La Follia

1. Sonata in D minor, Op.3/12
Composed by Paolo Benedetto Bellinzani
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

2. Sinfonie di Concerto Grosso No 7 in G minor
Composed by Alessandro Scarlatti
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

3. Sinfonie di Concerto Grosso No 9 in G minor
Composed by Alessandro Scarlatti
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

4. The Fairy Queen, semi-opera, Z. 629 I: Prélude
Composed by Henry Purcell
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

5. The Fairy Queen, semi-opera, Z. 629 X: Chaconne
Composed by Henry Purcell
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

6. Abdelazer, or, the Moor's Revenge, incidental music, Z. 570 II: Rondeau
Composed by Henry Purcell
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

7. Prophetess, or The History of Dioclesian, semi-opera, Z. 627 IX: Country Dance
Composed by Henry Purcell
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

8. The Virtuous Wife, or, Good Luck at Last, incidental music, Z. 611 III: Slow Air
Composed by Henry Purcell
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

9. The Virtuous Wife, or, Good Luck at Last, incidental music, Z. 611 VI: Hornpipe
Composed by Henry Purcell
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

10. The Virtuous Wife, or, Good Luck at Last, incidental music, Z. 611 VII: Minuet
Composed by Henry Purcell
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

11. The Virtuous Wife, or, Good Luck at Last, incidental music, Z. 611 VIII: Minuet
Composed by Henry Purcell
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

12. The Virtuous Wife, or, Good Luck at Last, incidental music, Z. 611 IX
Composed by Henry Purcell
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

13. Overture-Suite in C major ("Wassermusik", "Water Music") in C major, TWV 55:C3 Bourrée
Composed by Georg Philipp Telemann
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

14. Overture-Suite in C major ("Wassermusik", "Water Music") in C major, TWV 55:C3 Gavotte
Composed by Georg Philipp Telemann
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

15. Overture-Suite in C major ("Wassermusik", "Water Music") in C major, TWV 55:C3 Harlequinade
Composed by Georg Philipp Telemann
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

16. Overture-Suite in C major ("Wassermusik", "Water Music") in C major, TWV 55:C3 Der Sturmende Aeolus
Composed by Georg Philipp Telemann
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

17. Overture-Suite in C major ("Wassermusik", "Water Music") in C major, TWV 55:C3 Canarie
Composed by Georg Philipp Telemann
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

18. Overture-Suite for trumpet, 2 oboes, oboe da caccia, bassoon, strings & continuo in D major La Trompette
Composed by Georg Philipp Telemann
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

19. Overture-Suite for trumpet, 2 oboes, oboe da caccia, bassoon, strings & continuo in D major Gigue
Composed by Georg Philipp Telemann
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

20. Concerto for recorder, flute, strings & continuo in E minor, TWV 52:e1 Largo
Composed by Georg Philipp Telemann
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

21. Concerto for recorder, flute, strings & continuo in E minor, TWV 52:e1 Presto
Composed by Georg Philipp Telemann
with Christian Mendoze , Musica Antiqua Ensemble

Tracks:

I. Folias Antiguas: Folia: Rodrigo Martinez
I. Folias Antiguas: Recercada Quarta Sobre La Folia
I. Folias Antiguas: Folia: Para Quien Crie Cabellos
I. Folias Antiguas: Recercada Ottava Sobre La Folia
I. Folias Antiguas: Folia: Hoy Comamos Y Bebamos
II. Diferencias Sobre Las Folias
III. Follias
IV. Couplets De Folies

Customer Reviews:

One of the best "La Folias".......2006-09-11

This CD contains a selection of Folia variations from Spain (mostly), Italy and France over a period of about 200 years. Savall and his ensemble are among the best -- their playing has a great richness to it. A very good anthology -- if you love "La Folia", you can't go wrong with this CD.

Amazing variety and delight.......2005-07-02

This collection contains dances and variations written on an old Spanish dance pattern. While the entire disc can be said to include only a handful of different harmonies, the endless sets of variations are anything but boring. Instead, they constitue a musical journey that takes you through three countries and over two hundred years of music-making.

The journey begins in Spain, around the time Columbus made his famous voyages. The first variations are filled with spirit and joy and are both wild in nature and yet refined and exquisite under Savall's fingertips. After a set of five wonderful pieces, there next comes a later Spanish piece for gamba, continuo, and...castanets! This piece concludes with a rousing col legno section that needs to be heard to be believed.

Next is a great rendition of Corelli's Follias, also known as his 12th violin sonata. The volin part is played in a period arrangement for gamba, and Savall uses the treble instead of the bass viol for the part, which sounds great and offers a good opportunity to comapre the treble viol to the violin. Under Savall's touch, the viol gives the violin a run for the money! Great fun.

Lastly, we have Marais' masterful Follias d'Espangne, and after hearing them performed like they are here, what more can be said? This CD would make a wonderful purchase for yourself or a friend, and would be a great way to introduce someone to early music. This disc is yet another reminder of why Jordi Savall, as the previous reviewer so well put it, deserves to be considered among the top musicians of our day. Alia Vox does a great job of presenting these discs in great packages and with wonderful sound quality. The days of second-rate period instrument performances are coming to a close.

A master's musical magic.......2004-12-29

Jordi Savall's special talent for reviving lost or obscure music is no better illustrated than by this album. The "Folia" are country dances, sometimes frenetic in their rendition, other times sedate and even-paced. The full range of those characteristics are presented in this collection of interpreters of the "folia" idiom. From Roderigo Martinez in the last years of the 15th Century to the Versailles Court musician Marin Marais two centuries later, Savall provides a glorious musical tour of time and place. He seems almost to transport himself away from the present as he plays. Time and space are compressed to an environment limited only by the music's expressiveness. With the roots in peasant dances, that's a wide space which Savall fills with delightful playing. The broad spectrum of styles in the pieces grant this CD an equally expansive audience.

Savall's group, whose renditions of these pieces can only be described as exquisite, is the core of later ensembles. Each member brings a strong sense of the professional to the music. Even given such a background team, it is Savall's rich, precise and meaningful use of the da gamba that rightly predominates. He is an undisputed master of evoking the fullest expression the instrument can produce. The music leaves the listener breathless even when but seated as an audience. What must it be like for a professional dance troupe to perform to these sometimes frantic tones? The entire performance is dazzling and inspiring. This CD could be considered the acme of his performances - a judgment tempered only by knowledge of later and even more glorious releases.

Alia Vox has taken the lead in producing the most superior of recording techniques for Savall's musical skills. Savall is more than just the leading viola da gambist in the world. He could be elevated to the finest musician without overreaching his abilities. The sounds are crisp and elevating. It's easy to see why "La Folia" is considered a "desert island" CD choice by many. Listen to it for yourself, with one you love, and endear yourself to someone by offering it as a gift. In all cases, the rewards are valuable. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

a favorite.......2004-06-13

This compilation of Spanish-insprired dance music is often in the player. It's tuneful and accessible. A similar collection by the Purcell Quartet feels more stilted and less joyful.

Tracks:

Sonata I In D Major
Sonata I In D Major
Sonata I In D Major
Sonata I In D Major
Sonata I In D Major
Sonata II In B-Flat Major
Sonata II In B-Flat Major
Sonata II In B-Flat Major
Sonata II In B-Flat Major
Sonata II In B-Flat Major
Sonata III In C Major
Sonata III In C Major
Sonata III In C Major
Sonata III In C Major
Sonata III In C Major
Sonata IV In F Major
Sonata IV In F Major
Sonata IV In F Major
Sonata IV In F Major
Sonata IV In F Major
Sonata V In G Minor
Sonata V In G Minor
Sonata V In G Minor
Sonata V In G Minor
Sonata V In G Minor
Sonata VI In A Major
Sonata VI In A Major
Sonata VI In A Major
Sonata VI In A Major
Sonata VI In A Major

Tracks:

Sonata VII In D Minor
Sonata VII In D Minor
Sonata VII In D Minor
Sonata VII In D Minor
Sonata VIII In E Minor
Sonata VIII In E Minor
Sonata VIII In E Minor
Sonata VIII In E Minor
Sonata IX In A Major
Sonata IX In A Major
Sonata IX In A Major
Sonata IX In A Major
Sonata X In F Major
Sonata X In F Major
Sonata X In F Major
Sonata X In F Major
Sonata X In F Major
Sonata XI In E Major
Sonata XI In E Major
Sonata XI In E Major
Sonata XI In E Major
Sonata XI In E Major
Sonata XII In D Minor, 'Follia'

Amazon.com

Corelli's Op. 5 Violin Sonatas have always been admired by chamber music fans; there are a couple of good recordings of them already available. But this new one by Baroque specialist and virtuoso Andrew Manze and harpsichordist Richard Egarr presents the sonatas in such a bright, exciting, and improvisatory light that they seem brand new. During the composer's lifetime, these sonatas were widely played and tremendously influential; there's a good chance that it was assumed that virtuosi took what was written on the page as a starting point for embellishing and sheer showing off. Manze is breathtaking--fast, articulate, conscious of the genuinely good tunes some of these sonatas contain--and his variances from the written music are thrilling. Egarr knows how to embellish too, and he matches Manze every step of the way. If you're wondering if 131 minutes of only two instruments can keep your interest, don't worry. This will. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding musicality.......2006-07-13

Like a lot of Italian High Baroque music, the scores for these sonatas are rather minimalist, and played strictly as written, these pieces can come across as drab harmony exercises. Manze and Egarr take the score as merely a starting point, in true High Baroque fashion, improvising with an impressive combination of stylistic accuracy, control, and passion that one virtually never hears in classical music.

The fire and immediacy of these performances is exceptional - the sheer joy of the gigue from the A major sonata (no. 9) is something that will stay with you for a while, and the floating, delicate lyricism they give to the slow movements is simply haunting.

I've always thought that Corelli was, with the exceptions of Bach and perhaps Scarlatti, the best composer of the Baroque era, and this set stands comfortably with Trevor Pinnock's magisterial set of the Op. 6 concerti grossi as proof.

What The Baroque Alone Can Do.......2006-01-15

There's something in the greatest of baroque music that it alone can do - a kind of grace in suspended passion, angular sour biting lines that somehow are sweet without being sickly sweet, a mathematical precision that is not arid. It's all here in Arcangelo Corelli's great and generous gift to us all.

I think this music is best listened to on a night when one is physically ill or one is simply too spiritually ill to go much furthur without some sort of stroking of the soul. When played at such times Corelli asks nothing and gives everything - but what a sweet everything he gives!

Full of light and air, a transfiguration that is not heavy, a thoughtfulness that avoids the perils and pains of excessive introspection. There's a reason why people call this music humane and if you'd like to find out why purchase this double CD set and put it on when the burdens of your humanity are a bit too heavy.

What does the Book of Job tell us? That humans are born to trouble as the sparks fly. Here's music that's a true comfort for the likes of Job while he waits for the answers to his rightful questionings.

Music to delight the head--and heart.......2004-09-14

Confession: I have never loved these sonatas. Respected them, yes, of course; but with a polite detachment that their exclusively intellectual and technical achievements seemed to merit.

Well, this album changed all that. It's a masterly performance, effortlessly virtuosic, that shows forth the music in all its lapidary clarity. More than that, though: it is also luminously expressive, replete with moments of such unadorned and lyrical tenderness that the heart opens up, amazed.

For those who think they know this music no less than those who know they do not, Manze and Egarr's achievement is an exquisite revelation.

Captivating.......2003-09-02

I usually think of Corelli as nice "background music," pleasant, but without the emotional depth of Vivaldi, Bach or Handel. However, with this disc I find myself stopping and losing myself in the beautiful tones of Manze's baroque violin. The playing is superb and subtle, revealing these pieces as intimate and poetic. Harmonia Mundi's recording quality is excellent as well. Highly recommended. I can't wait to see what the venerable English Concert does under Manze's new leadership.

pure italian baroque.......2003-08-28

this is really fine music. corelli is the paragon of the "italian" style of baroque (at least until vivaldi caught bach's attention), and these sonatas are perhaps finer than the italianate sonatas by handel. there is marvelous poetry and variety in these pieces, brought forward by the spare instrumentation of violin, bass and harpsichord, and everything is wrapped in corelli's creamy, effortless, halcyon musical world.

my reservation is that manze at times takes these pieces with a raspy vigor that is better left for tartini. the "folias" variations in particular, while tremendous fun and inspiringly ornamented, omit that key (and historically correct) baroque attribute known as decorum. the equally virtuosic recordings by elizabeth wallfisch have the edge on that point.

Tracks:

Gloria In D Major, RV 589: I Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria In D Major, RV 589: II Et in terra pax
Gloria In D Major, RV 589: III Gloria in D Major, RV 589 III Laudamus te (2 sopranos)
Gloria In D Major, RV 589: IV Gloria in D Major, RV 589 IV Gratias agnimus tibi
Gloria In D Major, RV 589: V Gloria in D Major, RV 589 V Propter magnam gloriam
Gloria In D Major, RV 589: VI Gloria in D Major, RV 589 VI Domaine Deis (soprano)
Gloria In D Major, RV 589: VII Gloria in D Major, RV 589 VII Domaine Fili unigenite
VIII Gloria In D Major, RV 589 VIII Domaine Deus, Agnus Dei (contralto, chorus)
IX Gloria in D Major, RV 589 IX Qui tollis peccata munid
Gloria In D Major, RV 589: X Gloria in D Major, RV 589 X Qui sedes (contralto)
Gloria In D Major, RV 589: XI Gloria In D Major, RV 589 XI Quoniam tu solus Sanctus
Gloria In D Major, RV 589: XII Gloria in D Major, RV 589 XII Cum Sancto Spiritu
Nisi Dominus, RV 608: Nisi Dominus
Nisi Dominus, RV 608: Nisi Dominus, RV 608 II Vanurm est vobis, III Surgite postquam sederitis
Nisi Dominus, RV 608: Nisi Dominus, RV 608 IV Cum dederit dilectus suis somnum
Nisi Dominus, RV 608: Nisi Dominus, RV 608 V Sicut sagittae in manu potentis
Nisi Dominus, RV 608: Nisi Dominus, RV 608 VI Beatus vir qui implevit
Nisi Dominus, RV 608: Nisi Dominus, RV 608 VII Gloria Patri et Filio, VIII Sicut erat in principio, IX Amen
Nulla in mundo pax sincera, RV 630: I Nulla in mundo pax sincera
Nulla in mundo pax sincera, RV 630: Blando colore ... Spirat anguis
Nulla in mundo pax sincera, RV 630 III: Alleluia

Tracks:

Amor, hai vinto, RV 651: I Amor, hai vinto ... Passo di pena
Amor, hai vinto, RV 651: II In qual strano ... Se a me rivolge
Trio sonata 'La folia', RV 63
All'ombra di sospetto, RV 678: All'ombra di sospetto
All'ombra di sospetto, RV 678: O quanti amanti
Lungi dal bago volto, RV 680: Lungi del vago volto
Lungi dal bago volto, RV 680: Allegrezza mio core
Vengo a voi, luci adorate, RV 682: Vengo a voi, luci adorate
Vengo a voi, luci adorate, RV 682: Portando in sen l'ardor

Customer Reviews:

Good points far outweigh some minor deficiencies.......2005-11-29

This whole set is gorgeous (although the second cd gets a bit tediuos unless you really like early music), and Emma Kirkby has one the most beautiful, distinctive soprano voices I have ever heard, one can't help but like her, but hard-core critics beware, her intonation is not flawless, especially in the "Alleluia" of the "Nulla in Mundo" cycle, one can hear her go off on some of the high notes. Like I said, it's beautiful, but that does bother me personally every time I listen to that track. But buy it anyway.

More of Emma Please.......2004-01-02

I would have given this CD 5 stars if Emma Kirkby had sung all of the cantatas on Disc 2. Unfortunately, most of the cantatas on this disc are sung by Catherine Bott, who in my musically illiterate opinion, sounds more like a mezzo-soprano than a true soprano. Kirkby on the other hand is a legend in early music and brings her trademark "purity of sound" to this recording. The gorgeous duet she sings with Judith Nelson on disc 1 is alone worth the price of this set (that's probably a slight exaggeration, but it's pretty damn good anyway).

Getting away from Kirkby a sec, the Gloria on CD 1 is indeed glorious. The choral movements are sharp and lively, having that quality of all good choirs of sounding not quite of this earth. Listening to this CD after a couple of beers, you could be forgiven for thinking that your house has been invaded by cherubim and seraphim.

I'm not a huge fan of counter tenors (probably something to do with feeling threatened about my latent homosexuality or being emasculated) so I can't really provide any worthwhile comments about the Nisi Dominus which is a showcase of James Bowman's skills. Bowman has pretty impressive credentials, so I'm not about to get stuck into him. Suffice to say, I usually skip thru tracks 13-18 on disc 1.

amazingly beautiful.......2003-04-27

This CD is worth buying just for "Nulla in mundo pax sincera." This is one of the most beautiful vivaldi motets and is simply heavenly. I absoluterly love it!

Glorious cantatas on the second CD.......2002-06-14

For once the 5 stars are worth it. The choral works on disc 1 are masterful benchmark interpretations of the pick of Vivaldi's sacred output. What makes it a real bargain however is the second disc of cantatas - one of Emma Kirkby and Catherine Bott's finest achievements on the old L'Oiseau Lyre label. Couple this with full texts and an intelligent booklet. Wonderful!

a "must have".......2002-05-11

This is the ONLY version of "Gloria" you should own! The Choir of Christ Church is amazing and truly does justice to Vivaldi's work.

Carlo Bergonzi - The Sublime Voice ~ 40 Tracks from the Legendary Tenor

Average customer rating:

Complete Solti/Bergonzi Ballo Released
Another dazzled listener
Sublime indeed
The sublime vocal artist
Blown away!

Carlo Bergonzi - The Sublime Voice ~ 40 Tracks from the Legendary Tenor
Giuseppe Verdi , Giacomo Puccini , Ruggiero Leoncavallo , Pietro Mascagni , Amilcare Ponchielli , Tullio Serafin , Herbert von Karajan , Georg Solti , Rafael Kubelik , Nello Santi , Gianandrea Gavazzeni , Lamberto Gardelli , Sir John Pritchard , Carlo Bergonzi , Renata Tebaldi , Ettore Bastianini , Fiorenza Cossotto , Enzo Sordello , Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau , Tugomir Franc , Renata Scotto , Libero Arbace , Fernando Corena , Birgit Nilsson , Giulietta Simionato , Sylvia Stahlman , Joan Sutherland , Dora Carral , and Piero de Palma
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Carlo Bergonzi - Italian Songs ~ Bellini · Verdi · Danza · Tosti · Donizetti · Rossini · Mascagni · Puccini
The Very Best of Franco Corelli
The Very Best of Beniamino Gigli
The Very Best of Giuseppe di Stefano
The Very Best of Nicolai Gedda

ASIN: B00004C8TH
Release Date: 2001-06-12

Tracks:

La Boheme: Che Gelida Manina - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi/Rodolfo Gianna D'Angelo/Ettore Bastianini
La Boheme: O Soave Fanciulla - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi/Rodolfo Gianna D'Angelo/Ettore Bastianini
La Boheme: Mimi E Tanto Malata - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi/Rodolfo Gianna D'Angelo/Ettore Bastianini
La Boheme: Dunque E Proprio Finita! - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi/Rodolfo Gianna D'Angelo/Ettore Bastianini
La Boheme: In Un Coupe?... O Mimi, Tu Piu Non Torni - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi/Rodolfo Gianna D'Angelo/Ettore Bastianini
Madama Butterfly: Dovunque Al Mondo - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi/Fiorenza Cossotto/Enzo Sordello
Madama Butterfly: Vogliatemi Bene - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi/Fiorenza Cossotto/Enzo Sordello
Madama Butterfly: Io So Che Alle Sue Pene - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi/Fiorenza Cossotto/Enzo Sordello
Madama Butterfly: Addio, Fiorito Asil - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi/Fiorenza Cossotto/Enzo Sordello
Cavalleria Rusticana: Ah! Io Vedi, Che Hai Tu Detto? - Carlo Bergonzi/Fiorenza Cossotto
Pagliacci: Recitar!... Vesti La Giubba - Carlo Bergonzi
Don Carlo: Dio, Che Nell'alma Infondere - Carlo Bergonzi/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Tugomir Franc/Chor Of The ROHCG
Rigoletto: Questa O Quella - Carlo Bergonzi/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Renata Scotto/Fiorenza Cossotto
Rigoletto: Ella Mi Fu Rapita! - Carlo Bergonzi/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Renata Scotto/Fiorenza Cossotto
Rigoletto: Parmi Veder Le Lagrime - Carlo Bergonzi/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Renata Scotto/Fiorenza Cossotto
Rigoletto: Possente Amor Mi Chiama - Carlo Bergonzi/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Renata Scotto/Fiorenza Cossotto
Rigoletto: La Donna E Mobile - Carlo Bergonzi/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Renata Scotto/Fiorenza Cossotto
Rigoletto: Bella Figlia Dell'amore - Carlo Bergonzi/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Renata Scotto/Fiorenza Cossotto
Otello: Dio! Mi Potevi Scagliar - Carlo Bergonzi

Tracks:

Un Ballo In Maschera: La Rivedra Nell'estasi - Carlo Bergonzi/Birgit Nilsson/Giulietta Simionato/Sylvia Stahlman/Fernando Corena/Libero Arbace...
Un Ballo In Maschera: Di' Tu Se Fedele - Carlo Bergonzi/Birgit Nilsson/Giulietta Simionato/Sylvia Stahlman/Fernando Corena/Libero Arbace...
Un Ballo In Maschera: E' Scherzo Od E Follia - Carlo Bergonzi/Birgit Nilsson/Giulietta Simionato/Sylvia Stahlman/Fernando Corena/Libero Arbace...
Un Ballo In Maschera: Teco Io Sto - Carlo Bergonzi/Birgit Nilsson/Giulietta Simionato/Sylvia Stahlman/Fernando Corena/Libero Arbace...
Un Ballo In Maschera: Forse La Soglia Attinse - Carlo Bergonzi/Birgit Nilsson/Giulietta Simionato/Sylvia Stahlman/Fernando Corena/Libero Arbace...
Un Ballo In Maschera: Ma Se M'e Forza Perderti - Carlo Bergonzi/Birgit Nilsson/Giulietta Simionato/Sylvia Stahlman/Fernando Corena/Libero Arbace...
Tosca: E Lucevan Le Stelle - Carlo Bergonzi
Manon Lescaut: Donna Non Vidi Mai - Carlo Bergonzi
Aida: Se Quel Guerrier Io Fossie!... Celeste Aida - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi
Aida: Pur Ti Riveggo, Mia Dolce Aida - Carlo Bergonzi/Renata Tebaldi
La Gioconda: Cielo E Mar! - Carlo Bergonzi
La Traviata: Un Di Felice, Eterea - Carlo Bergonzi/Joan Sutherland/Dora Carral/Piero De Palma/Chor Del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
La Traviata: Lunge Da Lei - Carlo Bergonzi/Joan Sutherland/Dora Carral/Piero De Palma/Chor Del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
La Traviata: De' Miei Bollenti Spiriti - Carlo Bergonzi/Joan Sutherland/Dora Carral/Piero De Palma/Chor Del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
La Traviata: O Mio Rimorso! - Carlo Bergonzi/Joan Sutherland/Dora Carral/Piero De Palma/Chor Del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
La Traviata: Parigi, O Cara - Carlo Bergonzi/Joan Sutherland/Dora Carral/Piero De Palma/Chor Del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Il Trovatore: Deserto Sulla Terra - Carlo Bergonzi/Ettore Bastianini/Chor Del Teatro All Scalla Di Milano
Il Trovatore: Ah! Si, Ben Mio - Carlo Bergonzi/Ettore Bastianini/Chor Del Teatro All Scalla Di Milano
Il Trovatore: Di Quella Pira - Carlo Bergonzi/Ettore Bastianini/Chor Del Teatro All Scalla Di Milano
Adriana Lecouvreur: La Dolcissima Effigie - Carlo Bergonzi
Adriana Lecouvreur: L'anima Ho Stanca - Carlo Bergonzi

Customer Reviews:

Complete Solti/Bergonzi Ballo Released.......2007-04-24

No need to add to what the other reviewers say about this five-star collection. I am writing to alert readers that on April 10, 2007 Decca released the complete recording of Un Ballo in Maschera with Bergonzi, Nilsson, Stahlman, Simionato, and MacNeil, conducted by Solti. To read my detailed review of that release, bring the product up on Amazon.

Another dazzled listener.......2006-12-12

I had to write the same thing for the Sony Classical recording of a Bergonzi recital of Italian songs--this is simply one of the most passionate and intelligent singers I have ever heard, and he sounds as good or better now than when I first played one of his records 25 years ago. Anyone who has the slightest shred of interest in the operatic voice should own this collection from one of the truest and most passionate tenors in recorded history.

Sublime indeed.......2006-05-31

I first came to appreciate the artistry that is Carlo Bergonzi on his magnificnt recording of Butterly with Renata Scotto. Later I got the privelege of hearing him several times in person. He was among the most intelligent of tenors. He knew his voice well and how to use that voice to convey the drama and music in a wonderful combination.

If you appreciate Bergozni, this recording will remind you why. If you are not familiar with "The Tenor's Tenor", you will find out why he has that title. However, in addition to the magnificent Bergonzi, you also get wonderful performances from partners such as Tebaldi, Birgit Nilsson, Sutherland, Scotto, Fischer-Dieskau and Cossotto.

I can only find fault with a couple of the selections. First and foremost is that Bergonzi should never have even attempted the Dio Mi Potevi from Otello. That is the only performance that is in anyway subpar. It is unlike any other performance on this recording (or any other time I heard Bergonzi) -- forced. I would have far preferred a version of Una Furtiva Lagrima, which Bergonzi could sing the sock off of. Or given the presence of E Lucevan Stelle, couldn't they have included Recondita Armonia instead? The only other very minor complaint is the pairing with Nilsson . The duet is fine until the very end. On the final high C you can't even hear Bergonzi due to the sheer size of Nilsson's voice. The music and performance of both are wonderful, but a perfect Alfredo and perfect Brunnhilde do not necessarily mesh. But that is a minor quibble. Aside from a disappearing Carlo, it is quite a wonderful performance.

On the plus side a few things particularly stand out. To me, this is simply the best recording ever of Cielo e Mar. The sections with Tebaldi (Boheme and Butterfly and Aida in particuar) are fabulous. Other standouts include the quartet from Rigoletto with Scotto, Cossotto and Fischer-Dieskau and the Cavelleria duet with Cossotto.

All in all, this is, with a few minor exceptions, a magnificent collection of the best of Carlo Bergonzi.

The sublime vocal artist.......2003-08-15

I have seen most of the great tenors of the past 50 years at the Met: Corelli, Tucker, Vickers, Gedda, Pavarotti, Domingo, etc.. For me, Bergonzi over all, was the superior Italian Opera tenor. His legato, agility, breath control, tasteful musicianship, diction, was superior to most of the great tenors. He was outstanding as Nemorino and Rhadames; Edgardo and Alvaro etc.. This CD shows him at his very best, which is a joy to hear. This CD is a must vocal lesson for any aspiring young tenor, as Carlo Bergonzi is a master singer.

Blown away!.......2003-01-20

This album brings Carlo Bregonzi to life. This is a view from all angels. He commands such an array of singing styles.
No one brings the great composers to life the way Carlo Bergonzi does.

Tracks:

Folias Criollas - Jordi Savall
Folias Antiguas - Jordi Savall
Pavana Con Su Glosa - Philippe Pierlot
Fantasia Que Contrahaze La Harpa De Ludovico - Arianna Savall
La Gamba In Basso, E Soprano - Philippe Pierlot
Partita Sopra La Follia - Rolf Lislevand
Folias Echa Para Mi Senora Dona Tarolilla De Carallenos - Manfredo Kraemer
Follia - Michael Behringer
Faronell's Division - Manfredo Kraemer
Folias - Rolf Lislevand
Follia - Manfredo Kraemer
Diferencias De Folias - Michael Behringer
Sonata 'La Follia' - Michael Behringer
Folias Gallegas - Rolf Lislevand
Sonata - Manfredo Kraemer

Customer Reviews:

...un po' troppo di follie...?.......2007-01-20

Programmatically conceived in the same vain as it's predecessor on Alia Vox ('La Folia' AV9805), 'Altre Follie' traces the development of the renowned "Folia" progression which was to be the source of inspiration for scores of compositions, spanning 5 centuries and culminating in the oeuvres of composers such as Nielson and Rachmaninov. As on the previous disc, the arrangement of the selected material is primarily chronological, although here there is greater emphasis on solo contribution. The outstanding calibre of the individual performers ensures the resounding success of this decision, most obviously in the virtuosic fireworks of Manfredo Kraemer (violin), Rolf Lislevand (guitar/theorbo) and Michael Behringer (harpsichord).

In truth though, this is probably not the kind of CD which is best appreciated from end to end, given the fact that much of the 'variation' is (inevitably) achieved in these works by means of rhythm or surface decoration rather than harmonic elaboration. In this resepct, Santiago de Murcia's 'Gallegas' - significantly bearing a strong resemblance in places to Martin y Coll's 'Diferencias Sobra La Gayta' [i.e. NOT 'La Folia'], c.1700 - provides a welcome relief from the prevalent similarity of keys and motifs, and Savall clearly thought so too given that Murcia's 'Folias Ytalianas' [1732] - a truer representation of the Folia progression - are avoided. Subtle variety could in fact have been achieved in other ways, for example by drawing upon works which exploit changes in either ensemble (eg Ribayaz, 'Folias' ['Luz y Norte...', 1677] for harp and guitars) or style (eg the overtly French setting by Jean Henri d'Anglebert ['Pieces de Clavecin', 1689]).

Musicologically the CD presents few major difficulties, and as an overall result it is a praiseworthy fusion of stylish playing within a historically informed backdrop. Track 1, however, is a notable exception. Admittedly, it is 'an improvisation', but one nonetheless unashamedly based on the 'Cachua Serranita' preserved in the Codex Martinez Companon of c.1783-5 (Tomo II, fol 192). The presence of any viol in such a late work would be problematic, but is surely even more so in one with a specific performance note ("...qe cantaron, y baylaron '8' pallas" - 'pallas' signifying the young women who sang and danced in Commemoration of the feast of the 'Virgen de la Puerta' which the text concerns) in a collection copiously illustrated with images of the musicians/instruments who performed this music.

Still, this CD can be easily recommended - one would expect no less from Savall, of course - even if it is perhaps best enjoyed in small sections.

Altre Follie.......2006-11-02

This great music has survived 500 years of man's madness and destruction for our enjoyment. The quality of interpretation is worth five stars. Classical music at its best, the combination of instruments and perfomers makes it perfect music to listen again and again until you have captured all the sounds and identified each instrument. Great to listen to on an Ipod or a superior sound system.

Average customer rating:

A little too much and poor sound quality
And now, honored ladies and gentlemen, may we present...!

Imperial Fanfares

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Fanfare, British Music for Symphonic Brass Ensemble
Music from the Royal Court
Ceremonial Music for Trumpet & Symphonic Organ
Lully: Les Divertissements de Versailles
Music for Organ, Brass & Percussion

ASIN: B00008MLVK
Release Date: 2003-07-15

Tracks:

Imperial Fanfare
Royal Entry
Ceremonial Procession
Heroic Procession
Festive Procession
Elector's Procession
Elector's Procession
Majestic Procession
Priere Du Matin
Intrada
Largo - Allegretto
Intrada
Festive Overture
Toccata (Prelude To Orfeo)
Courante For The Entry Of His Imperial Majesty And All The Cavalry
Follia For New Entry Of The Sprinter And Other Equestrian Manoeuvres
Sarabande For The End Of The Ballet
Trumpet Duet
Intrada For The Trombet Und Musicalischen Tafeldienst
Menuet (Trumpet Duet No. 82)
Trumpet Duet No. 8
1812 Overture, Op. 49
Festive Table Music No. 1
Festive Table Music No. 2
Procession At The Imperial Court
Procession No. 3
Festive Procession: The Entry Of The Emperor, 1631
Intrada From Bruck An Der Mur
Procession No. 4
Procession No. 1
Procession (Brilliant, Bright)
Marche Des Nations De Flore
2e Air Du Combat De Lance D?Amadis
La Descente De Mars
La Marche Italienne
Prelude Des Divertissements
Chaconne Du Palais Royal
Menuet Royal
Marche Pour Les Trompettes Seules
Bruit De Trompettes
L?Etendard
Fanfare A Deux Trompettes
Bruit De Guerre
Allemande
Molto Moderato
Signature Tune Of The Old Town Of Bratislava
Fanfara 1
Fanfara 2
Marcia Per La Cavalleria, No. 1
Entree Fanfare
Modern Fanfare
Signature Fanfare
Convention
Fanfare Solo I
Fanfare Solo II
Fanfare Solo III
Fanfare Solo IV
Fanfare Solo V
Fanfare Solo VI
Opening Fanfare
New Palace Fanfare
Welcome Fanfare
Excitement
Short and Concise
Short Fanfare No. 1
Short Fanfare No. 2
Short Fanfare No. 3
Short Fanfare No. 4
Flourish
Il Giorno Del Silenzio
Fanfare For Solo Trumpet And Drum - V
Fanfare For Solo Trumpet And Drum - II
Wrapped In Mystery
Marcia Maestoso
Imperial Procession In Vienna
Procession No. 8: Allegretto

Customer Reviews:

A little too much and poor sound quality.......2006-11-10

Even though this was recorded just a couple of years ago the sound quality is not that good. It sounds like it was recorded in the 70s and outside with the microphones far away. There is nothing too deep here and all the fanfares are fairly short, just lasting a few seconds it seems. I got tired of this pretty quickly and it doesn't stand up to repeated listenings and to be honest a lot of the stuff on here sounds the same. The performances are ok, but nothing special, they sound kind of flat, and they don't really do anything to make this sound exciting like it should. Maybe if the performance and sound was better I would of enjoyed this more.

And now, honored ladies and gentlemen, may we present...!.......2003-07-17

This is what you'd have to call a specialty CD. It consists entirely of fanfares--nothing but fanfares--some of them as short as 10 seconds long. An interesting idea for a CD, perhaps, but I would guess it is primarily for directors of costume dramas, period pieces, and ceremonies of various sorts.

There are 76 fanfares on the disc covering composers ranging from Monteverdi to a trio of modern composers, all of the latter associated with the CD itself. They are played by an outfit called 'The Art of the Trumpet,' a coalescence of 24 Austrian trumpeters and a couple of timpanists (and on occasion a single trombone). Some of the fanfares use the whole group, there are others for solo trumpet, and for all combinations in between. They are led by a trumpeter from Vienna named Leonhard Leeb who is not only one of the trumpeters but also one of the composers--the other two modern composers are Leon Bolten and Joel Modart (I almost typed 'Mozart' but no!...).

Other composers include Salieri, Lully, Biber, J.H. Schmelzer, Pezel (often spelled Petzel here in America), Philidor (yes, the chess master of that name), Marc-Antoine Charpentier, and the multi-talented A. Nony Mous.

The performances are appropriately stirring, ceremonial, attention-grabbing, even mournful (one, Bolten's 'Wrapped in Mystery,' was dedicated to the victims of the World Trade Center tragedy of September 11, 2001). I would strongly suggest you not listen to the whole CD at one sitting--actually, it's hard to imagine anyone would--because too much B flat can fry your brain unless you yourself are a brass player or bagpiper.

For what it is, though, this CD is excellent.

Tracks:

La forza del destino: Sinfonia
La forza del destino: Act One: Buona notte, mia figlia (Leonora)
La forza del destino: Act One: Temea restasse qui fino a domani! (Leonora)
La forza del destino: Act One: Me pellgrina ed orfana (Leonora)
La forza del destino: Act One: M'aiuti, signorina, piu presto andrem (Leonora)
La forza del destino: Act One: Ah, per sempre, o mio bell'angiol (Alvaro, Leonora)
La forza del destino: Act One: Vil seduttor! Infame figlia! (Leonora, Alvaro)
La forza del destino: Act Two: Scene One: Hola, hola, hola! Ben giungi, o mulattier
La forza del destino: Act Two: Scene One: La cena e pronta (Carlo)
La forza del destino: Act Two: Scene One: Che vedo! Mio fratello! (Leonora, Carlo)
La forza del destino: Act Two: Scene One: Viva la guerra! (All)
La forza del destino: Act Two: Scene One: Al suon del tamburo (All)
La forza del destino: Act Two: Scene One: Padre Eterno Signor (Leonora, Carlo)
La forza del destino: Act Two: Scene One: Viva la buona compagnia! (Carlo, Preziosilla)
La forza del destino: Act Two: Scene One: Poich'e imberbe l'incognito (Carlo)
La forza del destino: Act Two: Scene One: Son Pereda, son ricco d'onore (Carlo)
La forza del destino: Act Two: Scene One: Sta bene (Preziosilla, Carlo)
La forza del destino: Act Two: Scene Two: Sono giunta! Grazie, o Dio! (Leonora)
La forza del destino: Act Two: Scene Two: Madre, pietosa Vergine (Leonora)
La forza del destino: Act Two: Scene Two: Chi siete? (Melitone, Leonora)
La forza del destino: Act Two: Scene Two: Chi mi cerca? (Guardiano, Leonora, Melitone)
La forza del destino: Act Two: Scene Two: Infelice, delusa, rejetta (Leonora, Guardiano)
La forza del destino: Act Two: Scene Two: Il santo nome di Dio Signore sia benedetto (Guardiano)
La forza del destino: Act Two: Scene Two: La Vergine degli Angeli (Guardino, Leonora, All)

Tracks:

La forza del destino: Act Three: Scene One: Attenti al gioco, attenti, attenti al gioco
La forza del destino: Act Three: Scene One: La vita e inferno all'infelice
La forza del destino: Act Three: Scene One: O tu che in seno agli angeli (Alvaro)
La forza del destino: Act Three: Scene One: Al tradimento! (Carlo, Alvaro)
La forza del destino: Act Three: Scene One: All'armi!
La forza del destino: Act Three: Scene Two: Arde la mischia!: Piano...qui posi...approntisi il mio letto (Alvaro, Carlo)
La forza del destino: Act Three: Scene Two: Solenne in quest'ora (Alvaro, Carlo)
La forza del destino: Act Three: Scene Two: Morir! Tremenda cosa!
La forza del destino: Act Three: Scene Two: Urna fetale del mio destino (Carlo)
La forza del destino: Act Three: Scene Two: E s'altra prova rinvenir potessi? (Carlo)
La forza del destino: Act Three: Scene Three: Compagni, sostiamo
La forza del destino: Act Three: Scene Three: Ne gustar m'e dato un'ora di quiete (Alvaro, Carlo)
La forza del destino: Act Three: Scene Three: Lorche pifferi e tamburi par che assordino la terra (Preziosilla)
La forza del destino: Act Three: Scene Three: Qua, vivandiere, un sorso
La forza del destino: Act Three: Scene Three: A buon mercato chi vuol comprare?
La forza del destino: Act Three: Scene Three: Pane, pan per carita!
La forza del destino: Act Three: Scene Three: Nella guerra e la follia (Preziosilla)
La forza del destino: Act Three: Scene Three: Toh! Toh! Poffare il mondo! Che tempone! (Melitone, Preziosilla)
La forza del destino: Act Three: Scene Three: Rataplan, rataplan, della gloria (Preziosilla)

Tracks:

La forza del destino: Act Four: Scene One: Fate la carita, e un'ora che aspettiamo! (Melitone, Guardiano)
La forza del destino: Act Four: Scene One: Giunge qualcuno, aprite (Guardiano, Melitone)
La forza del destino: Act Four: Scene One: Invano Alvaro ti celasti al mondo
La forza del destino: Act Four: Scene One: Le minaccie, i fieri accenti (Alvaro, Carlo)
La forza del destino: Act Four: Scene Two: Pace, pace mio Dio! (Leonora)
La forza del destino: Act Four: Scene Two: Io muoio! Confessione! (Carlo, Alvaro, Leonora)
La forza del destino: Act Four: Scene Two: Non imprecare, umiliati a Lui ch'e guisto e santo (Guardiano, Leonora, Alvaro)

Amazon.com

If it were not for Maria Callas, we would all think that La Forza del Destino is essentially a prime exercise and showcase for great soprano voices, with a few goodies thrown in for the rest of the cast and the chorus. In this recording, Callas's voice is not technically great, though it is usually good.She makes most of her points by other means: close attention to the value of words, subtle nuances of tone and phrasing, an uncompromising determination to confront the emotions in the text and convey them honestly and strongly, even when they reach a terrifying intensity. We have here, under the absurdities of plot, a compelling psychological portrait of a woman driven beyond her limits--a woman whose brother wants to kill her lover, who has killed her father. The supporting cast is skilled and Serafin shapes a powerful interpretation. -- Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews:

A Classic Set.......2006-11-09

Despite the few cuts and the mono recording this is still one of the most desirable sets of "La Forza del Destino". The main reason is of course Maria Callas's traversal of the role of Leonora. She was still in pretty good voice at this stage in her career and, though there are moments more comfortably vocalised by some of her rivals ("la vergine degli angeli" for instance), she is the complete Verdi heroine. No other soprano sets before us so well a character torn between conflicting feelings in the first act - on the one hand, love and filial duty, and on the other, love for Don Alvaro. Her very first utterances have a thrill unmatched on other recordings. Later, in the second scene of Act II, she is absolutely superb. Whenever she is before the microphone, we are aware of the greatness of the score as music drama. Here she is helped immeasurably by Serafin's command of the dramatic impulse of the music, and the magisterial, kindly and protective Padre Guardiano of Nicola Rossi-Lemeni. Others may have sung the role with better technique and more beautiful tone, but few, if any, are more interesting in the role. Of the other principals, Richard Tucker is almost their equal. With a voice so splendid and so suitable for the role, it seems a pity that he occasionally feels the need to make up for the fact that he is not Italian, by breaking the line of his singing with unmusical aspirate and sobs. In all other respects he is ideal. Carlo Tagliabue is a little past his best (he was 56 at the time of the recording), but he sings with authority, if without great immagination. Elena Nicolai is, if not the best or most accurate of Peziosillas, at least a spirited and involved performer. Both Plinio Clabassi as Il Marchese di Calatrava and Renato Capecchi as Melitone give strong accounts of their roles.
I have never quite been able to understand why in some of EMI's Callas recordings from this time the mono sound is pretty open and in others quite constricted. This, like the De Sabata "Tosca" is really pretty good. I hardly missed stero at all. And Serafin is superb. He is still, to my mind, a severely underrated conductor. Seen as a singer's conductor, he is somehow thought of as being a little anonymous, but for me, he allows the music and the drama to unfold in a completely natural way, without drawing too much attention to himself, as so many modern conductors tend to do. His "Otello", after all, is considered one of the best conducted versions in the catalogue.
As the previous reviewer noted, this is probably the most expensive way of acquiring this set, but it does come with full notes, libretto and translation. If they are not important to you, you may wish to wait until it is issued at super bargain price, as it inevitably will be, by Naxos, Regis and EMI themselves.

Callas is okay- Price the ONLY VERDI SOPRANO????.......2006-09-06

Callas, not my favorite, could sing Verdi well so could Leontyne Price. Any statements suggesting that these were the only Verdi sopranos - Opera Lover's refusal to acknowledge anyone but Price suggests either very limited listening experience- what about Ponselle, or Milanov or poor hearing.
In this role Tebaldi is as good as I ever heard although she did not sing as much Verdi as the above mentioned divas. CAVEAT!!!! Unfortunately, I did not hear Ponselle either live or in the whole opera or all bets might be off with Tebaldi. Ponselle was a unique vocal and dramatic presence.

An excellent "Forza" but not the best all round performance.......2006-08-24

I'm saddened by the intemperate nature of some of the preceding reviews of this recording, so let's try to keep it objective and fair. First, no-one inflects the text and caresses those glorious melodies as affectingly as Callas although Price in 1964 and Tebaldi in the (pretty raw!) live Mitropoulos recording run her close. The infamous "flap" in Callas' voice is only occasionally in evidence and she more than compensates with heart-wrenching portamenti and thrilling excursions into her lower register. Tucker is very, very good, if occasionally guilty of his besetting fault of being too lachrimose, but the top rings out magnificently. The rest of the cast, with the exception of Capecchi's firm, characterful Melitone, is not up to their standard, though Nicolai is wholly acceptable in the essentially irritating role of Preziosilla, with her silly tub-thumping music. Tagliabue is clearly past his best but does not disgrace himself, despite some rather nasal, laboured sounds. My one real bugbear is Rossi-Lemeni; I have never understood why he was so esteemed. The voice is woolly, unsteady, lacking centre and without the true bass gravitas the role of Padre Guardiano requires - although he certainly sounds old! Serafin's conducting is typically well-judged, in turn both pacy and intense as this gloomily beautiful music demands and you soon forget that the recording is mono, the sound being so clear, clean and brilliant. My favourite "Forza" is still the 1964 Schippers for the all-round excellence of the cast, though the 1947 Marinuzzi (available cheaply on Naxos) is worth having as it's a real period recording with a pulsating sense of live theatre about it (and you can hear Tancredi Pasero sing the role of Padre Guardiano as it should be sung). The above-mentioned live Mitropoulos contains the single most exciting piece of tenor singing I have ever heard in Del Monaco's "O tu che in seno" - the audience go wild and start mooing their appreciation like demented cattle - so you have quite a choice, the Schippers being the safest.

Brilliant Forza and a stupid reviewer.......2004-11-22

What does such drivel give you? Do you have to bash a devoted artist in order to have a life? What a shame this is! This Sills-sycophant accuses Callas' fans of bashing while HE is the one who posts profane, unmusical and tasteless nonsense. I've worked with singers and conductors for over 50 years and am appalled by such awful manners and stupidity. This is a great La Forza del Destino. Even IF one were not to "get" Callas, how [...] he rate the work of a Tullio Serafin who experienced Verdi himself in such a horrenduous way? Go, listen to your Sills and leave the reviewing to those who have taste and musical knowledge!

Brilliant - But I also love Tebaldi.......2004-10-18

The Callas-Forza is brilliant. Wonderful. But Callas was neither a mezzo (Well, with an F in her throat?) nor was her voice ugly IMHO but had a very unique beauty to it, very bittersweet, not all whipped cream like Tebaldi or today Fleming. But hey, I love many flavours. That's why I can heartily recommend both sopranos' Leonoras here.

Cecilia Bartoli - Gluck Italian Arias ~ Dreams & Fables

Average customer rating:

An informed performance of rare works that really shines
Think twice before buying it
Can music get any better?
Cecilia
The art of singing, perfected . .

Cecilia Bartoli - Gluck Italian Arias ~ Dreams & Fables
Christoph Willibald Gluck , Bernhard Forck , Cecilia Bartoli , and Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Cecilia Bartoli - The Vivaldi Album / Il Giardino Armonico
Cecilia Bartoli - The Salieri Album
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Cecilia Bartoli - Rossini Arias / Patanè
Cecilia Bartoli - An Italian Songbook (Bellini, Donizetti, Rossini)

ASIN: B00005ND3K
Release Date: 2001-09-25

Tracks:

Tremo Fra' Dubbi Miei
Di Questa Centra In Seno
Misera, Dov Son!...Ah! Non Son Io Che Parlo
Ciascum Siegua il Suo Stile...Maggior Follia
Quel Chiaro Rio
Ah, Taci, Barbaro...Come Potesti, Oh Dio!
Se Mai Senti Spirarti Sul Volto
Berenice, Che Fai?

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

On this recording of eight unfamiliar arias by Gluck, Cecilia Bartoli once again demonstrates her peerless vocalism and communicative power. Using texts by Pietro Metastasio, the leading librettist of his day, from whose poetry the disc's title is taken, Gluck composed music of heartwarming and heartbreaking beauty. The arias encompass an infinite variety of style, mood, character, and expression, and Bartoli's mastery of them is complete. The sheer beauty of her voice and her consummately effortless coloratura are unique: endless cascading runs, ranging from below the staff to high D's and E-flat's, flow out flawlessly placed and articulated, like strings of perfect, shining pearls. But what makes her singing so fascinating and unforgettable is Bartoli's ability to color and change her voice to fit the music, going in an instant from lighthearted parody to tempestuous fury, half-mad desperation, and lamentatious pleading. Equally captivating is her ability to create real characters by purely vocal means. The pyrotechnics are stunning, the fiery outbursts thrilling, but it is the slow, lyrical, inward arias that are most moving and memorable. She can spin out a long melody like a golden thread, with a focused, centered sound and a concentrated intensity of expression that cast an irresistible spell over ear and heart. Most of these arias are in da capo form, but she ornaments the repeats freely and imaginatively without becoming excessive. The Berlin Academy for Ancient Music, playing on period instruments tuned to a low A, supports her with a wonderfully clear, transparent sound and great stylistic empathy. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

An informed performance of rare works that really shines.......2005-08-02

I think this is the best singing by Bartoli that I've heard since she recorded Idomeneo with Placido Domingo in the early 90's. It is historically informed and well played by the orchestra. The arias are rare gems that sparkle and are moving.

It is definitely a must have for all fans of Bartoli along, and not just the early-music crowd but all lovers of classical music.

Bravo!

Think twice before buying it.......2004-06-27

I used to give Ms Bartoli infinite credit, so I bought this Gluck album without much hesitation. Yet the dissapointment it brought was double: i) the passion of Ms Bartoli's interpretation overflows too often at the wrong place and ii) this selection of pieces proves that Gluck was not always inspired enough to hit the good string, having also produced dull, insipid musak. I think the composer has to bear most of the responsibility for this failed project. 3 stars for Ms Bartoli alone.

Can music get any better?.......2003-10-18

Cecilia Bartoli shows in this fantastic CD what a composer Gluck actually was from his early years. The music is fantastic, orchestrated well, and Bartoli delivers wonderful performances of these neglected pieces. Each one is so fantastic and full of life, and Bartoli is surely the one of the greatest artists of her or any time. Let's just hope she continues producing such fantastic work!

Cecilia.......2003-07-06

She is a light,high mezzo-soprano, so it sounds like she's a soprano. I fell in love with the second aria. I could play it over and over again, and the baroque music is very beautiful.

The art of singing, perfected . ........2003-04-01

Can you improve on perfection? Cecilia BARTOLI certainly can . . , and elevates a grateful GLUCK to new heights.
Now how can I top my raves for her VIVALDI Album? Here she
uses her vital energy to float an even more arid project.
And regales us with amazing vocal artistry. A tour-de-force
shining new light on a quasi-forgotten composer, who found
in Cecilia his most valiant knight. The orchestra under
B. Forck a class act. And the graphic presentation/booklet
an achievement in itself, it's a labour of love you'll
feel tempted to leave on your coffee table for conversation.
Make this your CD of the month, and be amazed.

Frans Brüggen Edition Vol. 2 - Italian Recorder Sonatas

Average customer rating:

Excellent Collection Right on Subject.
a clasic...

Frans Brüggen Edition Vol. 2 - Italian Recorder Sonatas
Arcangelo Corelli , Francesco Barsanti , Francesco Maria Veracini , Diogenio Bigaglia , Nicolas Chedeville , Benedetto Marcello , Frans Brueggen , Gustav Leonhardt , and Anner Bylsma
Manufacturer: Teldec
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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The Ultimate Recorder Collection

ASIN: B000000SM7
Release Date: 1994-04-05

Tracks:

La Follia Op. 5 No. 12 In G Minor: Adagio
La Follia Op. 5 No. 12 In G Minor: Allegro
La Follia Op. 5 No. 12 In G Minor: Adagio
La Follia Op. 5 No. 12 In G Minor: Vivace
La Follia Op. 5 No. 12 In G Minor: Allegro
La Follia Op. 5 No. 12 In G Minor: Andante
La Follia Op. 5 No. 12 In G Minor: Allegro
La Follia Op. 5 No. 12 In G Minor: Adagio
La Follia Op. 5 No. 12 In G Minor: Allegro
Sonata In C Major: Adagio
Sonata In C Major: Allegro
Sonata In C Major: Largo
Sonata In C Major: Presto
Sonata In G Major: Largo
Sonata In G Major: Allegro
Sonata In G Major: Largo
Sonata In G Major: Allegro
Sonata In A Minor: Adagio
Sonata In A Minor: Allegro
Sonata In A Minor: Tempo di Minuetto
Sonata In A Minor: Allegro
Sonata Op. 13 No. 6 In G Minor: Vivace
Sonata Op. 13 No. 6 In G Minor: Alla Breve
Sonata Op. 13 No. 6 In G Minor: Largo
Sonata Op. 13 No. 6 In G Minor: Allegro ma non presto
Sonata Op. 2 No. 11 In D Minor: Adagio
Sonata Op. 2 No. 11 In D Minor: Allegro
Sonata Op. 2 No. 11 In D Minor: Largo
Sonata Op. 2 No. 11 In D Minor: Allegro
Sonata Op. 5 No. 4 In F Major: Adagio
Sonata Op. 5 No. 4 In F Major: Allegro
Sonata Op. 5 No. 4 In F Major: Vivace
Sonata Op. 5 No. 4 In F Major: Adagio
Sonata Op. 5 No. 4 In F Major: Allegro
Sonata In A Minor: Largo
Sonata In A Minor: Allegro
Sonata In A Minor: Allegro
Sonata In A Minor: Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Collection Right on Subject........2006-01-24

This 'Frans Bruggen Edition, Italian Recorder Sonatas' may seem like an insubstantial little piece, but if you have bought enough recordings of 'early music' and recordings of odd corners of the European classical world, you will appreciate how this recording stays right on subject. There is nothing here except Italian Recorder Sonatas. The only accompanyment you will hear is from a harpsicord. The great beauty of the recorder is front and center and you can appreciate its distinctive qualities which separate it from its more modern woodwinds such as the clarinet, the oboe, the bassoon and the English horn.

The publisher, Teldec has not, like Hyperion, indulged in little samples, and I appreciate their staying on message. Needless to say, the performances are outstanding and I am jealous that I cannot play as well as these performers!

a clasic..........2001-08-01

I learned to love the recorder with this cd (of course many years ago) may be is a little old fashion in style, but stills there as a reference point to every recorder player in the world.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

House of Cards [Import]

Mozart: Flute Concerto, KV313; Flute & Harp Concerto, KV299; Andante for Flute, KV315

Live & Well [Live]

Get Well Soon [Hybrid SACD]

Sashimi [Live]

Organic Soul, Vol. 3 [Import]

Mother Goose Rocks! - Volume 1

Monuments of Germanic Music

Out of My Heart

Mas Capaces Que Nunca

Make Yourself [Import]

Live Your Life [Import]

Just Around the Hill, Pt. 2 [CD-single] [Import]

Original Recordings

Soy Como Tú