Sonne [CD-single] [Import]

Sonne [CD-single] [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
The first single off the German industrial metal act's forthcoming 2001 album, 'Mutter'. Tracks, 'Sonne', 'Adios', 'Clawfinger' (K.O. Remix, T.K.O. Remix) and 'Sonne' (Instrumental).

Tracks:

Louise (Acte 3): Depuis le jour ou je me suis donnee
Faust (Acte 3 - Air des bijoux): O Dieu! que de bijous!... Ah! Je ris de me voir si belle (Air des bijoux - Jewel Song)
Manon (Acte 3): Je marche sur tous les chemins... Obeissons... Profitons bien de la jeunesse (Gavotte)
Gypsy Melodies, Op. 55 B104 No. 4: Songs My Mother Taught Me
Martha (Act 2 - No. 8 The Last Rose): 'Tis The Last Rose Of Summer
La rondine (Act 1): Chi il bel sogno di Doretta
Die tote Stadt (Act 1 - Mariettas Lied): Gluck, das mir verblieb
Carmina Burana (No. 21): In trutina
Vier Lieder, Op. 27 No. 4: Morgen!
Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14: Vocalise
Die Fiedermaus (Act 2 - Csardas): Klange der Heimat (Csardas)
Die lustige Witwe (Act 2 - Vilja-Lied): Es lebt' eine Vilja (Vilja-Lied)
LUNA: Epilogo
Chants d'Auvergne, Series 1: Bailero

Amazon.com essential recording

This vocal recital certainly lives up to its title, perhaps too well. It's a collection of arias and songs Fleming has sung for years that for some may be too much frosting and not enough cake. Surely, her performances are rich with interpretive nuances, wonder-filled portamentos and word colorings that reflect a long history with this repertoire, which ranges from Charpentier's "Depuis le jour" to Rachmaninoff's "Vocalise." Some may find Fleming a bit much, but agree with her or not, she's far more interesting than singers who keep a safe, discreet distance from the music. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews:

Renee Fleming sings favorite works.......2007-07-30

Renee Fleming has turned out a fine CD of arias with which not everyone is familiar. Outstanding are Depuis le Jour from Charpentier's Louise and Marietta's Lied, Glueck, das mir verblieb, from Korngold's Die Tote Stadt. The latter is one of the most haunting arias ever written. Many of us cannot get it out of our minds. She includes Chi il bel sogno di Doretta from Puccini's La Rondine and does it well. Hers is not really a Puccini voice. Perhaps Richard Strauss and Mozart are her strengths.

The best of the best........2007-04-11

I've given away at least a dozen copies of this CD. I'm running low, so I just refilled the stash. For people who haven't discovered Renee Fleming or who think they don't care for opera, this CD is the best possible way to blow down the walls. If you think there's nothing new to be heard in these old arias, you owe it to yourself to find out how wrong you can be.

Beautiful and creamy voice.......2006-02-28

I like so much Ren?e Fleming and this is special cd !

Renee Fleming;THE BEAUTIFUL VOICE.......2006-01-30

IT'S A FINE RECORDING THAT OFFERS A VARIETY OF SELECTIONS FROM OPERA, OPERETTAS AND FOLK SONGS, ALL WITH FLEMING AT HER BEST.

The most gorgeous soprano voice I've ever heard.......2006-01-02

I am a 19-year-old voice student at the University of Central Arkansas and I came across Renee by way of a soprano in my voice studio. She said it was her favorite soprano and that I should give her a listen. I was a little hesistant because I'm a baritone and my voice teacher told me that I should listen to men, but I just want to hear it all. So this past summer I first bought Renee's self-titled album with all of the lolipop arias on it and I was just amazed, not just because of how good she is but how easy she is to listen to. I loved her voice immediately. From the the moment the first tone passed through her throat on Puccini's "O Mio Babbino Caro." So I had to hear more. The Beautiful Voice is even better. It wasn't as easy to listen to at first because some of the songs on this album are not as famous as those on the other one, but these songs are all gems. The Korngold with the pianissimi B flats is my personal favorite. Even my mother who screams at me to turn down that "noise" when I listen to opera cds has grown to be quite fond of Renee Fleming. Sometimes her interpretations can be over the top, but the voice is beyond spectacular. It pours out like melted butter. It's vibrant, rich, expressive, free and always perfectly in tune. There is no hint of strain from any sound emitted from her body. She will undoubtedly be remembered like Callas & Sutherland and all the other great soprano voices before her. Not for the dramatic intensity of Callas or the coloratura & technical ease of Sutherland, but for the sheer unspeakable beauty of her voice. This is a must have for any vocalist seriously dedicated to classical training.

Strauss: Four Last Songs/12 Orchestral Songs

Average customer rating:

This is just a review of the transfer and booklet
A wiser Schwarzkopf in one of her best latter recordings
HEAVENLY
Schwarzkopf and Szell Team Up For An Incandescent Strauss Record
A thing of beauty ...

Strauss: Four Last Songs/12 Orchestral Songs

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000GCAE
Release Date: 1999-01-12

Tracks:

Four Last Songs, Op. Posth.: Fruhling
Four Last Songs, Op. Posth.: September
Four Last Songs, Op. Posth.: Beim Schlafengehem
Four Last Songs, Op. Posth.: Im Abendrot
12 Songs: Mutterandelei, Op. 43, No. 2
12 Songs: Waldseligkeit, Op. 49, No. 1
12 Songs: Zueignung, Op. 10, No. 1
12 Songs: Freundliche Vision, Op. 48, No. 1
12 Songs: Die Heiligen Drei Konige, Op. 56, No. 6
12 Songs: Rube, Meine Seele, Op. 27, No. 1
12 Songs: Meinem Kinde, Op. 37, No. 3
12 Songs: Wiegenlied, Op. 41, No. 1
12 Songs: Morgen, Op. 27, No. 4
12 Songs: Das Bachlein, Op. 88, No. 1
12 Songs: Die Rosenbande, Op. 36, No. 1
12 Songs: Winterweihe, Op. 48, No. 4

Amazon.com

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was one of those singers whom one either loves or hates. She was a "stylist," who inflected every phrase, every note in her urge to communicate what she considered to be the meaning of the text. Others feel that the only thing she communicated was her own need to impress people with her ability to communicate, and I believe she often forgot the difference between art and artfulness. Be that as it may, she was an outstanding Strauss singer, and her performance of the Four Last Songs, in particular, is legendary. Of course, having George Szell on the podium doesn't hurt either. He insures that the music shows the singer in the best possible light. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

This is just a review of the transfer and booklet.......2007-03-30

I have little to add to the excellent reviews here--I owned a previous transfer, and it was worth it to me to buy another, given its low cost at Amazon.

I think the transfer is excellent, removing a surprising amount of murk from a 1991 version (I think). In fact, I'm wondering if some distortion hasn't been removed as well, at least in the voice. As for Szell & his orchestras, their playing sounds fresher and lovelier than ever. Instrumental placement in the sound image seems more firm, and details are more clear.

As for the booklet, well, EMI is not one for documentation, and it should be ashamed of itself for wasting our time in the middle of the song texts with ads for their other recordings. However, yes, the texts for these songs are all there, and that is a minor miracle.

So yes, this is a no-brainer purchase. In my view, the improved sound quality does merit purchasing it if one's transfer is prior to 1997.

A wiser Schwarzkopf in one of her best latter recordings.......2006-11-04

One of the landmark opera albums of the 1960s', Elisabeth Schwarzkopf's recording of Strauss' "Four Last Songs"; and the twelve Lieder songs of Burger, Dehmel, Bierbaum and others, is beautifully-remastered here for compact disc.

Schwarzkopf was in her fifties when she recorded these works, and there is a lot to be said for the mature, knowing performance from a soprano voice of that age. It speaks of life's joys and heartaches, and a heart still longing for youthful romance. I seriously doubt that anyone will ever fully eclipse Elisabeth's sheer dramatic intensity in this recording. She transforms herself back into a young girl, yet still retains the dramatic use of her maturity.

This recording has been remastered using Abbey Road's Prism SNS system, which gives the recording a natural soundscape, free of annoying echo or reverb, allowing Schwarzkopf's voice to come forth with astonishing clarity. Simply, it's the best this recording has ever sounded. A bargain price too.

[EMI Classics 7243 5 66908 2 0]

HEAVENLY.......2006-09-14

The "Gramophone" magazine reviewer couldn't have put it better:- "a heavenly record, so beautiful that I find it goes against the grain to attempt to analyse it". A must-have for any self-respecting classical record collection.

Schwarzkopf and Szell Team Up For An Incandescent Strauss Record.......2006-09-09

Four decades later this remains one of the greatest recordings of this final, transcendent Richard Strauss masterpiece. Some have shown preference for the earlier Schwarzkopf sung, Otto Ackermann conducted EMI record. I can't imagine why someone would want that mono recording over this gorgeous stereo version. Schwarzkopf here is just as radiant if not more so, the speeds are perfectly judged by Szell and everything has an luminous glow about it. The fact that 12 extra Strauss songs are here too puts this CD over the top, a must buy.

There have been plenty of great versions of the Four Last Songs since Schwarzkopf, the likes of Gundula Janowitz with Herbert Von Karajan and especially the spectacular Jessye Norman with Kurt Masur, yet the Schwarzkopf account can still match any other version in the catalogue for sheer beauty, the tender articulation of words and deep understanding of the music. Jessye Norman surpasses Elizabeth Schwarzkopf for operatic splendour and voluptousness of sound so you definitely need to get that version too. Having several performances of this immortal masterwork is a must!

A thing of beauty ..........2006-02-06

... is a joy forever, John Keats wrote, referring to the unending beauty of the things in Nature. The same can be said for the music making as captured for eternity on this recording, which seems to have been touched by a muse of fire, making it truly ascend the highest heaven of invention ... and art. The interpretations of all of these songs by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf is ever intelligent and astute, but always deeply human. Her singing is finely intimate, I believe, revealing her unrivaled mastery of invoking every single syllable with deepest possible meaning. The same can be said for the orchestral playing, so very intelligent, utterly complementing Elisabeth Schwarzkopf's gorgeous, deeply human, deeply moving singing. A marvel!

Average customer rating:

Superlative collection
Great value for the money
Great for the money and a good starter on opera....
Amazing Value

100 Best Opera Classics

Manufacturer: EMI Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Most Famous Opera Arias
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The #1 Opera Album

ASIN: B0007QOERC
Release Date: 2007-05-14

Tracks:

Voi Che Sepate - Teresa Berganza
Porgi Amor - Heather Harper
Deh, Vieni Alla Finestra - Thomas Allen
Batti, Batti, O Bel Masetto - Elizabeth Gale
Der Holle Rache - Edda Moser
O Isis Und Osiris - Cornelius Hauptmann
Temerari...Come Scoglio - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
La Calunnia E Un Venticello - Ruggero Raimondi
Nei Giardin Del Bello - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
Casta Diva - Maria Callas
Se Quel Guerrier...Celeste Aida - Franco Corelli
Tenesta La Promessa...Addio Del Passato - Beverly Sills
Niun Mi Tema - Jon Vickers
Un Bel Di Vedremo - Renata Scotto
E Lucevan Le Stelle - Placido Domingo
Si, Mi Chiamano Mimi - Mirella Freni
In Quelle Trine Morbide - Montserrat Caballe
Signore, Ascolta - Kiri Te Kanawa
Recitar...Vesti La Giubba - Jose Carreras
Amor Ti Vieta Di Non Amor - Roberto Alagna

Tracks:

Le Veau D'Or Est Toujours Debout - Boris Christoff
Ou Va La Jeune Hindoue? - Mady Mesple
L'Amour, L'Amour...Ah! Leve-Toi, Soleil - Alfredo Kraus
Allons! Le Faut...Adieu Notre Petite Table - Ileana Cotrubas
Toute Mon Ame Est La Pourquoi Me Reveiller - Nicolai Gedda
Quand La Flamme De L'Amour - Jose Van Dam
L'Amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle - Victoria De Los Angeles
A Cette Voix...Je Crois Entendre Encore - Alain Vanzo
Une Puce Gentille - Gabriel Bacquier
Je Vais Mourir...Adieu, Fiere Cite - Regine Crespin
Mon Coeur S'Ouvre A Ta Voix - Rita Gorr
Wie Todesahnung...O Du Mein Holder Abenstern - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Johohoe! Traft Ihr Das Schiff Im Meere An? - Anja Silja
In Fernem Land - Chor Der Wiener Staatsoper
Heil Dir, Sonne! - Siegfried Jerusalem
Mild Und Leise - Helga Dernesch

Tracks:

Che Faro Senza Euridice? - Agnes Baltsa
Der Vogelfanger Bin Ich Ja - Walter Berry
Finch'Han Dal Vino - Nicolai Ghiaurov
E Susanna Non Vien!...Dove Sono - Barbara Hendricks
Abscheulicher! - Christa Ludwig
Ne M'Abandonne Pas, Espoir De La Vengeance...Asile Hereditaire - Nicolai Gedda
Largo Al Factotum - Tito Gobbi
Ella Giammai M'Amo! - Ruggero Raimondi
La Donna E Mobile - Alfredo Kraus
Di Quella Pira - Franco Corelli
Esultate! - James McCracken
Dio! Mi Potevi Scagliar - Placido Domingo
Vissi D'Arte, Vissi D'Amore - Maria Callas
In Questa Reggia - Ghena Dimitrova
Tanto Amore - Janine Micheau
O Mio Babbino Caro - Montserrat Caballe
Ed Anche Beppe Amo - Luciano Pavarotti
Poveri Fiori - Maria Callas
Come Un Bel Di Di Maggio - Roberto Alagna

Tracks:

Les Grands Seigneurs...Ah! Je Ris De Me Voir Si Belle - Victoria De Los Angeles
Marie, Avec L'Enfant Jesus - Jules Bastin
Heureux Petit Berger - Janine Micheau
Connais-Tu Le Pays - Jane Rhodes
Elle Ne Croyait Pas Dans Sa Candeur - Nicolai Gedda
Votre Toast, Je Peux Vous Le Rendre...Toreador - Victoria De Los Angeles
Les Oiseaux Dans La Charmille - Mady Mesple
Maintenant, Chantons...Devant La Maison De Celui Qui D'Adore - Gerard Souzay
Depuis Le Jour - Beverly Sills
Da Geht Er Hin - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Einsam In Truben Tagen - Regine Crespin
Dich, Teure Halle - Hildegard Behrens
Leb Wohl, Du Kuhnes, Herrliches Kind - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Hojotoho! Hojotoho! - Ute Walther

Tracks:

Non Piu Andrai - Thomas Allen
La Ci Darem La Mano - Graziella Sciutti
Duo: Pa-Pa-Pa - Andreas Schmidt
Soave Sia Il Vento - Delores Ziegler
Mira, O Norma - Maria Callas
Il Dolce Suono - Edita Gruberova
Com'e Gentil - Alfredo Kraus
Una Voce Poco Fa - Maria Callas
Libiamo Ne' Lieti Calici - Alfredo Kraus
Gualtier Malde!...Caro Nome - Michele Pertusi
Ritorna Vincitor - Birgit Nilsson
Ave Maria - Katia Ricciarelli
Nessun Dorma - Franco Corelli
Che Gelida Manina - Nicolai Gedda
Ebben? Ne Andro Lontana - Barbara Hendricks

Tracks:

Mes Amis, Ecoutez L'Histoire - Nicolai Gedda
Mieux Vaut Mourir...Amour Sacre De La Patrie - Alfredo Kraus
Ah! Je Veux Vivre Dans Ce Reve - Mady Mesple
Puisqu'on Ne Peut Flechir...Vainement, Ma Bien-Aimee - Henry Legay
Suis-Je Gentille Ainsi?...Je Marche Sur Tous Les Chemins - June Anderson
Belle Nuit, O Nuit D'Amour - Jessye Norman
La Fleur Que Tu M'Avais Jetee - Jose Carreras
C'est Toi!...Au Fond Du Temple Saint - John Aler
Werther, Werther, Qui M'Aurait Dit...Ces Lettres! - Tatiana Troyanos
Viens, Mallika - Mady Mesple
Ah! Je Suis Seule Enfin...Dis-Moi Que Je Suis Belle - Beverly Sills
Alerte, Alerte!...Anges Purs, Anges Radieux - Nicolai Ghiaurov
Boris's Farewell - Boris Christoff
Schreckensschwur! - Gary Lakes
Die 'Selige Morgentraum-Deutweise'...Selig, Wie Die Sonne - Peter Schreier
Was Am Besten er Kann...Nothung! Nothung! - Siegfried Jerusalem

Customer Reviews:

Superlative collection.......2006-10-11

A collection of 100 individual arias and ensembles from the EMI catalogue of complete works recorded between 1955 and 2003. It includes selections from operas by Italian, Austrian, German, Russian and French composers. The French composers are especially well represented unlike most such anthologies. And there are several more obscure contributions, such as an aria from Catalani's La Wally. A well-judged balance of musical periods and styles, and the very best singers of the last half of the last century. And remarkably, the whole collection of 6 CDS, over 7 hours of music, is being sold for the cost of only 1 CD !

Great value for the money.......2006-04-23

This is simply the best collection of opera arias that I have seen. It's not 100% in that there are a few well-known arias that are not here, but what is here is simply a treasure. The organization is a bit strange, but there's some logic. For example, Disk 6 is mostly from French operas. A seemingly endless amount of glorious music. Just fabulous. You won't be disappointed.

Great for the money and a good starter on opera...........2006-01-07

This cd is a splendid collection of songs, and the price is unbeatable; I have but a few minor complaints about the overall product. The cd would have been much more enjoyable if they had put the music in some sort of order, rather than jumping around from artist to artist sporatically. My only other complaint would be that they could have chosen some better vocalists to play some of the songs. For example, in CD 6, track 3: Romeo et Juliette, the singer was not nearly as strong and definative as she should have been and I've definately heard in various other versions that were way better than this. This disappointed me greatly. But even with these few small complaints, this collection is still great and the price is amazing. It includes MOST of the famous opera pieces, as well some great songs that are often overlooked such as the beautiful song from Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg (CD 6, track 16) along with others.

Amazing Value.......2005-08-23

I am so impressed by this collection that I must share my joy at getting so many beautiful arias, duets, et al in one collection. It captures many of the great operatic voices in stellar performances spanning the last 50 years. If you are enchanted by beautiful operatic highlights, removed from their operatic storylines, this set is for you. Hours of gorgeous music for practically pennies!

Delibes: Lakme (Highlights) / Sutherland, Bonynge

Average customer rating:

Delibes: Lakme - Sutherland
Incomparable voice
the perfect vehicle for Sutherland
The Most Beautiful Music

Delibes: Lakme (Highlights) / Sutherland, Bonynge

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000024756
Release Date: 2000-09-12

Tracks:

Lakme: Act I, Viens, Malika... Dome epais le jasmin
Lakme: Act I, Quand une femme est si jolie...
Lakme: Act I, Prendre le dessin d'un bijou
Lakme: Act I, Les fleurs me paraissent les belles...
Lakme: Act I, D'ou viens-tu?... C'est le dieu de la jeunesse
Lakme: Act II, Allons, avant que midi sonne
Lakme: Act II, Lakme, ton doux regard se voile
Lakme: Act II, Ah!... Ou va la jeune Indoue
Lakme: Act II, Lakme! Lakme! C'est toi... Ah! c'est l'amour endormi...
Lakme: Act III, Sous le ciel tout etoile...
Lakme: Act III, Lakme! LAkme! qu'as-tu?... C'est lui! C'est lui!

Amazon.com

Delibes's opera Lakmé is full of gorgeous melodies, even if you don't count the coloratura sensation, the famous "Bell Song." That aria virtually demands a soprano of Sutherland's agility and ease, and it gets it here (this is the highlights version of Sutherland's complete recording). Even the few singers who can match her in the upper altitudes can't do it with a voice so rich and full. Sutherland's is a Lakmé beyond comparison with twittering, thin-voiced, coloratura specialists. She did make this recording at a time when her diction was mushy and her vocal lines sometimes drooped, so she's not beyond criticism. But revel in the voice; after all, Lakmé is a cardboard character, and the opera, for all its considerable charms, isn't another Ring cycle. Sutherland's colleagues are excellent too. Vanzo was one of the finest lyric tenors of his generation, and he's by far the best Gérald on disc. Jane Berbié and Gabriel Bacquier are also unmatched, and Bonynge's conducting is idiomatic and flowing. Add engineering from Decca/London's golden age of recording, and here's a Lakmé to treasure. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Delibes: Lakme - Sutherland.......2007-05-14

A brilliant rendition of Delibes: Lakme - runs about 13 minutes and every minute is a delight. Sutherland captures the full essence of the opera.

Incomparable voice.......2006-11-06

For those both familiar and unfamiliar with Sutherland's beautiful voice, this CD won't disappoint. It's a nice compilation. Sutherland's performance singing the "Flower Song" has got to be among the most beautiful musical experiences I know of. I bought myself one recently and one for a friend. I plan to buy more for Christmas presents!

the perfect vehicle for Sutherland.......2001-06-28

I'm a fan of those great operas that for whatever reason aren't immediately thought of by the general public when asked to name an opera. So Lakme is no Carmen- it doesn't need to be. So the plot is paper-thin: that's what Verdi and Wagner are for. I was glad to hear Joan paired with another great soprano for the flower duet. Jane Berbie comes dangerously close to overshadowing Joan Sutherland, with her sultry, rich style.

I have one other recording of Joan Sutherland singing the Bell Song. It is on her Art of the Prima Donna CD. That rendition is slower, more technically precise, with less flourishes. On this recording of Lakme, she speeds it up considerably, with a few more flourishes.

A third highlight is her duet with Alain Vanzo, "Lakme! Lakme! C'est toi..." What a wonderful, wonderful pairing and performance. Curiously enough, this gorgeous duet isn't even mentioned on the back of the CD jewel case as one of the high points of this highlights package!

Not every "highlight" here will take your breath away, but if nothing else, you can push the repeat button, and listen to the meltingly beautiful flower song again and again.

The Most Beautiful Music.......2000-10-24

This incredible music moved me to tears and lifted my spirits to the heights. I heartily recommend it!

The Magic of Wunderlich [Includes Bonus DVD]

Average customer rating:

Delightful!
A Great and Varied Collection
MAGIC is a good word to describe Fritz Wunderlich

The Magic of Wunderlich [Includes Bonus DVD]

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000AC5B20
Release Date: 2005-10-11

Tracks:

Finstre Furien, Ihr Geister Der Holle (Crude Furie Delg'orridi Abissi)
Wenn Der Freude Tranen Flieben
Dies Bildnis Ist Bezaubernd Schon
Lebe Wohl Flandrisch Madchen
Nadir, Du Stehst Wirklich Vor Mir - Und In Des Tempels Grund (C'est Toi, Toi Qu'enfin Je Revois - Au Fond Du Temple Saint)
Wohin Seid Ihr Entschwunden (Kuda, Kuda, Kuda Vi Udalilis)
Ich Denk Ihn Lieber Mir Von Meinem Statde - Liebe Ist Seligkeit, Ist Licht Und Leben (Signor Ne Principe Io O Vorrei - E Il So Dell'anima, La Vita E Amora)
O, Lass Uns Fliehen Aus Diesen Mauern (Parigi, O Cara, Noi Lasceremo)
Und Es Blitzten Die Sterne (E Lucevan Le Stelle)
Wenn Es Abend Wird - Grub Mir Mein Wein
Wien Wird Bei Nacht Erst Schon
Heute Nacht Oder Nie
Ein Lied Geht Um Die Welt
Be My Love
Granada

Tracks:

Nun Schwanden Vor Dem Heiligen Strahle/Verzweiflung, Wut Und Schrecken
Mit Wurd' Und Hoheit Angetan
Ma Qual Mai S'ofre, Oh Dei - Fuggi Crudele
Come Mai Creder Deggio - Dalla Sua Pace
Amici Miei - Il Mio Tesoro Intanto
Nur Einen Wunsch, Nur Ein Verlangen (Unis Des La Plus Tendre Enfance)
O Unverhofftes Gluck - Das Hore Ich Von Dir, Von Meinem Freunde? (O Moment Trop Heureux! - Et Tu Pretends Encore Que Tu M'aimes?)
Hier Nimm Den Ring Der Treue (Prendie: L'anel Ti Dono)
O Schweige Still, O Lasse Dich Erbitten (Ne Parle Pas, Rose, Je T'en Supplie)
Doch Nun Zu Dir - Trenne Nicht Das Band Der Liebe
Di Rigori Armato Il Seno
Heimliche Aufforderung Op.27 No.3
Ich Trage Meine Minne Op.32 No.1
Standchen Op.17 No.2
Zueignung Op.10 No.1
Morgen Op.27 No.4

Customer Reviews:

Delightful!.......2007-01-19

What a beautful voice and such an artist. I've always loved Wunderlich's voice and this album was such a delightful surprise to happen across. The Pearl Fishers' duet with Herman Prey is spectacular--it would be even better than Bjoerling/Merrill if it were in the original French!

A Great and Varied Collection.......2005-12-19

Fritz Wunderlich is a name that is familiar to opera buffs, at least those who enjoy the great singers of the past, but his name is not as familiar with the general public. It probably would have been, had it not been for a tragic and fluke accident that claimed his life. For those who are familiar with this great tenor, he's a beloved musician that makes listeners wonder what could have been.

Wunderlich's voice is one that can be light and airy at times, yet it can also have a dramatic intensity. This two disc set includes a variety of pieces that display Wunderlich's wide range and great vocal talent. His excerpts from Mozart are perhaps his strongest. So often the tenor roles in Mozart operas are cast with performers who are agile and can reach the higher notes, but their voices are somewhat weak. Wunderlich shows just how beautiful these arias can be. The same holds true for his arias from EUGENE ONEGIN and the pieces from well known operettas. His "Au Fond De Temple Saint" performed with Hermann Prey (a dream team pairing if there ever was one) is close to the Bjorling/Merrill rendition. We see his versatility in the excerpt from Haydn's CREATION and the live performance of "Di Rigori Armato" from DER ROSENKAVALIER is a treat and allows the listener to compare his live and studio recordings. The bonus DVD has a few slight flaws, but we see, at least in the scenes from THE BARBER OF SEVILLE that he not only has a wonderful voice but a good stage presence as well.

Most of the tracks are performed in German, even the Bellini, Bizet, and Verdi tracks, as was the case in many of the recordings of famous German singers. This may detract at first, especially of we expect to hear gorgeous French singing and it comes out, well German sounding. Still, it's a wonderful set with great variety and shows us what we missed in this tenor whose career had just begun.

MAGIC is a good word to describe Fritz Wunderlich.......2005-11-08

Magic is a good word to describe Fritz Wunderlich (1930-1966), and if you aren't already familiar with his work, you'll see why when you experience this CD.

Many of the tracks are not new to CDs: I'd say 50% of them are also in the "Art of Fritz Wunderlich" set (DG, 7 CDs), including Handel, Mozart, Bellini, and other opera arias. There are 3 tracks from "Don Giovanni" which I had not encountered elsewhere, and a scene from Richard Strauss's "Der Rosenkavalier" + 5 Strauss Lieder (with orchestra) not previously released in recent years.

Wunderlich was never less than the very best, and here is no exception. The bonus DVD has almost 30 minutes of scenes of Wunderlich (Count Almaviva) in Rossini's "Barber of Seville", sung in German with Hermann Prey (Figaro) and Erika Koth (Rosina) from a 1959 black and white TV production, in very good mono sound; and two scenes from Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin", also sung in German, and with a young Brigitte Fassbaender (a little more hiss but very good, full, rich mono sound). The Rossini is available from English sources, and hopefully will be available in the US soon.

Like conductor Karl Bohm (1894-1981), I'm going to try to get as much Fritz Wunderlich material as I can find, CD or DVD, as is practical (and even when it isn't!).

Average customer rating:

Haydn: The Masterworks [Box Set]

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Complete Works (170 CD Box Set)

ASIN: B00062FLJM
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Average customer rating:

The Very Best of Janet Baker is simply the very best!
Grace Incarnate
A Rare & Glorious Singer

The Very Best of Janet Baker

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Great Recordings Of The Century - Janet Baker Sings Mahler / Barbirolli, et al
Philips and Decca Recordings, 1961-1979 (Limited Edition)
Very Best of
The Very Best of Lucia Popp
The Very Best of Victoria de los Angeles

ASIN: B00005UUOW
Release Date: 2002-04-09

Tracks:

Christmas Oratorio: Bereite Dich, Zion
Messiah: He Was Despised
Elijah: O Rest In The Lord
Alto Rhapsody
Ich Bin Der Welt Abhanden Gekommen
L'Invitation Au Voyage
Pie Jesu (From The Requieum Op.9)
Sea Pictures Op.37: I. Sea Slumber-Song
Sea Pictures Op.37: II. In Haven
Sea Pictures Op.37: III. Sabbath Morning At Sea
Sea Pictures Op.37: IV. Where Corals Lie
Sea Pictures Op.37: V. The Swimmer
The Angel's Farewell - Ambrosian Singers

Tracks:

Linden Lea
A Boy Was Born, Op.3: Corpus Christi Carol
Pretty Ring Time
Prison
Soir
Clair De Lune
Ave Maria (Ellens Gesang III)
Gretchen Am Spinnrade
Wiegenlied (Schlafe, Schlafe)
Die Forelle
Auf Dem Wasser Zu Singen
An Die Musik
An Sylvia
Nacht Und Traume
Heidenroslein
Du Bist Die Ruh'
Auf Flugeln Des Gesanges
Liederkreis, Op.39: Mondnacht
Frauenliebe Und -Leben Op.42: Du Ring An Meinem Finger
Geistliches Wiegenlied
Befreit
Morgen!

Amazon.com

While it is impossible to really squeeze The Very Best of Janet Baker onto just two CDs, this two and a half hour anthology is a fine portrait of the British mezzo-soprano. Central to CD 1 is Elgar's Sea Pictures, a definitive account with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir John Barbirolli. While other British music is represented by Vaughan Williams's "Linden Lea," Britten's "Corpus Christie Carol," and Warlock's "Pretty Ring Time," CD 2 balances the program with 10 Schubert songs accompanied at the piano by either Gerald Moore or Geoffrey Parsons, which range from "Ave Maria" to Shakespeare. The set lends equal weight to orchestral and more intimate song, as well as to works in English--a very moving reading of Handel's "He was despised" from Messiah--and European landmarks, including Mendelssohn's On Wings of Song and Brahms's Alto Rhapsody, the latter with a superlative London Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir Adrian Boult. In an age of technically dazzling but sometimes bland singers, this release is a reminder of emotionally intense musicianship that retains vocal clarity and commitment to the composer's intentions over superstar ego. The word great is often used all too easily, but it could not be more appropriate for this outstanding collection of a great singer. --Gary S. Dalkin

Customer Reviews:

The Very Best of Janet Baker is simply the very best!.......2005-02-09

This cd and this amazing musician are an absolute must have for any music lover or music snob alike! Her voice is amazing!

Grace Incarnate.......2002-09-02

If there is one singer who has ever truly been able to master the singer's art of interpretation, this is her. She is a gift to music, I truly believe this. A few words, or glowing adjectives could not accurately describe the singing of a woman who epitomizes art. And music. Grace and beauty.
Each track on this cd is a perfect union of poetry, melody and technicality. Dame Janet Baker fully immerses herself into each piece, and delivers highly commited, intelligent & emotional performances.

A Rare & Glorious Singer.......2002-06-10

This is a pretty good cross-section of Dame Janet's output from the prime of her career. There are few if any singers like her around today. There are many mezzos who can sing beautifully, with great articulation and finesse, but they lack the moral and musical integrity Dame Janet always brought to her singing. The voice is ardent, seeking, yearning, finding, exulting. Listen to the excerpt from "Dream of Gerontius" or the third of the "Sea Pictures" to see what I mean.
She does not sing to show off. She sings to enlighten, to illuminate, to reveal, to enter into. Her voice carries us off, near to Heaven.
Dame Janet has been neglected of late. This recording shows us why, in these perilous times, we need her more than ever.

Average customer rating:

A very attractive ballet score which deserves to be heard

Bayer: The Fairy Doll (Complete Ballet)

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000260QDS
Release Date: 2004-07-20

Tracks:

Vorspiel: Allegro
No. 1 Allegro
No. 2
No. 3 Lento
No. 4 Moderato
No. 5 Moderato
No. 6 Lento: Oberosterreicherin
No. 7 Baby: Allegretto
No. 8 Chinesin: Allegretto
No. 9 Spanierin: Allegro
No. 10 Japanerin: Lento
No. 11 Harlekin: Allegro
No. 12 Moderato
No. 13 Allegro
No. 14 Andante
No. 15 Waltz
No. 16 Ballabile
No. 17
No. 18 Marsch
No. 19 Galop
No. 20
Prelude
Polka
Walzer
Sternunmusik: Andante
Allegorie: Moderato
Allegretto
Allegretto
Andante - Allegretto - Polka
Allegro - Walzer - Galop
Moderato
Polka
Walzer - Polka
Cadenza
Andante

Customer Reviews:

A very attractive ballet score which deserves to be heard.......2007-01-13

The Fairy Doll is not a well known ballet nor is its musical score in a class with Tchaikovsky`s masterpieces but, nevertheless, the music is very attractive -- somewhat in the style of Adam. When I bought this CD I was so pleased with the music that I played it several times in a row before playing anything else -- it's that appealing. Don't buy this if you're looking for another Sleeping Beauty or Swan Lake, but if -- like me -- you like melodious ballet music and want to try something undeservedly overlooked, please get this delightful little gem while a few copies are still available.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro / Don Giovanni / Così fan tutte / Die Zauberflöte - The Drottningholm Court Theatre Orchestra & Chorus / Arnold Östman

Average customer rating:

Refreshing and Surprising!
Some of the most thought-provoking recordings ever, combined with some of the most perfect performances I have ever heard.
Best ever!!

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro / Don Giovanni / Così fan tutte / Die Zauberflöte - The Drottningholm Court Theatre Orchestra & Chorus / Arnold Östman
Barbara Bonney , Arleen Auger , and The Drottningholm Court Theatre Orchestra & Chorus
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006IU7V
Release Date: 2003-03-11

Album Details

These Pioneering Performances of Four of Mozart's Greatest and Most Popular Operas under the Direction of Arnold Östman were Recorded at Nacka Aula, Stockholm. They all Attracted Great Critical Acclaim at the Time of their Original Release and have Been a Part of Decca's Vast Opera Catalogue Ever Since. The Da Ponte Trilogy (One of the Greatest Librettist/Composer Collaborations in the Entire History of Music), Comprising Le Nozze Di Figaro, Don Giovanni and Così Fan Tutte, is Paired with One of Mozart's Last Operas, Dating from the Last Year of his Life, Die Zauberflöte. The Superb Casts Assembled for These Recordings Include Such Experienced Mozart Interpreters as Arleen Auger (Countess, Donna Anna), Barbara Bonney (Susanna, Zerlina, Pamina), Håkan Hagegård (Count, Don Giovanni, Speaker), Sumi Jo (Queen of the Night), Della Jones (Marcellina, Donna Elvira), Petteri Salomaa (Figaro), Kurt Streit (Tamino), Lillian Watson (Papagena), Gösta Winbergh (Ferrando), Rachel Yakar (Fiordilig

Customer Reviews:

Refreshing and Surprising!.......2006-11-24

I would strongly recommend this collection to anyone who is seeking a new approach and sound world for these Mozart operas. Ostman opts for brisk tempi and transparent textures, but hardly ever at the expense of characterization or expressivity. The singers respond to the challenge with performances that bristle with excitement and fun. The cast blends with the orchestra like a chamber music ensemble, inspiring the listener to experience the opera as a conversation between the text and the intimations expressed in Mozart's musically and psychologically penetrating orchestration. Occasionally one may miss the lyric line and warmth associated with such great Mozart conductors as Bruno Walter or Karl Bohm; but the brio, virtousity, and brilliant insights of Ostman compensate with different kinds of rewards. Also, there is an intimate atmosphere in these recordings that is most faithful to the ethos and meaning of the libretti themselves. After listening to this period approach, my understanding of Mozart has changed radically, and I continue to relish the challenge that these performances have given to my interpretative sensibilities.

Some of the most thought-provoking recordings ever, combined with some of the most perfect performances I have ever heard........2005-09-14

First of all, I must state first that I was ANXIOUS to write this rave review. Ever since I got these cd's and realized the treause that is to be found in these recordings I just couldn't wait until I'd had the chance to tell everybody else about it... I honestly believe these recordings should be heard by anybody who is interested in this repertoire and music in general, since this are also some of the most perfect pieces of music in the repertoire.

As for the music itself, I am not going to write about. I think it is enough to read my last sentence to realize exactly what I think about it - and it is really just a must. That's composition taken to the highest possible level.

What I do want to write is about the performances.
Arnold Ostman, not the most known figure in the musical world, (not even amongst musicians- I come from Juilliard, and that name is definitely not one everybody knows) has created in the 80's in Mozart the equivalent of what Harnoncourt and Gardiner have done in Bach performance practice, i.e. has totally changed the conecption which was assimilated into everybody's mind regarding notions about how music of that era should sound like.

Trying to create a performance experience which emulates Mozart's period performance practice he changed everything starting from tempos, through ornamentation and of course- the voices themselves.

For us, most people indoctrinated by the post-romantisicm eastablished especially by Herbert von Karajan and the ilks of him, the first initial response will be a shock. The almost imperceptible swift tempos, the small voices etc. are sure to knock over anybody who haven't heard these recordings before. It might create an intial negative response but hang-on there, as the result is so much more gratifying then of hearing a recording of Karajan, Giulini, Furtwangler or any GREAT other conductor from that era- They were obviously incredible musical figures, but in terms of style and total perception of the piece it just doesn't work on the same level, in Mozart of course. (You'd still want to keep your Furtwangler's ninth copy...)

What is so great about Ostman is the freshness of mind with which he walks into every piece. Just like a real iconoclast
it seems as if he has landed from an entire different planet, and is just coming to conduct these pieces and give their debut. I can't give a more sincere and true compliment than that, musically speaking.

The results are the most fresh interpretations up to date of Mozart most important operas which also derive from some of the best vocal performances I have ever heard.
Under Ostman's direction it seems as though all the singers bloom and give their most musical and inspired performances,
holding on under the swiftest tempos in an admirable way. There is no point in pointing out names because it is as in a rule that the performances are just stellar one by one, even though not carrying around sometimes the most famous names.

This is not to say that all of the recordings in this set are equally perfect, and that I agree to all of the interprations and the insights given by Ostman, but you can't disregard the feeling that he knew EXACTLY what he wanted and executed it almost flawlessly. (the one exception might be small part of Cosi, mainly the overture, which was recorded very early in the stages of period instruments playing- therefore not always as perfect as you would have liked to hear it, but the performance as a whole is still the most beautiful Cosi I know.)

As for the packaging itself: The price is a complete steal, (incredible especially if you order it through other sellers, got mine for about 40$). What you DON'T get are the librettos, so you'd HAVE to get them from a different source. Either a different recording you might have, (you just might want one of the standard reference recordings one usually hears about like Giulini's) or you could just buy the librettos through Amazon, would still cost you very little.

Should not be missed by any terms by anybody who cares for music.

Ran

Best ever!!.......2004-01-12

Ostman created a stir when he made these recordings in the 1980s. And now it available in a collectors' edition box. I'm so excited. Sumi Jo's Queen of the Night here is even better than her recording for Solti. Ostman's Don Giovanni is the fastest I've ever heard, not to mention the most exciting. This Cosi Fan Tutte is Gramophone's reference Cosi. And this Figaro has many "alternative" arias that other recordings never bother with. Don't worry, the alternative is at the back so you can program it out. In fact, this is the only set of Mozart operas with ALL the alternative arias available. Even Gardiner does not have some of these. So this is a supreme set of importance.

Customer Reviews:

Stratospheric waves of sound - Straussian rarities.......2005-11-06

Christine Brewer is not a name that springs to mind when it comes to Lieder singers, and it's easy to understand why. Her career has focused upon opera, and there's little doubt that is where Ms Brewer's greatest love lies. Her voice is more than ample - often luscious, often beautiful, and with a fabulous range.

I listened to this recording with pleasure, even though that pleasure was alloyed with some dissatisfaction. To sing Lieder is not the same as singing opera. It's much more intimate and much more detailed on a smaller scale - it's like a painting seen up close, so that every flaw is laid bare, every quiver and tremble, every moment of blandness, every lack of wordplay.

With the best Lieder singers in the world, one is in a ferment of delirious pleasure. The words come alive, highlighted with highly intellectual and yet deeply emotional use of the musical aspects of the Lied, given edge and dimension by exquisite and pointed use of the words themselves. There really are not many great Lieder singers in the world today...

What we see in Ms Brewer is musical intelligence and a glorious voice, some quite good approach to the Lieder, but not that perfect connection between words and music which speaks to the listener without doubt, without a single loss of textual meaning, without a moment's veering from the beauty of the song to the strings of the heart. The Lieder singing on this disc is good, but not great. In terms of sheer singing...? Lovely, but that's not exactly the same thing.

Christine Brewer's voice and technique give many of the songs on this recording a beautiful sense of spacious richness, soaring easily into the notes. The text did not soar... Perhaps I am expecting too much, but that is what I want with Lieder singing. Ms Brewer did best with the dramatic coloratura Lieder, where her voice showed what a magnificent vehicle it is. But when it came to the more intimate Lieder, "Zugeignung" for instance, or in PARTICULAR the heartbreaking "Befreit", the problem becomes apparent - she does not move the heart with the poetry that should strike like an arrow through the soul. For this, we must still rely on the Schwarzkopf recordings, or a very moving recording made by Margaret Price.

Some of the Lieder on this disc are unusual, and it is strange indeed to see such masterpieces not in the public repertoire. Perhaps this recording will remedy the lack.

In spite of my faint qualms, I consider this a very good disc, and I look forward to more in the series.

The Compleat Strauss Begins - with a Brilliant Christine Brewer.......2005-08-22

Richard Strauss wrote over 200 songs for voice and piano/orchestra and the fine Hyperion label has committed to recording the Complete Songs in eight CDs. If all eight rise to the brilliance of this first installment, we are indeed in for a luxurious treat!

Volume I, now released, contains eighteen songs written from 1882 to 1928, not all of them are outstanding but each of these songs is historically significant. Strauss understood the female voice range from mezzo to coloratura and wrote some of the most hauntingly beautiful songs in the repertoire. Opening with the 'Zueignung' (still one of his most often performed songs) and proceeding in chronological order of writing, this recital continues with unknown songs along with familiar ones. It is a feast!

Making this recital consummate is the gifted young singer Christine Brewer, a musician with a near faultless, gorgeous vocal technique and interpretative ability to probe the poetry as well as the musical line as well as any singer living. Having experienced her live in the infamous Los Angeles Philharmonic production of 'Tristan und Isolde' makes it easy to attest to her stage demeanor and communicative powers. She is a rising giant. Her capable collaborator on this disc is pianist Roger Vignoles who not only matches Brewer's quality, he also enhances the intellectual aspect of this recording venture with exception Program Notes.

Be advised that this series has begun and if all of the subsequent installments are of the standard of this Volume I, the Strauss lovers should plan to collect them all. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, August 05

A wonderful recital from a wonderful artist.......2005-06-25

Finally a truly great Strauss recital disk! Of course, there have been great Strauss recitals in the past but none in quite a while. Of the recent recordings, Renee Fleming is too in love with her voice, Karita Mattila sounds uninvolved (which is weird since she's almost always incredibly expressive), Felicity Lott is impassioned but her voice isn't always pristine, Soile Isokoski sounds a little light. Then comes Brewer with the total package: intelligence, involvement, musicality, and a big gorgeous gorgeous voice. This is an artist! Each selection is sung with care without becoming fussy and overdone. There could be a tad more weary sorrow in "Befreit" (Debbie Voigt shattered me in her Carnegie Hall performance) but her voice is so naturally expressive that it doesn't really matter. The ever popular "Zueignung" sounds fresh and original. I highly recommend this disk!

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