Mozart Portrait

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
If you've ever wondered why people consider Mozart the greatest composer of all time, these six hours of music will explain. Here, on period instruments played by the Hanover Band, we're offered his last two symphonies, his glorious clarinet concerto, the horn concertos, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, the 20th piano concerto, Serenata Notturna, and the famous Requiem. Two violin concerti are played by Oscar Shumsky and 10 arias are sung by the superb Mozart tenor Raul Gimenez. Every performance is world-class--six perfect CDs. --Robert Levine

Tracks:

La Clemenza di Tito: Parto, parto, ma tu ben mio
Cosi fan tutte: Temerari!...Come scoglio
Cosi fan tutte: In uomini, in soldati
Le nozze di Figaro: Voi che sapete
Le nozze di Figaro: Giunse alfin il momento...Deh vieni
Don Giovanni: Batti, batti, o bel Masetto
Ch'io mi scordi di te?
Se tu m'ami
Caro mio ben
Amarilli
D528: La pastorella
D510: Vedi quanto adoro ancora ingrato!
Belta crudele
Semiramide: Bel raggio lusinghier
Maometto II: Giusto ciel, in tal periglio
La Cenerentola: Nacqui all'affanno... Non pita

Customer Reviews:

The Incomparable Bartoli Offers Great Interpreting.......2007-04-11

Cecilia Bartoli is nearly unparalleled in her talent. The great mezzo-soprano is widely and rightly regarded as the great operatic voice of this generation, and this record will do nothing to change that opinion.

We hear Mozart, Schubert, Rossini, and more, sung with the voice of a angel on one hand, and with power and majesty on the other. She interprets with skill and finesse, and her knowledge of the music helps to inform her performances.

For anyone who's been wanting an introduction to opera, or to Cecilia Bartoli, buying this CD is a great way to start.

Very good singing!.......2007-03-21

Cecilia Bartoli has a wonderfully rich, textured mezzo voice. This CD shows her skills to good effect. Some illustrative cuts. . . .

"Voi che sapete" from Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro" is richly sung. She displays a lush mezzo voice. This aria is smoothly sung; a very nice version. Her sumptuous voice interprets this piece nicely. A very satisfying version.

From "Don Giovanni," we have "Batti batti, o bel Masetto." Her rich voice does justice to this piece. There is also a nice characterization in play. Poignantly sung.

Rossini's "Belta Crudele" is smoothly sung; her rich voice does well by this piece. An effecting version. She notes of Rossini that he is "a composer to whom I feel particularly close, and in whose coloratura writing I have found a new and different expressive mode."

She takes a crack at Rossini's "Bel raggio lusinghier," normally sung by sopranos. And this does not disappoint. This work, sung by a mezzo, provides an interesting interpretation. She demonstrates agility in her technique; she shows good ornamentation. There is even a decent trill in this work, something that some current coloratura sopranos would long to equal, from my listening.

The final cut on the CD is from Rossini's "La Cenerentola," "Nacqui all'affano. . .Non piu mesta." Very well done. Her coloratura technique is rock solid. A trill during this cut would fill many sopranos with envy. She clearly shows a good coloratura sensibility. This is great stuff!

This is a good introduction to the range of skills possessed by Bartoli. A nice CD indeed.

Worthy Introduction to Mme. Bartoli.......2006-06-18

'Cecilia Bartoli, A Portrait' featuring the very same mezzo-soprano, Cecilia Bartoli is, after reviewing about a half dozen of her other albums, the best introduction to her art. It is not my favorite. Oddly enough, this is her album of French songs, which I prefer to her many collections of Italian pieces. But, this collection, at a very nice 76 minutes and change does a very good job of selecting operatic pieces with good choral and orchesteral backings.

I am not an experienced music or voice critic, but to my ear, compared to the likes of Anne Sophie Von Otter and Renee Fleming, Mme. Bartoli is a pleasantly different take on the operatic genre. She is not quite as powerful as Maria Callas, but then, who is?

beautiful singing except for the last aria.......2004-12-12

I'm not a fan of cecilia bartoli, however I find this
compilation enjoyable.
I love bartoli's rendition of sussana's "deh vieni non tardar" which is normally sung by sopranos.
the other mozart arias, the rossini arias and the songs
for voice and piano are also very good.
I can't stand bartoli's rendition of "naqui allaffanno...non piu mesta". she sings it in such an exaggerate manner, in "non piu mesta" she sounds like a strangled parrot!

A fun compilation of arias and songs!.......2000-05-22

"A Portrait" is a collage of recordings from Ms. Bartoli's career. The highlight for me (from the many enjoyable numbers) is her "Bel raggio lusinghier" from "Semiramide." I highly recommend this fine CD.

Average customer rating:

Kasarova and the Amazing Multi-Colored Dream Voice
Very good
Kasarova Is the Current "Gold Standard" of Living Mezzos
Very unique and enjoyable voice

Vesselina Kasarova - A Portrait
George Frideric Handel , Christoph Willibald Gluck , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Gioachino Rossini , Gaetano Donizetti , Vincenzo Bellini , Munich Radio Orchestra , Friedrich Haider , Vesselina Kasarova , Bavarian Radio Chorus , Tim Hennis , Isolde Mitternacht-Geibendorfer , Barbara Muller , Dankwart Siegele , Leonid Savitzky , and Andreas Schulist
Manufacturer: RCA
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Vesselina Kasarova - Mozart Arias / Sir Colin Davis
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Love Entranced: French Opera Arias
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ASIN: B000003G3T
Release Date: 1996-11-12

Tracks:

Rinaldo: Or la tromba in suon festante
Orfeo ed Euridice: Che farnza Euridice?
Le nozze di Figaro: Voi che sapete che cosa mor
Don Giovanni: Batti, batti, o bel Masetto
La Cenerentola: Nacqui all'affanno e al pianto
Il Barbiere di Siviglia: Una voce poco fa
L'Italiana in Algeri: Pronti abbiamo e ferri e mani...Amici in ogni evento...Pensaalla patria
Anna Bolena: Sposa a Percy...Per questa fiamma indomita...Ah! Pensate che rivolti
La Favorita: Fia dunque vero...O mio Fernando!
I Capuleti e i Montecchi: Se Romeo t'uccise un figlio...La tremenda ultrice spada

Amazon.com

The title "A Portrait" would suggest some sort of a cohesive look at this talented Bulgarian mezzo-soprano. But she is so astonishingly versatile, one wonders if there are at least two singers at work here. Her more athletic coloratura moments in the Rossini and Donizetti arias would suggest some sort of slavic Cecila Bartoli while her more soulful, lyrical moments in Gluck's Orfeo would suggest a heavier voice like Kathleen Ferrier. Could it be that she has it all--or at least as much as one could hope for in a single singer? --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews:

Kasarova and the Amazing Multi-Colored Dream Voice.......2006-04-06

This was my introduction to Vesselina Kasarova CD. I first saw her in a clip of Il Barbiere di Siviglia (singing Una voce poco fa) on Classic Arts Showcase program one night and was amazed at how beautifully she sings the coloratura piece while doing complicated acting manuevers on stage.

The really great thing about Kasarova is how she communicates the essence of each aria with her voice. She doesn't sing 'Konzertzant'. Her instrument, for some reason, doesn't sound as big on recording as it does live (where it is quite plenty big, very lusterous and agile), and she uses many vocal colors to bring out the different character of her roles (a lot of time in the same aria to show the change of emotion). It is unconventional, but it works really well in the story telling.

Her coloratura is amazing. It is fast and fluidly effortless sounding... and she sings all the notes!! A true Rossinian mezzo with great extension at the top. She also incorporates the ornaments into the music so well it gives the piece a character rather than standing out at odd with the music. Kasarova is so subtle in her interpretations that each time I replay an aria I catch some nuances I missed before.

Her 'Che faro senza Euridice' may sound 'simple' on the first try, but it is quite understatedly wistful and gives the picture of a devastatingly drained Orfeo who has lost all hope. It gets better the more closely you listen to it. Her 'Voi che sapete' is of a Cherubino who is young and enthusiastically in love.

She uses wider vibrato in her bel canto pieces which fit the music well. Her Rosina has a split personality demarcated at 'ma', a note that turns an perky love-struck young thing into a potentially vengeful witch in such dramatic way that I can visualize her eyes narrowing and her fangs growing just by hearing it. Her renditions of 'o mio Fernando' and 'Se Romeo t'uccise un figlio' are unforgetable. Kasarova gives you all she has and it is wonderful.

Very good.......2004-03-19

I find this collection interesting, but not necessarily to the singers advantage. She sings what she sings well, but there is an "overblown" quality from time to time. Sona la tromba (the first selection) has a rough edge to it. I like this singer very much in other things I have her in. This is a good CD, but I think it would have served her more to choose some other selections. Her Verdi is excellent, but we are not treated to it. Her Orfeo lacks that really rich lower register that would make it tell. Still, a great buy and a great collection.

Kasarova Is the Current "Gold Standard" of Living Mezzos.......2003-11-14

When this CD was first released, I happened to hear the track with "Una voce poco fa" played on a classical-music radio station. For over 50 years I had been a devoted "fan" of instrumental classical music, but, in just 3 minutes, Kasarova's performance expanded and altered my mind and heart. When I attempted to purchase an audio tape of her singing, I discovered none was for sale anywhere. My solution? Buy the CD--and THEN buy a CD player. Five or six years later, I own over 1800 CDs, about 2/3 of them operatic music. My preferences are now mainly for bel canto singers who are mezzos or contraltos. Rossini, Handel, and Bellini are my favorite composers. Why? Chiefly because of my chance encounter with Ms. Kasarova's wonderfully flexible, rich, warm voice. She caused me to get season tickets to the Met for the past four years (where I was finally able to hear/see her in THE BARBER OF SEVILLE--the best of the four performances I've attended). For purposes of easy comparison, I have "imported" tracks from this CD onto my computer's hard drive along with those of several dozen other mezzos singing the same arias. After many hours of back-to-back listening, in almost all cases I greatly prefer the versions of Kasarova. This CD is an excellent "starter" purchase for any beginners who wish to explore what opera has to offer. For "experienced" listeners, it is a must-have!

Very unique and enjoyable voice.......2000-07-22

Although Kasarova still has a bit to learn about singing, she is clearly on her way to becoming a great interpreter of the mezzo-soprano repertoire. There were a few pieces that I certainly do not long to hear repeated, but for the most part, the album is enjoyable.

My favourite selections were the coloratura pieces. "Una voce poco fa" has been sung to DEATH already, but Kasarova adds something new to it, especially in the lower register. It's nice to hear this piece performed by a true mezzo. The "Voi che sapete" was also very nicely done (it fell wonderfully in her passagio), although "Batti, batti" was not memorable (it felt somewhat monotonous---maybe because Kasarova was beginning to tire with the high tessitura). I especially enjoyed her rendition of O mio Fernando---I would like to hear her sing "Stride la Vampa" (Trovatore) in the future.

The only piece that really didn't thrill me was the Orfeo "Che faro." This piece was written for a good rich contralto, and Kasarova's tone simply wasn't appropriate to carry this aria affectively (she really sounds like she's straining the low notes, which can't really be disguised because they occur so many times).

Tracks:

Sonata, L. 430 (K.532)
Sonata, L. 483 (K.322)
Sonata No. 11, K. 331: I - Tema: Andante grazioso
Sonata No. 11, K. 331: II - Menuetto
Sonata No. 11, K. 331: III - Alla Turca: Allegretto
Sonata No. 14, Op. 27, No. 2 ('Moonlight'): I - Adagio sostenuto
Sonata No. 14, Op. 27, No. 2 ('Moonlight'): II - Allegretto
Sonata No. 14, Op. 27, No. 2 ('Moonlight'): III - Presto agitato
Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 ('Funeral March'): I - Grave; Doppio movimento
Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 ('Funeral March'): II - Scherzo
Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 ('Funeral March'): III - Marche Funebre:Lento
Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 ('Funeral March'): IV - Presto
Etude, Op. 72, No 11
Etude, Op. 8, No. 12
Kinderscenen, Op. 15: Traumerei
Variations On A Theme From Bitzet's Carmen

Average customer rating:

Eh...
The vocal phenomenon that is Kathleen Battle
Bravissima Diva!!!!
Battle shows her true colors yet again
Praiseworthy, but a limited perspective

Classic Battle: A Portrait

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
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The Best of Kathleen Battle
Grace
Kathleen Battle at Carnegie Hall
Kathleen Battle Sings Mozart
A Christmas Celebration: Kathleen Battle

ASIN: B0000639A4
Release Date: 2002-04-02

Tracks:

Puccini: O Mio babbino caro (new recording)
Handel: Let the Bright Seraphim
Traditional Chilean: Dormi, Jesu
Traditional: Cancion de Cuna
Vangelis: Mythodea-Movement IX
Mozart: Laudate Dominum
Handel: Rejoice Greatly
Traditional Fix Me Jesus (new recording)
Faure: Pie Jesu
Traditional Catalan: El Noi de la Mare
Traditional Catalan: El Desembre Congelat
Ellington:L Prelude to a Kiss (new recording)
Handel: Eternal Source of Light Divine
Mozart: Alleluja
Traditional: Angels Watching Over Me (new recording)
Mahler: Sehr Behaglich (from Symphony No. 4
J.S. Bach: Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen
Dvorak: Going Home ("Largo" from New World Symphony)

Amazon.com

This compilation of previous releases is clearly intended to include something for everybody and to offer an overview of Kathleen Battle's wide, varied repertoire. The result is a motley assortment of music sacred and profane, Baroque, classical and romantic, Spanish and American folksongs, and jazz. It is Battle's radiant, impeccably produced voice, which sheds a glow over every note she sings, and her effortless coloratura and serene expressiveness that provide the unifying, and most rewarding, element.

Four new recordings sound just as glorious as those she made years ago. One is the famous aria from Puccini's Gianni Schicchi performed with piano--a strange misfit among all the arias with orchestra. Wynton Marsalis plays Bach and Handel brilliantly, but sounds too loud and prominent. And despite some baroque ornamentation, he plays in a style so different from hers that the two hardly seem to be performing the same piece. The Orchestra of St. Luke's plays beautifully; an anonymous orchestra under Robert Sadin is competent but too matter-of-fact. A mournful, repetitive duet with Jessye Norman against a background of unearthly noises from Vangelis's Mythodea sounds like an angelic plea for mercy.

In the finale of Mahler's Fourth Symphony with the Vienna Philharmonic under Lorin Maazel, Battle captures just the right blend of childlike wonder and heavenly bliss. Of the jazz numbers, one by Duke Ellington is lovely, but Dvorák would have been quite surprised by the arrangement of the Largo from his "New World" Symphony. However, the tonality is right, and Battle sings the melody so beautifully that she almost redeems it. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Eh..........2006-12-10

Kathleen Battle is admirable, with her many recordings and her many performances across the country. But, I cannot say that I adore her voice. Yes, she may be a soprano, but her voice is not top of my list. Her technique is flawed, and her voice lacks any depth or richness. When I listen to her voice, it sounds so empty. Singers like Sumi Jo (my favorite of all) or Renee Fleming are a much better choice when it comes to rich tone and beautiful technique.

The vocal phenomenon that is Kathleen Battle.......2003-11-18

An excellent compilation of some of Miss Battle's greatest work. Of course, it would have been great if more of her operatic literature was included, but to have the opportunity to hear anything from Miss Battle is heaven.

Bravissima Diva!!!!.......2002-07-03

I must comment on the preceeding review which has nothing to do with the calibur of this CD nor of the artist. And just a touch on that whole Brevard "incident", there were two performances one of which came off without a fault...but I too digress. This CD is a plethera of what endures Kathleen Battle to us all...her diversity. It is true that none of her signature operatic roles appear in this mini compilation but what is given more than accomodates. In 18 selections she covers Spirituals, Oratorio, Jazz, Afro-Cuban/Brazilian influenced melodies, cantata's and a symphony all with miraculous ease. It is also true that this is in many ways a best of...and chances are you'll already have most of these pieces, but Classic Kathleen Battle is Worth Buying simply for the four new selections and accompanying art of the set. The pictorial art included in this CD is worthy of gallery display! A standing testament of her vocal beauty and artist superlatives...this is a CD that you don't want to pass up!

Battle shows her true colors yet again.......2002-06-27

I have followed Ms. Battle's career for a number of years and have always loved the clarity and purity of her voice--no doubt she is a tremendous talent. Several years ago I saw her give a stunning concert at UNC-Chapel Hill and was blown away at the thrill of finally experiencing her voice live. I always thought it unfortunate that so many negative stories about her flourished and subsequently found myself coming to her defense in conversation with others. Last summer I had tickets to see her sing at Brevard Music Center in the mountains of North Carolina. Several nights prior to this performance, my 20-year-old nephew was killed in a car accident. I decided to go ahead with my plans and attend the concert, thinking it would be a sort of balm for my soul after living through this terrible experience of losing someone I loved. Immediately after my nephew's funeral I left my family behind and drove the five hours to the concert venue. Needless to say I had incredibly high hopes for this concert and its potential to help heal my wounds. Long story short, Ms. Battle behaved in the most unprofessional manner I have ever witnessed and refused to perform the program as planned. What little she did offer to the audience was mediocre at best. A packed house of patrons was left stunned and dismayed at what they'd just witnessed. So, Ms. Battle, you proved to me in a very personal way that all the stories are true and you have serious issues. I will not be buying your recordings in the future and I currently have about 20 that are now worthless to me.

Praiseworthy, but a limited perspective.......2002-06-04

CLASSIC KATHLEEN BATTLE: A PORTRAIT is limited in its perspective in the sense that this is a compilation of only SONY Classical recordings from their catalog. There are no Deutsche Grammophon or Angel/EMI performances represented here. A "portrait" of Miss Battle would have rightly included some of these wonderful and musical interpretations of Mozart, Schubert, Villa-Lobos, Gounod, and Bach among others. Of course paying the license fees from the other 2 labels wouldn't be cost-efficient from a record company's standpoint. How wonderful this would've been if they'd all cooperated on a box set of her recordings, which would show Miss Battle's superlative musicality in not only Italian and French, but also her great wit and charm in the English language (her Purcell and Dowland are not to be missed!)

In any case there are several magical performances to be found here:

Puccini's "O Mio Babbino Caro" w/piano; Dormi, Jesu; Cancion de Cuna, Fix Me Jesus, Ellington's "Prelude to a Kiss"; Angels Watching Over Me; and the enchanting song (the German title is too long for me to remember--it's from the Das Knaben Wunderhorn cycle) from Mahler's 4th Symphony.

For any Kathleen Battle fan, this is a nice selection of her works, but only a 2-dimensional portrait at best. Certainly not Miss Battle's fault, as she graces the listener with no less than FOUR new recordings on this album.

Once again her silvery tones and superb musicality are a wonderful gift to us!

Tracks:

Voi Che Sapete
Non So Piu Cosa Son, Cosa Faccio
Di Te Mi Rido
Mi Lusinga Il Dolce Affetto
Mio Bel Tesoro
Verdi Prati
O Malheureuse Iphigenie!
Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
Early In The Morning
The Wintry Mind
O You Whom I Often And Silently Come
Comment Le Dedain Pourrait-Il Mourir?
Dieu! Que Viens-Je Entendre?
This Journey To Christ
Who Will Walk With Me?
Dead Man Walking!
He Will Gather Us Around
C'est Ca La Vie, C'est Ca L'amour
Yes
Les Hommes Sont Bien Tous Les Memes

Customer Reviews:

Great Introduction.......2004-08-25

This is a great introduction at a very reasonable price to Susan Graham's lovely mezzo voice, with selections from several CDs. Be warned, however - this will only whet your appetite for the full albums (for example, her incredible live performance as Ruggiero in Handel's "Alcina" with Renee Fleming and Natalie Dessay and with William Christie conducting Les Arts Florissants - surely one of the most stupendous opera recordings ever made).

Average customer rating:

Brava Diva!
a heavenly voice
She does "O Mio Babbino Caro" beautifully.

A Portrait of Kiri Te Kanawa
Giacomo Puccini , Giuseppe Verdi , Engelbert Humperdinck , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Richard Strauss , Franz Schubert , Robert Schumann , Gabriel Faure , William Walton , London Philharmonic Orchestra , Gurzenich-Orchester , Paris National Opera Theater Orchestra , London Symphony Orchestra , Kiri Te Kanawa , Laurence Dale , and Richard Amner
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Kiri Te Kanawa Classics
Kiri Te Kanawa Sings Verdi and Puccini Arias
Kiri
Kiri! Her Greatest Hits Live
Kiri Te Kanawa - Verdi & Puccini

ASIN: B0000025YK
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

TOSCA: Vissi D'arte
Gianni Schicchi: O Mio Babbino Caro
La Traviata: E Strano...Ah, Fors'E Lui
Hansel und Gretel: Der Kleine Sandmann
Don Giovanni: 'Ah, Fuggi Il Traditor
Don Giovanni: 'Mi Tradi'
'Morgen'
'Ruhe, Meine Seele'
'Gretchen Am Spinnrade'
'Du Bist Wie Eine Blume'
'Apres Un Reve'
'Old Sir Faulk'
'Daphne'
'Through Gilded Trellises'

Customer Reviews:

Brava Diva!.......2006-10-21

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa sings some of her most famous pieces on this 1983 compilation album from CBS Masterworks. Most of the recordings date between 1979-1983, with no real variance in sound quality, and the disc is offered at a bargain price. Real vintage Kanawa, simply superb.

Dame Kiri performs the "Der Kleine Sandmann" from Humperdinck's "Hansel und Gretel"; "Mi Tradi" from Mozart's "Don Giovanni"; and "Vissi D'Arte" from Puccini's "Tosca". Also featured are pieces from Walton, Faure, Verdi and Schubert among others.

If you are just beginning to collect Dame Kiri recordings, or are confused where to begin, this CD is a good place to start.

[CBS Masterworks/Columbia MK 39208]

a heavenly voice.......2002-09-26

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is one of the most talented opera singers of today. She delivers vocal justice to every track on this recording, especially such favorites as "O Mio Babbino Caro" and "Vissi d'arte." Her range is superb and her emotional expression is full of compassion. After hearing this CD, you will no longer think of opera as fat ladies trouncing around in helmets. Quite the contrary, these arias are simply sublime.

She does "O Mio Babbino Caro" beautifully........2000-07-23

I first heard Kiri Te Kanawa doing "O Mio Babbino Caro" at the beginning of the movie "A Room with a View." Beautiful! I have never been able to track down that rendition but this one is as good. She also does a wonderful job of the Verdi piece from La Traviata.

Average customer rating:

Chaliapin, the great Russian singer actor.
A Chaliapin feast

Chaliapin: A Vocal Portrait

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Prima Voce: Chaliapin

ASIN: B00006RHPA
Release Date: 2003-01-21

Customer Reviews:

Chaliapin, the great Russian singer actor. .......2004-08-23

Born in the same year as Caruso and attracting the wild acclaim that used to be accorded to opera singers, Feodor Chaliapin is now featured in the Naxos "Great Singers" series. A selection of his acoustic recordings (1902-1924) occupy the first CD and a selection of his electric recordings (1926-1936), and in charge of restoration is Ward Marston.

Like Caruso, Chaliapin had a huge voice that nevertheless proved eminently compatible with acoustic recording processes. Indeed, collectors need not be deterred by the age of many of these recordings. Some of the very best items, whether opera or song, fall into the acoustic group. The 1911 recordings of Rubinstein's "Demon" excerpts, which I heard a few times many years ago and have never forgotten, are amongst the best of all in this entire selection.

Also like Caruso, Chaliapin's recording career owed much to producer Fred Gaisberg who, in his autobiography, allotted a whole chapter to this great singer. In recent times, eminent critic John Steane has named Chaliapin as one of the two or three great singer actors of the C20th. Gaisberg was responsible for recording the Prayer and Death of Boris during an actual performance of "Boris Godunov" at Covent Garden in 1928. Perhaps this best indicates Chaliapin's work as singer and actor. Another successful item here is the `Le veau d'or' from "Faust", which one critic has judged ideal for showing Chaliapin's special magnetism.

The notes provide an informative survey of Chaliapin's recording output. One error is the attributing some of the orchestral support in the recordings from the 1920s to the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and orchestra which was founded by Beecham in 1932.

A Chaliapin feast.......2003-02-14

It's nice of Naxos to collect in one place some of the most representative recordings of the great Russian basso, Fyodor Chaliapin. This is a 2CD set; the first CD is from the acoustic era of recording, the second from the electrical era. Not only are the expected arias and songs from the Russian literature represented, but also there are more than a few Italian/French/German selections.

There are two scenes from 'Boris Godunov': Varlaam's Song and the Farewell and Death of Boris. Three versions of Mussorgsky's 'Song of the Flea', from 1907, 1929 and 1936 (the latter his last recording) are included, all of them marvelous. Other highlights, made all the more effective by Chaliapin's amazing ability to act with the voice, are 'La calunnia' from 'The Barber of Seville' and 'Le veau d'or' from Gounod's 'Faust.' I also liked 'Chanson Bachique' by Glazunov, which I'd never heard before.

The sound is fantastic, the wizardry of Ward Marston who, along with Mark Obert-Thorn, is involved with Naxos's extensive re-issue of treasures from the history of the recorded voice.

If you don't have these selections from previous issues on other labels, you can't go wrong here. And then there's the budget price . . .

Jochen Kowalski Star Portrait 2CD
Average customer rating:

Charmed, I'm sure

Jochen Kowalski Star Portrait 2CD
Bach , Handel , Mozart , Schubert , Schumann , Rossini , and Strauss
Manufacturer: Capriccio
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0001XAKWY
Release Date: 2004-01-01

Customer Reviews:

Charmed, I'm sure.......2006-05-06

It may not be entirely popular with the counter-tenor (or alto, or whatever they chose to call themselves) circuit to say this, but Kowalski's claim to having a true--as in not falsetto--alto voice comes across as a rather germane observation after having heard the current range of songbirds.

In this double CD set--that includes the wonderfully reliable Baroque and more modern, 19th century, German composers--he lustily polishes off the pieces with much the same texture one would expect of deliciously supple saddle leather.

There isn't the faintest hint of shrillness--thus the above-mentioned naturalness--as he swells, ebbs, hushes and...coos? Well, yes. The enveloping timber of his voice does actually lend itself to the idea of cooing; one often feels gently lulled by a benevolent tide that goes somewhere familiar. One is even tempted to issue forth gushing hiperbole after hearing Kowalski's rendering of Handel's "Ombra mai fu" or Gluck's "J'ai perdu mon Euridice", but shan't because it's generally better not to.

Technically speaking Kowalski is quite capable of doing what the occasion requires, though not with the fireworky cockiness that other singers exhibit. If anything could be found wanting in this delightful recompilation it is his somewhat hopelessly well-mannered approach. Others may not share this opinion, but this reviewer often found himself inwardly urging Kowalski to show a little more of the dashing waistcoat he discreetly sports under the severe black jacket of the cover. After all, the Baroque was a most daring epoch indeed, wasn't it?

All in all, this CD is thoroughly listenable and will not disappoint those who are on chummy terms with this period of music nor those who wish to venture in.

Average customer rating:

A Portrait of Pavarotti

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Puccini: Madama Butterfly

ASIN: B00005OLDD
Release Date: 2001-09-18

Tracks:

La Boheme: Che Gelida Manina
La Boheme: O Soave Fanciulla - Luciano Pavarotti/Rolando Panerai/Mirella Freni
La Boheme: In Un Coupe... O Mimi, Tu Piu Non Torni - Luciano Pavarotti/Rolando Panerai
Madama Butterfly: Bimba, Bimba, Non Piangere - Luciano Pavarotti/Mirella Freni/Christa Ludwig
Madama Butterfly: Viene Le Sera - Luciano Pavarotti/Mirella Freni/Christa Ludwig
Madama Butterfly: Vogliatemi Bene - Luciano Pavarotti/Mirella Freni
Madama Butterfly: Addio Fiorita Asil - Luciano Pavarotti/Robert Kerns
Manon Lescaut: Ma Si Vi Talenta... Tra Voi Belle
Manon Lescaut: Donna Non Vidi Mai
Manon Lescaut: Presto! In Fila... No, No Pazzo Son! - Luciano Pavarotti/Frederico Davia/James Courtney/Metropolitan Chor
Tosca: Recondita Armonia
Tosca: Mario! Mario! Mario! - Luciano Pavarotti/Richard Van Allen/Mirella Freni
Tosca: Or Lasciami Al Lavoro - Luciano Pavarotti/Mirella Freni
Tosca: E Lucevan Le Stelle
La Fanciulla Del West: Che'ella Mi Creda
Turandot: Non Piangere Liu... Ah Per L'Ultima Volta - Luciano Pavarotti/Montserrat Caballe/Nicolai Ghiaruov/Tom Krause/Pier Francesco Poli...
Turandot: Nessun Dorma! - Luciano Pavarotti/John Alldis Chor

Tracks:

I Lombardi: La Mia Letizia Infondere
Macbeth: O Figli Ah, La Paterna Mano
Luisa Miller: Il Foglio Dunque! - Luciano Pavarotti/Fernando Pavarotti
Luisa Miller: Quando Le Sere Al Placido
Rigoletto: Questa O Quella
Rigoletto: Ella Mi Fu Rapita... Parma Veder
Rigoletto: La Donna E Mobile
Il Trovatore: Quale D'armi Fragor - Luciano Pavarotti/Joan Sutherland
Il Trovatore: Ah Si Ben Mio - Luciano Pavarotti/Joan Sutherland/Graham Clark
Il Trovatore: L'onda De'suoni Mistici - Luciano Pavarotti/Joan Sutherland/Graham Clark
Il Trovatore: Di Quella Pira - Luciano Pavarotti/Joan Sutherland/Graham Clark/London Opr Chor
La Traviata: Libiamo (Brindisi/Drinking Song) - Luciano Pavarotti/Joan Sutherland
La Traviata: Lunga Da Lei... De' Mici Bollenti Spiriti - Luciano Pavarotti/London Opr Chor
Un Ballo In Maschera: La Rivedra Nell'Estasi - Luciano Pavarotti/Kathleen Battle/Robert Lloyd/Malcolm King
Un Ballo In Maschera: Di Tu Se Fedele - Luciano Pavarotti/Kathleen Battle/Robert Lloyd/Malcolm King
Un Ballo In Maschera: Forse La Soglia... Ma Se M'e Forza Perderti
La Forza Del Destino: Fratello
Aida: Celeste Aida
Aida: Pur Ti Riveggo - Luciano Pavarotti/Maria Chiara
Requiem: Dies Irae: Ingemisco
Otello: Gia Nella Notte Densa - Luciano Pavarotti/Kiri Te Kanawa

Tracks:

Don Giovanni: Dalla Sua Pace
L'Elisisr D'Amore: Una Furtiva Lagrima
I Puritani: A Te, O Cara - Luciano Pavarotti/Nicolia Ghiaaurov/Giancarlo Puccardi/Joan Sutherland
Martha: M'appari
L'Africaine: O Paradiso
Carmen: La Fleur Que Tu M'avais Jetee
Werther: Pourquoi Me Reveiller
Fedora: Amor Ti Vieta
Cavalleria Rusticana: Mamma, Quel Vino E Generoso - Luciano Pavarotti/Ida Bormida/Julia Varadyy
Pagliacci: Vesti La Giubba
Mattinata
Soiree Musicales: La Danza
Return To Sorrento
Core 'N Grato
Rondine Al Nido
Mamma
Funiculi Funicula
Non Ti Scordar Di Me
La Mia Canzone Al Vento
O Sole Mio

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

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

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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.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

The Singles [Import]

Baroque Viola Da Gamba Suites

Canadian Trumpet Concerti

The Deep Forbidden Lake

Blond Mao [Import]

Attitude [Enhanced]

Australian Savannah [Import]

Arzachel [Import]

Art of Hanging Out [Enhanced] [Import]

Bax: Symphony No. 6; Festival Overture

All That Smooth Jazz [Import]

16 Exitos

Alegre Y Divertido [Import]

Word...Life

Precious Memories