Gala

Chopin Foundation of the United States
Moniuszko composed music that was strikingly beautiful and Polish in character.

Product Description:
The best of Stanislaw Moniuszko's (the father of Polish national opera) songs and arias.

Gala

Gala,Stanislaw Moniuszko,Various,Agnieszka Kossakowska,Bernard Ladysz,Wanda Jakubowska,Andrzej Hiolski,Halina Slonicka,Bogdan Paprocki,Hanna Rumowska,Wieslaw Ochman,Teresa Kubiak,Krystyna Szostek-Radkowa,Zdzislaw Klimek,Ryszard Gruszczynski,Kazimierz Pustelak,Polskie Nagrania - Muza

Average customer rating: A VERY SPECIAL EVENING AT THE MET

Metropolitan Opera Gala Honoring Sir Rudolf Bing [Highlights] Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music | Cantatas | Romances Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Wolfgang Windgassen singt Wagner La Nilsson: My Life in Opera Rossini - L'Italiana in Algeri Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera Eileen Farrell in New Orleans ASIN: B000M05VNY Release Date: 2007-03-13

Customer Reviews:

A VERY SPECIAL EVENING AT THE MET.......2007-04-06

The 1972 Gala that honored the retirement of the late Sir Rudolf Bing was one of the first big international opera galas of note. I was a mere high schooler when highlights of the gala were aired on television, hosted by Rise Stevens. An LP of highlights was released (a slew of copies were produced domestically with a defect on the second side that had to be recalled). Shortly after this DGG announced a SECOND LP of highlights that would include additional items, including Dorothy Kirsten, Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti and others from the same gala. It never materialized.

When DGG announced the CD version, I was ever hopeful those unreleased items would finally see the light of day. Sadly, that's not the case. What we have left is a mixed bag. Arroyo expressive but unsteady, a young Domingo with Caballe sounding undermiked, Nilsson ripping the roof off, Price skipping the recitative and not in best voice, Tucker and Merrill trying to outshout each other, Resnik hamming it up, Zylis-Gara and Corelli's only evidence of Otello on record with the fans ruining the beautiful orchestral ending of the duet. Despite all my negatives, this CD is evidence of a very special evening in New York when the operatic lights shone a lot brighter than they do now, the likes of which will never be seen or heard again. It would get five stars if the missing items had been included.

Average customer rating: This is glorious Sillsiana Sizzles And Delights Beverly Sills: The Rare Recordings..A Must Have The woman is amazing. Incredible recording!!!

Sillsiana Beverly Sills Manufacturer: Gala ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Classical | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: The Very Best of Beverly Sills The Great Recordings Beverly Sills: Made in America Beverly Sills & Friends Art of Beverly ASIN: B0000520TW Release Date: 2000-11-13

Customer Reviews:

This is glorious.......2007-01-19

Things like this could engender a renaissance of baroque opera, well, Handel's anyway. It is some live, some studio recordings. I agree with the person who praised so highly this performance of Una voce poco fa, fast and breathtaking. The first side is mostly an overview of a Handel opera I'd never heard before, hated it half-listening the 1st time though, loved it just now. There is also some Mozart (don't like Mozart's vocal music, with scant exceptions) and the aria mentioned. The 2nd disc is all kinds of good 19th century stuff. It's wonderful Sills who is wonderful. (And yes, I like Callas and Sutherland too, I hasten to add, to ward off those fanatical negative strokes.)

Sillsiana Sizzles And Delights.......2004-09-12

There was never a soprano like Beverly Sills. She was born with a spit bubble in her mouth and the doctor nicknamed her "Bubbles". As a child, she appeared on radio and in one rare film, singing opera. Her talent for lyric coloratura was detected early and she was trained by the last pupil of Matilde Marchesi, Estelle Liebling. She sang many opera repertoires for years without being "discovered"- among them all three heroines in Mozart's Don Giovanni- Zerlina, Dona Elvira and Dona Ana, Micaela from Carmen, Marguerite from Faust, the title role in Lehar's The Merry Widow, even heavier roles like Andrea Chenier, Aida and a Valkyrie in Wagner's Die Walkure. She married Peter Greenough, a journalist and had two children with him, a girl, Muffy who was deaf and a son who was autistic. Beverly Sills would become one of the leading champions for The March Of Dimes in the struggle for prevention of birth defects. Not even the beautiful and enchanting "Ballad Of Baby Doe" by Moore was enough to get her noticed. It was not until the 60's that she rose to fame, beginning with her performances at the New York City Opera- the role was Cleopatra in Handel's Julius Caeasar. After the acclaimed performance, she traveled across Europe to the major opera houses- she sang the Queen of the Night (the first aria O Zittre Nicht is featured in this album) in Vienna, she sang Lucia Di Lammermoor at London's Covent Garden, Pamira from Rossini's L'Assedio Di Corinto in La Scala, Violetta in La Traviata was a role she overdid- singing it frequently in the US and her greatest performances have been credited as Jules Massenet's Manon and the Tudor Queens of Donizetti's operas- Anna Bolena, Maria Stuarda and Queen Elizabeth in Roberto Devereux. It was her Queen Elizabeth that earned her a cover in Time magazine's 1971 issue. Beverly Sills had become a household name. Beverly Sills brought joy to her performances- she had a passion for her profession. She was never pretentious. She made opera fun, accessible and worthwhile. She could get dramatically committed into the serious roles and she let go and had fun with the sillier, comic roles, such as Rosina in Barber of Seville (Una Voce Poco Fa is included in this album) and most notably as Marie in Donizetti's La Fille Du Regiment. She was opera's greatest embassardor, spending years after her retirement as a spokesperson for the arts, appearing in television, hosting concerts and operas, among them the Live From Lincoln Center airing on PBS.

The selections on this live recording (never mind the fact that Sillsiana is a vainglorious title, which was not even Beverly Sills' idea but her vocal coach Roland Gagnon who wrote the last track's Sillsiana, a funny, dazzling display of coloratura classic arias which Sills sung one after another. The live audience is laughing as they recognize every aria- from Zerbinetta in Strauss' Ariadne, to the Queen in Rimsky Korsakov's Le Coq D'Or, the Queen of the Night in Mozart's Magic Flute, Manon, Lucia, Elvira from I Puritani, Olympia from Tales of Hoffman, a vocal ad lib to the Chopin Nocturne "Murmurs Of The Seine" No. 2 and the thrilling piece ends with Sempre Libera from La Traviata, spurred on when a tenor from the audience exclaims "Amor e Palpito" which are Alfredo's lines. The first cd covers Handel's oratorio Semele, which Sills sings beautifully in English without sacrificing the Baroque elaborate style. The role of Constanze of Mozart's Abduction From The Seraglio was another of Sill's lesser known but greatest hits. She sings dramatically and gorgeously in German in two arias from that opera. The 2nd cd covers arias from I Puritani and Ernani, as well as Juliet's Waltz Song from Gounod's Romeo and Juliet, Dinorah's Shadow Song from the Meyerbeer opera and the entire final act of Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia, which Beverly Sills sings opposite tenor Henry Price. Lucrezia Borgia is a heavy role, a close cousin to Bellini's Norma. The role calls for fierce intensity,chest voice and high top register as well as lyricism and pianissimo. All of these things Bevely Sills delivers in the performance, providing with much of the same dynamics she sang Queen Elizabeth in Roberto Devereaux. It was roles like Lucrezia Borgia that may have shortened Sills' career. Note how she forces her voice in the lines "Un Borgia Sei !" when she announces to Gennrao that he is a Borgia. But Beverly would never regret singing these majestic diva roles, for they are beautifully done and equal to the more popular Joan Sutherland and Montserrat Caballe who sang the role of Lucrezia Borgia in the same period of time.

Beverly Sills: The Rare Recordings..A Must Have.......2003-10-10

Although "rare recordings" featuring particular sopranos is traditionally suited for that soprano's most hardcore fans, it's not necessary for you to be a fan of Beverly Sills to enjoy this rare recording "Sillsiana". Beverly Sills was "the people's soprano" and she made opera an American pasttime, accessible to everyone. Her stage performances in the 60's and 70's were often thrilling, entertaining, comical, engaging, dramatic, depending on the opera and its mood. Sillsiana was originally an LP in the 70's with the inscription- "A pastiche of comic arias". This is partially true. There are some "feel good" arias in here - such as The Queen of the Night's "O Zittre Nicht" from The Magic Flute, Dinorah's aria and Juliet's lively waltz aria "Je vous vivre" from Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet".

Beverly Sills was not only a vibrant coloratura singer who could master challenging vocal trills, scales, leaps and high-flying roulades. She was not only a soft, sweet-voiced singer who depended only on the microphone to strengthen her voice, she was a one-woman show. She could either move you to tears as in the final scene of La Traviata or make you laugh your head off as in her performance as Marie in Donizetti's La Fille Du Regiment. Her voice, despite the fact that it is smaller and lighter than the numerous "divas" of the opera industry (Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, Jessie Norman, etc) can convey just as much power and drama as any big-voiced diva. Beverly Sills was a diva, the people's diva. She made opera so much fun you would'nt think it was opera at all but more of an event.

As mentioned, this recording features Beverly's more "fun" arias- The Queen of the Night, which she first performed in Vienna in 1969, and the bubbly Juliet from Gounod's Romeo and Juliet. However, the recording ends with the entire final act of Donizetti's "Lucrezia Borgia". Although the role calls for a heavy voice and many dramatic sopranos have tackled the role, including the forementioned Joan Sutherland and others such as Montserrat Caballe, Beverly manages to sound furious and despairing and dramatic as any of them. Her Lucrezia Borgia is sensational. It is proof that she could master both light opera as well as the bigger stuff. In the 70's, Beverly tackled such "heavy" roles as Bellini's Norma, Queen Elizabeth from Donizetti's Roberto Devereux and in concert even arias from Aida and Brunhilde from Wagner's "Die Walkure". Although Beverly admits to damaging her voice, she certainly thought it was worth it and so did her audience. She went out in a blaze of glory and left us the legacy that is her art.

The woman is amazing........2003-08-19

This CD set is a gem. I have never heard the baroque arias sung with such vigor and technical know-how. The technique with which she uses to sing these is mind-bogling to me because no other singer that I know of even comes close to it. How she would think to use such a technique is beyond me. Her trills are tight knit and firing off like a machine gun. She uses lightning fast staccati and uses scales and runs like none I've heard. What a force to be reckonded with! And all of this with her sweet soft voice.

Her "O Zittre Nicht" is the only rendition I have heard where the singer actually sounds angry. Sills has said that the Queen of Night was the most boring, pointless role she ever sung. The Queen of the Night sings an aria in Scene 1 of Act 1, and then sings another aria in Scene 3 of Act II. Between arias, the singer sits backstage for at least an hour and a half. So I'm sure that she absolutely had to give it all the acting she could muster up or else drive herself crazy. She describes this role as the " 'impersonal, mechanical' kind," according to her second autobiography.

The Dinorah aria and Roméo et Juliette arias are also enjoyable highlights.

The whole Lucrezia Borgia scene is frighteningly good. Such intensity in the drama. Sills has said that she would sacrifice any pure tone to make a dramatic point. And that she does! That is what I call a real singer. As opposed to another famous singer, where she ended her fabulous career doing just that, Sills' technique was so amazing, that even when she was singing high chest tones, it STILL sounded good.

Sills -- what a talent. Their never will be one like her again.

Incredible recording!!!.......2003-07-10

This is a truly remarkable collection of bootleg recordings of Sills' live performances. We must thank Gala for releasing it. Throughout the set's two discs, Sills' demonstrates her supreme artistry and technique. The first track, "The soldier tir'd", shows Sills throwing herself into the ridiculously difficult music and coming up on top. This recording has pretty good sound. Sills takes all the triplets and endless runs very quickly. Her trills in this aria are lightning-fast and perfect. She may have made a downward transposition of the last few bars of the aria and her final high D may be a bit flat, but Sills gives a dazzling performance nonetheless. This version shames Sutherland's grand, slower-paced version on "The Art of the Prima Donna". In comparison, Sutherland sounds stuffy and her runs are quite a bit slower than Sills'. Also, while her trills in this aria are fast, they are slower than Sills' trills. The tracks from "Semele" have terrible sound, but you can still make out Sills' dazzlingly long runs and amazing trills. Sills gives a performance equal to the one she gave for her studio "Giulio Cesare" recording. She expresses Semele's emotions perfectly while managing to sing extremely difficult coloratura at the same time. The two tracks from "Die Entführung aus dem Serail" included here are "Ach, ich liebte" and "Traurigkeit ward mir zum Lose". These two tracks have truly horrid sound, so it is hard to judge how accurately Sills is singing Mozart's fiendishly difficult music. Then comes the Queen of the Night's first aria. Sills makes the Queen into a sympathetic mother yearning for the return of her kidnapped daughter. Sills sings the difficult coloratura near the end pretty well, but she squeaks out the high F with quite a bit of effort. I have heard that Sills' high F's were not as good as her high E's and D's. I would have to agree. I wish that Gala had included her live recording of "Der Hölle Rache". I know it is circulating around in underground collectors' circles. This recording has decent sound. The last track on CD 1 is "Una voce poco fa". Sills gives a magnificent, playful version of this fun aria. This track is in very good sound, but it is quite loud, so you may want to play it at a moderate volume level.

On CD 2, we are treated to "Prendi, prendi per me sei libero" from "L'elisir d'amore". This track has decent sound and Sills gives a great performance, the drama thoroughly expressed and the coloratura fluently sung. Sills' masterful rendition of "Sorte la notte...Ernani, Ernani involami" almost makes you believe that she is a spinto. Of course, the aria's moderate coloratura demands are a piece of cake for Sills. This track has decent sound. Sills next sings the Shadow Song from "Dinorah". Sills turns in a great performance, with very well-executed coloratura. This track has good sound. The next track is Juliette's Waltz. Listening to this track, I got the feeling that Sills was struggling with the high tessitura (she sings the aria in its original key, G). Therefore, her diction seems fussy and her coloratura is not as good as it could be. This track has good sound. The next five tracks are from "Lucrezia Borgia". They have decent, sometimes bad, sound. Sills' voice is really too light to be singing Lucrezia, but what a strong and committed performance she gives! Sills sang this performance pretty late in her career. Sills is very committed to the character of Lucrezia. She is convincingly tender with her son, defiant and proud with her husband, and evil when confronting Gennaro's friends at their party. In the beautiful Prologue aria, Sills' opts for the much more florid alternative to the cabaletta "Mentre geme il cor sommesso". She sings it superbly. The opera's finale shows Sills' Lucrezia gradually breaking down from utter wickedness to the deepest despair. Her "M'odi, ah, m'odi" is achingly sung and "Era desso il figlio mio" is as good as this cabaletta can be sung. She caps the performance with a large high E-flat. This high E-flat's large size really surprised me. I have heard that Sills' high notes got bigger as she got older. I guess it is true. The last track is "Sillsiana" itself. It has decent sound. It is a great bonus and Sills sings the florid bits from various coloratura arias extremely well. Even though this is a silly piece meant to parody stuffy prima donnas, at least that's the impression I got from listening to it, Sills gives a committed performance with regards to comic timing, accurate coloratura execution, and clear diction.

Every Sills fan should own this set. Let's hope Gala makes more copies available.

Average customer rating: Price, Corelli and Karajan at their peaks--need any more be said? Grab it before it goes away. . . Brilliant Trovatore A review plus corrections Exceptional and Exciting

Verdi: Il Trovatore Manufacturer: Gala ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Price, Leontyne | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Puccini: Turandot Gounod: Romeo Et Juliette Verdi - Aida / Caballé · Domingo · Cossotto · Ghiaurov · Cappuccilli · Roni · NPO · Muti Verdi - Rigoletto / Sutherland, Pavarotti, Milnes, LSO, Bonynge Verdi: La Traviata (complete opera live 1955) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Carlo Maria Giulini, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan ASIN: B000001XN2 Release Date: 2000-06-06

Tracks:

1. Il Trovatore: Act I: Introduzione: 'All 'erta! All'erta!' (Ferrando, Coro)
2. Il Trovatore: Act I: Di due figli vivea padre beato... Abbietta zingara' (Ferrando, Coro)
3. Il Trovatore: Scene 2: Scena e Cavatina: 'Che piu t'arresti?' (Ines, Leonora)
4. Il Trovatore: Scene 2: 'Tacea la notte placida...Di tale amor' (Leonora, Ines)
5. Il Trovatore: Scene 2: Scena, Romanza e Terzetto: 'Tace la notte' (Il Conte)
6. Il Trovatore: Scene 2: 'Deserto sulla terra' (Manrico, Il Conte)
7. Il Trovatore: Scene 2: 'Non m'inganno. Ella scende!... Di geloso amor' (Il Conte, Leonora, Manrico)
8. Il Trovatore: Act II: Coro di Zingari e Canzone: 'Vedi! le fosche notturne spoglie' (Coro)
9. Il Trovatore: Act II: 'Stride la vampa' (Azucena)
10. Il Trovatore: Act II: 'Mesta e la tua canzon!' (Coro, Azucena, Manrico, Un vecchio zengaro)
11. Il Trovatore: Act II: Scena e Racconto: 'Soli or siam!' (Manrico, Azucena)
12. Il Trovatore: Act II: 'Condotta ell'era in ceppi' (Azucena, Manrico)
13. Il Trovatore: Act II: Scena e Duetto: 'Non son tuo figlio?' (Manrico, Azucena)
14. Il Trovatore: Act II: 'Mal reggendo all'aspro assalto' (Manrico, Azucena, Un messo)
15. Il Trovatore: Scene 2: Scena ad Aria: 'Tutto e deserto' (Il Conte, Ferrando)
16. Il Trovatore: Scene 2: Il balen del suo sorriso...per me, ora fatale' (Il Conte, Ferrando, Coro)
17. Il Trovatore: Scene 2: Finale II: 'Ah! se l'error t'ingombra' (Coro, Il Conte, Ferrando)
18. Il Trovatore: Scene 2: 'Perche piangete?' (Leonoro, Ines, Il Conte, Coro)
19. Il Trovatore: Scene 2: 'E deggio, e posso crederlo?' (Leonora, Il Conte, Manrico, Ferrando, Coro, Ines, Ruiz)

Tracks:

1. Il Trovatore: Act III: Coro d'Introduzione: 'Or co'dadi' (Coro, Ferrando)
2. Il Trovatore: Act III: Scena e Terzetto: 'In braccio al mio rival!' (Il Conte, Ferrando, Coro, Azucena)
3. Il Trovatore: Act III: 'Giorni poveri vivea' (Azucena, Ferrando, Il Conte, Coro)
4. Il Trovatore: Scene 2: scena ed Aria: 'Quale d'armi fragor poc'anzi intesi?' (Leonora, Manrico)
5. Il Trovatore: Scene 2: 'Ah! si, ben mio' (Manrico)
6. Il Trovatore: Scene 2: 'L'onda de'suoni mistici' (Leonora, Manrico)
7. Il Trovatore: Scene 2: 'Manrico?'-'Che?'-'La zingara' (Ruiz, Manrico, Leonora)
8. Il Trovatore: Scene 2: 'Di quella pira' (Manrico, Leonora, Ruiz, Coro)
9. Il Trovatore: Act IV: Scena, Aria e Miserere 'Siam giunti' (Ruiz, Leonora)
10. Il Trovatore: Act IV: 'D'amor sull'ali rosee' (Leonora)
11. Il Trovatore: Act IV: 'Miserere' (Coro, Leonora, Manrico)
12. Il Trovatore: Act IV: Scena e Duetto: 'Udiste? Come albeggi' (Il Conte, Leonora)
13. Il Trovatore: Act IV: 'Qual voce!'...'Mira, di acerbe lagrime' (Il Conte, Leonora)
14. Il Trovatore: Scene 2: Finale Ultimo: 'Madre, non dormi? ... Ai nostri monti' (Manrico, Azucena)
15. Il Trovatore: Scene 2: 'Che! Non m'inganna quel fioco lume?' (Manrico, Leonora, Azucena)
16. Il Trovatore: Scene 2: 'Ti scosta!' (Manrico, Leonora, Il Conte, Azucena)
17. Il Trovatore: Act III, Scene 2: Duettino: 'Solenne in quest'ora'
18. Il Trovatore: Act III, Scene 2: Scena: 'Morir! Tremenda cosa!'
19. Il Trovatore: Act III, Scene 2: Aria: 'Una fatale del mino destino... Egli e salvo!' (Don Alvaro: Franco Corelli - Don Carlo di Vargas: Ettore Bastianini Orchestra del Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, Francesco Molinari Pradelli, 1958

Customer Reviews:

Price, Corelli and Karajan at their peaks--need any more be said?.......2006-08-07

This 1962 Vienna State Opera performance of Trovatore is now a document of a new Golden Age of opera. Price and Corelli had taken the Metropolitan by storm the previous year in the same roles and the vocal beauty, strength and ardor that propelled them to international stardom are much in evidence, particularly in the former's assumption of Leonora--Price even throws in a few extra high Cs in the "Miserere" for good measure. Her two big arias "Tacea la notte" and "D'amor sull' ali rosee" are replete with her characteristic shimmering vibrato and creamy tone. Corelli sings with big, gorgeous tone and with more care in phrasing than in some of his other recorded performances-only his concluding high note at the end of the third act seems somewhat pressed. Azucena and the Conte di Luna are in the more than capable hands of Giulietta Simionato and Ettore Bastianini.

Despite the ease with which the dictum that "all Trovatore needs is the four greatest singers in the world" is met, ultimately the driving force behind this night is Karajan, who gives this fast-moving melodrama exactly the propulsion it needs without slighting the lyrical moments. The Vienna Philharmonic responds with a razor-sharp rendition of the score. Against such virtues the faults of a live recording can easily be forgiven: mono sound and some questionable balances (the "offstage" harp in Manrico's first solo sounds as if it is about two feet from the microphone). Most of the traditional stage cuts are observed as well: thus the second verses of both Leonora's and Manrico's cabalettas are missing, as well as the whole of Leonora's last-act cabaletta, "Tu vedrai." Nevertheless, for opera lovers, this is a Trovatore not to be missed.

Grab it before it goes away. . ........2005-11-18

This recording is a must have for any real lover of singing: Corelli and
Price together, LIVE, not to mention Simionato.

Karajan keeps things at a white hot clip, and the velvet of Price with
the trumpeting of Corelli make for the kind of over-the-top opera
experience one lives for.

Given the year and conditions of the recording, the sound is excellent.
I'm one who can tolerate less that state of the art sound for the
excitement of live historic performances.

Price occasionally interpolates unexpected high notes, and then
caps the "Mira" with a high c that would have best been left at home,
but these are just a few tiny pimples on an otherwise stunning face.
And at these prices, it is a complete steal. Buy it.

Brilliant Trovatore.......2004-05-13

This is a fabulous Trovatore but the "Spotlight Reviewer" seems not to know the opera at all! The heroine of "Il Trovatore" is called LEONORA, not ELVIRA. He wrote his review to bash Maria Callas who is still the greatest Leonora to this day. (I'm quoting PRICE here!)

Anyway, Price, Corelli and Simionato made MAGIC here. Not to be missed!

A review plus corrections.......2004-02-10

This is a fantastic Trovatore, my favourite after the performance with Callas and Lauri Volpi. (Live, 1951) But as great as this recordings is, these reviews aren't great. I want to correct the most atrocious mistakes. Several persons don't even know how to spell this opera. It's "Il Trovatore" not Travatore. And the heroine is called Leonora and not Elvira.

"Her trills is gorgeous in her second big aria. And lo and behold she sticks a high D that shames every singer alive at that time. I know she's a great Verdi singer. But I didn't know how great she was until this. The voice is sublime. It puts Caballe and Tebaldi and Callas to shame. And I'm a fan of those divas."

As lovely as all her singing is, it's just her trill that is flawed because it's shaky and unstable. That aside Price sounds FANTASTIC. Also, Callas sang E-flats and Ds as Leonora in her live-recordings from 1950-1951.

To sum it up: Excellent singing from Price&Corelli under the baton of the exquisite von Karajan. Two thumbs up!!!!!! A++++++++++++++++

Exceptional and Exciting.......2003-12-05

I reviewed another release of this same recording, which is a bit more expensive, and just as great, though the sound quality of that release is better than this one (however, this is fabulous). To everyone reading the reviews, there is a problem if you read a review from "a European visiting America." That review is not of this opera, or this work, or this composer. That review deals with a live recording of Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots. Many of the details are inaccurate in that review as Corelli sings nothing above a hig B in it, and none of the cadenzas for his character.

However, be that as it may, this opera is IL TROVATORE, and I think it only right to let readers know which opera is being reviewed. You won't find a Joan Sutherland in this recording (what role would she sing with Price singing the lead female role). I find it very irresponsible of reviewers who love a particular performer to put their one review on every recording that was issued with that singer, even if the recording reviewed is not the one spoken of in the review. Amazon should really remove that review from this recording as it has nothing what ever to do with this recording.

As for Trovatore, well, this is an extremely energetic fabulous recording and all the principles are in wonderful voice (not to mention ability). The entire performance just rushes forth and we are swept away in it. The orchestra is incredible, and the conductor really sees the drama of the score. Sadly, the cabaletta that comes after the Miserare is missing (it isn't in many live recordings of the work) and it is something Price does so wonderfully well. As far as time goes, it doesn't take that long. It could have been added.

We are witnessing a performance that has few to match it, one where the energy and the "special magic" that seldom occurs in performance is happening.

This is a great buy, and I recommend it to everyone.

Average customer rating: Only Furtwangler can beat Furtwangler Response to S. Bauer re: "Unclear When This Opera Was Recorded," February 2006 Superb voices which are hard to find Very good Unclear when this opera was recorded

Mozart: Don Giovanni, K527 Manufacturer: Gala ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music | Cantatas | Romances German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | Box Sets | Stores | Music Bargain Box Sets | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Bargain Box Sets | Opera & Vocal General | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Opera & Vocal General | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Mozart's Don Giovanni (Dover Opera Libretto Series) Mozart - Don Giovanni / Maazel, Raimondi, Te Kanawa, Paris Opera Mozart: Don Giovanni Mozart: Die Zauberflote Furtwangler Conducts Brahms - Complete Symphonies, etc / North German RSO, Berlin PO ASIN: B000001XNW Release Date: 2000-06-06

Tracks:

1. Ouverture
2. Act One: Nr. 1 Introduzione: 'Notte e giorno faticar' (Donna Anna, Don Giovanni)
3. Act One: Nr. 2: Recitativo accompagnato e Duetto: 'Ma qual mai s'offre, oh dei' (Donna Anna, Don Ottavio)
4. Act One: Recitativo: 'Orsu, spicciati presto' (Don Giovanni)
5. Act One: Nr. 3 Aria: 'Ah! chi mi dice mai' (Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni)
6. Act One: Nr. 4 Aria: 'Madamina, il catalogo e questo'
7. Act One: Nr. 5 Coro: 'Giovinette che fate all'amore'
8. Act One: Recitativo: 'Manco male e partita' (Don Giovanni)
9. Act One: Nr. 6 Aria: 'Ho capito, signor si!'
10. Act One: Recitativo: 'Alfin siam liberati' (Don Giovanni)
11. Act One: Nr. 7 Duettino: 'La ci darem la mano' (Don Giovanni)
12. Act One: Nr. 8 Aria: 'Ah, fuggi il traditor' (Donna Elvira)
13. Act One: Recitativo: 'Mi par ch'oggi il demonio si diverta' (Don Giovanni, Don Ottavio, Donna Anna)
14. Act One: Nr. 9 Quartetto: 'Non ti fidar, o misera' (Donna Elvira, Donna Anna, Don Ottavio, Don Giovanni)
15. Act One: Nr. 10 Recitativo accompagnato ed aria: 'Don ottavio, son morta!'
16. Act One: 'Or sai chi l'onore' (Donna Anna)
17. Act One: Nr. 10a Aria: 'Dalla sua pace' (KV 540 A - Wien 1788) (Don Ottavio)
18. Act One: Recitativo: 'lo deggo ad ogni patto' (Don Giovanni)
19. Act One: Nr. 11 Aria: 'Fin ch'an dal vino' (Don Giovanni)
20. Act One: Recitativo: 'Masetto: senti un po!'
21. Act One: Nr. 12 Aria: 'Batti, batti, o bel masetto'

Tracks:

1. Act One: Recitativo: 'Guard un po' (Don Giovanni)
2. Act One: Nr. 13 Finale: 'Presto presto pria ch'ei venga' (Don Giovanni)
3. Act One: 'Bisogna aver coraggio' (Donna Elvira, Don Ottavio, Donna Anna, Don Giovanni)
4. Act One: 'Riposate, vezzose ragazze!' (Don Giovanni, Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, Don Ottavio)
5. Act Two: Nr. 14 Duetto: 'Eh via, buffone' (Don Giovanni)
6. Act Two: Nr. 15 Terzetto: 'Ah! taci, ingiusto core' (Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni)
7. Act Two: Nr. 16 Canzonetta: 'Deh, vieni alla finestra' (Don Giovanni)
8. Act Two: Nr. 17 Aria: 'Meta di voi qua vadano' (Don Giovanni)
9. Act Two: Nr. 18 Aria: 'Vedrai, carino'
10. Act Two: Recitativo: 'Di molte faci il lume' (Donna Elvira)
11. Act Two: Nr. 19 Aria: 'Sola, sola, in buio loco' (Donna Elvira, Don Ottavio, Donna Anna)
12. Act Two: Nr. 20 Aria: 'Ah, pieta, signori miei'
13. Act Two: Nr. 21a Aria: 'Il mio tesoro intanto' (Don Ottavio)
14. Act Two: Nr. 21b Recitativo accompagnato ed Aria: 'In quali eccessi, o numi' 'Mi tradi quel'alma ingrata' (KV 540 C - Wien 1788) (Donna Elvira)
15. Act Two: Recitativo: 'Ah, ah, ah, ah, questa e buona' (Don Giovanni)
16. Act Two: Nr. 22 Duetto: 'O statua gentilissima' (Don Giovanni)

Tracks:

1. Act Two: Recitativo: 'Calmatevi, idol mio' (Don Ottavio, Donna Anna)
2. Act Two: Nr. 23 Rondo: 'Non mi dir, bell'idol mio' (Donna Anna)
3. Act Two: Nr. 24 Finale: 'Gia la mensa e preparata' (Don Giovanni)
4. Act Two: 'Don Giovanni, a cenar teco m'invitasti' (Don Giovanni)
5. Act Two: 'Ah! dove e il perfido' (Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, Don Ottavio)
6. Die Zauberflote: Arias And Scenes: Nr. 2 Arie: 'Der Vogelfanger bin ich ja'
7. Die Zauberflote: Arias And Scenes: Nr. 3 Arie: 'Dies Bildnis ist bezauberend schon'
8. Die Zauberflote: Arias And Scenes: Nr. 4 Rezitativ und Arie: 'O zittre nicht, mein lieber Sohn!'
9. Die Zauberflote: Arias And Scenes: Nr. 7 Duett: Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen'
10. Die Zauberflote: Arias And Scenes: Nr. 8 Finale: 'Erster Aufzug: Wie strark ist nicht dein Zauberton'
11. Die Zauberflote: Arias And Scenes: Nr. 10 Arie mit Chor: 'O Isis und Osiris'
12. Die Zauberflote: Arias And Scenes: Nr. 14 Arie: 'Der Holle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen'
13. Die Zauberflote: Arias And Scenes: Nr. 15 Arie: 'In diesen heil'gen Hallen'
14. Die Zauberflote: Arias And Scenes: Nr. 17 Arie: 'Ach, ich fuhl's, es ist verschwunden'
15. Die Zauberflote: Arias And Scenes: Nr. 20 Arie: 'Ein Madchen oder Weibchen wunscht Papageno sich,
16. Die Zauberflote: Arias And Scenes: Nr. 21c Finale: Zweiter Aufzug: 'Wir wandeln durch des Tones Macht'

Customer Reviews:

Only Furtwangler can beat Furtwangler.......2007-05-04

Despite the 'historical' sound effect of this live recording, this is a 'must-own' for Mozart lovers.
I agree that Elisabeth Schwarzkopf's Donna Elvira in this live recording is probably the best of her various recordings of this role, including the famous Giulini version. Just listen to her solo arias and the duets, and you will see the audience were so right in applauding as they did.
Elisabeth Gruemmer was a superb Donna Anna, not to be eclipsed by the later Giulini version by Joan Sutherland.
Cesare Siepi was only around 30 years old in this recording. He is the greatest Giovanni on record, both on stage and in recordings. I entirely agree with one earlier reviewer on Eberhard Waechter's Don G in Giulini's version: boorish. Eventhough Waechter led brilliantly in the ensembles.
My only slight reservation is for Anton Dermota's Don Ottavio here. His Dalla pace sua hardly sounded comfortable, though he sang all the notes alright.
One final point - it appears that this Furtwangler version is the Viennese version, not the Prague version.

Response to S. Bauer re: "Unclear When This Opera Was Recorded," February 2006.......2006-09-02

The 6.8.1951 date which you question on page 5 of the booklet accompanying this superior performance of "Don Giovanni" refers to "Die Zauberflote," recorded on CD 3, tracks 6 - 16.

The credits listed on the inside back of the CD case include "Salzburg, 27.7.1953" for Don Giovanni, and "Salzburg, 1951" for Die Zauberflote.

Your recording IS the acclaimed Don Giovanni, 1953 can't-live-without version! Enjoy it more now!

Superb voices which are hard to find.......2006-08-19

The conductor is the number one for Mozart Operas, the 2 Elisabeths sound beautiful in their own distinctive voices, Erna Berger at 51 years old still has a very young voice. Siepi is the number one Don. Edelman and Dermota are wonderful. The sound is the only thing that could be improved but we have to realize that it is a live performance from 1951.

Very good.......2006-04-17

I have bought this cd opera and I listened it yesterday evening.
I live in Ceneda of Vittorio Veneto (Italy) where Da Ponte was born.
I have other two version (Solti director and Muti director) but this is the best.
Very good the director and very good the interpreters.
I have talked with many italian teacher's classical music; they said me that this edition (Furtwaengler director in Salzburg 1953) is the best in every time.

Unclear when this opera was recorded.......2006-02-06

Can I anyone answer this? On the front cover of this CD box it says "1953". On the back cover, and in the booklet, however, it says "1951". In the booklet, on p. 5, it says "6.8.1951". Now are all the Amazon reviewers wrong, taking this recording for the 1953 recording, or is it actually a 1951 recording? If so, perhaps Amazon should also have an editorial note clarifying this.
Thank you.

Average customer rating: About the pain and joy of living...often seen together in a melancholy unity Nice stuff "Sweetness and Light" and All Else... Music for a Summer day wonderous world

Gala Lush Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | British Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britpop | British Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Noise | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Dream Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Shoegazing | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Spooky Split Lovelife Ciao! Best of Lush Ferment ASIN: B000002LNN Release Date: 1990-12-08

Tracks:

1. Sweetness And Light
2. Sunbathing
3. Breeze
4. De-Luxe
5. Leaves Me Cold
6. Downer
7. Thoughtforms
8. Baby Talk
9. Thoughtforms
10. Scarlet
11. Bitter
12. Second Sight
13. Etheriel
14. Hey Hey Helen
15. Scarlet

Customer Reviews:

About the pain and joy of living...often seen together in a melancholy unity.......2006-10-21

The title of "Gala"'s first track, "Sweetness and Light", is sneakily deceptive, as Lush never were so shallow as to sink into power-pop territory, and thank God their aims were never blatantly commercial because we might never have gotten music so complicatedly uncalculating. The best of the 15 tracks (both versions of "Scarlet" and "Thoughtforms", the hushed "Sunbathing", the brilliant "Hey Hey Helen") are underscored by a sadness that is never worked out (it's like a musical residue), yet the conception of the songs is far from morose. Lush terrifically energizes their soundscapes with a dreamy poppiness that is winning and still complex, and the songs here tend to change with the listener's mood, like a mood-ring you come across and never want to let go of. B+

Nice stuff.......2006-06-09

This band burned bright for an unfortunately brief period. Gala is a great collection of songs from one of the best bands of the so-called shoegazer movement . As far as the songs go, there isn't a dud in the bunch but Sweetness and Light and De-Luxe are absolutely gorgeous songs, both among the best of all time. This is a great time capsule for a band that ended under the most heartbreaking of circumstances.

Blake Ruiz

"Sweetness and Light" and All Else..........2006-05-25

This is one of my favorite albums. For the last 16 years, I've found it very hard to file this away owing to its sheer sonic goodness and sharp production coupled with a dreamyesque sheen. Great stuff! Obvious comparisons to The Cocteau Twins have and will be made as it seems apparent to me that Lush was largely influenced by them. But Lush retool the formula CT laid out and adds a few flourishes and edges to their particular composition.

Like The Cocteau Twins, Lush possess a strongly original sound. One that weaves a hypnotic tapestry around swirling atmospherics and shimmering guitars. One exposure to "Sweetness and Light" and I was awestruck. "Thoughtforms", "De-Luxe", "Hey Hey Helen", "Scarlet", and more all conjure a most alluring spell that binds the listener to a rapturous forray in listening. I'm also quite fond of Spooky, the follow up to Gala as well. Well worth a sample.

Music for a Summer day.......2006-03-01

Hearing Lush is like stepping out of a creeky old barn into the bright sunlight on a hot summer day on fram in England. Their music is a waking dream that floods the senses with light and pure magic.The wet vocals and flanged guitars are what an LSD trip may be like without actually doing the drug. The band disbanded in 1998 but this album will live forever as Reprises best collection of previously released Lush eps while they were on 4ad.
There can never be another band like this.
Penny Ella Vodka
Reviewer Extraordinaire

wonderous world.......2005-10-31

this album confused me greatly when i first heard it. the dreamy guitars and wistful melodies floating around the bouncy drums and throbbing bass...and those beautiful, haunting vocals, which seemed so buried in the mix that there were times when i had to strain my ears to listen closely. i loved how mysterious it all sounded. i was already becoming a Cocteau Twins fan, and this album reminded me of them...but in a much more rocking sort of way. Lush has the power to contrast their lovely blissful numbers with sngs like "Leaves Me Cold" and "Downer" which seemed to spark a bit of a more violent and jagged mood. and that kind of contrast left me cold for awhile...eventually, i grew into this album and i looked forward to hearing the future albums from this band. i was sad when they broke up, because by the time they released Lovelife, i was really hooked! recently, after years of having having this recording on cassette, i was pleased to be browsing a bargain bin and come accross a copy of Gala on cd. it's been great to rediscover the wonderous world of this album and take a trip back to the glory daze of shoegazing.

Average customer rating: James Levine's 25th Anniversary Met Opera Gala Passing the acid test Great cd Great variety of fantastic singers!

James Levine's 25th Anniversary Metropolitan Opera Gala Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Giuseppe Verdi , Georges Bizet , Franz Lehár , Charles Gounod , Gustave Charpentier , Johann Strauss II , Jules Massenet , Camille Saint-Saëns , Richard Wagner , Jacques Offenbach , Richard Strauss , Metropolitan Opera Orchestra , James Levine , Plácido Domingo , Renée Fleming , Birgit Nilsson , Bryn Terfel , Roberto Alagna , Anne Sofie von Otter , Samuel Ramey , Ileana Cotrubas , Dolora Zajick , Jerry Hadley , Hei-Kyung Hong , Kiri Te Kanawa , Ruth Ann Swenson , Hakan Hagegard , Karita Mattila , Alfredo Kraus , Grace Bumbry , and Deborah Voigt Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Lehár, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Levine, James | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Hadley, Jerry | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | 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 French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Fleming, Renee | C to G | Featured Performers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Otter, Anne Sophie von | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Te Kanawa, Kiri | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Von Stade, Frederica | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Metropolitan Opera Gala Metropolitan Opera Gala Honoring Sir Rudolf Bing [Highlights] Eileen Farrell in New Orleans Rapture: Opera's Most Heavenly Moments Beverly Sills: Made in America ASIN: B000001GRR Release Date: 1996-10-15

Tracks:

1. Les Pecheurs De Perles: 'Au Fond Du Temple Saint'
2. Louise: 'Depuis Le Jour'
3. Faust: Duet From Act I
4. Giuditta: 'Meine Lippen Sie Kuessen So Heiss'
5. Don Carlo: 'O Don Fatale!'
6. Don Giovanni: Sextet From Act II
7. Romeo et Juliette: Juliet's Waltz ('Je Veux Vivre')
8. Die Fledermaus: Watch Duet ('Dieser Anstand, So Manierlich')
9. Werther: 'Pourquoi Me Reveiller'
10. Samson et Dalila: 'Mon Coeur S'ouvre A Ta Voix'
11. Tannhauser: 'Dich, Teure Halle'
12. La Perichole: 'Ah, Quel Diner'
13. Der Rosenkavalier: Trio From Act III
14. A Tribute To James Levine

Customer Reviews:

James Levine's 25th Anniversary Met Opera Gala.......2006-08-14

It is an incredibly beautiful album. As with any album I like some pieces better than the next but overall it is beautiful and soothing. I keep it in the car and listen to it in horrid traffic time. It helps!

Passing the acid test.......2004-07-04

My acid test is whether I leave the CD in the player for repeated (and repeated) playings. This one makes my cut. Every track is not as marvelous as some, but each has its charms. The whole adds up to a delicious opera excursion.

I saw this live and was completely captivated. Without the visuals, it is just as wonderful. I too wish they would release the rest of this marathon extravaganza. It deserves to be memorialized.

Great cd.......2003-08-13

i recommend this cd it's great to listen to while walking the dog.Opera makes fluffy happy.

Great variety of fantastic singers!.......2002-01-07

This is as good as it gets. An awesome roster of international stars singing some of the best (but not the most well known) selections in all of opera, and of course James Levine, the man they are all celebrating. It almost goes without saying that Levine's conducting is without comparison throughout the recording. He is truly one of the best conductors of the last thirty years, and he has molded the Met Orchestra into the best in the world. This celebration perfectly captures the incredibly broad repertoire that he is familiar for. It starts out with a well-rounded performance of the famous duet from The Pearl Fishers by Bryn Terfel and Roberto Alagana. When I bought the CD I had never heard the incredible melody that forms the theme of the duet, but it is one of the best in all of opera. Renee Flemming gives a performance of "Despuis le jour" that would be hard to match for sheer vocal beauty. Her final pianisimo is stunning. Domingo and Ramey sing a typically excellent performance of the Faust duet, while Ileana Cotrubas, in a Lehar excerpt shows why she was one of the best lyric sopranos of the last 25 years. "O don fatale" as sung by Dolora Zajick is the thrilling experience it should be. She nails the top notes perfectly and still maintains the warm fullness of the bottom of her register. The 'bravas' start almost before she finishes her final note. The sextet from Don Giovanni is given a world class performance (I have never heard it done better). Ruth Ann Swenson displays awesome coluratura ability in Juliet's lively waltz song, soaring to a high D in the final cadenza. I am not a big fan of Die Fledermaus, but if you are you will surely love the included duet. I was also never a big Alfredo Kraus fan, and I think he sounds more than a bit strained while singing the famous aria from Werther. Not so Grace Bumbry, who's seductive performance of Delila's music should be the standard for this aria. Deborah Voight's Tannhauser is impeccable, while Frederica von Stade sounds a little shrill in her aria. To round out the program is possibly the most exquisite performance ever of some of the most gorgeous music ever written; the final trio from Die Rosenkavalier. It will make a Strauss convert out of anyone.
There are no problems with the live sound, which is crisp, clean and sounds like it could have come from a recording studio. My only complaint is the lack of an overture or other orchestral number that would showcae the Met orchetra. Overall a CD well worth your money. Hopefully DG will release another CD soon with the rest of the concert. You won't find these selections anywhere else so every minute of it will be new and fresh. Fantastic for hard core opera fans or beginners. Highly Recommended!

Average customer rating: Deserves more than 5 stars!

Noites de Gala Samba Na Rua Mônica Salmaso Manufacturer: Biscoito Fino ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Brazil | South & Central America | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Latin Music | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Segundo ao Vivo CéU ASIN: B000PUB2L6 Release Date: 2007-06-25

Tracks:

1. Volta Do Malandro
2. Velho Francisco
3. Construcao
4. Ciranda Da Bailarina
5. Voce Voce
6. Logo Eu?
7. Olha Maria
8. Quem Te Viu, Quem Te Ve
9. Basta Um Dia
10. Morena Dos Olhos D'agua
11. Partido Alto
12. Suburbano Coracao
13. Bom Tempo
14. Beatriz

Customer Reviews:

Deserves more than 5 stars!.......2007-06-27

This recording is done no justice at all by a rating of 5 stars, or any amount for that matter. I purchased this CD after having the greeat fortune to hear Monica Salmaso and Pau Brasil perform this music live in Sao Paulo. I am pleased to say the CD, though obviously not the real thing, does great justice to the music. Simply beautiful in all aspects! The re-arrangments of music by the great Chico Buarque are creative, well-thought out, and beautifully executed. Monica seems, as she should, like a sixth member of this great group - the vocals are perfectly integrated. The players demonstrate outstanding musicality and great dynamic control at all times. All lovers of music, let alone Brasilian music or the music of Chico Buarque, should adore this recording.

Average customer rating: Sublime! love the four violin piece! A must-have item ! Overall Great Recording Amazing!

Israel Philharmonic Orchestra - 60th Anniversary Gala Concert Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Halvorsen | Halvorsen, Johan | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Vivaldi | Vivaldi, Antonio | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Weber | Weber, Carl Maria von | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Concertinos | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Divertimentos | Serenades & Divertimentos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Isaac Stern 60th Anniversary Celebration Classic Perlman: Rhapsody Maxim Vengerov - The Road I Travel Vivaldi: The Four Seasons Mendelssohn, Bruch: Violin Concertos ASIN: B000003G8V Release Date: 1997-03-25

Tracks:

1. Overture to 'Oberon'
2. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins And Orchestra BWV 1043: Vivace
3. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins And Orchestra BWV 1043: Largo, ma non tanto
4. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins And Orchestra BWV 1043: Allegro
5. Concerto In B Minor For Four Violins And Orchestra, RV 580 (Op. 3, No. 10): Allegro
6. Concerto In B Minor For Four Violins And Orchestra, RV 580 (Op. 3, No. 10): Largo
7. Concerto In B Minor For Four Violins And Orchestra, RV 580 (Op. 3, No. 10): Allegro
8. Serenade No. 6 In D, K. 239 ('Serenata notturna'): March: Maestoso
9. Serenade No. 6 In D, K. 239 ('Serenata notturna'): Menuetto
10. Serenade No. 6 In D, K. 239 ('Serenata notturna'): Rondo: Allegretto
11. Passacaglia and Sarabande

Tracks:

1. Symphony No. 2 In D, Op. 73: Allegro non troppo
2. Symphony No. 2 In D, Op. 73: Adagio non troppo
3. Symphony No. 2 In D, Op. 73: Allegretto grazioso
4. Symphony No. 2 In D, Op. 73: Allegro con spirito

Customer Reviews:

Sublime!.......2004-03-08

This is one of my top 5 Cd's in a vast collection. I bought an extra 10 for presents. The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO)was aptly described by Toscanini as an orchestra of virtuoso soloists. Its strings are together with the Chicago Symphony the absolute top. Every piece is spectacular, warm and insightful. It is evident that the musicians understand the importance of the event. The Halverson Handel variation alone is worth the purchase. It has to be one the most amazing pieces ever recorded.

love the four violin piece!.......2004-02-21

I bought this CD, then I bought one for my grandparents. Now I lost it. My absolutely favorite piece was the concerto for four violins. Unfortunately, I've now discovered i-tunes and just bought those tracks. Maybe that's not the best idea, but at least I can't lose it again.

A must-have item !.......2002-11-10

A live concert with the best violinist of our time! Superbly recorded. Those who are going to buy this should buy the video too! The video not only includes the interview with the violinist, but also a marvellous off-the-show performance by Gil Shaham. Shaham may not be that outstanding in this concert but you'll see this is not true if you have watched the video, too.

Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman's duet on "Passacaglia and Sarabande with variations on a theme by Handel for violin and viola" is excellent !! It exhibits almost all skillsets that could be do with a string instrument and how good they have been handled!! This recording is indescribably good !

Overall Great Recording.......2000-12-06

I wasn't sure whether to give this recording four or five stars. The music is wonderful; there is nothing to complain about in that area. The Halvorsen variations on Handel are quite simply divine and without comparison. The piece showcases two of the best violinists of our day (Perlman and Zukerman) and in this recording they prove that they deserve their title. The Vivaldi for Four Violins is incredibly expressive. The musicians cannot be faulted for anything, however the recording engineers can. This is a live concert and thus there is clapping at the end of each piece. The clapping is irritating in that it takes away the feeling left after the music. In the case of the Vivaldi, someone actually starts to clap before the last note is over! However, if you can survive the clapping, you will be buying a remarkable recording by some of the greatest musicians of our day. I strongly recommend it.

Amazing!.......2000-03-28

This is one of the best live classical recordings I have ever heard. It features an incredible collection of talented musicians, then proceeds to showcase them all with dazzling pieces that demonstrate their talents. Especially notable is the duet between Zukerman and Perlman when they play Halvorsen's "Passacaglia" - it truly sends chills up my spine. Other fine pieces on the discs include the overture to "Oberon" by Weber, as well as the unique "Concerto for 4 Violins" by Vivaldi. Overall, this set of 2 CD's is wonderful, and definitely warrants a purchase.

Average customer rating: A good choice

American Jubilee Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Copland | Copland, Aaron | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Morton Gould | Gould, Morton | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ives, Charles | ( I ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schuman | Schuman, William | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Sousa | Sousa, John Philip | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Ives, Charles | Composers | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Variations | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Organ | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Easy Listening | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: I Love a Parade John Williams Stars & Stripes: America's Greatest Hits Round-Up Classics of the Silver Screen The Very Best of Erich Kunzel: Top 20 ASIN: B000003CUB Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Liberty Fanfare
2. Yankee Doodle
3. Variations on 'America'
4. Grand Walkaround
5. Wallflower Waltz
6. Gala Cakewalk
7. Jubilee
8. Dixie
9. Battle Hymn Of The Republic
10. Variations On A Shaker Melody
11. American Salute
12. Star Spangled Spectacular
13. God Bless America
14. America The Beautiful
15. The Stars & Stripes Forever

Customer Reviews:

A good choice.......2005-06-16

I did not know all the tunes when I have ordered this CD and after listening, there are still some tunes that I do not know. However, the quality of recording is excellent, the choice of tunes is interesting and the orchestration is good. So, if you know these tunes and if you like them, you may buy this CD; it is not a bad one. It is not the one that I prefer because it is a question of personal choice but it is at least a good one.

Average customer rating:

Beniamino Gigli: Historical Recordings 1927 - 1951 Manufacturer: Gala ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Gigli, Beniamino | ( G ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Donizetti, Gaetano | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Giordano, Umberto | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Handel, George Frideric | H to L | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Halevy, Fromental | H to L | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Mascagni, Pietro | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Massenet, Jules | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Puccini, Giacomo | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | 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 CDs Under $7 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Very Best of Beniamino Gigli Mario del Monaco: Historical Recordings 1950 - 60 The Very Best of Franco Corelli The Legendary Enrico Caruso: 21 Favorite Arias Prima Voce: Beniamino Gigli Vol. I ASIN: B000001XLX Release Date: 2000-06-06

Tracks:

1. Rigoletto: Bella Figlia Dell'Amore
2. Les pecheurs de perles: Mi Par D'udir Ancora
3. Xerxes: Fronde Tenere... Ombra Mai Fu
4. Lelisir d'amore': Una Furtiva Lagrima
5. I Pagliacci: No, Pagliaccio Non Son!
6. Cavalleria Rusticana: Mamma Quel Vino E Generoso
7. Andrea Chenier: Si Fui Soldato
8. TOSCA: E Lucevan Le Stelle
9. Carmen: Il Fior Che Avevi A Me
10. Aida: Se Quel Querrier
11. La Boheme: O Soave Fanciulla
12. Don Giovanni: Il Mio Tesoro Intanto
13. Il Trovatore: Di Quella Pira
14. La forza del destino: La Vita E Inferno All'infinito O Tu Che In Seno Agli Angeli
15. Andrea Chenier: Come Un Bel Di Maggio
16. La Juive: Rachel, Quand Du Seigneur
17. Werther: Ah! Non Mi Ridestar
18. Otello: Gia Nella Notte Densa

Track Listings:

1. Giuliani: Music for Violin and Guitar
2. Great Opera Overtures & Marches
3. Grieg: Popular Orchestral Suites
4. Guarnieri: Twenty Estudos
5. Harbour
6. Hercules
7. In Expression
8. Janacek: Violin Sonata, Capriccio, etc. / Benedek, Hlawatsch, Line, et al
9. Josef Strauss Edition Vol. 14
10. La Jeune France

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Dawn Explosion

Dvorák: Symphony No. 1; Legends Op. 59, Nos. 1-5

I'm Back but Real Love is Gone

Conjure: Music for the Texts of Ishmael Reed

Green Thing

Great [Import]

Girl in the Other Room [Import] [Limited Edition]

Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites; The Last Spring; Concerto

I Got Mexico: The RCA Victor Singles A's & B's [Import]

Hollywood Madness

Hex Enduction Hour [Original recording remastered]

Hang-Ups [Import]

Greatest Freestyle Hits, Vol. 2 [Import]

Music in Me

Great Sessions