Jane Eaglen - Italian Opera Arias

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Jane Eaglen, today's most acclaimed interpreter of Wagnerian heroines, takes on 11 post-Verdian ones, only three of whom she has portrayed on stage: Ponchielli's Gioconda, Puccini's Turandot, and Santuzza from Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana. The program is an interesting mix of beloved and unfamiliar arias. In addition to the operas already mentioned, they come from Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur, Catalani's La Wally, Boito's Mefistofele, and several from Puccini.

The disc begins with Butterfly's famous "Un bel di" and closes with her heartbreaking death scene. Eaglen's resplendent voice illuminates every note, soaring triumphantly and effortlessly over the orchestra. The top range especially is glorious; there are numerous thrilling high B-flats, B's, and C's. Her voice is a bit heavy for the lightness of "Un bel di" and the coloratura in "Mefistofele," but Eaglen projects Marguerite's madness with extraordinary empathy. Though renowned primarily for her dramatic roles, she seems to have the strongest affinity for the lyrical, mournful arias here. Sister Angelica's lament for her dead child, Adriana's somber resignation, and Santuzza's aching sorrow are especially memorable. Butterfly's death is perhaps the disc's highlight, both for the intensity of expression and the glorious singing. It is, of course, very difficult to create operatic characters in excerpts performed out of context. There is not enough differentiation between these very dissimilar heroines, but Jane Eaglen's incomparable voice and emotional honesty make one long to hear her bring them fully to life in the opera house. --Edith Eisler

Jane Eaglen - Italian Opera Arias, Music, Arrigo Boito, Alfredo Catalani, Francesco Cilea, Pietro Mascagni, Amilcare Ponchielli, Giacomo Puccini, Carlo Rizzi, Philharmonia, Philharmonia Orchestra of London, Jane Eaglen, Classical, Classical Artists, Classical Music, Italian Romantic Opera, Opera, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio

Average customer rating:

Great Arias and Ensembles From Your Favorite Operas Manufacturer: Chandos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Janácek, Leos | ( J ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Allen, Thomas | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Czech | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | 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: B0007SK9UG Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

1. Escamillo: 'You're Most Kind, And In Return I Toast You' - Philharmonic Orchestra
2. Carmen: 'There's An Old Bar In The City' (Seguedilla) - Philharmonia Orchestra
3. Belmonte: 'Constanza! Constanza' - 'Oh What Trembling, Oh What Passion' (Aria) - Nicolai Gedda
4. Falstaff: 'Hey, Page Boy!' - 'Your Honour? Vermin!' (Monologue) - English National Opera Orchestra
5. Fenton: 'From Lover's Lips A Happy Song Is Flying' (Aria) - Susan Gritton
6. Lucia: 'Imagine When The Breezes Sigh' (Duet) - Philharmonia Orchestra
7. Edgardo: 'What Restrains Me At Such A Moment?'/Enrico: 'What Restrains My Righteous Anger?' (Sextet) - Philharmonia Orchestra
8. Turandot: 'Within This Palace A Story Lives Forever' - 'Gentle Princess Lo-U-Ling, Pure, Serene And So Gentle' (Aria) - Philharmonia Orchestra
9. Liu: 'I Beg You, Hear Me, Ah My Lord, I Beg You!' (Aria) - Philharmonia Orchestra
10. 'Through Her Soul In Endless Grieving' (Cujus Animam) - Barry Banks
11. Ilia: 'My Father Was Taken' (Aria) - Rebecca Evans
12. Forester: 'When Evening Arrives, I Welcome The Rays Of The Setting Sun!' (Final Scene) - Thomas Allen
13. Aida: 'We'd Leave This White Oppressive Heat' (Duet) - Dennis O'Neill
14. Propulace: 'Glory To Isis, Goddess Fair' (Grand March From Triumphal Scene) - Philharmonia Orchestra
15. 'Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion' (Aria) - London Philharmonic Orchestra

Average customer rating: The most beautiful voice A Vocal Battleship in full sail Quite dissapoited MAGNIFICENT ARIAS RICHLY DELIVERED Another 5-Star Performance for Ms. Eaglen

Jane Eaglen - Italian Opera Arias Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Boito, Arrigo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Eaglen, Jane | ( E ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Jane Eaglen - Bellini & Wagner Jane Eaglen - Mozart & Strauss / Zubin Mehta Jane Eaglen - Four Last Songs, Wesendonck-Lieder, Seven Early Song / Runnicles ASIN: B00005OKTH Release Date: 2001-09-18

Tracks:

1. Madama Butterfly: Un Bel Di, Vedremo
2. Madama Butterfly: Che Tua Madre
3. Tosca: Vissi D'arte, Vissi D'amore
4. Turandot: In Questa Reggia
5. La Wally: Ebben? Ne Andro Lontana
6. La Gioconda: Suicidio!... In Questi Fieri Momenti...
7. Suor Angelica: Senza Mamma, O Bimbo, Tu Sei Morto
8. Cavalleria Rusticana: Voi Lo Sapete, O Mamma
9. Adriana Lecouvreur: Poveri Fiori
10. Adriana Lecouvreur: Io Son L'umile Ancella
11. Edgar: Addio, Addio, Mio Dolce Amor - Jane Eaglen/The Royal Opr Chor Covent Garden
12. Mefistofele: L'altra Notte In Fondo Al Mare
13. Cavalleria Rusticana: The Easter Hymn: Regina Coeli, Laetare... - Jane Eaglen/The Royal Opr Chor Covent Garden
14. Madama Butterfly: Tu, Tu, Piccoli Iddio!

Amazon.com

The disc begins with Butterfly's famous "Un bel di" and closes with her heartbreaking death scene. Eaglen's resplendent voice illuminates every note, soaring triumphantly and effortlessly over the orchestra. The top range especially is glorious; there are numerous thrilling high B-flats, B's, and C's. Her voice is a bit heavy for the lightness of "Un bel di" and the coloratura in "Mefistofele," but Eaglen projects Marguerite's madness with extraordinary empathy. Though renowned primarily for her dramatic roles, she seems to have the strongest affinity for the lyrical, mournful arias here. Sister Angelica's lament for her dead child, Adriana's somber resignation, and Santuzza's aching sorrow are especially memorable. Butterfly's death is perhaps the disc's highlight, both for the intensity of expression and the glorious singing. It is, of course, very difficult to create operatic characters in excerpts performed out of context. There is not enough differentiation between these very dissimilar heroines, but Jane Eaglen's incomparable voice and emotional honesty make one long to hear her bring them fully to life in the opera house. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

The most beautiful voice.......2004-11-29

A Vocal Battleship in full sail.......2002-04-11

She has stage experience of many of these roles - I've been fortunate enough to her her Tosca, Turandot and Gioconda live. The main drawback of this disc for me is the relative lack of involvement Eaglen seems to show. No matter how red-blooded and passionate these Italian ladies are, they just don't seem to float Eaglen's boat in the same way that her Wagnerian ladies do. Some of the excerpts are touching, such as those from Madama Butterfly (real bitterness as well as sorrow) and Gioconda. However, too often one has the feeling that she is simply singing words without attaching real meanings to them, and I suspect that this is partly to do with Carlo Rizzi's deeply uninspiring (and he a native Italian!!) conducting.

So most of the pleasures of this disc are vocal. And what pleasures! How many other sopranos can you name who can sing "In Questa Reggia" without appearing to bat an eyelid? Ditto "Suicido"? There is admirable control of all registers and a blessed lack of wobble. I enjoyed the "Edgar" excerpt (ably accompanied by the Royal Opera Chorus) and her Santuzza. The voice is simply too large for some of the most delicate pieces (I listened to "Io son l'umile ancella" alongside Renee Fleming's version and I'm afraid Fleming's exquisite control won hands down) but by and large she makes an intoxicating sound.

So - a flawed recording and one that doesn't do full justice to a highly impressive singer. But certainly one for her fans and really impressive listening for voice-fanciers. However, nothing really beats trhe thrill of hearing a voice like this in the theatre.

Quite dissapoited.......2002-03-01

MAGNIFICENT ARIAS RICHLY DELIVERED.......2002-01-29

This CD focuses on the work of the incomparable Giacomo Puccini, presenting seven arias from five operas. Granted, I have a bias here because of my admiration of this composer's work, nonetheless I would unequivocally state that these arias find hitherto unexplored dimensions with the emotional and vocal agility of Eaglen. Her voice embracing "Che tua madre" is especially moving.

With Tosca we again experience "Vissi d'arte," now transformed into a poignant prayer. Turandot is, of course, without peer and "In questa reggia" the perfect vehicle for Eaglen to showcase her vocal amplitude and passion.

Richly delivered, magnificent arias, what more could one ask?

- Gail Cooke

Another 5-Star Performance for Ms. Eaglen.......2002-01-28

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