Azulão

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Following on the enormous success of her first recording for CBC RECORDS - Joyous Light (CBC SMCD 5215) – the stunning young Canadian lyric soprano ISABEL BAYRAKDARIAN turns her attention to the seductive colours and rhythms of Spain and Latin America. The centre piece of this recording is the vocal evergreen, Bachianas Brasileiras # 5 for soprano and eight cellos by Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. After winning the Metropolitan Opera National Auditions in 1997, Isabel (who is of Armenian descent) has gone on to make debuts with such international companies as the Metropolitan Opera (New York), Lyric Opera of Chicago, Paris Opera and La Scala (Milan), Semperoper (Dresden) and the Canadian Opera Company (Toronto).

Tracks:

Entr'acte
Bachianas brasileiras No. 5 - Aria
Ronde
Azulao
Prelude In E Minor, Op. 28 No. 4
O Cacador
Pastorale joyeuse
Tes pontos de santo
Tambourin
Boi-Bumba
Sicilienne
Para ninar
Piece en forme de habanera
Maracatu
Pavane pour une Infante defunte
Passarinho esta cantando
Modinha
Serenade For Strings: Waltz
Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Cancion
The Three Cornered Hat: Farruca

Customer Reviews:

A Perfect Gem from so many years ago...STILL Available!.......2007-07-18

Wow! I happened to stumble on this listing, and, frankly, had forgotten about it. I was first introduced to this album on LP years and years ago (late 60's?) and quite frankly, it was one of my very favorite albums.

Years passed, and cds came, and it was transferred, and I immediately snapped up a copy of it, again. In these following years, I fear I had completely forgotten about it....shame on me! I am so pleased to know that it is still available, and that I can recommend something that is STILL available to you (which is rare for me to be able to do).

I cannot recommend highly enough that you purchase a copy of this great album to enjoy, over and over again. I guarantee it will become a highlight in your collection. I have taken my copy off the shelf and am listening to it as I type this review. I recommend you go to the little snips above, and listen to # 2, Villa Lobos...that should do it! ~operabruin

Like Finding An Old Friend.......2007-07-14

This album, now in its forty-oddth year, is a treasure. Almeida, Terri, and maybe now also Ruderman have passed on. They were mortals after all. The playing by Almeida and Ruderman just on its own is wonderful, and too magical to be called merely good, or solid, or workman-like. Add the third ingredient of no less than the voice of Salli Terri, and the listener may as well be levitated. Good music takes us perhaps the nearest we can ever get to a ride on a magic carpet. Duets with Spanish Guitar is fine music by a trio of, well, if not genies exactly, flesh and blood beings with extraordinary musical abilities.

A Sweet Piece of Art Work.......2007-05-13

I first heard this recording on vinyl. This CD lives up to the quality first captured in that original recording. Laurindo Almeida requires no review or publicity; he is a legend exceeding Segovia or Montoya. Salli Terri, mezzo-soprano, happily, has no vibrato. When she hits a note, she means it...no wavering somewhere between tones leaving you some subliminal perception of the intended note. She has an absolutely pure, rich voice and a profound comprehension of aesthetics. I have not heard other works by Martin Ruderman, who accompanies on flute, but his skills are notable within this sweet ensemble. A wealth of skill and mastery contained on this tiny CD! I am sure you will be transported.

Haunting Beauty.......2007-03-22

I'm fascinated by the reviews from those who remember this album of long ago. In 1971 my girlfriend and I spent a night in a rustic B&B in Big Sur. The following morning, as we dined on a scrumptious breakfast and the love in each other's eyes, I had to ask the waitress about the music playing in the background. We bought the record as soon as we got home, and I have cherished it ever since. Six additional selections on the CD reissue are almost superfluous. The memories, and the music, are precious.

Superb .......2007-01-08

From beginning to end, I am enthralled by this album. I bought the original LP when it came out over 40 years ago and I also own the CD version. All performers are themselves excellent and they blend wonderfully on a Grammy awarded sound track. The biggest thrill for me is always Salli Terri's Bachianas Brasileiras number five. I have heard many recordings of this Bachianas by the most famous sopranos in the world. Salli Terri's singing of the Bachianas is in a class of its own --absoulutely spine-tingling.

Arleen Auger - Love Songs / Dalton Baldwin

Average customer rating:

Arleen Auger and Dalton Baldwin-Love Songs
Voice of experience
Auger at her best
Hidden Treasure
Gorgeous, sensitive music

Arleen Auger - Love Songs / Dalton Baldwin
Frank Bridge , Benjamin Britten , Pietro Cimara , Aaron Copland , Sir Noel Coward , Stefano Donaudy , Stephen Foster , Charles Gounod , Eduoard Lippe , Frederick Loewe , Gustav Mahler , Joseph Marx , Fernando J. Obradors , Jaime Ovalle , Francis Poulenc , Roger Quilter , Franz Schubert , Robert Schumann , Oscar Straus , Richard Strauss , Joaquin Turina , Dalton Baldwin , and Arleen Auger
Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

American Soprano
Arleen Auger - Handel · Bach Arias / The Mostly Mozart Orchestra · Gerard Schwarz
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben - Four Last Songs / Auger, Previn
Stefano Donaudy: Amor mi fa cantare
Haydn - Arias & Cantatas / Auger · H&H · Hogwood

ASIN: B0000006VP
Release Date: 1992-05-22

Tracks:

Love Songs: Pastorale
Love Songs: Del Cabello mas sutil
Love Songs: Azulao
Love Songs: Standchen
Love Songs: Selige Nacht
Love Songs: Fleurs
Love Songs: Stornello
Love Songs: Music, When Soft Voice Die
Love Songs: Je t'aime
Love Songs: Love's Philosophy
Love Songs: Widmung
Love Songs: Du bist wie eine Blume
Love Songs: Das Rosenband
Love Songs: Liebst du um Schonheit
Love Songs: Cantares
Love Songs: How Do I Love Thee?
Love Songs: I'll Follow My Secret Heart
Love Songs: Serenade
Love Songs: Liebe Schwarmt auf allen Wegen
Love Songs: Love Went A-Riding
Love Songs: Why, No One to Love
Love Songs: O del mio amato ben
Love Songs: The Salley Gardens
Love Songs: Heart, We Will Forget Him
Love Songs: Before I Gaze at You Again

Customer Reviews:

Arleen Auger and Dalton Baldwin-Love Songs.......2007-01-29

A lovely collection -very varied. Arleen Auger has a beautiful voice and Baldwin's accompaniment is wonderful. The 3rd track, by Jayme Ovalle, is, as it says in the accompanying notes, bewitching, and is actually the reason I bought the CD.

Voice of experience.......2006-01-28

There isn't much I can add to the praise bestowed on this album by earlier reviewers. I do think though that a special poignancy is undeniable since Auger's voice, while still beautiful, clearly is not that of a young singer. Her maturity makes her interpretations of these love songs all the more touching. I've probably played this CD a dozen times through the years, far more than any other in my collection. It remains consistently and deeply satisfying.

Auger at her best.......2005-04-26

This is a disc that I recommend to my graduating seniors/graduate students who are pursuing a graduate degree or career options in Vocal Performance.
From the standpoint of technique, Auger is practically flawless---"harsh" is not a word I equate with Ms. Auger's singing. She and Dalton Baldwin are impeccable performers on this disc. All the material was wisely chosen and presented, including one of the slowest "O del mio amato ben's" and one of the slowest "Salley Gardens", indicative of the beautiful breath control this artist had. I have to take exception to one of the comments made by one reviewer, of the "lack of sesitivity to the music that most classical singers possess". This is plain ignorant. This reviewer clearly does not understand the great artistic endeavor that classical singers have to have with Song literature---only a non-singer could have said this. Our finest classical singers of memory have all been outstanding musicians. They also have texts to interpret in many languages. I, as a singer-performer-teacher take great umbrage at comments like this which serve only to degrade the richness of so much repertoire.
I too hated the untimely passing of this fabulous singer. She is one of four famous women singers who all died at the age of 53. I think this disc was recorded not to long before she passed away and does reflect her "goodbye" to her audience. However the disc will remain as timely as the repertoire in it.
Marcia M.Baldwin, Gig Harbor, WA.
Professor Emeritus, Eastman School of Music, Rochester,NY

Hidden Treasure.......2003-11-04

This recording is possibly one of the best examples of beautiful singing one will ever find. The repertoire, the artfulness, the line and the sheer beauty of Miss Auger's voice is a rare find. I've just recently purchased another copy as I loaned mine to a friend who begged to keep it! One note on the cover - this new cover art seems to imply this CD is some light version of 1970's Montovani romance music. Nothing could be further from the truth. Though the previous jacket (a photo of Miss Auger on pale pink) did look dated, I hope the next pressing of this (& I'm sure they'll be many more to come!) will give this collection the class packaging it deserves. This is a collector's item. Enjoy!!

Gorgeous, sensitive music.......2001-06-15

So first of all, ignore the cheesy cover art and album title. This is a beautiful collection of songs, beautifully performed. Since I concur with the other reviews that laud Auger's performance (though don't forget the accompanist Dalton Baldwin, who is also outstanding), I'll add only the comment that there is a certain melancholy surrounding a lot of the songs and performances that (a) I find haunting and appealing, and (b) you would never know simply from looking at the album.

Tracks:

Music By John Dowland: Come Again! Sweet Love Doth Now Invite
Music By John Dowland: Allemande (Guitar Solo)
Music By John Dowland: What If I Never Speed?
Music By John Dowland: Galliard (Guitar Solo)
Music By John Dowland: Fine Knacks For Ladies
Ave Maria
Bachianas Brasileiras No.5: Aria
Coleccion De Tonadillas: La Maja De Goya
Three Brazilian Songs: Boi-Bumba
Three Brazilian Songs: Azulao
Three Brazilian Songs: Para Ninar
Three Spanish Folk Songs: Cancion
Three Spanish Folk Songs: Nana
Three Spanish Folk Songs: Seguidillia Murciana
Six Spirituals: Ain't Got No Time To Die
Six Spirituals: I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray
Six Spirituals: Ain't That Good News!
Six Spirituals: Sweet Little Jesus Boy
Six Spirituals: This Little Light Of Mine
Six Spirituals: Ride On King Jesus

Customer Reviews:

Enjoying The Pleasures of K. Battle & C. Parkening.......2007-05-06

Whether you are very familiar with these two artists or have never heard either one, you will delight in this musical collaboration. Only a guitarist of Christopher Parkening's stature could be the ideal accompaniment to the perfection of Kathleen Battle's voice. The music ranges from selections by John Dowland to American spirituals, Bach/Gounod, Villa-Lobos, Granados and some Spanish folk songs. The result is a coherent, soothing and utterly delightful listening experience. You will revisit this album often, and always be glad that you have it. For fans of Kathleen Battle and Christopher Parkening, I think it is a must.

Great blending of the talents of two top-notch artists in their respective fields. Parkening on the guitar and Battle singing........2006-01-31

We always enjoyed seeing and hearing Battle in concerts, usually on the television and Parkening has been a favorite guitarist. To listen to these two fine artists in concert is a real treat.

Superb technique, emotionally flat, but enjoyable even so........2005-05-25

I can't imagine these songs being performed with any greater technical brilliance than they are by Parkening and Battle on this CD. Both are virtuosos, him in the guitar, her the voice. Their skill is particularly apparent in the Dowland songs, the "Ave Maria", and the Bachianas brasileiras no. 5 (for me, the high point of the recording), which are all in a formal style well suited to the talents of the performers.

I compare the Brazilian songs to the version recorded by Salli Terri with Laurindo Almeida in the late '50's on "Duets with Spanish Guitar", which I have listened to repeatedly since I first heard it in 1959. Battle's phrasing, enunciation, and vocal skill are far superior to Terri's, but Terri brought a level of emotion to her singing that Battle seems to lack. Where Battle's perfection enhances her superb performances of the Dowland and Villa-Lobos pieces, it seems to detract from her performance of the Brazilian folk pieces.

I find this to be true again in the spirituals - vocal perfection and control detracting from the "soul" required to bring out the "spiritual" feeling. Imagine these same pieces sung by Mahalia Jackson or Aretha Franklin and you'll understand my point.

Parkening's performance has the same quality - technical virtuosity, especially noticeable in his lute-like technique in the Dowland solo - but lacking in emotional depth.

The classical selections are highly recommended, the folk pieces a bit disappointing, but overall an enjoyable recording.

ONE OF MY FAVOURITES.......2004-03-19

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BATTLE ALBUMS, HER SWEET VOICE IS ACCOMPAINED BY THE GUITAR VIRTUOSO CHRISTOPHER PARKENING, TOGETHER CREATE A TENDER, DELIGHTFUL & BEAUTIFUL LISTENING EXPERIENCE. BACHIANAS BRASILEIRAS N- 5 HAS IT`S BEST PERFORMANCE IN THIS CD.

Fans will be delighted!.......2003-08-25

Fans, maybe, but I must say I'm not a huge fan of Kathleen Battle or opera or songs in different languages, either. My mom is, though. And through her I have heard Kathleen's best. And her very best (if you ask me) is one of the tracks ON THIS CD titled "Ain't that good news," even though it should be called "Ain'ta dat good news," since that is how its sung. It is a really good song (ask anybody) with a little surprise high-note at the end. If I were you I would (if not buy this CD right here and now) then go to [a book store] and see if their computers will let you hear "Ain't that good news" because that song is great.

Average customer rating:

Isabel's voice is enchanting!
A real diamond!
Amazing amazing stuff
Fascinating Program Beautifully Performed

Isabel Bayrakdarian ~ Azulão
Manuel de Falla , Enrique Granados , Carlos Guastavino , Xavier Montsalvatge , Fernando J. Obradors , Jaime Ovalle , Joaquin Rodrigo , Catalan Traditional , Heitor Villa-Lobos , Isabel Bayrakdarian , and Jamie Parker
Manufacturer: Musica Viva
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Isabel Bayrakdarian ~ Joyous Light
Isabel Bayrakdarian ~ Pauline Viardot-Garcia (Lieder, Chancon, Canzoni, Mazurkas)
Isabel Bayrakdarian ~ Cleopatra
Songs Of Spain / De Los Angeles, et al
Mozart: Arie e Duetti

ASIN: B0000DFZY4
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Tracks:

El Majo Discreto
El Majo Timido
El Tra La La Y El Punteado
La Maja De Goya
La Maja Y El Ruisenor
Song Of The Birds
La Rosa Y El Sauce
Con Que La Lavare?
Vos me Matasteis
De Donde Venis, Amore?
De Los Alamos Vengo, Madre
El Vito
Al Amor
Corazon, Porque Pasais?
La Mi Sola, Laureola
Del Cabello Mas Sutil
Chiquitita La Novia
El Pano Moruno
Asturiana
Cancion
Nana
Jota
Polo
Cancion De Cuna Para Dormir A Un Negrito
Aria (Cantilena)
Dance/Danse (Martel)
Azulao

Album Description

Following on the enormous success of her first recording for CBC RECORDS - Joyous Light (CBC SMCD 5215) - the stunning young Canadian lyric soprano ISABEL BAYRAKDARIAN turns her attention to the seductive colours and rhythms of Spain and Latin America. The centre piece of this recording is the vocal evergreen, Bachianas Brasileiras # 5 for soprano and eight cellos by Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. After winning the Metropolitan Opera National Auditions in 1997, Isabel (who is of Armenian descent) has gone on to make debuts with such international companies as the Metropolitan Opera (New York), Lyric Opera of Chicago, Paris Opera and La Scala (Milan), Semperoper (Dresden) and the Canadian Opera Company (Toronto).

Customer Reviews:

Isabel's voice is enchanting!.......2006-10-12

I had never heard of Isabel Bayrakdarian before. I was looking for a copy of Obradors' "Chiquitita la Novia" and happened to come upon this cd. Am I glad I bought it, in fact, I'm wearing it out. Her voice is like a bright
sunlight. Her interpretations are exquisite. My favorite on the recording is Granados' "La Maja y el Ruisenor".
Brava Isabel!

A real diamond!.......2006-04-13

I heard this voice first time on CBC Radio - from a concert in Toronto. It was magical! Soon after, I had a chance to listen to her in recital and this was an EVENT! Over two thousand people in the concert hall were holding their breath for two hours and it seemed that the hall itself became small and cozy. It was indeed a contact soul to soul.
Isabel has a rare talent that combines beautiful tone, clarity and unbelievable fluidity of her voice, intelligent thinking, good sensitive heart and generous nature. You believe every intonation, every nuance. She is always authentic, always noble and her expressivity is never forced, emotions are never overacted.
This CD captures well her magic voice. And God, she is amazing in pianissimos! That's why to me, the Lullaby by Xavier Montsalvatge with its softness and warmth is the highlight of this recording.

Amazing amazing stuff.......2004-10-07

The only reason I didn't give this disc five stars is because I'm not too crazy about Grandos' "Tonadillas." They aren't bad, but they're an incredibly weak opening group and the piano is a bit bouncy and boppy when compared to the more somber numbers on this disc with the cello ensemble.

I first fell in love with Bayrakdarian's voice on the CD "Joyous Light," a collection of Armenian liturgical music arranged for soprano and orchestra (some of it just solo voice.) This disc intrigued me because of her incredible voice and the somewhat off the beaten path repertoire & instrumentation (soprano, piano & cello ensemble!?!) I was happy to see a young, amazing talent NOT do a disc of Italian or German arias. Her CDs definately seem to explore the lesser known repertoire and that's to be commended, because we get to hear a stellar voice bring some real gems to light. Interesting that soprano's solo disc includes an instrumental piece, but it fits in nicely and is certainly appreciated by this listener.

The first two of the Rodrigo madrigales are arrestingly beautiful. The disc as a whole is sublime. She's definately one to watch. I can't think of another soprano I'd rather hear these days than Bayrakdarian. I'm flying back to my hometown next year to her in concert. It's months & months away and I can't think of another performance anytime soon that I'm looking this forward to.

Fascinating Program Beautifully Performed.......2003-11-21

There's been a lot of buzz lately about a young soprano just emerging up in Canada, a striking-looking young woman still in her twenties, winner of the Met Auditions, who has a burgeoning career in opera and recital. Her name is Isabel Bayrakdarian, member of an Armenian family who immigrated to Canada in 1989. She apparently had a nice untrained voice but didn't begin training professionally until 1993; meanwhile she had gotten a degree in biomedical engineering. But only four years later she won the Met Auditions and a couple of years later recorded a CD of seemingly esoteric Armenian songs that became a runaway best-seller in Canada. She made her Metropolitan début in 2002 in the role of Catherine in William Bolcom's 'A View from the Bridge.' This CD is a recording of a program that had been presented on CBC Radio and featuring pianist James Parker, himself a virtuoso with a solo career, and ten Toronto cellists led by cello soloist and Canadian Symphony principal, Bryan Epperson. And all of it in music by Hispanic composers.

First, the program is well-constructed, alternating vocal/piano music with vocal/cello ensemble music, with cello ensemble music. Timbres are changed often enough that one's ear does not tire. Second, every bit of the program is superbly performed. Pride of place must be given to Miss Bayrakdarian, whose voice is crystalline and yet imbued with a womanly sensuality that well serves the alternately sultry and kittenish Spanish music present here. She sings Granados's delicious 'Four Tonadillas' with the kind of charm that I thought only a native Spaniard could bring to it. She negotiates the agréments and their subtle alterations of intonation so typical of Spanish singing with complete mastery. Late in the program she performs, with the cello ensemble, the ever-popular Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 as well as I've ever heard it. She also inhabits the sung version of Granados's 'La Maja y el Ruiseñor' ('The Maiden and the Nightingale') arranged for the opera he made from his piano suite 'Goyescas.'

The cello group plays Pablo Casals's arrangement of the Catalan Christmas carol, 'El Cant dels Ocells' ('The Song of the Birds'). And they lend a hand in Joaquin Rodrigo's 'Cuatro madrigales amatorios' ('Four Love Madrigals'), with cello ensemble accompaniment arranged (as in others here recorded) by Peter Tiefenbach. I particularly liked the interplay of teasing soprano and sporty cellos in 'Vos me matásteis' ('I die for love of you'), the second of this set, which is then followed by a bang-up performance of the familiar, catchy 'De los álamos vengo, madre' ('I've been down by the poplars, mother').

Fernando Obradors wrote wonderful songs that occasionally get sung by non-Spanish singers--I remember once being entranced by Elly Ameling singing the set recorded here by Bayrakdarian with superb assistance from pianist Parker, 'Canciones clásicas españolas' ('Classic Spanish Songs'). And I must say that at times I hear a hint of Ameling in Bayrakdarian's voice, something I call 'a smile in the voice.' This set is followed by an expert arrangmement, this time by Claude Kenneson, of Manuel de Falla's 'Suite populaire espagnole' that employs the cello ensemble (with some melting solo work by Epperson, their leader) playing three all-instrumental pieces and then accompanying Bayrakdarian in three of the six songs.

The CD is rounded out by Xavier Montsalatge's Lullaby from 'Cinco canciones negras,' the aforementioned Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5, and then the song that gives this album its title, Jayme Ovalle's 'Azulão' ('Bluebird'). The latter uses all the forces available here--soprano, pianist, cellists--in a haunting lament: 'Go bluebird, bluebird, companion of mine, go! Go see my faithless love.'

I cannot praise this issue highly enough. Ms Bayradkarian's voice is world-class and she sings with great musicality and feeling. Her accompanists are flawless. The recorded sound is quite good. The unattributed notes are very helpful. There are full translations of all the sung texts.

TT=76:14

Customer Reviews:

Maria Bayo vuelve a grabar cancion española........2003-09-18

Maria Bayo ya fue protagonista de un celebrado disco de cancion española en el sello CLAVES alla por 1992, y once años despues edita un nuevo acercamiento a este genero, con el que vuelve a merecer el aplauso, y que es un complemento ideal al primero.
Ahora revisa Bayo melodías españolas de Toldrá, Guridi, Montsalvage... o de influencia española (Ravel) para rematar el recital con el 'Açulao', una pieza portuguesa muy típica como bis en este tipo de recitales. Vuelvo a decir los mismos elogios que al primer cd: la voz es bellisima, plena de matices, y la forma de decir la poesía de los textos tiene un gusto incomparable... .
Malcom Martineau acompaña al piano de manera notable, lo que redondea un disco con el que Maria Bayo vuelve a cosechar un gran y merecido triunfo.
Habrá que esperar ahora al acercamiento al barroco español que Maria Bayo ya prepara, ni mas ni menos que con Rousset. Exito asegurado, seguro.

Average customer rating:

Pure Perfection
Had a Freudian moment
No Villa-Lobos
Be warned!
Unforgettable

American Soprano

Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

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

General | Soundtracks | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Arleen Auger - Love Songs / Dalton Baldwin
Arleen Auger - Handel · Bach Arias / The Mostly Mozart Orchestra · Gerard Schwarz
Haydn - Arias & Cantatas / Auger · H&H · Hogwood
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben - Four Last Songs / Auger, Previn
Arleen Augér ~ Handel - Nine German Arias

ASIN: B00004W1PQ
Release Date: 2000-07-25

Tracks:

Rejoice Greatly - Messiah
Piangero - Giulio Cesare
Care Selve - Atalanta
Let The Bright Seraphim - Samson
Lascia Ch'io pianga - Rinaldo
Ricetti Gramezza
Bist du bei mir
Weichet nur, betrubte Schatten
Sich uben im lieben
Blute nur
Ich will dir mein Herze schenken
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 For Soprano And Orchestra Of Violoncellos: Aria
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 For Soprano And Orchestra Of Violoncellos: Dansa
Pastorale
Del Cabello mas sutil
Azulao
Standchen
Selige Nacht
Fleurs
Stornello
Music, When Soft Voice Die
Je t'aime
Love's Philosophy
Widmung
Du bist wie eine Blume
Das Rosenband
Liebst du um Schonheit
Cantares
How Do I Love Thee?
I'll Follow My Secret Heart
Serenade
Liebe Schwarmt auf allen Wegen
Love Went A-Riding
Why, No One to Love
O del mio amato ben
The Salley Gardens
Heart, We Will Forget Him
Before I Gaze at You Again

Customer Reviews:

Pure Perfection .......2006-09-25

Words cannot express how much I adore these two discs, but here goes anyway. A friend gave me a burned copy 'Love Songs' which I lost and so I purchased this double disc set. Arleen is by far and away my favorite soprano of all time and if you end up owning these cd's, I have no doubt she will become yours as well. Arleen had the most gorgeous voice, a pure yet colorful tone. And her technique as demonstrated on these recordings was superb. If you are a singer as am I, you will not be able to ignore her phrasing on The Salley Gardens - it's truy astonishing. If you are in to doing side by side comparison, try listening to Arleen's version of O Del Mio Amato Ben, then listen to Sumi Jo's version. But be forewarned if you're a Sumi Jo fan, you won't be able to listen to her version ever again. Arleen wrings every bit of naked emotion out of that song without ever being cheesy or over the top. Her musical instinct and interpretation was as flawless as her voice and technique. I use these cd's as my personal master classes with an impeccable artist who was taken from us all much too soon.

Had a Freudian moment.......2005-08-12

Be it known, I had no intention of writing a review of this recording. I still do not in fact. But I listened to the late Ms. Auger's reading of 'Lascia chio pianga' and nearly seized (cigarette in hand and all.) I've yet to move beyond track five. That being documented, I implore both the fastidious collector of vocal music and the layman alike to purchase this set. Oh, and about the Freud...following the aforementioned revelatory aural sensation of some five minutes, I typed amazing.com in place of the amazon.com destination. "Behind every mishap in speech, writing, etc. there lies an unconcious motive..."
Well,

No Villa-Lobos.......2003-05-28

Since I purchased this album specifically for the recording of the Villa-Lobos, I am extremely disappointed that it was replaced by "He Shall Feed His Flock." She sings everything beautifully, but it is not the recording it pretends to be.

Be warned!.......2003-05-03

My copy did not have the works by Heitor Villa-Lobos. The first disk in the set is Delos 3026, "Bach, Handel: Arias," which includes two selections from Alexander's Feast and "He Shall Feed His Flock" from the Messiah. I am not disappointed. Ms. Auger sings wonderfully. My second disk is Delos 3029 "Love Songs," which makes it a good bargain. But there are no texts.

Unforgettable.......2002-05-16

After much auditioning and re-auditioning, Auger's "Rejoice" here has finally replaced Kathleen Battle's fine performance on "Grace" as my favorite.

Both singers are at their best in the repeat, where their technique and ornamentation will knock anyone's socks off. But where Battle does a musical and brilliant concerto-like display of Kathleen Battle, Auger instead serves Handel with overriding sincerity. She builds intensity to an incredible pitch, ending on an almost trumpet-like flourish to announce the coming of the King.

Tracks:

Piacer d'amor
Se tu m'ami
Nebbie
Mattinata
El pano moruno
Canto negro
Je te veux
Les Filles de Cadix
Les Chemins de l'amour
Solveigs Sang - Peer Gynt, Op.23
Widmung - Myrthen, Op. 25 No. 1
Du bist wie eine Blume
Standchen
Zueignung
Mult ma-ntreaba inima
Cantec de sirena
Umbra
Kdyz mne stara matka - Ciganske Melodie, Op. 55 No. 4
Oh! quand je dors
Pai efiye to treno
Durme kerido hijico(Traditional Sephardic)
Guriwoon Geum Gang San
Kawa no Nagare no you ni
Azulao
Be My Love

Amazon.com

The cover is a bit much: Angela Gheorghiu descending from an airplane in a glamorous 1950s suit suggesting she's the reincarnation of Maria Callas. And in the notes, the fabulous Romanian soprano tells of her jet-setting life and how this international program of songs reflects that. She's not quite as versatile as she would like us to believe, but she's the real thing, singing with a strength of conviction and depth of musical understanding that overrides lapses in style. Many singers would just sail through Poulenc's tuneful Les Chemins de l'amour, for example, but Gheorghiu shows what guts it has. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Singing But Possibly Lost Soon.......2005-08-22

This recording contains 25 beautiful works by composers from various regions of the world. Angela Gheorghiu's artistry is excellent. She is not only expressive, but she possesses the ability to demonstrate dynamics without losing control of the breath support. Gheorghiu's ability to crescendo and decrescendo on a given pitch is impressive because her tone stays clear regardless of what she is doing. Respighi's Nebbie is a good example.
Additionally, The short Greek piece shows that Gheorghiu can be rather versitile. Her voice becomes almost one that is not easily recognizable in the lower register. It's almost chest voice singing to me. This is just another of Gheorguiu's amazing abilities.
Her pianist is also excellent. He plays with much sensitivity and is a joy to hear. He has the touch of few gifted accompaniests today.
If you like Gheorghiu, I highly recommend this CD especially since there seem to be only several available copies of the recording out there. I certainly hope that more copies will become available and that this recording will not disappear as some already have in today's market.

A world tour of some fine songs.......2004-12-26

Ms. Gheorghiu undertakes a lot with this CD, some very disparate literature in a passel of different languages. I think she succeeds quite wonderfully. Her Italian, French, and German pronunciation are quite good (and one assumes her Romanian as well). More importantly, she carries off the songs effectively. Schuberts Ständchen is very nice as is Schumann's Du Bist wie eine Blumen. I can't speak much about the Asian songs, some have apparently found fault with her Japanese and Korean pronunciation. I can understand that, but I'm willing to cut her slack on that. The Hadjidakis song is marvelously done. She remarks in the liner notes that it doesn't even sound like her voice, and I concur. Turn up the volume, and at the very end of the song, you can hear her exhale as she finishes. No, not part of the music, but is somehow conveys the sense of melancholy inherent in the song. Sometimes compilations like this don't work, but in my mind, this one certainly does.

Her songs go around the world and to the heart.......2001-06-08

On this 'diva on a world tour' CD, Angela Gheorghiu sings splendidly in a wide variety of styles, from art song to folk song to cabaret song, and even goes slightly into the pop genre, proving that 'crossover' can indeed sound wonderful from a singer of integrity. It doesn't hurt that she has what is probably the most beautiful soprano voice of our time, from a serene, splendid top to a rich and very sexy bottom. Her superb technique is shown by beautiful control of tone and dynamics, especially gorgeous pianissimi. Of course, she is much more than just a `beautiful voice'. Gheorghiu brings the same intensity, total commitment, attention to detail and nuance to her song interpretations as she does to her operatic ones, often with a quietness and introspection that opera usually doesn't require. She not only varies her vocal style, character and even her sound perfectly to each song, she also proves to be an adept linguist, singing 25 songs in 13 (!) languages. While I'm not familiar enough with all the languages to judge her handling of them, anything that Gheorghiu sings in a romance language is wonderful. This includes not only her native Romanian but also French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Ladino (the language of Sephardic Jews, mostly medieval Spanish). She paints words - and entire musical worlds - with the skill of a true artist and rarely fails to touch the heart and soul.

The best track on the disc, without question, is Respighi's 'Nebbie'. Gheorghiu not only brings out all the agony of this character but actually uses her voice to create a frozen landscape of desolation and hopelessness. I also was very taken with her interpretations of two 'arie antiche' that proceeded this - the familiar 'Plaisir D'Amour' sung here in Italian, and a sad, introspective rendition of 'Sei tu m'ami', which makes a nice contrast to Cecilia Bartoli's more outgoing and mischevious version. There is also a wonderful rendition of the famous Sephardic lullaby `Durme kerido hijico'. I always admire a `star' singer who introduces new or obscure repertory for a wider audience to fall in love with, and Gheorghiu does this with 3 hauntingly beautiful Romanian songs. The Greek song is the best of many songs where she gets to display her aforementioned mezzoish lower register - her voice is almost unrecognizable. Other highlights include `Solveig's Song', `Chemins de l'amour', `Oh! Quand je dors', `Je te veux', `Azulao' (where she seems to be conjuring the song up from the depths of the earth) and most appropriately to her own life, the Japanese pop song where she sings about the joys of traveling the long road with her lover beside her. The disc ends with a splendid rendition of 'Be My Love', capping the recital with a spectacular high C and proving once and for all that this song is hardly just tenor-only property.

My only qualm is that while Gheorghiu's renditions of Schubert and Schumann songs are by no means bad, she has a great deal of competition in this repertory and her renditions don't come quite as special as those of others, or of the other songs on this CD. I think `Zueignung' in particular needs a more heroic sound than she gives it here. Also, I was a bit spoiled for 'Guriwoon Geum Gang San' by hearing Hei-Kyung Hong sing it - she actually IS Korean and brings more deep and specific feeling to this song than Gheorghiu can. I'm also slightly disappointed that she does not include any English (as opposed to American) songs, considering how much she loves working in England and how popular she is there.

Malcolm Martineau plays beautifully and is an accompanist of imagination and sensitivity. His affinity with Gheorghiu is shown by the fact that her singing of 'Azulao' was at his suggestion. He seems to becoming a latter day Gerald Moore in the way that he accompanies so many singers so well in such widely varied repertoire and brings out their best, although I do not know if he posssesses Moore's gifts for explaining the music to the audience. I hope he and Gheorghiu work together again, despite the fact that they are now primarily based at different record companies.

The documentation includes an essay by Gheorghiu herself on the songs and how they relate to the joys of her peripatetic existence,as well as full texts and translations. One possible error - I believe they translate a different verse of 'Les Filles du Cadix' than Gheorghiu actually sings. I also like the cover and interior photos of Gheorghiu - they show her as a smart, strong, confident world traveller, not a submissive sex object the way so many other female classical singers appear in their CD booklets. By contrast, the photos of her actually taken at the recording session show her as a complete 'un-diva' in a cartoon character T-shirt.

While I am delighted about the many opera recordings, both complete works and solo recitals, that Gheorghiu plans to make over the next several years, I really hope she commits much, much more song literature to disc. It is certainly the best way for her to develop an artistic identity separate from her equally splendid husband Roberto Alagna (although it doesn't take a genius to figure out who 'Je te veux' and 'Be My Love' are aimed at!). For the sheer variety, depth, and skill of her interpretations, she could become the 21st century's equivalent of Victoria De Los Angeles. The first priority is a disc of Romanian songs, and I hope she also records more material from the surrounding area (Hungary, Czechoslavkia, Greece, etc). Based on her performance of 'Canto Negro', I want her to record the entire Montsalvatge cycle - can you IMAGINE what she could do with 'Ninghe, ninghe'? Perhaps more Sephardic songs? Kurt Weill's French songs? 'Les Nuits D'Ete'? 'Sheherezade'? The list is endless and mind boggling.

Sheer Enchantment.......2000-03-25

I'll be brief. After listening to this CD on and off for nearly a year, I find that the rougher, less interesting moments that came up when I first bought the disk have faded, and that from start to finish I have a new Desert Island Disk to accompany my favorites of years past. Buy it, then give it time to work its magic and for your erotic center to familiarize you to this sexy voice. The same goes just as strongly for Gheorghiu's glorious ARIAS album with Mauceri. This is more quickly taken in but as time passes it is like having Angela's fingers stroking your back. All right, stroking your sympathetic ganglia.

Not bad.......1999-04-23

In this CD, at first I listened to KAWA NO NAGARE NO YOU NI. I'm a Japanese, so I interested in how Angela Gheorghiu singing it. After the song finished, I'm so sorry because she couldn't singing this song so well. I don't know about other song, but as a Japanese, I'm so disappointed. But, this disc's concept is very good.

Canciones Latinas (Eliot Fisk & Paula Robison)

Average customer rating:

Canciones Latinas (Eliot Fisk & Paula Robison)

Manufacturer: Music Masters Jazz
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Latin Music | Styles | Music

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

Rio Days Rio Nights

ASIN: B00000IFPG
Release Date: 1999-04-13

Tracks:

Bachianas Brasileiras No.5: Aria
We'll Dance Until Dawn
You Already Know, Gentlemen
Rumba
Cantos Del Caribe Ste: Ogguere
Cantos Del Caribe Ste: La Comparsa
The Little Tree Frog
Song Of The Birds
Your Eyes Are My Delight
Little Star
Song Of The Black Swan
L'Histoire Du Tango: Nightclub 1960
L'Histoire Du Tango: Bordel 1900
While The Toucan Sleeps, We Sing In The Moonlight
Bluebird
Moonstruck
The Tree Of Forgetfulness
The White Cradle

Victoria De Los Angeles: Sur Les Ailes Du Chant (On Wings of Song)

Average customer rating:

Haunting and Lovely

Victoria De Los Angeles: Sur Les Ailes Du Chant (On Wings of Song)
Victoria De Los Angeles , Ruperto Chapi y Lorenta , Leo Delibes , Antonin Dvorak , Edvard Grieg , Reynaldo Hahn , Sebastian Iradier , Pablo Luna , Johann Paul Aegidius Martini , and Rafael Fruhbeck De Burgos
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Auf Flugein des Gesanges, Op.34 No.2
Ich liebe dich, Op.5, No.3
Wiegenlied, Op. 49 No.4
Als die alte Mutter, Op.55 No.4
Plaisir d'amour
L'Enamouree
Les Filles de Cadiz
Cinco Conciones Negras: Cuba dentro de un piano
Cinco Conciones Negras: Punto de habanera
Cinco Conciones Negras: Chevere
Cinco Conciones Negras: Cancion de cuna para dormir a un negrito
Cinco Conciones Negras: Canto negro
Irish Lullaby
Era la vo
La Paloma
Azulao
De Espana Vengo (from 'El nino judio', Zarzuela)
Carceleras (from 'Las hijas del Zebedeo', Zarzuela)
Cuatro Madrigales Amatorios: E con que la lavare?
Cuatro Madrigales Amatorios: Vos me matasteis
Cuatro Madrigales Amatorios: De donde venis, amores?
Cuatro Madrigales Amatorios: De los alamos vengo, madre

Customer Reviews:

Haunting and Lovely.......2005-08-07

I've had this record for years and listened to it hundreds of times. I never get tired of it. Victoria De Los Angeles has it all. She is moving, mysterious and melencholic and then exciting and brassy. "Songs my Mother Taught Me" can move me almost to tears.

Average customer rating:

A Boffo!

Songs of Many Lands

Manufacturer: Testament
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Customer Reviews:

A Boffo!.......2005-07-22

I own this recording and it is simply great! Simple as that. This was recorded during the prime of Mr. Souzay's long career and he was in great voice. What is remarkable is not only his mastery of the different languages involved, but how he gives such meaning and clarity to each song presented. He sings here in a multitude of languages, not just French, German and Italian, but also Gaelic, Swedish, Russian, and a host of others. He interprets each song to masterful effect, from the
"Om dagen vid mit arbete," and "Savishna," to "I'm Goin' Away." Anyone who loves good music will be delighted with this
recording, because Mr. Souzay is an artist of the highest order.
Hey! What are you waiting for? Go on and buy it!
Cheers!
Doug Barnett-

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Music Review

The Live Vandelay [Live]

Weill: The Seven Deadly Sins; Berg: Lulu Suite

Works by the Strauss Family

Songwrangler [Enhanced]

Yoga Sessions : Drawing from the roots - compiled by Dixon

Your Dance Date/American Waltzes/Carefree Rhythms

Yesterday and Today

Wind & Wuthering [Original recording remastered]

You're Playing with Children in the Land of the Bugs

Your Saving Grace

What's New [Import] [Limited Edition]

Welcome to the Fanks [Import]

Volume 1: One Deep

Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker (Favorite Excerpts from the Original Soundtrack Recording)

Invitation