Je Suis Comme Je Suis

1. Je Suis Comme Je Suis

2. Sous Le Ciel De Paris

3. Les Feuilles Mortes

4. Je Hats Les Dimanches

5. Les Enfants Qui S'aiment

6. La Fiancee Du Piarate

7. Les Dames De La Poste

8. Ca Va (Le Diable)

9. Coin De Rue

10. La Chanson De Margaret

11. Chanson Pour I'auvergnat

12. La Fourmi

13. Si Tu T'imagines

14. Le Guinche

15. La Valse Brune

16. Chandernagor

17. Qu On Est Bien

18. Bonjour Tristesse

19. Le Soux Caboulot

20. Il N'y A Plus D'apre

See all 44 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Double CD Box Set from Mysterious and Tormented French Diva from the 60's.

Tracks:

Je Suis Comme Je Suis - A. Grassi & Son Orchestre, Juliette Gr
Sous le Ciel de Paris - Alain Goraguer et son Orchestre, Juliette Gr
Feuilles Mortes - Juliette Gr,
Je Hais Les Dimanches - Alain Goraguer et son Orchestre, Juliette Gr
Enfants Qui S'Aiment - A. Grassi & Son Orchestre, Juliette Gr
Fiancdu Pirate - Jean-Michel Defaye, Juliette Gr
Dames de la Poste - A. Grassi & Son Orchestre, Juliette Gr
Va (Le Diable) - Alain Goraguer et son Orchestre, Juliette Gr
Coin de Rue - Alain Goraguer et son Orchestre, Juliette Gr
Chanson de Margaret - Juliette Gr, , Michel Legrand & His Orchestra
Chanson Pour l'Auvergnat - Alain Goraguer et son Orchestre, Juliette Gr
Fourmi - Juliette Gr,
Si Tu T'Imagines - Alain Goraguer et son Orchestre, Juliette Gr
Guinche - Alain Goraguer et son Orchestre, Juliette Gr
Valse Brune - Juliette Gr,
Chandernagor - Alain Goraguer et son Orchestre, Juliette Gr
Qu'on Est Bien - Freddy Balta, Juliette Gr, Henri Patterson
Bonjour Tristesse - Juliette Gr,
Doux Caboulot - Juliette Gr, Frans Rauber
N'Y a Plus d'Apr- Juliette Gr,
Paris Canaille - Jean-Michel Defaye, Juliette Gr
Rue des Blancs-Manteaux - Jean-Michel Defaye, Juliette Gr
Paname - Juliette Gr,

Tracks:

Javanaise - Jean-Michel Defaye, Juliette Gr
Parlez-Moi d'Amour - Juliette Gr, Frans Rauber
Accord - Juliette Gr, Frans Rauber
Jean de la Providence de Dieu - Jean-Michel Defaye, Juliette Gr
Mon Homme - Juliette Gr, Frans Rauber
On N'Oublie Rien - Juliette Gr,
Clopin Clopant - Juliette Gr, Frans Rauber
Pingouins - Alain Goraguer et son Orchestre, Juliette Gr
Marions-Les - Claude Bolling, Juliette Gr
Petit Poisson, Un Petit Oiseau - Alain Goraguer et son Orchestre, Juliette Gr
Jolie M- Juliette Gr, Henri Patterson
Dabillez-Moi - Juliette Gr,
Je Suis Bien - Juliette Gr, Frans Rauber
Fille de Londres - Juliette Gr,
Chanson des Vieux Amants - Juliette Gr, Frans Rauber
Trois Petites Notes de Musique - Juliette Gr, Grd Jouannest
J'Arrive - Juliette Gr, Frans Rauber
Ame des Pos - Juliette Gr, Frans Rauber
Embellie - Juliette Gr, Frans Rauber
Lelluia - Juliette Gr, Frans Rauber
Mon Fils Chante - Juliette Gr, Frans Rauber

Album Details

Double CD Box Set from Mysterious and Tormented French Diva from the 60's.

Customer Reviews:

VINTAGE JUJU.......2002-05-05

What have in commun BREL,BRASSENS,BÉART,GAINSBOURG,FERRÉ,CARCO,MaCORLAN and many others?They have all had songs recorded by JULIETTE GRÉCO,one of FRANCE's true lasting monument.BREL and GAINSBOURG were virtually unknowns when JULIETTE choose their songs for recordings.This overview of her career that span more than 50 years hits home.If you were a young composer or lyric writer in the fifties and the sixties,you simply had to ring her bell.With the deaths of CHARLES TRENET(he is also present here)and GILBERT BÉCAUD,GRÉCO is now the surviving legend of FRENCH music along with AZNAVOUR.In her autobiography JUJU,JULIETTE said this:I always missed my mother's lack of love towards me.She was somehow in a way adopted by the fans.

Average customer rating:

The artistry and allure of a French nightingale
High note feast :)
Simply beautiful high notes
Mady Mesplé's wonderful album
A glorious bit of memorabilia from a sadly forgotten soprano

The Very Best of Mady Mesplé

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

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Airs D'opérettes
Very Best of
Natalie Dessay - French Opera Arias
The Very Best of Kirsten Flagstad
The Very Best of Lucia Popp

ASIN: B0006VYELY
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

Ah!...Ou Va La Jeune Hindoue?
Ah! Je Veux Vivre
Oui! Pour Ce Soir...Je Suis Titania La Blonde (Polonaise)
Les Oiseaux Dans La Charmille
A Vos Jeux...Partagez-vous Mes Fleurs...Et Maintenant, Ecoutez Ma Chanson!
Una Voce Poco Fa
Ah! Non Credea Mirarti...Ah! Non Giunge
Di Piacer Mi Balza Il Cor
Gualtier Malde...Caro Nome
Il Dolce Suono...Ardon Gl'Incensi...Spargi D'Amaro Pianto

Tracks:

Quartet No.2 For Soprano, Violin, Viola, & Cello
In Furore Giustissimae Irae
I. La Dame D'Andre - Gabriel Tacchino
II. Dans L'Herbe - Gabriel Tacchino
III. Il Vole - Gabriel Tacchino
IV. Mon Cadavre Est Doux Comme Un Gant - Gabriel Tacchino
VI. Fleurs - Gabriel Tacchino
Les Chemins De L'Amour Op.106 (Anouilh) - Gabriel Tacchino
A Chloris (Viau) - Dalton Baldwin
Si Mes Vers Avaient Des Ailes (Hugo) - Dalton Baldwin
L'Heure Exquise (Chanson Grises, Verlaine) - Dalton Baldwin
Le Chapelier (Chalupt)
Dapheneo (Godebska)
La Diva De L'Empire (Intermezzo Americain) (Bonnaud & Bles)
Ecoutez, C'est Le Chant Des Cigales
Au Bord Du Chemin Qui Passa A Ma Porte
La Bergere Colinette (Villanelle)
Tout Est Soleil, Tout Est Printemps

Album Description

Details TBA. EMI. 2005.

Customer Reviews:

The artistry and allure of a French nightingale.......2007-06-03

This is one of the rare cases when the title of a CD matches completely its content. The Very Best of Mady Mesplé showcases the amazing talent and legacy of the beautiful lady that was the star coloratura soprano of the Paris Opera during the second part of the twentieth century. The first CD is dedicated to opera arias, and only a hearing of the first number, The Bell Song from Delibes' Lakmé, gives us a summary of what makes Mesplé so special. There is hardly a more musical or virtuosic version than the one presented here (from her complete recording of the opera). The legend is presented by the soprano with engaging interest and great attention to the words. The bell refrains are amazingly fast, with diminutive stacatti, a great trill and ravishing high notes. The final cadenza is very exciting, ending with a firm, beautiful high E that soars triumphally over the orchestra. All these qualities are present when she is singing Juliette, Philine, Ophélie and Olympia. Particularly on this last aria she conveys in her voice the illusion of hearing an automaton instead of human being and there is no ornamentation except on an interpolated high Eflat at the end. It is remarkable how Mesplé always is musical with her ornamentation. The Italian arias that end the first Cd are very pretty, even though they are not as successful, given the distinctive sound of the soprano, more in her element with the nuances of her native language than the legato singing that is proper to the belcanto style. However, the arias are still lovely, specially Una voce poco fa, where Mesplé showcases not only her high register but also the lower part of her voice by singing the first part of "Io sono docile" exactly the way it is written. CD number 2 takes the listener to a totally different aspect of Mady Mesplé's artistry with incursions into contemporary music, a Baroque cantata, French art song and French operetta. The Quartet no.2, for soprano, violin, viola and cello is a very demanding piece where the soprano becomes another instrument: dissonant and difficult intervals are required in all the registers of the voice. The soprano succeeds on this as well as the motet by Vivaldi, a totally different number of equal difficulty. A great part of the CD is then dedicated to songs by Poulenc, Hahn and Satie, where the singer perfectly conveys the mélodie style with her very distinctive sound, that can convey all degrees of emotion, from innocence to worldliness. Specially remarkable are Poulenc's Le chemin de l'amour, Hahn's Si mes vers avait des ailes and Satie' La diva de l'empire. The final part of the CD is dedicated to French operetta arias, a very important part of Mesplés discography. All the selections are a delight. It is worth noticing that she recorded the virtousic aria from Massé's Les noces de Jeanette in 1981, in the later part of her career and there is no difference in the sound and technique from Mesplé's debut recordings. The CD ends in a high note (literally and metaphorically) with a delightful waltz by Johann Strauss where she ends with a stunning Aflat over high C. In summary, this is a superb presentation of the career of Mady Mesplé, a singer who was not only one of the most stunning coloraturas of all time, but also a gifted and versatile artist.

High note feast :).......2006-10-02

I love this set. Her voice is similar to that of Pons, but this is in clear stereo sound! And her highest notes don't sound like whistle tones! The Bell song won me over; Sutherland is still my favorite singer, but she did not have the acuti of Mesple. Very good listening here.It is all so effortless - that final note on CD 2 (A-flat above high c''') is astonishing!

Simply beautiful high notes.......2006-08-14

I feel ashamed of myself. Really. For all the years I have been listening to pons and sutherland and callas and the more recent dessay and jo, I never really paid attention to Mady Mesple. I really wished I had. Her voice is so pure and bell-like similar to Pons but with a much richer middle range and with the most impressive solid low range I have heard on a coloratura sopranos. It is a tragedy that she was over shadowed by the coloratura powerhouse which is Joan Sutherland. Her high notes are to die for and really it would hard to find anyone who can hit them like her. She may not have Pons agility but the lightness and tone of her high e flat can certainly go head to head with pon's and may possibly be a tiny step above pon's which up until this point didn't think was possible.

Mady Mesplé's wonderful album.......2005-08-30

I felt a sense of awe listening to Mady Mesplé's voice. Of the two CD set, I much prefered CD #1 as #2 was a bit too modern for me. #1 has many of my favorite soprano arias, and Mlle. Mesplé did them all justice.

A glorious bit of memorabilia from a sadly forgotten soprano.......2005-05-10

Mady Mesple is one of the best kept secrets of the music industry today. Of course, when you're singing around the same time as Joan Sutherland you're rather likely to be overshadowed. Still, Mesple offers a wealth of musical goods that even Sutherland never could have given. Not only is her coloratura technique virtually flawless, she (gasp)inflects every word she sings with great sensitivity to the text, never losing grasp of the character she is striving to portray. Of course, she does have a rather controvertial aspect to her voice that many listeners may object to, As a classic french coloratura, her vibrato is VERY fast, fluttering tremulously at all times but never getting in the way of her pitch. Still, her high notes are exceptional (the second CD ends with a glorious high A flat) and the fresh, girlish beauty of her tone is unsurpassed even today (my apologies to Natalie Dessay). Be sure not to miss her Bell Song, by FAR the best I have ever heard! Her voice has a crystaline quality that is PERFECT for that particular aria. Her Doll Song is rather weak, but her mad scene from Hamlet MORE than makes up for it (can we say eight seconds of beautiful high F harp?!!). The second CD offers Mady in a more matura phase of her life, singing sensuously in more traditional art songs before going on to challenging operetta arias. And you won't want to miss the violin, viola, cello, soprano quartet that opens the CD!!! Let's just say you're in for a surprise... this CD is a must-have!

Massenet: Thaïs / Sills, Milnes, Gedda; Maazel

Average customer rating:

Lapsing Faith and Lost Beauty
Stylish Thais Set
AN UNDER-APPRECIATED GEM
A fad
Lovely but too late

Massenet: Thaïs / Sills, Milnes, Gedda; Maazel
Jules Massenet , Lorin Maazel , Beverly Sills , Nicolai Gedda , New Philharmonia Orchestra , John Alldis Choir , Sherrill Milnes , and Norma Burrowes
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Massenet: La Navarraise / Horne, Domingo, Milnes, Bacquier, Zaccaria, Davies, LSO, Lewis
Massenet: Le Cid (Complete) [Germany]
Massenet: Manon
Bellini: I Capuleti e i Montecchi
Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor: Complete Opera (with full libretto and translation)

ASIN: B000002S67
Release Date: 1995-09-26

Tracks:

Thais: Act I - Scene I : Voici le pain...Et le sel (Cenobites, Palemon)
Thais: Act I - Scene I : Le voici! Le voici! (Cenobites, Athanael, Palemon)
Thais: Act I - Scene I : Helas! enfant encore (Athanael)
Thais: Act I - Scene I : Ne nous melons jamais, mon fils (Palemon, Cenobites, Athanael)
Thais: Act I - Scene I : Vision (Orchestre)
Thais: Act I - Scene I : Toi, qui mis la pitie dans nos ames (Athanael)
Thais: Act I - Scene I : Mon fils, ne nous melons jamais (Palemon, Athanael, Cenobites)
Thais: Act I - Scene II : Prelude (Orchestre)
Thais: Act I - Scene II : Va, mendiant chercher ailleurs ta vie! (Serviteur, Athanael)
Thais: Act I - Scene II : Voila donc la terrible cite (Athanael)
Thais: Act I - Scene II : Ah! Ah! Ah!...Athanael, c'est toi!
Thais: Act I - Scene II : Ah! Ah! Ah!...Je vais donc te revoir (Crobyle, Myrtal, Nicias, Athanael)
Thais: Act I - Scene II : Gorde-toi bien! Voici ta terrible ennemie! (Nicias, Choeur)
Thais: Act I - Scene II : C'est Thais, I'idole fragile (Thais, Nicias)
Thais: Act I - Scene II : Quel est cet etranger (Thais, Nicias, Athanael)
Thais: Act I - Scene II : Qui te fait si severe (Thais, Nicias, Choeur)
Thais: Act I - Scene II : Non! Non! je hais vos fausses ivresses (Athanael, Thais, Nicias, Choeur)
Thais: Act II - Scene I : Ah! je suis seule, seule enfin!
Thais: Act II - Scene I : Dis-moi que je suis belle (Thais)
Thais: Act II - Scene I : Etranger, te voila comme tu l'avais dit
Thais: Act II - Scene I : Eh bien, fais-moi connaitre tout cet amour
Thais: Act II - Scene I : Je suis Athanael, moine d'Antinoe! (Thais, Athanael, Nicias)
Thais: Act II - Scene I : Je n'ai pas plus choisi mon sort que ma nature (Thais, Athanael, Nicias)
Thais: Act II - Scene I : Meditation Religieuse - Symphonie (Orchestre)

Tracks:

Thais: Act II - Scene II : Pere, Dieu m'a parle par ta voix,
Thais: Act II - Scene II : Non loin d'ici, vers I'occident
Thais: Act II - Scene II : Considere, o mon pere (Thais, Athanael)
Thais: Act II - Scene II : Suivez-moi tous, amis! (Nicias, Choeur, Crobyle, Myrtal)
Thais: Act II - Scene II : Divertissement (i) (Orchestre)
Thais: Act II - Scene II : Voila I' Incomparable! (Nicias)
Thais: Act II - Scene II : Celle qu vient est plus belle (Crobyle, Myrtal)
Thais: Act II - Scene II : Divertissement (ii) (Orchestre)
Thais: Act II - Scene II : Eh! c'est lui!...Athanael! (Nicias, Choeur, Athanael)
Thais: Act II - Scene II : II dit vrai! (Thais, Nicias, Athanael, Choeur)
Thais: Act III - Scene I : L'ardent soleil m'ecrase
Thais: Act III - Scene I : Ah! des gouttes de sang coulent de ses pieds (Thais, Athanael)
Thais: Act III - Scene I : O messager de Dieu, si bon dans ta rudesse (Thais)
Thais: Act III - Scene I : Baigne d'eau mes mains et mes levres (Thais, Athanael, Choeur)
Thais: Act III - Scene I : La paix du Seigneur soit avec toi (Athanael, Albine)
Thais: Act III - Scene I: Mon oeuvre est accomplie! (Athanael, Thais, Albine, Choeur)
Thais: Act III - Scene II : Que le ciel est pesant! (Cenobites, Palemon, Athanael)
Thais: Act III - Scene II : C'est lui qui vient! (Athanael, Palemon)
Thais: Act III - Scene II : Qui te fait si severe (Thais, Athanael, Choeur)
Thais: Act III - Scene II : Thais va mourir! (Athanael)
Thais: Act III - Scene III : Seigneur, ayez pitie de moi (Choeur, Albine)
Thais: Act III - Scene III : Sois le bienvenu dans nos tabernacles (Albine, Athanael, Choeur)
Thais: Act III - Scene III : C'est toi, mon pere! (Thais, Athanael)

Amazon.com

This set is primarily for devoted fans of Beverly Sills, for fans of Sherrill Milnes in his prime, and for those who must have the uncut version where it's available. The estimable Ms. Sills was in less than ideal voice for the making of this recording, which is unfortunate, but the artistry still shines through. Mr. Milnes sings with rich tone. But Lorin Maazel's conducting is leaden and out of empathy with the score. --Sarah Bryan Miller

Customer Reviews:

Lapsing Faith and Lost Beauty.......2006-09-23

The reason I assign the recording four stars rather than five is that the pathos of the opera strikes me as too extreme. The same combination of exquisite beauty and suffocating pathos turns up in Barbra Streisand's song "The Way we Were." Beverly Sills sings the pathetic part of Thais to the hilt; and Massenet's familiar "religious meditation" does the rest. All of these intensely pathetic operas including Pagliacci and Tosca derive from the epoch-making example of Wagner's Tristan und Isolde with its unrelieved love-and-death sorrow. As a Christian I associate this powerful tradition with lapsing faith in Europe after 1865. Massenet's opera treats the early Christian monks of Egypt as caught up in tragic error. Thais is a supremely beautiful woman won from a life of immorality to Christianity by a well-intentioned monk who knew her in his earlier days. As the converted Thais lives and dies for the abstract reward of heaven, the monk grieves over the beauty he has destroyed. The real spiritual solution to the dilemma posed by the opera lies in the correlation between future resurrection, universal vitality and intense beauty; but theologians have generally missed he point and shown more interest in heaven than in concrete resurrection. In any case there was no way out for Massenet and his source.

Stylish Thais Set.......2005-10-16

This 1976 recording of Thais is my favorite of the two recordings I have - the other being the Fleming/Hampson. Sills' vibrato is a little more pronounced here than it was a few years earlier, but it doesn't bother me. She still has a gorgeous voice and brings this conflicted character vividly to life. Having studied with the likes of Mary Garden as a young singer, Sills has an innate understanding of the French style, and uses her voice with much imagination and flair. Also, the character of Thais is not supposed to be a young girl - an aging courtesan of 30ish or so... Sherrill Milnes, in a departure from his usual Italian repertoire, sings a most impassiaoned Athaneal - the voice full and resonant, the character's obessiveness wonderfully realized. I think he never did anything better on disc. Nicolai Gedda is a little past his best here, but like Sills understands the French style and delivers the vocal goods as required. Maazel conducts an exciting performance (even playing the solo violin in the Meditation himself) and the sound is excellent. The Fleming/Hampson set is beautifully sung, but I feel the drama of the story is not fully realized somehow - hard to put my finger on what's missing there. This Thais is one of my favorite French opera recordings - recommended highly.

AN UNDER-APPRECIATED GEM.......2004-12-03

Late 19th-century French opera is often disparaged these days, which isn't really fair. Delibes had some beautiful melodies, and Massenet was a much better composer than many give him credit for. And although "Manon" and "Werther" may be more famous, to me, his late opera "Thais" is his masterpiece. There are three major recordings of this opera, one with Anna Moffo, Gabriel Bacquier and Jose Carreras, a recent one with Renee Fleming, Thomas Hampson and Giuseppe Sabattini, and this 1976 recording with Beverly Sills, Sherill Milnes, and Nicolai Gedda. All three versions have their strengths and weaknesses. The Moffo/Bacquier vesion, although excellent and showing Carreras in his prime, is unavailable. (I'm not sure it was ever issued in CD.) The Fleming/Hampson recording is also excellent--Fleming has a gorgeous and luscious voice, and Hampson a silky smooth baritone--but I find myself reaching for the Sills/Milnes version most often.
Sills was past her prime when she recorded this, and her high notes are a little thin and sometimes wobbly. Nevertheless, her artistry is so great that she infuses the role of the courtesan with the tremendous drama the role requires. Thais' radical change of character, from the insouciant hedonist to the redeemed penitent, is gloriously demonstrated in Sills' portrayal.
And this opera is as much about Athanael as it is Thais. Milnes, at the height of his career when he recorded this in 1976, brings tremendous power and vitality to the role of the priest, whose reverse progression from moralistic religious surety to tortured doubt parallels that of Thais, the object of his forbidden love. Nicolai Gedda's singing is, as always, stylish and graceful, and Loren Maazel's reading of the score is well paced and forceful. This recording belongs in all opera collections.

A fad.......2004-05-21

This Thais is ruined by Sills. Buy Renee Fleming's Thais instead. She has the big voice, the looks and the talent. Sills didn't, all she can do is make my ears bleed. Shame on that shrieker!

Lovely but too late.......2004-02-24

I have a live-recording with Sills which is MUCH better. Sills was always at her best live on stage. For studio-recordings get the Fleming-set or the sadly cut recording with the divine Renee Doria. (My favourite Thais)

Maria Callas - Life & Art (2 CD's & Bonus DVD)

Average customer rating:

The Fascinating Maria Callas
Stupenda! A great compilation...
wonderful representation of Callas artistry

Maria Callas - Life & Art (2 CD's & Bonus DVD)

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Verdi: Arias by Maria Callas (includes DVD - rare performance of Callas on film)
Callas - A Documentary Plus Bonus / John Ardoin, Franco Zeffirelli
The Passion of Callas
Maria Callas - Passion / A Film by Gerard Caillat
Maria Callas - The Callas Conversations (EMI Classic Archive)

ASIN: B0002Z83KW
Release Date: 2004-11-16

Tracks:

Bellini: Norma - Casta Diva (Act I)
Donizetti: Anna Bolena - Al dolce guidami castel natio (Act II)
Verdi: Il trovatore - D'amor sull'ali rosee (Act IV)
Catalani: La Wally - Ebben? ne andrr lontana (Act I)
Giordano: Andrea Chinier - La mamma morta (Act III)
Puccini: La bohhme - Donde lieta uscl (Act III)
Puccini: Tosca - Vissi d'arte (Act II)
Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana - Voi lo sapete o mamma
Boito: Mefistofele - L'altra notte in fondo al mare (Act III)10. Puccini: Madama Butterfly - Un bel dl vedremo (Act II)
Puccini: Turandot - Signore, ascolta (Act I)
Puccini: Manon Lescaut - Sola, perduta, abbandonata (Act IV)
Ponchielli: La Gioconda - Suicidio! (Act IV)
Verdi: Aida - Ritorna vincitor! (Act I)
Bizet: Carmen - Carreau ! Pique ! (Card Scene) (Act III)
Massenet: Le Cid - De cet affreux combat...Pleurez, mes yeux ! (Act III)

Tracks:

Bellini: La sonnambula - Compagne, teneri amici...Come per me sereno...Sovra il sen la man mi posa (Act I)
Bellini: I puritani - Son vergin vezzosa (Act 1)
Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor - Regnava nel silenzio...Quando rapito in estasi (Act I)
Verdi: Rigoletto - Gualtier Maldh...Caro nome (Act I)
Verdi: La traviata - Ah, fors'h lui (Act I)
Puccini: Gianni Schicchi - O mio babbino caro
Cilea: Adriana Lecouvreur - Ecco: respiro appena. Io son l'umile ancella (Act I)
Thomas: Mignon - Ah, pour ce soir...Je suis Titania (Act II)
Gounod: Romio et Juliette - Ah ! Je veux vivre dans ce rjve (Act I)
Gounod: Faust - Un bouquet !...Ah ! je ris (Jewel Song) (Act III)
Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust - D'amour l'ardente flamme (Part IV)
Massenet: Werther - Werther ! Qui m'aurait dit...Des cris joyeux (Letter Scene) (Act III)
Bizet: Les Pjcheurs de perles - Me voil` seule...Comme autrefois (Act II)
Saint-Saens: Samson et Dalila - Printemps qui commence (Act I)
Charpentier: Louise - Depuis le jour ( Act III)

Tracks:

Massenet: Le Cid - De cet affreux combat...Pleurez, mes yeux (Acte III) (DVD)
Bizet: Carmen - Prilude; Habanera (Acte I); Entr'acte (Acte III); Siguidille (Acte I) (DVD)
Verdi: Ernani - Surta h la notte...Ernani, involami (Atto I) (DVD)
Rossini: La Cenerentola - Nacqui all'affanno e al pianto...Non piy mesta (Atto II) (DVD)
Verdi: Don Carlo - O don fatale, o don crudel (Atto III) (DVD)

Customer Reviews:

The Fascinating Maria Callas.......2007-01-10

The DVD of her life was the most interesting part. I was really hoping for a wide selection of arias on the CDs, rather than the two full operas that came in the set.

Stupenda! A great compilation..........2006-08-23

First off, I think this is a great compilation of Maria Callas' work. It has a little bit of almst everything. It picks the right records and highlights them quite well. I liked the idea of splitting the album into two discs. One of lighter romantic arias. The other with tragic and dramatic arias. Now, to the point...
I listen to many operas as it is my music of choice. Whenever I find myself at a loss with a certain soprano for either character or tone I always find myself coming back to Callas. Not having the most tonaly beautiful voice she does for me what is more important. She adds life and passion to the music instead of just singing it. She knows the characters and their motivations. This rare feat comes thru in her voice. Capable of singing almost any soprano role from a light lyric coloratura such as Lakme or to the heavy demands of a Wagnerian role such as Norma. Not only does her range impress but her voice was capable of such colors and shades of those colors. She imparts such pathos and depth with her voice. This for me is most important. A singer can have the most tonaly beautiful voice, but if there is no heart and emotion behind it, forget about it. Callas has that in spades. Maybe that is why 30 some odd years after her death I still find myself turning to her for inpsiration.

wonderful representation of Callas artistry.......2006-04-29

This 2 set CD and additional DVD are a great sampling of Maria Callas singing various operatic arias. They demonstrate not only her remarkable vocal range but her ability to perform expressively as well. No artist in my opinion can act today as well as Callas. Callas voice may have been flawed later on during her career, but her ability to act truly makes up for any vocal imperfections. After all, she is the only operatic soprano I know of who possessed not only the natural talent for acting, but the ability to sing anything from mezzo to soprano. If you are a fan of Callas, then I highly recommend this set. Even those not familiar with Maria Callas should hear her perform at least once.

Average customer rating:

Comme Je Suis
Sofiane
Manufacturer: EMI
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

International | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000NVI1F2
Release Date: 2007-07-02

Tracks:

L'envie D'y Croire
Deux Ames Soeurs
Rer
Briser Mes Chaes
Le Mange Des Couleurs
Dis Moi Pourquoi
Danse Pour Moi
Dis Lui
Pour Ces Femmes
Je Vous Dis
Pour Que Tu Reviennes
Donne Moi

Album Details

2007, Debut Album from French Pop Singer. 12 Tracks featuring the Hit Single "Briser Mes Chaines".

Average customer rating:

Perfection. Absolument exquis!
Amazing
Nothing short of superb
Formidable!
Enchanting

Le Petit Prince
Richard Cocciante , and Elizabeth Anais
Manufacturer: Universal
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Little Prince
Notre Dame de Paris
Le Petit Prince (French Language Edition)
The Little Prince

ASIN: B000063ROK
Release Date: 2002-06-20

Customer Reviews:

Perfection. Absolument exquis!.......2006-08-07

This is a gorgeous soundtrack. Almost every song is beautiful. There is so much emotion here. Richard Cocciante and Elisabeth Anais did an incredible job with this. And, the cast is absolutely phenomenal. I can listen to this over and over again without tiring of it.

Daniel Lavoie is perfect as always. Cathialine Andria has a beautiful voice. Jeff is just wonderful as the Prince. Richard Cocciante's melodies are wonderful. I can't even say with certaintly which song is best. They are all so very wonderful. This is just an exquisite piece of music. Entirely perfect.

Amazing.......2006-05-09

This CD is absolutely amazing. I am eighteen years old and I strongly dislike musicals; I don't enjoy watching them, and I don't enjoy listening to the music. But my french teacher played this cd for us in class after reading the book and I was blown away. The composition, the lyrics, and the amazing vocal talent that fills this CD makes it a must-listen for anyone who is a fan of Le Petit Prince, musicals, or anyone who speaks french. Even if you don't (though that leaves out the moving lyrics), this CD is just amazing. It's more than worth it to have it shipped over from france.

Nothing short of superb.......2006-02-14

Beautiful music. Lyrics faithful to the original. Exceptional performances. Simply magic.

Formidable!.......2005-12-20

As a high school teacher of French, I played the CD in my advanced French class with some initial concerns as to how it would be received. I have been going over the lyrics and playing each song individually to the class. MY CLASS HAS BEEN BLOWN AWAY! Several boys want to buy the CD for themselves. One girl wants to sing a song for our school's annual talent show. They love the voice of the Little Prince and ask me to play his songs frequently. Several students have become big fans of the book and their enthusiasm is making the class very delightful.

Enchanting.......2003-01-28

This CD is wonderful. I saw the musical twice while I was in France, and couldn't get enough of it. The music is soothing, yet brings out all the intense joy and emotion of the book. Daniel LaVoie and Jeff do amazing jobs with the songs, and each song is a new discovery. I highly reccomend this CD to anyone, even if they don't speak French.

Massenet - Werther / Alagna · Gheorghiu · Hampson · Petibon · Courtis · Fouchécourt · Frémeau · LSO · Pappano

Average customer rating:

A star among modern Werthers, but there are others
Another Smash Hit From The French Opera Specialists
¿El mejor Werther despues de Kraus?
Best Werther recording since the 1930s
thoughts on "Werther"

Massenet - Werther / Alagna · Gheorghiu · Hampson · Petibon · Courtis · Fouchécourt · Frémeau · LSO · Pappano
Jules Massenet , Antonio Pappano , Roberto Alagna , Angela Gheorghiu , London Symphony Orchestra , Tiffin Children's Choir , Thomas Hampson , Patricia Petibon , Jean-Philippe Courtis , Jean-Paul Fouchécourt , Jean-Marie Frémeau , James Savage-Hanford , Pierre Dupont , and Sophie Boulanger
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Massenet - Manon / Gheorghiu, Alagna, Patriarco, van Dam, Ragon, Rivenq, Panzarella, Koch, Schimmack, Pappano
Puccini - La Rondine / Gheorghiu · Alagna · Matteuzzi · Mula · Rinaldi · Ciofi · Bacelli · LSO · Pappano
Massenet: Le Jongleur de Notre Dame
Puccini - Il Trittico / Alagna, Gheorghiu, Guelfi, Guleghina, Gallardo-Domás, Manca di Nissa, Palmer, Shicoff, van Dam, Pappano
Rossini - Guillaume Tell / Bacquier, Caballé, Gedda, Mesplé, Kovacs, Howell, RPO, Gardelli

ASIN: B00001ZSVU
Release Date: 1999-10-19

Tracks:

Werther: Prelude (Orchestra)
Werther: Act One: Assez! Assez! M'ecouterat-on cette fois? (Le Bailli, Les Enfants)
Werther: Act One: Bravo pour les enfants! (Johann, Schmidt, Les Enfants, Le Bailli, Sophie)
Werther: Act One: Alors, c'est bien ici la maison du Bailli?
Werther: Act One: Je ne sais si je veille (Werther)
Werther: Act One: Jesus vient de naitre!...Chers enfants! (Les Enfants, Werther)
Werther: Act One: Ah! comme ils sont meilleurs que moi! (Werther, Les enfants, Le Bailli)
Werther: Act One: Arrivez donc, Bruhlmann! (Le Bailli, Charlotte, Werther, Sophie)
Werther: Act One: O spectacle ideal d'amour et d'innocence (Werther)
Werther: Act One: Monsieur Werther!...Vivat Bacchus, semper vivat! (Le Bailli, Charlotte, Sophie)
Werther: Act One: Sophie!...Albert! Toi de retour! (Albert, Sophie)
Werther: Act One: Elle m'aime!...Quelle priere de reconnaissance et d'amour (Albert)
Werther: Act One: Interlude (Orchestre)
Werther: Act One: Interlude (continued) ...Il Faut nous separer
Werther: Act One: Mais vous ne savez rien de moi
Werther: Act One: Reve! Extase! Bonheur! (Charlotte, Werther)
Werther: Act One: Charlotte! Charlotte! Albert est de retour! (Le Bailli, Charlotte, Werther)
Werther: Act Two: Prelude (Orchestre) ....Vivat Bacchus! Semper vivat!
Werther: Act Two: Allez, chantez l'office (Johann, Schmidt)
Werther: Act Two: Trois mois! Voici trois mois que nous sommes unis! (Albert, Charlotte)
Werther: Act Two: Un autre est son epoux!
Werther: Act Two: J'aurais sur ma poitrine (Werther)
Werther: Act Two: Si! Katchen reviendra, je vous dis! (Schmidt, Johann)
Werther: Act Two: Au bonheur dont mon ame est pleine...Vous l'avez dit: mon ame est loyale et sincere (Albert, Werther)
Werther: Act Two: Frere, voyez! Voyez le beau bouquet!...Heureux! Pourais-je l'etre encore? (Sophie, Werther, Albert)
Werther: Act Two: Ai-je dit vrai? L'amour que j'ai pour elle Ah! qu'il est loin, ce jour plein d'intime douceur
Werther: Act Two: N'est-il donc pas d'autre femme
Werther: Act Two: Oui, ce qu'elle m'ordonne
Werther: Act Two: Lorsque l'enfant revient d'un voyage avant l'heure
Werther: Act Two: Mais venez donc! le cortege s'approche (Sophie, Werther, Charlotte, Albert)

Tracks:

Werther: Act Three: Prelude (Orchestra)
Werther: Act Three: Werther! Werther!...Qui m'aurait dit la place
Werther: Act Three: Des cris joyeux d'enfants montent sous ma fenetre (Charlotte)
Werther: Act Three: Bonjour, grand soeur! (Sophie, Charlotte)
Werther: Act Three: Va! Laisse couler mes larmes (Charlotte)
Werther: Act Three: Tiens, Charlotte, crois-moi, ne reste pas ici (Sophie, Charlotte)
Werther: Act Three: Ah! mon courage m'abandonne! (Charlotte)
Werther: Act Three: Qui, c'est moi! Je reviens! (Werner, Charlotte)
Werther: Act Three: Ha! bien souvent...Toute mon ame est la!...Pourquoi me reveiller, o souffle du printemps? (Werner)
Werther: Act Three: N'achevez pas! Helas!
Werther: Act Three: Ah! Moi! Moi, dans ses bras! (Charlotte, Werther)
Werther: Act Three: Werther, est de retour...on la vu revenir (Albert, Charlotte)
Werther: Act Four: Entr'acte: La Nuit de Noel (Orchestra)
Werther: Act Four: Werther! Werther! Rien! (Charlotte)
Werther: Act Four: Qui parle? Charlotte, ah! c'est toi!
Werther: Act Four: A cette heure supreme, je suis heureux (Charlotte, Werther)
Werther: Act Four: Noel! Noel! Noel!...Dieu! Ces cris joyeux (Les Enfants, Charlotte, Werther, Sophie)
Werther: Act Four: Ah! ses yeux se ferment!...Non...Charlotte!...je meurs (Charlotte, Werther)

Amazon.com

The modern discography of Massenet's Werther has long been dominated by the (currently out of print) Philips recording starring José Carreras and Frederica von Stade as well as the earlier EMI version with Alfredo Kraus and Tatiana Troyanos. But this EMI newcomer is within shouting distance of greatness, mainly due to conductor Antonio Pappano. Although any Werther succeeds or fails on the strength of its singers, the conductor is a crucial catalyst (on the Philips set, it's Colin Davis, while on EMI it's Michel Plasson) for maintaining the poetic intensity in a drama that can too easily seem like a naive case study in stalking. The Byronic title character essentially practices emotional blackmail on the married woman he loves by never hiding his suicidal tendencies, though one never thinks such mundane thoughts with tenor Roberto Alagna. Although his voice lacks the tenor bloom one might want, he's so at home with the role and the French language that he delivers a characterization full of imagination and immediacy, sometimes bordering on vocal genius. Soprano Angela Gheoghiu's vocal center is too high for this mezzo role, but she makes a vivid impression through the sheer force of her personality. Thomas Hampson gives vocal glamour but surprising dramatic restraint to the role of her husband, Albert. Although the sound quality is somewhat studio bound, Pappano and the London Symphony Orchestra play as if it's a live performance. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews:

A star among modern Werthers, but there are others.......2006-05-28

The reviewers below have praised this EMI Werther so thoroughly that there's little to add. Gheorghiu is the only soprano besides Victoria de los Angeles (1868, also on EMI) to record this classic mezzo role, and at times one hears the strain as she reaches for the bottom notes. She lacks de los angeles's many emotional shadings, giving us instead a fairly consistent, verismo-tinged passion, but her vocalism as such is thrilling.

Roberto alagna, a native French speaker despite his name, is the only prominent Werther who can claim that distinciton. I've always felt he was much better suited to French opera than the heavier Verdi-Puccini roles that he now sings, and which (shadoes of Carreras) have led to a coarsening of his voice, along with a pronounced wobble and intonation problems. but he is a star, no doubt, and here he brings charisma and style to Wether. He takes care to find many musical shadings throughout, and since the date for this recording is 1998-99, he is nearly in best voice.

Everyone has praised Pappano (are they following the lead of The Gramophone reviewer, who thought he was the best thing here?), but Colin Davis, Georges Pretre, and Kent Nagano had done as well. Pappano;s distinciton is that he is a bit slower, more dleiberate, and self-consciously refined. I'm not sure that's always a great advantage in Massanet, whose music is given to sighs and longueurs--it can use help form an energetic conductor. EMI's recording form London is a bit distant but otherwise quite good.

IN all, this is a gripping peformance that deserves all the praise it has gotten, but it doesn't erase memories of other fine Werthers, an opera that has been amazingly successful on records. The Davis features a remarkable Charlotte in Frederica von stade and a passionate, verismo Carreras in top form (Philips), the Nagano has gorgeous if not quite idiomatic singing from von Otter and Hadley in a more low-key, melliflous style (Erato), and of course there's the classic Pretre version with de los Angeles and Gedda. This only skims the surface, for there is an oustanding live 1977 performance with Domingo and Fassbaender under Lopez-Corbos from Munich (Orfeo). Indeed, when the Amazon reviewer claims that the Plasson set with Troyanos and Kraus on EMI "dominated" the stereo era, he is far from accurate.

Another Smash Hit From The French Opera Specialists .......2006-02-25

Husband and wife singing sensatio Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu, in another stunning EMI recording, dramatically commit themselves to the passionate characters in this now forgotten opera Werther, which quite possibly is Massenet's best work. Although Alagna and Gheorghiu can sing the Italian opera repertoire with aplomb (Tosca, Trovatore, Boheme, Pagliacci, La Rondine) they have proven time and again that their strongest reperotoire is French opera. As soon as their Romeo Et Juliette hit record stores and stage houses, they were immediately hailed as today's finest French opera singers, a rarity. Not only do they possess beautiful voices but they are intensely dramatic and character-driven. Never more so than in Massenet's Werther, a Gothic romantic drama about the tormented love of the titular hero who kills himself. It's drawn from a popular Romantic-Era 19th century novel - The Sorrows of Young Werther. Both Alagna and Gheorghiu are in great vocal shape. They understand the significance of the text and they are blessed with the talents of their champion conductor, Antonio Pappano, who draws out the power in the musical score with the London Symphony Orchestra. All true fans of Alagna and Gheorghiu will want to own this one, as it is indeed their best work yet.

Roberto Alagna has been criticized for his flawed technique- he sings with self-conscious grandeur and often imitates the lyric tones of predecessors Giuseppe Di Stefano and Franco Corelli. He has a nearly "pop" style voice - all razzzle-dazzle, great volume, beautiful tone, but often fails in the more difficult music. He is however, very gifted and intelligent and attempts to sing with as much passion and drama as possible. I for one love what I hear from him, especially in this recording, where he has never sang better. Angela Gheorghiou sings with her usual dramatic diva flair - thrilling high notes, tessitura, chest voice, musicality and all the good things she has used for other great hits like Juliette and Manon. But in this performance, while it is still good, she is not really in her element. This is a mezzo-soprano role. Charlotte, Werther's unattainable love, must sing with mezzo soprano voice in order to seduce Werther a la Bizet's Carmen. While it is definately a role for a high mezzo, it is not for the purely soprano voice of Angela Gheorghiu. You have to be a fan of these two in order to appreciate Gheorghiu's treatment of a mezzzo soprano role. It is basically the same thing as her Carmen, another mezzo soprano role. If you want to hear outstanding mezzo sopranos in Werther check out the dramatic mezzo style of Brigitte Fassbaender who is by far the best intepretor or check out Federica Von Stade who sings a cooler and less intense Charlotte opposite the supercharged Jose Carreras. Pappano does a great job with the music - bloom, brilliance, darkness and this is by far the best modern recording of the opera.

¿El mejor Werther despues de Kraus?.......2004-10-23

Sorprendente acierto de la EMI (la casa para la que grababa Alfredo Kraus, uno de los interpretes de referencia del papel de 'Werther') al confiar a una de las parejas mas activas discograficamente del momento, Roberto Alagna y Angela Gheorghiu, la grabacion de 'Werther' en 1999 (justo el año de la muerte del mitico Kraus)
Y digo sorprendente porque quizas ROBERTO ALAGNA sea el mejor interprete de Werther desde el mitico Kraus. Sus interpretaciones son muy diferentes entre si, ya que Alagna muestra un timbre mas baritonal que el liviano de Kraus y un canto mas afrancesado: Un canto elegante y entregado capaz de llegar a los agudos sin grandes problemas, que hacen de Alagna seguramente el mejor Werther de su generacion (y por tanto el mejor despues de Kraus).
Como Charlotte encontramos a la soprano ANGELA GHEORGHIU, en un papel que aunque habitualmente es cantado por mezzos, le queda francamente bien: la voz doliente y expresiva de Gheorghiu se presta perfectamente a la psicologia de Charlotte, y la quimica con Alagna en los duos de amor (sobra decir que es su esposo en la vida real) es total.
Completando el reparto nos encontramos con los lujos de PATRICIA PETIBON (una Sophie cuyo timbre recuerda mucho al de Natalie Dessay) y el Albert de un THOMAS HAMPSON que es todo sutilidad. El resto del reparto rinde tambien a buen nivel.
ANTONIO PAPPANO dirige a la LONDON SIMPHONY (que suena igual de bien que siempre) y el coro infantil canta con mucha correccion. Si a esto le sumamos un sonido magnifico (podemos oir en algunos momentos incluso los susurros de Pappano a la orquesta), esto nos lleva a pensar que este 'Werther' sea la mas adecuada segunda opcion, despues de tener la obviamente obligada de Alfredo Kraus. Muy buen trabajo.

Best Werther recording since the 1930s.......2000-03-17

I will admit that I am "imprinted" on the Georges Thill/Ninon Vallin recording from the 1930s and no recording since then has even come close. But this recording does. Alagna (who is a native French speaker, in spite of the Italian name) has the diction and, more important, the style to sing poor Werther perfectly. Gheorghiu sings beautifully as well, and there is no problem with the tessitura, in spite of Charlotte generally being more comfortable for mezzos. Pappano is an up-and-coming conductor who does himself proud with this recording. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this one.

thoughts on "Werther".......2000-01-07

Perfect casting for the title role... Alagna feels *good* and sorry for himself...no problems there! Just listen to him belt and bleat through "Pourquoi"...it's no wonder Charlotte changes her mind. "Stop whining!"

This CD is worth your money, provided you already like the opera. Personally, Werther's selfishness drives me up a wall.

Customer Reviews:

The Essential Coloratura Album.......2007-02-16

The artistry of Rita Streich presented in this multi-disc set represents an art that in all likelihood would not return: the Viennese school of coloratura and lyrical singing.
Together with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Rita Streich studied voice with Maria Ivogun, a great coloratura soprano of the German-Austro school. Together with her colleague, Streich excelled in the Viennese-style coloratura singing. This album presents her wide range of repertoire from Austro-German to French to Italian opera; from classical opera to romantic Strauss operetta; from lieder to folk songs.
What this album does NOT include is Streich's Russian repertoire, some thing that, owing to her maternal descent, she was most adept at.
Unlike Schwarzkopf, Streich owned a voice that is out-right lyrical. It is even lighter, even more agile, even more silvery, though not as forceful as Schwarzkopf's on demand. Listen to her delightful "Bastien und Bastienne", her Mozart concert arias and enjoy her highly articulated, musically refined delivery. It is the exemplary Viennese singing. Her soubrettes as well as lyrical heroines are nothing short of being superb.
Not being as internationalised a singer as Schwarzkopf, Streich nonetheless was a representative figure of Viennese coloratura singing. Some times I would even feel that her coloratura is even more superior to that of the great dramatic coloratura of the 20th century, Joan Sutherland, again a very much more internationalised singer than Streich.
If you are undergoing voice training, this box set is essential.