Diva

Diva

Track Listings

1. Hands and Feet

2. Pain

3. I Hate You

4. Wasting Time

5. Love at High Speed

6. I'm Sorry

7. Walk All over You

8. Sunday

9. Monster Box

10. Diva

Tracks:

Funny Girl Broadway Overture
Starting Here, Starting Now
Opening Remarks
Down With Love
The Way We Were
Songwriting (Dialogue)
Ma Premiere Chanson
Evergreen
Come Rain Or Come Shine
Funny Girl
Funny Girl
The Music That Makes Me Dance
My Man
People
People

Tracks:

Entr'acte
The Music Of The Night
Jason's Theme
Carefully Taught/Children Will Listen
Unusual Way
What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?
Happy Days Are Here Again
(Have I Stayed) Too Long At The Fair?
William Saroyan (Dialogue)
The Time Of Your Life
A Cockeyed Optimist
Somewhere
Somewhere
My Shining Hour
Don't Rain On My Parade
Smile

Amazon.com

There's a reason Barbra Streisand's 2006 tour broke the arena house record in every city it visited, and it's because she's not only a legend but (still) a performer who effortlessly twists intimacy and friendliness and fierceness into a perfect, sturdy braid. This two-disc set, which pulls performances from dates in New York, Washington, D.C., and Fort Lauderdale, will raise its share of goosebumps. For longtime fans, they'll be a reaction to songs Streisand hasn't touched since the '70s and earlier, including "(Have I Stayed) Too Long At the Fair?" and "Unusual Way," from the Broadway musical Nine. For relative newbies, they'll be a response to her between-song patter, which touches with grace, wit, and sincerity on everything from her love for her son to her political leanings to her limitations as songwriter. The voice, of course, enthralls--there it is glowing on "Carefully Taught," one of four songs that have never before appeared on a Streisand recording, and there it is again wrapping luxurious tones all around "Evergreen," one of three songs she shares with Il Divo. Streisand--diva, political dynamo, superstar--still knows how to orchestrate a showstopper. --Tammy La Gorce

More from Barbra

A Star is Born

Duets

The Broadway Album

The Barbra Streisand Album

Guilty Pleasures

The Essential Barbra Streisand

Customer Reviews:

Another concert album.......2007-07-18

I love Barbra and her music. I went to see her concert last year, so I bought this CD set to remind of that moment. While all her albums are a joy to listen to, I found this one to be more of the same. Some of her concert albums from the 1990s are better and more powerful. Her voice is not quite as strong, she does not hold those notes quite as long. Didn't care much for her backup band, Il Divo. Nevertheless, the album is a delight.

Wrong To Be Profane.......2007-07-14

Despite habitually retractable tentative hints of private integrity and partly with a guise of ignorance regarding sacred sexualities in marital contexts, Ms. Streisand has, apparently yearning for ethical integrities of others and herself, completed another celebration of my and her own conceptions. I have neither attended any of her concerts nor, as of yet, watched any record of these from 2006, though I both watched her portral in New York City at the Winter Garden Theater of Ms. Fanny Brice and found most of this 2-CD set comparable to that 2-stars (rated) portrayal; some of the rest is so astonishingly beautiful, particularly the first 4 tracks of CD 2 involving the birthdays of Jason G. and his mother, it makes this set worthy of placement beside some of the music composed by Gustav Mahler, who referred to the deaths of some children musically.

STREISAND STILL THE BEST!.......2007-07-13

Barbara Streisand and Il Divo what more could you ask for! Her best album in years and with Il Divo on numbers like There's A Place For Us it gives you chills. Buy this and you will enjoy it full volume year after year!

Not the Best of Barbra.......2007-07-07

Streisand's lastest CD, *Guilty Pleasures* was a feast of songs she had never sung before, and a reunion with Barry Gibb, who writes for Barbra in a more contemporary way than the Bergmans or Marvin Hamlisch. It is a great CD, and her voice is sublime, aided, of course, by sound technicians. All artists owe their sound engineers their careers though. She and Barry have fun on it--it's fresh and alive. Not so much with the 2006 Concert CD, a recording of the concert tour, replete with IL Divo, a mostly unnecessary addition. They are wooden men with BIG, BORING voices.

From the beginning, Babs sounds tired, hoarse and raspy. I saw her in concert, where she sometimes sounded even worse than this recording. The engineers cleaned it up as well as they could, leaving more than a hint of breathiness and weariness. Fortunately, only about half of the songs are weakly rendered; the other half really are terrific experiences. I have no idea what is going on with her voice that from song to song there could be such differences, but if I were Streisand I would leave the belting behind. It wouldn't hurt for her to warm up before she comes onstage, not as she is giving the concert. For any price, a fan would expect the performer to be well prepared. When she sings a soft ballad, she often soars, and her magic is prominent. It's painful to watch her crumble under the memory of her once youthful voice (and it was only a few years ago that she sounded like a 25 year old songstress). Streisand knows how to play a song for all its worth, but she sometimes tramples it to death. *Don't Rain in My Parade* is just not what it used to be. She hits high notes, but without the characteristic force. And she can hold the notes, or seem to, when she takes little breaks before each song's finale. Her phrasing is impeccable when she is giving it all she has to give, but too often she seems bored. This is not a bad CD, just not as inspired as *The Concert.*

It also has to be said that it seems apparent Streisand is not taking care of her God-given voice, one she herself has said that she takes for granted (unimaginable!!).

The chatter inbetween songs is dull and preachy, and it was exactly the same in every city, except for blabbering about the fattening food she ate all across the US (excluded from the CD, thank the Lord). The fans are really the stars on this CD--they roar constantly, as if they had been starving to see Streisand all their lives. It's an odd treat. The orchestra is incredible, but live, it drowns her out at times (as does IL Divo). This recording does not relfect that though.

If you do not own *The Concert* CD, buy it and skip this one. This CD is for avid, adoration-is-blind Streisand fans only and those keeping track of Streisand's vocal history..

Streisand: Live in Concert (2 CD's).......2007-06-27

Whenever I hear Barbra sing it feels as if I were listening to an angel....The depth of her voice, the feeling she caries in every song she sings makes you fall in love, feel despair, feel hapinness or sadness....She is capable of making you feel the letter of her songs....A true Diva....My only regret is that I will never be able to see her live.....I hope they make a DVD of this concert so I can see her perform live at least on the TV set...

Average customer rating:

Romance of the Violin
End of the Day
Wonderful!
Over and over and over....
Non-standard CD format

Romance of the Violin
Claude Debussy , Fryderyk Chopin , Camille Saint-Saens , Franz Schubert , Vincenzo Bellini , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Christoph Willibald Gluck , Alexander Borodin , Antonin Dvorak , Claudio Monteverdi , Jules Massenet , Robert Schumann , Michael Stern , Craig Ogden , Gregory Knowles , John Constable , Jacob Heringman , and Stephen Orton
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Voice of the Violin
Ladies in Lavender
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto [Hybrid SACD]
Joshua Bell - Gershwin Fantasy
The Red Violin: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

ASIN: B0000DG06L
Release Date: 2003-10-28

Tracks:

O mio babbino caro (from 'Gianni Schicchi')
The Girl With Flaxen Hair (from Preludes, Book I; La fille aux cheveux delin: Prelude for Piano L 117/8)
Nocturne in C sharp minor (Op Post)
The Swan (from Carnival of the Animals)
Serenade (from 'Schwanengesang' song cycle for voice and piano, D 957
Casta Diva (from 'Norma')
Andante from Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major K. 467
Nocturne from Quartet for Strings No. 2 in D Major: 3rd movement
Dance of the Blessed Spirits (from 'Orfeo ed Euridice')
Songs My Mother Taught Me, song for voice and piano B104/4 Op 55/4
Pur ti Miro (from 'L'incoronazione di Poppea')
Elegie (Elegie 'O doux printemps d'autrefois' for voice and piano)
Traumerei ('Kinderszenen' for piano, Op 15, No. 7 'Dreaming')

Amazon.com

Every track on this CD contains a beautiful melody, many of them easily recognizable, all of them exuding tranquility. "O mio babbino caro" from Puccini's Gianni Schicchi opens the disc, with Bell delicately accompanied by a harp and spinning the long melody with great sensitivity. Bellini's "Casta diva" from Norma lives up to its reputation as the epitome of bel canto in Bell's hands; his violin sings. The middle movement of Mozart's 21st Piano Concerto takes well to the violin, and Debussy's "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair" is played with great warmth and sensuality. It would be easy to turn a recital like this into treacle, but Bell is wise enough to realize that the music is already sweet enough and he plays with great reserve and a minimum of sentimental slides. The light accompaniments always support, with woodwinds prominent but used with grace. This CD, in short, is a beauty: a fine gift, a lovely mood setter. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Romance of the Violin.......2007-07-16

While it's not my very favorite Joshua Bell CD, this is a pleasure to listen to!

End of the Day.......2007-06-08

I am a Joshua Bell fan, and this album is the one that I enjoy with my dessert, it calms me at the end of the day, and makes me think of my 6 year old granddaughter's visit. She has to have music on during meals at her home. Usually it is some kid stuff, but I do not have anything like she has at home, so I chose to play Joshua Bell during our dinner. When I placed the dessert before her, she looked up at me and said: "This music is so beautiful, I want to play the violin just like that". What more could I say.
He is inspiring, and she is right. This album is beautiful.

Wonderful!.......2007-05-30

I play this for my grandson to nap by. It is so relaxing and wonderful!

Over and over and over...........2007-05-17

That's how I want to play this CD! It's a wonderful line-up of rich, mellow, captivating compositions played with a warmth and vibrancy that is seldom heard. Joshua at his very best. You won't be disappointed.

Non-standard CD format.......2007-04-22

The music on this CD deserves five stars, but the CD itself is a non-standard format that doesn't work on all players. There's a tiny warning on the back of the CD. You won't notice the warning until you discover that the CD doesn't work on your player. My Macintosh computer wouldn't read the non-standard format so there was no way for me to listen in my office or put the music on my iPod.

A friend's PC was able to read the CD and make a copy in standard format that can be read on any player, including my Mac. The story had a happy ending, but I can not comprehend why the publisher chose the oddball CD specification.

The music is excellent and worth the trouble of making a copy, but the publisher really shouldn't make you go to that effort just to listen to a CD that you paid for.

Average customer rating:

Like wine...Diva gets better with age!
she vocalizes heartfelt feelings
Awesome Album!
Still Great
Practice CD

Diva
Annie Lennox
Manufacturer: Arista
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002VMH
Release Date: 1992-05-12

Tracks:

Why
Walking On Broken Glass
Precious
Legend In My Living Room
Cold
Money Can't Buy It
Little Bird
Primitive
Stay By Me
The Gift
Keep Young And Beautiful

Amazon.com essential recording

Although traces of her synthpop roots certainly showed through, Annie Lennox's solo debut, Diva, made it abundantly clear that her new material would veer away from gender-bending robotics of the early Eurythmics sound and continue toward the more emotionally grounded soul of later releases. On Diva, Lennox infuses each song with tenderly perceptive lyrics, hypnotic rhythms, and irresistibly soulful wailings. Her arrangements are clean and simple, utilizing bare instrumentation and sometimes-languid chord work. The singles "Walking on Broken Glass," "Little Bird," and "Why" became radio mainstays, while gems such as the Eastern-influenced dream ballad "Primitive," the hauntingly autobiographical pop-lament "Legend in My Living Room," and the cheerfully satirical "Keep Young and Beautiful" gave the album a plump maturity. --Sally Weinbach

Amazon.com

The term "diva" is an honorific to be bestowed, not a title to be claimed. That alone gets Annie Lennox's 1992 solo debut off on the wrong foot. Nor does it help that, instead of following the often-daring path of her former outfit, the Eurythmics, Lennox chose instead to wrap her big, emotional voice in aloof, sophisticated settings rendered primarily on synthesized keyboards. "Why" is a gorgeous ballad about a crumbling relationship, but nothing about the pristine "Walking on Broken Glass" comes close to the danger its title implies. "Precious" offers little beyond lite funk, while "Cold" is studiously icy and distant. Only "Why" and the closing number, "The Gift," achieve the sort of richly detailed intimacy she was obviously reaching for here. So hold off on that diva stuff, Annie. We'll let you know when it's time. --Daniel Durchholz

Customer Reviews:

Like wine...Diva gets better with age!.......2007-03-26

I still enjoy listening to this album 15 years after its release. Annie Lennox really delivered with an outstanding album of 11 tracks. Diva marked the departure from her collaborations with Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) and although there's not as much synth-pop on Diva, Lennox's lyrics on her solo work are just as honest and profound (if not more) as they are on her Eurythmics' compositions.

My favourite tracks are "Why" - this has got to be one of the most beautifully written songs of all time. This song is so emotive and one feels Annie's pain, particularly towards the end. Other standouts are "Cold", "Money Can't Buy It", "Precious" and especially, "The Gift".

If the Diva CD doesn't satisfy your hunger for Annie, pick up the Diva DVD, which features a collection of music videos from the album including "Why", "Legend In My Living Room", "Cold", "Money Can't Buy It", "Precious", "The Gift" and "Keep Young and Beautiful". Annie reinvents herself in each video to be consistent with the tone and feelings of each song. It's an absolute must-have for any Annie fan.

she vocalizes heartfelt feelings.......2007-02-11

Annie Lennox never disapoints, almost all of my favs are on this CD from "why" about a disintegrating relationship. "Money can't buy it" a quest for material things & loss of love, to a very intense "cold" about non-reciprocated love, we can all relate to her material at sometime in our lives, she has an incredible gift to express her heartache/passion &/or pain/joy through her awesome voice & lyrics.

Awesome Album!.......2007-01-30

I get so many compliments on this album because I play it in my truck often. It is truly one of my very favorites. Came to me in great shape and with no waiting.

Still Great.......2007-01-05

This is the second time that I have bought this album,the first time was when it was originaly released on tape forgot about it until it was featured on a TV show this time i bought on CD still sounds great years later glad I bought!!!!!

Practice CD.......2006-11-06

The first two tracks are to of my favorites of Annie's especially "Why".
"Why" always reminds me of Ivan on Season 2 of "So, You Think You Can Dance". So, what happen to the rest of the CD? It is as if Annie was thinking "I can't make an album of 2 songs." so, she went to the CD of the latest practice session and stuck it on the back of the 2 songs and called it an album.

Average customer rating:

Food for the soul
Gorgeous Divas
Same old, same old
Gorgeous Voice
loyal sarah fan and love it!!!!

Diva: The Singles Collection
Sarah Brightman
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sarah Brightman - Diva: The Video Collection
Awake
Andrea Bocelli: Under the Desert Sky [DVD Included]
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Time to Say Goodbye

ASIN: B000HKDECE
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Tracks:

Phantom Of The Opera
Music Of The Night
Pie Jesu
Who Wants To Live Forever
Tu Quiereres Volver
Just Show Me How To Love You
Deliver Me
Nella Fantasia
Scarborough Fair
Whiter Shade Of Pale
It's A Beautiful Day
What You Never Know
A Question Of Honour
Time To Say Goodbye

Amazon.com

Sarah Brightman Photos

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Time to Say Goodbye
Classics
Eden

Diva: The Video Collection
Live from Las Vegas
La Luna (Live in Concert)

Customer Reviews:

Food for the soul.......2007-07-28

Oh, Wow! This is a cd that will be liked by all who enjoy M E H D I, E N Y A or even Celtic Women. It is the very essence of good new age. So tranquil, yet so spirited, this cd is a refreshing break from my well-worn collection, I just keep wanting to listen to it over and over again. I am amazed! It reminds me somewhat of Sarah's previous works, but still very unique. This is music to the soul. Absolutely relaxing, as well.

ALSO RECOMMENDED: M E H D I ~ Instrumental Paradise Volume 8..A True Gem, JUST GO LISTEN TO THE SAMPLES !

Gorgeous Divas.......2007-07-05

This CD is absolutely gorgeous - it's a must have for everyone who enjoys music that makes the soul happy and eases the mind.

Same old, same old.......2007-05-12

Though the beautiful voice of Sarah Brightman is still a wonder, the songs are repetitive of all her earlier works. I suggest getting Time To Say Goodbye and her Classics albums. Save your money on this latest one.
Loretta Collins

Gorgeous Voice.......2007-05-07

What a beautiful voice. We are thoroughly enjoying her album - particularly the selections from Phantom.

loyal sarah fan and love it!!!!.......2007-04-26

i have loved sarah brightman for a long time now and I just love this album. True..there isn't anything new on it, but a new mix is nice. I do hope she is working on something different at this time, but until then its DIVA!!!!

Average customer rating:

Opera for Aficianados as well as Newbies
superb!
beatiful music
Best Opera CD ever
Rapture

Rapture: Opera's Most Heavenly Moments

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Most Famous Opera Duets
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The #1 Opera Album
The Best Opera Album in the World...Ever!
The Best of Italian Opera

ASIN: B00006L3K2
Release Date: 2002-10-08

Tracks:

Casta Diva - Renee Fleming
Barcarolle - Edita Gruberova
Ebben? Ne Andro Lontana - Maria Chiara
Intermezzo - Herbert Von Karajan
Letter Duet - Edith Mathis
Che Faro Senza Euridice - Grace Bumbry
Va Pensiero - Giuseppe Sinopoli
Una Furtiva Lagrima - Gosta Winbergh
Porgi Amor - Gundula Janowitz
Humming Chorus - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
Soave Sia Il Vento - Kiri Te Kanawa
Overture (Excerpt) - Philharmonia Orchestra
Un'aura Amorosa - Hans-Peter Blochwitz
Un Bel Di - Mirella Freni
Depuis Le Jour - Montserrat Caballe
La Ci Darem La Mano - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Quando Le Sere Al Placido - Placido Domingo
Mir Ist So Wunderbar - Lucia Popp

Tracks:

Flower Duet - Joan Sutherland
The Pearl Fishers Duet - Bryn Terfel
Lascia Ch'io Pianga - Kiri Te Kanawa
Prelude - Bayerisches Staatsorchestra
O Silver Moon - Renee Fleming
When I Am Laid In Earth - Tatiana Troyanos
Miserere - Placido Domingo
Vissi D'arte - Mirella Freni
Intermezzo - Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Softly Awakes My Heart - Grace Bumbry
Ombra Mai Fu (Largo) - Bryn Terfel
Pilgrim's Chorus - Chorus Of The Bayreuth Festival
Ruhe Sanft - Kiri Te Kanawa
Flower Duet - Teresa Berganza
Entr'acte - Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Mira O Norma - Marilyn Horne
Hochsten Heiles Wunder - Chorus Of The German Opera Berlin

Customer Reviews:

Opera for Aficianados as well as Newbies.......2007-06-11

If you are looking for peaceful, beautiful music this is for you. It is a delightful mix of some of opera's most memorable moments. Long time opera fans will be familiar with most of the arias and newcomers to opera will recognize music that has become identified with movies and commercials.

superb! .......2007-05-12

If you love wonderful operatic moments then this cd is a great buy for all of the wonderful and spectacular music on it. You get two cds for the price of one great opera cd, and all of the talented singers that were taken and put on these tracks do definate justice to all of the composers listed. A great cd to add to your collection especially if you are an aspiring singer or a student in music. Absolutely Fantastic!

beatiful music.......2007-02-23

former reviews are no exaggeration, this is the most beautiful music I have come across. I have many opera CDs but this is one I never tire of.
I listen to the CD everyday and it is always soothing, uplifting and inspiring. I wish I could find another as wonderful.

Best Opera CD ever.......2007-02-16

I have orderd plenty of classical CD's and DVD's on this webside.
Most were phantastish but this one is the best.
I listen so often to this CD that it should have grooves.
I never get tired of it.
I recommend this CD highly.
Roswitha

Rapture.......2007-01-24

Wonderous---Melodious----
This compilation of Opera's finest moments is positively wonderful!!!!Unquestionably the best buy I have made in Opera Music..No kidding,I have trays full of CDs covering every facet of Opera,but none as beautiful...A full 2 1/2 hours of the best of the best....Heavenly Moments says it ALL...I vote 6 stars!!!!!

Average customer rating:

The Best of Erick Satie
A forerunner to minimalism
Wonderful
Richard review of Best of Satie
Got Satie?

The Best of Erik Satie
Erik Satie , Jérôme Kaltenbach , Klára Körmendi , and Orchestre Symphonique et Lyrique de Nancy
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 2000-05-16

Tracks:

Trois Gymnopedies (Pno Version): No.1. Lent Et Douloureux
Trois Gymnopedies (Pno Version): No.2. Lent Et Triste
Trois Gymnopedies (Pno Version): No.3. Lent Et Grave
Six Gnossiennes: No.1. Lent
Six Gnossiennes: No.2. Avec Etonnement
Six Gnossiennes: No.3. Lent
Six Gnossiennes: No.4. Lent
Six Gnossiennes: No.5. Modere
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Sarabandes: Deuxieme Sarabande
Sarabandes: Troisieme Sarabande
Trois Nocturnes: Premier Nocturne
Trois Nocturnes: Deuxieme Nocturne
Trois Nocturnes: Troisieme Nocturne
Reverie Du Pauvre
Trois Gymnopedies (Orchestral Version): No.1. Lent Et Couloureux - Orchestre Symphonique Et Lyrique De Nancy
Trois Gymnopedies (Orchestral Version): No.2. Lent Et Triste - Orchestre Symphonique Et Lyrique De Nancy
Trois Gymnopedies (Orchestral Version): No.3. Lent Et Grave - Orchestre Symphonique Et Lyrique De Nancy

Customer Reviews:

The Best of Erick Satie.......2007-06-11

The reason I bought this product, is because I was familiar with the 3 Gymnopedies of Erick Satie and also another of his work: The Gnosiemme (I'm not sure about the spelling) No. 4. After listening to the CD I felt very happy with it because include both versions of the Gymnopedies, the Orchestral and the one for piano and of course the Gnosiemme No. 4 which I now like it very much. The pianist makes justice to Satie's work and if you like his work is a good buy.

A forerunner to minimalism.......2007-04-13

Satie is a forerunner to minimalism. Each piece of his music is a beauty. He also had great influence on many famous composers and musicians in his age. This album is one of the best piano classical.

Wonderful.......2006-07-07

Just a great collection from Erik Satie. I would highly recommend this one!

Richard review of Best of Satie.......2005-09-02

The recording is well done. Eric Satie is not the type of music that many people will appreciate. I like his music and this particular recording.

Got Satie?.......2005-07-27

... Well folks. This may be the perfect album to get started. This features some of the best-known works by the wierd and witty Erik Satie, including the Gymnopedies (both the original piano and the orchestrated versions), the Gnossiennes, just to name a few.

The performance done by pianist Klara Kormendi is relatively plain and simple, just as Satie might have wanted. Some of his music is actually not too difficult to play... A great CD at a budget price. Kudos to Naxos for a good performance at a good price.

Also, what I'm equally impressed is the fact that in this "appreciation" album, the listener will actually be listening to many "sets" of pieces. Some of those albums (Beethoven and Mozart for example) are mere collections of selected tracks, many just one movement of a large work, such as a symphony. In some you will only be listening to selected numbers of different large "sets" of pieces. In Chopin's for example one may listen only few of the 20+ nocturnes (No. 2 for example), 15+ waltzes, and 20+ mazurkas he wrote, so one would not feel complete listening to the whole "cycles" of short pieces. Satie, fortunatley, prefered using tiny sets of pieces, most of them only comprising of three movments each. Plus each piece is short. ALL of the three Gymnopedies. ALL of the six Gnossiennes. ALL of the three Sarabandes. ALL of the three nocturnes. One can already feel happy listening to couple "sets" within a single CD.

Once again, this may be the perfect album to get started with Erik Satie. And get ALL out of those pieces!!!

Average customer rating:

Audio beauty and magnificence, Maria Callas
sublime
Good "Best Of"
The Very Best of Maria Callas
Classic Callas

The Very Best Of Maria Callas
Maria Callas
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Maria Callas, the Voice of the Century
The Most Famous Opera Arias
The Best of Italian Opera
The Most Famous Opera Duets
The #1 Opera Album

ASIN: B00005Y1YQ
Release Date: 2002-02-12

Tracks:

Carmen: L'Amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle
Gianni Schicchi: O Mio Babbino Caro
La Wally: Ebben? Ne Andro Lontana
Samson Et Dalila: Mon Coeur S'ouvre A Ta Voix
Tosca: Vissi D'arte, Vissi D'amore
Andrea Chenier: La Mamma Morta
Le Nozze Di Figaro: Porgi Amor
Orphee Et Eurydice: J'ai Perdu Mon Eurydice
Aida: Ritorna Vincitor!
Adriana Lecouvreur: Respiro Appena... Lo So L'Umile Ancella
Madama Butterfly: Un Bel Di Vedremo
Norma: Casta Diva
Turandot: Signore, Ascolta!
Louise: Depuis Le Jour
La Boheme: Si. Mi Chiamano Mimi
La Gioconda: Suicidio
La Forza Del Destino: Pace, Pace Mio Dio!

Customer Reviews:

Audio beauty and magnificence, Maria Callas.......2007-03-31

There are moments on this recording that are virtually audio heaven.
Ms. Callas' voice goes beyond the normal concept of beauty.

sublime.......2007-02-14

she is an angel , a voice without parallel , a collection very interesting of arias from different masters.

Good "Best Of".......2007-02-09

Maira Callas was never a favorite of mine, but she is notable as a passionate, (but sometime shrill to my ears) performer. This collection is a good single record tribute to her operatic legacy.

The Very Best of Maria Callas.......2006-08-20

Second on my list for CDs that should be recommended for people who want to start on a long trail of Callas to the Carmen with Gedda and Prétre. This has perhaps the best excerpts of all time from Maria Callas. The 'Ritorna vincitor' and 'Una voce poco fa' are to be treasured. Any long-time Callas fan will find this CD of little to no interest, because anything they haven't heard before, there's a better, low-audio-quality version of somewhere. 4 stars for that reason.

Classic Callas.......2006-07-11

Countless assessments of Maria Callas' life and career, as well as re-issues of some of her definitive recorded performances have been fueled by the 25th anniversaary of her tragic and prophetic death alone in her Paris flat on September 16, 1977. One of those such discs, this 17 track retrospective compilation from the archives of EMI is among the best. Every character she portrays is bought to life by her incomparible ability both vocally and emotionally. Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

Beautiful voice and beautiful music
Superb - and I'm not a fan
For the opera fan who has everything
Beautiful - lovely singing
Today's Diva pays hommage to the past

HOMAGE: The Age of the Diva

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Russian Album
Sacred Songs
Donizetti - L'Elisir d'Amore / Eschwe, Netrebko, Villazon, Wiener Staatsoper
Love Sublime
Peter Lieberson: Neruda Songs

ASIN: B000HXDEV2
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Tracks:

Poveri fiori, gemme de'prati
Dobra! Ja mu je dam!...Jak je mi?
Pochudilis mne budto golosa...Za dvorom luzhok zelenvoshek
Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore
Ich ging zu ihm
Le ciel rayonne...O légère hirondelle
Orchesterzwischenspiel
Wie umgibst du mich mit Frieden
Tsveti moi!
Che più t'arresti? - Tacea la notte - Di tale amor
J'ai versé le poison dans cette coupe d'or
Mamicko, mam tezkou hlavu
Kdo to je? - Jenufko, ty jsi jeste vzuru?
Ich soll ihn niemals, niemals mehr sehn

Album Description

RARELY PERFORMED OPERA ARIAS AND FORGOTTEN GEMS CAREFULLY SELECTED BY TODAY'S LEADING SOPRANO. HOMAGE, THE AGE OF THE DIVA IS A TRIBUTE TO THE ARTISTS WHO GAVE LIFE TO THESE WORKS.

Acclaimed throughout the world's great opera houses, American soprano Renée Fleming enjoys particular success in roles from the late 19th and early 20th centuries when glorious vocal writing and opulent orchestrations took the art of opera to new heights.

In studying and performing this passionately lyrical music Renée Fleming became increasingly fascinated with her predecessors - sopranos of a golden age who made this intensely emotional music their own.

In her latest recording project Renée Fleming pays tribute to remarkable singers including Lotte Lehmann, Maria Jeritza, Rosa Ponselle and Mary Garden; women who achieved iconic status in a rapidly changing world in which their fame was spread through recordings, film and advertising - a time which could be described as `The Age Of The Diva'.

The beautiful music links the 19th century of Verdi and Gounod with the 20th century of Korngold and Richard Strauss. All of the pieces were championed by the Divas of the past, some of them come from operas that are still very popular today (Tosca & Il Trovatore), many others are from operas that have been forgotten. Renée Fleming rediscovers these "lost jewels" - including arias by Cilea, Smetana, and Rimsky-Korsakov - that were big hits during their time and now presents them for a new generation.

For this passionate, richly orchestrated repertoire, the role of the orchestra is enormously important and Renée is joined by the acclaimed Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre under their music director Valery Gergiev.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful voice and beautiful music.......2007-06-27

This ia a wonderful collection of pieces and sung with a very clear and strong lyrical voice. Ms. Fleming's voice is lige warm butter. She has very diction most specifically in Czech ans German. This is a must have for anone who is a fan of Renee Flemming

Superb - and I'm not a fan.......2007-04-11

No, I'm not a Fleming fan. However, this was recommended to me by someone who once said to me, "The voice is gorgeous but whenever she's on stage I just want to slap her." Because he was so taken with this CD, I had to have it. For the most part, the voice is ravishing and she does very well with all the languages. She has never been good at recitive in Italian, just couldn't seem to latch onto it. And if I never hear anything about her singing jazz again, that would be "swell." Having said all that, I do admire this album, although I understand very well why some reviewers were not pleased. Even educated opinions can differ.

For the opera fan who has everything.......2007-04-10

If you are looking for something to give a collector of opera CDs get this one. Most of the repertoire is less well known so you will most likely not be dupilcating too much of an existing collection.
Flemming sings this repertoire so well, perhaps someone will will be inspired to produce a production of one of these unusual operas so we can hear her sing some of these roles on stage.

Beautiful - lovely singing.......2007-02-12

Opens a whole new world of arias to me....I play it often.

Today's Diva pays hommage to the past.......2007-02-06

The most interesting parts of this disc are those exploring new territory. The results give us hope that Fleming will be given the opportunity to record some of these roles in their entirety, particularly Rimsky-Korsakov's Servilia and Strauss's Die Liebe der Danae.

Average customer rating:

Glorious Renee
One of Miss Fleming's absolute bests!
An amazing cd and a great introduction into the world of opera
The New La Divina
Gorgeous

Renée Fleming
Giacomo Puccini , Jules Massenet , Georges Bizet , Alfredo Catalani , Ruggero Leoncavallo , Francesco Cilea , Charles Gounod , Giuseppe Verdi , Vincenzo Bellini , London Philharmonic Orchestra , Sir Charles Mackerras , Renée Fleming , and London Voices
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Renee Fleming - The Beautiful Voice ~ Gounod, Lehaair, Orff, Puccini, Rachmaninov, Strauss
Renee Fleming: By Request
Renée Fleming - Signatures ~ Great Opera Scenes / Sir Georg Solti
Renée Fleming: Bel Canto
Sacred Songs

ASIN: B00004YLU5
Release Date: 2000-09-26

Tracks:

Puccini: O mio babbino caro - Gianni Schicchi
Puccini: Un bel di vedremo - Madame Butterfly
Puccini: Quando men vo - Musetta's waltz - La Boheme
Puccini compl. Alfano: Signore, ascolta - Turandot
Leoncavallo: Stridono lassu - I Pagliacci
Cilea: Io son l'umile ancella - Adriana Lecouvreur
Catalani: Ebben? Ne adnro lontana - La Wally
Massenet: Je suis encore etourdie - Manon
Massenet: Adieu notre petite table - Manon
Bizet: Micaela's aria - Carmen
Gounod: Je veux vivre - Romeo & Juliette
Verdi: come in quest'ora bruna - Simon Boccanegra
Bellini: Casta Diva - Norma
Verdi: Bolero - Les Vepres Siciliennes

Amazon.com essential recording

Surely, Renée Fleming has one of the most beautiful voices to be heard anywhere today. It combines velvety warmth, creamy richness, soaring radiance, and flawless purity, and seems to flow out without effort, every tone impeccably centered and in tune, capable of almost too much variety of color and nuance. Fleming's breath control is incredible; she can spin out long, arching phrases and build up climaxes with thrilling intensity. The program of this recital displays Fleming's vocal and dramatic gifts to full advantage, and includes both familiar and lesser-known arias from Italian and French operas. Although some of these are not in her repertoire, she clearly feels close to them. The three opening Puccini favorites from Gianni Schicchi, Madama Butterfly, and La Bohème are a bit fussy and over-inflected, hardly suited to the characters' simplicity; but, from then on, Fleming seems completely at one with both her tragic and her lighthearted heroines. She captures their warm inwardness, rapture, passion, ecstasy, and desperation; darkening and lightening her voice at will. Her top notes soar gloriously, her trills laugh. The orchestra is splendid, supporting her all the way and sounding wonderful. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Glorious Renee.......2007-03-28

I just love Renee Fleming's voice. It reminds me so much of the fabulous Anna Moffo - my personal favorite since childhood. My mother played Anna Moffo records for me while I was a tiny bit in my crib. So try to reprogram oneself after hearing such loveliness in the universe. Both ladies have a creamy voice, elegant phrasing and classical beauty. I agree with the prior reviewer that every soprano should record "O mio babbino caro". And if Renee did not record it, well then we'd be missing her version.
The more that I listen to Renee's music or see her in recitals, the more I adore the lady. The standouts on this disc are "Casta diva", "Lo son l'umile ancella", "Je suis encor tout etourdie", and "Ah! Je veux vivre", "Signore ascolta", etc.

One of Miss Fleming's absolute bests!.......2006-05-09

This is definitely one of my all-time favorite Renee Fleming albums if not THE favorite! Her voice totally shines in every single aria on here, and she seems can totally drag you into the world of each of the characters. What can I say? Ms. Fleming just never fails to impress me. Everything that she sings she seems to be able to bring something unique to it.

An amazing cd and a great introduction into the world of opera.......2006-04-20

I recommend this cd for those who want to get into opera but don't know where to start. Fleming tackles a diverse range of styles and never disappoints. Her Un bel di vedremo ranks up there with the best sopranos and is the standout track for me.

The New La Divina.......2005-11-22

Renee Fleming is the most sheerly beautiful voice in opera since Montserrat Caballe. Her Casta Diva is stunning, and the high note at the end of Merci jeune amies is pure virtuoso. I love her Puccini, Massenet and Verdi as well. Fleming said that she doesn't class herself amongst "the greats", but I do!

Gorgeous.......2005-09-30

This album says soprano standard repertoire all over it, but Renee will knock your socks off with her interpretations of these standard hits. Although she doesn't sing much Puccini, her Puccini arias are to die for. Her "Un bel di vedremo" (Madama Butterfly) gives me chills everytime I hear it. Her French arias are also breathtakingly gorgeous. Micaela's aria is so warm and beautiful, as is Juliette's. This is a fabulous recording, and I recommend it to everyone.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful Collection of Songs
A Legend in all.....La Callas.
Excellent compilation of La Divina's arias
Some people have no business reviewing this
BELLA BELLA BELLA!

Maria Callas, the Voice of the Century

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | 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

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

The Very Best Of Maria Callas
Maria Callas - La Divina
Maria Callas: The Legend
Puccini: Arias
The Most Famous Opera Duets

ASIN: B00000631B
Release Date: 1998-03-17

Tracks:

Norma: Casta Diva (Atto I): Norma
La Sonnambula: Compagne, teneri amici...Come per me sereno (Atto I): La Sonnambula
Il Barbieri Di Siviglia: Una Voce poco fa (Atto I): Il barbiere di Siviglia
Lucia di Lammermoor: Regnava nel silenzio...Quando, rapito in estasi (Atto I): Lucia di Siviglia
Rigoletto: Gualtier Mald...Caro Nome (Atto I): Rigoletto
La Traviata: E Strano!...Ah, Fors'e lui...Sempre libera (Atto I): La traviata
La Boheme: Si, Mi chiamo Mimi (Atto I): La boheme
La Boheme: Donde Lieta Usci (Atto III) (Mimi's Farewell): La boheme
Madama Butterfly: Un Bel di Vedremo (Atto II): Madama Butterfly
TOSCA: Vissi D'arte (Atto II): tosca
Turandot: In questa reggia (Atto II): Turandot
La Wally: Ebben? ne andro lontana (Atto I): La Wally
Andrea Chenier: La mamma morta (Atto III): Andrea Chenier

Tracks:

Orphee et Eurydice: J'ai perdu mon Eurydice (Acte V)
Alceste: Divinites du Styx (Acte I)
Dinorah: Ombra leggiera (Atto II) (Shadow Song)
Romeo et Juliette: Ah! Je veux vivre (Acte I) (Waltz Song)
Faust: Les grand seigneurs...Ah! je ris (Acte III)
Lakme: Dov'e l'indiana bruna? (Atto II) (Bell Song)
Samson et Dalila: Printemps qui commence (Acte I)
Samson et Dalila: Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix (Acte II)
Les Pecheurs De Perles: Me voila seule...Comme autrefois (Acte II)
Carmen: L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera)(Acte I)
Carmen: Les tringles des sistre tintaient (Acte II)
Le Cid: De cet affreux combat...Pleurez mes yeux! (Acte III)
Manon: Je ne suis que faiblesse...Adieu, notre petite table (Acte II)
Louise: Depuis le jour (Acte III)

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful Collection of Songs.......2006-07-15

I have listened samples of 5 Callas CDs before buying this one. This one has a very beautiful collection of songs on just 2 CDs. he sings with so much expression. Most the recordings are from the fifties and early sixties when her voice was very young and lovely. I'll try to get her on DVD so I can see her sing.

A Legend in all.....La Callas........2005-04-24

I would just like to refer to an article that was published by a German Newspaper in 1959, mentioned on the Callas Edition (CED:100342)
'...her voice is of unparalleled beauty, having an inimitable, completely own timbre of sopranos and altos...a performance of superior musical quality..a phenomenon amongst contemporary singers'
' ...One of the most spectacular Verdi arias, of Elizabeth from Don Carlo, and one, In Germany tottaly unknown, terrific scene from Bellini's opera Il Pirata were enough to enchant huge numers of television viewers, who can say at her next performance: 'we have seen La Callas''(Hamburg concert 1959)
'- from the contra-alt-f to the f - thats Callas' voice range, spanning over 37 half-tones. Callas herself has drawn the range of her voice. In her concert repertoire the contra-alt-f can be found in e.g. the aria from I Vespri Siciliani. In an aria from Rossini's opera Armida she reaches the 'F'. five half-tones above the high C. Normal voices couldnt possibly even whistle this high F. Though there are other singers, whose voices contain these three octaves - Erna Sack with her coloratura soprano, the lyrical singer Ema Berger and the dramatical singer Zinka Milanov from the New York Metropolitan Opera - simple fact is that the phenomenon Meneghini-Callas lies in her fabulous vocal versatility. She is a coloratura singer, drama-player and lyrist in one person - and an exceptionally talented ac-tress at that.'
Excuse from a journalist of the German Newspaper for the Diva :

Article Title : 'I am sorry!'

'I owe Maria Callas an apology. She is a unique vocal talent, a great artist. She is a primadonna. And she has her moods. Moods for which i ask her to forgive me. Because i misunderstood them - and many others too. That much i gathered from her latest television concert. Even in the flickering of the screen this woman's nervousness and enormous effort were visible.
La Callas is a fragile, rather shy person. Her moods are fear of failure. The moloch audience expects her to always go to any lenght, show the brilliance others just dont have. She is not allowed to get weak. Decent country singers are not decapitated for a false note. La Callas, on the other hand, is the identifying mark of the extraordinary. Even the slightest hint of a mistake would cost her her uniqueness, her stardom....a perverse triumph for all bathtube singers.
That explains her inhibitation to perform when she isnt well, her cancellations when she is not in the right mood. I understand them now. If she werent moody, she wouldnt be a primadonna, would not be La Callas.
Stars like her do not fit in our world of standards and programmed data. They pay dearly for their moods, have to put up fights and, undoubtedly, shed many a tear. So one more, my apologies, Maria Callas'
(Hans im Bild)
That's all folks!:D

Excellent compilation of La Divina's arias.......2005-03-21

This is one of the best compilations EMI has ever made for Maria Callas' arias. Each and every aria lets us listen to the best of her voice from each period of her career. An excellent collection!

Holly Mathews doesn't know how to appreciate art. Kathleen Battle and Renee Fleming themselves have admitted to the supremacy of Callas' singing over theirs, even if their voices seem more beautiful than La Divina. Why else would Callas be a legend and they wouldn't? They are equally good in their own right, but none of them would surpass the accuracy of La Divina's singing and phrasing. Holly Mathews' left side of the brain must be made of clay or foam, dead material that couldn't absorb any beauty.

Some people have no business reviewing this.......2005-01-25

My goodness, what is a non-musical person like Holly Mathews doing in this board? Do you know what other album she has reviewed? Hayley Westenra! And she's not even an opera singer! She obviously doesn't know her business! Disgraceful review! Ignore it! It obviously was not based on good judgement. I'm sure she is a pop fan who just likes tender music. Oh, her insulting language! What an ignorant Maria basher!

Anyway, this is an excellent compilation of SOME of Maria Callas' greatest arias. Although I do wish some arias like Pace Pace Mio Dio were included here, I do think it is a very good compilation all in all. Although she has many detractors, they still have to admit that Callas is the sheer embodiment of singing and drama. She was an actress...a panther on the stage. Listen to her La Mamma Morta and her Suicidio...those brought chills to my spine when I listened to them. Maria is the only singer in the history of opera besides the great Caruso-tenor Franco Corelli who touched me, moved me even. This is probably the reason why I love Maria Callas' music so much. If you want to hear Medea's anger and Norma's anguish and Butterfly's hopeful blindness, listen to Maria Callas. If you just want a golden voice, then go to Renata Tebaldi or Joan Sutherland. And don't even compare her with Charlotte Church or Hayley Westenra! The distaste of some people!

BELLA BELLA BELLA!.......2004-11-23

THIS WAS THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT FEATURING ANY OPERATIC SOPRANO. I WAS 15 AND WAS GIVEN MY VERY FIRST CLASSICAL PIECE "CARO MIO BEN" WHICH WAS NOT AN OPERA ARIA BUT DUE TOTHIS SONG I WAS SUDDENLY IN LOVE WITH OPERA. I HAD HEAR OF HER A FEW TIMES IN THE PAST BUT MY IDEA OF A GOOD SOPRANO AT THE TIME WAS SARAH BIRGHTMAN (YES I KNOW I KNOW!!!BUT I WAS YOUNG!)BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG TO REALIZE HOW WRONG I WAS!! THIS CALLAS RECORDING HAD THE MOST PROFOUND EFFECT ON ME WHICH LED TO MY OBSESSION WITH MY OWN OPERATIC ASPIRATIONS. IT WAS STRANGE AS SHE DID NOT SOUND LIKE A FAT WOMAN SCREAMING HER HEAD OFF IN FULL BODY ARMOR. YES YES...I AND MANY MANY SAD AMERICANS HAVE THOUGH OF THIS WHEN GIVEN THE WORD OPERA. (NOW NOW, WE ALL FELT LIKE THAT AT SOME POINT) I NEVER REALIZED THAT THERE COULD BE SUCH PASSION. HER NORMA WAS IS SO BEAUTIFUL IN IT'S SIMPLICITY AND UNDERLINING STRENGTH. HER TAKE ON "COME OER ME SERENO" AND "UNA VOCE POCO FA" WERE SWEET AND APPROPRIATELY INNOCENT. HER BEL CANTO ROLES WHICH INCLUDED HER FANTASTIC LUCIA (ALTHOUGH LATER I WOULD PREFER SUTHERLAND) AND GILDA JUST THRILLED ME. I HAD NO IDEA SOMEONE COULD ACTUALLY SING THOSE PIECES! OF COURSE UP UNTIL THIS POINT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW OPERA COULD SOUND LIKE THAT!! (SILLY ME!) I WAS SURPRISED TO REALIZED I KNEW THE ARIAS SHE SUNG FROM LA BOHEME, LA TRAVIATA, AND MADAME BUTTERFLY. THEY DIDN'T MAKE A HUGE IMPRESSION BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE FIREWORKS I WAS LOOKING FOR BUT I STILL FOUND THEM TO BE BEAUTIFUL. AFTER ALL OF THIS I LANDED ON CALLAS' TAKE OF TOSCA'S "VISSI D'ARTE". IT WAS AND HAS BEEN THE ONLY TIME I'VE BEEN SO MOVED BY A PERFORMER THAT I CRIED. IT WAS SO PURE BUT THE PAIN WAS SO EVIDENT THAT IT JUST CHILLED ME. I MUST HAVE LISTENED TO IT THOUSANDS OF TIMES OVER THE YEARS AND STILL HAVE YET TO HEAR A MORE STIRRING RENDITION. DUE TO THE OVERWHELMING FIRST CD I MUST ADMIT I KIND OF IGNORED THE SECOND HALF. EVENTUALLY I DID GET TO IT AND FOUND WHAT I FELT WAS THE GREATEST SONG EVER WRITTEN. MY WHOLE BEING LIVED FOR LAKME'S BELL SONG. AFTER LISTENING TO HER I WAS CONVINCED THIS WOMAN WAS MAGICAL BECAUSE I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW SHE OR ANY HUMAN COULD SING LIKE THAT! HER SECOND DISC WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE IT WENT FROM WHITE HOT COLORATURA TO MEZZO? AAHHH BUT YES SHE WENT THERE. INTO THE INTENSITY OF SAMSON ET DELILA. I THOUGHT THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL!!! OF COURSE I KNOW PREFER MARILYN HORNE TO CALLAS ON THOSE SONGS....BUT IT SHOWED ME THAT NOT EVERY SONG HAS TO BE HIGH TO BE BEAUTIFUL. I LOVED AND STILL DUE LOVE THIS COLLECTION....IN FACT I HAVE BOUGHT IT THREE TIMES AS MINE DETERIORATED QUICKLY 'CAS I PLAYED THEM SO MUCH! AND I'VE GIVEN THIS COLLECTION TO COUNTLESS FRIENDS AND FAMILY. THIS IS THE BEST COLLECTION OF CALLAS' WORK AND I WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYONE AND ANYONE! VIVA LA DIVA!

Music Info: