Baroque Arias

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
We're entering a new Golden Age of Countertenors. Thirty years ago Alfred Deller was respectable but odd; now Brian Asawa and David Daniels sing at the Met while Andreas Scholl is on the cover of Gramophone. Joining them in the march of the falsettos is Japan's Yoshikazu Mera, the star of Bis's Bach cantata series. This cherubic youngster has better German and English diction than many native speakers; his narrow vibrato, clean coloratura and sweet tone are reminiscent of Drew Minter. Like Minter, he sounds too gentle to convey fury or terror--"But who may abide" from Messiah lacks refiner's fire--but his straightforward eloquence makes for a dignified, touching "He was despised" and a sparkling "Oh thou that tellest." He sings the Bach solo cantata and arias with energy and nuance; the Schütz alto duet "Auf dem Gebirge" that closes the disc is quietly heartbreaking. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

Can't recommend it.......2007-07-03

I can't recommend this recording unreservedly. Mr. Padmore's voice seems hard pressed and tremulous in some of the arias, and his Italian is un-idiomatic. His diction is superb, in both the English and Italian arias, and the choice of repertoire is adventurous, but I will stick to Robert White.

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2007-06-23

PADMORE HAS ARRIVED!!!!!Gramophone writes: "Mark Padmore uses his extraordinary diction and whispering chamber-like intimacy to remind us that the most exalted tenor arias from the operas and oratorios can achieve true potency even out of context..." To which I heartily agree. This is truly a wondrous portrayal of the many and varied moods of Handels' works. The tenor roles on this disc stretch between Handel's first and last oratorios, and most of them share a philosophy that implies that the dire consequences of personal pride, emotional selfishness, political ambition and sexual lust are amended by virtue and reason.

Padmore has always excelled with his velvet-toned tenderness, such as is displayed on this disc in "Where'er You Walk" from Semele and Jephtha's seraphic "Waft Her Angels". However, in this album he shows that he has acquired a stength and Italian vibrancy in his tone quality as he sings Jeptha's victory aria: "His Mighty Arm" and Bajazet's magnificent death aria :"Figlia mia-Tu spietato" from Tamerlano. I have never heard this death aria sung as well by anyone!!!!And, of course , the lovely melody, so beautifully performed by Padmore and Lucy Crowe is the 'crown' on this album: 'As Steals the Morn'.
Mark Padmore can be listed with the best of the present day tenors. And Andrew Manze with his sensively implemented accompaniment; just perfect!!!I would be remiss if I did not mention the very attractive packaging of the disc as well as the accompanying information; very superior.

Without peer....!.......2007-06-14

I fully agree with the listener above, this is some of the most beautiful and expressive Handel singing in a very long time. I sat in rapture between my two B&W's. Mark Padmore has just raised the bar and Andrew Manze and the English Concert support with playing of stunning virtousity....warm enveloping engineering and you most certainly have a disc to treasure. Please don't hesitate if you love Handel!!

Best Tenor Handel Singing Ever.......2007-06-13

We are in a Golden Age of Handel singing with Andreas Scholl, Daniel Taylor, Vivica Genaux, Ewa Podles and others making baroque music popular again. If you don't own any Lorraine Hunt Lieberson singing Handel (especially with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra) buy some today. But buy it alongside this disc. "As Steals the Morn" stole my heart. This is without a doubt the best tenor disc of Handel arias ever. WIth the women and the countertenors great versions of almost everything that Handel wrote abound. Padmore is in a class by himself among tenors singing this music. The singing is beautiful and heartfelt. This would join my Callas Tosca and Scotto Butterfly on a desert island.

Andrea Bocelli - Sacred Arias / Myung-Whun Chung

Average customer rating:

Beautiful music
Andrea Bocelli-Sacred Arias
An "experience" of sacred arias more than "listening" of sacred arias
amazing talent
Perfect arias for the perfect voice

Andrea Bocelli - Sacred Arias / Myung-Whun Chung
George Frideric Handel , Giulio Caccini , Charles Gounod , Franz Schubert , Cesar Franck , Gioachino Rossini , Giuseppe Verdi , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Richard Wagner , Pietro Mascagni , Louis Niedermeyer , Franz Xaver Gruber , John Francis Wade , Jean-Paul Lecot , Myung-Whun Chung , and Andrea Bocelli
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Romanza
Andrea Bocelli - Amore
Sogno
Cieli di Toscana
Andrea Bocelli - The Opera Album ~ Aria

ASIN: B00002ND9N
Release Date: 1999-11-09

Tracks:

Caccini/Mercurio: Ave Maria
Mascagni: Sancta Maria
Gounod: Ave Maria
Schubert: Ave Maria
Franck: Panis Angelicus
Rossini: Cuius animam
Verdi: Ingemisco
Mozart: Ave verum
Wagner: Der Engel
Handel: Ombra mai fu
Niedermeyer: Pieta signore
Rossini: Dominus Deus
Schubert/Mercurio: Mille Cherubini in coro
Gruber/Mercurio: Silent Night
Wade: Adeste Fideles
Gloria a te, Cristo Ges

Amazon.com

When he was growing up, Andrea Bocelli recalls finding inspiration in a favorite recording of sacred music performed by tenor legend Franco Corelli. Bocelli--who in the meantime has come to inspire millions of fiercely loyal fans himself--returns to the genre as the guiding theme of Sacred Arias, the release of which coincides with the first English-language biography of the singer. These performances are filled with the singer's phenomenally well-known vocal signature: his flair for long, sweetly floating high notes and the gentle sense of cadence he brings to a melody. It's a mistake to compartmentalize Bocelli into a singer of "operatic" versus "popular" styles: in truth his approach is at heart the same. Lack of color and control in his phrasing remains a drawback, but the emotional empathy Bocelli evokes is never in doubt. The arias collected here sample some of the most famous devotional pieces: Schubert's "Ave Maria" and Mozart's transporting "Ave Verum," as well as an arrangement of "Silent Night" in which Bocelli tries out his English. There's also a decidedly odd choice of bedfellows for a program of "sacred" music, such as a song from Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder (whose "angel" is the object of an overpoweringly erotic attraction) and Handel's figurative ode to a tree, "Ombra mai fu." Still, Bocelli sings with an unfeigned directness that is sure to expand his already enormous following even further. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful music.......2007-01-12

This is my second copy of this CD, I burned the first one out!!
Andrea Bocelli has a very gorgeous voice that is a gift from above. His voice is not affected or braggadoccio but naturally magnificent. I could and do start my day listening to this spiritually uplifting CD almost everyday. It is a wonderful way to get off to a pleasant peaceful start, but also a nice way to come home in the evening if you have a CD player in your car. I highly recommend it to all.

Andrea Bocelli-Sacred Arias.......2006-08-25

Excellent listening. Voice quality and tone is superb. Brings tears to my eyes when I envision listening to this in a church setting.

An "experience" of sacred arias more than "listening" of sacred arias.......2006-04-28

I bought this CD's special edition with DVD, and I am impressed by bocelli's singing in this album. I have heard many voices singing sacred songs, and christmas songs, but very few singers can achieve the "sacred atmosphere" that bocelli devotes when he sings. He may not have a "strong" voice as opera singers, but I think singing these sacred songs, devoting the "sacred atmosphere" to the audience is much more important, the voice actually is just a tool that helps a singer to achieve the result. For real, I have heard some CD by some chorus that perform sacred arias, but they did not move me as much as this CD does, mostly not even close. Personally I like "O come all ye faithful", "silent night", all "ave maria"'s, "domine deus", "cujus animam" the most. When I listen Bocelli's singing I focus on what he tries to devote in singing more than his voice color, because in terms of voice color he surely cant be compared with pavarotti or domingo, so why compares? The way of listening him and listening real opera singers is different man. But the reason I gave only this CD four stars is that I have heard several sacred arias from this album performed by his voice teacher, the legendary tenor Franco Corelli. I tried not to compare both...but I cant, not because Bocelli sings bad, he is already excellent, just Corelli is TOO excellent that cant be described by human language (well I think even Pavarotti is not even close to Franco Corelli, but this is just my opinion). Anyway if you want to "experience" the true beauty of sacred arias, this CD is highly recommended. And this is also a very good sacred aria album for beginning listeners who want to broaden their musical taste to sacred arias.

amazing talent.......2006-03-25

worth the price the songs are breathtaking and talent is indescribable

Perfect arias for the perfect voice.......2006-03-04

These are just terrific. How does Andrea acheive the range he does, and the power he has, without sounding too heavy or too light? His voice sounds like the perfect voice for these perfect arias.

I have noticed one concern with the CD. I have heard several clicks scattered here and there in the songs -- but the CD is clean and I feel confident it is not the machine. Has anyone else noticed this?

Average customer rating:

A Legendary Singer.
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson's Bach: The mind of God revealed!!
Glorious singing to treasure for decades
Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson (1954-2006), supreme Handelian
The Stellar Hunt Lieberson

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson: Handel Arias

Manufacturer: Avie
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Bach: Cantatas BWV 82 and 199
Peter Lieberson: Neruda Songs
Music of Peter Lieberson: Rilke Songs, The Six Realms, Horn Concerto
Lorraine Hunt - Handel Arias
Bach - Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook (highlights) / Hunt-Liberson, McGegan

ASIN: B00022LZW8
Release Date: 2004-08-10

Tracks:

Ah! Whither Should We Fly...
...As With Rosy Steps The Morn
O Bright Example Of All Goodness!...
...Bane Of Virtue, Nurse Of Passions
The Clouds Begin To Veil The Hemisphere...
...Defend Her Heav'n!
Lord, To Thee Each Night And Day
She's Gone, Disdaining Liberty And Life...
...New Scenes Of Joy
Cantata
Cantata
Cantata
Cantata
Cantata
Cantata
Cantata
Cantata
Se Bramate D'amar, Chi Vi Sdegna
Frondi Tenere E Belle...
...Ombra Mai Fu

Amazon.com

If you think you've heard Handel's "Ombra mai fu" (known as his "Largo") so often, and in so many different arrangements, and sung by so many different voices, that you can no longer be moved or surprised by it, think again. This CD of Handel arias, mostly from his Theodora or the cantata La Lucrezia, ends with "Ombra mai fu," and as sung by Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, it is so tender, so beautiful, so impeccably shaded, that you'll think you're hearing it for the first time. But that's only four of this disc's 67 minutes---a follow-up to Hunt Lieberson's extraordinarily successful CD of Bach cantatas. There's not a dull or disinterested moment to be heard anywhere. As the violated Lucrezia, Hunt Lieberson alternately rages against the man who raped her and turns her grief inward; the former is terrifying in its intensity, the latter makes us almost feel as if we're eavesdropping. The five arias for Irene, Theodora's friend, confidante, and the upholder of Christian beliefs are all magical prayers or statements of faith, and from Hunt Lieberson, they become real, with each word honestly conveyed and colored. The voice itself is unfailingly beautiful---warm, lush, never forced, agile when necessary---and her breath control is stunning. She is backed ideally by Harry Bicket and The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and the string soloists in the ensemble---the viola da gamba player, lutenist, etc.---are as gifted as she is. If you want proof that Handel was a great dramatist with a special gift for communicating emotion, all while listening to sublime sounds, this CD is a must. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

A Legendary Singer........2007-03-07

I simply don't have the heart to review Mrs. Lieberson's works.
If we call Ms. Bartoli a 'great' singer, then the description of 'legendary' more aptly depicts Mrs. Lieberson.
If ever a truly good artist lived, Mrs. Lieberson is one such.
The only singer that could be recalled singing in such style is Teresa Berganza; but still, they are different.
This is one of my favourite interpretators of Haendel. Having been 'treated' by those coloraturas of arias of Haendel's period by Ms. Bartoli and others, I find the singing of Lorraine Hunt Lieberson a great relief - at last, this is what Haendel would want it to be. And I equally enjoy the singing of soprano arias by Mrs. Lieberson - the timbre is warmer, but still with all the shimmer - so different from the dark mushy tones of other celebrated 'lyrical soprano' around.
Don't want to say more. Mrs. Lieberson's leaving last year is too heavy a news for me.

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson's Bach: The mind of God revealed!!.......2007-01-06

These deeply felt performances of two of Bach's most moving cantatas show this transcendent singer's combination of emotional honesty and profound musicality, all combined to reveal the very mind of God through divine redemption from suffering. The disc is to be treasured even more in light of the Ms. Lieberson's recent untimely death from cancer. I'm an agnostic, but this music makes me envious of those who can believe. Roy in Pope Valley, California

Glorious singing to treasure for decades.......2006-07-11

By any measure, America's Lorraine Hunt Lieberson is at least the equal of Italy's premier diva, mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, although she does not have the same superstar status. It is difficult to recall past mezzos with clearer enunciation of English text, (as favoured in nine excerpts from Theodora), the richness of voice, displayed in full-throated fortissimo and sharply contrasted pianissimo of utmost delicacy, evokes fondest memories of the tragically doomed Kathleen Ferrier. Masterfully chosen to display every facet of Hunt Lieberson's consumate command of Handel's dauntingly difficult music, the disc's repertoire - recitatives and linkig arias from the operas Theodora and Serse, and the cantana La Lucrezia - is stunning. An unsung mezzo who makes the senses tingle!

Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson (1954-2006), supreme Handelian.......2006-07-06

I have never heard a voice purer of tone, more flexible in phrasing, and so gorgeously produced in a homogeneous column of sound such as this artist in Handel's repertoire. It is very tastefully sung (unlike a certain person whose name begins with R and ends with enaaay Fleming) and so dramatically touching that one could not help but feel that this repertoire finally has found its instrument. And how sad it is to know that this instrument has passed away two days ago. Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson died two days ago in her home in Santa Fe, New Mexico of breast cancer. It is such a huge loss to the opera world, as she is an artist who is still experiencing the prime of her career. The voice is just so beautiful, the tone so pure, that I lament that we can no longer hear any great roles from this artist. She will be missed.

The Stellar Hunt Lieberson.......2006-03-19

Simply put, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson is one of the very best classical singers alive. She combines vocal elegance and purity with an emotional delivery that raises her above the crowd of technically proficient singers who just don't possess her depth of musical understanding or emotional commitment. Hunt Lieberson is a true artist who resists easy classfication except to say she is perfect in what she does.

The Legendary Enrico Caruso: 21 Favorite Arias

Average customer rating:

Great to hear the Great Tenor
A childhood memory
Great collection.

The Legendary Enrico Caruso: 21 Favorite Arias

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Match Point
Italian Songs: The Digital Recordings
Great Caruso
The Very Best of Beniamino Gigli
The Very Best Of Maria Callas

ASIN: B000003EOH
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Pagliacci: Vesti la giubba
TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
Rigoletto: Questa o quella
Rigoletto: La donna e mobile
L'africana: O paradiso
La Juive: Rachel, quand du Seigneur
La Boheme: Che gelida manina
Aida: Se quel guerrier io fossi; Celeste Aida
Andrea Chenier: Come un bel di di maggio
La Favorita: Romanza: Spirto gentil, ne' sogni miei
La forza del destino: O tu che in seno agli angeli
Otello: Ora e per sempre addio
Les pecheurs de perles: Je crois entendre encore
La Gioconda: Cielo e mar!
Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee (Flower Song)
TOSCA: Recondita armonia
Faust: Salut, demeure chaste et pure
L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
Martha: M'appari tutt'amor
Serse: Ombra mai fu (Largo)
Il Trovatore: Di quella pira

Amazon.com

There's a plethora of single-disc Caruso collections, but this one's the preferred choice for opera fans who treasure this golden- voiced epitome of Golden Age singing. It's a Greatest Hits collection to beat all Greatest Hits collections. Selections span Caruso's career, from the lyric effusions of 1906-7 to the darker-voiced later recordings, including one of his last records, the 1920 La Juive aria, "Rachel, quand du Seigneur," which he invests with a heartbreaking poignancy that hasn't been bettered. Caruso shines brightest in the Italian repertory, capturing the pathos of Vesti la Giubba, the insouciance of the Duke's Rigoletto arias, and the hero's dilemma in Celeste Aida, among much else. But everything here is wonderful--great music, great singing. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Great to hear the Great Tenor.......2007-04-11

I am impressed how well these almost 100 year old recordings have been transfered to CD. Of course they aren't perfect but considering their age it is still a miracle. It is nice to hear Caruso in his prime and not on a scratchy vinyl. I would recommend this to any lover of Caruso's singing.

A childhood memory.......2006-05-28

I do not really know Opera. I am writing this review because I remember hearing Caruso's voice coming from a seventy- eight on an old Victor gramophone in my paternal grandparents house. The power and lyric quality of the voice struck me so strongly especially in 'Pagliacci'. The phrase has been with me, and comes back occasionally through all the years.
Caruso was then, and I believe still is considered at the very top of operatic singers. And it is a remarkable experience to hear so many years later , and in a stronger and clearer way sounds which one heard long ago in childhood, and have for years only lived in the mind.

Great collection........2000-11-04

This CD is an older RCA release, but still one of the best! A great introduction to Caruso.

Average customer rating:

When she sang...people would forget all that is conventional in opera
absolutely Beautiful
A glorious voice to remember
An Ode to Beauty and Artistry (Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson, 1954-2006)
subtle beauty

Lorraine Hunt - Handel Arias
George Frideric Handel , Nicholas McGegan , Lorraine Hunt , and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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

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Similar Items:

Bach: Cantatas BWV 82 and 199
Peter Lieberson: Neruda Songs
Music of Peter Lieberson: Rilke Songs, The Six Realms, Horn Concerto
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson: Handel Arias
Bach - Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook (highlights) / Hunt-Liberson, McGegan

ASIN: B0000007EU
Release Date: 1994-05-17

Tracks:

(Clori: Part I): Va col canto
(Clori: Part II): Barbaro!
(Clori: Part II): Amo Tirsi
(Theodora: Act I, 5): Angels, Ever Bright And Fair
(Theodora: Act II, 2): With Darkness, Deep
(Theodora: Act II, 2): Oh! That I On Wings Could Rise
(Ottone: Act II, 4): Vieni, o figlio
(Arianna: Act I, 2): Mirami altero in volto
(Susanna: Part I, 2): Bending To The Throne
(Susanna: Part III, 2): Guilt Trembling Spoke My Doom
(Messiah: Part III, 2): He Was Despised
(Radamisto: Act III, 7): Qual nave
(Agrippina: Act II, 20): Ogni vento

Customer Reviews:

When she sang...people would forget all that is conventional in opera.......2007-01-11

With Lorraine Hunt you can't go wrong. Her appeal is universal: those who don't fancy opera will love it because of her virtuoso capability, originality and sincerity. Laurent Naouri expressed the core of her appeal: "When she sang her character, people would forget all that is conventional in opera. People would forget even her singing; they would just feel something so deep and true." Bravo, Lorraine, you set a standard for all time.

absolutely Beautiful.......2007-01-10

She really left a wonderful gift in this cd. I wish I could have appreciated her voice before she died so as to have seen her in concert. What a voice she had!

A glorious voice to remember.......2006-10-29

If you love the voice of Janet Baker or Kathleen Ferrier, you will love this collection. Miss Hunt is the peer of any mezzo soprano I have ever heard, bar none. Her voice is pure and rich, her musicality is flawless, her total effect awe inspiring. If you have never heard Lorraine before, this is a great place to start. You won't be sorry!

An Ode to Beauty and Artistry (Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson, 1954-2006).......2006-07-06

I've been meaning to review this album for the longest time, but haven't because of my committments at work and other things. Lieberson's voice, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful instruments of our generation. It is, unlike a certain Renaaay who tries to sing anything and everything as a huge, incoherent slur, a very beautifully and artistically sung Handel recital. The tone is simply magnificent! And no other Handelian artist has connected her singing of the role with a dramatic sense that is so acute as her performances of the role.

It is really sad to know that this great artist died of breast cancer two days ago in her home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was a big loss for the operatic world to lose such a beautiful instrument at such a young age. Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson will be missed.

subtle beauty.......2005-11-14

I have had this CD for several years now, and also all of the CDs from which these arias are drawn. What a great album; I would not be without it. Ms. Hunt (now Hunt Lieberson) has the voice, phrasing, discipline...the inner understanding of this music. She's "connected" on almost every piece here. 'Angels Bright and Fair' is a particular standout in my view; but almost certainly, if you are a lover of Handel's music, you will find something special here. Her soprano to mezzo soprano on this CD was a subtle and extraordinary voice for performing these pieces.

Average customer rating:

A revelation.

Handel Arias

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Dowland: Lute Songs
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As Steals the Morn: Handel Arias & Scenes for Tenor
Byrd: Music for Voice & Viols

ASIN: B000M05VO8
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Amazon.com

Five decades ago, when Alfred Deller was trailblazing for the countertenor voice in Britain, Russell Oberlin was doing the same thing in America. Oberlin doesn't sound anything like what we expect from a countertenor. Rather than a velvety alto, his is actually a piercingly sweet tenor timbre, but generally "sitting" at least a fourth higher than the typical lyric tenor. He gets a little reedy at the very top, but he has fine flexibility (listen to the coloratura in "Vivi tiranno" from Rodelinda, sung in rather too "polite" Italian), and he caresses legato passages with expert control (in, for example, an exquisite "Thou shalt bring them in" from Israel in Egypt). Stylistically we've come a long way since Oberlin; there are some scooped attacks and swoopy phrasing, while ornamentation is often musically awkward and, in one instance, downright outrageous (the cadenza concluding Radamisto's "Ombra cara"). Also, although he's a fervent interpreter, genuine dramatic fire isn't Oberlin's to give. Still, the singing here - particularly the more plaintive arias - gives considerable pleasure. The orchestral accompaniment is very much of its time, grand-toned and stodgy. Fine sound, but no texts and only a brief program note. --Roger Pines

Customer Reviews:

A revelation........2007-04-24

So the inside cover of this Disc says : Haendel originally intended many of his oratorios to be sung by countertenors rather than mezzo-sopranos.
So we have Russell Oberlin offering his boyish, metallic-tinged countertenor for some of the really familiar arias from the Messiah and Isreal in Egypt and others.
Well, this is a real revelation, even if your ears are not accustomed to Mr. Oberlin's singing style - the arias sounded much more 'manly' than otherwise sung by mezzo-sopranos, and from this, we gain a sort of insight into Haendel's music that hitherto may have been missed by most listeners.
Unlike some countertenors like Brian Asawa, Oberlin's voice is unique - it has the range of a woman mezzo, but the tone-colour of a male adolescent. Listening to him reminds one of the great countertenors around in the 1970's who interpreted Purcell and Haendel and other Baroque pieces to great heights. Oberlin handles the range well, and though less smooth and creamy sounding, offers an entirely different feel to the songs: the libretti really are sung to greater effect in many cases.
An invaluable recording for Haendel lovers.

Average customer rating:

A truly amazing artist
About time I said how good this recording is!
a voice teacher and early music fan
Stellar Performance and a Sign of the Greatness to Come
David Daniels: La voz del barroco.

Handel: Opera Arias; David Daniels
David Daniels , George Frideric Handel , Roger Norrington , and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sento Amor; David Daniels;
David Daniels - Serenade
Handel: Oratorio Arias
Stephanie Blythe - Handel & Bach Arias / David Daniels · Ensemble Orchestral de Paris · John Nelson
Rinaldo

ASIN: B00000FDND
Release Date: 1998-12-01

Tracks:

Serse: Recitativo accompagnato Frondi tenere
Serse: Larghetto Ombra mai fu
Giulio Cesare In Egitto: Aria Va tacito e nasacosto
Giulio Cesare In Egitto: Aria Al lampo dell' armi
Giulio Cesare In Egitto: Recitativo accompagnato Dall' ondoso periglio
Giulio Cesare In Egitto: Aria Aure, deh, per pieta
Tamerlano: Aria A dispetto
Ariodante: Recitativo E vivo anora
Ariodante: Aria Scherza infida
Giulio Cesare in Egito: Aria Cara speme
Giulio Cesare In Egitto: Aria L'angue offeso
Rodelinda: Sinfonia Pompe vane di morte
Rodelinda: Largo Dove sei?
Rodelinda: Aria Vivi, tiranno
Rinaldo: Largo Cara sposa, amante cara
Rinaldo: Aria Venti, turbini

Amazon.com

David Daniels seems to be the current leader of the opera world's March of the Falsettos--and with good reason: he's one of the first countertenors with enough beef in his voice to sound convincing in the heroic castrato roles of Handel's operas. His first solo disc is a collection of arias from just those roles--and an impressive debut it is. Daniels has the solid coloratura technique a Handel singer needs and a quick, narrow vibrato that can blend with Baroque instruments without alienating traditional opera buffs. (In fact, he sometimes sounds surprisingly like Marilyn Horne, one of his coaches.) Best of all, he has a musicality and dramatic sense that save the laments and slow serenades from dullness and the bravura showpieces from empty virtuoso display. The performances aren't flawless: Norrington's tempos are occasionally too quick for comfort (Daniels's and the listener's), and Daniels's vibrato sometimes spreads unattractively at the top of his range. He's at his best in the low alto roles that Handel wrote for the great castrato Il Senesino, such as the title roles in Giulio Cesare and Orlando. Let's hope we get to hear him in complete recordings of these operas soon. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

A truly amazing artist.......2007-06-21

David Daniels is one of the finest singers alive. I heard him recently in the Met's Julius Caesar and was overwhelmed with his performance. He not only has a truly beautiful voice, he is a complete artist, both emotionally and technically. This recording does him justice, and the music is some of Handel's finest. We are very lucky to have Mr. Daniels.

About time I said how good this recording is!.......2006-10-02

I've had this CD for a few years now and it is one that I often play. David Daniels is a great singer and his interpretations of Handel's arias are sublime. He is one of the best countertenors currently working in the world and he has few peers - Andreas Scholl, Bian Asawa, Derek Lee Ragin, Daniel Taylor, Robin Blaze, Lawrence Zazzo, Philippe Jaroussky, Gérard Lesne, Bejun Mehta and, of course, James Bowman are his only serious rivals.

This collection is well selected and it includes popular arias as well as a few less well known ones.

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is in magnificent form and Sir Roger Norrington gets magic from the various sections of the orchestra - particularly the Baroque bassoons in "Scherza infida".

This album is both a showcase for the singer and the orchestra. It is vastly superior to most Handel opera aria collections.

I unreservedly recommend this superb disc to all music lovers.

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-06-24

David Daniels has devised this program so that it provided a view of Handel at the most significant stages in his London career as an opera composer. With his spectacular debut in England with 'Rinaldo'(1711), he established his ability to compose for the stage, and immediately followed it with 3 masterpieces: 'Tamerlano' and 'Guilio Cesare in Egitto', both from 1724, and 'Rodelinda' the next year. The unique 'Serse' (1738)is from the twilight of his operatic career, while 'Ariodante' shows a time when Handel and his London company was having difficulty competing with the rival Opera of the Nobility sponsored by the Prince of Wales.
Handel's greatest contribution to operatic history is his ability to rise above the sterertypical in his characters, endowing them with a total humanity by allowing them to experience the entire emotional gamut throught a variety of arias and recitatives. Moreover, David Daniels , being one of the finest interpreters of Handel is aware of the need not to be so blinded by the purity of the musical line as to forget what he is singing about. In fact, Handel often shaped the melodic line according to the degree a particular word was to be stressed. Handel was very aware of new devlopments, and styles and attitudes of his time, without ever betraying his own musical personality.
To my mind, Daniels is the consummate Handelian singer, and it is probably this music that he performs best! His delivery is highly dramatic as it should be, his diction absolutely flawless, his tone quality strong and sonorous; in short he is one good singer! It is indeed a very fine disc, not only because of the line-up but also because all arias are sung extremely well by him. I found myself focusing on his selection from "Serse": "Ombra mai fu". He sings this so much more emotionally and endows it with his own unique style. It's so well-done!!! My other favorite is from "Rinaldo": Venti,turbini". This displays his very skillful vocal technique in addition to his excellent diction. I really think he is the leading AMERICAN countertenor.

Stellar Performance and a Sign of the Greatness to Come.......2004-08-10

It is hard to imagine that there could be a finer recital disc of Handel's arias than this one reflecting the exquisite taste and powerful talent of David Daniels...unless of course, you count his splendid follow-up disc of Handel's lesser known oratorio arias released in 2002 (also strongly recommended). But the focus in this 1998 release is the rich music within six of Handel's best-known operas. Now nearly six years after its release, this recording not only holds up beautifully as an introduction to his prodigious talent, but also demonstrates his keen sense of adventure when his voice was at its most pure and unfettered.

Daniels' coloratura technique is amazingly seasoned even at this point of his career, and he approaches each aria in a singular fashion with that incredibly flexible legato that is literally breathtaking. Compare the impressive runs he employs on his rendition of "A dispitto" from "Tamerlano" to his seductive and sonorous tones on "Aure, deh, per pietà" from "Giulio Cesare in Egritto", and you get an idea of the range of emotion and technique of which Daniels is capable. Listening to the two arias from "Rodelinda" will make you recognize how over the course of twelve minutes, he has shown the two distinct sides of Bertarido - the mournful, dejected husband who goes unrecognized in "Pompe van di morte...Dove Sei?" and his enemy's savior at the end with "Vivi, tiranno".

The two arias from "Rinaldo", are also beautifully performed. Six years later, one can appreciate these versions within the context of Daniels' career, as he later recorded the title role in the famous 2000 recital recording of the opera with Cecilia Bartoli and yet again in the 2001 David Alden staging of the opera captured recently on DVD. I recommend getting your hands on all three and comparing the performances, as all are wonderful but quite different. Personally I think his voice ripened to just the right timbre in the Alden-staged version, especially during the opera's centerpiece, "Cara sposa, amante cara". Of all the stellar selections, it is really difficult to pick just one as a favorite, but his version of "E vivo ancora....Scherza infida" from "Ariodante" is especially moving in the way he sings of his plight in being humiliated by an unfaithful woman. Written for a castrato named Carestini in 1735, it is a sublime piece made all the more moving by the warm, round tones Daniels brings to it.

Sir Roger Norrington and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment provide able accompaniment on period instruments, never intrusive or jarring to the ears. It is easy to tell from this recording why Daniels received so much hype for bringing the countertenor voice to the mainstream and why his career has been so meteoric since the release of this disc. Now you can see that it was more than hype...David Daniels is the real thing.

David Daniels: La voz del barroco........2003-10-26

Para los amantes del barroco en su estado puro es esencial tener este cd en el cual el gran contratenor DAVID DANIELS repasa las arias mas celebres de las operas de George Friederich Haendel. Daniels impone una voz bella, muy femenina, homogenea en todo el registro, sin problemas en los agudos, y que enamora nada mas oirla. Ademas canta las arias con un extraordinario sentimiento. ROGER NORRINGHTON dirige a la ORQUESTA DEL SIGLO DE LAS LUCES (que suena magnificamente con sus instrumentos originales) con gran conocimiento del estilo barroco, lo que termina de hacer de este disco una pieza fundamental para los amantes de la opera barroca, que afortunadamente son cada vez mas.

Sacred Arias [Special Edition with Bonus DVD]

Average customer rating:

A spiritual experience

Sacred Arias [Special Edition with Bonus DVD]
Andrea Bocelli , Giulio Caccini , Cesar Franck , Charles Gounod , Franz Xaver Gruber , George Frideric Handel , Jean-Paul Lecot , Eric Levi , Steven Mercurio , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Louis Niedermeyer , Gioachino Rossini , Franz Schubert , Giuseppe Verdi , John Francis Wade , Richard Wagner , Myung-Whun Chung , and Santa Cecilia National Academy Orchestra Rome
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

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

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

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

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

Andrea Bocelli - Amore
Romanza
Sentimento: Andrea Bocelli with Lorin Maazel and the London Symphony Orchestra [Limited Edition w/ Bonus Track]
Andrea Bocelli - The Opera Album ~ Aria
Cieli di Toscana

ASIN: B0000CE9VO
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Tracks:

Ave Maria
Sancta Maria
Ave Maria
Ave Maria
Panis Angelicus - Norbert Balatsch
Cujus Animam
Ingemisco
Ave Verum Corpus
Der Engel
Frondi Tenere... Ombra Mai Fu
Pieta, Signore - Norbert Balatsch
Domine Deus
Mille Cherubini In Coro - Norbert Balatsch
Silent Night
Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful) - Norbert Balatsch
Gloria A Te, Cristo Gesu (The Hymn Of The Great Jubilee)
Agnus Dei
I Believe

Amazon.com

When he was growing up, Andrea Bocelli recalls finding inspiration in a favorite recording of sacred music performed by tenor legend Franco Corelli. Bocelli--who in the meantime has come to inspire millions of fiercely loyal fans himself--returns to the genre as the guiding theme of Sacred Arias. These performances are filled with the singer's phenomenally well-known vocal signature: his flair for long, sweetly floating high notes and the gentle sense of cadence he brings to a melody. It's a mistake to compartmentalize Bocelli into a singer of "operatic" versus "popular" styles: in truth his approach is at heart the same. Lack of color and control in his phrasing remains a drawback, but the emotional empathy Bocelli evokes is never in doubt. The arias collected here sample some of the most famous devotional pieces: Schubert's "Ave Maria" and Mozart's transporting "Ave Verum," as well as an arrangement of "Silent Night" in which Bocelli tries out his English. There's also a decidedly odd choice of bedfellows for a program of "sacred" music, such as a song from Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder (whose "angel" is the object of an overpoweringly erotic attraction) and Handel's figurative ode to a tree, "Ombra mai fu." Still, Bocelli sings with an unfeigned directness that is sure to expand his already enormous following even further. This new special edition includes two bonus tracks on a CD enhanced with a picture gallery as well as a full-length DVD of Bocelli in concert filmed at the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome. --Thomas May

Album Description

Special Edition includes enhanced CD with bonus tracks and concert DVD.

Customer Reviews:

A spiritual experience.......2003-11-27

The DVD is the full 77 minute concert with two featurettes previously released alone. The CD is the full 72 minute concert previously released alone, except that two bonus tracks have been added. The audio quality of each one is quite good. (If you have a Dolby Digital stereo, then you must go into the setup menu on the DVD to select Dolby Digital sound. The default music track is the stereo 2.0 sound.) The video quality of the DVD is astonishing.

Tracks:

Water Music - Horn Suite In F Major: I. Overture: Largo - Allegro
Water Music - Horn Suite In F Major: II. Adagio E Staccato
Water Music - Horn Suite In F Major: III. Allegro - Andante - Allegro
Water Music - Horn Suite In F Major: IV. Presto
Water Music - Horn Suite In F Major: V. Air
Water Music - Horn Suite In F Major: VI. Minuet For The French Horn
Water Music - Horn Suite In F Major: VII. Bourree
Water Music - Horn Suite In F Major: VIII. Hornpipe
Water Music - Horn Suite In F Major: IX. (Allegro)
Water Music - Horn Suite In F Major: X(F). (Allegro)
Water Music - Horn Suite In F Major: XI(F). Alla Hornpipe
Water Music - Flute Suite In G Major: XV. (Menuet)
Water Music - Flute Suite In G Major: XVI. Presto
Water Music - Flute Suite In G Major: XVII. Menuet
Water Music - Flute Suite In G Major: XVIII. (Menuet)
Water Music - Flute Suite In G Major: XIX. Country Dance
Water Music - Trumpet Suite In D Major: X(D). Allegro
Water Music - Trumpet Suite In D Major: XI(D). (Alla Hornpipe)
Water Music - Trumpet Suite In D Major: XII. Trumpet Minuet
Water Music - Trumpet Suite In D Major: XIII. Lentement
Water Music - Trumpet Suite In D Major: XIV. Air
Water Music - The Alchymist: Overture
Water Music - The Alchymist: Prelude - Minuet
Water Music - The Alchymist: Saraband - Borree - Aire - Borree
Water Music - The Alchymist: Minuet - Aire - Jigg

Tracks:

Water Music - The Musick for the Royal Fireworks: I. Overture
Water Music - The Musick for the Royal Fireworks: II. Borree
Water Music - The Musick for the Royal Fireworks: III. La Paix
Water Music - The Musick for the Royal Fireworks: IV. La Rejouissance
Water Music - The Musick for the Royal Fireworks: V. Menuets I & II
Water Music - Concerto A Due Cori No.1 In B Flat Major: I. Ouverture
Water Music - Concerto A Due Cori No.1 In B Flat Major: II. Allegro ma non troppo
Water Music - Concerto A Due Cori No.1 In B Flat Major: III. Allegro
Water Music - Concerto A Due Cori No.1 In B Flat Major: IV. Largo
Water Music - Concerto A Due Cori No.1 In B Flat Major: V. A Tempo Ordinario
Water Music - Concerto A Due Cori No.1 In B Flat Major: VI. Alla Breve Moderato
Water Music - Concerto A Due Cori No.1 In B Flat Major: VII. Minuet
Water Music - Concerto A Due Cori No.2 In F Major: I. Pomposo
Water Music - Concerto A Due Cori No.2 In F Major: II. Allegro
Water Music - Concerto A Due Cori No.2 In F Major: III. A Tempo Giusto
Water Music - Concerto A Due Cori No.2 In F Major: IV. Largo
Water Music - Concerto A Due Cori No.2 In F Major: V. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Water Music - Concerto A Due Cori No.2 In F Major: VI. A Tempo Ordinario
Water Music - Concerto A Due Cori No.3 In F Major: I. Ouverture
Water Music - Concerto A Due Cori No.3 In F Major: II. Allegro
Water Music - Concerto A Due Cori No.3 In F Major: III. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Water Music - Concerto A Due Cori No.3 In F Major: IV. Adagio
Water Music - Concerto A Due Cori No.3 In F Major: V. Andante larghetto
Water Music - Concerto A Due Cori No.3 In F Major: VI. Allegro
Water Music: Aria 1 For Wind Band
Water Music: Aria 2 For Wind Band

Amazon.com

This is a fine Handel compilation that provides a nice overview of his orchestral music with brass instruments, as well as his only incidental score (music written to accompany the action of a play). Christopher Hogwood uses the arrangement that Handel made of the Fireworks Music for normal-sized forces, including strings, which were absent from the original. All the music is played with a fine sense of style, and a goodly bit of the "pomp and circumstance" that Handel above all others knew how to capture in music. At two discs for the price of one, this is an extremely good deal. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Water Music is so soothing..........2007-01-11

I love this album. Too often when I've tried classical albums the music has not been soothing, but this is very relaxing. If you are looking for great music to relax by or listen to in the car, this is it.

A Noble Performance.......2006-03-11

I have listened to numerous renditions by different performing artists, for several years, of both Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks. The first time I listened to this CD played by the Academy of Ancient Music I felt I was listening to a high class performance. There is something about the clear sound of the instruments and the tempo and dedication to detail that this group of artists put into its performance that it really inspires me into the wonderful world of the baroque classical music and somehow it transports me to the time when Handel himself was composing and directing these beautiful masterpieces. And the bonus is also the beautifully played Duo A Cori concertos. I recommend it!

Towards the higher end of the pack.......2004-03-11

Reading the liner notes, I am reminded that the occasion for which the water music originally was composed was royal river outing that started in the evening and lasted until 4:00 AM (Take THAT you modern clubhoppers!). The music was played three times through the course of this trip. I doubt there were many teetotallers. Soo...royal oarsmen, wine goblets overflowing with the best claret, tipsy nobleman and...hey! don't hit that river barge! Watch where you're goin' mate!

As such, I'd expect a little roughness in performances (especially for the 3:30 AM gig). Ill-tuned horns and all, I think Hogwood delivers about as faithful a rendition as is currently available. There are certainly more "refined" versions of the water music. I think these better resemble the follow-on peformances for the genteel, perfumed ladies seeking money for the foundling hospital. That's the beauty of Orpheus and Pinnock versions.

Hogwood gets 4 stars for getting close to the river ride. I will admit that my view has been biased by the fabulous 1976 rendition by Jean-Claude Malgoire which hasn't been bettered in this respect. No English band can shake a stick next to drunken French horn players. But Hogwood is a good near-term substitute until Sony wakes up and dips further into their vaults.
Additionally, the Fireworks music is fabulous; the due cori very nice, with similar touches of earthiness. All in all a good outing, and for decent prices.

Recommendable........2004-02-19

I have recently returned to these two CDs (which I bought and listened to for a while some three years ago) and found that they were not quite as bad as I remembered. The tempi are very well sprung, the spirits are high and the "Water Music" in particular is played with some delicacy and finesse (which I hardly take for granted from Hogwood's early recordings). The roughness of the result is mainly due the scratchy tone of the strings and inaccurate tuning of the horns.
If you are a period-instrument enthusiast this Double-Decca, because of its low "duo" price, could have some edge against such strong competitors (which I haven't listened to) as Pinnock, Gardiner and Savall. And at the same "duo" price you can get also Hogwood's wonderful performances (with the Handel&Haydn Society) of Handel's Concerti Grossi Op.6. However, if you care more for variety of dynamics and lightness of touch than for period-instrument sound, I recommend you instead to get all the twelve op.6 Concerti AND the "Water Music" AND the "Musick for the Royal Fireworks" (but not the "Alchymist" suite, the "Concerti a due cori" and the two "Arias for Wind Band") at "trio" price in superlative, "historically-correct" and mellower sounding performances by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

Bravo Mr. Handel.......2003-02-20

A Great Master's Mastery, Masterly Mastered by a Master!!
Translation?? In any speak, this is classic Handel, played at it's best, by the one who should know!!!

Hogwood's genious as a foremost expert on my personal favourite composer, can never be overestimated, and here, presented in a medium of works we all know and can relate to, are a showcase of his awesome skills and brand of 'Mastery'!!

One feels obliged to pay homage to composer and conductor alike, for without either, we could not see the creation of this CD, in what is a pinnacle of art and high standard in performance.

Tracks:

Capece, After Ariosto
Aria 'Ah Stigie Larve...Gia Latra Cerber.. Vaghe Pupille' Orlando
Aria 'Sta Nell'Ircana Pietrosa Tana' Ruggiero
Aria 'Splenda L'alba In Oriente'
Recitativo 'Tu, Armonica Cecila'
Aria 'La Virute E Un Vero Nume'
Aria 'Ti Lascio In Ceppi Avvinto'
Aria 'Se Mia Sperana Sola' Arminio
Aria 'Vaghi Rai, Pupille Amate' Arminio
Recitativo 'No, Perdonami, O Clori'
Aria 'Trouva Un Sol'
Recitativo 'Placati, O Pastorella'
Aria 'Torna In Quell' Onda Chiara'

Amazon.com

The rich-voiced Alaskan mezzo Viovica Genaux's new CD is as dazzling as her Arias for Farinelli disc that appeared a while ago. Here she sings music of Hasse and Handel, two German composers who wrote in what, for the sake of creating an umbrella, can be called perfect pre-Italian bel canto style. Genaux sings two selections from Handel's Orlando---one wild with coloratura and the other the eponymous hero's moody, difficult mad scene---one from Alcina, and a cantata dating from 1711 that features fine writing for recorders. The lesser-known Hasse is represented by three arias from his opera Arminio and a cantata. Genaux leaps every hurdle the composers put in her way---seemingly endless runs, two-octave leaps, trills. Indeed, one is reminded more than once of Marilyn Horne, although Genaux's voice is prettier and not as grand. She can spin a long, quiet line with grace and breath to spare as well. Genaux's sound, like that of all great singers, is unique--in her case, her tone has a milky smoothness that sets her apart. This CD is for all admirers of truly great singing, and the rarities in the program give it extra value. Bernard Labadie leads the French-Canadian group Les Violons du Roy in performances that are rhythmically razor-sharp and thoroughly alive. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Brava Vivica.......2007-01-09

This CD nearly overcome the "Farinelli Arias" one by Harmonia Mundi. Dazzling coloratura, deep expression.

Viva Viveca 2.......2006-11-11

This artist grows with every listening of one of her albums. She is a treasure and so are her renditions; a rare jewel.

A great sequel to Arias for Farinelli.......2006-09-19

Although this recording is with a different label than Ms Genaux's spectacular Arias for Farinelli, this set of arias by Handel & Hasse can be seen as a second volume on the same theme. The theme is early 18th century opera arias, written for the castrato voice. Today these parts are sung by countertenors and mezzo-sopranos, and the mezzo Vivica Genaux is surely one of the great singers of this repertoire today.

I was very interested in comparing this set to Farinelli album recorded some four years earlier. I wondered how/if her approach to this music has changed. On first listening it seemed that this album was somewhat more restrained than the earlier set. By the second or third listening I knew that I liked this recording at least as much, probably more. While I feel that there is more restraint here (not so much of the huge majestic arias), there is also more delicacy, subtlety, and even vocal beauty in this album. Her vocal technique remains breathtakingly spectacular.

While the Handel arias are beautiful, in this case I liked the Hasse even more, particularly "Se mia speranza sola" & "Vaghi rai, pupille amate". I think this is because in the Hasse there is so much movement between lower and upper register. I find that contrast in Vivica's voice particularly fascinating. Her lower and middle register seem more controlled and restrained, and when she hits those soaring top notes it's like a bird breaking free.

I realize that in writing this review I only compared Vivica to herself, and maybe that says more than anything. In this genre she is in her own class.

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