. During this period, he wrote in many musical genres (typically only a single work) and produced a small number of lasting masterpieces. His work is heavily influenced by late Beethoven, Liszt, and Wagner. It is late musical romanticism at, I think, its best.

This 2-CD mid-priced set, "The Best of Cesar Frank" lives up to its name. It consists of many of the masterpieces of Franck's late years in a variety of forms. It is a convenient way to get much of Cesar Frank's music, well-played, in a single set. It includes a symphony, vocal music, organ music, music for piano and orchestra, and a work for solo piano by a variety of musicians. The CD will repay repeated hearings and give the listener a good exposure to Franck.

The most famous work on this CD is Franck's "Symphony in D minor"
which was first performed in 1889 and presented here by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Willem Van Otterloo. This is a fine performance of a much-beloved symphony. I found it emphasized the romantic, passionate character of the music with its frequent changes of tempo and mood.

But other selections on this CD I enjoyed substantially more than the symphony. Franck's greates work is probably his violin sonata in A which dates from 1886. It receives an outstanding performance on this CD from violinist Arthur Gumiaux and pianist Istvan Hajdu. The violin sonata is in four movements, which develop aspects of the same underlying theme ("cyclic" composition, typical of Franck). The music is glorious, elevated and lyrical throughout, in contrast to most of Franck's music which emphasizes contrasts between serenity and passion. The first and third movements are slow and reflective while the second and fourth are faster. The climax of this work, its final movement, is intense, reflective, and joyous all at once. It is based upon the same theme that Beethoven used as his main theme in the finale of the cello sonata in A opus 69.
Frank's work (and Beethoven's cello sonata as well) is one of the high watermarks of chamber music literature.

I also was much taken with the "Prelude, Choral and Fugue" for solo piano. This work dates from 1884 and it is performed here by pianist Eduardo Del Pueyo. This was my first exposure to this work, and I loved it. It consists of three movements which combine, to my ears, a romantic style, featuring long passages of broken chords and lyrical melodies, with baroque contrapuntal writing. I found this piece and the violin sonata the highlights of this fine collection.

Franck wrote extensively for the organ and this CD features his "Piece Heroique" which lives up to its name together with two other late and deeper works, the Choral in B minor and the Cantabile in B that are much more intense and reflective in character. Listeners who are unfamiliar with organ music, or with organ music beyond Bach, may enjoy exploring this music.

The CD also includes a lovely vocal piece "Panis angelicus" , Franck's "Variations Symphoniques" for piano and orchestra, and a Wagnerian tone poem "Les Etolides" all of which are well performed here and worth knowing.

Franck is an inspiring figure to me in that he persevered, stayed within himself, and produced some undoubted musical masterworks near the close of a long life. This disc is a fine way to get to know his music.

Listeners who wish to hear more of the best of Cesar Franck beyond the selections on this CD might enjoy his Piano Quintet in F Minor (1880) and his String Quartet in D Major (1890).

5 Stars aren't enough!.......1998-11-14

The Sonata for Piano and Violin is the most beautiful piece of music I have EVER heard. especially movements 1 & 4. The Symphony (Disc 2) is merely outstanding. Either of the pieces is well worth the entire price for the collection.

Average customer rating:

An excellent purchase

Romantic Tenors
José Carreras , Luciano Pavarotti , Placido Domingo , and Three Tenors
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD