Barber: Complete Songs [Import]

Track Listings

1. Slumber Song Of The Madonna

2. There's Nae Lark

3. Love At The Door

4. Serenader

5. Love's Caution

6. Night Wanderers

7. Of That So Sweet Imprisonment

8. Strings In The Earth And Air

9. Beggar's Songs

10. In The Dark Pine Woods

11. Three Songs Op.2

12. Three Songs Op.2

13. Three Songs Op.2

14. Three Songs Op.10

15. Three Songs Op.10

16. Three Songs Op.10

17. Four Songs Op. 13

18. Four Songs Op. 13

19. Four Songs Op. 13

20. Four Songs Op. 13

See all 47 tracks on this disc

Tracks:

Sinfonietta - Simon Rattle
El Combat Del Somni - Victoria De Los Angeles
Piano Concerto - Sviatoslav Richter
Don Giovanni - Carlo Maria Giulini
Eroica - Otto Klemperer
Gymnopedies - Aldo Ciccolini
Don Carlo - Placido Domingo
24 Caprices - Itzhak Perlman
Liederkreis Op.39 - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Cello Concerto - Sir John Barbirolli
Alborada Del Gracioso - Dinu Lipatti
'Peter Grimes' - Andre Previn
Das Lied Von Der Erde - Otto Klemperer
Violin Concerto No.1 - David Oistrakh
Boris Godunov - Boris Christoff
Piano Concerto No.22 - Annie Fischer
La Boheme - Jussi Bjorling
Symphony No.2 'Resurection' - Otto Klemperer

Tracks:

Bachianas Brasileiras - Heitor Villa-Lobos
Die Zauberflote - Herbert Von Karajan
Preludes II - Walter Gieseking
Symphonie Fantastique - Sir Thomas Beecham
Il Trovatore - Maria Callas
String Quartet - Alban Berg Quartett
Wesendonck-Lieder - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Horn Concerto No.3 - Dennis Brain
Fidelio - Otto Klemperer
Piano Concerto In G - Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
Kindertotenlieder - Bruno Walter
Dialogues Des Carmelites - Pierre Dervaux
Violin Concerto - Yehudi Menuhin
Salome - Herbert Von Karajan
Tout Un Monde Lointain... - Mstislav Rostropovich
Il Barbiere Di Siviglia - Vittorio Gui
Fantasia On 'Greensleeves' - Sir John Barbirolli
Die Lustige Witwe - Nicolai Gedda
Symphony No.9 'Choral' - Wilhelm Furtwangler

Customer Reviews:

Interesting, and so cheap!.......2005-03-17

In response to the reviewer below, yes, some of the recordings do not have the best sound quality. But that's not what this is about, it's about great recordings of the century.
There are two discs, each with about 18 tracks, averaging about 4 minutes each, of excerpts and individual movements of the some of the most famous of the 150 "GROCs."

In the booklet it has a few interesting (sometimes not that interesting) facts about each of the 150 performances.

If you don't mind excerpts of pieces or isolated movements, this would be a worthwhile purchase, especially for the bizarrely reasonable price.

Not that great.......2004-11-19

If this is supposed to be an album of "the greatest" -- I wasn't too impressed. The quality didn't seem that good and the selections, well, not all that popular to my mind.

Average customer rating:

The "Monster" Concert Live

Eleanor Steber In Concert (1956-1958)

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

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Folk | 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

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Eleanor Steber Sings Mozart
Her First Recordings (1940)
The Eleanor Steber Collection, Vol. 1: The Early Career, 1938-1951
Barber: Knoxville Summer of 1915/Dover Beach/Hermit Songs/Adromache's Farewell

ASIN: B000003LIG
Release Date: 1994-12-12

Tracks:

Die Frau Ohne Schatten: Act Two: Vater, Bist Du's? Through Zeige Dich, Vater!

Tracks:

Knoxville: Summer Of 1915
Ernani: Ernani, Involami
Song
Louise: Depuis Le Jour
Tosca: Vissi D'arte
Madama Butterfly: Un Bel Di
Standchen
Im Abendrot
Elfenlied
Freundliche Vision
Songs Of The Auvergne: Passo Pel Prat
Songs Of The Auvergne: Berceuse (Soun, Soun, Beni, Beni)
Songs Of The Auvergne: Fibilou Par Una Sera
The Telephone: Telephone Aria
Old American Songs: Long Time Ago
Old American Songs: Simple Gifts (Shaker Song)
Nancy Hanks
Whistle And I'll Come To You
Danny Boy

Customer Reviews:

The "Monster" Concert Live.......2000-03-28

Those of us who are Stebermaniacs know that the October,1958 Carnegie Hall concert preserved in this live recording captured Eleanor Steber at the height of her popularity and vocal artistry. In her autobiography, she admits that she planned the most spectacular program she could conceive, and she blows away the enthusiastic audience with her stamina, technique, versatility and emotion coupled with control and musicality. Every review of this concert I have ever read selects a different "high point;" the spectacular Strauss segment from "The Woman without a Shadow," "Qui la Voce" from I Puritani, the multiple aria encores, Barber's "Knoxville," the Berlioz song cycle: the sheer quantity of glorious singing makes this a collector's item. An additional bonus is a more subdued, but warm 1956 song recital containing selections never before available. The sonic values are excellent in the 1958 concert, a bit less so in the earlier concert. Nevertheless, these are treasures, especially in the light of the few Steber concert recordings in existence.

Average customer rating:

Brava Berganza! A Birthday Tribute

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Una voce poco fa: A Portrait of Teresa Berganza

ASIN: B0007DHPRG
Release Date: 2005-04-12

Complete Songs of Samuel Barber ~ Secrets of the Old / Studer, Hampson, Browning, Emerson String Quartet

Average customer rating:

Absolutely fantastic, but...
Well,its about time!
The best song-CD EVER released! etc.
A Complete Joy

Complete Songs of Samuel Barber ~ Secrets of the Old / Studer, Hampson, Browning, Emerson String Quartet

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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American Classics: Barber: COMPLETE PUBLISHED SOLO PIANO MUSIC

ASIN: B000001GH2
Release Date: 1994-04-12

Tracks:

Secrets Of The Old: A Slumber Song Of The Madonna - Moderato
Secrets Of The Old: There's Nae Lark - Moderato
Secrets Of The Old: Love At The Door - Allegro
Secrets Of The Old: Sereandes - Andante con moto
Secrets Of The Old: Love's Caution (Moderato)
Secrets Of The Old: Night Wanderers (Without Tempo Indication)
Secrets Of The Old: Of That So Sweet Imprisonment - Con moto
Secrets Of The Old: Strings In The Earth And Air - Moderato
Secrets Of The Old: Beggar's Song - Andante - Allegro moderato
Secrets Of The Old: In The Dark Pinewood
Three Songs, Op. 2: 1. The Daisies: Allegretto con grazie
Three Songs, Op. 2: 2. With Rue My Heart Is Laden: Andante cantabile
Three Songs, Op. 2: 3. Bessie Bobtail: Andante, un poco mosso - Adagio
Three Songs, Op. 10: 1. Rain Has Fallen: Moderato
Three Songs, Op. 10: 2. Sleep Now: Andante tranquillo
Three Songs, Op. 10: 3. I Hear An Army: Allegro con fuoco
Four Songs, Op. 13: 1. A Nun Takes The Veil: Broad And Sustained, In Exact Rhythm
Four Songs, Op. 13: 2. The Secrets Of The Old: Allegro giocoso
Four Songs, Op. 13: 3. Sure On This Shining Night: Andante
Four Songs, Op. 13: 4. Nocturne: Andante, un poco mosso
Four Songs, Op. 13: Dover Beach, Op. 3: Andante, un poco mosso

Tracks:

Two Songs, Op. 18: 1. The Queen's Face On The Summery Coin: Andante con moto
Two Songs, Op. 18: 2. Monks And Raisins: Allegro
Secrets Of The Old: Nuvoletta Op. 25: Allegretto
Melodies Passageres, Op. 27: 1. Puisque tout passe: Moderato
Melodies Passageres, Op. 27: 2. Un cygne: Moderato
Melodies Passageres, Op. 27: 3. Tombeau dans un parc: Lento e sereno
Melodies Passageres, Op. 27: 4. Le clocher chante: Non troppo allegro
Melodies Passageres, Op. 27: 5. Depart
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 1. At Saint Patrick's Purgatory: Allegretto, In Steady Rhythm
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 2. Church Bell At Night: Molto adagio
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 3. St. Ita's Vision: Recit. - Andante con moto
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 4. The Heavenly Banquet: Lively, With Good Humor
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 5. The Crucifixion: Moderato
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 6. Sea-Snatch: Allegro con fuoco, surging
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 7. Promiscuity: Sostenuto - Allegro moderato - Sostenuto
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 8. The Monk And His Cat - Moderato, Flowing
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 9. The Praises Of God - Un poco allegro
Hermit Songs, Op. 29: 10. The Desire For Hermitage: Calmo e sostenuto
Despite And Still, Op. 41: 1. A Last Song: Moderato
Despite And Still, Op. 41: 2. My Lizard: Fast And Light
Despite And Still, Op. 41: 3. In The Wilderness: Flowing
Despite And Still, Op. 41: 4. Solitary Hotel: Like A Rather Fast Tango In 2
Despite And Still, Op. 41: 5. Despite And Still: Fast And Darkly Impassioned
Three Songs, Op. 45: 1. Now Have I Fed And Eaten Up The Rose: Moderato
Three Songs, Op. 45: 2. A Green Lowland Of Pianos: Allegretto con grazia
Three Songs, Op. 45: 3. O Boundless, Boundless Evening: Tranquillo, un poco mosso

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely fantastic, but..........2005-06-10

Though being a professional singer, I've only recently discovered Samuel Barber's songs. I'm glad I did it, because Barber wrote some of the most beautiful art-songs I've ever heard in my life. From the earliest to the latest song, it's all pure quality, with few - if any - exceptions.
This recording is a great acquisition, not only for the fact that it includes *all* the songs Barber wrote, but also for Thomas Hampson's magnificent and moving performance.
Unfortunately, the female singer (Cheryl Studer) almost manages to completely spoil this pleasant experience: her artificial, dull, often-completely-out-of-tune (?) singing is the reason for my 4 out of 5 rating. Otherwise, it would definitely be a five star recording.

Well,its about time!.......2002-04-05

Finaly,a compleat edition of these wonderfull songs by this wonderfull and sadly underrated composer.
The songs are varied and span the composers entire creative years.
They range from the romantic,child-like youth compositions(the daisies)threu his almost brahms sounding period( sleep now,nocturn,sure on this shining night)to his tragic,disenchanted
older years.
The hermit songs&the French ones are a particular delight.We all know just how wonderfull Hampson is ,but Studer is also fine & pure sounding-A total joy!

The best song-CD EVER released! etc........2000-04-16

I'm not even kidding. This really is the best song-CD ever released. Don't laugh until you hear it... then you'll see for yourself. Where to begin! Barber-- his orchestral works are great for the most part, the Knoxville setting for Orchestra and soprano is mediocre, the piano sonata is also great BUT: the heart of this composer is in his songs. And here they ALL are, including the 10 unpublished songs from his youth. There's Nae Lark is one of only three songs I've ever heard that made me burst into tears on FIRST listening... Barber was around 17 when he wrote it! Bessy Bobtail could make a person drop dead in the right mood. The Joyce settings are so true to the poet's intentions! And the final 3 songs...especially A Green Lowland of Pianos show that Barber NEVER EVER lost his musical voice and razor-sharp talent. This compilation also includes the sincere and depressing On Dover Beach setting-- few if any composers besides Barber have ever managed a successful setting of Arnold's multilayered poem. OK... what if you don't like Thomas Hampson... I know there are some out there who think he's an odd singer... too much rubato, too much bravura? I promise you, you'll like him here, you may even grow to love the guy... if Hampson's ever been sincere and if there's ever been a composer whose music is well suited to his voice, it's Barber...guaranteed. I think this compilation also proves (ok, arguably, I'll admit) that complex tonal song settings pose many more compositional challenges than any of the atonal song-music produced in this century. I can't think of any atonal composer outside of Webern who could shake a stick at the harmonic ingenuity of Barber here. (Just so lightning doesn't strike me... Sir Michael Tippett is also a fine song composer, but he's NEVER been atonal, just EXTENDED tonal.) Barber, Barber, Barber... buy this now. These songs are so powerful that I can remember as vividly as yesterday exactly where and when I first heard every one of these songs and what I was feeling... they quite literally imprinted themselves in my mind. Don't cheat yourself out of this experience... buy this now!

A Complete Joy.......1999-12-01

When I bought this record I had not heard any of the Barber songs before, but what a pleasant surprise they proved to be. These are beautiful romantic songs, and Studer and Hampson perform them very well. The recording sound is also very good. Warmly recommended.

The Americans: Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon

Average customer rating:

Very Good To Memorable Recordings of Bernstein's American Composer Recordings

The Americans: Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Leonard Bernstein Conducts Sibelius (Collectors Edition)
Stravinsky, Shostakovich: Bernstein's Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon
Leonard Bernstein Conducts Haydn (Collectors Edition)
Leonard Bernstein Conducts Brahms (Collectors Edition)
Mahler: The Complete Symphonies

ASIN: B0001WGDXU
Release Date: 2004-05-11

Customer Reviews:

Very Good To Memorable Recordings of Bernstein's American Composer Recordings.......2007-07-01

This is yet another superb box set of Bernstein's Deutsche Grammophon recordings, emphasizing his strong affinity and interest in the work of such great American composers like Charles Ives, Aaron Copland and William Schuman. The best recordings are those with The New York Philharmonic of Charles Ives's orchestral works and Aaron Copland's Third Symphony, "Quiet City" suite for horn and strings, and the El Salon de Mexico ballet suite. But I also admire Bernstein's recordings with the Los Angeles Philharmonic of Gershwin's great classical/jazz orchestral works like "Rhapsody in Blue" and "An American in Paris", and the recordings of several other Copland scores, most notably, "Appalachian Spring". Like virtually all of the other recordings in Deutsche Grammophon's "Collector's Edition" series of Leonard Bernstein, these were recorded by Deutsche Grammophon in the 1980s, often during live concert performances held in Los Angeles, Tel Aviv, and New York City (Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall). While some may prefer Bernstein's classic recordings of Copland and Ives for CBS Masterworks (now Sony) in the late 1950s and 1960s, these have the benefit of being digital recordings made by Deutsche Grammophon's then state-0f-the-art recording processes. Without question, anyone who is a fan of Copland's, Gershwin's or Ives' scores and of Leonard Bernstein will surely cherish this fine 6 CD box set.

Average customer rating:

Bringing new songs to the table
A phenomenal disc
Needs imrovement in sound, and Studer is not ideal
A legendary recording

Barber: Complete Songs [Germany]
Studer , Hampson , Browning , and Emerson String Quartet
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

The Complete Songs of Charles Ives, Vol. 2
Just-Spring: Art Songs of John Duke
The Complete Songs of Charles Ives, Vol. 1
Songs by Roger Quilter
The Complete Songs of Charles Ives, Vol. 3

ASIN: B00005V8YT
Release Date: 2002-01-02

Tracks:

Slumber Song Of The Madonna
There's Nae Lark
Love At The Door
Serenader
Love's Caution
Night Wanderers
Of That So Sweet Imprisonment
Strings In The Earth And Air
Beggar's Songs
In The Dark Pine Woods
Three Songs Op.2
Three Songs Op.2
Three Songs Op.2
Three Songs Op.10
Three Songs Op.10
Three Songs Op.10
Four Songs Op. 13
Four Songs Op. 13
Four Songs Op. 13
Four Songs Op. 13
Dover Beach Op. 3
Two Songs Op. 18
Two Songs Op. 18
Nuvoletta Op. 25
Melodies Passageres Op. 27
Melodies Passageres Op. 27
Melodies Passageres Op. 27
Melodies Passageres Op. 27
Melodies Passageres Op. 27
Hermit Songs Op. 29
Hermit Songs Op. 29
Hermit Songs Op. 29
Hermit Songs Op. 29
Hermit Songs Op. 29
Hermit Songs Op. 29
Hermit Songs Op. 29
Hermit Songs Op. 29
Hermit Songs Op. 29
Hermit Songs Op. 29
Despite And Still Op. 41
Despite And Still Op. 41
Despite And Still Op. 41
Despite And Still Op. 41
Despite And Still Op. 41
Three Songs Op. 45
Three Songs Op. 45
Three Songs Op. 45

Customer Reviews:

Bringing new songs to the table.......2005-11-05

This is a fantastic recording, and I'm so grateful to Hampson and Studer for seeking out and helping to get published the Ten Early Songs (1-10 on CD1). It's wonderful to be able to hear some of his earlier works and to see how far he truly came as a composer. Highly recommend this set!

A phenomenal disc.......2005-10-31

Yes Yes Yes. This record surpasses Leontyne Price's affected delivery of this composer's songs by a mile or two. Nah, three.

Needs imrovement in sound, and Studer is not ideal.......2005-10-11

Lovers of American music, and particularly the much neglected field of American art songs, rapturously welcomed this 1994 collection of Barber's entire song output. The pianist, John Browning, has been a champion of Barber's music all his life, since his early days as a protoge of the composer.

Of the two singers, Hampson is far more experienced at art song than Studer, and it shows. She sings rather effortfully, often with an operatic warble, and her enunciaiton isn't as clear as it should be.

Still, both singers are in the right spirit. This isn't by any means definitive interpretation. Thomas Allen sings Dover Beach as well as Hampson, and Leontyne Price offers a classic set of Hermit ssongs with the composer as accompanist (he was also a skilled baritone, which accounts for his graceful writing for the voice). For a secelciton of songs and arias with orchestral accompaniment, Roberta Alexander is excellent on the Etcetera label, and Marilyn Horne has done well by a handful of Barber songs--including the haunting "Sure on This Shining Night"-- on one of her RCA recitals.

All in all, the singing is authoritative from Hampson, and if DG could improve the sonics--maybe they did on this two-fer reissuee--some of the hard edge to Studer's voice might be softened.

A legendary recording.......2005-09-30

Few and fewer recordings anymore achieve legendary status and this is one of the precious few. And it will be a long time, possibly not in our lifetime, before anyone surpasses the achivements of Studer and Hampson. It is a marvel to hear this music sung with simplicity and full bodied vocal poise, magically erasing all memories of the arch Leontyne Price. No easy feat, this. To summarize, these discs are a gem in the annals of American music or, in fact, any music.

Una voce poco fa: A Portrait of Teresa Berganza

Average customer rating:

A FORTY YEAR LOVE AFFAIR

Una voce poco fa: A Portrait of Teresa Berganza

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Brava Berganza! A Birthday Tribute
Teresa Berganza
The Very Best of Victoria de los Angeles
The Very Best of Lucia Popp
Isabel Bayrakdarian ~ Azulão

ASIN: B0001M09OO
Release Date: 2004-05-11

Tracks:

Una Voce Poco Fa
Non So Piu
Voi Che Sapete
Temerari!...Some Scoglio
Ch'io Mi Scordi Di Te?...Non Temer, Amato Bene
Che Faro Senza Euridice?
Che Puro Ciel!
Divinites Du Styx
Medea! O Medea!...Solo Un Pianto
Mi Lusinga Il Dolce Affetto
Verdi Prati, Selve Amene
Quand Je Vous Aimerai?...L'amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle - The Ambrosian Singers
Pres Des Remparts De Seville - Placido Domingo
Cruda Sorte! Amor Tiranno!
Nacqui All'affanno...Non Piu Mesta

Tracks:

Ahi! Che Forse Ai Miei Di
Intorno All'idol Mio
Confusa, Smarrita
Qual Mia Colpa, O Sventura...Se Delitto E Adoravi
Chi Vuol Innamorarsi
La Rosaura (Un Cor Da Voi Ferito)
Elitropio D'amor
Como Quieres Que Adivine
Mananita De San Juan
Cuatro Canciones Vascas
Saeta En Forma De Salve A La Virgen De La Esperanza
El Tra-La-La Y El Punteado
El Majo Timido
La Maja Dolorosa
Farruca
El Pano Moruno
Seguidilla Murciana
Asturiana
Jota
Nana
Cancion
Polo
Sagrario's Romanza
Margarita's Romanza
Txalopin Txalo
Nere Maitea
Atea Tan Tan
Tun, Kurrun, Kuntun
Arranoak Bartuetan
Ainoarra Nimino
Anderegeya
Amak Ezkondu

Customer Reviews:

A FORTY YEAR LOVE AFFAIR.......2004-09-02

The lack of a fifth star reflects the shortcomings of Decca, not of the artist.

DISCLAIMER: What you are about to read are the judgments of a man not completely rational about the subject at hand.

Teresa Berganza has the most gorgeous female voice I've ever laid ears on. There, I've said it! Biased? Proudly. Smitten? To my core. From the moment I heard her in recital forty years ago, until this very day, I have been completely enamored of this gracious and sensitive artist. I own, I think, every note she has ever recorded. I have seen her in recital or on the opera stage several times, and I have never heard a vulgar sound emerge from her throat. The sheer depth and harmonic richness of her mezzo simply shower warmth and luxury on the listener.

She is also arguably the most versatile singer of the last generation. Most people think of her as just a Mozart and Rossini specialist, and indeed she is. But her repertoire ranges from Cesti to Stravinsky, from Fernando Sor to Mussorgsky to Villa Lobos. She has also been a devoted advocate for the music of her native Spain, along with Latin and South American music. At a Carnegie Hall recital the program included Faure, Schubert, Mozart, Wolf, de Falla, Rodrigo, Garcia Lorca, and Toldra, with encores of Gimenez, Rossini, and Schumann. Phew! One might think it impossible to hold together such a varied program, but Berganza did it seamlessly.

Now to the appointed task. This Decca compilation is a mostly fair cross section of her core work. I could gripe about the inclusion of material that is available on multiple other CDs, or prattle on about this omission or that, but considering how generously this package is filled out, I'd be arguing for an extra disc or two.

The Rossini on the disc doesn't require much comment. A true mezzo with voluptuous tone, a completely secure and supple fioratura, and the temperament to make the character come alive... what else could one possibly want? It's hard to imagine a Naqui all'affanno... Non piu mesta sung with more bravura brilliance. Much the same thing could be said of the Mozart. Finding something to criticize would require a truly picayune personality. The 1963 Mozart LP on London put Berganza firmly on the international map. The reviews were extravagant with praise, and the selections here are some of the finest, although the inclusion of Come scoglio shows the least flattering side of her vocal talents - the tessitura lies just a bit too high for her compass. The nearly complete CD version of the LP is available on Decca's "The Singers" series, where you can sample her Dorabella and Sextus.

Disc 1 is rounded out with selections from Handel, Gluck, Bizet, and Neris's second act recitative and aria from Medea. To enter a note of criticism, I find the Gluck rather straight-jacketed; she certainly doesn't have the cutting edge or the horsepower to make Divinites du Styx very convincing. The Orfeo tracks suffer some of the same deficits, although, because the voice is not overtaxed, she is able to maintain equilibrium of tone, but in the end they come up flat sounding. These problems are more than made up for by her Ruggiero from Handel's Alcina and Neris's heart-rending aria, where her strengths are fully evident. The chestnuts from Carmen give a taste of what is certainly one of the most unusually conceived assumptions of this often hackneyed role. This is no tramp cigarette girl, but a fully realized independent woman, whose goals will not be thwarted by mere convention - and Berganza has the vocal and dramatic resources to back it all up. The recording is still in the DGG catalog - snap it up.

If the contents of disc 2 seem a bit scattered, that would be because they are a bit scattered. This is where Decca should have made more coherent choices. The most grievous example: Arambarri's Ochos canciones vascas comes form a 1967 Zacosa LP. The fact that the flip side of that record, Gombau's Siete claves de Aragon, is omitted borders on the incomprehensible. Both of these song cycles are piquant, wonderfully conducted by Gombau himself, and show Berganza's interpretative range in singing Spanish music, plus they are perfect companion pieces. As fine as they are, we did not need the umpteenth incarnation of her collaborations with her then husband, pianist and composer Felix Lavilla.

These discs are billed as having four "First international releases" on CD (whatever that means). But de Falla's Siete canciones populares espanolas has appeared on at least two discs that I know of. Possibly it was never released in the Philippines. The Arambarri and the two zarzuela songs are the other "firsts." Speaking of zarzuela... for anyone unfamiliar with this delightful and important genre, you are in for a treat. It is often referred to as Spanish operetta, but that fails to hit the mark. These are musical slices of working class Madrid streetlife, with a unique combination of the rough and the refined, all shot through with a verve that is utterly Spanish. Once bitten by this bug, you will find it difficult to not learn more. The excerpts presented here give only a tiny peek into the enormous amount of this music Berganza sang. From the mid 50's through the early 70's she committed thirty-some (!) of these roles to tape. Many of them are available on CD in Spain (the transfers, however, are among the worst I've ever heard). For present purposes, I would have included one of the rhythmically passionate or playful songs, instead of picking two rather melancholic romanzas. If one wants a better survey of her contribution to zarzuela, they can seek out the two still available discs on Ensayo, with Asensio and the English Chamber Orchestra. With such rivals as Caballe, de los Angeles, and Bayo, it is a tribute to Berganza's commitment to the form that these recordings are the best ever.

The remainder of the recording presents some truly wonderful songs. Among my favorites are all of the Scarlatti. Because she is so acutely aware of the value of rhythmic flexibility and pacing, she is able to reveal all the subtlety in the work of this baroque genius. The Guridi tracks show her skill in mating the music with the words, with perfect dynamics and some tricky intervals that are flawlessly negotiated. It's a shame there wasn't room for the whole song cycle of this unfairly neglected composer. Manual de Falla's Siete canciones don't reach the same rare heights of, say, Granados' La maja dolorosa, but Berganza makes it seem so. The Seguidilla and Jota are particularly sprightly and fetching. Finally, the Farruca of Turina combines her ability to effortlessly spin out a high lying line, then switch into the song's rapid passage work without any trace of the shifting of the gears..

As for the recording quality, the various tracks pretty much reflect the recording technology of their time. The only exception to a range of pretty good to excellent is the Arambarri. The recording is shrill and thin, with some badly clipped peaks. What a pity; the LP is well recorded, and I know a good transfer is possible, because I've done my own with an outdated computer and $69 worth of software. Sometimes I wonder whether anyone actually listens to what the final product sounds like. As with most every twofer, no texts and translations are included.

The subtitle of this release is A portrait of Teresa Berganza, and it does a decent job of living up to its billing, but it's only one portrait of an incredibly versatile artist, whose spell I've been under for my entire adult life. If this has all ended up sounding more like a paean to Berganza than a record review, I plead guilty.

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Explore America, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Naxos American
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Opera & Vocal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000094Q1W
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Tracks:

Copland: Appalachian Spring (Excerpt) - Paul Gambill
Cadman: From The Land Of The Sky-Blue Water Op.45, No.1 - Bergonzi String Quartet
Carpenter: Adventures In A Perambulator: The Hurdy Gurdy - New Symphony Orchestra Of Ukraine
Rorem: Nightingale - Ned Rorem
Barber: Violin Concerto: Presto - Marin Alsop
Gloria Coates: String Quartet No. 1: Protestation Quartet - Kreutzer Quartet
Hovhaness: Cello Concerto: Allegro - Seattle Symphony
Ives: Symphony No. 3: Old Folks Gatherin' - Northern Sinfonia
McKay: Americanistic Etude - William Bolcom
Berlin: Alexander's Ragtime Band - The Chestnut Brass Company
Grofe: Hollywood Suite: Production Number - Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Bernstein: West Side Story: Tonight - Kenneth Schermerhorn
Ornstein: A Morning In The Woods - Janic Weber
Price: Song To Dark Virgin - Darryl Taylor
Torke: Rapture: Drums And Woods - Marin Alsop
Sousa: The National Game - Keith Brion

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All American Favorites

Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000000704
Release Date: 1994-12-06

Tracks:

Grand Canyon Suite: Sunrise - ALL AMERICAN FAVORITES
Grand Canyon Suite: Painted Desert - ALL AMERICAN FAVORITES
Grand Canyon Suite: On The Trail - ALL AMERICAN FAVORITES
Grand Canyon Suite: Sunset - ALL AMERICAN FAVORITES
Grand Canyon Suite: Cloudburst - ALL AMERICAN FAVORITES
6.1 - Introduction : The Open Prairie - 6.2 - Street In A Frontier Town - 6.3 - Mexican Dance - 6.4 - Card Game At Night - 6.5 - Gun Battle - 6.6 - Celebration After Billy's Capture - 6.7 - Billy's Demise - 6.8 - Conclusion - ALL AMERICAN FAVORITES
Rodeo (Four Dance Episodes): Buckaroo Holiday - ALL AMERICAN FAVORITES
Rodeo (Four Dance Episodes): Corral Nocturne - ALL AMERICAN FAVORITES
Rodeo (Four Dance Episodes): Saturday Night Waltz - ALL AMERICAN FAVORITES
Rodeo (Four Dance Episodes): Hoe - Down - ALL AMERICAN FAVORITES

Tracks:

Through The Looking Glass: Dedication - Charles Griffes & Deems Taylor - The Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwa
Through The Looking Glass: The Garden of Live Flowers - Charles Griffes & Deems Taylor - The Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwa
Through The Looking Glass: Jabberwocky - Charles Griffes & Deems Taylor - The Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwa
Through The Looking Glass: Looking Glass Insects - Charles Griffes & Deems Taylor - The Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwa
Through The Looking Glass: The White Knight - Charles Griffes & Deems Taylor - The Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwa
The Pleasure - Dome Of Kubla Khan - Charles Griffes & Deems Taylor - The Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwa
The White Peacock - Charles Griffes & Deems Taylor - The Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwa
Poem For Flute And Orchestra - Charles Griffes & Deems Taylor - The Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwa
Three Tone Pictures: The Lake At Evening - Charles Griffes & Deems Taylor - The Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwa
Three Tone Pictures: The Vale Of Dreams - Charles Griffes & Deems Taylor - The Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwa
Three Tone Pictures: The Night Winds - Charles Griffes & Deems Taylor - The Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwa
Bacchanale - Charles Griffes & Deems Taylor - The Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwa

Tracks:

Overture To 'The School For Scandal' - Gerard Schwarz\Seattle Symphony
An American In Paris - Gerard Schwarz\Seattle Symphony
Prelude - Gerard Schwarz\Seattle Symphony
Love Duet - Gerard Schwarz\Seattle Symphony
Little Smary - Gerard Schwarz\Seattle Symphony
The Love Of My Life - Gerard Schwarz\Seattle Symphony
Greeting - Gerard Schwarz\Seattle Symphony
At My Wedding - Gerard Schwarz\Seattle Symphony
Mr. & Mrs. Webb Say Goodnight - Gerard Schwarz\Seattle Symphony
Nachspiel - Gerard Schwarz\Seattle Symphony

Centenary Edition - 100 Years of Great Music

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Centenary Edition - 100 Years of Great Music

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

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

Czech | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

English | Languages | Opera &

1. Slumber Song Of The Madonna
2. There's Nae Lark
3. Love At The Door
4. Serenader
5. Love's Caution
6. Night Wanderers
7. Of That So Sweet Imprisonment
8. Strings In The Earth And Air
9. Beggar's Songs
10. In The Dark Pine Woods
11. Three Songs Op.2
12. Three Songs Op.2
13. Three Songs Op.2
14. Three Songs Op.10
15. Three Songs Op.10
16. Three Songs Op.10
17. Four Songs Op. 13
18. Four Songs Op. 13
19. Four Songs Op. 13
20. Four Songs Op. 13