Menotti: The Medium

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Menotti's masterful orchestrations change texture and color each moment. Castle's moody Baba successfully captures the dark side of her alcoholic hallucinations, while Bedi's artistic and mature Monica sings with country garden gentility, but misses capturing Monica's essence. In the "Black Swan" duet, the haunting lullaby of the damned, Menotti's magical musical lyricism is magnified by their comraderie and close vocal timbres. The Medium is a musical theater piece, dependent upon the interactions of three principal singer/actors, one of whom's a mute whose actions and expressions are intrinsic to the plot's dramatic impact. Without Toby's "voice," the story lacks heart. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Menotti: The Medium, Music, Gian Carlo Menotti, Lawrence Rapchak, Patrice Michaels Bedi, Joyce Castle, Chicago Opera Theater, American 20th/21st Century Opera, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Opera, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio
Renée Fleming - I Want Magic! ~ American Opera Arias
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • All-American Fun
  • A great listening pleasure. Better than some other selections
  • I wish I could give more than 5 stars
  • This music needs a lot less diva
  • Bringing American opera to the forefront
 Renée Fleming - I Want Magic! ~ American Opera Arias
George Gershwin , Carlisle Floyd , Leonard Bernstein , Douglas S. Moore , Bernard Herrmann , Gian Carlo Menotti , Igor Stravinsky , Samuel Barber , André Previn , Metropolitan Opera Orchestra , James Levine , and Renée Fleming
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Renée Fleming
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  3. Reneé Fleming & Jean-Yves Thibaudet - Night Songs (Fauré, Debussy, Marx, Strauss, Rachmaninov)
  4. Renée Fleming: Bel Canto
  5. Renée Fleming - Signatures ~ Great Opera Scenes / Sir Georg Solti

ASIN: B00000AFR4
Release Date: 1998-09-15

Tracks:

  1. Wuthering Heights: I Have Dreamt
  2. The Ballad Of Baby Doe: The Letter Song
  3. The Medium: Monica's Waltz
  4. Porgy And Bess: Summertime
  5. Porgy And Bess: My Man's Gone Now
  6. Candide: Glitter And Be Gay
  7. Susannah: Ain't It A Pretty Night
  8. Susannah: The Trees on the Mountains
  9. The Rake's Progress: No Word From Tom ... I Go, I Go To Him
  10. VANESSA: He Has Come, He Has Come
  11. A Streetcar Named Desire: I Want Magic!

Amazon.com

Like Dawn Upshaw's The World So Wide on Nonesuch, this program is such an inviting cross section of American opera of the last 50 years, you wonder why more of it hasn't been recorded. Composers include Carlisle Floyd, Douglas Moore, Samuel Barber, and Gian Carlo Menotti, whose childlike "Monica's Waltz" from the otherwise lurid opera The Medium is a highlight. Old favorites are here, such as Gershwin's "Summertime." And new favorites, too: Andre Previn's forthcoming "A Streetcar Named Desire" graciously offers Straussian lushness and bitonal wind-instrument details suggesting Blanche DuBois's mind departing from reality, all sounding remarkably true to Previn's pre-World War II upbringing in Berlin. This dramatically alert arioso isn't so melodically memorable but makes all necessary dramatic points eloquently. Though she performs vividly throughout, Fleming often lets her vocal tone overwhelm articulation of the words--a middling drawback. And comedy is not her thing: Bernstein's "Glitter and Be Gay" is way too hammy. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars All-American Fun.......2007-01-01

I love this CD. It's so incredibly American. It features American lyric soprano Renee Fleming singing American opera arias. Ms. Fleming is capably accompanied by the Met orchestra, America's best opera orchestra, conducted by another distinguished American, Maestro James Levine. The only way this CD could be more American is if it were released on July 4th, with two baseball tickets included. I'm grateful that Decca made this release.

This CD starts out very strong with a gorgeous aria "I have dreamt" from "Wuthering Heights". I've never seen this opera nor heard of this opera. If the opera is half as good as the aria, I would love to see it. Renee cruises through "The Letter Song" from "The Ballad of Baby Doe" with heartfelt interpretation. "Monica's Waltz" is not one of my favorite arias in the world, but Ms. Fleming sings it beautifully.

Here's where we depart, and the reason I gave this CD only 4 stars. First, Renee sings two arias from "Porgy and Bess": "Summertime" and "My Man's Gone Now". Renee's voice is way too rich and lush for these arias. Listen to Renee sing it, then listen to the gold standard, Leontyne Price. You'll see what I mean. Renee's rendition of "My Man's Gone Now" was just way too pretty. The score calls for some extended glissandos, which are supposed to be wails of grief. Renee sang the glissandos beautifully, but no grief was in sight. Her next choice "Glitter and Be Gay" from "Candide" is just not a good choice for her. I think even Renee would tell you that a voice like hers is just not right for Cunegonde. This aria (and role) calls for a smaller voice. [...].

Then Renee reminds me of why I love her in the first place, by returning to two arias from "Susannah", a signature role for her. Her performances of "Ain't it a pretty night!" and "The trees on the mountains" are too good for words. She completely understands this role, and communicates the mood in these arias right through your speakers. Just imagine how good it must be live!

Renee closes with "No word from Tom" (The Rake's Progress), "He has come, he has come!" (Vanessa), and "I want magic! (A Streetcar Named Desire). I wish more opera companies would produce "The Rake's Progress". This is a wonderful opera by an "adopted" American composer, Igor Stravinsky. The aria from "Streetcar" is kind of an odd choice to close this CD, but Renee did premiere the role of Blanche in this Previn piece with the SF Opera. So maybe it's not so strange after all.

Highly recommended for fans of Renee Fleming, and those who need to add some good old American opera to round out their Puccini collections. This is a nice performance record by a woman surely destined to be one of the greatest lyric sopranos in history.

5 out of 5 stars A great listening pleasure. Better than some other selections.......2006-04-05

'I Want Magic' sung by superstar mezzo Renee Fleming, backed by James Levine and his Metropolitan Opera Orchestra follows the same pattern of severa of Fleming's other releases, in that there is one widely known and very familiar piece (Gershwin's 'Summertime' from 'Porgy and Bess') plus many less familiar pieces.

The theme of all the pieces is that they are arias from American operas, all in English. And, I get a lot more from this selection than I do from, for example, her recording of Shubert Lieder. One thing I learn is how totally typical is Leonard Bernstein's piece from 'Candide', which sounds like it stepped right out of a production of 'The Fantasticks'. Gershwin's two great songs, on the other hand, are icons of American music and even Herrmann's movie song from Wuthering Heights makes Bernstein's song sound ordinary.

But, the album is really all about Fleming's realization of these songs, which is simply nothing less than spectacular. While I tend to prefer hearing works 'in situ', Fleming's talent is so great that hearing her do eleven pieces out of context is worth it. The album is also more interesting than the average collection of Lieder in that it has the backing of a major American dramatic orchestra.

Better than average Fleming choice.

5 out of 5 stars I wish I could give more than 5 stars.......2005-09-30

This recording is truly wonderful! I really feel that American composers have written some incredible things. I think that American opera is much better than British opera, with the exception of Benjamin Britten. My favorites on this track are actually all of them, but if I had to choose, I would pick: "No word from Tom" (The Rakes Progress, Stravinsky), "Ain't it a pretty night" (Sussanah, Floyd), "Glitter and be Gay" (Candide, Bernstein), and my absolute favorite "Monica's Waltz" (The Medium, Menotti). This is such a great album. Some of Renee's diction isn't completely clear, but that's opera. In order to acheive a beautiful sound, especially in English, certain vowels need to be altered. ESPECIALLY for the soprano voice. When singing so high, certain vowels and consonants need to be altered a bit. Anyway, it's an incredible album!!

3 out of 5 stars This music needs a lot less diva.......2005-09-18

Renee Fleming has a glorious voice, and there's not a note here that isn't ravishing. Decca's engineers have caught the voice very well, and Levine's conducting is all it could be. The problem? Well, having her sing Summertime and My Man's Gone NOw was a bad idea, not only because both are cliches. Felming has a hard time sounding emotionally natural. She tends to apply her incredible voice with diva-like self-consciousness and play-acted emotion far too often.

Which means that her CD recitals are hit-and-miss. Glitter and Be Gay is a disaster here because she tries to be funny and winds up being self-conscious and embarrassing. But the big aria form Susannah, a role Fleming sings at the Met, is perfect. I expected a lot more adventurousness from this American collection, since Felming is, after all, an American singer. But it's mostly overplayed, like Puccini in English, sobs and all. I enjoyed the voice, but after a while the mannerisms became tiresome.

5 out of 5 stars Bringing American opera to the forefront.......2005-01-20

American opera is not as well-known to many people because it can be complex, both musically and dramatically, and requires amazing vocal technique to sing things that sound simple. Fleming's recording highlights some familiar arias (the Susannah arias, for example) as well as some that are almost unknown. If you are an opera fan, and especially if you want to learn more about American opera, this CD is a great place to start. My favorite: Glitter and Be Gay, from Bernstein's Candide. Wow.
Gian Carlo Menotti: The Medium
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • an American opera with memorable moments
 Gian Carlo Menotti: The Medium
Gian Carlo Menotti , Lawrence Rapchak , Patrice Michaels Bedi , Joyce Castle , and Chicago Opera Theater
Manufacturer: Cedille
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000018ZN
Release Date: 1999-01-25

Tracks:

  1. The Medium: Act I: Introduction
  2. The Medium: Act I: 'Where Oh Where'
  3. The Medium: Act I: 'Be Careful, Baba's Coming'
  4. The Medium: Act I: 'Where Have You Been All Night?'
  5. The Medium: Act I: 'Get Ready! Hurry!'
  6. The Medium: Act I: 'Good Evening, Madame Flora'
  7. The Medium: Act I: 'Is This The First Time'
  8. The Medium: Act I: 'It Happened Long Ago'
  9. The Medium: Act I: 'Its Time To Begin'
  10. The Medium: Act I: 'You Must Be Very Silent'
  11. The Medium: Act I: 'Mother, Mother, Are You There?'
  12. The Medium: Act I: 'Doodly, Doodly, Are You Happy?'
  13. The Medium: Act I: 'Mummy, Mummy Dear'
  14. The Medium: Act I: 'Mother, Mother, Are You There?'
  15. The Medium: Act I: 'Send My Son To Me'
  16. The Medium: Act I: 'What Is It? Who Is It?
  17. The Medium: Act I: 'But Why Be Afraid?
  18. The Medium: Act I: 'Baba, What Has Happened?'
  19. The Medium: Act I: 'Where Is Toby?'
  20. The Medium: Act I: 'The Sun Has Fallen'
  21. The Medium: Act I: 'The Spools Unravel'
  22. The Medium: Act I: 'Oh God! What Is Happening To Me?'
  23. The Medium: Act II: Introduction
  24. The Medium: Act II: 'Bravo!'
  25. The Medium: Act II: 'What Is The Matter Toby?'
  26. The Medium: Act II: Baba's Entrance
  27. The Medium: Act II: 'Toby, You Know That I Love You'
  28. The Medium: Act II: 'But First You Must Tell Me'
  29. The Medium: Act II: 'Perhaps It Was Not You After All'
  30. The Medium: Act II: 'Good Evening, Madame Flora'
  31. The Medium: Act II: 'Not To Know My Daughter's Own Voice?'
  32. The Medium: Act II: 'Please Let Us Have Our Seance, Madame Flora'
  33. The Medium: Act II: 'And You, You Too Get Out'
  34. The Medium: Act II: Toby's Exit
  35. The Medium: Act II: 'Mother, Mother, Are you There?'
  36. The Medium: Act II: 'Afraid, Am I Afraid?'
  37. The Medium: Act II: 'The Dead Never Come Back'
  38. The Medium: Act II: 'O God, Forgive My Sins'
  39. The Medium: Act II: 'Who's There?'
  40. The Medium: Act II: 'I've Killed The Ghost!'

Amazon.com

Menotti's masterful orchestrations change texture and color each moment. Castle's moody Baba successfully captures the dark side of her alcoholic hallucinations, while Bedi's artistic and mature Monica sings with country garden gentility, but misses capturing Monica's essence. In the "Black Swan" duet, the haunting lullaby of the damned, Menotti's magical musical lyricism is magnified by their comraderie and close vocal timbres. The Medium is a musical theater piece, dependent upon the interactions of three principal singer/actors, one of whom's a mute whose actions and expressions are intrinsic to the plot's dramatic impact. Without Toby's "voice," the story lacks heart. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Album Description

Oft-performed but mysteriously absent on recordings, Menotti's eerie opera The Medium has materialized in its first recording in more than a quarter century. This two-act "musical drama" is about a fake psychic whose surprise encounter with the unknown leads to murder and mayhem. It is staged a dozen times annually in the US alone. Yet, recordings haven't been available for years, and (until now) it has never appeared on CD. A "sensational success" for Menotti (Kobbé's Opera Book), the present version of The Medium had its premiere February 18, 1947 at New York's Heckscher Theater. New York Times music critic Olin Downes wrote, "we have here the quality of opera. It is dramatic music, emphatic in action as well as feeling, and in essence song, which is what opera must be. No other American composer has shown the inborn talent that Mr. Menotti, an Italian by descent, unquestionable possesses for the lyric theater." Critic (and composer) Virgil Thomson called it a "first-class musico-theatrical work . . . the most gripping operatic narrative [he] has witnessed in many a year . . .[It] wrings every heart string, and the music is thoroughly touching." The 1992 Chicago Opera Theater production was the genesis for Cedille's recording. Produced by James Ginsburg and recorded by Grammy award-winning engineer Lawrence Rock, Cedille's The Medium includes sound effects -- gunshots, the cracking of a whip, and more -- to aid the listener's imagination, in the tradition of radio drama. Ginsburg explains, "After the music was recorded, effects were added to emphasize events, gestures, and emotions, and to help create an atmosphere of dramatic immediacy." Scenes involving movement were blocked out and performed before an array of microphones for added realism, Ginsburg says.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars an American opera with memorable moments.......2000-01-13

A recent review of the new opera "The Great Gatsby" compared it favorably against other essays in the field that were either "trendy" and devoid of any musical interest to most audiences or both. Although Menotti's short opera has a few (but very few) moments of vocal sterility--although the orchestra always has something interesting to offer us--there are many passages of great lyricism (so lacking in later "operas"). Listen to the haunting duet that ends the first act and try to find anything like it in (say) "Streetcar" or "Lizzie Borden."

We have a very striking recording of this work on Cedille label (CDR 90000 034) with Lawrence Rapchak conducting a top-notch group of five soloists (and one ghost) in what is meant to be (we are told in the notes) a "radio broadcast" version of the work. Alas, one of the great drawbacks is the omnipresence of young Toby who is a mute and therefore invisible on any sound recording; but if you can listen to the "Aida" Triumphal March without seeing the processions, here you can let your imagination supply the boy.

Patrice Michaels Bedi might not catch the last bit of essence of Monica's character; but Joyce Castle certainly comes near to the perfection (though not quite completely matching it) of the original "Baba" of Marie Powers, who can be heard on a soundtrack recording taken from the film version.

Not all the sound effects work perfectly: the doorbell should be much more jarring for one thing. And now and then the microphone placement seems too far from the singers. But the power is there and Cedille is to be thanked for an up to date version of this tale of the charlatan medium who may or may not have made actual contact with the supernatural.

Cedille thoughtfully provides the complete text that is preceded by a list of very generous cut numbers, making it very easy to get to just that part of the opera you wish. However you will not find those numbers in the margins of the text itself, a curious omission.
Gian Carlo Menotti: The Medium
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Gian Carlo Menotti: The Medium

    Manufacturer: Cedille
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B0000267QC
    Release Date: 1997-01-01

    Tracks:

    1. The Medium: Act I: Introduction
    2. The Medium: Act I: 'Where Oh Where'
    3. The Medium: Act I: 'Be Careful, Baba's Coming'
    4. The Medium: Act I: 'Where Have You Been All Night?'
    5. The Medium: Act I: 'Get Ready! Hurry!'
    6. The Medium: Act I: 'Good Evening, Madame Flora'
    7. The Medium: Act I: 'Is This The First Time'
    8. The Medium: Act I: 'It Happened Long Ago'
    9. The Medium: Act I: 'Its Time To Begin'
    10. The Medium: Act I: 'You Must Be Very Silent'
    11. The Medium: Act I: 'Mother, Mother, Are You There?'
    12. The Medium: Act I: 'Doodly, Doodly, Are You Happy?'
    13. The Medium: Act I: 'Mummy, Mummy Dear'
    14. The Medium: Act I: 'Mother, Mother, Are You There?'
    15. The Medium: Act I: 'Send My Son To Me'
    16. The Medium: Act I: 'What Is It? Who Is It?
    17. The Medium: Act I: 'But Why Be Afraid?
    18. The Medium: Act I: 'Baba, What Has Happened?'
    19. The Medium: Act I: 'Where Is Toby?'
    20. The Medium: Act I: 'The Sun Has Fallen'
    21. The Medium: Act I: 'The Spools Unravel'
    22. The Medium: Act I: 'Oh God! What Is Happening To Me?'
    23. The Medium: Act II: Introduction
    24. The Medium: Act II: 'Bravo!'
    25. The Medium: Act II: 'What Is The Matter Toby?'
    26. The Medium: Act II: Baba's Entrance
    27. The Medium: Act II: 'Toby, You Know That I Love You'
    28. The Medium: Act II: 'But First You Must Tell Me'
    29. The Medium: Act II: 'Perhaps It Was Not You After All'
    30. The Medium: Act II: 'Good Evening, Madame Flora'
    31. The Medium: Act II: 'Not To Know My Daughter's Own Voice?'
    32. The Medium: Act II: 'Please Let Us Have Our Seance, Madame Flora'
    33. The Medium: Act II: 'And You, You Too Get Out'
    34. The Medium: Act II: Toby's Exit
    35. The Medium: Act II: 'Mother, Mother, Are you There?'
    36. The Medium: Act II: 'Afraid, Am I Afraid?'
    37. The Medium: Act II: 'The Dead Never Come Back'
    38. The Medium: Act II: 'O God, Forgive My Sins'
    39. The Medium: Act II: 'Who's There?'
    40. The Medium: Act II: 'I've Killed The Ghost!'
    Introducing Patrice Michaels
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Ahhh Patrice!
    		 Introducing Patrice Michaels

    Manufacturer: Cedille
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B00004YLF9
    Release Date: 2000-09-19

    Album Description

    The program includes "Monicas Waltz" from Menottis The Medium; a Vivaldi cantata; a Lully divertissement; and songs by Haydn, Colbran, Dalayrac, Mendelssohn, Mussorgsky, Delibes, Fauré, Honegger, Argento, Vaughan Williams, and Lili Boulanger.

    NEW - Special Budget-priced "Cedille Artist" Compilations The four titles in the series showcase the labels most prolific recording artists (Dmitry Paperno, Easley Blackwood, David Schrader, and Patrice Michaels). If you havent heard these outstanding artists yet, the new, budget-priced Cedille Artist series makes for an easy introduction to these acclaimed, Chicago-based musicians. These generous compilations - all over 70 minutes long - come with many complete works, not just short excerpts. Each is programmed to demonstrate the musicians full range of artistry over a wide variety of music styles.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Ahhh Patrice!.......2001-05-07

    I bought this album (I'm amused to say) not on Amazon, for I had no idea til just now that it was even available here (!), but at a funky music store at the MusicMart in Chicago (Patrice's native haunt, by the way, where people seem to appreciate her worth and talent). What a lovely voice! In a world where opera has its mainstream stars (think Three Tenors and Sarah Brightman, and little Ms. Church), how refreshing it is to hear a voice as pure as it is radiant. Truly a performing artist, she is no doubt best experienced live, but if she is better live than on this cd, she must be pretty darn impressive, don't you think? A supporter and promoter of more obscure yet very worthwhile vocal literature, Michaels here performs her seemingly trademark Lully and Argento, as well as many other wonderful pieces. I especially (as a vocalist) recommend the Argento-his cycles are lovely (most notably the composer-letter cycles, unfortunately but understandably not present here-she can't do it all!). I have seen Patrice in performance, in action at workshops, and love her recordings. I recommend this highly!
    Song Recital
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • The legendary debut (as a mezzo) album
    		 Song Recital

    Manufacturer: Sony
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B00000FCKR
    Release Date: 1998-11-24

    Tracks:

    1. Le Grillon
    2. Les Riens d'amour
    3. Plaintes de Marie Stuart
    4. Dieu d'Israel From L'enfant prodigue
    5. Homenaje a Lope de Vega, Op. 90: I. Cuando tan hermosa os miro
    6. Homenaje a Lope de Vega, Op. 90: II. Si con mis deseos
    7. Homenaje a Lope de Vega, Op. 90: III. Al val de Fuente Ovejuna
    8. Tres Poemas, Op. 81: II. Tu pupila es azul
    9. Tres Sonetos, Op. 81: II. jVade retro
    10. Sred' shumnovo bala, Op. 38, No. 3
    11. Seroglazyi korol, Op. 27, No. 5
    12. Pamyat o solntse, Op. 27, No. 3
    13. Den' li tsarit?, Op. 47, No. 6
    14. Ya li v pole da ne travushka byla? Op. 47, No. 7
    15. Stolby, Op. 36, No. 5
    16. Das irdische Leben
    17. Nicht wiedersehen!
    18. Hans und Grete
    19. Erinnerung
    20. Lob des hohen Verstands
    21. Afraid, Am I Afraid? Madame Flora, afraid!

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars The legendary debut (as a mezzo) album.......2005-05-20

    Recorded in the 60s, this was Madame Resnik's first album after switching from soprano to alto. Friends, this is not lazy-soprano-who-tries-alto singing. This is a real mezzo voice, beautiful in every way. And of course, Resnik's musicality and soul shine through, as they always do. That this CD is out of print is a TRAVESTY. Sony should hang their heads in shame. (But they are under new management, so maybe there is hope. Write 'em a letter!)
    Menotti: The Medium
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Menotti: The Medium

      Manufacturer: Video Artists Int'l
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      Similar Items:
      1. Menotti: Amahl and the Night Visitors

      ASIN: B000006OR2
      Release Date: 1998-05-19

      Tracks:

      1. Act One: Prld (Opening Credits); I Shall Have A Kingdom (Children's Voices) - SO Of Rome Radio Italiana/Thomas Schippers
      2. Act One: Where, Oh, Where, Is My New Golden Spindle... - Anna Maria Alberghetti/Marie Powers
      3. Act One: Good Evening, Madame Flora - Beverly Dame/Donald Morgan/Belva Kibler
      4. Act One: It's Time To Begin. Close The Doors! - Marie Powers/Donald Morgan/Anna Maria Alberghetti/Beverly Dame/Belva Kibler
      5. Act One: Mummy, Mummy Dear, You Must Not Cry For Me - Anna Maria Alberghetti/Belva Kibler/Beverly Dame/Donald Morgan
      6. Act One: What Is It? Who Is It? Who Is There? - Marie Powers/Donald Morgan/Beverly Dame/Belva Kibler/Anna Maria Alberghetti
      7. Act One: Ah, Madame Flora. What A Suprise - Belva Kibler/Marie Powers
      8. Act One: Baba! Baba! - Anna Maria Alberghetti/Marie Powers
      9. Act One: Don't Tremble Like That, Toby - Anna Maria Alberghetti/Marie Powers
      10. Act One: The Sun Has Fallen And It Lies in Blood - Anna Maria Alberghetti/Marie Powers
      11. Act One: Toby... Look At Me... It's I, Baba - Anna Maria Alberghetti/Marie Powers

      Tracks:

      1. Act Two: Bravo! And After The Theatre, Supper And Dance! - Anna Maria Alberghetti
      2. Act Two: Where Is Monica! - Marie Powers
      3. Act Two: Baba, What Did You Do To Him? - Anna Maria Alberghetti/Beverly Dame/Belva Kibler/Donald Morgan/Marie Powers
      4. Act Two: Toby! Toby! - Anna Maria Alberghetti/Marie Powers
      5. Act Two: Afraid, Am I Afraid? - Anna Maria Alberghetti
      6. Act Two: Black Swan, Where, Oh, Where Is My Lover Gone - Anna Maria Alberghetti
      7. Act Two: Who's There? Answer Me! - Anna Maria Alberghetti/Marie Powers
      Menotti: The Medium, The Telephone, Amelia al Ballo, etc.
      Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      • Menotti and his wonderful operas
      • Great Anthology of this Under-appreciated Composer
      • MENOTTI AT HIS CREATIVE PEAK
      		 Menotti: The Medium, The Telephone, Amelia al Ballo, etc.

      Manufacturer: Pearl
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      Similar Items:
      1. Menotti: The Consul
      2. Menotti: The Unicorn, the Gorgon and the Manticore
      3. Menotti: Amahl and the Night Visitors
      4. Gian Carlo Menotti: The Medium
      5. Saint of Bleecker Street

      ASIN: B00004WKIZ
      Release Date: 2000-09-26

      Tracks:

      1. The Medium: Act I: Ov - Evelyn Keller/Marie Powers/Beverly Dame/Frank Rogier/Catherine Mastice
      2. The Medium: Act I: Where, Oh Where? - Evelyn Keller/Marie Powers/Beverly Dame/Frank Rogier/Catherine Mastice
      3. The Medium: Act I: Baba's Entrance: How Many Times I've Told You - Evelyn Keller/Marie Powers/Beverly Dame/Frank Rogier/Catherine Mastice
      4. The Medium: Act I: Good Evening Madame Flora - Evelyn Keller/Marie Powers/Beverly Dame/Frank Rogier/Catherine Mastice
      5. The Medium: Act I: It Happened Long Ago - Evelyn Keller/Marie Powers/Beverly Dame/Frank Rogier/Catherine Mastice
      6. The Medium: Act I: You Must Be Very Silent - Evelyn Keller/Marie Powers/Beverly Dame/Frank Rogier/Catherine Mastice
      7. The Medium: Act I: Mummy, Mummy Dear - Evelyn Keller/Marie Powers/Beverly Dame/Frank Rogier/Catherine Mastice
      8. The Medium: Act I: What Is It? What Is It? - Evelyn Keller/Marie Powers/Beverly Dame/Frank Rogier/Catherine Mastice
      9. The Medium: Act I: Baba, What Has Happened? - Evelyn Keller/Marie Powers/Beverly Dame/Frank Rogier/Catherine Mastice
      10. The Medium: Act I: Song Of The Black Swan - Evelyn Keller/Marie Powers/Beverly Dame/Frank Rogier/Catherine Mastice
      11. The Medium: Act I: Closing - Evelyn Keller/Marie Powers/Beverly Dame/Frank Rogier/Catherine Mastice
      12. The Medium: Act II: Prld - Evelyn Keller/Marie Powers/Beverly Dame/Frank Rogier/Catherine Mastice
      13. The Medium: Act II: Bravo! (The Monica Waltz) - Evelyn Keller/Marie Powers/Beverly Dame/Frank Rogier/Catherine Mastice
      14. The Medium: Act II: Monica, Monica, Can't You See? - Evelyn Keller/Marie Powers/Beverly Dame/Frank Rogier/Catherine Mastice
      15. The Medium: Act II: Where Is Monica? - Evelyn Keller/Marie Powers/Beverly Dame/Frank Rogier/Catherine Mastice
      16. The Medium: Act II: Good Evening, Madame Flora - Evelyn Keller/Marie Powers/Beverly Dame/Frank Rogier/Catherine Mastice
      17. The Medium: Act II: Don't Stand There Like A Fool - Evelyn Keller/Marie Powers/Beverly Dame/Frank Rogier/Catherine Mastice
      18. The Medium: Act II: Afraid, Am I Afraid? Baba's Aria - Evelyn Keller/Marie Powers/Beverly Dame/Frank Rogier/Catherine Mastice
      19. The Medium: Act II: Closing - Evelyn Keller/Marie Powers/Beverly Dame/Frank Rogier/Catherine Mastice
      20. The Hero - Marie Powers
      21. Requiescat - Marie Powers
      22. Amelia Goes To The Ball: Ov - Philadelphia Orch/Eugene Ormandy

      Tracks:

      1. Sebastian: Ballet Ste: Intro - Robin Dell Orch Of Philadelphia/Dimitri Mitropoulos
      2. Sebastian: Ballet Ste: Barcarolle - Robin Dell Orch Of Philadelphia/Dimitri Mitropoulos
      3. Sebastian: Ballet Ste: Street Fight - Robin Dell Orch Of Philadelphia/Dimitri Mitropoulos
      4. Sebastian: Ballet Ste: Cortege - Robin Dell Orch Of Philadelphia/Dimitri Mitropoulos
      5. Sebastian: Ballet Ste: Sebastian's Dance - Robin Dell Orch Of Philadelphia/Dimitri Mitropoulos
      6. Sebastian: Ballet Ste: Pavane - Robin Dell Orch Of Philadelphia/Dimitri Mitropoulos
      7. Amelia Goes To The Ball: Opening And Intro - Original Cast Recording
      8. Amelia Goes To The Ball: Ov - Original Cast Recording
      9. Amelia Goes To The Ball: Amelia And The Maids - Original Cast Recording
      10. Amelia Goes To The Ball: Duettino - Original Cast Recording
      11. Amelia Goes To The Ball: The Prayer - Original Cast Recording
      12. Amelia Goes To The Ball: Tenor Aria - Original Cast Recording
      13. Amelia Goes To The Ball: Trio - Original Cast Recording
      14. Amelia Goes To The Ball: Fugue - Original Cast Recording
      15. Amelia Goes To The Ball: Finale - Original Cast Recording
      16. Amelia Goes To The Ball: Closing - Original Cast Recording
      17. The Telephone (L'Amour A Trois): Ov - Emanuel Balaban
      18. The Telephone (L'Amour A Trois): Oh! Just What I Wanted - Marilyn Cotlow/Frank Rogier
      19. The Telephone (L'Amour A Trois): Hello! Hello? (Lucy's Aria) - Marilyn Cotlow/Frank Rogier
      20. The Telephone (L'Amour A Trois): That Was Margaret - Marilyn Cotlow/Frank Rogier
      21. The Telephone (L'Amour A Trois): Try Again And Again - Marilyn Cotlow/Frank Rogier
      22. The Telephone (L'Amour A Trois): It All Began On A Sunday - Marilyn Cotlow/Frank Rogier
      23. The Telephone (L'Amour A Trois): Oh Where Has He Gone? - Marilyn Cotlow/Frank Rogier

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Menotti and his wonderful operas.......2006-11-10

      I have performed Monica in the MEDIUM and The Girl in THE TELEPHONE. The Telephone is a warmup comedy about a girl who is always on the phone & how her boyfriend finally works out how to get her to hear his proposal. Funny and musically very intricate - all of her conversations are in different musical periods and styles. THE MEDUIM is a masterpiece. Baba is an alcoholic Medium (raising the ghosts of the dead) She is a fake but on the inside she is afraid of spirits. Monica is her daughter and there is Toby the mute servant boy. This is, by far the most scary opera of all time and very modern in its score.

      4 out of 5 stars Great Anthology of this Under-appreciated Composer.......2005-12-19

      Menotti was one of the most important opera composer's of the twentieth century. This CD compiles his shorter, more well-known works. "The Telephone," "The Medium" are performed with the original casts and the recording quality is pretty good.
      For a library or serious student of opera, this CD is worth adding to your collection, as well as those who would like to explore more recent operas of our time.

      5 out of 5 stars MENOTTI AT HIS CREATIVE PEAK.......2001-07-02

      When I was a teenager I first saw Gian Carlo Menotti's one act opera THE MEDIUM. Its melodramatic, almost gothic libretto with chamber music to match frightened the daylights out of me and although I've never seen a live performance since then, I have owned various recorded performances. Those recordings enhanced by my memories make it one of my favorites.

      Although many women have tried, none, to my mind, have succeeded in the title role as well as Marie Powers who starred in the "original cast" production and on its vinyl recording. I use the term "original cast" because this opera, along with Menotti's short comic piece THE TELEPHONE actually first appeared on Broadway instead of in a concert hall or opera house. It received very mixed reviews, played for over 200 consecutive performances but lost money for its investors.

      Long out of print and never transferred to CD til now, here are those two terrific musical theatre pieces (which were called "dramatic" and "a taut tingling killer-diller" and "courageous," "geniune" and "eerie" by the original newspaper critics) as they were meant to be performed and heard.

      This two CD set also generously provides other pieces by Menotti including a suite from his ballet SEBASTIAN, excerpts from his first opera AMELIA GOES TO THE BALL and a few, less famous works. There are other CD performances of THE MEDIUM (including the film soundtrack which co-starred Anna Maria Alberghetti) but this one is definitely the one to buy.

      The various conductors are all first rate and include Eugene Ormandy and Dmitri Mitropoulos.

      Usually dismissed by "serious music" critics and adored by the public, Menotti is still active, hopefully composing. His most famous work THE CONSUL was just successfully revived by the Washington Opera during their 2000-2001 season. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

      Music Review:

      1. Michelangeli Plays Grieg & Debussy
      2. Missa Mexicana
      3. Mnemosyne / Garbarek, Hilliard Ensemble
      4. Modest Moussorgsky: Boris Godounov (1869 Version & 1872 Version) - Valery Gergiev / Kirov Opera & Orchestra [Box set]
      5. Mozart: Don Giovanni
      6. Mozart - Great Mass in C minor / McNair · Montague · Rolfe Johnson · Hauptmann · Gardiner
      7. Mozart Heroines; Natalie Dessay
      8. Music for 18 Musicians
      9. Music for Babies - Sleepy Baby
      10. Nylon & Steel

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