Amor ti vieta: Great Opera Arias

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This disc can make a hardened realist believe in miracles. The first is technological: superimposing a new instrumental background on "vocals" recorded between 1902 and 1913. To listeners who cherish Pearl's re-issues of the Caruso Edition, where the voice comes through in all its glory while the orchestra sounds like a village band several miles away, this is naturally a vast improvement. It is also strangely disorienting: with brand-new accompaniments played by an excellent orchestra, the vocal sound shows its age; instead of leaping out from its surroundings, it almost seems upstaged by it. However, the ear quickly adjusts, just as it did to the originals' orchestral sound. The second miracle is Caruso's unique vocal and dramatic artistry. The program features favorite arias as well as unfamiliar ones, such as the disc's title track from Giordano's Fedora and Canio's final aria, rather than the famous earlier one, from Leoncavallo's I Pagliacci. An aria from Verdi's Otello, which he was to sing for the first time at the Metropolitan Opera in 1921, brings home the tragedy of his death at 48 that year. The disc includes some of his earliest recordings (with the orchestra taking over the original piano accompaniments played by the composers), as well as several he made after his operations, when his bright, honeyed, "golden" voice took on its famous baritonal quality: darker, warmer, somewhat heavier. In close juxtaposition, the difference is quite startling, creating the illusion of hearing two different singers. What remains unchanged are his incomparable technique and his inimitable style, though the early tendency toward what now seem excessive slides, portamentos, fermatas, gradually abates. His top notes retained their thrilling, heroic ring, his agility its effortless ease; his breath-control remained uncanny, his charm infectious. Perhaps most striking is his ability to create mood and character, drawing you instantly into the heart of the scene and the person portrayed. --Edith Eisler

Tracks:

La Boheme: Che gelida manina
Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai
Carmen Bizet: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee (Flower Song)
Luisa Miller: O! fede negar potessi .. Quando le sere al placido
La Traviata: Lunge da lei ... De' miei bollenti spiriti
Martha: M'appari
Giordano: Amor ti vieta
L'Africaine: Mi batte il cuor .. O paradiso
La Favorita: Favorita del re . . . Spirto gentil
Werther: 'Pourquoi me reveiller'
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: 'Morgenlich leuchtend in rosigem Schein'
Les Contes d'Hoffmann: O Dieu! De quelle ivresse
TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
Pagliacci: Recitar! ... Vesti la giubba
Il Trovatore: Di quella pira
Aida: Se quel guerrier .. Celeste Aida
TOSCA: Recondita armonia
L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
La Gioconda: Cielo e mar!
Turandot: Nessun dorma

Customer Reviews:

The End of the Big Voice?.......2007-04-16

This CD, which is truly fine overall, reminds me of Marilyn Horne's lament that we have probably seen the end of the big voice and it makes me sad. I agree with the reviewer who refers to "microphonies". And more justice could be done to Bjorling's voice with a better transfer. But at some point, music becomes a matter of taste and I prefers singers who have the instrument and the support and the training, whether formal or not, to just let fly and take a chance on making a mistake. Domingo can be wonderful and so can his musicianship but he tends to be so stiff. I have to wonder at the virulence and asperity with which some people go after Pavarotti. It's true that late in his career he made some questionable recordings but the answer to that is simple: don't buy them. At his best, he belongs for all time in the top echelon of tenors. I love this CD and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys great (big) voices.

Fla Gator Lady.......2007-01-12

Highly recommend this CD with these beloved arias of the greatest tenors in opera. I have owned this CD for a couple of years and purchased another for a friend who always requests that I play it ... perfect for listening in the car, dinner, bridge games, relaxation ... just so perfect. You won't be disappointed in this one.

20 Great Tenor Arias.......2007-01-09

A great disc,combination of the greatest tenors of the 20th century and some of the most beautiful music ever written in any century,a must addition to any opera lovers collection.

Plesantly surprised..........2006-01-14

I don't remember how I found this CD the other day surfing through the "Amazon" such as it is, but I did. I listened to a few clips provided & on the strength of that, I purchased this CD.

First it is a great buy. A booklet with pictures of each tenor, a small bio, the year recorded and TRANSLATIONS of each aria are provided. This is really nice. It seems more & more that translations are being left out. Being a former opera singer, I may know most of the words, but sometimes it's just nice to read along (sometimes it's just nice to listen too).

Being on the Decca label, there is admittedly quite a few Pavarotti selections. Out of 20 selections, he has 6 of them. But I love Pavarotti, so this is no problem for me. These are all early recordings & his voice is magnificent! Being a singer, I still marvel at his ability to sing "All'armi!" on a high D and still say the 2nd syllable "mi" on such a note! WOW. There is also of course his very sweet, impassioned and lyrical turn as Rodolfo in "La Boheme" as well as the lesser known (although I still have it on casette) "La Favorita" which has a particularly high tessitura.

Also featured are a young Plácido Domingo singing a VERY nice "Flower song/ La fleur que tu m'avais jetée" from Carmen. He usually sounds too pushed for me on the top notes (as one might expect from a Pavarotti fan, I like free top notes) but in this recording he is pretty darn fabulous. He also sings an aria from "Tales of Hoffman/Les Contes d'Hoffman" and I have always felt that he, like Neil Schicoff, were well suited to this role.

Lamentably there are only one selection each from Carreras, Correlli, Monaco, Aragall & Kollo. Especial kudos to the young recording they feature for Aragall. He had a very free and nice high tenor well suited to Verdi. Of course as his career went forward with the natural darkening of his voice and the "heavier" roles, he did start to develop a wobble. But this recording is before that. His top, his phrasing are all beautifully done in his featured aria from "La Traviata."
Mario del Monaco's "E lucevan le stelle" is hauntingly beautiful and has such a wonderful pianissimo in it that it makes you just want to gasp for beauty's sake. I now know every tenor I've heard sing this aria was trying to emulate what he did.

This is a great CD because it does bring together on one CD some of the greatest singers of the 20th/21st century. Bergonzi, di Stefano, Björling, in addition to the previously mentioned artists is quite an impressive collection. I'm sure there's only one of each for Carreras, Aragall (I believe they are formerly EMI/Angel artists) and perhaps some of the others because they are "imported" from another label. There's so much Pavarotti on this CD because he IS a Decca artist.

A highly recommended CD, affordable, not the usually obscure and unpolished artists that are sometimes found on compilations. Plus acutal linear notes and translations. Nicely done, Decca!!!

Absolutely Agree About Corelli.......2005-05-27

Franco Corelli's "Nessun Dorma" is still the best of them all - clear, passionate, and exciting. (And those final two notes...! Gives me chills just to think of it.) I was fortunate enough to see him live in both "Turandot" and "Romeo and Juliet" a year before his retirement, and he was still a Calaf and a Romeo to die for... as, of course, Liu and Juliet did! As it is, I tend to buy compilations depending on how much Corelli they include - though Bjorling is a strong second, and I have happy memories of Domingo. Long live the Golden Age of Operatic Tenors!

Average customer rating:

heywhattsamattayou
full of passion and love
Absolutely Beautiful!
Where is Amore I?

Amore II ~ Great Italian Love Arias

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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

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Amor--Opera's Great Love Songs
The Most Famous Opera Arias
The Best of Italian Opera
The Most Famous Opera Duets
Rapture: Opera's Most Heavenly Moments

ASIN: B00004C4MX
Release Date: 2000-02-01

Tracks:

Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro
La rondine: Chi il bel sogno di Doretta
La Boheme: Quando m'en vo
La Boheme: Mi chiamano Mimi
La Boheme: Che gelida manina
TOSCA: Vissi d'arte
Madama Butterfly: Un bel di
Madama Butterfly: Bimba dagli occhi pieni di malia
Turandot: Tu, che di gel sei cinta
Rigoletto: La donna e mobile
Rigoletto: Caro nome
La Traviata: Lunge da lei...De miei bollenti spiriti...oh mio rimorso
Aida: Celeste Aida
L'Elisir d'Amore: Prendi, per me sei libero
L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
Don Pasquale: Quel guardo il cavaliere
Fedora: Amor ti vieta
Turandot: Nessun dorma

Customer Reviews:

heywhattsamattayou.......2007-06-12

i'm a tellin you..... if you dont a like a this music....well you musta been born with the stone for a heart...heh

full of passion and love.......2007-03-31

This CD is full of passion and love. Whenever I listen to it, I get the butterfly feeling in my stomach...must have CD!!!! I strongly recommend!

Absolutely Beautiful!.......2002-03-02

Two words describe the music found on this CD: ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! The beauty of the vocals and music combine to allow one to transcend from the daily grind to a world of beauty. Bravo!

Where is Amore I?.......2001-02-16

This CD is a selection of arias from Italian operas. Most of the time when you get a compilation like this, you feel lucky if you like 2/3 of the selections. In this case, whoever did the selecting did a great job, there isn't a clinker in the lot. About half of the arias are by Puccini, the rest are by Verdi, Donizetti, and Giordano. Singers include Kiri Te Kanawa, Luciano Pavarotti, Richard Tucker, and Andrea Rost. There is enough variety to keep the whole CD interesting, yet the mood is consistent throughout. The sound is generally quite good, and while I am not generally a fan of live recordings, the audience response in the performance by Pavarotti really does add excitement to the presentation. Given the title of this CD, I assumed this was the second in a series, and I liked it so much I went looking for the original. Unfortunately, I can find no other CD on the Sony label titled Amore - too bad.

Average customer rating:

Quite a miracle

Amor ti vieta: Great Opera Arias

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Caruso 2000
Italian Songs: The Digital Recordings

ASIN: B0002JUWY8
Release Date: 2004-08-10

Amazon.com

This disc can make a hardened realist believe in miracles. The first is technological: superimposing a new instrumental background on "vocals" recorded between 1902 and 1913. To listeners who cherish Pearl's re-issues of the Caruso Edition, where the voice comes through in all its glory while the orchestra sounds like a village band several miles away, this is naturally a vast improvement. It is also strangely disorienting: with brand-new accompaniments played by an excellent orchestra, the vocal sound shows its age; instead of leaping out from its surroundings, it almost seems upstaged by it. However, the ear quickly adjusts, just as it did to the originals' orchestral sound. The second miracle is Caruso's unique vocal and dramatic artistry. The program features favorite arias as well as unfamiliar ones, such as the disc's title track from Giordano's Fedora and Canio's final aria, rather than the famous earlier one, from Leoncavallo's I Pagliacci. An aria from Verdi's Otello, which he was to sing for the first time at the Metropolitan Opera in 1921, brings home the tragedy of his death at 48 that year. The disc includes some of his earliest recordings (with the orchestra taking over the original piano accompaniments played by the composers), as well as several he made after his operations, when his bright, honeyed, "golden" voice took on its famous baritonal quality: darker, warmer, somewhat heavier. In close juxtaposition, the difference is quite startling, creating the illusion of hearing two different singers. What remains unchanged are his incomparable technique and his inimitable style, though the early tendency toward what now seem excessive slides, portamentos, fermatas, gradually abates. His top notes retained their thrilling, heroic ring, his agility its effortless ease; his breath-control remained uncanny, his charm infectious. Perhaps most striking is his ability to create mood and character, drawing you instantly into the heart of the scene and the person portrayed. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Quite a miracle.......2005-05-16

I bought the first digital Caruso CD, "Caruso 2000", and loved listening to it. Although it was more interesting than artistic. I found the digital process fascinating, however it seemed that too much was erased from the digital recordings, to the point that Caruso's voice lost some nuance. This CD however (the third in this series) manages to somehow filter out (most of)the surface noise and the original accompiament while keeping the voice mostly intact. The balance between the old and the new is also more convincing. Detractors of the Caruso 2000 CD should definitely check this one out. They might be surprised

Average customer rating:

The CD in my collection most loved by friends..
Wonderful selection of great singing.

Amore: The Great Italian Love Arias

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Amore II ~ Great Italian Love Arias
Amor--Opera's Great Love Songs
The Most Famous Opera Duets
Viva Italia! Festive Italian Classics
The Most Famous Opera Arias

ASIN: B0000026Z5
Release Date: 1989-10-24

Tracks:

O Mio Babbino Caro (From Gianni Schicchi) - Kiri Te Kanawa
Chi Il Bel Sogno Di Doretta (From La Rondine) - Kiri Te Kanawa
Quando M'en Vo' Soletta (From La Boheme) - Kiri Te Kanawa
Che Gelida Manina (From La Boheme) - Luciano Pavarotii
Mi Chiamano Mimi (From La Boheme) - Eva Marton
Donde Lieta Usci (From La Boheme) - Eva Marton
Recondita Armonia (From Tosca) - Richard Tucker
Vissi D'arte (From Tosca) - Kiri Te Kanawa
E Lucevan Le Stelle (From Tosca) - Richard Tucker
Un Bel Di Vedremo (From Madama Butterfly) - Kiri Te Kanawa
Addio, Fiorito Asil (From Madama Butterfly) - Richard Tucker
Tu, Tu, Piccolo Iddio (From Madama Butterfly) - Eva Marton
Tu, Che Di Gel Sei Cinta (From Turandot) - Eva Marton
Ch'ella Mi Creda Libero (From La Fanciulla Del West) - Richard Tucker
Il Lamento Di Federico (From L'Arlesiana) - Richard Tucker
La Donna E Mobile (From Rigoletto) - Luciano Pavarotti
Vesti La Giubba (From Pagliacci) - Luciano Pavarotti
Caro Nome Che Il Mio Cor (From Rigoletto) - Ileana Cotrubas
Amor Ti Vieta (From Fedora) - Luciano Pavarotti
Celeste Aida (From Aida) - Richard Tucker
Una Furtiva Lagrime (From L'Elisir D'amore) (Mono) - Richard Tucker
Ah! Si Ben Mio (From Il Trovatore) (Mono) - Richard Tucker
M'appari (From Martha) - Richard Tucker

Customer Reviews:

The CD in my collection most loved by friends.........2000-01-03

This remarkable collection of arias, with consistently high sound quality sound, was my introduction to opera, an addiction that turned feverish. Most singular, however, is the reaction of anyone who hears it. I have had it for 8-9 years and all those friends who wrote down the title have been unable to find it. On a whim, I tried a search on Amazon, and now have a long list of people to call. It is rich, lustrous music, that always leaves me with my arm hairs raised. The ultimate test. Get it and addict your friends, minus the frustration of not having a source for them to find it.

Wonderful selection of great singing........1999-10-12

Even if you don't like "Opera Highlights", you probably will love this. Some great artists recorded at their best. Everyone I play it for, goes out and buys the CD.

Average customer rating:

Classic Recitals: Great Tenor Arias

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

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

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
ASIN: B0002L2ZVO
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Tracks:

Forse La Soglia Attinse... Ma Se M'e Forza Perderti
Amor Ti Vieta
Giulietta, Son Io
Addio, Fiorito Asil
Ah! Tout Est Bien Fini... O Souverain! O Juge! O Pere!
La Fleur Que Tu M'avais Jetee
Merce, Diletti Amici... Come Rugiada Al Cespite
Mi Batte Il Cor... O Paradiso
M'hai Salvato... O Come Furon Lunghi
Quando A Solden
Tombe Degli Avi Miei... Fra Poco A Me Ricovero
Tu Che A Dio Spiegasti L'ali

O Paradiso / Jussi Bjoerling : Great Opera Arias (BMG)

Average customer rating:

The most divine album of all time!

O Paradiso / Jussi Bjoerling : Great Opera Arias (BMG)

Manufacturer: BMG
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Milanov, Zinka | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000003G15
Release Date: 1996-05-13

Tracks:

L'africana: O Paradiso
Aida: Fuggiam gli ardori inospiti
Aida: Misero appien mi festi
Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jet
Il Trovatore: Deserto sulla terra
Il Trovatore: Mal reggendo
Il Trovatore: Ah si, ben mio
Il Trovatore: Di quella pira
Don Giovanni: Il mio tesoro
La Boh: Che gelida manina
TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
TOSCA: Amaro sol per te
Manon Lescaut: Ah! Manon, mi tradisce
Manon Lescaut: No! no! pazzo son! Guardate
Manon: Instant charmant; En fermant les yeux (Le reve)
Cavelleria Rusticana: Turiddu, ascolta
Cavelleria Rusticana: Intanto, amici (Brindisi)
Cavelleria Rusticana: Mamma, mamma!; Quel vino e generoso (Addio alla madre )
Fedora: Amor ti vieta
Rigolleto: Questa o quella
Rigolleto: il sol dell' anima
Rigolleto: Bella figlia dell' amore
Turandot: Nessun dorma

Customer Reviews:

The most divine album of all time!.......2000-03-31

This is no doubt my absolute favourite collection. Bjoerling was not only the greatest tenor of the Golden Age, but probably one of the greatest in recording history! His timbre is sweetly penetrating, with the power and range of Caruso, but with a beauty completely out of the Caruso realm. His high notes are the most pure and heartwarming, his technique flawless, and his dramatics, although controlled, are very convincing. If you have not heard Bjoerling, this is an excellent first album to buy. He sings some of the most incredible arias in the tenor repertoire, and especially in the piano accompanied ones, brings something new to them as well. Listening to Bjoerling is an experience. Just beware. Once you discover him, you'll never be able to listen to another tenor again!

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Love Songs [Import]

Rimsky-Korsakov: Russian Easter Festival Overture/The Maid Of Pskov/Scheherazade, Op.35

Slow Down [Enhanced]

Introduction To SACD [Hybrid SACD]

Freedom and Whiskey

Soul Exposed [Import]

Stormy Monday

Mozart: Nozze di Figaro K492; Entführung aus dem Serail K384

Second Sight [Import]

Now and Then: The New York Bassoon Quartet

Porgy & Bess

Lo Nuevo Y Los Exitos

Mas Grandes Trios

Screwed Up, Inc., Vol. 3

Last Look