Verdi: Aida; Un ballo in maschera

1. Un ballo in maschera, opera Act 1: O meine Freunde/Ah, welche hohe Wonne
   Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
   Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
   with Alda Noni, Franz Worff, Marjan Rus, Mathieu Ahlersmeyer, Hilde Konetzni, Elena Nikolaidi, Sigmund Roth, Max Lorenz
   Conducted by Karl Bohm
   
   
2. Un ballo in maschera, opera Act 1: Für dein Glückund für dein Leben
   Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
   Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
   with Alda Noni, Franz Worff, Marjan Rus, Mathieu Ahlersmeyer, Hilde Konetzni, Elena Nikolaidi, Sigmund Roth, Max Lorenz
   Conducted by Karl Bohm
   
   
3. Un ballo in maschera, opera Act 1: Wer weiß, ob dort nicht die Gelegenheit/Jeder Gram weiche heut dem Vergnügen
   Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
   Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
   with Alda Noni, Franz Worff, Marjan Rus, Mathieu Ahlersmeyer, Hilde Konetzni, Elena Nikolaidi, Sigmund Roth, Max Lorenz
   Conducted by Karl Bohm
   
   
4. Un ballo in maschera, opera Act 1: und wo? Ihr wollt es wagen/Dort, wo auf ödem Brachfeld
   Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
   Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
   with Alda Noni, Franz Worff, Marjan Rus, Mathieu Ahlersmeyer, Hilde Konetzni, Elena Nikolaidi, Sigmund Roth, Max Lorenz
   Conducted by Karl Bohm
   
   
5. Un ballo in maschera, opera Act 1: O sag, wenn ich fahre auf schäumenden Wogen
   Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
   Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
   with Alda Noni, Franz Worff, Marjan Rus, Mathieu Ahlersmeyer, Hilde Konetzni, Elena Nikolaidi, Sigmund Roth, Max Lorenz
   Conducted by Karl Bohm
   
   
6. Un ballo in maschera, opera Act 1: Nur Scherze sind's und Possen
   Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
   Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
   with Alda Noni, Franz Worff, Marjan Rus, Mathieu Ahlersmeyer, Hilde Konetzni, Elena Nikolaidi, Sigmund Roth, Max Lorenz
   Conducted by Karl Bohm
   
   
7. Un ballo in maschera, opera Act 1: Er ist's!/herbei, ihr Leute!
   Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
   Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
   with Alda Noni, Franz Worff, Marjan Rus, Mathieu Ahlersmeyer, Hilde Konetzni, Elena Nikolaidi, Sigmund Roth, Max Lorenz
   Conducted by Karl Bohm
   
   
8. Un ballo in maschera, opera Act 2: Wenn das Kraut, wie die Seherin kündet
   Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
   Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
   with Alda Noni, Franz Worff, Marjan Rus, Mathieu Ahlersmeyer, Hilde Konetzni, Elena Nikolaidi, Sigmund Roth, Max Lorenz
   Conducted by Karl Bohm
   
   
9. Un ballo in maschera, opera Act 2: Weiß du nicht, daß, wenn Qualen der Reue/Amelia! Du liebst mich?
   Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
   Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
   with Alda Noni, Franz Worff, Marjan Rus, Mathieu Ahlersmeyer, Hilde Konetzni, Elena Nikolaidi, Sigmund Roth, Max Lorenz
   Conducted by Karl Bohm
   
   
10. Un ballo in maschera, opera Act 3: Ja, nur du hast dies Herz mir entwendet
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Alda Noni, Franz Worff, Marjan Rus, Mathieu Ahlersmeyer, Hilde Konetzni, Elena Nikolaidi, Sigmund Roth, Max Lorenz
    Conducted by Karl Bohm
    
    
11. Un ballo in maschera, opera Act 3: Hier steht mein Name/Doch heißt mich auch mein Pflichtgebot
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Alda Noni, Franz Worff, Marjan Rus, Mathieu Ahlersmeyer, Hilde Konetzni, Elena Nikolaidi, Sigmund Roth, Max Lorenz
    Conducted by Karl Bohm
    
    
12. Un ballo in maschera, opera Act 3: Laßt ab mit Fragen
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Alda Noni, Franz Worff, Marjan Rus, Mathieu Ahlersmeyer, Hilde Konetzni, Elena Nikolaidi, Sigmund Roth, Max Lorenz
    Conducted by Karl Bohm
    
    
13. Un ballo in maschera, opera Act 3: Ich kenne keine Gefahr/Lieben, ja lieben muß ich dich
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Alda Noni, Franz Worff, Marjan Rus, Mathieu Ahlersmeyer, Hilde Konetzni, Elena Nikolaidi, Sigmund Roth, Max Lorenz
    Conducted by Karl Bohm
    
    
14. Un ballo in maschera, opera Act 3: Nein! Nein! O lasset ihn/Unverletzt ist deine Ehre
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Alda Noni, Franz Worff, Marjan Rus, Mathieu Ahlersmeyer, Hilde Konetzni, Elena Nikolaidi, Sigmund Roth, Max Lorenz
    Conducted by Karl Bohm
    
    
15. Aida, opera Prelude
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Set Svanholm, Hans Hotter, Marjan Rus, Daniza Ilitsch, Josef von Manowarda, Elena Nikolaidi
    Conducted by Vittorio Gui
    
    
16. Aida, opera Act 1: ... und das Nilgestade/O wäre ich erkoren/Holde Aida
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Set Svanholm, Hans Hotter, Marjan Rus, Daniza Ilitsch, Josef von Manowarda, Elena Nikolaidi
    Conducted by Vittorio Gui
    
    
17. Aida, opera Act 1: Legt die heil'ge Wehr an/Auf! des Niles heil'ges Ufer
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Set Svanholm, Hans Hotter, Marjan Rus, Daniza Ilitsch, Josef von Manowarda, Elena Nikolaidi
    Conducted by Vittorio Gui
    
    
18. Aida, opera Act 1: (Als Sieger kehre heim)/Sei Besieger meiner Brüder
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Set Svanholm, Hans Hotter, Marjan Rus, Daniza Ilitsch, Josef von Manowarda, Elena Nikolaidi
    Conducted by Vittorio Gui
    
    
19. Aida, opera Act 2: Heil dir, Ägypten, Isis Heil
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Set Svanholm, Hans Hotter, Marjan Rus, Daniza Ilitsch, Josef von Manowarda, Elena Nikolaidi
    Conducted by Vittorio Gui
    
    
20. Aida, opera Act 2: Du also bist?/Ihr Vater! Ich hab' gekämpft
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Set Svanholm, Hans Hotter, Marjan Rus, Daniza Ilitsch, Josef von Manowarda, Elena Nikolaidi
    Conducted by Vittorio Gui
    
    
21. Aida, opera Act 3: ... des Niles dunkle Tiefe/O Vaterland
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Set Svanholm, Hans Hotter, Marjan Rus, Daniza Ilitsch, Josef von Manowarda, Elena Nikolaidi
    Conducted by Vittorio Gui
    
    
22. Aida, opera Act 3: ein Königskind ist deine Rivalin/Wiedersehen wirst du die duft'gen Wälder
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Set Svanholm, Hans Hotter, Marjan Rus, Daniza Ilitsch, Josef von Manowarda, Elena Nikolaidi
    Conducted by Vittorio Gui
    
    
23. Aida, opera Act 3: an meiner Liebe zweifelt Aida? Zur Ferne entfliehen/Die Schluchten bei Napata
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Set Svanholm, Hans Hotter, Marjan Rus, Daniza Ilitsch, Josef von Manowarda, Elena Nikolaidi
    Conducted by Vittorio Gui
    
    
24. Aida, opera Act 4: Es hat der Stein sich über mir geschlossen/Leb wohl, o Erde
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Set Svanholm, Hans Hotter, Marjan Rus, Daniza Ilitsch, Josef von Manowarda, Elena Nikolaidi
    Conducted by Vittorio Gui
    
    
25. Falstaff, opera Act 2: Meine Ehrfurcht!/Willkommen, liebe Frau!
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Georg Hann, Carl Kronenberg, Anton Dermota, Marjan Rus, Esther Rethy, Elena Nikolaidi, William Wernigk, Joseph Witt, Melanie Bugarinovic, Adele Kern
    Conducted by Clemens Krauss
    
    
26. Falstaff, opera Act 2: Für sie vertreu' ich Schätze/So träum' ich? Oder ist's wahr?/Vereinbart die Stunde
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Georg Hann, Carl Kronenberg, Anton Dermota, Marjan Rus, Esther Rethy, Elena Nikolaidi, William Wernigk, Joseph Witt, Melanie Bugarinovic, Adele Kern
    Conducted by Clemens Krauss
    
    
27. Falstaff, opera Act 2: Ich liebe' dich/Einstens als Page
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Georg Hann, Carl Kronenberg, Anton Dermota, Marjan Rus, Esther Rethy, Elena Nikolaidi, William Wernigk, Joseph Witt, Melanie Bugarinovic, Adele Kern
    Conducted by Clemens Krauss
    
    
28. Falstaff, opera Act 2: Laß dich umarmen/Viktoria!
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Georg Hann, Carl Kronenberg, Anton Dermota, Marjan Rus, Esther Rethy, Elena Nikolaidi, William Wernigk, Joseph Witt, Melanie Bugarinovic, Adele Kern
    Conducted by Clemens Krauss
    
    
29. Falstaff, opera Act 3: Laß uns Glühwein gießen in diesem Bauch voll
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Georg Hann, Carl Kronenberg, Anton Dermota, Marjan Rus, Esther Rethy, Elena Nikolaidi, William Wernigk, Joseph Witt, Melanie Bugarinovic, Adele Kern
    Conducted by Clemens Krauss
    
    
30. Falstaff, opera Act 4: dem Mund entflieht ein Lied
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Georg Hann, Carl Kronenberg, Anton Dermota, Marjan Rus, Esther Rethy, Elena Nikolaidi, William Wernigk, Joseph Witt, Melanie Bugarinovic, Adele Kern
    Conducted by Clemens Krauss
    
    
31. Falstaff, opera Act 4: Zeus, als du Europa liebtest
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Georg Hann, Carl Kronenberg, Anton Dermota, Marjan Rus, Esther Rethy, Elena Nikolaidi, William Wernigk, Joseph Witt, Melanie Bugarinovic, Adele Kern
    Conducted by Clemens Krauss
    
    
32. Falstaff, opera Act 4: Auf sachten Zephyrs Welle
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Georg Hann, Carl Kronenberg, Anton Dermota, Marjan Rus, Esther Rethy, Elena Nikolaidi, William Wernigk, Joseph Witt, Melanie Bugarinovic, Adele Kern
    Conducted by Clemens Krauss
    
    
33. Falstaff, opera Act 4: ein Chor soll die Komödie schließen/Alles um uns ist Narrheit
    Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
    Performed by Vienna State Opera Orchestra
    with Georg Hann, Carl Kronenberg, Anton Dermota, Marjan Rus, Esther Rethy, Elena Nikolaidi, William Wernigk, Joseph Witt, Melanie Bugarinovic, Adele Kern
    Conducted by Clemens Krauss
    
    

Verdi: Aida; Un ballo in maschera,Mathieu Ahlersmeyer,Marjan Rus,Sigmund Roth,Giuseppe Verdi,Clemens Krauss,Karl Böhm,Vittorio Gui,Elena Nikolaidi,Wiener Staatsopernorchester,Alda Noni,Hilde Konetzni,Max Lorenz,Adele Kern,Anton Dermota,Carl Kronenberg,Daniza Ilitsch,Esther Rethy,Franz Worff,Georg Hann,Hans Hotter,Josef von Manowarda,Joseph Witt,Melanie Bugarinovic,Set Svanholm,William Wernigk,Koch Schwann (Germ.),Classical,Italian Romantic Opera,Opera

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Average customer rating: Luciano Pavrotti: The Best (Farewell Tour) Luciano Pavorotti Luciano is the best!

Luciano Pavrotti: The Best (Farewell Tour) Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Flotow | Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by 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 Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | 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 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works Featuring Luciano Pavarotti | Pavarotti, Luciano | ( P ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music 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 | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Bixio, Cesare Andrea | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cardillo, Salvatore | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Capua, Eduardo di | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Curtis, Ernesto de | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: The Best of the Three Tenors Romantica: The Very Best Of Luciano Pavarotti Pavarotti: Greatest Hits Amore: Romantic Italian Love Songs The Best of Luciano Pavarotti: 20th Century Masters/The Millennium Collection ASIN: B0007V5WB4 Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

1. La donna obile
2. Una furtiva lagrima
3. "Libiamo ne'lieti calici (Brindisi)
4. Donna non vidi mai
5. Che gelida manina
6. O soave fanciulla
7. Mi batte il cor...O Paradiso!
8. M'appari
9. Quando le sere al placido chiaror d'un ciel stellato
10. Se quel guerrier io fossi!..Celeste Aida
11. Forse la soglia attinse
12. Recitar! - "Vesti la giubba"
13. Come un bel di maggio
14. Ah mes amis - Pour mon
15. Di quella pira
16. Nessun dorma!

Tracks:

1. Torna a Surriento
2. Santa Lucia luntana
3. La Danza
4. L'ultima canzone
5. Non t'amo pi
6. Mattinata
7. 'O sole mio
8. 'A vucchella
9. Core 'ngrato
10. Nel blu, dipinto di blu
11. Vivere
12. Il Canto
13. Caruso
14. Buongiorno a te
15. Ti adoro
16. E lucevan le stelle
17. Questa o quella (Ballata)
18. Parmi veder le lagrime

Customer Reviews:

Luciano Pavrotti: The Best (Farewell Tour).......2007-06-27

Wonderful Pavarotti sings the best of the best. His voice never ceases to amaze me. Listening pleasure at it's finest.

Luciano Pavorotti.......2007-02-17

All the songs are wonderful, can never become tired of listening to his songs. Excellent.

Luciano is the best!.......2007-01-20

I can't speak more highly of this collection of Pavrotti's songs. I keep this two CD pack in my car so I can enjoy it on my way to and from work. Even after I have arrived, I find myself sitting in my car waiting for a song to end. Walking out on a song seems sacriligious. While I grew up listening to Caruso and Lanza, there is no question that Pavrotti is the Master! Although, I do have to admit Pavrotti has the greater advantage of modern recording technology to better present his talent than Caruso and Lanza had. However, Lanza definitely didn't have the power that Pavrotti has. With Caruso, we will never know... I highly recommend this collection of Pavrotti's, if you are a Pavrotti fan. If you aren't, buy it anyway and become one:)

Average customer rating: OKAY, TAKE ME AWAY. Great music...stunning recording quality Incredible Just Stunning!

Essential Verdi Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Paris Symphony Orchestra | ( P ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | 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 Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Paris Symphony Orchestra | ( P ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Ultimate Puccini Collection Essential Puccini Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco... The Most Famous Opera Duets The #1 Opera Album ASIN: B000056JSW Release Date: 2001-02-13

Tracks:

1. Rigoletto: La donna e mobile - Luciano Pavarotti
2. Nabucco: Va pesiero - Chicago Symphony Orchestra
3. La forza del destino: Overture - Kirov Orchestra
4. La Traviata: Un di felice - Joan Sutherland
5. I Vespri Siciliani: Merce dilette amiche - Maria Chiara
6. La Traviata: Libiamo ne' lieti calici - Joan Sutherland
7. Il Trovatore: Di quella pira - Jose Carreras
8. Il Trovatore: Vedi! le fosche notturne spoglie - Chicago Symphony Orchestra And Chorus
9. Il Trovatore: Stride la vampa! - Stefania Toczyska
10. Aida: Ritorna vincitor! - Leontyne Price
11. Don Carlo: Dio che nell'alma infondere - Carlo Bergonzi
12. La Traviata: Prelude - Orchestra E Coro Del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
13. Rigoletto: Caro nome - Joan Sutherland
14. Don Carlo: O don fatale - Olga Borodina
15. Aida: Se quel guerrier io fossi! Celeste Aida - Carlo Bergonzi
16. Emani: Ernani! Ernani involami - Joan Sutherland
17. Un Ballo in Maschera: Di tu se fedele - Jussi Bjorling
18. Un Ballo in Maschera: Morro ma prima in grazia - Margaret Price
19. Luisa Miller: Quando le sere al placido - Luciano Pavarotti
20. Aida: Gloria all'Egitto - Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Tracks:

1. Requiem: Dies irae - Wiener Philharmoniker
2. La forza del destino: Pace pace mio Dio - Angela Gheorghiu
3. Rigoletto: Questa o quella - Carlo Bergonzi
4. Rigoletto: Bella figlia dell'amore - Luciano Pavarotti
5. Otello: Ave Maria - Renee Fleming
6. La Traviata: Parigi o cara - Frank Lopardo
7. Macbeth: Ah la paterna mano - Luciano Pavarotti
8. Il Trovatore: Squilli echeggi la tromba guerriera - Chicago Symphony Orchestra And Chorus
9. Don Carlo: O Carlo ascolta - Dmitri Hvorostovsky
10. Requiem: Ingemisco - Luciano Pavarotti
11. Simon Baccanegra: Come in quest'ora bruna - Kiri Te Kanawa
12. Macbeth: Salve o Re! Si colmi il calice - Lucia Aliberti
13. Aida: O patria mia - Leontyne Price
14. I lombardi: La mia letizia infondere - Placido Domingo
15. Aida: Lo sguardo avea degli angeli - Montserrat Caballe
16. La forza del destino: Solenne in quest'ora - Nikolai Putilin
17. Macbeth: Patria opressa - Chicago Symphony Orchestra And Chorus
18. Il Trovatore: Tacea la notte - Katia Ricciarelli
19. I due Foscari: Dal piu remoto esilio - Odio solo ed odio atroce - Jose Carreras
20. Don Carlo: Spuntato ecco il di esultanza - Orchestra E Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano

Customer Reviews:

OKAY, TAKE ME AWAY........2006-01-20

I don't know opera.

Last summer we had an incredible 20th anniversary trip to Italy. As a side trip from Venice, we planned a night in Verona. Neither my wife or I had been to an opera.

Is this how its supposed to be...

...an incredible star filled night with a three quarter moon, the largest stage and outdoor theatrical production on the planet, all taking place in a roman colleseum (arena) built in 180 a.d., an incredible colorful set and production with a full symphony orchestra and voices that don't come easy. Aida.

Now I know what all the hpye is as you opera fans sure are lucky to have such a beautiful setting for all your productions.

Okay, we got spoiled. But I also found myself getting spoiled on the Italian composer Verdi.

For me, this set is not only a "take me back to Verona" trip, but a great introduction to Verdi's other works. With some of the biggest names in the opera world in starring roles, I listened to both discs twice the first night they arrived.

And, of course, we are planning a return trip to Verona in the very near future to see some more Verdi...perhaps Nabucco or Otello or Macbeth...I'll even settle for Aida again. It was such a magical experience and a superb introduction to opera and Verdi.

This set continues that magical moment for us and provides a great introduction to a master of the opera...Verdi.

Great music...stunning recording quality.......2002-11-01

This is a marvelous compendium of Verdi's opera works that even the serious opera fan wouldn't turn his nose up at. These are the top contemporary soloists singing with first tier orchestras. When I saw the Decca label, I expected reasonable quality, but this disk is stunningly well engineered. Most of the vocals match the best jazz cds for immediacy and intimacy, and the orchestras are equally well done.

Incredible.......2002-06-05

I don't say incredible about too many things, but Verdi was the zenith of Italian Opera and Solti and the Chicago Symphony and the Vienna Philharmonic are the quintessential ensembles for modern classical performance. Not to mention that most of the voices showcased have their own lines of CDs (Pavarotti, etc.) This CD is the best Verdi album available, and it has EVERYTHING. BUY THIS CD!

Just Stunning!.......2002-01-26

In my opinion this recording is stunning. I am not usually a fan of compilations in classical music, as they're usually watered down representations made under the presumption that the listener would find the full-blown version intimidating or boring. This one, however, is not only an exception in my view, but a recording that deserves a high place of honor in every serious listener's collection. The representation of artists, both vocal and orchestral, is breathtaking and impressive for the span of years. A great big thank you to the people at Decca responsible for putting this collection together, as it is obvious to this listener that a great deal of thought and care went into looking for the most beautiful version of every piece on here. I have purchased two copies, one for home and one for the office, and have gotten two friends similarly hooked. I am also feverishly searching for more pairings of Joan Sutherland and Carlo Bergonzi. In the meantime, I'm on to Essential Puccini!!

Average customer rating:

Story Of Verdi In Words And Music Manufacturer: Vox (Classical) ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | 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 Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Children's Music | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs Under $7 | Requiems | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Requiems | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Story of Tchaikovsky Story Of Johann Strauss In Words And Music The Story Of Brahms Story Of Dvorák In Words And Music Story Of Wagner In Words And Music ASIN: B000001KDJ Release Date: 1995-04-16

Tracks:

1. La forza del destino: Overture
2. Aida: Ballet
3. Otello: Drinking Song
4. Otello: Ave Maria
5. La forza del destino: Overture
6. Requiem: Requiem aeternam
7. Un Ballo in Maschera: Eri tu, Che Macchiavi
8. Nabucco: Chorus Of The Hebrew Slaves
9. Aida: Ballet
10. Rigoletto: La Donna e Mobile
11. Requiem: Agnus Dei
12. Anvil Chorus
13. La Traviata: Libiamo (Drinking Song)
14. La Traviata: Sempre Libera
15. La forza del destino: Solenne in Quest'Ora
16. La forza del destino: Pace, Pace, Mio Dio
17. Aida: Celeste Aida
18. Aida: O Patria Mia
19. Requiem: Dies Irae
20. Otello: Opening
21. Falstaff: L'Onore! Ladri!
22. La Traviata: Addio Del Passato
23. Il Trovatore: Stride la Vampa
24. Nabucco: Chorus Of The Hebrew Slaves
25. Aida: Chorus And Triumphal March From Act II
26. La forza del destino: Pace, Pace, From Scene 4
27. Aida: Qui Radames verra, From Scene 3

Average customer rating: Not as good as Amore a voice teacher and early music fan Verdi The triumph of mediocrity no expert

Andrea Bocelli: Verdi Zubin Mehta , Israel Philharmonic Orchestra , and Zubin Mehta Manufacturer: Philips ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Bocelli, Andrea | ( B ) | Featured Performers, 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 Bocelli, Andrea | A to B | Featured Performers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Andrea Bocelli - The Opera Album ~ Aria Cieli di Toscana Andrea Romanza Sogno ASIN: B00004X16D Release Date: 2000-09-12

Tracks:

1. Il Trovatore: Di quella pira (Il Trovatore)
2. Il Trovatore: Ah si, ben mio (Il trovatore)
3. Rigoletto: La donna e mobile (Rigoletto)
4. Un Ballo in Maschera: Di'tu se fedele (Un ballo in maschera)
5. Un Ballo in Maschera: Ma se m'e forza perditi (Un ballo in maschera)
6. Rigoletto: Ella mi fu rapita (Rigoletto)
7. Rigoletto: Possente amor mi chiama (Rigoletto)
8. Aida: Celeste Aida (Aida)
9. La Traviata: De' miei bollenti spiriti (La traviata)
10. La Traviata: oh mio rimorso (La traviata)
11. I lombardi: La mia letizia infondere vorrei (I lombardi)
12. Ernani: Merce, diletti amici (Ernani)
13. Don Carlo: Io la vidi e il suo sorriso (Don Carlo)
14. Luisa Miller: Quando le sere al placido (Luisa Miller)
15. La forza del destino: La vita e inferno all'infelice (La forza del destino)

Amazon.com Classical Music Reviews

With this CD devoted solely to operatic arias--by none less than Giuseppe Verdi, the greatest Italian opera composer of all time--pop crossover phenomenon Andrea Bocelli throws his hat into the operatic ring with the big boys. The hat occasionally fits, and occasionally it doesn't. The beauty of the voice is undeniable, as is the relative ease in all registers. But, regardless of what the engineers do, it is clearly a small voice. For "Celeste Aïda"--Radames's great aria from Aïda--Bocelli opens with fine, as-big-as-possible exclamation and sounds confident; the long diminuendo on the aria's final high B-flat is stunning (whether or not the engineers were twiddling with the knobs, we'll never know). The tenor is more at home with Alfredo's Act Two music from La Traviata; he sings with grace and charm, ending the rarely performed cabaletta (a brief and showy piece that usually follows an aria) with one of the longest, most solid high Cs ever recorded. Elsewhere, there are mixed results: "Di' tu se fedele" from Un ballo in maschera is so free of feeling that it seems digitally produced. A big, unnecessary high D at the close of the Duke's cabaletta "Possente amor" from Rigoletto is screamed, and Bocelli sounds at times as if he's about to collapse from exhaustion during a heavy aria from Ernani. But "Ah si, ben mio" from Il Trovatore is beautiful, as is the Luisa Miller aria; Don Carlo also seems to fit Bocelli well. Needless to say, the singer's fans will certainly want to have this--and it might encourage them to try other recordings of music by Verdi. Newcomers and the curious will find plenty to admire, too. The sound itself remains alluring, and Bocelli has taken steps also towards improving his technique. In short, some nice surprises for the opera lover, and many for the Bocelli fan. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Not as good as Amore.......2007-03-24

This CD came perfectly, I just prefer the Amore CD better.

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2007-02-14

It is said that from the age of eleven years, Guiseppe Verdi (1813-1901) wanted to write operas. He left his post as organist to study music in Milan, a move made possbile by his patron,Barezzi, whose daughter he eventually married in 1836. Shortly thereafter he composed his first opera 'Oberto" which was so successful that his future seemed secure. However, the death of his wife and two babies some time later forced him into a state of depression. The impressario Mirelli gave him the book 'Nabucco' (Nebuchadnezzar) to read, and he immediately began to write music for it. Therewith he embarked on the career which eventually made him the "Grand Old Man" of Italian opera. In modern slang, he was a "natural".From "Oberto", written in his twenties, to "Falstaff", completed when he was eighty, his characteristic integrity and intensity persisted; as he wrote his 30 operas, his powers of expression broadened and deepened. By the time he wrote 'Aida', commissioned by the Khedive of Egypt, Verdi was 56. 'Aida' is often named as his greatest opera. The live elephants used in the production, the authentic costumes and musical instruments copied from ancient Egyptian tombs made an attractive picture, and his music made a "Celeste Aida" of the whole.
Lets face it; Bocelli is no Pavoratti, and perhaps it was not wise to choose some of the arias associated with tenors of his ilk, but Bocelli makes the best of his talents, which are considerable. And he has done a lot to create interest among young voice students,(male) and as a voice teacher I make use of his appearance and his youthfulness to engage their interest, and he does that!!!!I think his record sales tell the tale.

Verdi.......2007-01-03

Excellent Verdi selections. As usual, top tonal quality with excellent breath control. The best tenor to come along with such diversification as to sing just about anything presented to him. A superb choice for the connoisseur of italian operas.

The triumph of mediocrity.......2006-02-04

No, Bocelli is not an awful singer, he is an awful OPERA singer, and it shows here. His colorless, uneducated and bland voice make me wonder why people like him so much. As a baritone in training I'm able to say that my voice teacher's STUDENTS sing much better than this guy.
His tessitura is nowere near adequate for singing any of the arias from Rigoletto, "La donna è mobile" sounds much like a kid would sing it. "Celeste Aida" is one of the worst selections, and one of the most electronically enhanced, as it requires a precise voice placement (which Bocelli doesn't posses) since much of it lies very high in the register, and a heavier, rounder voice; if the role is not adequate for many REAL tenors, it is much less adequate for a pop singer. The "feeling" raving reviewers talk about is nothing more than a voice coming (incorrectly) from the throat, and the "beautiful" high D in "Possente amor" is a beautifully screamed falsetto, the same could be said about "Di quella pira"'s C; what's amazing about all this is the fact that electronic enhancement doesn't make his voice sound better. Some have ludicrously compared him to the likes of Vargas, Domingo, and Corelli, even saying he's better; this is nothing more than ignorance and bad taste.
Maybe his fans are tired of detractors bringing out the big names in their defense, so let's be honest: he's one of the WORST opera interpreters out there, I wish great singers like Mariusz Kwiecen, Matthew Polenzani, and René Pape received the publicity he gets, though it won't happen; at least some consolation lies in the fact that these people are true artists willingly and GLADLY offering their art to the people in order to make a living; I'm sure if Andrea didn't make so much $$$$ with his opera experiment, he would've dropped this travesty long ago.

no expert.......2005-12-17

I'm not a genuine, dyed-in -the-wool opera fan. The sound of the soprano voice makes me grit my teeth. Some of the great tenors are very pleasing, but mostly I'm just not especially enthusiastic or impressed. Actually, I think it's rather stupid for good singers to abuse their voices by bellowing. This was necessary before the invention of amplification, but not any more.
So, obviously, I'm not in the position to compare Bocelli's arias to those of the tenors considered the greats. I can hear that his voice lacks the robustness of the Pavarottis of this world. BUT - I like many of the famous arias, and to my ear, Bocelli's performances, electronically enhanced or not, are melodic and pleasant to the ear. As a result of listening to Bocelli, I've become familiar with some great music that I would otherwise be likely to ignore.
So I listen and enjoy and really don't care about all the criticism.

Average customer rating: Complete Solti/Bergonzi Ballo Released Another dazzled listener Sublime indeed The sublime vocal artist Blown away!

Carlo Bergonzi - The Sublime Voice ~ 40 Tracks from the Legendary Tenor Giuseppe Verdi , Giacomo Puccini , Ruggiero Leoncavallo , Pietro Mascagni , Amilcare Ponchielli , Tullio Serafin , Herbert von Karajan , Georg Solti , Rafael Kubelik , Nello Santi , Gianandrea Gavazzeni , Lamberto Gardelli , Sir John Pritchard , Carlo Bergonzi , Renata Tebaldi , Ettore Bastianini , Fiorenza Cossotto , Enzo Sordello , Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau , Tugomir Franc , Renata Scotto , Libero Arbace , Fernando Corena , Birgit Nilsson , Giulietta Simionato , Sylvia Stahlman , Joan Sutherland , Dora Carral , and Piero de Palma Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD 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 Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Bergonzi, Carlo | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, 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 General | Pop | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Carlo Bergonzi - Italian Songs ~ Bellini · Verdi · Danza · Tosti · Donizetti · Rossini · Mascagni · Puccini The Very Best of Franco Corelli The Very Best of Beniamino Gigli The Very Best of Giuseppe di Stefano The Very Best of Nicolai Gedda ASIN: B00004C8TH Release Date: 2001-06-12

Tracks:

1. La Boheme: Che Gelida Manina - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi/Rodolfo Gianna D'Angelo/Ettore Bastianini
2. La Boheme: O Soave Fanciulla - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi/Rodolfo Gianna D'Angelo/Ettore Bastianini
3. La Boheme: Mimi E Tanto Malata - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi/Rodolfo Gianna D'Angelo/Ettore Bastianini
4. La Boheme: Dunque E Proprio Finita! - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi/Rodolfo Gianna D'Angelo/Ettore Bastianini
5. La Boheme: In Un Coupe?... O Mimi, Tu Piu Non Torni - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi/Rodolfo Gianna D'Angelo/Ettore Bastianini
6. Madama Butterfly: Dovunque Al Mondo - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi/Fiorenza Cossotto/Enzo Sordello
7. Madama Butterfly: Vogliatemi Bene - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi/Fiorenza Cossotto/Enzo Sordello
8. Madama Butterfly: Io So Che Alle Sue Pene - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi/Fiorenza Cossotto/Enzo Sordello
9. Madama Butterfly: Addio, Fiorito Asil - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi/Fiorenza Cossotto/Enzo Sordello
10. Cavalleria Rusticana: Ah! Io Vedi, Che Hai Tu Detto? - Carlo Bergonzi/Fiorenza Cossotto
11. Pagliacci: Recitar!... Vesti La Giubba - Carlo Bergonzi
12. Don Carlo: Dio, Che Nell'alma Infondere - Carlo Bergonzi/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Tugomir Franc/Chor Of The ROHCG
13. Rigoletto: Questa O Quella - Carlo Bergonzi/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Renata Scotto/Fiorenza Cossotto
14. Rigoletto: Ella Mi Fu Rapita! - Carlo Bergonzi/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Renata Scotto/Fiorenza Cossotto
15. Rigoletto: Parmi Veder Le Lagrime - Carlo Bergonzi/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Renata Scotto/Fiorenza Cossotto
16. Rigoletto: Possente Amor Mi Chiama - Carlo Bergonzi/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Renata Scotto/Fiorenza Cossotto
17. Rigoletto: La Donna E Mobile - Carlo Bergonzi/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Renata Scotto/Fiorenza Cossotto
18. Rigoletto: Bella Figlia Dell'amore - Carlo Bergonzi/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Renata Scotto/Fiorenza Cossotto
19. Otello: Dio! Mi Potevi Scagliar - Carlo Bergonzi

Tracks:

1. Un Ballo In Maschera: La Rivedra Nell'estasi - Carlo Bergonzi/Birgit Nilsson/Giulietta Simionato/Sylvia Stahlman/Fernando Corena/Libero Arbace...
2. Un Ballo In Maschera: Di' Tu Se Fedele - Carlo Bergonzi/Birgit Nilsson/Giulietta Simionato/Sylvia Stahlman/Fernando Corena/Libero Arbace...
3. Un Ballo In Maschera: E' Scherzo Od E Follia - Carlo Bergonzi/Birgit Nilsson/Giulietta Simionato/Sylvia Stahlman/Fernando Corena/Libero Arbace...
4. Un Ballo In Maschera: Teco Io Sto - Carlo Bergonzi/Birgit Nilsson/Giulietta Simionato/Sylvia Stahlman/Fernando Corena/Libero Arbace...
5. Un Ballo In Maschera: Forse La Soglia Attinse - Carlo Bergonzi/Birgit Nilsson/Giulietta Simionato/Sylvia Stahlman/Fernando Corena/Libero Arbace...
6. Un Ballo In Maschera: Ma Se M'e Forza Perderti - Carlo Bergonzi/Birgit Nilsson/Giulietta Simionato/Sylvia Stahlman/Fernando Corena/Libero Arbace...
7. Tosca: E Lucevan Le Stelle - Carlo Bergonzi
8. Manon Lescaut: Donna Non Vidi Mai - Carlo Bergonzi
9. Aida: Se Quel Guerrier Io Fossie!... Celeste Aida - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi
10. Aida: Pur Ti Riveggo, Mia Dolce Aida - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi
11. La Gioconda: Cielo E Mar! - Carlo Bergonzi
12. La Traviata: Un Di Felice, Eterea - Carlo Bergonzi/Joan Sutherland/Dora Carral/Piero De Palma/Chor Del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
13. La Traviata: Lunge Da Lei - Carlo Bergonzi/Joan Sutherland/Dora Carral/Piero De Palma/Chor Del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
14. La Traviata: De' Miei Bollenti Spiriti - Carlo Bergonzi/Joan Sutherland/Dora Carral/Piero De Palma/Chor Del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
15. La Traviata: O Mio Rimorso! - Carlo Bergonzi/Joan Sutherland/Dora Carral/Piero De Palma/Chor Del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
16. La Traviata: Parigi, O Cara - Carlo Bergonzi/Joan Sutherland/Dora Carral/Piero De Palma/Chor Del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
17. Il Trovatore: Deserto Sulla Terra - Carlo Bergonzi/Ettore Bastianini/Chor Del Teatro All Scalla Di Milano
18. Il Trovatore: Ah! Si, Ben Mio - Carlo Bergonzi/Ettore Bastianini/Chor Del Teatro All Scalla Di Milano
19. Il Trovatore: Di Quella Pira - Carlo Bergonzi/Ettore Bastianini/Chor Del Teatro All Scalla Di Milano
20. Adriana Lecouvreur: La Dolcissima Effigie - Carlo Bergonzi
21. Adriana Lecouvreur: L'anima Ho Stanca - Carlo Bergonzi

Customer Reviews:

Complete Solti/Bergonzi Ballo Released.......2007-04-24

No need to add to what the other reviewers say about this five-star collection. I am writing to alert readers that on April 10, 2007 Decca released the complete recording of Un Ballo in Maschera with Bergonzi, Nilsson, Stahlman, Simionato, and MacNeil, conducted by Solti. To read my detailed review of that release, bring the product up on Amazon.

Another dazzled listener.......2006-12-12

I had to write the same thing for the Sony Classical recording of a Bergonzi recital of Italian songs--this is simply one of the most passionate and intelligent singers I have ever heard, and he sounds as good or better now than when I first played one of his records 25 years ago. Anyone who has the slightest shred of interest in the operatic voice should own this collection from one of the truest and most passionate tenors in recorded history.

Sublime indeed.......2006-05-31

I first came to appreciate the artistry that is Carlo Bergonzi on his magnificnt recording of Butterly with Renata Scotto. Later I got the privelege of hearing him several times in person. He was among the most intelligent of tenors. He knew his voice well and how to use that voice to convey the drama and music in a wonderful combination.

If you appreciate Bergozni, this recording will remind you why. If you are not familiar with "The Tenor's Tenor", you will find out why he has that title. However, in addition to the magnificent Bergonzi, you also get wonderful performances from partners such as Tebaldi, Birgit Nilsson, Sutherland, Scotto, Fischer-Dieskau and Cossotto.

I can only find fault with a couple of the selections. First and foremost is that Bergonzi should never have even attempted the Dio Mi Potevi from Otello. That is the only performance that is in anyway subpar. It is unlike any other performance on this recording (or any other time I heard Bergonzi) -- forced. I would have far preferred a version of Una Furtiva Lagrima, which Bergonzi could sing the sock off of. Or given the presence of E Lucevan Stelle, couldn't they have included Recondita Armonia instead? The only other very minor complaint is the pairing with Nilsson . The duet is fine until the very end. On the final high C you can't even hear Bergonzi due to the sheer size of Nilsson's voice. The music and performance of both are wonderful, but a perfect Alfredo and perfect Brunnhilde do not necessarily mesh. But that is a minor quibble. Aside from a disappearing Carlo, it is quite a wonderful performance.

On the plus side a few things particularly stand out. To me, this is simply the best recording ever of Cielo e Mar. The sections with Tebaldi (Boheme and Butterfly and Aida in particuar) are fabulous. Other standouts include the quartet from Rigoletto with Scotto, Cossotto and Fischer-Dieskau and the Cavelleria duet with Cossotto.

All in all, this is, with a few minor exceptions, a magnificent collection of the best of Carlo Bergonzi.

The sublime vocal artist.......2003-08-15

I have seen most of the great tenors of the past 50 years at the Met: Corelli, Tucker, Vickers, Gedda, Pavarotti, Domingo, etc.. For me, Bergonzi over all, was the superior Italian Opera tenor. His legato, agility, breath control, tasteful musicianship, diction, was superior to most of the great tenors. He was outstanding as Nemorino and Rhadames; Edgardo and Alvaro etc.. This CD shows him at his very best, which is a joy to hear. This CD is a must vocal lesson for any aspiring young tenor, as Carlo Bergonzi is a master singer.

Blown away!.......2003-01-20

This album brings Carlo Bregonzi to life. This is a view from all angels. He commands such an array of singing styles.
No one brings the great composers to life the way Carlo Bergonzi does.

Buy this album!

Average customer rating: Verdi is rolling in his grave Nice sound, but an all time great? Oh dear oh dear... You're kidding, right? The New Pavarotti

Salvatore Licitra - The Debut Giuseppe Verdi , and Carlo Rizzi Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Forbidden Love Duetto Marcelo Álvarez - Bel Canto / Y. Huang, WNO, Rizzi The Man Who Cried The Tenor's Passion ASIN: B000068TL8 Release Date: 2002-07-02

Tracks:

1. Puccini: Tosca: E lucevan le stelle
2. Puccini: Turandot: Nessun dorma
3. Puccini: La Fanciulla Del West: Ch'ella mi creda
4. Puccini: Tosca: Recondita armonia
5. Puccini: Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai
6. Puccini: Madama Butterfly: Addio fiorito asil
7. Verdi: Aida: Celeste Aida
8. Verdi: La Forza Del Destino: La vita e inferno...Oh tu che in seno
9. Verdi: Simon Boccanegra: Sento avvampar nell'anima
10. Verdi: Un Ballo In Maschera: Baccarole: Di tu se fedele
11. Verdi: Un Ballo In Maschera: Forse la soglia attinse
12. Verdi: Macbeth: Ah! La paterna mano
13. Verdi: Il Trovatore: Manrico? Che?...Di quella pira

Amazon.com

Tenor Salvatore Licitra recently made headlines when he stepped in at the last moment for the, sad to say, probably finished Luciano Pavarotti at the Metropolitan Opera's final Toscas of the season. In fact, there's little Licitra could have done wrong under the circumstances, but he was a great success, and judging from his recent Trovatore and this recital CD, he will be most welcome. The good-sized, somewhat dark-hued voice is appealing--and truly Italian--with an innate caressing quality and sense of line, even from top to bottom (he takes the very low option in the Ballo Barcarolle, which most tenors take up an octave), and nice and free on top. He has no trouble sustaining the high tessitura (or big sound and broad phrases) of Alvaro's aria from Forza; he sounds sincerely regretful as the caddish Pinkerton, and might even be the Dick Johnson (in Fanciulla) we've been looking for. This is an impressive debut recital, recommended for those who have been waiting for Italian opera to fall back into the hands of an Italian tenor. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Verdi is rolling in his grave.......2007-02-24

Untrained, flat singing. Crap! Anyone who thinks this man can sing better than Luciano Pavarotti needs hearing aids and needs to go back and listen to tenors starting with Caruso and all the great tenors who came after him
As a voice teacher, conductor and tenor I can tell you that he CAN NOT SING!!!!

Nice sound, but an all time great?.......2007-01-09

I am hardly an expert, but I have mixed reactions to this CD. First, I think that Licitra's voice has a nice smooth sound to it. But it is also overmatched by some of the music.

I always love hearing tenors take a shot at Verdi's "Di quella pira" from "Il Trovatore." Once, in a moment of madness, I taped 10-15 tenors, back to back, singing this. What a range of singers! Caruso, Tucker, Corelli, and so on, and so on. Some great, some not so great, some poor. But you can really divide up the singers by listening to one after the other (ad nauseam). Truthfully, Licitra can't handle this work, compared with the greatest of those luminaries. His light voice is overwhelmed at the end by the orchestra and chorus. While his technique seems okay, he just doesn't have the voice to make this memorable. A Franco Corelli or Richard Tucker or Mario del Monaco just soars over the orchestra and chorus.

I thought he did much better in "Nessun Dorma" and the two Tosca arias, "E Lucevan le stella" and "Recondita armonia," and others. To me, his voice seemed to fit those more compellingly.

Again, keep in mind that I am not an expert, but his "Celeste Aida" featured (is this the right term?) scooping as he went from "celeste" to "Aida." I have a clear memory of listening to Richard Tucker singing this (I can't get my hands on the tape right now) where he went from one note to the other without a scoop. Same with "forma divina," if I understand aright.

All in all, "Debut" is a nice work, a promising start to a career, but we all ought to hold off on any comparisons with the greats until Licitra has a chance to grow and earn such accolades.

Oh dear oh dear..........2006-10-29

It gives me no pleasure at all to say that anyone with half an ear for good singing can tell within a few seconds that this is a voice going nowhere -as the last few years since this debut recital album have proved. This makes the previous rave reviews even more inexplicable; where do these people keep their ears? Licitra's technique is fundamentally faulty: he has a slow wobble even in the lower reaches of the voice and as he goes up the tone becomes cloudy and throaty - real problems around the so-called "passaggio" where a tenor can easily crack into the falsetto. The overall effect is of an ugly, unharmonious, effortful sound made by an improperly registered voice. He needs to start from scratch and listen to some better voices -as there are virtually no teachers who can help. That's how Del Monaco and Corelli got it right. Robert Levine is usually a very reliable critic - but his mind cannot have been focused on the job in hand if he truly believed what he wrote in the official Amazon review; NJ Keith, on the other hand, is spot on.

You're kidding, right?.......2006-08-22

I'm sorry, but those of you swooning over Licitra simply cannot have heard recordings from the true greats. If your idea of the pinnacle of operatic tenors begins and ends with Bocelli, may I introduce you to the likes of Franco Corelli, Mario Del Monaco, Jussi Bjoerling, Luciano Pavarotti (though not my favorite, still heads and shoulders above what's out there now), and Giuseppe DiStefano. These men were at the top of their profession when their profession was filled with talent, unlike today where any hack with more than one useful octave and a decent tone are considered "star material". It's a very sad commentary to the level of talent today that this man is considered a star.

The New Pavarotti.......2005-10-13

It's fair to say that today's reigning tenor is Salvatore Licitra from Sicily. He won instant, overnight fame when he subbed for Luciano Pavarotti, who, to the dismay of fans who regard him as a god, is way past his prime and can't sing or record full length operas anymore in the thrilling freshness of his youth. As Pavarotti's star faded, Licitra's ascended. He has already sung the great tenor roles in various American opera houses and his debut as the Met as Cavaradossi in Tosca was a relevation. This is debut album and already he has gone above and beyond. It is pretty amazing for a first album. He sings jucity tenor roles that have been the staple arias for Pavoratti, Domingo and Carreras. This is however not the first time his voice has been recorded. There is a full-length studio recording of Verdi's Trovatore in which he sins opposite Dolora Zajick. That Verdi is phenomenal and all fans of Licitra should own it.

Licitra opens the album with a stunning "E Lucevan La Stelle" from Tosca, still the opera he is most famous for interepreting. His Cavaradossi is a welcome change from past interpretors, though Licitra is more along the lines of Pavarotti's lyric bravura and razzle-dazzle than the more cerebral portrayals of Corelli, Domingo or Carrerras. Other impressive arias on here include "Di Quella Pira" from Trovatore, another successful Verdi venture of his. He has the right tone for Manrico's bravura and even passion. I foresee that this tenor's career will be composed of Verdi, Puccini, (perhaps Wagner if he trains hard for it) and certainly he has the voice for Mozart and French repertoire (possibly Hoffman is in his future or Romeo or Des Grieux if he hasnt already sung Des Grieux). His Calaf from Turandot is outstanding. He is more like Franco Corelli in some respects but his biggest influence is Pavarotti, no doubt about it. It's possible he will parallel the career of Roberto Alagna but any comparisons would be unfair since both singers bring in something different to the table. Let's hope the press doesn't pull the wool over our eyes and have Licitra and Alagna portrayed as rivals. If youre a fan of Licitra, this recording is a must have. I highly recommend it. It's gorgeous and he has a sexy, strong presence on stage. His eyes are the handsomest blue I have ever seen. He is the new Pavoratti and better too.

Average customer rating: Voice of the 20th Century.. The OTHER essential Bjoerling CD; 10 stars! 20!

Jussi Bjorling: Opera Arias Giacomo Puccini , Umberto Giordano , Francesco Cilea , Giacomo Meyerbeer , Charles Gounod , Jules Massenet , Friedrich von Flotow , Gioachino Rossini , Nils Grevillius , and Jussi Bjorling 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 Flotow | Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by 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 Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Björling, Jussi | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Donizetti, Gaetano | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | 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 Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Jussi Björling Rediscovered Artists Of The Century - Jussi Bjorling, The Ultimate Collection The "Pearl Fishers" Duet Very Best of Jussi Björling: Opera Arias ASIN: B000002S05 Release Date: 2002-11-05

Tracks:

1. Act II: 'Una furtiva lagrima': L'Elisir d'Amore
2. Act III: 'Ah! si ben mio coll'essere': Verdi: Il Trovatore
3. Act I: Di tu se fedele': Un Ballo in Maschera
4. Act I: 'Se quel guerrier': Aida
5. Act I: 'Recitar!...Vesti la giubba': I Pagliacci
6. Act I: 'Che gelida manina': La Boh
7. Act I: 'O soave fanciulla': La Boh
8. Act I: 'Recondita armonia': Tosca
9. Act Three: 'E lucevan le stelle': Tosca
10. Act Three: 'Ch'ella mi creda libero': La Fanciulla del West
11. Act Three: 'Nessun dorma!': Turandot
12. Act Three: 'Amor ti vieta': Fedora
13. Act II: 'E la solita storia': L'Arlesiana
14. 'Mi batte, il cor... O paradiso': L'Africaine
15. Act III: 'Salut! demeure chaste et pure': Faust
16. Act III: 'Je suis seul!...Ah, fuyez, douce image': Manon
17. Act III: 'M appari tutt'amor': Martha
18. Cujus animan: Stabat Mater

Customer Reviews:

Voice of the 20th Century.........2000-07-13

Björling tops most polls as "singer of the 20th century", and justly so. Whether one prefers his velvety,lyrically smooth voice of the 30s and 40s, or his more full-bodied, darker power-tenor of the late 50s (he was ready to take on Lohengrin and Otello just before his death), no other human voice has left a legacy of Björling's caliber in recording history.

This collection is a wonderful presentation of the young Björling. His voice was said to have a direct appeal to emotions. Listen to "Ch'ella mi creda libero" with its almost extraterrestial "lift" and try to keep the lump in your throat from growing!

The-37 "O Paradiso" is a fantastic display of power blended with beauty - which is also the case with the Tosca arias presented here.

"Che Gelida Manina" is by many regarded as Björling's signature aria, just as "La Boheme" was said to be his signature opera. The -36 version here shows Björling aged 25 with wonderful silvery tone and grasp of message, problems with Italian pronounciation or not.

Björling never lapsed into self parodic sobbing or exaggerated shouts or gliding "loops" to get a message across. He insisted on sticking to what the composer actually had written down...and within these vocal restraints, Björling still managed to portray an unexplored universe of human feelings. "Vesti La Giubba" is a good example of this: no sobbing or bitter laughter but downright hartbreaking nonetheless. True art!

His -44 studio version of "Nessun Dorma" makes an interesting comparison with his -59 recording from the complete Turandot. Touch and go which one to go for as the second or third best version of "...Dorma" ever in recording history. The shining beacon is in my opinion from a radio concert in Sweden in 1944, where Björling for once actually DOES go beyond the strict readings of the work. His final B just stretches on and on and on into eternity - read heaven.

As for his famous ringing high notes, his final D flat on Cujus Animan may be THE one most beautiful sound I've ever heard from a human being!

If you do not have any Björling CDs, this may be a perfect introduction to his art.

And where to go from there? Well,"O Paradiso" is one of many excellent collections from the 50s. There's also a Norwegian compilation called "jussi's Beste" (which sold to platinum in Norway 35 years after his death...). This CD contains among other highlights the wonderful Christmas song "O Helga Natt", in which the final high note is sung with such force that it threatens to blow your speakers to oblivion, never mind your ears...(if it is the last sound I will ever hear, it is OK by me...).

If you want a complete opera recording, you just have to invest your hard earned cash (or bank credit as is the case with me) on Beechams "La Boheme".

Someone said elsewhere that once you have listened to Björling, you may never want to listen to any other tenor...ever: HOW VERY TRUE!

The OTHER essential Bjoerling CD; 10 stars! 20!.......1999-03-15

Along with the "Pearl Fishers Duet" CD, to me this is the other essential Bjoerling. (The more than 2 dozen friends who've received those 2 CDs as a gift can testify to that!)

The "Vesti" is completely heartbreaking, maybe because there's none of the histrionic sobbing that usually accompanies it. And of course there is that 1945 recording of "Nessun dorma!", which I have seen referred to as one of the 5 greatest recordings of all time. The arias from Tosca are also outstanding. The only addition that would make this perfect CD "even more perfect" would be the inclusion of the Gonoud "Ah! Leve-toi, soleil!"

Although I have loved classical music since I was a kid, until Jussi every tenor I ever heard sounded like an opera parody. Jussi is different; he doesn't make you think "Now there's a guy taking a deep breath and singing loud." To steal a line from Amadeus, when he opens his mouth you "hear the voice of God"; absolute, divine beauty, untainted by ego or eccentricity. that seems to flow without strain or effort.

The only risk in listening to this (or, perhaps, any other Bjoerling) CD? You may never, ever be satisfied with any other voice.

Average customer rating: The Best Absolutely wonderful!

Tutto Pavarotti Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Boito, Arrigo | ( 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 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 Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works Featuring Luciano Pavarotti | Pavarotti, Luciano | ( P ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Adam, Adolphe-Charles | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Boito, Arrigo | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Bixio, Cesare Andrea | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Donizetti, Gaetano | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Giordano, Umberto | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cardillo, Salvatore | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Capua, Eduardo di | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Flotow, Friedrich von | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Mascagni, Pietro | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Massenet, Jules | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Meyerbeer, Giacomo | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Ponchielli, Amilcare | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Puccini, Giacomo | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Rossini, Gioacchino | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000009I87 Release Date: 1989-04-28

Tracks:

1. Caruso
2. 'o Sole Mio
3. 'a Vucchella
4. Core 'Ngrato
5. Passione
6. Mamma
7. Cantique De Noel (O Holy Night)
8. Agnus Dei
9. Cuius Animam
10. Se Quel Guerrier Io Fossi...Celeste Aida
11. Una Furtiva Lagrima
12. Com'e Gentil
13. Oh! Fede Negar Potessi...Quando Le Sere Al Placido
14. Lunge Da Lei...De' Miei Bollenti Spiriti
15. Di Qual Tetra Luce
16. La Donna E Mobile
17. La Rivedra Nell'estasi
18. Cielo E Mar
19. M'apparrTutt'amor
20. La Fleur Que Tu M'avais Jet
21. Pourquoi Me Rellier
22. Mi Batte Il Cour
23. Dai Campi, Dai Prati
24. Vesti La Giubba
25. Addio Alla Madre
26. Amor Ti Vieta
27. Ch'ella Mi Creda
28. E Lucevan Le Stelle
29. Donna Non Vidi Mai
30. Che Gelida Manina
31. Nessun Dorma

Customer Reviews:

The Best.......2007-01-12

If you appreciate Pavarotti you will love this 2 disk set. I actually bought this twice over the years. Some of the best passages from the best Operas and the recording is outstanding. Well worth the price.

Absolutely wonderful!.......2006-09-25

I've owned this collection since 1991 and to this day it's become an absolute reference for me, constantly being played over and over again. Pavarotti at his very best! A very complete and representative collection of tenor songs, oratorio and opera arias in a 2CD presentation.

Average customer rating: The Incomparable LEONTYNE PRICE: "The Stradivarius of Singers"!! Leontyne Price: The Ultimate Collection The true prima donna asoluta Fabulous singing, Overblown orchestras Fabulous!

Leontyne Price: The Ultimate Collection Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Barber | Barber, Samuel | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | 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 Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Purcell, Henry | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Purcell, Henry | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | 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 General | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Price, Leontyne | ( P ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Barber, Samuel | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Berlioz, Hector | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Gershwin, George | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Massenet, Jules | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Puccini, Giacomo | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Purcell, Henry | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Strauss, Richard | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Price, Leontyne | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Essential Leontyne Price: Spirituals, Hymns & Sacred Songs Rediscovered (Dig) Leontyne Price Christmas Songs Chants de Noel.Weihnachtslieden Wiener Philharmoniker Herbert Von Karajan Verdi: Aida/Il trovatore/Puccini: Madama Butterfly/La Rondine/Tosca/Turandot In Concert ASIN: B00000J912 Release Date: 1999-05-25

Tracks:

1. Aida: Ritorna vincitor
2. Turandot: Signore, ascolta
3. Le nozze di Figaro: Porgi amor
4. Madama Butterfly: Un Bel Di
5. Manon: Adieu, notre petite table
6. Manon Lescaut: In quelle trine morbide
7. Dido & Aeneas: Thy hand...when I am laid
8. Il Trovatore: Che piu... Tacea la notte ...Di tale amor
9. Les Nuits D'ete: Sur les lagunes
10. Porgy & Bess: Summertime
11. La rondine: Chi il bel sogno
12. Carmen: Habanera
13. La forza del destino: Son giunta...Madre.
14. Vier letzte Lieder: Im Abendrot
15. Ariadne auf Naxos: Es gibt ein Reich

Tracks:

1. Aida: O Patria Mia
2. TOSCA: Vissi d'arte
3. Turandot: Tu che di gel cinta
4. Le nozze di Figaro: Susanna
5. Il Trovatore: Siam giunti
6. Un Ballo in Maschera: Morro ma prima in grazia
7. Carmen: Sequidille
8. Il re pastore: L'amero
9. Don Carlo: Tu che la vanita
10. Suor Angelica: Senza Mama
11. Anthony and Cleopatra: Give me my robe
12. Madame Butterfly: Tu? tu?
13. La forza del destino: Pace, pace mio Dio

Customer Reviews:

The Incomparable LEONTYNE PRICE: "The Stradivarius of Singers"!!.......2006-08-14

This collection is a wonderful, affordable, and welcome overview of one of Opera's greatest and beloved aritsts:the phenomenal American Superstar soprano LEONTYNE PRICE.

For those Opera-lovers who first encountered Ms. Price's magical vocalism from the recording studio, this collection includes the the entire legendary "Blue Album" which many operaphile consider to be one of the finest recordings ever. The selections gathered here vividly demonstrate the reason why Leontyne Price is regarded as the supreme VERDI soprano of her generation (30 years to date) a renowned PUCCINI specialist, and one of the greatest artists of all time. Recorded in the early 60's, Ms. Price's instrument was, in her own words "a juicy lyric". The intrinsic lyricism of her voice was aligned to warm, lustrous tone that pulsated in the middle voice, yielded a dark, uniquely sensuous sound in the lower regions, and gleamed with a distinctive, fast, liquid vibrato in the upper voice. That unique vibrato was elemental to this diva's ability to infuse Verdi and Puccini's most dramatic phrases with surging power (without pushing), and still produce lovely pianos in alt - soaring there with an ease that was singular to her, and that continued to her retirement in the 2002. Elsewhere the listener is treated to the rewards of Ms. Price's natural vocal evolution, wherein her voice developed into a full spinto with the middle throbbing, creamy, and lush, the low voice alternately chesty or breathy, slightly weaker -but retaining its smoky quality. It is in her upper voice, already superb, however, that Ms. Price revealed the rewards of maturation. The upper voice became rounder, less vibrant perhaps but refulgent with greater strength at the top, meeting the out-sized demands of STRAUSS and WAGNER (missing in this compilation) amongst others, while spinning out soft, exquisite pianos, and luxuriating in the long phrases of any number of composers, not the least of which were MOZART, VERDI and PUCCINI.

Leontyne Price recorded arias and scenas from every standard repertory VERDI opera with few exceptions (Nabucco/Luisa Miller/Vespri/Falstaff) in superlative fashion. Her onstage roles included the "Il Trovatore" Leonora, the role of her sensational MET debut (that resulted in a record 42 minute ovation), thrice recorded by her, and a signature role throughout her career. The selections on this recording were culled from her first complete recording of the opera. Here Ms. Price soars effortlessly to the heights repeatedly in "Tacea la notte", and sings the cabaletta fluently. "D'amor sull ali rosee" (once the sole property of Ms. Price's Verdian predecessor Zinka Milanov) is enhanced by the soprano's expert trills, musical nuances, and the glorious vibrato that carries her gossamer tones to the floated high C in alt. She was also the leading interpreter of Verdi's other Leonora -di Vargas- in "La Forza del Destino" which the diva recorded twice. There is also a Live MET performance available on DVD, recorded when the diva was nearing her retirement from Opera. (The two selections here also hail from her first complete recording of this work) "Son giunta!...Madre pietosa Vergine" is one of Verdi's most demanding scenas for soprano, but THIS soprano was a mistress of Verdian sweep, and supplies a wealth of dynamic shadings that illustrate the desperation of the hapless Leonora. Ms. Price produces silvery, vibrant, pulsing tone with amplitude that rises to the forte climaxes, riding them without overpowering the orchestra. This role was one of her most riveting potrayals from a dramatic viewpoint. The second "Forza" aria is the great lament "Pace, pace mio Dio" and is synonymous with Leontyne Price to this day. The diva sang this aria onstage more often than any other Verdi aria throughout her long career. Here she infuses the music with sorrow and despair, her voice in service to the text, and caps the aria with her stirring cries of "Maledizione!!" on a sustained forte high Bflat. Ms. Price's successful outings as Amelia are represented by the Act II aria "Morro, ma prima in grazia" from her stellar complete recording of "Un Ballo in Maschera". She sings the aria in a hushed, somber manner, climaxing on a brilliant high C, and with a lovely diminuendo at its end. One of the several operatic roles Ms. Price sadly did not assume onstage was Queen Elisabetta from "Don Carlo". We must be grateful for her warm, glowing, majesterial account of "Tu che le vanita", replete with burnished, opulent tone throughout. The leading newspaper of Italy said of Ms. Price that "..our great Verdi would have her the ideal Aida" and that sentiment has been adopted the world over. The "Aida" selections here are the first ones recorded by the American diva, and remains a revelation. In "Ritorna vincitor" the soprano's lyric instrument is indeed "juicy", declaiming her fierce opposition to the Egyptian invaders of her Ethiopian homeland with energetic and powerful vocalism. She then masterfully delineates the young princess' dilemma with fervent and youthful passion, ending with a prayerful "Numi pieta" suffused by warm, sable-colored tone. "O Patria mia" is another of Ms. Price's most revered performances, indeed the aria that garnered her a (5) five minute ovation on live television at her "farewell to Opera" performance in the same opera. The soprano injects Aida's farewell to her homeland with rich, smoky, plangent tones that rise effortlessly to a shining high C that bedeviled some of her most illustrous rivals, and would be bettered in the future only by the wonderful Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballe - and Ms. Price herself!!

Leontyne Price performed the veristic music of PUCCINI onstage in a number of his operas that included "Manon Lescaut"/"Tosca"/Madama Butterfly"/"La Faniculla del West"/"Il Tabarro"/ and "Turandot", albeit with less frequency than with Verdi. She brought a luminous, womanly quality to all of the composer's music. Here, she sings with particular intensity and emotion as the geisha girl Cio-Cio San (her favorite Puccini role)and offers limpid, melting tone as the fiery Roman prima donna Floria Tosca -the complete opera twice-recorded and highly-acclaimed. Puccini's music for the doomed Chinese slave-girl Liu are exquisitely sung, while "In quelle trine morbide" and "Senza mamma" benefit from the voluptuous, sensuous vocalism of the more mature Price. The most outstanding qualities of this diva in Puccini's music was a femininity and humanity, inherent in all of her singing, but most pronounced with this composer. She also fearlessly sang his highest phrases with a vocal splendor and freedom unrivalled by anyone, nowhere more than as the tragic Butterfly. However, until she retired from public singing, one aria remained a trademark for this diva: Chi bel sogno di Doretta" from Puccini's rarely performed operetta "La Rondine". The performance here was her first recording of it, and is a classic in its own right. Ms. Price's voice shimmers throughout, singing the high C with astonishing purity, and caressing, velvety tone elsewhere.

MOZART's operas also brought deserved glory to Ms. Price. Her plush-toned voice was considered to be almost too rich for some early in her career. This was amply belied by the rapturous reception her onstage performances brought her, most notably as Donna Anna, the leading lady of "Don Giovanni", ironically not included in this collection. Another aria Ms. Price enjoyed singing in concert, "Come scoglio" ("Cosi Fan Tutte") is missing here as well, though she performed the role of Fiordiligi at the MET. The soprano never performed in "Le Nozze di Figaro", but sang the scena "Dove sono" often in her live concerts, understandably, because of the smooth, elegant vocalism she lavished on this music. It is truly a pity that she didn't either record or perform the entire role. "Porgi amor" (also from Le Nozze) and "L'amero" (Il Re Pastore) were extracted from a Mozart aria recording, and are well-sung, if not as memorably as other Mozarteans.

It is good that RCA included several French selections, for Ms. Price's talents were marvellously well-suited to the Gallic idiom. Leontyne Price sang the leading role of Madame Lidoine in the American premiere of POULENC's "Dialogues des Carmelites", a few performances of MASSENET's "Thais" onstage (both sadly missing from this compilation) in addition to her celebrated recordings of BIZET's "Carmen" and BERLIOZ's song cycle "Nuits D'ete". She lent a deliciously silken tone to the more nuanced passions of the French repertoire. The "Carmen" excerpts are exceptionally vivid in Price's hands, successfully capturing the earthy, sultry qualities of one of Opera's more mercurial creatures. Ms. Price's lower register is richly displayed in the Berlioz song, while Manon's wistful, poignant "farewell" is sung with delicacy and shimmery tone.

The German wing is represented by music that Ms. Price sang onstage, and recorded as well. While the diva recorded Richard STRAUSS' entire "Four Last Songs" song cycle as well as the title heroine in a complete opera recording of "Ariadne auf Naxos" , the listener gets a good sampling of the potency, range, and the "dunkel" qualities she brought to this music. Fortunately, there is a CD of Richard Strauss arias sung by Ms. Price mid-career that is impressive in its breadth, and vocally sumptuous.

Versatility was a Price by-word. In the recording studio she stylishly performed the music of composers that ranged from the early music of PURCELL's "Dido & Aneas" to the 20th Century musings of Samuel BARBER, who wrote the opera "ANTONY & CLEOPATRA" for Ms. Price to open the New MET in 1966 - another historic milestone. Both selections included here are superbly rendered by the artist. The "Dido" aria is sung with a fuller, richer tone than is usually associated with this period (though it should be noted that two great Wagnerian sopranos Kirsten Flagstad and more recently Jessye Norman have been much admired in this music), but with no loss of style, her vibrato evoking pathos and beauty in this plaintive music. The "Antony" scena is sung with all of the majesty, seductive guile, and courage of Cleopatra, one of history's most storied women - and Ms. Price shines in this music written expressly for her voice. RCA also includes the diva's inimitable performance of "Summertime" the opening aria of GERSHWIN's American opera "Porgy and Bess".

This compilation is a superb introduction to the glories of this magnificent artist for a neophyte...and a treasure trove of musical excellence for the connoisseur of great voices, and they come no greater than America's diva assoluta soprano LEONTYNE PRICE.

Leontyne Price: The Ultimate Collection.......2005-07-20

This was the first time I ordered anything from you. I was very happy with my selection. Delivery was fast and accurate, I immediately played my CD and have enjoyed it since.

Rolande M. Collins

The true prima donna asoluta.......2002-05-23

Ms. Leontyne Price is the quentisential diva. I fell in love with her when I started studying music at the conservatory level. Her phrasing, tone, quality, and endless range are breathtaking. This CD features selections from when she was vocaly at her best. Even though I could go without the Ariadne and Cleopatra, the rest of the CD is simply marvelous. I cannot stop listening to D'amor sull'ali rosee, which I think is the best interpretation and performance of the piece that I have ever heard!!! I prefer Price over Sutherland, Caballe, Freni, and Fleming any day. Her high tones give you the feeling of floating on clouds. This is one of the best CD's in my entire classical/Opera collection. Whoever purchases this CD, it will be worth your while.

Fabulous singing, Overblown orchestras.......2002-04-10

When I was first getting interested in opera, during the late 1960s - early 1970s, Leontyne Price was still singing at the Met, but I could never get a ticket because she only sang five performances a year (later, three). She said this was to "preserve" the voice but, as I learned from those who actually did hear her in person, her mid-range was deteriorating at that time until it was practically inaudible (though her high notes and lower range still sounded great). Also, to be honest, as a youngster I was put off by the promotion of her albums...all those fancy pictures of her in diamonds and furs just seemed so ostentatious to me, and listening to her on records was not always a pleasurable experience. Her voice so often sounded swamped by those loud, blaring, overblown orchestras.

But then I heard a remastering of the famous 1961 "Aida" with Vickers, Gorr and Merrill, and I realized how great a singer she was. That's when I started listening more seriously, and discovered a soprano who had a thorough command of her voice from the late '50s to the late '60s, not only in terms of vocal color but also in terms of phrasing. Listening to Price in her prime is incredible...she almost sounds as if she never breathed, her phrasing is so beautifully bound and poised. At the same time, however, I was disappointed by RCA's choice of partners for her on recordings. ...

This set goes a long way towards restoring the legend. Stripped of her sub-par partners (with the exception of Corelli's belting in the "Seguidilla" from "Carmen"), one can listen to Price's voice uncompromised, and it is a thrill. Even when the orchestra sounds detached and uninteresting, as it often does, Price seems to be on an entirely different wavelength, giving out with passion and great musicality. As for the selections chosen, they represent an excellent cross-section of Price's best work, even though the Purcell and Berlioz sound awfully heavy by today's standards and I can live without the "Anthony and Cleopatra" selection or the Strauss song.

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