Wagner, Verdi and Leoncavallo

On this CD:

1. Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), opera, WWV 86b Winterstürme
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by Kirsten Flagstad, Lotte Lehmann, Lauritz Melchior

2. Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), opera, WWV 86b Raste nun hier, gonne der Ruh...Hinweg! hinweg...Horch! die Hörner
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by Kirsten Flagstad, Lotte Lehmann, Lauritz Melchior

3. Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), opera, WWV 86b Siegmund! Sieh auf mich...Schweig, und schrecke die Schlummernde nicht!...Dies Schwert...Kehrte der Vater
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by Kirsten Flagstad, Lotte Lehmann, Lauritz Melchior

4. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70 Dir töne Lob
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by Kirsten Flagstad, Lotte Lehmann, Lauritz Melchior

5. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111 Amfortas! die Wunde!
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by Kirsten Flagstad, Lotte Lehmann, Lauritz Melchior

6. Parsifal, opera, WWV 111 Nur eine Waffe taugt
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by Kirsten Flagstad, Lotte Lehmann, Lauritz Melchior

7. Lohengrin, opera, WWV 75 Höchstes Vertrau'n
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by Kirsten Flagstad, Lotte Lehmann, Lauritz Melchior

8. Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, opera, WWV 96 Preislied
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by Kirsten Flagstad, Lotte Lehmann, Lauritz Melchior

9. Otello, opera Dio! mi potevi scagliar
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
Performed by Kirsten Flagstad, Lotte Lehmann, Lauritz Melchior

10. Otello, opera Niun mi tema
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
Performed by Kirsten Flagstad, Lotte Lehmann, Lauritz Melchior

11. Pagliacci, opera Recitar...Vesti la giubba
Composed by Ruggiero Leoncavallo
Performed by Kirsten Flagstad, Lotte Lehmann, Lauritz Melchior

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:

Pretty darn good
The Opera #1 Opera Album
Excellent assortment
Great Selections
Terrific !

The #1 Opera Album
Giacomo Puccini , Giuseppe Verdi , Léo Delibes , Georges Bizet , Umberto Giordano , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Richard Wagner , Gioachino Rossini , Alfredo Catalani , Jacques Offenbach , Ruggiero Leoncavallo , Charles Gounod , Gaetano Donizetti , Pietro Mascagni , Antonin Dvorak , Richard Bonynge , Herbert von Karajan , Alberto Erede , Lamberto Gardelli , Giuseppe Patane , John Mauceri , Zubin Mehta , Charles Dutoit , Gyorgy Fischer , Riccardo Chailly , Istvan Kertesz , Leone Magiera , Evelino Pido , Gianandrea Gavazzeni , Renée Fleming , Cecilia Bartoli , Luciano Pavarotti , Jussi Bjorling , and Renata Tebaldi
Manufacturer: Decca
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Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco...

ASIN: B000059RXO
Release Date: 2001-02-27

Tracks:

Carmen: Act 1: Prld - LPO/Sir Georg Solti
La Traviata: Brindisi: Libiamo, Ne'lieti Calici - Luciano Pavarotti/Joan Sutherland/London Opr Chor/Terry Edwards
La Boheme: Che Gelida Manina - Luciano Pavarotti
Lakme: Flower Duet: Dome Epais Le Jasmin - Joan Sutherland/Jane Berbie
Fedora: Amor Ti Vieta - Jussi Bjorling
Carmen: Habanera: L'amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle - Tatiana Troyanos/John Alldis Chor/John Alldis
Nabucco: Chor Of The Hebrew Slaves: Va Pensiero - Chicago Sym Chor/Margaret Hills
Le Nozze Di Figaro: Dove Sono - Kiri Te Kanawa
Rigoletto: La Donna E Mobile - Luciano Pavarotti
Lohengrin: Bridal Chor: Treulich Gefuhrt Ziehet Dahin - Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor/Walter Hagen-Groll
Gianni Schicchi: O Mio Babbino Caro - Renata Tebaldi
Il Barbiere Di Siviglia: Largo Al Factotum - Leo Nucci
La Wally: Ebben?... Ne Andro Lontana - Angela Gheorghiu
Madama Butterfly: Humming Chor - Wiener Staatsopernchor/Norbert Balatsch
Carmen: Flower Song: La Fleur Que Tu M'avais Jetee - Placido Domingo
Les Contes D'Hoffmann: Barcarolle: Belle Nuit, O Nuit D'Amour - Joan Sutherland/Huguette Tourangeau/Chor De La Radio Suisse Romande, Pro Arte De Lausanne Et Du...
Tosca: E Lucevan Le Stelle - Placido Domingo
Madama Butterfly: Un Bel Di - Mirella Freni
Les Pecheurs De Perles: C'est Toi... Au Fond Du Temple Saint - Gregory Cross/Gino Quilico

Tracks:

Die Walkure: The Ride Of The Valkyries - Wiener Phil/Solti
Le Nozze Di Figaro: Voi Che Sapete - Cecilia Bartoli
Pagliacci: Recitar!... Vesti La Giubba - Luciano Pavarotti
La Boheme: O Soave Fanciulla - Mirella Freni/Luciano Pavarotti/Roland Panerai
Il Trovatore: Anvil Chor: Vedi! Le Fosche - Chicago Sym Chor/Margaret Hillis
Manon Lescaut: Donna Non Vidi Mai - Jose Carreras
Don Giovanni: La Ci Darem La Mano - Lucia Popp/Tom Krause
Mattinata - Andrea Bocelli
Faust: Soldiers' Chor - Ambrosian Opr Chor/John McCarthy
L'elisir D'amore: Una Furtiva Lagrima - Roberto Alagna
Turandot: Signore, Ascolta! - Montserrat Caballe
Don Giovanni: Champagne Aria: Finch'han Dal Vino - Bryn Terfel
Cosi Fan Tutte: Trio: Soave Sia Il Vento - Renee Fleming/Anne Sofie Von Otter/Michele Pertusi
Il Trovatore: Di Quella Pira - Luciano Pavarotti/Joan Sutherland/London Opr Chor/Terry Edwards
Tosca: Vissi D'arte - Kiri Te Kanawa
Carmen: Toreador Song - Jose Van Dam/Tatiana Troyanos/Norma Burrowes/Jane Berbie/Thomas Allen/Pierre Thau/John Alldis...
Madama Butterfly: Love Duet: Vogliatemi Bene - Mirella Freni/Luciano Pavarotti
Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo - Nat PO/Gianandrea Gavazzeni
Rusalka: O Silver Moon - Renee Fleming
La Boheme: Si. Mi Chiamano Mimi - Angela Gheorghiu
Turandot: Nessun Dorma - Luciano Pavarotti/John Alldis Chor/John Alldis

Amazon.com

The labels that are now gathered under the Universal Classics umbrella have a pretty impressive scorecard in the area of classical compilations. We've seen The Greatest Opera Show on Earth, The Yellow Guide: Classical Music, Best of the Millennium, and now there's The No. 1 Opera Album. But that's no surprise, since Universal has some of the finest interpreters in its catalogue to draw from. This two-CD set (at the price of one), for example, brings together the likes of Cecilia Bartoli, Renée Fleming, Luciano Pavarotti, Kiri Te Kanawa, Sir Georg Solti, Herbert von Karajan, and many more. Yet the other key to a successful compilation is canny anthologizing, and here again, you have a nice selection to give you a smattering of opera's heavyweights from the Italian, German, and French repertory (there's even a step outside the standard framework with an aria from Dvorák's lovely Rusalka). Ranging from 1959 to 1997, the choices from back catalogue will doubtless be the entry ticket for many into this grandest of the arts. --Sarah Chin

Customer Reviews:

Pretty darn good.......2007-07-04

This CD set has a lot of familiar music on it, so if you're a newbie, you might want to try starting with this. There are some great pieces on the first CD. I usually don't even make it to the second.

The Opera #1 Opera Album.......2007-06-07

The music is wonderful. The production is terrible!! The sound fades in and out and is very scratchy in some places.

Excellent assortment.......2007-05-12

I'm not a big opera fan but I wanted to expose an assorted selection for my kids. This was perfect since it included several recognizable selections.

Great Selections.......2007-03-31

This Cd, has the very best of Opera
covering mainly from the classcal
to the to the romantic periods, a most
memorable selection here is Leo Nucci
in a lagendary performance of Rossini's
"Largo al Factotum" from "Il Barbiere di Seviglia"
also Andrea Bocelli in his performance of Leoncavallo's
memorable "Matinatta" here in an orchestrated version.
Indeed some of opera's most loved arias are in this recording
various conductors, orchestras, and soloists. All in their
very best. Indeed a five-star recording...

Terrific !.......2007-01-10

A diverse album to give you a sprinkle of the various types of 'opera'. Every note is pure and lovely, I listen to it all the time ! Highly recommended for anyone just getting into opera. :}

Operas Greatest Moments / Domingo, Price, Caballé, Kraus, Norman, Lanza

Average customer rating:

My FIRST opera cd
Better compilations available
My desert island CD pick
Fine Querschnitt!
A collection of opera gems on one CD

Operas Greatest Moments / Domingo, Price, Caballé, Kraus, Norman, Lanza

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Opera's Greatest Love Songs
Opera's Greatest Duets
The Most Famous Opera Duets
The #1 Opera Album
The Best of Italian Opera

ASIN: B000003FDD
Release Date: 1992-11-10

Tracks:

La Traviata: Libiamo, ne' lieti calici (Brindisi)
Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro
Il Barbiere Di Siviglia: Largo al factotum
Les Pecheurs Des Perles - Au fond du temple saint
La Boheme: Mi chiamano Mimi
Pique Dame: Yeletsky's Aria (Act ll, Scene1)
La Wally - Ebben? Ne andro lontana
L'elisir D'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
Die Walkure: Du bist der Lenz
La Forza Del Destino: Pace, pace, mio Dio
Pagliacci: Vesti la giubba
Le Nozze Di Figaro: Dove sono i bei momenti
Rigoletto: La donna e' mobile
Madama Butterfly: Un bel di
Die Zauberflote: Ach, ich fuhl's
Aida: Se quel guerrrier io fossi; Celeste Aida
Carmen: L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera)
Turandot: Nessun dorma

Customer Reviews:

My FIRST opera cd .......2006-09-29

I purchased this compilation in late summer 1994. I always skipped over Merrill's "Largo al factotum", just because I am not a big fan of that aria - kinda hokey to me :) I fell madly in love with the two contributions by Miss Leontyne Price!!! Especially "Pace, pace mio dio", the reference recording of that aria! I like Caballe's performance of "Si, mi chiamano Mimi", and the Domingo and Hvorostovky recordings. This disc opened up a whole new world for me. Yes, I have discovered MANY different singers than those included on this cd, but it started it all for me. It is a good sample of some very fine singing on the RCA label. OH! Let's not forget the superb Pearl Fisher's duet, sung by Bjoerling and Merrill!!

Better compilations available.......2003-09-26

I recently began collecting compilations of great opera performances as raw material for custom CD's. After listening to this CD side-by-side with others, I ended up using not a single selection from it. Three double CD's that, in my opinion, have much more to offer, in both quantity and quality, are (1) Decca's The #1 Opera Album, (2) EMI's The Opera Album, and (3) Warner Brothers' Simply The Best Night At The Opera. If I could have only one, it would be the Decca product, but each has it's own strengths, unlike the RCA disc. The caveat here is that taste in music is a highly personal matter.

My desert island CD pick.......2003-01-10

I could -- and sometimes do -- listen to Nessum Dora over and over. I have never felt music so passionately as I do the selections on this CD. It is truly the best of the best: the best "songs" from the best operas being sung by the best singers at their very best. I challenge anyone who doesn't like opera or ever music to listen to this CD. You will fall deeply in love.

Fine Querschnitt!.......2001-10-12

This is a good set as it includes some of the very finest moments of recorded opera history, noticably with Jussi Björlings Pearlfishes, which was one of his most inspired singings, Placido Domingo in his charming interpretation in The Loves Exlire, Anna Moffo outside the Wienniese standards is interesting, and Montserrat Caballe was really the best Mimi that ever sung that role, and I don't think that many today doubt that Lanza was one of the finest and most flexible voice that have sung Verdi. There is a nice querschnitt through the century as old pearls have been mixed with new. I enjoyed immensely to hear Caballes Mimi and Normans "Du bist der Lenz" or Kraus clicky "Donna Mobile" and a fresh new Ben heppner in 3D sound in one and the same hour.

A collection of opera gems on one CD.......2001-04-07

I have to agree that these are some of opera's greatest moments in the later part of the 20th century. The Pearl Fishers Duet (Au Fond du Temple Saint) sung by Jussi Björling, Robert Merrill is a big favorite of mine. Monserrat Caballe sings La Boheme here, and I couldn't believe my ears; maybe the best version of this I've ever listened to.

Tracks:

William Tell - Rossini
The Barber Of Seville - Steven Page
La Traviata - Virginia Zeani
The Pearlfishers - Steven Page
Turandot - John Oakman
Madama Butterfly - Eugenia Moldoveanu
Aida - Verdi
Don Giovanni - Steven Page
Rigoletto - John Oakman
Samson Et Delila - Anne Marie Owens
Carmen - Steven Page
Carmen - Anne Marie Owens
La Traviata - Virginia Zeani
La Traviata - Virginia Zeani
Rigoletto - Ion Buzea
Die Walkure - Wagner
Il Trovatore - Verdi
Tosca - Virginia Zeani
Tolomeo - Mary Ann Hart
Rinaldo - Madeline Tsingopoulos
La Boheme - Ludovic Speiss
La Boheme - Eugenia Moldoveanu
La Boheme - Elvira Cirje Druica
I Pagliacci - John Oakman
Cavalleria Rusticana - Mascagni

Customer Reviews:

No Words to Describe.......2007-05-06

If you have never listened to opera, this is the opera that you should never hear! If you are inclined to dislike opera, then this confirms your inclinations. It IS very inexpensive... and properly so.
If you enjoy opera, you should stay away. For those that like the voice of Nicolae Herlea, it is a very small portion of the total music on the CD.

AWESOME!.......2007-04-05

For the price paid this music is great! A combination of most favorites. Some of the music sounds as if the performers where a little untrained but too few. Most of it was absolutely delightful.

I agree.......2001-05-08

I don't actually own the above CD...BUT I agree with the previous reviewer about N. Herlea...A baritone to die for... Radiant Top notes, unbelievable stamina...and sumptuous texture/timbre...he did sing in the West, but unfortunately was pretty much "kept" behind the iron curtain...He has (although hard to find) recordings of Tosca, Forza, Rigoletto, and Barbier as well... listen to this guy...(he is definitely in the league of Bastianini, Zancanaro, Tagliabue,Capucilli and co...- if not, BETTER)

herlea is non-human..........2001-03-09

I just want to say that I have an 48 years of opera experience but I never heard a voice like Herlea's. Just try it...!

Average customer rating:

The Only Choral CD You'll Ever Need

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Choral Moods
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Choral Masterpieces
The #1 Choral Album

ASIN: B000059SUZ
Release Date: 2001-03-06

Tracks:

Agnus Dei - Chor Of Trinity College, Cambridge/Richard Marlow
I Pagliacci: Bell Chor - Bavarian Radio Chor
Cavalleria Rusticana: Easter Hymn - Lesley Garrett
Jerusalem - Chor Of Trinity College, Cambridge/Richard Marlow/Philip Rushforth
Carmen: March Of The Toreadors - Vienna State Opr Chor
Requiem: In Paradisum - Chor Of Trinity College, Cambridge
Requiem: Requiem Aeternam/Kyrie - Angela Maria Blasi/Bavarian Radio Sym Chor
Miserere - Louisa Keily/Rebecca Daldorph/Reiner Schneider-Waterberg/James Elias/Chor Of Trinity College...
Madama Butterfly: Humming Chor - Bavarian Radio Chor
The Flying Dutchman: Sailors' Chor - Orch And Chor Of The German Opr, Berlin/Wilhelm Schuchter
Aida: Grand March - Royal Liverpool PO And Chor
Credo: Crucifixus - Balthasar-Neumann Chor And Ens/Thomas Hengelbrock
The Lamb - Chor Of Trinity College, Cambridge/Richard Marlow
Requiem: Dies Irae/Tuba Mirum - Bavarian Radio Sym Chor
Messiah: Hallelujah Chor - London Musici And Chm Chor/Mark Stephenson

Average customer rating:

A great compilation
THE Opera C.D. for the Opera Illiterate!

Opera Goes to the Movies

Manufacturer: RCA
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ASIN: B000003F60
Release Date: 2001-08-21

Tracks:

Madama Butterfly: Un bel di (Fatal Attraction) - Leontyne Price
Turandot: Nessun dorma (The Witches Of Eastwick) - Jussi Bjoerling
La Boheme: Quando m'en vo (Moonstruck) - Anna Moffo
La Boheme: Donde lieta usci (Mimi's Addio) - Moonstruck - Leontyne Price
The Barber Of Seville: Una voce poco fa (Dark Eyes) - Roberta Peters
Die Walkure: Ride Of The Valkyries (Apocalypse Now) - Eugene Ormandy
La forza del destino: Overture (Jean de Florette) - James Levine
The Barber Of Seville: Overture (Prizzi's Honor) - Fritz Reiner
Gianni Schicchi: Firenze e come un albero fiorito (A Room With A View) - Peter Seiffert
Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro (A Room With A View) - Leontyne Price
La rondine: Chi il bel sogno di Doretta (A Room With A View) - Anna Moffo
Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo (Godfather III) - James Levine
Pagliacci: Vesti la biubba (The Untouchables) - Placido Domingo
La Wally: Ebben? Ne andro lontano (Diva) - Eva Marton
Rigoletto: Questa o quella (Wall Street) - Alfredo Kraus
La Boheme: O soave fanciulla (Moonstruck) - Placido Domingo
Manon Lescaut: Sola, perduta, abbandonata (Hannah And Her Sisters) - Leontyne Price
Martha: M'appari (The Grey Fox) - Placido Domingo

Customer Reviews:

A great compilation.......2006-01-10

As the other reviewer noted, I bought my copy of this after hearing someone else's and I had to have one of my own. A great gift, too. We gave this to people for Christmas one year with a couple of DVDs of the films (Prizzi's Honor among them). Highly recommended.

THE Opera C.D. for the Opera Illiterate!.......1999-04-19

If you only buy ONE opera C.D., this is it!!! A compillation of famous highlights from operas we all know we've heard before (but might not know where to find them again). Some of my favorites: #3Puccini's Turandot-"Nessun Dorma", #4 Delibes: Lakme-Viens Malika...Dome Epais, #5 Puccini's La Boheme-Quando M'en vo. All treasures.

Of course, there are a few selections that break the otherwise romantic, thought-provoking and quiet-whistful mood the rest of the C.D. creates: all selections that are symphony-only, such as #8 Wagner" Die Walkure - the thunder-crashing sound of the ride of the Valkyries, ever famous but disruptive.

Tracks:

'I pagliacci': Prologo
'I pagliacci': Vesti la giubba
'I pagliacci': No, pagliaccio non son!
'Il trovarore': Di quella pira
'Il trovarore': Mal reggendo
'Il trovarore': Ah, si ben mio
'Macbeth': Ah, la peterna mano
'Otello': Esultate
'Otello': Niun mi tema
'Otello': Morte di Otello
'Madama Butterfly': Addio fiorito asil
'Tosca': Recondita armonia
'Tosca': E lucevan le stelle
'Il tabarro': Hai ben raggione
'Il tabarro': Folle di gelosia
'Andrea Chenier': Un di all'azzuro spazio
'Andrea Chenier': Si fui soldato
'Andrea Chenier': Come un bel di maggio
'Les troyens': Aria di Enea
'Il Barbiere Di Siviglia': Largo al factotum
'Die Walkure': Monologue of Siegmund

Customer Reviews:

One of the biggest voices of the past 50 years.......2007-02-19

Mario del Monaco was not the most elegant tenor; he was not a great actor. But, man, did he have a big voice! He had one of the most powerful tenor voices of the past 50 years. We're talking Richard Tucker and Franco Corelli power here (and maybe even more at that).

Some examples. He sings "Largo al factotum" from Rossini's "Il Barbiere de Siviglia." He takes it at a fast pace. This work is normally sung by a baritone, but del Monaco makes it his own anyhow. He has fun with this aria and it shows.

For tenors, "Di quella pira" is a show off aria (from Verdi's "Il Trovatore"). The high C here is a splendid place to demonstrate one's voice. Del Monaco has the big voice for this; the high notes ring out. On the other hand, with the "shake" in this work, he is pretty rough and inelegant. But elegance was not del Monaco's forte; power was. His voice on the final notes sails above the orchestra and chorus.

Verdi's "Tosca" has two showstoppers for tenors: "E lucevan le stella" and "Recondita armonia." His version of the former is powerfully sung. Again, not elegant, no great characterization--but powerfully sung. A stentorian voice deployed to good effect. His singing of the words "la vita" catches one's attention. As for the latter, more of the same. If elegance you want, do not attend to Mario del Monaco. If you are intrigued with power, then he is someone you might wish to listen to.

"Vesti la giubba" was one of Caruso's most famous pieces. This aria, from Leoncavallo's "I Pagliacci," is one of the most well known works in the repertoire. Again, del Monaco's version is not graceful. His laughter works nicely; his voice is almost too much for this aria. Nonetheless, again, for those interested in the work of del Monaco, this is interesting to listen to.

All in all, a nice introduction to the work of Mario del Monaco. Personally, I find his power wondrous to listen to; on the other hand, I wish that there were a bit more elegance and subtlety. But the power of his voice is a natural wonder!

The Biggest Tenor Voice of the 20th century.......2005-08-01

Most music scholars and opera cognescentes credit the Italian from Florence Mario Del Monaco to have been blessed with the most powerful and biggest tenor voice in the 20th century. I wouldn't know about in all history, but for all I know, he could have indeed have the biggest tenor voice in history, since in the old days of opera -Baroque Era to the 19th century, purely lyric tenors with only some weight and power- like Caruso, were in vogue. When Monaco came along, he changed the course of tenor performances. He was singing in electrifying performances during the 50's- his career spanned the same time of Maria Callas' legendary performances. He even worked with Callas and Tebaldi in such operas as Norma and Andrea Chenier. Mario Del Monaco's most famous role was Verdi's Otello, still considered the greatest interpretation by any tenor of that role. This album finds him at his peak and he sings aria after aria in powerful, masculine, dynamic and beautiful voice, exemplifying the best way to sing in the Italian manner. Find out for yourself and put on this recording while listening to other tenors singing the same arias at the same time. I have tried it. Monaco's voice is far bigger and meatier than such celebrated tenors as Giuseppe Di Stefano, Franco Corelli, Jon Vickers, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavoratti. Vickers had a big voice as well but even his voice is thinner next to the hefty voice of Del Monaco. Not only that but Del Monaco was the first real "star" tenor at a time when soprano divas were always the stars. He immersed himself in the roles he sang and brought to life for post-World War II audiences.

This well-documented album showcases Mario's versatility in various Italian operas. The only non-Italian aria here is the last one, Siegfried's Aria and Monologue from Wagner's Die Walkure. But mostly, he sang in Italian as only singers from Germany itself sung in the operas of Strauss and Wagner. Americans or Italian singers sticked to the much beloved Italian repertoire. Monaco shows off his muscular vocal chords in the classic tenor signature aria - Vesti La Giubba from I Pagliacci, made famous by Enrico Caruso. In this aria, Pagliacci, just learning that his lady love Nedda has been unfaithful, is naturally crushed but has to perform that night and adopts a "show must go on" attitude. "Laugh, clown, laugh" is his motto in that aria. Monaco makes that aria more intense than any other tenor that followed him. His Manrico is the perfect vehicle for his heroic bravado technique and his Di Quella Pira is hands down the finest interpretation. Included here are arias from Otello, including the passionate "Esultate!" which soars above a powerful orchestra. Also here are stirring arias from Andrea Chenier and even a delightful rendition of "Largo Al Factotum" from the comic Rossini masterpiece The Barber of Seville. Surprisingly, Monaco does not seem perfect for such a role, since it seems to be vocally beneath him. Del Monaco was too serious and heroic sounding that such comic roles as a barber appeared like an odd stray from the norm. But it also proves his versatility I guess. For me, Mario Del Monaco was at his best in such roles as Manrico from Trovatore, Radames from Aida, Cavaradossi from Tosca (included here) Don Jose in Carmen, which he sung opposite Regina Resnik, Calaf in Turandot and Siegfried as well as Otello. Get this album and hear for yourself the voice that dazzled audiences and the man who is still beloved and talked about by opera lovers to this day.

Average customer rating:

Great collection but the title's a misnomer

Essential Opera

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

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

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Essential Opera
Essential Mozart Opera
Essential Puccini
A - Z of Opera (includes 762 page booklet)
Essential Verdi

ASIN: B0009A41V0
Release Date: 2005-08-09

Customer Reviews:

Great collection but the title's a misnomer.......2006-07-17

The producers of Essential Opera 1 and 2 finally decided to give us a wonderful gift and combined the two for the price of one. The effect is an exciting collection for opera lovers and opera beginners alike. Thank you, producers.

However, I can't agree that the collection lives up to its name. How can it be essential when where is Maria Callas in the line-up? Absent Maria, any opera collection that deems itself "essential" deludes itself. Callas is as indispensable to opera as, say, Picasso is to cubism. To paraphrase Franco Zeffirelli, Callas showed us the maximum of what opera is. Callas IS essential opera.

This misnomer is made the more stark and jarring when one sees that a contemporaneous rival, Renata Tebaldi, is given two tracks to sing and Callas, none. Tebaldi was Callas' rival like Clementi was Mozart's--whoever remembers the rivals now? History has judged well who the masters are. So I listen to arias in this CD, arias that Callas have incomparably defined like Tosca's Vissi d'Arte, La Wallys's Ebben Ne'andro Lontana", to disappointment.

I'd give this disc four and a half stars for Callas' omission, but the Amazon rating system does not allow it. In any case, Tatiana Troyano's Habanera, Cecilia Bartoli's "Una Voce Poco fa," Krause, Popp, and Fassbaender's "Saove sia il vento," and Sutherland and Berbie's Lakme duet, and ten other tracks still make this compilation wonderful, exciting, and highly commendable. Do yourselves a favor and get this cd.

Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy: My Favorite Moments

Average customer rating:

Perfect collection for Opera "curious"

Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy: My Favorite Moments

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Battle, Kathleen | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Freni, Mirella | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Ludwig, Christa | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Sutherland, Joan | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Opera & Vocal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy-My Favorite Showstoppers
Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy: My Favorite Love Songs
Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy - My Favorite Love Duets
Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy: My Favorite Opera for Everyone
Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy: My Favorite Verdi

ASIN: B00000424S
Release Date: 1994-08-23

Tracks:

Il Trovatore: Anvil Chorus
Rigoletto: Quartet: Bella Figlia Dell' Amore
Lakme: Flower Duet
Carmen: Toreador Chorus
Cosi fan tutte: Soave Sia Il Vento
Die Walkure: The Ride Of The Valkyries
Lucia di Lammermoor: Ah! Verrano A Te Sull' Aure
Lucia di Lammermoor: Chi Mi Frena In Tal Momento
TOSCA: Te Deum: Tre Sbirri, Una Carrozza
TOSCA: Ecco! Son Giunte Al Sommo Del Pendio
Don Carlo: Friendship Duet
Nabucco: Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves
A Masked Ball: E scherzo Od E Follia
Pagliacci: Si Puo? Si Puo?
Il Trovatore: Miserere
La forza del destino: Solenne In Quest' Ora
Aida: Gloria All' Egitto ...Triumphal March ...Vieni, O Guerriero Vindice

Customer Reviews:

Perfect collection for Opera "curious".......2002-07-28

It is an unfortunate side effect of modern life that the traditional sources of a classical education are disappearing. Because many classical music radio stations have transformed into yet another commercial outlet of top 40 pap, access to classical music for the general public is generally limited to movies or television in the form of background music. These sources rarely credit their music, so most people are left wondering what is was they heard and enjoyed.

I am known to enjoy classical music and my friends often ask me for listening suggestions.(What is wrong with the public schools? They should be teaching this.) Normally, I shy away from collections like "Adagios" or "The Art of Herbert von Karajan" as they generally show little thought in their organization. I do enjoy and would recommend this disk "Opera Made Easy", which I discovered...one afternoon.

Opera is the most imposing of the classics for the novice. The usual [$$]to [$$]price tag of a double or triple CD can be intimidating when embarking into unknown territory.

This collection contains many favorites from Italian Opera: Donizetti, Mozart, Verdi, and Puccini to name the largest contributors. Many are familiar to even the novice, like the Toreador Chorus from Bizet's Carmen. Some are found in today's television commercials, like Leo Delibes' Flower Duet. There are a couple of show stoppers here: Puccini's Nessun Dorma, performed by a Pavarotti in his prime and Robert Merrill's poignant performance of the Pagliacci Si puo? And who can resist the bubbly quartet Bella filiglia del'Amore from Rigoletto which is sung in style by Pavarotti, Sherill Milnes, Joan Sutherland, and Hugette Tourangeau.