Amour Perdu [Import]

1. Vous Permettez, Monsieur?

2. Nuit

3. Laissons Dire

4. J'Aime une Fleur

5. Filles du Bord de Mer

6. Car Je Veux

7. Larme aux Nuages

8. Ma Tete

9. Vivre

10. Amour Perdu

11. Sans Toi, Ma Mie

12. Barbu Sans Barbe

13. Il N'Est Pas Fou

14. Mal Aimes

15. Wuand Tu Reviendras

16. Femme aux Yeux d'Amour

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Collection of his Greatest Hits from EMI Archives.

Tracks:

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Average customer rating:

Heavenly...
Nice collection of major figures
Gran recopilatorio
blend of great opera for novice or opera buff!
Nessun dorma!

The Opera Album
Luciano Pavarotti , Angela Gheorghiu , Mirella Freni , Guiseppe Verdi , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Giacomo Puccini , Richard Strauss , Richard Wagner , Georges Bizet , Riccardo Muti , Tullio Serafin , Michel Plasson , Georges Pretre , Philharmonic Orchesta , Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala Milan , London Philharmonic , and London Symphony Orchestra
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Czech | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The #1 Opera Album
The Very Best Of Maria Callas
The Most Famous Opera Duets
Angela Gheorghiu - Arias
Classics on a Summer's Evening / Sinopoli, Gheorghiu, Alagna

ASIN: B00005YW4M
Release Date: 2002-08-13

Tracks:

Dis (Flower Duet from Lakm Nathalie Dessay and Delphine Haidan
E lucevan le stelle (Tosca): Placido Domingo
Ebben? ne andrntana (La Wally): Maria Callas
Suzel, bon di (Cherry Duet from L' amico Fritz): Luciano Pavarotti, Mirella Freni
Belle nuit, it d'amour (Barcarolle from Les Contes d'Hoffmann): Ann Murray, Jessye Norman
Song to the Moon (from Rusalka): Lucia Popp
Recitar!...Vesti la giubba (from I Pagliacci): Josarreras
Ecco! respiro appena. Io son l'umile ancell (from Adriana Lecouvreur): Kiri Te Kanawa
O soave fanciulla (from La boh): Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna
Un bel di vedremo (from Madama Butterfly): Montserrat Caballe
Ingemisco (from Verdi's Requiem): Luciano Pavarotti
Frondi tenere...Ombra mai fom Xerxes): David Daniels
Non pirai (from Le nozze di Figaro): Thomas Allen
Au fond du temple saint (Temple Duet from Les Peurs de perles): Ernest Blanc, Nicolai Gedda
O mio babbino caro (from Gianni Schicchi): Angela Gheorghiu
La donna obile (from Rigoletto): Roberto Alagna
Vedi! le fosche notturne spoglie (Anvil Chorus from Il Trovatore): L'Orchestra et Coro del Teatro alla Scala
Der H Rache (from Die Zauberfl: Natalie Dessay
Libiamo ne'lieti calici (Brindisi) (from La Traviata): Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna

Tracks:

Casta Diva (from Norma): Maria Callas
Canzonetta sull'aria (from Le nozze di Figaro): Anna Moffo, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Se quel guerrier io fossi...Celeste Aida (from Aida): Placido Domingo
Vissi d'arte (from Tosca): Angela Gheorghiu
Che gelida manina (from La boh): Roberto Alagna
SMi chiamano Mimfrom La boh): Mirella Freni, Nicolai Gedda
L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera from Carmen): Victoria de los Angeles
Va, pensiero (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Nabucco): L'Orchestra et Coro del Teatro alla Scala
Dove sono (from Le nozze di Figaro): Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Un aura amorosa (from Cosan tutte): Placido Domingo
J'ai perdu mon Eurydice (from Orphet Eurydice): Anne-Sofie von Otter
Non mi dir (from Don Giovanni): oan Sutherland
O Mimtu pi torni (from La boh): Jussi Bjng, Robert Merrill
La mamma morta (from Andrea Cher): Maria Callas
Largo al factotum (from Il barbiere di Siviglia): Thomas Hampson
Summertime (from Porgy and Bess): Kiri Te Kanawa
Dich, teure Halle (from Tannher): Jessye Norman
Nessun dorma (from Turandot): Rhine Opera Chorus, Josarreras

Amazon.com

This is a remarkable collection: two and a half hours' worth of opera arias, duets, and a couple of choruses, and nary a dud among them. All the stars are here, from Alagna to Schwarzkopf, with stops at Gheorghiu, Callas, Bjoerling, Dessay, Gedda, Carreras, Popp, Domingo, Norman--and a bunch of others. And the repertoire is wisely chosen: the gorgeous Flower Duet from Lakme, de los Angeles singing Bizet's Habanera from Carmen, the famous Pearl Fishers duet (Gedda, Blanc), Wally's exit into the snow from La Wally (Callas), the Barcarolle from Tales of Hoffmann (Jessye Norman and Ann Murray), "Largo al factotum" with an energetic Thomas Hampson as The Barber of Seville, Domingo in "Celeste Aida," countertenor David Daniels in a Handel aria, the heavenly "Song to the Moon" from Rusalka, sung as in a dream by Lucia Popp, Caballe as Madama Butterfly, and many more--37 tracks in all. Even if you already own some of these, having them all in one place makes for breathless, glorious listening. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Heavenly..........2007-04-03

I am not particularly a fan of opera but do realize it's merit. I also appreciate the talent of it's artists. This 2 disc set offers a wide, wisely chosen selection from most of the popular operas, performed by most of the world's greatest singers, present and yesteryear. Yes, you will find legends such as Maria Callas to Pavarotti to the up and coming Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu; sharing space on these discs. Economically, I was able to obtain this set for under ten bucks. My research could not find a more varied set with such a stellar roster at any price. It will impress any novice to seasoned collecter. I wish that EMI annotated the set better, a brief synopsis of each track would have tutorial value. The sound reproduction flows seemlessly from track to track.

Nice collection of major figures.......2007-01-04

This is billed as "the greatest opera stars on one double album for the first time ever."

Many major voices of the first part of the past half century are presented on this CD (e.g., Shwartzkopf, Moffo, Freni, de los Angelos, Sutherland, Callas, Gedda, Merrill, Bjoerling, Pavarotti, Sutherland, Domingo, et al.). Also represented are some more contemporary singers, among whom are Kanawa, Gheorgiu, Alagna, Dessay, and so on).

So, a nice album. But we are also reminded of the absence of some major figures on CDs (such as Richard Tucker, who is little represented on CDs). . . . Hopefully, in future years, more of those glorious voices will become accessible on CD.

Gran recopilatorio.......2004-02-29

Este recopilatorio ofrece variedad de estilos, versiones siempre de alto nivel y precio medio muy interesante. Muy recomendable para iniciarse en el mundo de la opera de la mano de los mejores artistas de hoy y de ayer, aunque algunos de los grandes cantantes se echan quiza en falta.

blend of great opera for novice or opera buff!.......2003-03-03

Beautiful music for anyone. Even those I know who generally dislike opera have taken an interest! These are truly highlights of some of the greatest peices...breathtaking voices...relaxing and yet movingingly passionate. I reccomend this for anyone wanting a varied and yet stunning collection.

Nessun dorma!.......2002-12-01

This set of two CDs is a great way to listen to some highlights from many different operas when you aren't in the mood to listen to a full opera. Many of your favorite arias are here, such as Nessun Dorma, Habanera, Non piu andrai etc. But what I liked most about it is that it features many different artists. While I love my Pavarotti and Domingo albums, it is nice to hear other singers.

Also, hearing some pieces that sounded familiar have gotten me interested in operas I haven't heard or seen before, such as the Flower Duet from Lakme. I've heard that before--but where? Probably in some car commercial...

Tracks:

Paride Ed Elena: Oh, Del Mio Dolce Ardor
Le Nozze Di Figaro: Non So Piu Cosa Son, Cosa Faccio
La Clemenza Di Tito: Parto, Ma Tu, Ben Mio
Iphigenie En Tauride: Non, Je N'espere Plus... O Toi Qui Prolongeas Mes Jours
Iphigenie En Tauride: O Malheureuse Iphigenie!
Iphigenie En Tauride: Non, Ect Affreux Devoir... Je T'implore Et Je Tremble
Le Nozze Di Figaro: Voi Che Sapete
La Clemenza Di Tito: Deh, Per Questo Istante Solo
Orphee Et Eurydice: Qu'entends-je? Qu'a-t-il Dit?... Amour, Viens Rendre A Mon Ame
Idomeneo: Non Ho Colpa
Orphee Et Eurydice: J'ai Perdu Mon Eurydice
Lucio Silla: Dunque Sperar Poss'io... Il Tenero Momento

Amazon.com

The "tender moment" of this collection's title comes from a stunning scene in an opera Mozart wrote as a teenager, Lucio Silla. It refers to the heightening of sensitivity and expectation that love, above all else, instills. But the Mozart example (with which the album ends) might also be taken as a metonym for the way in which the most powerful emotions, including love in all its guises, from ardor to lament, can intensify the moment. It's a process that opera itself tries to replicate through the wonderful alchemy of music, text, and character. In her second recording for Erato (following the extraordinary Ned Rorem anthology), American mezzo-soprano Susan Graham focuses on the "tender moment" as depicted by Mozart and Gluck. These two masters of opera aren't often paired, though each in his highly distinct, individual way insisted on elevating the genre beyond the level of frivolous entertainment and display that the century they shared found so tempting. Graham's program of six scenes from each suggests some striking moments of common ground in terms of the larger classical aesthetic, though the success of the whole enterprise is mixed. Certainly, Graham makes a case for the radiant beauty of Mozart's opera seria writing (her own operatic debut was in Lucio Silla), which still tends to be undervalued--as though it were simply a case of the composer being enchained by excessive genre "conventions." There's a magical balance between form and content, substance and decoration in "Parto" from La Clemenza di Tito (notable enough for Antony Pay's melting basset clarinet obbligato), and in the lengthiest selection (the last one, from Lucio Silla), though Graham here exposes the instability of her lowest register.

But to whatever extent Mozart and Gluck might intersect in sensibility, the latter conjures a remarkably different universe when he depicts love's loss and abandon. Somehow the scenes from Iphigénie and, especially, Orphée et Eurydice (in its French version here) don't register as stylistically different enough and they lack that strange, altogether Gluckian combination of objective purity with emotional extremity. And as Mozart's adolescent Cherubino, the kind of intensity that Graham conveys so convincingly on stage comes across a tad too contrived. On disc alone, not all of the selections can capture the spell Graham typically casts in live performance through her combination of singing, "emotional intelligence," and stage presence. Still, it's an intelligent program, and Graham has proved to be a winning exponent of period performance style (as in 2000's superb Alicina). The match here with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is a happy one. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Voice, Great Selection.......2007-01-10

This is one of the best vocal CDs released in the last several years. If you don't know Susan Graham's gift, this CD is the best introduction. I'd also recommend it if you're not especially an opera fan, but are interested in a very listenable introduction to top-notch singing. I've listened to this over and over, and have not filed the CD away for months.

The balance of material between Gluck and Mozart works surprisingly well. Graham eschews the showy and flashy, yet sings with extraordinary power and passion. The accompaniment is excellent, never getting in the way. The recording is almost perfect.

In short, a pleasurable CD that will improve the quality of your life.

Extremely competent but not a permanent addition.......2004-12-16

Very well-focalized, and an evenly produced sound (granted, there is no special color, nor low register) --- but the problem is the anonymous quality of the interpretations. If you want to truly understand Iphigenie's predicament in her aria 'O malheureuse Iphigenie', seek Janet Baker. Not a generalized torment beautifully sounded -- but a moment of tormented grandeur.

An album that is very dear to my heart.......2002-07-22

First my Dad dies unexpectedly and the September 11th attack happens two weeks later. A very unhappy and distressing time in my life. I spent much of this time alone at my parent's home sitting in their big garden on Sunday afternoons listening to this CD and drinking some wine. It helped me make sense of the world around me and my own world at the time - beauty and truth continue to exist even after the worst happenings. "Ô malheureuse Iphigénie!" perfectly reflected my feelings at the time.

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is fabulous, expressive and colourful - you'd never want to hear this music on modern instruments again after hearing them! Susan Graham's voice is expressive and has much pathos - without ever becoming melodramatic.
The repertoire is well selected and there is a very tasteful blend of known and less well known arias. I hope that Ms Graham makes another CD with the OAE again soon! I could stand another disc like this one!

This disc is also the perfect disc to buy with the Cecilia Bartoli Gluck disc. Ms Bartoli tackles Gluck's earlier opera seria arias - while Ms Graham mainly delves into the later reform opera arias - as well as some Mozart. I cherish both discs.

Please consider this CD for your collection.

Bland & Sleepy.......2002-01-02

I enjoy Susan Graham in performance and on CD (her Ned Rorem CD is excellent). This time I was disappointed by the bland and nearly featureless impression this left me with. It is pablum start to finish to my ears. And too...her weak lower register is exposed unflatteringly in this repertoire.

For a study in opposites, try Ewa Podles in the same repertoire and buckle yourself in for the ride.

Another American Singer That Shines.......2001-12-23

Susan Graham has wondeful mezzo voice and she has choosen a repertoire that suits it to a tee. Her creamy and pure tone illuminate the Gluck and Mozart arias in a such beautiful way. If you enjoy this you may want to try her recording of the Berlioz les Nuits d'ete, another group of songs that suit her voice so well. Ms. Graham represents along with Renee Fleming and Ruth Ann Swenson the best of the new American opera singers.

The Ultimate Aria Collection ~ A Passion for Opera

Average customer rating:

OPERA HEAVEN
Incredibly Beautiful . . .
Ultimate Aria
Ultimate indeed

The Ultimate Aria Collection ~ A Passion for Opera
Georges Bizet , Giuseppe Verdi , Giacomo Puccini , Gaetano Donizetti , Ruggero Leoncavallo , Gioachino Rossini , Gustave Charpentier , Leo Delibes , Vincenzo Bellini , Christoph Willibald Gluck , Pietro Mascagni , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Francesco Cilea , Edouard Lalo , Camille Saint-Saens , Arrigo Boito , George Frideric Handel , Alfredo Catalani , Amilcare Ponchielli , Charles Gounod , Jules Massenet , Ambroise Thomas , Fritz Wunderlich , Rome Opera Theater Orchestra & Chorus , Maria Callas , Elisabeth Schwarzkopf , Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala , Wiener Philharmoniker , Orchestre de Paris , Carlo Maria Giulini , Tullio Serafin , Sir Charles Mackerras , Francesco Molinari-Pradelli , Riccardo Muti , and Leone Magiera
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Caballe, Montserrat | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Callas, Maria | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Freni, Mirella | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Most Famous Opera Arias
The Most Famous Opera Duets
Aria II: A Passion for Opera
Aria: A Passion for Opera
Rapture: Opera's Most Heavenly Moments

ASIN: B000009OQL
Release Date: 1998-08-11

Tracks:

Carmen: Quand je vous aimerai? ...L'amour (Habanera)
I Pagliacci: Recitar!... Vesti la giubba
Madama Butterfly: Un bel di vedremo
L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
Nabucco: Va pensiero (Chorus Of The Hebrew Slaves)
Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro
Rigoletto: La dona e mobile
The Barber Of Seville: Largo al factotum
Louise: Depuis le jour
Lakme: Flower Duet
Turandot: Nessun dorma
Norma: Casta diva
Gianni Schicchi: A vete torto!
TOSCA: Vissi d'arte
TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
La rondine: Chi il bel sogno di Doretta
Il Trovatore: Di quella pira

Tracks:

L'Elisir d'Amore: Quanto e bella, quanto e cara!
Orphee et Eurydice: J'ai perdu mon Eurydice
La Boheme: Che gelida manina
La Boheme: Si, mi chimano Mimi
La Traviata: Di Provenza il mar
L'amico Fritz: O amore, o bella luce del core
Le nozze di Figaro: Voi che sapete
TOSCA: Recondita armonia
Adriana Lecouvreur: Ecco, respiro appena...lo son l'umile ancella
Le Roi d'Ys: Puisqu'on ne peut... Vainement, ma bien-aimee
Samson et Dalila: Mon coeur s'ouvre a'ta voix
Mefistofele: Dai campi, dai prati
Manon Lescaut: In quelle trine morbide
Serse: Ombra mai fu
Turandot: Signore, ascolta
Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai
La Wally: Ebben? ne ando lontana
La Gioconda: Cielo e mar

Tracks:

Aida: Se quel guerriero io fossi...Celeste Aida
Romeo Et Juliet: L'amour, l'amour...Ah, leve-toi soleil
Mefistofele: L'altra notte in fondo al mare
Werther: Toute mon ame est la...Pourqui me reveiller
Barber Of Seville: Una voce poco fa
Cosi Fan Tutti: Un aura amorosa
Le Villi: Se como voi piccina
Un Balle en Maschera: `Se come voi piccina`
Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jette
La forza del destino: Pace, pace mio Dio
Adriana Lecouvreur: L'anima ho stanca
La Gioconda: Suicidio
Don Giovanni: Dalla sua pace
La Traviata: De' miei bolenti spiriti
La nozzi di Figaro: Porgi amor
Turandot: Non piangere, Liu
Mignon: Elle ne croyait pas dans sa candeur naive

Amazon.com

Put together in evident haste, this collection is nevertheless a surefire, appetite-whetting starter kit both for the budding operaphile and for the simply intimidated. The samplings include some of the greatest voices from EMI's vaults: here you'll find the polar opposites Callas and Caballe, the golden wonder of Wunderlich and early Carreras, and a host of other singers who've made their stamp on this century. Emphasis is on the soprano and tenor range, while the lower voices are given short shrift, and the selections cleave predictably to standard Italian and French repertory (with an occasional surprise, such as an aria from Lalo's Le Roi d'Ys). Still, the nearly three and a half hours of music represented will make a ready convert of anyone who hasn't experienced the specially heightened, time-stopping expressivity--beyond the power of mere song--that is the aria's function and will likely spark a desire to explore the larger operatic context in several cases. And though the lack of a booklet with texts or at least bios of the artists is frustrating, this is a good place to begin for an overview of the mesmeric power extraordinary voices can wield. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

OPERA HEAVEN.......2002-12-13

Probely this is a good buy for someone who is gest getting into the world of OPERA.Still a very good purchaes with fimiluar songs.

Incredibly Beautiful . . ........2001-10-27

If you love opera - this collection of some of the lovliest arias ever sung by artists from Caballe to Freni, from Delibes to Puccini - will inspire you. It is a wonderful gift for friends or for yourself.

Ultimate Aria.......2001-08-03

In my small operetic mind, this set of Cd's has completely captured me for the Opera. I was a young and upcoming musician in my youth. I'v been around the block "as it were" with the Classics. This collection is indeed, the benchmark upon which all others would hope to aspire.

Congradulations EMI for an incredible vision of the greatest opeatic moments recorded.

Gosh what's next?

Ralph Hassman

Ultimate indeed.......2000-08-02

If you don't like the idea of buying whole operas, or if you're a newcomer to opera - this is an extremely good collection / introduction, worth every single cent. The collection features many of the worlds greatest singers, giving their interpretations of some of the world's greatest arias. The compilation itself is very tasteful and covers a wide range from Handel to early 20th century composers. You won't miss any important stuff from the history of opera, except maybe Wagner and the most modern operas - I'll come back to that fact later. The compilers have actually put some lesser known, although no less beautiful, arias here, that oftenly are neglected on ordinary opera-collections, why the name `ultimate collection' is more than correct in that aspect.

EMI have a enormous archive to pick their recordings from, and that of course makes it easy to find first rate interpretations of all the arias included in this collection, and I do think that almost all of the arias are wonderfully sung here. It may be possible to find better performances of single numbers here and there, but I've not yet heard a more complete, wellmatched, and so thrillingly sung collection.

Well then, is there nothing wrong with this compilation? You might find it a little odd that there are so many soloarias and so few duets, terzettos a.s.o, especially since the drama in operas oftenly is greater in numbers with more than one singer. You might also wish that some of the recordings had been a little more modern (most of these recordings were made during the 50's, 60's & 70's) giving place to younger performers that still are singing on the stages, but those are minor objections when the over all quality is so high.

Tracks:

Norma: Act I, Casta Diva
La Wally: Act I: Ebben? Ne Andro Lontana
Gianni Schicch: O Mio Babbino Caro
Andrean Chenier: Act III: La Momma Morta
Tosca: Act II: Vissi D'arte
Madame Butterfly: Act II: Un Bel Di Vedremo
La Boheme: Act I: Si. Mi Chiamano Mimi
La Boheme: Act III: Donde Lieta Usci
La Traviata: Act I: Ah, Fors' E Lui
La Traviata: Act III: Addio, Del Passato
Orphee Et Eurydice: Act IV: J'ai Perdu Mon Eurydice
Samson Et Delila: Act II: Mon Couer S'ouvre A Ta Voix
Carmen: Act I: L'amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle (Habanera)
Carmen: Act I: Pres Des Remparts De Seville
Carmen: Act II: Les Tringles Des Sistres Tintaient (Chanson Boheme)
Il Barbier Di Siviglia: Act I: Une Voce Poco Fa
Lucia Di Lammermoor: Act III: Spargi D'amaro Pianto

Amazon.com

What's the reason for all the fuss about soprano Maria Callas, whose life story is like a study in Greek tragedy? Her great gift was not purity of tone or emission, reliability, or sheer loveliness; it was, rather, her ability to change her vocal color and style to suit not only particular periods of opera but to get under the skin of the individual characters she portrayed: Bellini's priestess Norma performing a sacred rite; Puccini's sweetly hopeful Mimí from La Bohème and his innocent Butterfly; Verdi's courtesan Violetta; Bizet's sultry, adult Carmen; Donizetti's raving Lucia, and many others--and you'll believe them all. Much--though not all--of the program is identical to the 1993 anthology La Divina, though there has been some remastering since then. It's a perfect way to sample the art of Callas and begin to understand why, decades after her death, she remains one of the opera world's most revered performers. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Re: The review from the preceding oddly named reviewer.......2006-05-09

He--or she, as the case may be--understands.

Get some Callas complete sets, otherwise an excellent introduction.......2006-05-04

This was my first experience to the voice of Maria Callas. Before listening to this disc, I had already read all kinds of articles and reviews hyping Callas as "the singer of the 20th century", "the goddess", "la divina"...and so on.
Right at the beginning of the first track, "Casta Diva" from Norma, I was totally knocked over. I had imagined the most famous voice of the century as an angelic, gorgeous voice. What ugly sounds I heard! Even the coloratura and phrasing did not sound even. I continued running through the whole disc and at each track could not stand for more than a minute, struck with her weird sounding instrument. The only moment that I really liked on that first listen was that glorious E flat that closes the CD, which was so powerful that I listened to it again and again.
Then, by chance, I got to borrow the recording of Tosca with that impeccable Callas-di Stefano-Gobbi-Sabata cast. It was a weekend, and I decided to give it a listen, libretto in hand.
I was totally out of words. I did not like Callas's voice at all at the beginning, but slowly warmed up to it. Her portrayal of the anguish of Tosca at the 2nd act was so terrifyingly true and alive that I was totally speechless and literally immobilized. By that knock-out aria, Vissi d'Arte, I had already conceived the voice of Maria Callas as a beautiful voice. The ending of the opera, with that wonderful acting from Callas, literally had me immobilized for 15 minutes after the final chord.
After Tosca, one by one came Callas's Violetta, Norma, Lady Macbeth, Gioconda, Lucia di Lammermoor...It is impossible for me now to tell exactly when did I start to love that "ugly" voice. I slowly understood why Callas's recordings and portrayals had that frightening ability to convince and seduce: Callas does not sacrifice the ongoing drama for a beautiful but senseless sound. She sacrifices that beauty of sound of a Tebaldi or Milanov in order to REALLY get into the character and become the character she portrays. The best way to listen to Callas is not to listen to the highlights, but to every single moment of her interpretations. She is one of the rare voices that can bring so much excitement to those recitatives and make them as worth hearing as the florid arias.
Callas's voice is so distinct and "tasty" that after her I quite can not content myself with any other voice. It is really exciting how she literally grabs you with her art and brings you to her knees. If you want to really get to know Maria Callas, get some of her complete sets of her famous roles like Tosca, Norma, Violetta and get to know why she is such a legend.

6 Stars!.......2005-04-05

Is Callas' voice per se exceptionally beautiful, bearing in mind that once upon a time the standard was gracefulness and pleasentness to the ears? Before Callas, we have Tebaldi and Schwarkopf...

Nevertheless with Callas, we surely have a most incredible voice of the century. Incredible in the sense that she could cover literally a range of 2.5 octaves with ease (not even Caballe could do that), and she could change her timbers anytime and at any register. Coupled with a profound understanding of the characters that she sings, this makes her suitable for almost all opera parts. That explains why her singing could be so moving, so powerful and so full of drama.

But Callas with really beautiful recorded sound is not easy to come by, leave alone those recorded when she was in her prime. This is exactly such an album. Furthermore, most of the arias here are from famous operas, quite a few from what people would name the "top ten" operas. Last but not the least, Alfred Brendel, one of the topmost pianists, used to listen to Callas a lot partly to see her phrasings! Highly recommended for all opera, in fact all music lovers.

Callas is Opera's Meryl Streep.......2004-08-07

This CD is a great catalogue of Callas' tremendous talent as a singer and actress.

The thing about Maria Callas is that she brings good entertainment to the stage; an aspect that has, unfortunately, often been neglected in productions. While most of us have never had the opportunity to see her perform live, and technology at the peak of her career couldn't do justice to her voice, we can still feel the essence of each character she meant to portray. Her artistic dexterity is supreme, allowing for her ability to faithfully interpret the composers' intent.

For example, through Maria you can feel extremely sympathetic to Violetta's melancholy, or Tosca's desperation. She is adorable as Mimi and graciously reverent as Bellini's Norma. She paints these different characters in your mind with the many varied colors of her voice and a thorough understanding of the whole science of music. You will be affected with each aria, and you'll fall in love with her. If you are a Callas fan, this CD should be in your collection, and if you don't know Callas yet, this is a great first CD to learn about her and maybe even a good deal about Opera. Buy it!

WOW!.......2004-07-14

Callas is the best! The greatest soprano ever. This compilation is absolutely gorgeous!

Average customer rating:

YET ANOTHER CALLAS COLLECTION

Maria Callas: The Platinum Collection

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

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

La Divina 2
Maria Callas Live
Maria Callas: The Legend
The Passion of Callas
Maria Callas, the Voice of the Century

ASIN: B000B6OD0G
Release Date: 2005-11-08

Tracks:

Puccini: Un bel di vedremo (from Madama Butterfly)
Bizet: L'zmour est un oiseau rebelle - Habanera (from Carmen)
Catalini: Ebben? ne andro lontana (from La Wally)
Rossini: Una voca poco fa (from Il Barbiere di Siviglia)
Bellini: Casta Diva (from Norma)
Saint-Saens: Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix (from Samson et Dalila)
Verdi: Gualtier Malde... Caro nome (from Rigoletto)
Verdi: Sempre libera (from La Traviata)
Gounod: Ah! Je veux vivre dans ce reve (from Romeo et Juliette)
Puccini: Si. Mi chiamano Mimi (from La Boheme)
Mozart: Mi tradi quell'alma ingrate (from Don Giovanni)
Mascagni: Voi lo sapete, o mamma (from Cavalleria Rusticana)
Ponchielli: Suicidio! (from La Gioconda)
Puccini: O mio babbino caro (from Gianni Schicchi)
Puccini: In questa reggia (from Turandot)
Puccini: Vissi d'arte (from Tosca)

Tracks:

Giordano: La mamma morte (from Andrea Chenier)
Spontini: O nume tutelar (from La Vestale)
Massenet: Je ne suis que faiblesse... Adieu, notre petite table (from Manon)
Puccini: Oh, saro la piu bella... Tu, tu, amore? (from Manon Lescaut)
Bizet: Pres des ramparts de Seville - Seguedille (from Carmen)
Rossini: Dunque io son (from Il Barbiere di Siviglia)
Delibes: Dov'e l;indiana brune? - Bell Song (from Lakme)
Verdi: Qui Radames verra .... O partria mia (from Aida)
Puccini: O soave fanciulla (from La Boheme)
Puccini: Signore, ascolta! (from Turandot)
Leoncavallo: Qual fiamma avea nel guardo!... Hui! Stridono lassu (from Pagliacci)
Verdi: D'amor sull'ali rosee (from Il Trovatore)
Puccini: Vogliatemi bene, un bene piccolino (from Madama Butterfly)
Meyerbeer: Ombra leggera - Shadow Song (from Dinorah)

Tracks:

Gluck: Divinites du Styx (from Alceste)
Bizet: Les tringles des sistres tintaient - Chanson boheme (from Carmen)
Verdi: Surta e la notte... Ernani! Ernani, involami (from Ernani)
Puccini: il quelle trine morbide (from Manon Lescaut)
Verdi: Ritorna vincitor! (from Aida)
Gluck: J'ai perdu mon Eurydice (from Orphee et Eurydice)
Verdi: Merce, dilette amiche - Bolero (from I Vespri Siciliani)
Charpentier: Depuis le jour (from Louise)
Puccini: Donde lieta usci (from La Boheme)
Thomas: Ah, pour ce soir... Je suis Titania - Polanaise (from Mignon)
Verdi: Teneste la promessa... Addio, del passato (from La Traviata)
Verdi: O don fatale (from Don Carlo)
Saint-Saens: Printemps qui commence (from Samson et Dalila)
Bellini: Compagne, teneri amicic... Come per sereno...Sovra il sen (from
Cilea: Ecco: respiro appena. Io son l'umile ancella (from Andriana Lecouvreur)
Donizetti: Spargi d'amaro pianto (from Lucia di Lammermoor)

Customer Reviews:

YET ANOTHER CALLAS COLLECTION.......2006-02-08

I find that I'm beginning to agree with Herbert Breslin, who wrote in his book "The King and I" (which deals with his years as Pavarotti's manager) that "EMI has managed to convince the public that Maria Callas is still alive". Undoubtedly, EMI has made a fortune on Callas -------- complete operas, live recordings of operas, recitals, previously unpublished arias, and the like ------- and is showing no signs of slowing up promoting her recordings. There is no other operatic artist whose recordings are being promoted and marketed the way Callas' are. Obviously, the fascination continues. Is all of this warranted? Obviously, to judge by the sales of her recordings, most definitely "yes". Callas the artist is represented in this collection with arias and scenes recorded in different times of her short but spectacular career. The items recorded in the early and middle 1950's are vocally more secure than those recorded after 1960. What IS incredible are the different colors and hues that Callas had in her voice ---- she comes off as kind of an operatic Lon Chaney ("Man of a Thousand Faces")and manages to forge her imprint into virtually every item on included on this disc. What other soprano - living or historical---could sing such a wide repertoire which incorporated so many different vocal styles? This alone is reason to value Callas ------- as well as for her brains and incredible musicianship. Certainly we have hard more externally beautiful voices, but virtually none of them have had the sheer individuality of Maria Callas. This collection is certainly a great place to sample her art. I warn you ---- her art is addictive.

Chansons et Danceries (French Renaissance Wind Music)

Average customer rating:

Very good renaissance faire, but it doesn't stand out.
Not up to Pifaro's standards
Not up to Pifaro's standards
Hauntingly beautiful.

Chansons et Danceries (French Renaissance Wind Music)

Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Chansons | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Partsongs | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Canzoni e Danze: Wind Music from Renaissance Italy
Los Ministriles: Spanish Renaissance Wind Music
Panorama: Dances of the Renaissance
Music From the Odhecaton
Music from the Time of Richard III - The York Waits

ASIN: B0000057F3
Release Date: 1996-10-15

Tracks:

Adieu mes amours
Se J'ay perdu mon amy
Baisez-moy, ma doulce amye
Musae Jovis
Bransles de village
Prelude - Languir me fais
Allemandes
Pavane Dellestarpe Basse Dance
Bransle de chevaux
Content desir, qui cause ma douleur
Quant je suis au prez de mamye
Pis ne me peult venir
Amour partes
Une nonnain refaite
Premiere suytte de Bransles d'Escosse
Recercare
Regina coeli
A Suite Of Dances

Amazon.com

I really doubt that anyone but an expert could tell the difference between the French music in this collection and the music in Piffaro's Italian collection. Both discs are equally charming; both feature the same variety of well-played, tasty-sounding period instruments. Both have moments of reflective beauty, but most of the music makes you feel like getting up and dancing. If you don't know this period, start out with this disc or with Canzone e Danze (Archiv 445 883-2). Both will cheer you up, and the bright sound of the Renaissance instruments makes them ideal companions for car trips. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Very good renaissance faire, but it doesn't stand out........2005-12-04

'Chansons et Danceries' is Philadelphia band Piffaro's second of three albums I have heard. The first deals with Italian music and the third covers Spanish music. Not being an expert in Renaissance music, much less French Renaissance music, I can only give my impressions.

My best comparison among Renaissance performers is the Spanish Eduardo Paniagua Group, who specialize in stringed instruments. As such, Piffaro is a very nice complement, but they simply don't touch the heart quite as effectively as Paniagua and some other medieval performers.

All the music is excellently composed. In fact, several pieces are by the famous Renaissance musician, Josquin Desprez.

If you like Piffaro's other albums, you will like this. If you are not a fan of 'old music', you will miss little by taking a pass on this recording.

Not up to Pifaro's standards.......2002-04-02

Perhaps, instead, I should say, "Not up to my standards for Piffaro." This CD over-emphasizes the slow recorder or lute music that I always skip, and doesn't have much in the way of the faster, toe-tapping bagpipe or shawm music that made Piffaro poular. This CD is worth having, but only after you have Piffaro's Flemish and German CD's.

Not up to Pifaro's standards.......2002-04-02

Hauntingly beautiful........1998-12-01

We purchased this CD somewhat on a whim, based on an unsatisfied fondness for medieval sackbut music. This recording, however, provides much, much more and has rapidly become one of our favorites. Its haunting beauty is both relaxing and inspiring. We highly recommend it.

Average customer rating:

French music sung to perfection
Brilliant French!!!
Supreme!!!!
Nobody can double Callas!
A GREAT EXPERIMENT BY CALLAS

Callas à Paris: Arias, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Verdi: Arias, Vol. 1
Callas à Paris: Arias, Vol. 2
Puccini: Arias
Verdi: Arias, Vol. 2
The Very Best Of Maria Callas

ASIN: B000002SA5
Release Date: 1998-01-20

Tracks:

'J'Ai Perdu Mon Eurydice'
Divinites Du Styx
Habanera: 'L'Amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle'
Seguedille: 'Pres Des Remparts De Seville'
'Printemps Qui Commence' - Camille Saint-Saens
'Samson, Recherchant Ma Presence ... Amour! Viens Aider Ma Faiblesse!' - Camille Saint-Saens
'Mon Coeur S'Ouvre A Ta Voix'
'Ah! Je Veux Vivre Dans Ce Reve'
'Ah, Pour Ce Soir ... Je Suis Titania'
'De Cet Affreux Combat ... Pleurez, Mes Yeux!'
'Depuis Le Jour '

Customer Reviews:

French music sung to perfection.......2004-05-18

French was one of the languages Callas spoke fluently and beautifully. Her few recordings of French music are rare, exquisite jewels indeed. Beginning with Orphée's lament we hear not a beautiful serenade but a despaired soul yearning for its beloved, seeking what it couldn't reach, begging for a response from the one who couldn't hear its pleading. The tormented outcries "Euridice! EURIDICE!" will have you misty eyed. Singing the French version of Gluck's Alceste, a role she had sung brilliantly in Italian, having La Scala at her feet, she dazzles with a dignified elegance and brilliant style for Gluck as well as crystall clear diction and perfect phrasing. Her Carmen breathes fire and is maybe the most dangerously sexy gypsy you'll ever hear. Massenet's evil seductress Dalilah is sung with a totally different voice. Silken, husky and erotic, it is almost unbearable not to fall prey to this siren. Juliette's waltz, while magnificently phrased and coloured was recorded too late. Her Mignon is deliciously beautiful. But the highlight is her "Pleurez mes yeux". Callas finds colours and incredibly haunting pathos here. Presenting the contralto like depth of her rich low notes and magnificent middle she defines sadness, resignation, yearning for death and remembering crushed hopes. Maybe one of the most sublime examples of stylistic, tasteful singing of "verismo". Absolutely stunning, one of Callas' best recitals ever.

Brilliant French!!!.......2004-04-04

Callas spoke French fluently. She sang it perfectly well. This CD deserves 1000000000000000 stars!

Supreme!!!!.......2001-06-02

This is one of the best Callas recital!!! It's very wonderful!!! I think that the disappointed person of the first review has a problem with the ears. I don't understand french, and I don't know if Callas pronunciation is good, but the sound of the arias is very beatiful. Just listen the tracks 2, 8, 9 or 11 and prove. She sounds with strong force in all the arias... From the drammatic soprano in "Divinites du Styx" to the coloratura soprano in "Titania's" aria. If you are a Callas fan, this CD is for you. If you are not, this recording is very good for become...

Nobody can double Callas!.......2000-03-19

This is my absolute favorite recital disc. It is amazing what this woman has down to opera and continues to do. Aside from Carmen- nothing Callas has sung falls in the spectrum of my favorite operas- I really don't care for Puccini (safe Butterfly), Verdi (save Don Carlos), Donizetti (save Lucia), Bellini, Rossini, and any number of the composers whose work Callas has sung. My favorites lie first and foremost with Mozart, then Wagner, and the great Russian operas...

This disc is incredible...there is nothing like hearing this woman sing.

There is a reason why Callas is the greatest opera singer/actor to ever live- this disc brings it in full light.

A GREAT EXPERIMENT BY CALLAS.......1999-06-27

When this recording was issued in the early 1960's, there was surprise that Maria Callas should have chosen to record arias from French opera, and on top of that, six of them associated with mezzo soprano and even contralto voices. Actually, it was a wise decision, and it shows the direction her career could have taken had she chosen to follow the course she led many to believe she was taking by doing this recording. Callas had, of course, a fully developed and unusually full lower register in her voice, and she could use chest tones to great effect. Thus the arias from Gluck's "Orphee", Bizet's "Carmen", and Saint-Saens "Samson et Dalila" come off as close to flawlessly as one could get. The three arias from "Samson et Dalila" are especially fine, representing Callas at her greatest. She, of course, did record "Carmen" complete a couple of years later for EMI, but the two arias in the complete set do not have the verve and flash that they have on this recording. But there is another side to the story here. Callas's upper register, that which she utilized for her entire career, was deteriorating rapidly and mercilessly. This is obvious enough in the soprano arias she sings on this recording as well. It is not much of a problem in the "Le Cid" and "Alceste" arias, since the top B's and B flats are relatively short, and her singing of these pieces is otherwise so outstanding that a couple of bad top notes cannot spoil them. It is in the arias from "Romeo et Juliet", "Mignon", and especially "Louise" where the top notes become a real issue.Yes, there is great vocal phrasing here, and the feeling is right on target, but the climatic top notes are a real trial. The beautiful "Depuis le Jour" from "Louise" starts beautifully enough, but as soon as the music climbs above the staff, it becomes a test of the listener's endurance. Nevertheless, there is enough great work from Callas here to warrant a purchase of this recording. It also shows that Callas, given her great gifts, could have forged a new career in a new repertoire. That nothing of the sort came about is a loss for us all.

Average customer rating:

Mesmerizing set. La Divina's gift to the world.
Breathtaking!
Callas is Still Opera's Queen
Grand
The divine Callas

Callas: La Divina [Limited Edition]

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

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Callas, Maria | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Box Sets at 30% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Maria Callas Live
Maria Callas - Life and Art
Maria Callas - La Callas... Toujours
Maria Callas - At Covent Garden 1962 and 1964
The Very Best Of Maria Callas

ASIN: B000002S6V
Release Date: 1995-11-14

Tracks:

Madama Butterfly, Un Bel Di Vedremo
Carmen, Lamour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle (Habanera)
La Wally, Ebben Ne Andro Lontana
Il Barbiere Di Siviglia, Una Voce Poco Fa
Norma, Casta Diva
Samson Et Dalila, Mon Coeur Souvre A Ta Voix
Rigoletto, Caro Nome
Verdi La Traviata, Sempre Libera
Romeo Et Juliette, Je Veux Vivre Dans Ce Reve
Puccini: La Boheme
Don Giovanni
Cavalleria Rusticana
La Gioconda
Puccini: Gianna Schicchi
Puccini: Turandot
Puccini: Tosca

Tracks:

Divinites Du Styx
Les Tringles Des Sistres Tintaient
Surta E La Notte
In Quelle Trine Morbido
Ritorna Vincitor
Jai Perdu Mon Eurydice
Bolero: Merce Dilette Amiche
Depuis Le Jour
Donde Lieta Usci
Ah, Pour Ce Soir
Teneste La Promessa
O Don Fatale
Printemps Qui Commence
Compagne Teneri Appena
Ecco: Respiro Appena
Spargi Damaro Pianto

Tracks:

La Mamma Morta - Andrea Chenier
O Nume Tutelar - La Vestale
Je Ne Suis Que Faiblesse - Manon
Oh, Sara La Piu Bella....Tu, Tu Amore? - Giuseppe Di Stefano (Tenor)
Pres Des Remparts De Seville (Seguedille) Acte I - Carmen
Dunque Io Son Atto - Barbiere Di Siviglia
Dov' E L'indiana Bruna? - Lakme
Qui Radames Verra!...O Patria Mia - Aida
O Soave Fanciulla - La Boheme
Signore, Ascolta! - Turandor
Qual Fiamma Avea Nel Guardo...Hui! - Pagliacci
D'amor Sull' Ali Rosee - Trovatore
Vagliatemi Bene, Un Bene Piccolino - Madama Beutterfly
Ombra Leggiera - Dinorah

Tracks:

Interview
Interview
Interview
Interview
Interview
Interview
Interview
Interview
Interview
Interview
Interview

Amazon.com

In case there was a moment in your life when your suspected that Maria Callas was not a driving force in opera in the last half of this century, pick up this set. Apparently unable to give a dull performance, here we get Callas in La Divina as Rossini's flirty Rosina; Verdi's emotion-torn Aida; Catalani's unbelievably sad Wally (a classic performance, by which all others are measured); Bellini's Norma (ditto); Puccini's lovely, youthful Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi; the same composer's frigid, furious Turandot as well as his confused, desparate Manon Lescaut; Verdi's Loenoras--each noble; Meyerbeer's ditzy Dinorah and Delibes's loco Lakme (in some fabulous, high-flying coloratura singing); and at least a dozen more roles. While it's true that her control over her voice varies--the French coloratura arias, from Gounod and Thomas operas, can be pretty acidic--there's never an uninterested reading, never a once-over read-through. You'll get to know the characters as well as their music by hearing Callas as each heroine--indeed, this collection is like a who's who in opera. No music lover should be without it. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Mesmerizing set. La Divina's gift to the world........2006-07-30

I have listened to this 4-cd set numerous times and each occasion yields an abundant harvest. Maria Callas, one of my favorites, thrills, exalts, and saddens the listener to no end. You don't have to be a classical music fan to enjoy and be moved by this music. I cannot find words to substantially explain the beauty and meaning of this set.

Thank you La Divina.

Breathtaking!.......2006-06-11

I am no expert, I just love music. I bought this set in order to get an overview of what Callas offers, boy did I get more than I bargained for. There are many wonderful sopranos, I won't say this one or that one is better... its like good wine, what you choose to drink depends on your mood. Sutherland is purity, Bartoli is sheer joy, Callas is darkness. For me she is the Schubert of the voice and she can make me weep, that is her power, pure and simple.

Callas is Still Opera's Queen.......2005-01-25

With the apparent genius embedded in Callas' singing, it is no wonder that decades after her death, her voice will still echo within the chambers of our living rooms. Her great sense of the bel canto style, combined with the empassioned soul she juxtaposed into her performances, along with her amazing control over the three hundred (acclaimed conductor Nicola Rescigno said this) voices she had, are undeniably the reason why such a controversial singer survived the passing of time with a legion of fans still eager to submit to her amazing and passionate singing. She had the ability to chop a singular, monotonic-sounding instrument to convert it into a million shades of human emotion--something that no great singer was able to do today. She was the divine goddess of opera, able to command any listener to watch and listen to her declaim her roles. It was because of this that she was called "La Divina", and then many years later as "The Voice of the Century". But what defines a Voice of the Century, you might ask? It is the ability to live the life of a character all the while singing the lines, the melodies, the trills, and the embellishments required to bring a certain degree of drama into the role. Meaning there was no need for overornamentation, or such and so. Being the Voix du Secle didn't mean that you could sing coloratura roles so efficiently. If that were so, then Lily Pons would have been the Voice of the Century. Callas did so much more than that. She breathed life into opera, and turned it into the most illustrious and the most highly celebrated of all arts. No other singer can claim to have done that, no matter how amazing the range, how great the tonal quality whatsoever. Only Callas deserves such a title...and she truly was La Divina and The Voice of the Century.

I am also a big fan of Joan Sutherland. I just don't find it right for her to be tackling overly dramatic roles such as Norma, which her middle voices couldn't support. The middle voice is required for Bellini, you know. Joan Sutherland has a perfect vocal technique, but let me let you in on something divulged to me by an authority in music: Joan Sutherland never learned to read notes. She had a perfect sense of hearing, and it was Andre Previn and not Richard Bonynge who introduced the roles to her. Andre Previn would play a note on the piano, and she would just follow by singing. Surprising isn't it that the most celebrated coloratura of our age never learned to read notes? She has a great voice anyhow, but the only other thing that bothered me is that she didn't put her soul into singing. Although her voice remained in her throat until her 60's, the only reason that happened was because she didn't pour out her soul. Callas' technique, although one of the most attractive ever to have walked this planet (she could very well sing anything and be the character), was damaging to the vocal cords. Pouring your soul into the role has a tendency to scratch your instrument. Still, she was the Divine One, and she truly places first as my favorite soprano of all time.

Grand.......2004-05-21

Why won't this Callas-Hater leave Maria alone? If he hates her so much, why did he listen to all her recordings? I doubt that he did, bashing a perfect recording like Callas' Aida shows he hasn't heard it. Even Callas' enemies were floored by her Mexican performances. This collection is absolutely magnificent. La Divina will always be La Divina and no one comes close!

The divine Callas.......2004-05-08

An awesome collection of the most supreme voice in the world! Brava La Divina!!!!!

Average customer rating:

Lush, Delightful Performance
Enchanting

Born in Atlanta
Igor Stravinsky , Carlo Rizzi , Donald Runnicles , Giuseppe Sinopoli , Hugh Wolff , Jesús López-Cobos , Michel Legrand , Bayerisches Staatsorchester München , Lausanne Chamber Orchestra , Philharmonia Orchestra of London , Royal Opera House Chorus and Orchestra Covent Garden , Royal Opera House Orchestra Covent Garden , Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra , and San Francisco Opera Orchestra
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Larmore, Jennifer | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Jennifer Larmore - Where Shall I Fly
Russian Album
Handel - Serse / Rasmussen, Piau, Bayrakdarian, Bardon, Hallenberg, Peirone, Lippi, Rousset, Les Talens Lyriques, Dresden Opera

ASIN: B000000S9O
Release Date: 1996-09-03

Tracks:

Carmen: L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Havanaise)
Orchee et Eurydice: J'ai perdu mon Eurydice
Orphee et Eurydice: Amour, viens rendre a mon ame
Serse - Xerxes: Ombra mai fu
Ariodante: Dopo notte
La finta semplice: Che scompiglio, che flagello
Le nozze di Figaro: Voi che sapete
Il Barbiere di Siviglia: Una voce poco fa
El Amor Brujo: Cancion del amor dolido
Requiem: Pie Jesu
Pulcinella: Se tu m'ami
Hercules: Where shall I fly
La Cenerentola: Naqui all'affanno - Non piu mesta accanto al fuoco

Customer Reviews:

Lush, Delightful Performance.......2001-07-01

This performance of a wide variety of classical compositions is indeed noteworthy. The beautiful mezzo-soprano voice that filled the Olympic Stadium in Atlanta with the "Olympic Hymn" is at its best in this lush, delightful selection that includes standards like Handel, Mozart, and Rossini as well as not-so-commonly-heard names such as De Falla and Duruflé.

Larmore's performance is not only noteworthy for its esquisite rendition and mood, but also for the fact that Larmore is reassuringly American. Breaking away from the sometimes icy rendition of her more traditionalist European counterparts, Larmore displays a vivacity that gives these beautiful classics a warm, comforting ring - without losing the power that has been composed into them.

Above all, this is best listened to at volumes high enough so that the power and feeling of her performances may fill the room - and not only fill the room, but sweep you up in this rich musical experience.

- Benjamin Gardner

Enchanting.......2000-09-30

Jennifer Larmore's strong, intense voice is at times overwhelming because it positively fills the room. Best played at the highest volume your neighbours can tolerate, this lush, gorgeous, and bewitching compilation of Larmore's treatment of many opera standards is truly stunning.

I love opera but must admit that I am far from an aficionada about it. I try my best to learn on my own, and I feel that this collection was a great introduction by a great American opera singer. The entire CD flows together seamlessly, begging the listener (relentlessly!) to bury him or herself in its styling and in, of course, the key asset of the CD, Larmore herself. My favourite here is the intoxicating "J'ai perdu mon Eurydice" from the opera Orphée et Eurydice (which is an excellent complete opera... the version with Larmore and another brilliant American opera star, Dawn Upshaw.)

World Music:

World Music

world music

World Music

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 19 & 27

Martinu: Concertos for Harpsichord, Oboe, Cello

What's New

Live from the Breadline

Love Songs [Import]

Live Sinclair [Live] [Import]

Mosquitos

Music of Another Present Era [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Maria Callas: The Legend

Modern

La Riconquista del Forum [Import]

Legado Norteño Corridos

Baddest Love Jams, Vol. 3: After the Dance

Gamma 1