Art of Coloratura

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
"This is an impressive recording with impeccable virtuosity!" - OPERA TODAY

The stunningly attractive soprano Miliza Korjus was a phenomenon. She was a gifted actress (earning an Academy Award nomination for her role in 1939’s The Great Waltz), enjoyed a tremendously successful career on both sides of the Atlantic and lived a rich, full life, ending as a socialite among Hollywood’s elite. Original recordings: 1934-1936.

Tracks:

'Chacun Le Sait'
'Il Faut Partir'
'Et Mon Coeur La Changer
La Fille Du Regiment: 'Salut A La France'
Sadks: 'Song Of India'
Lakme: 'Pourquoi Dans Les Grands Hois?'
Dinorah: 'Ombre Legere' (Shadow Song)
'Regnava Nel Silenzio...Quando Rapita In Estasi'
Lucia Di Lammermoor: 'Il Dolce Suono Mi Colpi...Ardon Gl'Incensi'
Rigoletto: 'Caro Nome'
Lakme: 'Ou Va La Jeunne Hindoue' (Bell Song)
Mireille: 'O Legere Hirondelle'
Romeo Et Juliette: 'Je Veux Vivre'
La Traviata: 'Ah, Fors'e Lui...Sempre Libera'

Tracks:

Le Coq D'Er: 'Hymne Au Soleil'
Les Contes D'Hoffmann: 'Les Oiseaux Dans La Charmille'
Zemire Et Azor: 'La Fauvette'
Mignon: 'Jesuis Titania'
I Puritani: 'Son Vergin Vezzosa'
Linda Di Chamounix: 'O Luce Di Quest' Anima'
La Sonnambula: 'Ah, Non Credea..Ah, Non Giunge'
Porgy And Bess: 'Summertime'
'The Russian Nightingale'
'Fledermaus Fantasy'
'Les Roses D'Ispahan'
'L'invitation Au Voyage'
Chansons De Rensard: 'A Une Fountaine'
Chansons De Rensard: 'A Cupidon'
Chansons De Rensard: 'Tais-Toi, Babillarde'
Chansons De Rensard: 'Dieu Vous Gard'
'Clair De Lune' - Frank La Forge
'Fantoches' - Frank La Forge
'Plaisir D' Amour'
'Home, Sweet Home'

Amazon.com

In many respects, Lily Pons was the Galli-Curci of her generation: a winning combination of good looks, charm, an appealing and non-confrontational timbre, and easy facility in the stratosphere. Those who learned the "Mad Scene" from Lucia di Lammermoor or the "Bell Song" from Lakmé via the original 78s back in the 40s will be bowled over by the vivid detail and lack of background noise in these stunning Sony restorations. First-time listeners will marvel at her effortless passagework and high notes (she often transposed her arias up on records); but may be put off by a slight thinness in the middle register (not evident in her Odeon recordings from the late 20s), sketchy intonation at times, and expedient aspirating in downward scales. Although these selections encompass a gamut of stylistic and emotional contrasts, you'd scarcely know it from the singer's pleasant but characterless interpretations, which tickle the ear without quite racking the brain. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

Highly recommended.......2007-07-09

This could have been recorded yesterday, the sound quality is excellent and without blemish. By far the best recordings of Pons I have, and I would like to have others. She reminds me of Jo, separation of notes, clear, real trills, a range to rival Sumac, flexibility to perfection, and always that today neglected once standard fare of the coloratura, the requisite leap to the top note at the end of an aria. And a pretty sound. I love this album.

Average customer rating:

Expressive and Impressive

The Art of Coloratura Miliza Korjus

Manufacturer: Hanssler Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Miliza Korjus II
Great Waltz, The (1938)

ASIN: B0009IOR3O
Release Date: 2004-08-01

Tracks:

Der Holle Rache
Martern Aller Arten
Il Dolce Suono / Ardon Gl'icensi
O Dourga Bionda (Blanche Dourga, Pale Siva!)
Dov' E L'Indiana Bruna (Ah, Ou Va Le Jeune Indoue)
Ach Es Ist Der Gott Der Jugend (Ah! C'est Le Dieu De La Jeunesse)
Du Leichter Schatten (Ombre Legere)
Phobus Stolz Im Sonnenwagen (Les Oiseaux Dans La Charmille)
Holde Nachtigall
Merce, Dilette Amiche
Ach, Mama, Ich Sag Es Dir (Ah Vous Dirai-je, Maman
Aufforderung Zum Taz
Der Vogel Im Walde
La Danza
Il Bacio
Funiculi Funicula
Die Nachtigall
Fruhlingsstimmen-Walzer

Album Description

"This is an impressive recording with impeccable virtuosity!" - OPERA TODAY

The stunningly attractive soprano Miliza Korjus was a phenomenon. She was a gifted actress (earning an Academy Award nomination for her role in 1939's The Great Waltz), enjoyed a tremendously successful career on both sides of the Atlantic and lived a rich, full life, ending as a socialite among Hollywood's elite. Original recordings: 1934-1936.

Customer Reviews:

Expressive and Impressive.......2007-07-19

When I purchased this I was a little Unsure what to expect. I already have recordings of many other coloratura singers- Dessay, Sack, and Robin among them. While Miliza is not as expressive as Dessay and not as powerful as Robin,nonetheless i think that she is impressive. Not only in her ability to float the High Notes, but also in the joy that she exudes in her singing. As for the quality of the recording itself; it was fine. There were not many recording distortions. All-in-all worth the purchase.

Elizabeth Vidal ~ The Art of the Coloratura (French Opera Arias)

Average customer rating:

Wow...High note heaven!

Elizabeth Vidal ~ The Art of the Coloratura (French Opera Arias)
Elizabeth Vidal , Georges Bizet , Felicien David , Charles Gounod , Jules Massenet , Camille Saint-Saens , Ambroise Thomas , Hans Rotman (Conductor) , Orchestra of the Meiningen Opera , and André Cognet
Manufacturer: Classic Talent
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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HOMAGE: The Age of the Diva
Airs Et Duos D'Amour De L'Opera Francais
Puccini Arias
Forbidden Love
Mercadante: Il Giuramento

ASIN: B000FIGGX2
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Customer Reviews:

Wow...High note heaven!.......2006-10-24

Elizabeth Vidal is a terrific coloratura. She sings many Es, F#s, and at least one G! She is no Sutherland or Gruberova, but her technique is amazing...so effortless! My only quibble is her voice, at least in the middle, is a tad on the wobbly side - not all the time though. Overall, a spectacular voice and recital!!!

Average customer rating:

Nice coloratura work
The Virtuoso Opera Singer
Big Singing of Little Pieces

The Art of Coloratura

Manufacturer: Orfeo
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Edita Gruberova - Queen of Coloratura ~ Arias by Donizetti, Mozart, J. Strauß, Verdi
Great Moments Of Edita
Edita Gruberova - Famous Opera Arias
Massenet - Manon
Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera

ASIN: B00000597Z
Release Date: 1995-03-21

Tracks:

Il Bacio (Arditi)
Andante
Allegro
Chanson ggienne (Rachmaninoff)
Deh torna mio bene (Proch)
Frstimmen Walzer (J. Strauss)
Die Nachtigall (Alabieff)
Ah, vous dirai-je, maman (Adam)
Vilanelle (dell'Acqua)
Les filles de Cadix (Dbes)

Customer Reviews:

Nice coloratura work.......2007-06-09

The "liner notes" speak of the repertoire displayed in this CD and provides some context on the career of Edita Gruberova, with a distinguished career as a coloratura soprano (defined as a dramatic coloratura in the liner notes because of her richer, darker voice than, for example, a Natalie Dessay or Beverly Sills). This CD features some less traditional works associated with coloratura sopranos. It is also interesting to note that Natalie Dessay recorded some of these works in her "Vocalise" CD. Hence, some comparisons are possible.

Some representative cuts:

Gliere's "Concert for Coloratura Soprano and Orchestra" (the Allegro): Here, the singer's voice is just another instrument. This creates a very nice effect. Gruberova begins with an adequate trill. She does a very craftsmanlike job in this work. Nice staccato notes and an agile voice. There are some nice high notes without harshness in the middle parts of this work. Some nice staccato high notes as the close of this work comes nearer, along with a good trill. But the final high note is harshly sung.

Johann Strauss, Jr.'s "Voices of Spring" is sung well. The singer appears to have fun with this piece. Good staccato notes, although--overall--less ornamentation than by Dessay in her album noted above. Some nice trills are manifest, although there is a very bad one that comes just after a nicely executed trill. Gruberova's close is well done, with some nice, cleanly hit high notes. But listen to Dessay's unbelievable close. It is great (Dessay) versus very good (Gruberova).

And now for something completely different. . . . Adam's "Ah, vous derais-je, maman" takes a very familiar tune and plays with it. Gruberova does a nice job with this, demonstrating good coloratura technique. She shows vocal agility and fine ornamentation. Mado Robin sang this with (as one might have guessed) one of her patented high notes that seem inconceivable for a human voice to reach; however, Gruberova's version is far more musical. And her final high note is well done.

"Les filles de cadix," by Delibes, is another good work for a coloratura soprano. Nicely sung. The close is well done indeed. Dessay also sang this, and one might want to compare the two versions.

So, Edita Gruberova demonstrates once again her good coloratura technique. Her voice is heavier than the light-voiced sopranos like Beverly Sills or Natalie Dessay, but that is of little moment. This is an interesting album. While I cannot say that she ranks with current top coloratura sopranos like Sumi Jo and Natalie Dessay, she is sure solid at what she does and is one of the better representatives of the next tier.

The Virtuoso Opera Singer.......2004-02-22

This album is a magnificent tribute to the coloratura soprano Edita Gruberova. The arias she sings in this album really express her talents as a soprano of the highest calibre. Edita Gruberova seems to be the last of the great coloratura singers of the 20th century. She is right up there in the ranks of such coloratura songbirds as Lily Pons, Roberta Peters, Beverly Sills and the current Korean soprano Sumi Jo. Edita Gruberova is well-schooled and her voice seems to connect with the orchestra, the music for her scenes and character, and she immerses herself in her roles with real bravura, passion and feeling. She has sung the bel canto divas of Donizetti- Lucia, La Sonnambula, Elvira in Puritani and even the Tudor Queens- Anna Bolena, Maria Stuarda and Queen Elizabeth in Roberto Devereux in performances obviously influenced by Beverly Sills.

This cd contains arias that showcase the high-flying, high-pitched intensity of Edita Gruberova's coloratura art form. Like the name coloratura suggests, she is able to "color" her voice and use head voice, high registers to produce cheerful sounds, beautiful lyricism in some portions and acrobatics and vocal fireworks in dazzling feats of canary, bird-like singing. Roulades, cadenzas, fast runs, trills and daring leaps present no problem to her. The album features some well known music, like the Johann Strauss "Voices Of Spring" which is timed to the beat of a waltz (Gruberova did her best work in this type of music as she has sung Adele from Die Fledermaus to enormous success), Ah Vouz Dire-jai Maman or the French version of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and consequent variations of it.
Some lesser known works like The Concerto For Coloratura and Orchestra by Gliere is beautifully delivered as well as Il Bacio by Luigi Arditi and Villanelle by Dell'acqua. The Georgian Song by Rachmaninov is also a treat, as is The Nightingale by Alyabyev and the exciting Spanish-style French song "Les Fille Des Cadiz" by Leo Delibes. The cover for this album is the painting entitled"Gloved Singer" by the French Impressionist Edgar Degas. The painting is supposed to be that of a chanteuse cafe-concert singer who incorporated opera mannerisms and vocal technique into her singing.

Big Singing of Little Pieces.......2000-11-23

This is a beautiful collection of performances of works by some very well-know and some not so well-known composers. If you gravitate toward the coloratura art, you will likely find some old favorites here, as well as some potential new friends. The bottom line is that you're not likely to be disappointed.

Average customer rating:

Miliza Korjus II

Manufacturer: Preiser Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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The Art of Coloratura Miliza Korjus

ASIN: B00000HZVI
Release Date: 1999-03-02

Tracks:

Die Entfuhrung Aus Dem Serail: Martern Aller Arten
Der Barbier Von Sevilla: Frag' Ich Mein Beklimmnes Herz
Rigoletto: Liebe ist Seligkeit
Lakme: Ach, Es Ist Der Gott Der Jugend
Die Madchen Von Cadiz
Ser 'Liebe Kleine Nachtigall'
Aufforderung Zum Tanz
Madchens Wunsch, Op.74 No.1 'Zyczenie'
Nocturne Op.9 No.2 'O Nacht, O Traume'
Walzer Aus '1001 Nacht'/'Holde Marchentraume'
Die Nachtigall
Parla!
Il Bacio
Funiculi-Funicula
La Danza
Der Vogel Im Walde
Fruhlingsstimmen, Walzer Op.410
Die Madele Von Biberach: Koloratur-Var Uber 'Drei Roslein'
Der Student Von Prag: Warum?

Average customer rating:

The Art of the Coloratura

Manufacturer: Mastersound
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005YLG7
Release Date: 1992-11-09

Average customer rating:

Running Through the Years

Manufacturer: Cara Cammaroto
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAG4BW
Release Date: 2004-01-01

Average customer rating:

Art of the Coloratura
Hoch , and Hong Kong Philharmonic
Manufacturer: Innov. Music Prod.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B00008F86H
Release Date: 1993-06-07