Il Meglio [Import]

Track Listings

1. Sotto 'E Stelle

2. 'A Discoteca

3. Nu Jeans E Na Maglietta

4. Fotoromanzo

5. Nun Tengo O Curaggio

6. Fra Cinquant'anni

7. Mani Gelate

8. Popcorn E Patatine

9. Forza Campione

10. Celebrita

11. Napoli

12. Vai

13. Voglia E Fa Pace Cu Te

14. Luna Spiona

Il Meglio,Nino D'Angelo,D.V. More,Ethnic Fusion,Italian Pop

Il Meglio [Import]

Il Meglio [Import]

Rossini - The Barber of Seville / Roberta Peters · Leinsdorf
Average customer rating:

Perfection in Seville

Un 'Barbero' sorprendente

Strange to say, but probably one of the best Barbers

Pure Bliss!!! YOU MUST GET THIS!!

Hey! This is one of the BEST!

Rossini - The Barber of Seville / Roberta Peters · Leinsdorf
Gioachino Rossini , Erich Leinsdorf , Roberta Peters , Robert Merrill , Fernando Corena , Margaret Roggero , Carlo Tomanelli , and Giorgio Tozzi
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Giacomo Puccini: La Rondine

Verdi: Ernani (Complete) [Germany]

Bizet: Carmen / Price, Corelli, Merrill, Freni; Karajan

Mozart - Die Zauberflöte / Araiza, Te Kanawa, Studer, Ramey, Lind, van Dam, Bär, Marriner

Mozart: Le Nozze Di Figaro

ASIN: B000003G4F
Release Date: 1996-09-17

Tracks:

The Barber Of Seville: Overture
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene 1: Piano, pianissimo (Count)
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene 1: Ecco ridente il cielo (Count)
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene 1: Ehi, Fiorello! - Mio signore! (Count)
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene 1: Mille grazie, mio signore (Count)
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene 1: Gente indiscreta! (Count, Figaro)
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene 1: La ran le lera; Largo al factotum (Figaro)
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene 1: Ah, ah! che bella vita! (Count, Figaro)
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene 1: Non e venuto ancora (Rosina, Count, Bartolo, Figaro)
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene 1: Se il nome saper voi bramate (Rosina, Count, Figaro)
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene 1: Oh, cielo! (Count, Figaro)
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene 1: All'idea di quel metallo (Count, Figaro)

Tracks:

The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene 1: Evviva il mio padrone - Rossini
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene: 2: Una voce poco fa (Rosina) - Rossini
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene: 2: Si, si, la vincero! (Rosina, Figaro, Bartolo) - Rossini
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene: 2: La calunnia e un venticello (Basilio) - Rossini
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene: 2: Ah, che ne dite? (Basilio, Bartolo, Figaro, Rosina) - Rossini
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene: 2: Dunque io son... tu non m'inganni? (Rosina, Figaro) - Rossini
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene: 2: Ora mi sento meglio (Rosina, Bartolo) - Rossini
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene: 2: A un dottor della mia sorte (Bartolo) - Rossini
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene: 2: Brontola quanto vuoi (Rosina, Count) - Rossini
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene: 2: Ehi, di casa... buona gente (Count, Bartolo, Rosina, Basilio) - Rossini
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene: 2: Che cosa accadde, signori miei (Figaro, Bartolo, Count, Basilio) - Rossini
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene: 2: Fermi tutti, nessun si mova (Bartolo, Figaro, Basilio, Count, Rosina) - Rossini
The Barber Of Seville: Act I: Scene: 2: Mi par d'esser con la testa (Rosina, Count, Basilio, Bartolo, Figaro) - Rossini

Tracks:

The Barber Of Seville: Act II: Ma vedi il mio destino! (Bartolo)
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: Pace e gioia sia con voi (Count, Bartolo)
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: Insomma, mio signore (Bartolo, Count, Rosina)
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: 'Contro un cor che accende amore...' (Rosina, Count)
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: Bella voce! (Count, Rosina, Bartolo)
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: 'Quando mi sei vicina...' (Count, Bartolo)
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: Bravo,signor barbiere,ma bravo! (Figaro, Bartolo, Rosina, Count)
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: Don Basilio! Cosa veggo! (Rosina, Count, Figaro, Bartolo, Basilio)
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: Buona sera, mio signore (Count, Figaro, Basilio, Rosina, Figaro, Bartolo)
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: Orsu, signor don Bartolo (Figaro, Bartolo, Count, Rosina)
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: Ah! Disgraziato me! ma come? (Bartolo,
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: Il vechiotto cerca moglie
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: Dunque voi don Alonso non conoscete affatto? (Bartolo, Basilio, Rosina)
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: Temporale - Storm
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: Alfine eccoci qua (Figaro, Count, Rosina)
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: Ah! qual colpo inaspettato! (Rosina, Figaro, Count)
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: Ah,disgraziati noi! come si fa? (Figaro, Count, Rosina, Basilio)
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: Il conte! ah che mai sento! (Bartolo, Count)
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: Cessa di piu resistere (Count)
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: Insomma, io ho tutti i torti! (Bartolo, Figaro, Basilio, Rosina)
The Barber Of Seville: Act II: Di si felice innesto (Figaro, Bartolo, Basilio, Rosina, Count)

Customer Reviews:

Perfection in Seville.......2007-05-14

I think the mezzo vs high coloratura soprano as Rosina is irrelevant when considering the merits of this recording. This is almost a complete reading of the score which benefits from the casting of most of the original cast of a production that was still relatively new in 1958 when the recording was made.

All the soloists have the bel canto style nailed down. The Figaro of this recording is Robert Merrill and his voice is caught in all of it's prime time state. Simply gorgeous golden tone here that is richly masculine with an easy upper register. The rest of the cast, the conducting and playing of the Met Opera orchestra and chorus are perfection.

Although there is some minor master tape related problems, and they are really minor, RCA's Living Stereo process is remarkable. This edition's sonics are an incredible improvement over RCA's original CD release.

Un 'Barbero' sorprendente.......2004-10-31

Este 'Barbero de Sevilla' (grabado en 1956 por el sello RCA) depara muchas sorpresas agradables. Se trata de una version completisima (se incluyen todos los recitativos y ademas el aria de Almaviva 'Cessa di piu resistere', que suele suprimirse y que aparece aqui por primera vez en la historia en grabacion de esta opera).
El reparto se acerca bastantea la realidad rossiniana de los canones de hoy en dia (lo que debe sorprender, porque en 1956 eran bien diferentes) Como Almaviva tenemos al tenor CESARE VALLETTI, que combina una bella voz con un dominio de la coloratura bastante correcto para la epoca. La Rosina de ROBERTA PETERS (en version soprano ligera) derrocha una cantidad de agudos y sobreagudos con una seguridad y limpieza absolutamente pasmosa: la voz puede gustar o no, pero su dominio del agudo y del registro agudo no se le puede negar.
ROBERT MERRILL es un Figaro diferente, que quiza pueda chocar un poco, porque es el que mas alejado esta de la realidad rossiniana de hoy en dia. FERNANDO CORENA es un Don Bartolo que quiza peca de excesos de comico y GIRGIO TOZZI es un Don Basilio imponente. La lista de secundarios cumple perfectamente con sus cometidos y ERICH LEINSDORF realiza una lectura que, aunque hoy en dia puede resultar poco rossiniana, no deja de ser interesante ante unos cuerpos estables del Metropolitan de Neuva York que, como siempre, responden con calidad.
En definitiva, sin ser un Barbero de primera opcion, es una buena forma de ver cuanto ha evolucionado la historia del canto y de la conduccion rossiniana, disfrutando y sorprendiendose. Una version que, aunque a priori pueda prometer poco, ofrece bastante. Recomendable.

Strange to say, but probably one of the best Barbers.......2004-10-27

It's funny how some "classic" recordings might be classic but they arent necessarily good introductions to an opera. For example, the Maria Callas/Tito Gobbi/Luigi Alva Barber of Seville is often thought to be the classic recording of Rossini's comic gem. While I agree that recording is unique, it's also extremely cut, and it goes for a drier, more "subtle" humor.
OTOH, the Leinsdorf recording, with a cast of Cesare Valletti, Roberta Peters, Robert Merrill, and Fernando Corena is well-sung, relatively complete, well-recorded, and most of all has a freewheeling sense of fun that I think perfectly captures the charm of this opera.
Roberta Peters was a high, light soprano. Her voice can sound a bit glassy and colorless, but her Rosina is lively, virtuostic, and properly spunky. The only caveat is that like some sopranos she transposes "Una voce poco fa' up to F, while the aria IMO is much more charming in its original key of E. Cesare Valleti's Almaviva is more caressing than dazzling (unlike Juan Diego Florez), but unlike many Almavivas he actually sings the whole part. He does not cut his final aria "Cessa di piu resistere."
Overall, I'd say none of the individual singers on this recording are necessarily the best, but together this is a great ensemble recording, and I highly recommend it as an introduction to the opera. To opera, in fact.

Pure Bliss!!! YOU MUST GET THIS!!.......2003-07-29

Okay, if you are just browsing amazon and this set caught your eye let me just say STOP!! GO NO FURTHER!! THIS IS THE BEST!!
THIS IS PERFECTION!! THIS BORDERS ON DIVINE!! There is simply no point in looking for that all important "most enjoyable piece of opera in the world" BECAUSE THIS IS IT! Its this simple folks, if you like opera, if you like beautiful voices, if you like perfect timing, pitch and recording quality you must get this. This is the DEFINITIVE Barber of Seville. I will let the previous reviews here tell you about the story and the performers. My review is here for just one reason - to let people that are on the fence wondering if they should really get this -YES YOU SHOULD! You absolutely will not be dissappointed - I stake my brothers life on it. :)
End of rant.

Hey! This is one of the BEST!.......2002-07-18

I've owned this on vinyl for decades, and it seldom comes any better. Most of you know that, being familiar with Roberta Peters in her prime, along with Valletti, Merrill, Corena, and Tozzi. This is one of the most balanced casts ever assembled. I happen to like both approaches to Rosina- high in the stratosphere vocalizing and the more down-to-earth approach of Teresa Berganza. In Cesare Valletti, we have one of the finest Almavivas since the days of Fernando de Lucia. Valletti gets right into the meat of this character, with Nicolai Gedda being the only modern Almaviva to rival Valletti's voice. (I can't wait to hear Florez sing this!) What can one say about Robert Merrill? If he didn't love singing Figaro, he's done a fine job of fooling me. I do not agree with all of his interpretation, but this is one of the finest baritones having fun with a role that deserves it. (He has formidable competition here: Stracciari is incredible as Figaro. He had one of the most glorious high baritone voices you could ever want to hear and he's darned funny as Figaro to boot. Then there's Sherrill Milnes, who had a voice to rival Stracciari's formidable instrument and the same sense of fun.)

Then there are the not so minor roles of Bartolo and Basilio. Corena had a powerful, rich voice used here with a sense of character that's almost impossible to surpass. Has anyone ever had a better voice for Bartolo? Not in my memory! Giorgio Tozzi's Basilio is one of the glories of this performance; a rich, colorful voice with great beauty of tone... all at the service of one of opera's funniest `villains'. Leinsdorf does a fine job capturing the ambience of Barbiere, so I find it hard to go wrong with this recording...

So now it's time for a little rant and rave... One of the reviewers chided Corena and Tozzi for going over the top, speaking of them like dogs who were caught digging holes in the neighbors' gardens. (What must he think of Capecchi? I shudder to think of it!) The Barber of Seville is not a dusty old museum piece, it's a comedy about very human people going about their businesses with wacky results. This opera somewhat resembles a train wreck in the making, with boxcars full to the brim with maniac clowns. I love it when the singers get into the meat of their characters. Combining it with glorious voices and breathtaking singing only adds to the joy. Corena's performance of Doctor Bartolo IS over the top- which is what is needed- Bartolo is a very over-the-top man. Three cheers to Fernando Corena!

Classic Puccini Recordings
Average customer rating:

Excellent introduction to Tebaldi's art

Wonderfull

Classic Renata

Classic Puccini Recordings
Puccini , and Tebaldi
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Andrea Chenier

Giacomo Puccini: La Rondine

Verdi: La Forza del Destino

The Complete Recordings, 1902-1920 (Box Set)

Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera

ASIN: B00006IU8W
Release Date: 2003-03-11

Album Details

Italian Soprano Renata Tebaldi was One of the Most Important Post-war Sopranos to Tackle a Wide Range of Puccini Roles, and During the 1950s She Recorded Several Complete Opera Recordings. Some of the Operas were Recorded Twice — in Mono and Then in Stereo. Amongst Those which Tebaldi Committed to Disc in the Recording Studio on Two Occasions Must Be Included La Bohème and Madama Butterfly. It is the Earlier, Mono Recordings of These Two Operas which Are Included Here and They Reveal a Fresh-voiced Tebaldi in Recordings Which, Despite the Stereo Remakes, have Stood the Test of Time.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent introduction to Tebaldi's art.......2005-09-29

This set covers the entire productive years of Tebaldi's recording career. Turandot, Butterfly and Boheme are from her earlier career while Tosca is from her later career. Since this Tosca recording is now out of print and is somewhat hard to find, this recording itself almost worth the cost of the set. In Turandot, you will find Tebaldi at her fresher voice, lovely and melting. Eventhough I would still rate Callas' first recorded Tosca as my first choice, this Tosca comes very close. Enjoy.

Wonderfull.......2005-08-19

Fantastic recordings at a very good price. Tebaldi and Del Monaco rule. You should definetely own this set.

Classic Renata.......2005-03-16

To say that these 12 disks contain some of the finest singing ever committed to disk is no exaggeration, but a simple statement of fact. Historical fact. In the 100 years (more or less) that Puccini operas have been around, only a few sopranos in each generation have been the equal of Renata Tebaldi. One cannot objectively say that anyone has surpassed her. Some opera lovers find her peerless in many of these performances. Personal tastes in singers vary, but no one ever sang these roles better. Few anywhere nearly so well. There is not a single note on any of these recordings that is not heartfelt to the core of her being. Like Maria Callas and Franco Corelli, she was luminous, gargantuan in her talent that personified an age. This is one of the great compilations.

Average customer rating:

Il Meglio di Domenico Modugno
Domenico Modugno
Manufacturer: Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Greatest Hits
Peppino Di Capri - Greatest Hits of
I Grandi Successi Originali
I Grandi Successi Originali
Flashback Nicola Di Bari (I Grandi Successi Originali)

ASIN: B00000IR3X
Release Date: 1999-04-07

Tracks:

Vecchio Frack
Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu
Piove (Ciao Ciao Bambina)
Musetto
Resta Cu'mme
Addio Addio
Marinai Donne E Guai
Strada Nfosa
Lazzarella
Libero
Tu Si Na Cosa Grande
Lu Pisce Spada
O Caffe
Donna Riccia
Pasqualino Maragia
Io Mammeta E Tu
Lo
Stasera Pago Lo

Average customer rating:

Fortissimo

Il Meglio
Caterina Caselli
Manufacturer: Wea
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ASIN: B00000JOAX
Release Date: 1999-03-04

Tracks:

Nessuno Mi Puo Giudicare
L' Uomo D' Oro
Perdono
Cento Giorni
Tutto Nero
Sono Bugiarda
Amico E'
Insieme A Te Non Ci Sto P
Il Volto Della Vita
Il Carnevale
Casa Degli Angeli
Per Fare Un Uomo
E' La Pioggia Che Va
L' Umanita
Incubo N4
Il Cammino Di Ogni Speran

Customer Reviews:

Fortissimo.......2007-02-18

Fortissimo cd che illustra i primi brani di successo di Caterina. Anche se vecchiotti come noi, si sentono con grande piacere.

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Il Meglio Di Quelli Della Notte
Renzo Arbore
Manufacturer: Warner Fonit
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Napoli Punto E A Capo
Napoli Due Punti E A Capo
L' Orchestra Italiana at Carnegie Hall
2005 Vintage... Ma Non Li Dimostra

ASIN: B00005S1AL
Release Date: 2003-12-02

Tracks:

Ma la Notte No
Materasso
It's Now or Never (O' Sole Mio)
Societa' Dei Magnaccioni
Tanto Pe' Canta'
Tango Della Gelosia
Una Ragazza in Due (Down Comes the Rain)
Figlio Unico (Trem das Onze)
Let's Twist Again
Cha Cha Cha Della Segretaria
Eso Es el Amor
Quando Vien la Sera
Non Partir
Maria Mari'

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Ragione & Sentimento/Il Meglio
Maria Nazionale
Manufacturer: Mr Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000GGSKOQ
Release Date: 2006-05-22

Tracks:

Ragione E Sentimento
Ciao Ciao
Ragazzo Solo
Storie 'E Piccerelle
Pe' Ridere E Pazzia'
Penzo Sempe A Isso
Ahi Ahi Ahi
Scema Io Te Voglio Bene
Mi Farai Morire
'o Monte 'E Procida
'a Vita E' Comme 'O Mare
Pe' T'abbraccia'
Odiami
Pero' Te Penzo
C'e' Lei
'lla
C'aggia Fa'
'a Vi 'Illoco L'estate
'o Criaturo Mio
Vattenne

Average customer rating:

Great CD for the young Placido!

The Young Domingo

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sempre Belcanto: The Legendary First Recital Recording
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ASIN: B00000JPCB
Release Date: 1999-08-10

Tracks:

Giulio Cesare: Svegliatevi nel cor
Don Giovanni: Il mio tesoro
Il Duca d'Alba: Inosservata, penetrava; Angelo casto e bel
La Juive: Rachel, quand du Seigneur
Luisa Miller: Oh! fede negar potessi; Quando le sere al placido
Lohengrin: In fernem Land
Simon Boccanegra: O inferno!; Sento avvampa
Eugene Onegin: Lenski's Aria
Le Villi: Torna ai felici di
Iris: Apri la tua finestra!
Werther: Pourquoi me reveiller?
Pagliacci: Recitar! Mentre preso; Vesti la giubba
L'elisir d'amore: Una furtiva lagrima
La boheme: Musette! O gioia della mia dimora; Testa adorata, non piu tornerai
Manon: Je suis seul!; Ah! fuyez, douce image

Tracks:

L'arlesiana: Lamento di Federico: E la solita storia
Martha: M'appari
La fanciulla del West: Ch'ella mi creda libero
Rigoletto: La donna obile
Le Cid: Ah! tout est bien fini!; O Souverain, O Juge, O Pere
L'africana: Mi batte il cor; O Paradiso; Deh! ch'io ritorni
Cavalleria Rusticana: Intanto, amici, qua; Viva il vino spumeggiante
Faust: Quel trouble inconnu; Salut! demeure chaste et pure
Rigoletto: Questa o quella
La forza del destino: La vita E inferno; O, tu che in seno agli angeli
Adriana Lecouvreur: L'anima ho stanca
Turandot: Non piangere, Liu
La fanciulla del West: Una parola sola; Or son sei mesi
Gianni Schicchi: Avete torto!; Firenze e come un albero fiorito
Les pecheurs de perles: A cette voix quel trouble; Je crois entendre encore
Un ballo in maschera: Barcarola: Di' tu se fedele il flutto m'aspetta
Romeo et Juliette: L'amour! L'amour!; Ah! Leve-toi, soleil
La boheme: Non parlate cosi!; Io non ho che una povera stanzetta
Chatterton: Non saria meglio; Tu sola a me

Customer Reviews:

Great CD for the young Placido!.......2001-04-15

This CD features Placido Domingo, the best tenor of the world today, in his youth. It contains in their entirety the three opera aria recordings made by the big maestro for RCA:Romantic Arias (1968); Domingo Sings Caruso (1971) and La Voce d'Oro(1972). The CD includes then some of the greatest arias of the repertoire, including Wagner's "In fernem Land" from Lohengrin.

Domingo was less than 30 years old when he made these recordings. The high notes weren't that good especially the high C in "Salut demeure chaste et pure" from Faust. However, you can already be amazed by Domingo's wonderful technique in breathing control, which has now become a legend.

Overall, the CD is a must in every Operatic collection. It contains 35 arias, 2 Cds for about 15$! Don't Look, however, for Nessun Dorma or the 2 Tosca Arias...they're just not there!

Tracks:

Duetto: 'Sorge Il Di' - Emma Kirkby/Carolyn Watkinson
Recit.: 'Vanti, O Cara'/Aria: 'Sforzano A Piangere' - Carolyn Watkinson
Recit.: 'E Qual Nova Sventura'/Aria: 'Che Non Puo La Gelosia' - Emma Kirkby
Recit.: 'Ma Qual Orrido Suono' - London Baroque/Charles Medlam
'Sibilar L'Angui D'Aletto' - David Thomas
Recit.: 'Deh Lascia, Oh Polifemo'/Aria: 'Benche Tuoni E L'Etra Avampi' - Carolyn Watkinson
Recit.: 'Cadrai Depressa'/Aria: 'Non Sempre, No, Crudele' - David Thomas
Recit.: 'Folle Quanto Mi Rido'/Aria: 'Dell' Aquila L'Artigli' - Emma Kirkby
Recit.: 'Meglio Spiega'/Aria: 'Precipitoso Nel Mar' - David Thomas
Recit.: 'Si, T'Intendo Inumano'/Aria: 'S'Agita' - Carolyn Watkinson
'Recit.: So Che Le Cinosure'/Aria: 'Provera' - Emma Kirkby/Carolyn Watkinson/David Thomas
Recit.: 'Ingrata, Se Mi Nieghi'/Aria: 'Fra L'Ombre E Gl'Orrori' - David Thomas
Recit.: 'Ma Che?'/'Aria: Que L'Augel' - Emma Kirkby
Recit.: 'Giunsi Al Fin Mio Tesoro'/Aria: 'Se M'Ami, Oh Caro' - Carolyn Watkinson

Tracks:

Recit.: 'Qui Su L'Alto Del Monte'/(A3): 'Dolce Amico' - Emma Kirkby/Carolyn Watkinson/David Thomas
Recit.: 'Or Poiche Sordi Sono/'Gia Va Da Balza In Balza' - David Thomas
Recit. & Aria: 'Oh Dio, Mio Ben, Soccorso!' - Emma Kirkby
Recit.: 'Misera, E Dove Sono?'/'Impara, Ingrata' - David Thomas
Recit.: 'Ah Tiranno, Inumano!'/Aria: 'Del Mar Fra L'Onde' - Carolyn Watkinson
Recit.: 'Ferma! Ma Gia Nel Mare' - London Baroque/Charles Medlam
Aria (A3): 'Chi Ben Ama Ha Per Oggetti' - Emma Kirkby/Carolyn Watkinson/David Thomas
Son in F, Op.1 No.11: Larghetto/Allegro/Siciliana/Allegro - Michel Piguet/Charles Medlam/John Toll
Son in C, Op.1 No.7: Larghetto/Allegro/Larghetto/A Tempo Di Gavotti/Allegro - Michel Piguet/Charles Medlam/John Toll
Son in G Transposse in F: Allegro/Adagio/Allegro - Michel Piguet/Charles Medlam/John Toll

Customer Reviews:

Delectable Early Handel - A Must for Kirkby Fans ... Choose This over the Haïm Recording.......2002-07-29

This is not the English masque _Acis and Galathea_ but an earlier effort on the same story composed during the composer's youthful tour of Italy, described as a "serenade for three voices." It is deliciously scored, a perfect gem. All the parts work well--duets, ensembles, solos, and recitatives. It doesn't hold the stature of his later oratorio and operatic output, but it deserves equal renown for its pleasures are indisputable. With such refined yet expressive singing, you won't be disappointed to hear, in earlier guises, passages more familiar from Rinaldo and elsewhere.

Curiously, the higher of the women's parts is the "trousers" role here, and this is one of my all-time favorite performances from Emma Kirkby. More curiously still, Watkinson sometimes sounds countertenorish in the female role of Galatea. David Thomas tackles the role of the monstrous Polfemo and is utterly secure with all the fiendish coloratura and rock-bottom low notes! (There is some added resonance, but it doesn't detract and it doesn't blur his technique in the least.)

The opening duet between Aci and Galatea, "Sorge il Di," is one of those impossibly delectable blending of women's voices that just lather you up in a bath of sensuous sound. There is a solo ("Que l'augel") where Kirkby's voice and oboe echo each other so perfectly that you can't tell where one begins and the other leaves off. Watkinson's solo at the end of disk 1, "Se m'ami, o caro," is plangent with heartache. The piece continues onto the second disk with Kirkby delivering one of my favorite of all death scenes on track 3, with her da capo restatement so subtly embellished, and such telling vibrato on the word "palpita" ("beats" [my heart]) that, if you're as raptly attentive as I was, it takes your breath away. The Polifemo parts could easily sound uniformly blustery, but David Thomas actually manages to give the character emotional and vocal shading! The "serenade" concludes with something of a "curtain call" number where the three soloists (including the lamented Aci) reprise the moral of the story jubilantly! In the economy of scale, melodic invention, deployment of voices, and unusual place in the composers' output, it is somewhat reminiscent of Bach's Coffee Cantata.

The sound is perfectly judged and the instrumentalists flawlessly characterful and supportive. The second disk is rounded out with three recorder (flute à bec) sonatas that are delivered with sinuous elegance and infectious panache.

This recording is far more elegant and cohesive than the more recent and much-lauded Emmanuelle Haïm recording. Haïm has interesting things to say and elicits exciting sounds from her instrumentalists, but I have yet to hear a recording of hers that makes a convincing case for her vocal choices. This recording is much better, and one should not be swayed by the more recent vintage of the Haïm.

Reissue of 1987 recording.......1999-06-30

This set got mixed reviews when it came out in 1987 but I can't see why. I can't think of a better cast list than Emma Kirkby as the shepherd Acis, Carolyn Watkinson as the nymph, and David Thomas as the bad guy cyclops.

This 1708 Italian serenata has been overshadowed by the 1716 English masque Acis and Galatea but in fact there is only one aria shared between the two - they are two separate works with different atmospheres. From memory some more material from the 1708 version was added to the London revival of Acis, and this version was later picked up for Mozart's German realisation (as recorded by Pinnock for Archiv in the 1980s). Full texts and translations. Timing 106'10".

Tracks:

Lucia Di Lammermoor: Fra Poco A Me Ricovero
Lucia Di Lammermoor: Tu Che A Dio Spiegasti I'ali
Kilarney
Carmen: Il Fior Che Avevi A Me To Dato
Come Back To Erin
La Boheme: Che Gelida Manina
L'elisir D'amore: Una Furtiva Lagrima
The Minstrel Boy
Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes
Annie Laurie
La Traviata: Lunge Da Lei...De' Miei Bollenti Spiriti
Faust: Salve Dimora, Casta E Pura
I Hear You Calling Me
When Shadows Gather
La Boheme: O, Mimi, Tu Piu Non Torni
La Fille Du Regiment: Per Viver Vicino A Maria
The Snowy Breasted Pearl
Lakme: Immenso Vienteso...Ah, Vien Al Boscaglia
My Lagan Love
Molly Bawn
Has Sorrow ThyYoung Days Shaded?

Tracks:

Dear Little Shamrock
Rigoletto: Bella Figlia Dell'amore - John McCormack/Nellie Melba/Edna Thornton/Mario Sammarco
Faust: All'erta! All'erta - John McCormack/Nellie Melba/Mario Sammarco
Faust: All'erta! All'erta - John McCormack/Nellie Melba/Mario Sammarco
The Irish Immigrant
Kathleen Mavourneen
I Hear You Calling Me
Believe Me If All Those Enduring Young Charms
In A Persian Garden: Ah! Moon Of My Delight
Molly Bawn
Mother Machree
I'm Falling In Love With Someone
Macushla
An Evening Song
She Is Far From The Land
The Happy Morning Waits
Les Pecheurs De Perles: Del Tempio Al Limitar - John McCormack/Mario Sammarco
Les Pecheurs De Perles: Del Tempio Al Limitar - John McCormack/Mario Sammarco
Li Marinari [No.12 From Les Soirees Musicales] - John McCormack/Mario Sammarco
Mira La Bianca Luna [No.11 From Les Soirees Musicales] - John McCormack/Emmy Destinn
Il Barbiere Di Siviglia: O Il Meglio Mi Scordavo...Numero Quindici - John McCormack/Mario Sammarco
La Gioconda: Badoer Questa Notte...O Grido Di Quest'anima - John McCormack/Mario Sammarco

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2006-06-25

These are old recordings, so quality isn't perfect, but these are beautiful songs, beautifully sung. Considering you get two discs, it's a bargain.

not enough bang for the buck.......2006-04-28

It seems a crime that, in order to get John McCormack singing "I'm Falling in Love with Some One," you have to shell out big bucks for this CD. I can't abide opera, and there are too many arias here sung in foreign languages to justify a capital investment. McCormack also does a striking rendition of "Because," which is missing from this CD. maybe we'll get lucky and Archeophone will put together a few disks, all in English, and I'd pay their price, steep though it usually is.