Il Re Pastore

On this CD:

1. Il rè pastore, opera, K. 208
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Luigi Alva, Reri Grist, Nicola Monti, Lucia Popp, Arlene Saunders
Conducted by Denis Vaughan

Tracks:

Vorrei spiegarvi, oh dio!
Exsultate, jubilate
Il re pastore: L'amero, saro costante
Basta, vincesti...ah non lasciarmi, no
Un moto di gioia
Ch'io mi scordi di te...non temer, amato bene - Scena And Rondo
Misera, dove son!...ah! non son'io che parlo

Customer Reviews:

Magnificent soprano!.......2007-03-28

Kathleen Battle is one in a line of incredibly talented American born sopranos including Anna Moffo, Renee Fleming, Leontyne Price, etc. She has a beautiful voice and perfectly suited to sing Bach, Handel and Mozart. This disc will open your eyes to the beauty of Mozart if you do not already appreciate his work. The standouts here are "Vorrei spiegarvi" which will send chills up your spine, "exsultate jubilate", "l'amero saro costante", "un moto di gioia", and "misera, dove son". Andre Previn does an outstanding job at the conductor's helm.
I was terribly saddened that this great diva's career was sidetracked by supposed temperament difficulties. I'll not fault her too much because we only know the Met Opera's version. Besides, Battle is forgiven for the sheer gorgeousness of her singing. Mozart himself would be so pleased if he heard this cd.

Vintage Mozart!!.......2007-01-12

I was not familiar with Kathleen Battle's voice prior to listening to this recording. I am now, and what a beautiful and talented voice she has!! She has reinforced my belief that Mozart is one of the greatest composers. I never tire listening to Mozart; I listen to this recording often. I am pleased, as I am sure you will be, to have this recording by Ms. Battle in my music library.

Bel Canto.......2006-12-30

The date on my copy, and I assume it is the recording date, I bought it very many years ago, is 1985. It used to be one of my favorite CDs. I won't call Battle an angel because there is no such thing, and I don't know how one would sound if there were. But her voice is warm and smooth and quintessentially beautiful. I love it. I was sorry to read in a review of another CD of hers that she is a gorgon. It diminishes my love greatly, as it did my liking for Callas, who had a poorer voice to begin with. I like to think well of my heroes. This compliation of Mozart is bel canto, but with not so much coloratura. It is deeply pleasurable and soothing. It is sublime, with the meaning that 100 years of Tin Pan Alley and pop tune lyric writers have given it (perfectly pleasurable and agreeable), not the meaning that the word originally or actually had/has (awesome). Compare this Mozart recital with Sutherland's collection of Mozart arias in her Art of collection. (I'm writing these comments under Battle's CD because Sutherland's is in a 6 disc collection that I just opened last night, the only disc I've listened to from it is the Mozart.) I do not like Mozart's operas. That's a fact, and that's all there is to it. Take it or leave it. They bore me green. However, some of his tunes (art songs) and some arias from his operas are divine. And Battle and Sutherland sang some of them. Sutherland's disc is coloratura all the way. It too is exquisitely beautiful, as I expect the whole collection to be. I don't know which I prefer. Must I choose? I perfer Sutherland's disc. Battle's selections are soothing and dreamy. Sutherland's are soothing but arousing at the same time. But that's just my preference. Bel canto (which means beautiful singing) is of course very beautiful (that's redundant), but I prefer coloratura singing, which comes from bel canto, and which many consider an excess, or at least that it can be an excess. I am not one of those. I love the ornamentation. It delights and pleases me. Mozart and the Italians of the 1st half of the 19th Century are considered the bel canto and coloratura masters (though there are instances of coloratura if not bel canto (?!) through the history of music). Notes. I paid full price for my Battle when it came out. Now it's available for a song. If you like just beautiful female music that can make an entire 6 or 7 minute piece with one word for a lyric, I highly recommend it. And if you do want it, and Newbury Comics is an Amazon Marketplace seller of it, you'd be in safe hands and save even more money buying it from them. Likewise the Sutherland Art of 6 disc set. I think I got that from Newbury Comics, and I saved $20, and by spending an extra $2 postage (for expedited shipping), had it in my hands in about 3 days. 4 wonderful things. Mozart's tunes, Battle, Sutherland, and Newbury Comics. I recommend them all.

Sublime.......2006-12-27

If there is a more exquisite CD in my collection, I don't know what it is. When I went shopping for stereo speakers years ago, I used this CD to test the high range. Mrs. Battle's voice is otherworldly in its purity, clarity, and delicacy. This recording is artistically, programmatically, and technologically flawless.

Steve

Why I love Kathleen.......2006-09-21

This album was the reason I fell in love with Kathleen Battle. Her voice is clean, beautiful and pure, just the right type of voice for Mozart.

Renée Fleming - Visions of Love ~ Mozart Arias / Mackerras

Average customer rating:

Certainly not the best Fleming
Mozart, Mozart, Mozart!
a pleasure
a pleasure
Rare and well-known Mozart

Renée Fleming - Visions of Love ~ Mozart Arias / Mackerras
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Orchestra of St. Luke's , Sir Charles Mackerras , Renée Fleming , and Krista Bennion Feeney
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Renee Fleming - The Beautiful Voice ~ Gounod, Lehaair, Orff, Puccini, Rachmaninov, Strauss
Renée Fleming - Signatures ~ Great Opera Scenes / Sir Georg Solti
Renée Fleming - The Schubert Album
Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming: Bel Canto

ASIN: B00000429M
Release Date: 1996-09-17

Tracks:

Le nozze di Figaro: Giunse alfin il momento ... Deh, vieni
Don Giovanni: In quali eccessi ... Mi tradi
Die Entfuhrung Aus Dem Serail: Ach, ich liebte, war so glucklich
Il re pastore: / L'amero saro costante
Die Zauberflote: Ach, ich fuhl's, est ist verschwunden
La finta giardiniera: Geme la tortorella
La finta giardiniera: Crudeli, fermate, crudeli, oh Dio! fermate -
La finta giardiniera: Ah, dal pianto, dal sighiozzo
Zaide: Ruhe sanft
Il sogno di Scipione: Lieve son al par del vento
Le nozze di Figaro: Giunse alfin il momento ... Al desio
Concert Aria, K383: Nehmt meinen Dank

Customer Reviews:

Certainly not the best Fleming.......2007-02-02

I do not understand why this disc chooses to record the 'remote' Mozart arias, No. 1.
I do not understand why Ms. Fleming failed to impress listeners as a Mozartian in this disc, No. 2.
A singer of her reputation should be more discerning in her discography.
Not that the rarer or earlier Mozart is any less good than Cosi fan tutte or Don Giovanni.
But if you have listened to recordings of all Mozart's earlier opera (to which I have), you would be bound to admit that Ms. Fleming did not fare well in those pieces she had chosen here. And even in her Donna Elvira on this disc, she is not in best form.

Mozart, Mozart, Mozart!.......2006-05-22

'Visions of Love, Mozart Arias' sung by one of our leading operatic sopranos, Renee Fleming, is a nice listen more for the fact that it is Mozart than the fact that it is being done by Renee Fleming. But then, if you happen to be a Renee Fleming fan, you can have your cake and eat it too.

I confess I have been influenced in my overall rating by one of the other reviewers, who obviously has much more experience with recordings of Mozart arias. But from my point of view, someone who just likes to listen to female operatic and art song vocals, this is a great change from the recordings of French chansoms and German Lieder, which all start to sound like variations of Shubert's 'Ave Maria'.

Here, we get the orchestrations of that all time greatest master of the 18th century opera, the utterly incomparable Wolfgang, for those of us who don't have the patience to sit through, or even do garden weeding through a complete performance of Don Giovanni (although I am partial to complete recordings of Die Zauberflote, The Magic Flute).

This is probably not the best album with which to sample Fleming for the first time. As this is the first of her albums I have reviewed, I'll let you know as soon as I find it.

Meanwhile, if you can get this one at a good discount, you will enjoy the Mozart!

a pleasure.......2003-07-03

Her "turtledovish",creamy, slightly gruffy voice is perfect in Mozart. All are very lovey/dovey romantic songs. I Love the repetive nature of vocal lines in Mozart's music. It's very different from later Italian composers. This music is more charming and sometimes meant to be a little comical. Thay all have a certain rhythm pattern, typical of Mozart. After a while you start to pick up on it and get the gist of the style. Then you can hear an unknown piece and single it out as Mozart. She does an incredible effort at maintaining that creamy richness, roundness, and that beauty of tone that is so necessary in Mozart ,when she is singing at high tessitura or when she is singing in pure head voice or "in the mask". I think Mozart vocal music is the most difficult to do, but also the most fun.

a pleasure.......2003-07-03

Rare and well-known Mozart.......2003-06-24

Renee Fleming's Mozart CD is a collection of beautiful arias, gorgeously sung. Rare Mozart gems are presented along with more popular arias from FIGARO, DON GIOVANNI, DIE ENTFUHRUNG, and DIE ZAUBERFLOTE -- a wise programming choice on Fleming's part, since EVERYONE sings the popular arias. Fleming's lush yet agile tone is perfect for the long lines of "L'amero, saro costante" from IL RE PASTORE and the similar "Geme la torturelle" from LA FINTA GIARDINIERA. She has the coloratura flexibility for "Ach, ich leibte" from DIE ENTUHURUNG and the amazing "Lievi son," an aria Mozart wrote when he was only sixteen years old! It is also interesting to hear Fleming give an outstanding performance of Donna Elvira's "Mi Tradi," since her more usual role in DON GIOVANNI is Donna Anna. But my favorite track is the first one, "Deh vieni, non tardar" from FIGARO; I believe this is one of the very finest pieces of singing Fleming has ever recorded.

Average customer rating:

An Alternative view for moms
Good if you like Opera

More Mozart for Mothers-to-Be

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Mozart for Mothers-To-Be: Tender Lullabies for Mother and Child
UltraSound - Music for the Unborn Child
Beethoven for Babies
Mozart for Mommies and Daddies - Jumpstart your Newborn's IQ
Bach for Babies

ASIN: B00004U0QG
Release Date: 2000-06-27

Tracks:

The Marriage of Figaro - The Letter Duet-Canzonetta sull'aria "Che soave zeffiretto"
The Marriage of Figaro - Susanna's Air: Deh vieni, non tardar
Don Giovanni - Zerlina's Air: Vedrai carino
Cosi fan tutte - Terzettino: Soave sia il vento
La Clemenza di Tito - Duet: Ah perdona al primo affetto
Cosi fan tutte - Di scrivermi ogni giorno
The Marriage of Figaro - Cherubino's Air: Voi che sapete
Don Giovanni - Don Giovanni's Serenade: Deh vieni alla finestre
Zaide - Rube sanft, mein holdes Leben
Il Re Pastroe - L'amero, saro costante
Nehmt meinen Dank, ihr holden Gonner
Idomeneo - Zeffiretti lusinghiere
Idomeneo - Se il padre perdei
The Abduction from the Seraglio - Pedrillo's Serenade (A Moorish Romance): In Mohrenland gefangen war
The Marriage of Figaro - Flower Chorus: Ricevete, o padroncina
The Magic Flute - Boys' Trio: Zum Ziele fuhrt dich dies Bahn
The Magic Flute - Boys' Trio (Welcome A Second Time): Seid uns zum zweiten Mal wilkommen
The Magic Flute - Papageno's Air: Der Vogelfanger bin ich ja
The Magic Flute - Papageno's Love Song: Ein Madchen oder Weibchen
The Magic Flute - Pa Pa Pa Pa Pa Pa
Cosi fan tutte - Despina's Aria: Una donna a quindici anni
Das Kinderspiel

Customer Reviews:

An Alternative view for moms.......2004-07-15

The review by the previous listener who was, dissapointed that this recording, received as a gift, is opera was apparently looking for "soothing" music (possibly elevator music)to put her and possibly her child-to-be to sleep. I agree - if jello is what you seek, do not purchase this disc. If, on the other hand, you seek passion, beauty, and possibly a widening of your musical horizons, do, by all means, purchase this disc. Soaring arias, heavenly voices and the most lovely music imaginable await you. Still, Richard Clayderman and Britney Spears are available to you and your unfortunate child.

Good if you like Opera.......2004-02-11

I received this CD as a gift and was very disappointed to discover it was opera. I have other CD's of Mozart's music that are instrumental and very soothing. If you like opera then it may be a good choice for you, but if you are like me and don't care for opera you are probably better off sticking to an instrumental collection.

Average customer rating:

Sublime Mozart singing - Sandrine Piau sings with perfect classical style
The divine Sandrine! Bravo!
Heavenly
This CD is on 'repeat'
wonderful singing

Mozart: Opera Arias
Gottfried von der Goltz , Sandrine Piau , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , and Freiburger Barockorchester
Manufacturer: Astree
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sandrine Piau - Handel Opera Seria
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Vivaldi: In furore, Laudate pueri e concerti sacri

ASIN: B00005UEBE
Release Date: 2002-05-14

Tracks:

Lucio Sillia: In un istante oh come
Lucio Sillia: Parto, m'affreto
Die Zauberflote: Ach, ich fuhl's
Il re pastore: oh Dio mi vedi
Mitradite, re di Ponto: Grazie ai numi parti
Mitradite, re di Ponto: Nel grave tormento
Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail: Welcher Wechsel
Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail: Traurigkeit ward mir zum Lose
Lucio Sillia: Vanne, t'affretta
Lucio Sillia: Ah se il crudel periglio
La clemenza di Tito: S'altro che lagrime
Mitradite, re di Ponto: Al destin, che la minaccia
Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail: Ach, ich liebte, war so glucklich
Zaide: Ruhe sanft, mein holdes leben

Amazon.com

French soprano Sandrine Piau's voice is small, beautiful, light, and perfectly focused, and it's absolutely even from top (often, repeated high Ds) to bottom. She focuses thoroughly on the text and exclaims important, dramatic phrases with a natural emphasis that helps her avoid the sameness that high coloraturas can be so guilty of, especially on disc. Her breath control is stupendous (in Giunia's "Ah se il crudel periglio" from Lucio Silla, she launches one wildly embellished half-minute run after another effortlessly), the tone absolutely centered. Aside from the embroidered pieces here from Silla and Mitridate, we get a taste of Pamina, and while a fuller voice is (almost) needed for "Ach, ich fuhls," the manner in which Piau handles dynamics offers us enough. The same can be said for Konstanze's "Ach ich liebte" and "Traurigkeit," the latter sung as movingly as we're probably ever going to hear it. This is great singing. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Sublime Mozart singing - Sandrine Piau sings with perfect classical style.......2005-12-31

Sandrine Piau's voice is beautiful - that goes almost without saying. It has a limpid clarity that also contains a delicacy and warmth. She has clearly articulated coloratua and a lovely legato when she needs it - and certainly one needs it with Mozart!

This recording delighted me enormously when I first purchased it. Mozart is notorious for singers - one must have true beauty in the voice, because Mozart leaves the voice dangerously exposed. What looks easy on the page is not quite that easy to sing well. Thankfully, Sandrine Piau demonstrates perfectly how to sing Mozart soprano arias, and she does a wonderful job of incorporating the lyrical and the bedazzling - the intimate and the grand.

Her rendition of "Ach, ich fühl's" is well nigh perfect, and who could listen to her "Ruhe sanft" without sighing with pleasure? Ms Piau sings with impeccable phrasing and superb support, allowing the tone to fill the space without going too far. The danger in "Ruhe sanft" is for the singer to become swoony and droopy, swooping up to notes or holding on for too long - but no such faux pas occurs in this rendition. Just beautiful, beautiful sound and very lovely emotional interpretation that NEVER strays beyond the genuine classical style.

The faster arias - for instance, "Al destin, che la minaccia" - are spun with wonderful articulation and in perfect control. Lovely to listen to - impressively maintained energy-wise - and it makes one long to hear Ms Piau in a major Mozartian role requiring that lovely blend of grace, charm and coloratura.

Finally, I cannot possibly end this review without mentioning the very fine performance of "Traurigkeit ward mir zum Lose" on this CD. Once again, the sense of genuine emotion well controlled makes this a stunning rendition. The role of Konstanze is not that of a vocal battleship, but impeccable Mozart style, magnificently controlled coloratura, a beautiful and blooming tone, the required range, and the stamina of a steel butterfly - that is what is required. And that is precisely what Ms Piau gives us.

Wonderful singing, gorgeous arias... This is my favourite recording of Sandrine Piau - in my opinion, it's finer than her more recent Handel recording. It may well be a desert island disc.

The divine Sandrine! Bravo!.......2005-06-11

I have nothing but complete and utter praise for this superb recording by this wonderful and talented singer and the great period instrument orchestra backing her.

Sandrine Piau has always impressed me - I think I first noticed her in a big way in William Christie's wonderful recording of Jean-Philippe Rameau's opera Les Indes Galantes, made with his Les Arts Florissants ensemble.

Sandrine Piau brings much beauty, colour, expression, style and intelligence to anything she sings. I love her voice.

Her Mozart is divine. Listen to "Ah se il crudel periglio" from Lucio Silla and you will buy this album!

5 stars? I'd give it 10 if I could!

Now that you own this disc, you should immediately consider buying Natalie Dessay's collection of Mozart Arias - "Mozart Heroines", made with The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

Both ladies bring many different things to Mozart. I like both of them very much. Piau sings the arias which require pathos with great skill and feeling. Dessay's command of coloratura is powerful and impressive. Of course, Piau handles coloratura with skill, too, and Dessay can break your heart in the slower and more pathetique arias.

Buy Sandrine Piau's Mozart or buy Natalie Dessay's Mozart ... what the hell! Do as I did - buy both!

Heavenly.......2004-04-21

If you've ever wondered what perfection sounds like, search no further. Sandrine Piau has the voice of an angel. The combination of her voice and Mozart's music reaches the very heights of sublimity.

This CD is on 'repeat'.......2003-01-21

High, light, focused voice singing impeccable coloratura, passionate legato. Mozart wrote some of this music when he was 14 years old; what an incredible talent. Ms. Piau made it sound easy. This CD is on 'repeat' in my car's player, helping me learn. Sandrine, where is your next CD?

wonderful singing.......2003-01-12

As the editorial reviewer pointed out, this is indeed gorgeous singing. Her voice is passionate yet balanced, never compromising vocal acuity for heart-on-sleave emotion. Piau is a very promising singer whom we will probably hear much more of soon. However, at times this album does give the impression of being more of a exhibition of virtuosity than a recital (even they are usually the same).

Average customer rating:

like a bird
Incredible Sumi Jo...
simply the best
Staggeringly Beautiful
Ditto

Sumi Jo sings Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Kenneth Montgomery , English Chamber Orchestra , and Sumi Jo
Manufacturer: Erato
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sumi Jo - Les Bijoux / Carella

ASIN: B000005E4M
Release Date: 1996-10-01

Tracks:

Die Entfhrung aus dem Serail KV384: Martern Aller Arten
Die Zauberflote KV620: Ach, Ich Fuhl's
Vorrei Spiegarvi, Oh Dio! K 418
No, No, Che Non Sei Capace K 419
Ah Se In Ciel, Benigne Stelle K 538
L'amero, Saro Costante
Voi Avete Un Cor Fedele K 217
Chi Sa, Chi Sa, Qual Sia K 582
Le Nozze di Figaro KV492: Deh Vieni, Non Tardar
Der Schauspieldirektor KV486: Bester Jungling
Nehmt Meinen Dank, Ihr Holden Gonner K 383
Schon Lacht der Holde Fruhling K 580

Customer Reviews:

like a bird.......2005-03-22

Sumi Jo's voice is so purely beautiful; she is my favorite soprano when it comes to singing Mozart, especially Queen of the Night. Hands down, she owns that aria. Her technical ability is perfect as she breathes song, and the beauty of what you hear is touching in such wonderful clarity. My review can only fall short in my humble attempt to convey to you why you need to hear her voice. The music she produces transcends the earthly. It is dazzling beyond words.

Incredible Sumi Jo..........2004-01-11

I have to say that from the moment I bought this CD, I was won over by her incredible voice...
I have always been her true fan and always will be.
I love this CD,and I recommend that you buy this and experience the breathtaking voice of Sumi Jo.

simply the best.......2002-10-11

Sumi Jo's Mozart recital is superb, especially after hearing other contemporary divas try the same thing. You will not hear any of R Fleming's cloying mannerisms here covering up crummy technique nor will you have to endure the Miss Piggy trills of Bartoli scooping for notes well beyond her vocal range. Buy this and go to heaven.

Staggeringly Beautiful.......2002-09-01

I've no doubt that Sumi Jo is the most talented, technically polished coloratura soprano of our time. Her trills, runs, sustained pieces, and ornaments of various nature, are most likely what Mozart heard in his head when composing the arias... Absolute perfection.

Everything she sings is the epitome of what a soprano sets as her ultimate goal. If one looked up "Perfect Coloratura" they would automatically be transferred to Sumi Jo...she is faultless.

The only thing which could ever be criticized is her timbre...as that is a matter of personal taste. Otherwise, she is the Einstien of Opera, the the Monet of Sopranos...she is impeccable, she is talent itself. To sum it up... I had to use my Thesaurus to find enough superfulous, descriptive words to describe her superior singing...Brava Sumi Jo~

Ditto.......2002-08-08

Not much more to say than has already been said. Her version of "Vorrei spiegarvi, o Dio" is simply the best you will ever here. Battle and Bartoli are also excellent but Sumi's haunting vocals are unbelievable.

Average customer rating:

The Incomparable LEONTYNE PRICE: "The Stradivarius of Singers"!!
Leontyne Price: The Ultimate Collection
The true prima donna asoluta
Fabulous singing, Overblown orchestras
Fabulous!

Leontyne Price: The Ultimate Collection

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Essential Leontyne Price: Spirituals, Hymns & Sacred Songs
Rediscovered (Dig)
Leontyne Price Christmas Songs Chants de Noel.Weihnachtslieden Wiener Philharmoniker Herbert Von Karajan
Verdi: Aida/Il trovatore/Puccini: Madama Butterfly/La Rondine/Tosca/Turandot
In Concert

ASIN: B00000J912
Release Date: 1999-05-25

Tracks:

Aida: Ritorna vincitor
Turandot: Signore, ascolta
Le nozze di Figaro: Porgi amor
Madama Butterfly: Un Bel Di
Manon: Adieu, notre petite table
Manon Lescaut: In quelle trine morbide
Dido & Aeneas: Thy hand...when I am laid
Il Trovatore: Che piu... Tacea la notte ...Di tale amor
Les Nuits D'ete: Sur les lagunes
Porgy & Bess: Summertime
La rondine: Chi il bel sogno
Carmen: Habanera
La forza del destino: Son giunta...Madre.
Vier letzte Lieder: Im Abendrot
Ariadne auf Naxos: Es gibt ein Reich

Tracks:

Aida: O Patria Mia
TOSCA: Vissi d'arte
Turandot: Tu che di gel cinta
Le nozze di Figaro: Susanna
Il Trovatore: Siam giunti
Un Ballo in Maschera: Morro ma prima in grazia
Carmen: Sequidille
Il re pastore: L'amero
Don Carlo: Tu che la vanita
Suor Angelica: Senza Mama
Anthony and Cleopatra: Give me my robe
Madame Butterfly: Tu? tu?
La forza del destino: Pace, pace mio Dio

Customer Reviews:

The Incomparable LEONTYNE PRICE: "The Stradivarius of Singers"!!.......2006-08-14

This collection is a wonderful, affordable, and welcome overview of one of Opera's greatest and beloved aritsts:the phenomenal American Superstar soprano LEONTYNE PRICE.

For those Opera-lovers who first encountered Ms. Price's magical vocalism from the recording studio, this collection includes the the entire legendary "Blue Album" which many operaphile consider to be one of the finest recordings ever. The selections gathered here vividly demonstrate the reason why Leontyne Price is regarded as the supreme VERDI soprano of her generation (30 years to date) a renowned PUCCINI specialist, and one of the greatest artists of all time. Recorded in the early 60's, Ms. Price's instrument was, in her own words "a juicy lyric". The intrinsic lyricism of her voice was aligned to warm, lustrous tone that pulsated in the middle voice, yielded a dark, uniquely sensuous sound in the lower regions, and gleamed with a distinctive, fast, liquid vibrato in the upper voice. That unique vibrato was elemental to this diva's ability to infuse Verdi and Puccini's most dramatic phrases with surging power (without pushing), and still produce lovely pianos in alt - soaring there with an ease that was singular to her, and that continued to her retirement in the 2002. Elsewhere the listener is treated to the rewards of Ms. Price's natural vocal evolution, wherein her voice developed into a full spinto with the middle throbbing, creamy, and lush, the low voice alternately chesty or breathy, slightly weaker -but retaining its smoky quality. It is in her upper voice, already superb, however, that Ms. Price revealed the rewards of maturation. The upper voice became rounder, less vibrant perhaps but refulgent with greater strength at the top, meeting the out-sized demands of STRAUSS and WAGNER (missing in this compilation) amongst others, while spinning out soft, exquisite pianos, and luxuriating in the long phrases of any number of composers, not the least of which were MOZART, VERDI and PUCCINI.

Leontyne Price recorded arias and scenas from every standard repertory VERDI opera with few exceptions (Nabucco/Luisa Miller/Vespri/Falstaff) in superlative fashion. Her onstage roles included the "Il Trovatore" Leonora, the role of her sensational MET debut (that resulted in a record 42 minute ovation), thrice recorded by her, and a signature role throughout her career. The selections on this recording were culled from her first complete recording of the opera. Here Ms. Price soars effortlessly to the heights repeatedly in "Tacea la notte", and sings the cabaletta fluently. "D'amor sull ali rosee" (once the sole property of Ms. Price's Verdian predecessor Zinka Milanov) is enhanced by the soprano's expert trills, musical nuances, and the glorious vibrato that carries her gossamer tones to the floated high C in alt. She was also the leading interpreter of Verdi's other Leonora -di Vargas- in "La Forza del Destino" which the diva recorded twice. There is also a Live MET performance available on DVD, recorded when the diva was nearing her retirement from Opera. (The two selections here also hail from her first complete recording of this work) "Son giunta!...Madre pietosa Vergine" is one of Verdi's most demanding scenas for soprano, but THIS soprano was a mistress of Verdian sweep, and supplies a wealth of dynamic shadings that illustrate the desperation of the hapless Leonora. Ms. Price produces silvery, vibrant, pulsing tone with amplitude that rises to the forte climaxes, riding them without overpowering the orchestra. This role was one of her most riveting potrayals from a dramatic viewpoint. The second "Forza" aria is the great lament "Pace, pace mio Dio" and is synonymous with Leontyne Price to this day. The diva sang this aria onstage more often than any other Verdi aria throughout her long career. Here she infuses the music with sorrow and despair, her voice in service to the text, and caps the aria with her stirring cries of "Maledizione!!" on a sustained forte high Bflat. Ms. Price's successful outings as Amelia are represented by the Act II aria "Morro, ma prima in grazia" from her stellar complete recording of "Un Ballo in Maschera". She sings the aria in a hushed, somber manner, climaxing on a brilliant high C, and with a lovely diminuendo at its end. One of the several operatic roles Ms. Price sadly did not assume onstage was Queen Elisabetta from "Don Carlo". We must be grateful for her warm, glowing, majesterial account of "Tu che le vanita", replete with burnished, opulent tone throughout. The leading newspaper of Italy said of Ms. Price that "..our great Verdi would have her the ideal Aida" and that sentiment has been adopted the world over. The "Aida" selections here are the first ones recorded by the American diva, and remains a revelation. In "Ritorna vincitor" the soprano's lyric instrument is indeed "juicy", declaiming her fierce opposition to the Egyptian invaders of her Ethiopian homeland with energetic and powerful vocalism. She then masterfully delineates the young princess' dilemma with fervent and youthful passion, ending with a prayerful "Numi pieta" suffused by warm, sable-colored tone. "O Patria mia" is another of Ms. Price's most revered performances, indeed the aria that garnered her a (5) five minute ovation on live television at her "farewell to Opera" performance in the same opera. The soprano injects Aida's farewell to her homeland with rich, smoky, plangent tones that rise effortlessly to a shining high C that bedeviled some of her most illustrous rivals, and would be bettered in the future only by the wonderful Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballe - and Ms. Price herself!!

Leontyne Price performed the veristic music of PUCCINI onstage in a number of his operas that included "Manon Lescaut"/"Tosca"/Madama Butterfly"/"La Faniculla del West"/"Il Tabarro"/ and "Turandot", albeit with less frequency than with Verdi. She brought a luminous, womanly quality to all of the composer's music. Here, she sings with particular intensity and emotion as the geisha girl Cio-Cio San (her favorite Puccini role)and offers limpid, melting tone as the fiery Roman prima donna Floria Tosca -the complete opera twice-recorded and highly-acclaimed. Puccini's music for the doomed Chinese slave-girl Liu are exquisitely sung, while "In quelle trine morbide" and "Senza mamma" benefit from the voluptuous, sensuous vocalism of the more mature Price. The most outstanding qualities of this diva in Puccini's music was a femininity and humanity, inherent in all of her singing, but most pronounced with this composer. She also fearlessly sang his highest phrases with a vocal splendor and freedom unrivalled by anyone, nowhere more than as the tragic Butterfly. However, until she retired from public singing, one aria remained a trademark for this diva: Chi bel sogno di Doretta" from Puccini's rarely performed operetta "La Rondine". The performance here was her first recording of it, and is a classic in its own right. Ms. Price's voice shimmers throughout, singing the high C with astonishing purity, and caressing, velvety tone elsewhere.

MOZART's operas also brought deserved glory to Ms. Price. Her plush-toned voice was considered to be almost too rich for some early in her career. This was amply belied by the rapturous reception her onstage performances brought her, most notably as Donna Anna, the leading lady of "Don Giovanni", ironically not included in this collection. Another aria Ms. Price enjoyed singing in concert, "Come scoglio" ("Cosi Fan Tutte") is missing here as well, though she performed the role of Fiordiligi at the MET. The soprano never performed in "Le Nozze di Figaro", but sang the scena "Dove sono" often in her live concerts, understandably, because of the smooth, elegant vocalism she lavished on this music. It is truly a pity that she didn't either record or perform the entire role. "Porgi amor" (also from Le Nozze) and "L'amero" (Il Re Pastore) were extracted from a Mozart aria recording, and are well-sung, if not as memorably as other Mozarteans.

It is good that RCA included several French selections, for Ms. Price's talents were marvellously well-suited to the Gallic idiom. Leontyne Price sang the leading role of Madame Lidoine in the American premiere of POULENC's "Dialogues des Carmelites", a few performances of MASSENET's "Thais" onstage (both sadly missing from this compilation) in addition to her celebrated recordings of BIZET's "Carmen" and BERLIOZ's song cycle "Nuits D'ete". She lent a deliciously silken tone to the more nuanced passions of the French repertoire. The "Carmen" excerpts are exceptionally vivid in Price's hands, successfully capturing the earthy, sultry qualities of one of Opera's more mercurial creatures. Ms. Price's lower register is richly displayed in the Berlioz song, while Manon's wistful, poignant "farewell" is sung with delicacy and shimmery tone.

The German wing is represented by music that Ms. Price sang onstage, and recorded as well. While the diva recorded Richard STRAUSS' entire "Four Last Songs" song cycle as well as the title heroine in a complete opera recording of "Ariadne auf Naxos" , the listener gets a good sampling of the potency, range, and the "dunkel" qualities she brought to this music. Fortunately, there is a CD of Richard Strauss arias sung by Ms. Price mid-career that is impressive in its breadth, and vocally sumptuous.

Versatility was a Price by-word. In the recording studio she stylishly performed the music of composers that ranged from the early music of PURCELL's "Dido & Aneas" to the 20th Century musings of Samuel BARBER, who wrote the opera "ANTONY & CLEOPATRA" for Ms. Price to open the New MET in 1966 - another historic milestone. Both selections included here are superbly rendered by the artist. The "Dido" aria is sung with a fuller, richer tone than is usually associated with this period (though it should be noted that two great Wagnerian sopranos Kirsten Flagstad and more recently Jessye Norman have been much admired in this music), but with no loss of style, her vibrato evoking pathos and beauty in this plaintive music. The "Antony" scena is sung with all of the majesty, seductive guile, and courage of Cleopatra, one of history's most storied women - and Ms. Price shines in this music written expressly for her voice. RCA also includes the diva's inimitable performance of "Summertime" the opening aria of GERSHWIN's American opera "Porgy and Bess".

This compilation is a superb introduction to the glories of this magnificent artist for a neophyte...and a treasure trove of musical excellence for the connoisseur of great voices, and they come no greater than America's diva assoluta soprano LEONTYNE PRICE.

Leontyne Price: The Ultimate Collection.......2005-07-20

This was the first time I ordered anything from you. I was very happy with my selection. Delivery was fast and accurate, I immediately played my CD and have enjoyed it since.

Rolande M. Collins

The true prima donna asoluta.......2002-05-23

Ms. Leontyne Price is the quentisential diva. I fell in love with her when I started studying music at the conservatory level. Her phrasing, tone, quality, and endless range are breathtaking. This CD features selections from when she was vocaly at her best. Even though I could go without the Ariadne and Cleopatra, the rest of the CD is simply marvelous. I cannot stop listening to D'amor sull'ali rosee, which I think is the best interpretation and performance of the piece that I have ever heard!!! I prefer Price over Sutherland, Caballe, Freni, and Fleming any day. Her high tones give you the feeling of floating on clouds. This is one of the best CD's in my entire classical/Opera collection. Whoever purchases this CD, it will be worth your while.

Fabulous singing, Overblown orchestras.......2002-04-10

When I was first getting interested in opera, during the late 1960s - early 1970s, Leontyne Price was still singing at the Met, but I could never get a ticket because she only sang five performances a year (later, three). She said this was to "preserve" the voice but, as I learned from those who actually did hear her in person, her mid-range was deteriorating at that time until it was practically inaudible (though her high notes and lower range still sounded great). Also, to be honest, as a youngster I was put off by the promotion of her albums...all those fancy pictures of her in diamonds and furs just seemed so ostentatious to me, and listening to her on records was not always a pleasurable experience. Her voice so often sounded swamped by those loud, blaring, overblown orchestras.

But then I heard a remastering of the famous 1961 "Aida" with Vickers, Gorr and Merrill, and I realized how great a singer she was. That's when I started listening more seriously, and discovered a soprano who had a thorough command of her voice from the late '50s to the late '60s, not only in terms of vocal color but also in terms of phrasing. Listening to Price in her prime is incredible...she almost sounds as if she never breathed, her phrasing is so beautifully bound and poised. At the same time, however, I was disappointed by RCA's choice of partners for her on recordings. ...

This set goes a long way towards restoring the legend. Stripped of her sub-par partners (with the exception of Corelli's belting in the "Seguidilla" from "Carmen"), one can listen to Price's voice uncompromised, and it is a thrill. Even when the orchestra sounds detached and uninteresting, as it often does, Price seems to be on an entirely different wavelength, giving out with passion and great musicality. As for the selections chosen, they represent an excellent cross-section of Price's best work, even though the Purcell and Berlioz sound awfully heavy by today's standards and I can live without the "Anthony and Cleopatra" selection or the Strauss song.

One caveat I have is the lack of discographical information. No dates, orchestras or conductors are given. This is a grave injustice, even though the backup does not always meet expectations. On the plus side, all of the legendary "blue album" (her first recital discs for RCA in 1961) is presented complete, including the two selections from the July 1959 "Il Trovatore" that were on that LP...and in MUCH better, more focused sound. For this, and the heavy orchestral sound, I give the set only 4 stars...but for the singing alone I would give it eight!!

Fabulous!.......2002-01-19

The only alternative to Joan Sutherland. An equally gorgeous and fabulous voice. A true diva that puts me to tears. Sensational recital of so many gems.

Emma Kirkby sings Handel, Arne, Haydn & Mozart

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All hail the Queen of Early Music!
An uplifting experience
Mysterious Beauty
The divine voice of Emma Kirkby

Emma Kirkby sings Handel, Arne, Haydn & Mozart

Manufacturer: Decca
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Binding: Audio CD

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The Emma Kirkby Collection
Emma Kirkby - Handel Opera Arias / Goodman, Brandenburg Consort
Vivaldi - Gloria · Nulla in mundo pax sincera · Nisi Dominus · Cantatas / Kirkby · Bott · Nelson · Watkinson · Bowman · Preston · AAM · Hogwood
A Purcell Songbook [Australia]
The Glories of Handel Opera ~ Kirkby · Sutherland · Tebaldi · Berganza · Horne · Bowman · Pavarotti

ASIN: B000009DG1
Release Date: 1998-07-14

Tracks:

Alessandro Severo: Ouverture HWV A13 - George Frideric Handel
Britannia: Welcome Mars - George Frideric Handel
Dione: Pretty Warblers - George Frideric Handel
Hornpipe - George Frideric Handel
Rosamond: Rise, Glory, rise - George Frideric Handel
Ariodante: Ingrato Polinesso...Neghittosi or voi che fate?, HWV 33:41b - George Frideric Handel
Alcina: Credete al mio dolore, HWV 34:40 - George Frideric Handel
Alcina: Tornami a vagheggiar, HWV 34:15 - George Frideric Handel
March In D, HWV 345 - George Frideric Handel
Alexander's Feast: War, He Sung, Is Toil And Trouble, HWV 75:11 - George Frideric Handel
L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: Sweet Bird, HWV 55:11-12 - George Frideric Handel
Saul: Capricious Man, HWV 53:37 - George Frideric Handel
Comus: By The Rushy-Fringed Bank - George Frideric Handel
Comus: Brightest Lady - Thrice Upon Thy Finger's Tip - George Frideric Handel
The Tempest: Where The Bee Sucks There Lurk I - George Frideric Handel

Tracks:

The Creation: With Verdure Clad - Emma Kirkby
The Creation: On Mighty Pens - Emma Kirkby
Il re pastore, K208: Aer tranquillo e di sereni - Emma Kirkby
Il re pastore, K208: L'amero, saro costante - Emma Kirkby
Voi avete un cor fedele, K217 - Emma Kirkby
Ah, lo prvidi!, K272 - Emma Kirkby
Zaide, K344: Ruhe sanft, mein holdes Leben - Emma Kirkby
Zaide, K344: Trostlos schluchzet Philomele - Emma Kirkby
Nehmt meinen Dank, ihr holden Gonner!, K383 - Emma Kirkby
Ch'io mi scordi di te?, K505 - Emma Kirkby

Customer Reviews:

All hail the Queen of Early Music!.......2004-10-27

I had the pleasure recently of attending a recital with Miss Kirkby and Fretwork, here in Houston. I had heard of her, but wasn't all too familiar with her voice. Then, I decided a couple of days before the performance that I would buy one of her discs, for her to autograph. Honestly, I chose this two-disc recital because it had a nice picture of her, with space for her to autograph!

I am happy to say that I chose what is surely one of the most pleasant soprano recitals on the market. Her voice is essentially "white," as opposed to a full operatic voice with vibrato, etc. Nonetheless, what she does with this ample selection of music, esp. Mozart, is truly incredible.

Rise, Glory, Rise, as mentioned by at least one other reviewer, is nothing short of stunning. I like the way she sings, "Bid the drum, bid the drum," with much enthusiasm. The orchestration is spectacular baroque, with the expert conducting of Hogwood, who conducts on the entire recital. (I had the pleasure to hear him conduct Ariodante here in Houston a couple of seasons back, at HGO).

Speaking of Ariodante, there is an aria from that opera, as well as other Handel arias on the first disc. Now, those of us who cut our operatic teeth on Joan Sutherland or Beverly Sills may not appreciate Emma Kirkby at first. Being used to Joan's upward transpositions, interpolated high notes, and intricate cadenzas, it took a couple of listens to appreciate Kirby's rendition of Tornami a Vagheggar. We must remember that the Sutherland and Sills interpretations took lots of liberties that Handel didn't necessarily intend!

While I do enjoy the first disc, I relish the second disc from start to end. First, there are two arias from Haydn's Creation. The orchestration is sublime, and Emma calms us with her "cooing" in the second selection. Then comes Mozart, which fills the rest of the second disc. Kirby's L'amero, Saro Costante is a miracle. To give you an example, I have heard Leontyne Price's interpretation, and had previously dismissed hte aria as a bore. Kirkby, however, sounds so sweet and virginal, so much so that you can really picture a young lady singing about fidelity. The purity and exquisiteness of Kirby's singing will melt you.

Another joy is Voi Avete Un Cor Fedele. Kirkby isn't a coloratura fanatic like our beloved Sutherland,but when she does coloratura, it is enthralling. Here, she uses rapid coloratura, a la Cecilia Bartoli, to stunning effect.

It would have been easy to choose a lot of Mozart standard arias, like Matern aller Arten. However, Emma steers clear of those chestnuts on this recital, instead treating us to lesser-known works. Just when you start to settle in the second disc, she melts you again with arias in German, from one of Mozart's lesser-known operas. The first of these three arias moved me to tears. Words simply can't express the purity of her tone, and the tender care she lavishes on the text! Beguiling, to say the least.

Finally, there is Non Temerte, Amato Bene. I first heard this aria on a recently-issued two-disc recital of Teresa Berganza. While Berganza charms us with her warm tone and vibrato, Emma Kirkby's interpretation is no less valid.

Even if you don't particularly care for the current early-music revival, any lover of the human voice and operatic arias should buy this treasurable recital.

An uplifting experience.......2002-06-05

This is not a muscial review. That would be beyond my talents. No, this is a "spiritual" review and here is the reason. I had experienced a personal tragedy and turned often to music to revive my spirits and maintain my hope that things would right themselves in my life. Works such as Hayden's "Creation," Beethoven's "Fidelio," many of Bach's cantatas, Vivaldi's "Glorias," etc. Then I bought this CD. Immediately, I couldn't get enough of it. I felt uplifted everytime I listened, and it wasn't the same track each time that gave me that small feeling of joy that only music can provide. All is well again in my life and I continue to adore listening to this CD. For me, it was, and continues to be, magical.

Mysterious Beauty.......2001-11-19

Classical music is one of the greatest joys in life. Opera on the other hand, is often too melodramatic to stomach. But there is nothing more enchanting than an Aria. On this 2 CD set, Emma Kirkby sings in sweet exultation. Her voice expresses power and agility yet a limpid tranquility. Clarity is the greatest achievement of any musician. With the aid of precision accompaniment on period instruments, shameless perfection is delivered. She soothes the soul longing for beauty. Her marvelous Soprano is rendered on 25 tracks in this eclectic ensemble. If you are a champion of Handel or a devotee of Mozart, you should not hesitate to purchase this CD. Emma Kirkby will have you beaming with delight and pining for more. Surely it will be one of the brightest of your collection.

The divine voice of Emma Kirkby.......2000-06-07

An outstanding collection of Italian, German and English arias, beautifully sung by my favourite soprano voice Emma Kirkby - the diva of renaissance and baroque music. All the arias are enchanting, especially "Rise, Glory, rise" an aria from Arne's opera "Rosamond". The conducting and playing of Christopher Hogwood and his team of period-performance specialist The Academy of Ancient Music are as always superb.These are all arias to have one wanting to go back to the complete operas. Strongly recommended.

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Valuable compendium
Rareties available on CD at last!
Heavenly
WHO ELSE CAN SING LIKE THIS TODAY?

The Art of Joan Sutherland

Manufacturer: Decca
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Binding: Audio CD

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Joan Sutherland: BBC-Recitals 1958, 1960, 1961
The Art of the Prima Donna
La Stupenda ~ The Supreme Voice of Joan Sutherland
Serate Musicali
The Voice of the Century

ASIN: B000654OUQ
Release Date: 2005-03-15

Customer Reviews:

Valuable compendium.......2007-01-24

This set is extremely valuable, not only as an overview of Dame Joans career but because it contains three complete LP sets that have been very hard to find. The sets are the 2 LP French opera (operetta) set, the Mozart album and the Wagner album. Although some of these do not show her to her best advantage (the Wagner set) they all have some very beautiful things and the French items are superb. The annotations and photos are interesting as well and there are some piano songs with Bonynge that are released here for the first time along with a scene from a live Covent Garden Norma.

Rareties available on CD at last!.......2006-03-29

While Joan Sutherland has recorded a number of impressive aria collections throughout the many years of her recording career, they tend to get lost in the shuffle of the countless reissues Decca/London has endlessly repackaged. While some of the original collections have appeared intact on CD--"The Art of the Prima Donna," "The Age of Bel Canto," "Love Live Forever" (her operetta collection that was originally titled "The Golden Age of Operetta"), to name a few--others are currently represented in the CD catalogue by only a few selections on discs that also include excerpts from complete opera recordings or duplicates of selections from other original collections. As a result, it has been impossible to assemble a CD collection of her recordings without a LOT of duplication, and some of the most interesting collections are still unavailable (e.g. "Command Performance" and "Serate Musicale").

While this newest set does include a lot of bits of this and that, ranging from her very first LPs to excerpts from complete recordings most Sutherland fans already have and a few "live" performances, what is perhaps most significant about it is that it features the complete contents of the "Sutherland Sings Wagner" LP--a real repertoire departure for her--and the double-LP album called "French Opera Gala" (in the U.S.--the British title was "Romantic French Arias"), neither of which, to the best of my knowledge, has been available on CD before. "Opera News" magazine once ran an article in which they asked various stars to name the one album that they felt best represented their artistry for future generations, and Dame Joan selected the "French Opera Gala," so for Sutherland fans, this is a long-awaited treat.

I'm not going to waste space saying how miraculous I consider Dame Joan's artistry. If you are familiar with her work already, you know whether you adore her or not; and if you aren't, this massive set is probably not the best place to start (that would be "The Art of the Prima Donna" album that introduced her to most listeners decades ago)--especially since this newest set doesn't contain the lyrics, a must for newcomers. Let's hope Decca/London gets around to releasing the rest of her recordings intact instead of endlessly scrambling and repackaging the same selections over and over.

Heavenly.......2006-01-31

I first heard of Dame Sutherland while on the internet while listening to a internet radio station. I was instantly a fan, her control, technique, and tone is perfectly executed and rivals the equally fantastic Maria Callas. She has a powerful voice and presence that will evoke every emotion from her listeners. Highly recommended to all Opera Diva fans.

WHO ELSE CAN SING LIKE THIS TODAY?.......2005-04-10

This is Decca's second multi disc evaluation of this fantastic singer's long career and many recordings. True that a lot on the first set is duplicated here, but there are a few exceptions here and there that make it a worthy addition. Of particular interest are the very early items of Handel and Italian baroque arias, some forgotten song recordings and a live performance of the duet from Norma. It can't be said too many times - who can sing like this today? For sheer vocalism it's hard to find anyone on the same wavelength. This set will give very young opera goers an idea of what they missed.

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Glorious Moffo and Mozart
One of the Finest Available Mozart Recitals
A Glorious Mozart Recital
Primo Moffo
Anna Moffo's "Mozart Arias"

Mozart: Arias

Manufacturer: Testament UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Arias
Opera Arias [Hybrid SACD]
La Bohème
Puccini: Madama Butterfly / Leinsdorf, Moffo, Valletti, Elias
Verdi: La Traviata

ASIN: B00004T00W
Release Date: 2000-07-11

Amazon.com

The American lyric soprano Anna Moffo, who retired in the mid-'70s (and is still very much alive), was a beautiful woman, a good actress, and an intelligent, sensitive singer, and she possessed natural charm. The voice was a pure lyric, with a succulent bloom at the top, good coloratura ability (she was a successful Lucia and Gilda), and a sometimes useful upper extension. Moffo was a fine communicator as well--all of which is evident on this CD, which was recorded in her early prime (in 1958). The Figaro excerpts show her as a boyish, impetuous Cherubino and a telling, in-control-and-sensuous Susanna, while Despina's two arias from Cosi give us something a bit sassier--just as it should be. Moffo's "Ach ich liebte" from Abduction is acrobatically valid as well as poised. Zerlina's arias vary between coy and knowing--again just the right combination. "Ach ich fühls" starts out a bit flat; Moffo and her unworthy (throughout) conductor Alceo Galliera indulge in some simply wrong rubato, but the last third of the aria, with its melting, high pianissimi, is a knockout. The aria from Il re pastore is beautifully sung--trills and all--and so is the concert aria "Misera, dove son?" The two soprano solos from Mozart's Great Mass (K. 427) find Moffo stretching for the low notes, albeit never unattractively, but they, and the "Alleluia" from "Exsultate, jubilate" are suitably virtuosic. This CD is a real pleasure. Highly recommended. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Glorious Moffo and Mozart.......2007-03-28

Ahhhhh....that's what one will say after hearing the fabulous Anna Moffo with her rosy voice and elegant phrasing lend her talent to Mozart's beloved arias. Mozart himself would probably have agreed. So many standout songs here including "misera, dove son", "non so piu", "vedrai carino", "l'amero saro costante", "aich ich fuhls", etc. Moffo singing arias from "Le Nozze di Figaro" as Cherubino are very enjoyable too.
Moffo was one of the few sopranos who could successfully sing diverse compositions from Verdi, Mozart, Schubert, etc. Kathleen Battle is another wonderful singer following in Moffo's footsteps. Also listen to "Kathleen Battle Sings Mozart" conducted by Andre Previn with Royal Philharmonic. For Mozart, these two divas cannot be surpassed.

One of the Finest Available Mozart Recitals.......2003-11-22

Anna Moffo was outstanding in a wide variety of music, but her warm, radiant, and flexible lyric soprano was particularly well-suited to Mozart. This collection, recorded in 1958, is exceptional; with Cecilia Bartoli's "Mozart Portraits" and Renee Fleming's all-Mozart disc, it is one of the finest available recitals of Mozart's soprano/mezzo-soprano arias. Moffo's is my favorite rendition of Pamina's "Ach, ich fuhls" from DIE ZAUBERFLOETE. Her ability to maintain a smooth legato (even at Galliera's slow tempo) and to "color" her tone to suggest the pallor of death is amazing (just listen to the final phrase, "So wird ruhe im Tode sein" -- "I must find my peace in death"). I love Moffo's Mozart so much that I plan to acquire the recording of LE NOZZE DI FIGARO in which she sings the role of Susanna. Judging from the rendition of Susanna's "Deh vieni, non tardar" heard here, it should be quite a lovely performance.

A Glorious Mozart Recital.......2002-02-11

This is definitely one of the best Mozart aria albums to date. Moffo's Ach, ich fühls is superb. Her Ach, ich liebte is one of the best performances of this aria, and her Et in carnatus est from the Great Mass is transcendant.

Primo Moffo.......2000-08-04

This is wonderful singing. Like all of my favorite Mozart singers, she maintains clarity of line, intonation and rhythm, sustaining drop-dead beautiful tone throughout. Her coloratura on Exaltate Jubilate is crystal clear. This is a thoughful compilation as well, including arias that the Angel CD left out. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is the conducting of Alceo Galliera--in general lacking rhythmic momentum and clarity. Too bad she didn't partner with Giulini on this one since they achieved such stunning results in Le Nozze di Figaro.

Anna Moffo's "Mozart Arias".......2000-07-23

I have waited over 30 years for this CD and I am not disappointed in it. Moffo is magnificent!

Thank you, Testament, for the bonus tracks!

Tracks:

L'amero, Saro Costante
Zeffiretti Lusinghieri
Welcher Kummer...Traurigkeit
Martern Aller Arten
Non So Piu Cosa Son
Porgi, Amor
Voi Che Sapete
Dove Sono I Bei Momenti
Giunse Alfin Il Momento...Deh, Vieni, Non Tardar
Batti, Batti, O Bel Masetto
Vedrai, Carino
In Quali Eccessi...Mi Tradi Quell' Alma Ingrata
Crudele?...Non Mi Dir
Ach, Ich Fuhl's

Customer Reviews:

A Mozartian Unsurpassed Since........2007-02-15

These arias were recorded when ES was still quite young.
What a voice! What singing! What devotion!
It is interesting to have ES singing Cherubino as well as Susanna and the Countess Rosina in Le Nozze di Figaro.
Her Donna Elvira is always a killer.
But my greatest admiration in this album goes to her aria from Il re Pastore, the great Rondo of Aminta.
The great beauty of her singing - a duet with the solo violin, with well-controlled coloraturas, well-paced tempo supported by seamless breathing - her performance is simply unsurpassed, not even by Joan Sutherland in the other recording of the same aria, and certainly not by others available (like Renee Fleming or Ann Murray). ES never over-did those coloraturas like Cecilia Bartoli does these days, and that in itself is a big 'pro' in the enjoyment level of her Mozart arias.
Although the recordings are old and not really in state-of-the-art accoustics, the sheer beauty of ES's singing makes up for any lack that there may be in the sound.

Music Review:

Music Review

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