French and Italian Opera Arias

1. Carmen, opéra-comique in 4 acts Habanera
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra with Judith Forst
Conducted by Mario Bernardi

2. Carmen, opéra-comique in 4 acts Séguédille
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra with Judith Forst
Conducted by Mario Bernardi

3. Roméo et Juliette, opera Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle?
Composed by Charles Gounod
Performed by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra with Judith Forst
Conducted by Mario Bernardi

4. Werther, opera Air des lettres
Composed by Jules Massenet
Performed by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra with Judith Forst
Conducted by Mario Bernardi

5. Béatrice et Bénédict, opera, H. 138 Dieu! Que viens-je d'entendre?... Il m'en souvient
Composed by Hector Berlioz
Performed by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra with Judith Forst
Conducted by Mario Bernardi

6. I Capuleti e i Montecchi, opera Se Romeo t'uccise un figlio...La tremenda ultrice spada
Composed by Vincenzo Bellini
Performed by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra with Judith Forst
Conducted by Mario Bernardi

7. I Capuleti e i Montecchi, opera Deh! Tu, bell'anima
Composed by Vincenzo Bellini
Performed by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra with Judith Forst
Conducted by Mario Bernardi

8. Anna Bolena, opera Per questa fiamma indomita
Composed by Gaetano Donizetti
Performed by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra with Judith Forst
Conducted by Mario Bernardi

9. Il barbière di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), opera Una voce poco fa
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra with Judith Forst
Conducted by Mario Bernardi

10. La cenerentola (Cinderella), opera Nacqui all'affanno...Non più mesta
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra with Judith Forst
Conducted by Mario Bernardi

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:

Great for kids!
Mediocre Sound Quality
I was pleased
The Most Famous Opera Arias
Okay But.... - a review of "The Most Famous Opera Arias"

The Most Famous Opera Arias

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Most Famous Opera Duets
The Best of Italian Opera
The #1 Opera Album
The Best Opera Album in the World...Ever!
Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco...

ASIN: B000002SCE
Release Date: 1994-07-19

Tracks:

Rigoletto: Act I - Caro nome
Rigoletto: Act III - La donna e mobile
Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro
Carmen: Act I - Habanera: La voila...L'amour est oiseau rebelle
Orfeo ed Euridice: Act III - Che faro senz Euridice
Madama Butterfly: Act III - Un bel di, vedremo
Romeo et Juliette: Act I - Ah! je veux vivre
Le nozze di Figaro: Act II - Voi che sapete che cosa e amor
Samson et Dalila: Act II - Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix
Tosca:: Act II - Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore
Aida: Act I-Celeste Aida
Il Barbiere Di Siviglia: Act I-Una voce poco fa
Lakme: Act II - Ou va la jeune indoue?
La Wally: Act I - Ebben? Ne andro lontano
La Boheme: Act I - Che gelida manina
Die Zauberflote: Act II-Die Holle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen

Customer Reviews:

Great for kids!.......2007-06-27

I'm generally not a fan of music "samplers," but opera can be tough to introduce to children. And hey--even adults played cards, ate, and talked through the recitative sections of the early operas while they waited for the next aria! So I feel that getting kids hooked on opera through great arias probably can't hurt (the next 10 years or so will determine whether I'm right or not). My 4-year-old loves this CD; it's a delight to watch her imitate Anna Moffo (the sincerest form of flattery, for sure). Highly recommended resource for introducing young kids to opera. More top picks: Siberell's Bravo! Brava! A Night at the Opera, and the Black Dog Opera Library CDs.

Mediocre Sound Quality.......2007-03-31

If you note the album was released in 1994, and includes selections from many years prior, you will understand that the quality of the sound engineering is not going to dazzle your ear.

It's a very nice collection to hum along to, but don't expect shivers down your spine as the sound quality is not sufficient to reproduce the dynamic range of these voices.

I was pleased.......2007-02-18

I am by no means an opera expert, but found this to be a wonderful CD. Along with the songs I already knew I liked (such as a song from Carmen,) I found many others I enjoyed. In fact, Samson et Dahlila turned out to be my favorite. If you are just getting started or at any point in your adventure of opera, I would recommend this one.

The Most Famous Opera Arias.......2007-01-05

I was completely surprised in the product as well as the time in which it was delivered.

I would not only refer this seller but I will come back myself.

Okay But.... - a review of "The Most Famous Opera Arias".......2006-08-18

My daughter (6 y.o.) and I like opera; but sitting for two hours to watch Turandot is just not within the realm of possibilities for my 4 year old son right now... so I was looking for an opera CD for the car. He will sit and listen to short arias.

This was the first we purchased and it is okay but not great.

Problem #1 - where is Wagner. No Wagner?
Problem#2 - Elena Obraztsova - she sounds like Carmen's grandmother. Rather matronly for a vixen (imho--lol)

Three Stars. [C+] Great Price and good sound quality for the car. The operatic styles of some of the performers are antiquated and frilly sounding, but I would probably buy this CD again.

Note: We purchased and really preferred "The # 1 Opera Album". It has more selections and better artists in our opinion. Also it's a two CD set. Just something to consider.

Average customer rating:

Bright Star
Anna Netrebko: Opera Arias
First DGG album--very promising
Remarkable!
Beautiful voice, beautiful girl

Anna Netrebko: Opera Arias
Anna Netrebko , Elina Garanca , Gianandrea Noseda , Wiener Philharmoniker , and Hector Berlioz
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sempre Libera
Russian Album
Violetta: Arias and Duets from Verdi's La Traviata [Includes DVD]
Anna Netrebko - The Woman, The Voice
Verdi - La Traviata

ASIN: B00008MLSH
Release Date: 2003-09-09

Tracks:

Idomeneo: Recitativo ed Aria "Quando avran fine omai" - Mozart
Don Giovanni: Recitativo accompagnato e Rondo "Crudele!" - Mozart
Benvenuto Cellini: Cavatine "Entre l'amour et le devoir" - Berlioz
La Sonnambula: Recitativo e Cavatina "Care compagne, et voi, ternei amici" - Bellini
Manon: Air du Cours-la-Reine "Suis-je gentille ainsi?" - Massenet
Lucia di Lammermoor: Scena e Cavatina "Ancor non giunse!" - Donizet
Faust: Ricitatif "Les grands seigneurs ont seuls des airs..." - Gounod
Rusalka: "Mesicku na nebli hlubokem" - Dvorak
La Boheme: "Quando me'n vo' (Musette's Waltz)" - Puccini

Amazon.com

Here, a year after her sensational Metropolitan debut as Prokofiev's Natasha from War and Peace, comes the debut solo recital album of 30-something soprano Anna Netrebko. She hails from southern Russia, and her emergence from the life of a conservatory student has a touch of the Cinderella tale—the bit, that is, about being discovered by Gergiev mopping floors for the Kirov as a part-time job and making her way into the Kirov's ranks. Later she became a favorite at San Francisco Opera, trying on for size a swath of comic and dramatic roles. Opera Arias parades Netrebko's way through a spectrum of vocal styles and characters. This mesmerizing lyric soprano engages--at times thrillingly grips--the listener with an imagination far greater than the disc's title (couldn't someone have dreamt up a less ridiculously bland handle?), but most significantly leaves an impression that the enterprise here isn't merely about singing. Netrebko's Ilia and Donna Anna are flesh-and-blood characters in real situations, as Mozart wanted them to be. The results are a bit more uneven with her bel canto heroines, where the required balance between Netrebko's emotional identification, so obviously a forte, and the musical phrasing thereof is a delicate one. Her shading of Lucia's mood swings, vocal and emotional, isn't consistently compelling. On the other hand, Netrebko uncovers gemlike facets not just in Gounod's "Jewel Song" but particularly in her stunning, passionately realized and beautifully phrased Manon (even if her trills disappoint). A shame that samples of her Russian repertory are missing here, though Netrebko's "Song to the Moon" from Dvorak's Rusalka concentrates and sets a mood with enviable mastery. Netrebko's musical intelligence and theatrical savvy seem destined to ensure her a magnificent career, so it's no surprise that many fans are already clamoring for more than the tease of an aria collection. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

Bright Star.......2007-07-13

If you like opera, if you like the lyric soprano, if the vocal range of the colortura causes goose bumps to rise, Anna Netrebko is a must. Roberta Peters, Beverly Sills, Anna Moffo, Joan Southerland, Maria Callas, she takes a back seat to none of them,she sits he front seat with the best of them and guess what? She is beautiful too.

Anna Netrebko: Opera Arias.......2007-03-29

Her voice takes my breath away, I fell in love with her.
I highly reccomend it.

First DGG album--very promising.......2007-02-01

Anna Netrebko has rapidly become a first tier star in opera. This album, her first at DGG, illustrates why some rate her so highly; it also illustrates some of the questions that some have raised about her. All in all, though, a very nice CD.

A few selections illustrate:

Mozart, Idomeneo, "Quando avran fine omai." She displays a rich and clean voice. There is a very attractive quality to her voice manifest in this work.

Mozart, Don Giovanni, "Crudele? Ah no, mio bene!...Non mi dir." This is Donna Anna's poignant aria, given her circumstances. Netrebko displays rich tones. This is a well sung cut. "Non mi dir" shows off some agility in her voice.

Donizetti, Lucia di Lammermoor. "Ancor non giunse!. . .Regnava nel silenzio. . .Quando rapito in estasi" Something of a disappointment. Coloratura is not her forte (and see her "Sempre Libera" CD for further confirmation). She clearly shows off a rich and lush voice. I think that she displays some characterization here that is compelling. She hits high notes cleanly. But her ornamentation is indifferent, and she appears unable to trill. I know, some say that that is irrelevant. But compare Beverly Sills' version of this work, with almost too many trills extraordinarily well sung and her florid technique, and this version simply pales.

Bellini, La Sonnambula. "Care compagna. . .Come per me sereno." Again, Netrebko displays a rich voice. She displays an agile voice and the ability to hit the high notes. Her rendition of "come per sereno" is spirited.

Gounod, Faust. "The Jewel Song." Very smooth singing; animated singing. But the technique does not measure up to Anna Moffo's version--let alone Joan Sutherland's.

Puccini, La Boheme. "Musetta's Waltz." Yikes! What a version. Brava Netrebko. Her darker voice is very well suited to this. The characterization of Musetta seems on the mark. A wonderful cut.

All in all, this shows the promise of Netrebko. It also indicates where her strengths are and where she does not do so well (coloratura work). However, this is a very nice introduction to her work and her art.

Remarkable!.......2006-11-02

Perhaps her voice is not as candid as some other sopranos, but her rendition of the score and interpretative expression make her and exquisite hearing pleasure. This recording shows a more matured artist capable of capturing the role dynamics and emotions.

Yes, her voice is not as lyric as you might expect, and some roles may sound a little big heavy (sometimes maybe bordering verismo), but definitively at stated before hearing her is a gloriuos pleasure, almost as good as looking at her.

Beautiful voice, beautiful girl.......2005-11-22

When I heard Anna Netrebko singing Quando Men Vo I was stunned by a voice of stunning purity, great power and sheer beauty. The best Musetta I've heard! Her Song to the moon is stunning and I love her Bel Canto! Anna Netrebko has a very bright future ahead of her. Her Mozart is top class!

The Legendary Enrico Caruso: 21 Favorite Arias

Average customer rating:

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

The Legendary Enrico Caruso: 21 Favorite Arias

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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

ASIN: B000003EOH
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

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

Amazon.com

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Average customer rating:

Voice of the 20th Century..
The OTHER essential Bjoerling CD; 10 stars! 20!

Jussi Bjorling: Opera Arias
Giacomo Puccini , Umberto Giordano , Francesco Cilea , Giacomo Meyerbeer , Charles Gounod , Jules Massenet , Friedrich von Flotow , Gioachino Rossini , Nils Grevillius , and Jussi Bjorling
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
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Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002S05
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Tracks:

Act II: 'Una furtiva lagrima': L'Elisir d'Amore
Act III: 'Ah! si ben mio coll'essere': Verdi: Il Trovatore
Act I: Di tu se fedele': Un Ballo in Maschera
Act I: 'Se quel guerrier': Aida
Act I: 'Recitar!...Vesti la giubba': I Pagliacci
Act I: 'Che gelida manina': La Boh
Act I: 'O soave fanciulla': La Boh
Act I: 'Recondita armonia': Tosca
Act Three: 'E lucevan le stelle': Tosca
Act Three: 'Ch'ella mi creda libero': La Fanciulla del West
Act Three: 'Nessun dorma!': Turandot
Act Three: 'Amor ti vieta': Fedora
Act II: 'E la solita storia': L'Arlesiana
'Mi batte, il cor... O paradiso': L'Africaine
Act III: 'Salut! demeure chaste et pure': Faust
Act III: 'Je suis seul!...Ah, fuyez, douce image': Manon
Act III: 'M appari tutt'amor': Martha
Cujus animan: Stabat Mater

Customer Reviews:

Voice of the 20th Century.........2000-07-13

Björling tops most polls as "singer of the 20th century", and justly so. Whether one prefers his velvety,lyrically smooth voice of the 30s and 40s, or his more full-bodied, darker power-tenor of the late 50s (he was ready to take on Lohengrin and Otello just before his death), no other human voice has left a legacy of Björling's caliber in recording history.

This collection is a wonderful presentation of the young Björling. His voice was said to have a direct appeal to emotions. Listen to "Ch'ella mi creda libero" with its almost extraterrestial "lift" and try to keep the lump in your throat from growing!

The-37 "O Paradiso" is a fantastic display of power blended with beauty - which is also the case with the Tosca arias presented here.

"Che Gelida Manina" is by many regarded as Björling's signature aria, just as "La Boheme" was said to be his signature opera. The -36 version here shows Björling aged 25 with wonderful silvery tone and grasp of message, problems with Italian pronounciation or not.

Björling never lapsed into self parodic sobbing or exaggerated shouts or gliding "loops" to get a message across. He insisted on sticking to what the composer actually had written down...and within these vocal restraints, Björling still managed to portray an unexplored universe of human feelings. "Vesti La Giubba" is a good example of this: no sobbing or bitter laughter but downright hartbreaking nonetheless. True art!

His -44 studio version of "Nessun Dorma" makes an interesting comparison with his -59 recording from the complete Turandot. Touch and go which one to go for as the second or third best version of "...Dorma" ever in recording history. The shining beacon is in my opinion from a radio concert in Sweden in 1944, where Björling for once actually DOES go beyond the strict readings of the work. His final B just stretches on and on and on into eternity - read heaven.

As for his famous ringing high notes, his final D flat on Cujus Animan may be THE one most beautiful sound I've ever heard from a human being!

If you do not have any Björling CDs, this may be a perfect introduction to his art.

And where to go from there? Well,"O Paradiso" is one of many excellent collections from the 50s. There's also a Norwegian compilation called "jussi's Beste" (which sold to platinum in Norway 35 years after his death...). This CD contains among other highlights the wonderful Christmas song "O Helga Natt", in which the final high note is sung with such force that it threatens to blow your speakers to oblivion, never mind your ears...(if it is the last sound I will ever hear, it is OK by me...).

If you want a complete opera recording, you just have to invest your hard earned cash (or bank credit as is the case with me) on Beechams "La Boheme".

Someone said elsewhere that once you have listened to Björling, you may never want to listen to any other tenor...ever: HOW VERY TRUE!

The OTHER essential Bjoerling CD; 10 stars! 20!.......1999-03-15

Along with the "Pearl Fishers Duet" CD, to me this is the other essential Bjoerling. (The more than 2 dozen friends who've received those 2 CDs as a gift can testify to that!)

The "Vesti" is completely heartbreaking, maybe because there's none of the histrionic sobbing that usually accompanies it. And of course there is that 1945 recording of "Nessun dorma!", which I have seen referred to as one of the 5 greatest recordings of all time. The arias from Tosca are also outstanding. The only addition that would make this perfect CD "even more perfect" would be the inclusion of the Gonoud "Ah! Leve-toi, soleil!"

Although I have loved classical music since I was a kid, until Jussi every tenor I ever heard sounded like an opera parody. Jussi is different; he doesn't make you think "Now there's a guy taking a deep breath and singing loud." To steal a line from Amadeus, when he opens his mouth you "hear the voice of God"; absolute, divine beauty, untainted by ego or eccentricity. that seems to flow without strain or effort.

Tracks:

Celeste Aida
Amor Ti Vieta
Di All'azzurro Spazio [From "Andrea Chenier]
O Soave Fanciulla
Fleur Que Tu M'Avais Jetee
O Paradiso
Tal Giocco/Vesti la Giubba
Stolta Paura l'Amor - Mario Lanza,
Donna E Mobile
Vesti la Giubba
M'Appari
Nessun Dorma
Testa Adorata
Come un Bel Di Maggio
Lamento Di Federico
Dio Ti Giocondi - Licia Albanese, Mario Lanza

Customer Reviews:

Mario Lanza Opera.......2007-05-12

This CD of mario is absolutely fabulous. It is the only recording I have managed to find of him singing Nessum Dorma. It is not to be missed. One of operas greatest.

Outstanding.......2006-11-06

Hey, this is Mario Lanza, it can't get any better. A great collection of the best Arias!

Unsurpassed!.......2005-12-13

I am sick and tired of all these technical reviews and critical remarks leveled against everything Mario Lanza did in his short life!

True, musically Mario made some mistakes....but so has every other great tenor in history....from Caruso to Pavarotti and beyond!
And perhaps he sang some arias with too much fortissimo....so what?
Every single song on here, be it among his best or worst work, is a masterpiece when compared to renditions of the same arias by other, more legit and operatically acclaimed tenors.

In order to "get" Lanza one must discard all notions of "finesse", "grace" and " elegance" for Lanza operated, and sang on raw, unadulterated, gut wrenching emotion.
THAT was the genious of Mario Lanza.

We can argue for another 40 years as to his operatic legitimacy...for nought!
Lanza was a VOCAL master and his approach to song was as unconventional and idiosyncratic as was his life.
That's what makes these songs so special and unique.

No one other than perhaps Corelli had the voice and the balls to sing with such uninhibited emotion and that's what this CD is all about.
It is a testament of a great voice.
The fact that Lanza did not have the benefit of a great conductor or teacher guiding him through most of his career, makes these recordings all the more great.

He sang the music as he felt it and that's a big no-no in the stuffy, overbearing and self-righteous world of opera.
Lanza earned millions of dollars because his voice touched all who heard it. His art brought more people to opera than all the leading tenors of his day combined....and this during the golden age of tenors and opera as a whole!

The only word of lesser praise I can offer is the inclusion of the duets. Mario did not have the temprament for duet singing, and subsequently he ended up drowning his partners out, or engaging in a sort of vocal warfare which was the case with much of what he and Grayson recorded during his MGM days.
The arias are great....the duets are medicore on all accounts.

In closing, I apologize for not having spen time on the actual songs. It's been done to death.
All I can say is that, if you wish to hear opera arias sung in a way such as will never be heard again in our lifetime, then this is a CD for you.
If you want proper, technically proficient opera, sung by some big name opera jerk, then stick to that....you'll only end up feeling like all the other good people who have so much negative to say about this CD.

BMG Needs to hire Folks in the Know.......2004-06-15

There are several cuts on this CD that Lnaza did in fact record much better at other times. I have all his records LPs, 78s and movies and I wish BMG would consult a Lanza fan,or me,for the cuts would make the perfect CD. I think its great that we have such a wonderful collection of recordings of Lanza and this one warts and all is still one of the best. The best Lanza set was the RCA LP 2 record set put out in the 70s with Lanza on the cover in M. Butterfly. Where oh where can it be??? Long live Mario Lanza!

Mario Lanza WAS a trained opera singer.......2003-11-13

To the reviewer from Michigan who said Mario never performed an opera on stage, you are wrong. He did two performances as Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly before going off to Hollywood.

Mario had extensive operatic training from some top teachers. He was sought after by many opera companies, including the Met in New York.

Tracks:

Falstaff: Sul fil d'un soffio etesio
Chbin: Aubade: Vive amour qui reve
La Wally: Ebben?... Ne andrntana
Hdiade: Il est doux, il est bon
I Capuleti e i Montecchi: Eccomi... Oh! quante volte
La Boh: Donde lieta usci al tuo grido d'amore
Mefistofele: L'altra notte
Faust: Air des bijoux
Don Pasquale: Quel guardo il cavaliere
La Boh: Si. Mi chiamano Mimi
Valurile Dunarii: Muzica

Customer Reviews:

To me, her best.......2007-07-01

I have several CDs of Gheorghiu. This is the one I prefer. I also have the DVD of her and her husband in Elisir. It was entertaining, but like in her Casta Diva disc, I didn't think her coloratura passed muster. I thought her singing in the Verdi disc was anemic. Every time she bursts into Tu che le vanita, I immediately and always think of Callas. That was one of the things that hooked me on opera in the first place, though I'm not a big fan of Callas. It just isn't there when Gheorghiu does it, though that's only one aria on the disc. I think Gheorghiu is a little overrated (still), and I think it came about when she burst on the scene in lovebird duets with her husband. But in this recital, I think she does an adequate job, and I still have her other CDs (and more amazing, bought them in the first place). She has a pretty voice and uses it well enough I think in at least this recital.

One of Gheorghiu's best recitals.......2007-01-09

I have played this CD numerous times since buying it many years ago. Whilst not 'perfect' to some, I still think it is one of Gheorghiu's best recitals recorded.

exquisite!.......2006-11-02

In this recording Ms. Gheorghiu shows why she is one of the most extraordinary voices of our time. Her phrasing, musicality and expression is impecable. I seriously recommend this CD to anyone who wants to know how an opera singer is supposed to be heard.

Angela Gheoghiu is Wonderful.......2006-08-06

I love this album I can listen to her all day long.

A Pleasant Surprise.......2006-02-24

I purchased this CD for one specific selection, and to my surprise found that I thoroughly enjoyed the entire recording! Ms Gheorghiu has a wonderful voice and knows how to "sell" an aria!!

Luciano Pavarotti - Nessun dorma (Arias & Duets)

Average customer rating:

Luciano Pavarotti - Nessun dorma (Arias & Duets)
Luciano Pavarotti , Mirella Freni , and Katia Ricciarelli
Manufacturer: Decca
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

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Similar Items:

Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco...
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Luciano Pavarotti - Passione - Neapolitan Songs
O Sole Mio: Favorite Neapolitan Songs
Great Duets & Trios / Sutherland, Horne, Pavarotti

ASIN: B00004Z32N
Release Date: 2001-03-27

Tracks:

La Traviata: Libiamo ne' lieti calici (Brindisi)
Werther: Pourquoi me reveiller
L'Elisir d'Amore: Una parola ... Chiedi all'aura
La Gioconda: Cielo e mar
La Traviata: Parigi, o cara
L'africana: Mi batte il cor ... O paradiso
Turandot: Nessun dorma
Petite Messe solennelle: Domine Deus
Requiem: Ingemisco
La Traviata: Lungi da lei ... De' miei bollenti spiriti
Macbeth: Ah, la paterna mano
I lombardi: La mia letizia infondere
Otello: Gia nella notte densa

Average customer rating:

Look out world
What fun!
I LOVE YOU, BRYN!
awesome..
Why do people think this guy can SING???

Bryn Terfel - Opera Arias / MET, Levine
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Richard Wagner , Jacques Offenbach , Charles Gounod , Alexander Borodin , Gaetano Donizetti , Gioachino Rossini , Giuseppe Verdi , James Levine , Bryn Terfel , and The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
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

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Similar Items:

Bryn Terfel - Simple Gifts
Cecilia & Bryn ~ Cecilia Bartoli duets Bryn Terfel
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Bryn Terfel Sings Favorites
Bryn Terfel - Handel Arias / Scottish CO, Mackerras

ASIN: B000001GP8
Release Date: 1996-04-09

Tracks:

Le nozze di Figaro: Non pirai, farfallone amoroso
Don Giovanni: Deh, vieni alla finestra
Don Giovanni: Madamina, il catalogo uesto
Cosi fan tutte: Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo
Die Zauberfl Der Vogelfer bin ich ja
Tannher: Wie Todesahnung Drung deckt die Lande...O du mein holder Abendstern
Der Fliegende Holler: Die Frist ist um
Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Allez!...Pour te livrer combat...Seintille, diamant
Faust: Vous qui faites l'endormie
Prince Igor: Ni sna ni otdycha izmucennoj duse
Don Pasquale: Bella siccome un angelo
La Cenerentola: Miei rampolli femminini
Macbeth: Perfidi! All'anglo contra me v'unite!
Falstaff: Ehi! paggio!...L'Onore!

Customer Reviews:

Look out world.......2006-01-20

Maestro Terfel throws down the vocal gauntlet in this tour de force offering of selected opera arias and dares any male singer, future or current, to pick it up. From the elegance and humor of Mozart, to the giddy delights of Rossini, and the vocal power of Verdi, Bryn Terfel diplays clearly why he is the preeeminent bass-baritone of our age. Short of some misguided forays into American Musical Theater, there seems to be nothing that this proetean singer cannot do. James Levine leads the bravura Met Orchestra with equal parts style and substance. A must have for a fan of great singing and artful music making.

What fun!.......2005-11-22

This is definitely the best recording of the selections chosen from "le Nozze de Figaro" I have ever heard. Terfel has a wonderful sense of musical humour, and is able to make his voice do seemingly, whatever he likes. In fact I think one could liken his voice to a big red bouncy ball, it's so round and fun to play with, you can tell that he himself has fun using it. However this is the only one of his albums I have really fallen in love with, in spite of listening to quite a few. Some of the same pieces are on his other cds, but not as well-sung as in this one.

I LOVE YOU, BRYN!.......2005-06-03

Terfel is amazing. The voice is warm, wide and sensous, and the acting is top-notch. This recital is the best recording I have heard of him outside full operas, where he is (of course) at his best. Every peice on it is a gem, but especially the first five Mozart arias. You will never hear a better Catologue Aria. I make it a point to listen to his at least once a week.
If you are an opera lover and (God forbid!) have not yet stumbled upon Terfel, this is an excellent introduction. And by the way, you needn't be a singer to appreciate his voice - I know very little of the technicalities of singing (about as much as a year in the church choir can give you), but I play the violin and we violinists are very keen on singers who know what they are doing. In the words of my violin teacher, Terfel is "charming!"

awesome.........2004-03-10

this is an awesome cd. if you're a fan of Bryn Terfel, you should buy this. you'll enjoy every song in this cd. I also recommend his recital dvd.

ps) don't listen to what the guy under my review said. i don't think this person knows how to sing.

Why do people think this guy can SING???.......2004-02-09

It baffles me that people think that Bryn Terfel is a great singer. It sounds like he is SINGING HOLDING HIS NOSE CLOSED. Absolutely AWFUL. Just because you can sing LOUD and POWERFUL does NOT mean you are GOOD. I would rather listen to my dishwasher running than this stuff!! The TONE of the voice is what matters to MOST people, and this guy doesn't have it. If you want to hear a beautiful voice, do yourself a favor and go buy Josh Groban's new CD, Closer. You won't regret it!!

Average customer rating:

Some of Montsi's finest singing
Mon Dieu! C'est merveilleux!!!!
A Masterpiece,with the original LP cover art !
CABALLE'S EXQUISITE FRENCH ARIAS FINALLY ON CD!

French Opera Arias (Dig)

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
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

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French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Puccini Arias
HOMAGE: The Age of the Diva
Russian Album
Spirituals
Strauss: Four Last Songs; Death and Transfiguration; Wagner: Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde

ASIN: B000FBHSO0
Release Date: 2006-08-08

Tracks:

Il Etait Un Roi De Thule/Ah! Je Ris De Me Voir Si Belle En Ce Miroir
Voici La Vaste Plaine Et Le Desert De Feu
Je Veux Vivre Dans Le Reve
O Beau Pays De La Touraine
Depuis Le Jour Ou Je Me Suis Donnee
C'est Des Contrebandiers Le Refuge Ordinaire
Ah! Me Voila Seule/O Mon Miroir Fidele
Tu, Tu, Amore? Tu? - Placido Domingo

Customer Reviews:

Some of Montsi's finest singing.......2007-02-27

I've no idea why DG waited so long to release this superb recital but thank God they did! It captures Caballe in golden voice in some of her less recorded French roles. She is quite daring here and not scared of high notes, difficult turns or trills. Some of her ideas are very exciting if not always entirely accurate but it is rare for a voice of such richness and beauty to achieve this agility so no complaints. My favourites are the magical Depuis le jour, and the first aria from Huguenots. Both benefiting from her endless legato, unmistakable pianissimo and phrasing. I doubt her French is idiomatic enough for native speakers but DG wouldn't be able to find authentic French voices of such beauty even if their life depended on it. As a filler, instead of the otherwise fine Manon Lescaut duet with Domingo, DG should have put the French Manon Caballe did with the wonderful French tenor Alain Vanzo in the late 60s. I wonder what else is lying in those DG vaults...

Mon Dieu! C'est merveilleux!!!!.......2007-02-06

I have just seen Montserrat Caballé, after more than 50 years on stage, in a painfull charity recital on my hometown, Málaga (Spain). How cruel time is. Fortunately we have records like this one to keep alive in our ears and souls the rare beauty, sure technique and great artistry that was Caballé. We won't hear anything like it again. There are many others, but this one is as good a starting place as any to experience her magic. And beware, after it, you'll be spoil forever.

A Masterpiece,with the original LP cover art !.......2006-09-17

This is a must have recording for any Caballe fan.The sound quality is incredible,and she sings these french arias wonderfully.This recording is from 1970 and as recently been reissued with the original cover art! I have been waiting for years for DG to reissue this remarkable record complete on cd.Caballe has the most beautiful voice in recorded history and if you buy this cd you will here the beauty for yourself.I really loved her rendition of depuis le jour,stunning.This recording is full of caballe's sublime piannissimis and golden age forte high notes!I can't recommend this cd high enough !

CABALLE'S EXQUISITE FRENCH ARIAS FINALLY ON CD!.......2006-08-11

This is vintage Caballe from the diva's extensive discography that has been MIA for years. Items from this wonderful album were reissued on various Polygram anthologies and collections, but everything is together for the very first time. These arias are performed with frankness and verve instead of gallic sensitivity (and I will not vouch for perfect French pronunciation either), but the overall singing is spectacularly beautiful! Her performance of the Faust scene recalls the diva's Met debut (and the performance is more spontaneous than on her rather uneven complete recording of the opera). This is her second recording of "Depuis le jour", and this time in better sound and without the flat notes that plagued the first recording. She negotiates the coloratura of the Huguenots and Juliette arias admirably, and her renditions of the Thais and Micaela's arias are among the best. A nice bonus is the Manon Lescaut duet with Domingo taken from the historic Bing Farewell Gala album (although the audio balance is problematic). Like Caballe's French album, the Bing Gala items have also been reissued piecemeal, and this collector would love a reissue of the complete Gala, including the unreleased items.

UPDATE: The DG website has announced the CD reissue of the Bing Gala in the coming months. It doesn't look like it will include any previously unissued items, but stay tuned.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Ceci N'Est Pas Recov

Healing with The Lord's Prayer and Reiki

Downunda [Import] [Original recording remastered]

At Eastman [Live]

Get a Whiff of This [Import]

Keith Barrow [Import]

Holiday Magic

Khachaturian : Piano Works - Murray McLachlan

I Just Started Hatin' Cheatin' Songs Today/It Was Always So Easy (To Find An Unhappy Wo [Import]

Glenn Miller's G.I.'s in Paris

III

Fire on the Moon [CD-single] [Import]

Freestyle: The Classic Sound [Import]

Washed

Saints Are Coming