La Battaglia Di Legnano

On this CD:

1. La battaglia di Legnano, opera
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
Performed by Rome Italian Radio Orchestra with Mario Frosini, Caterina Mancini, Rolando Panerai, Amedeo Berdini, Albino Gaggi, Manfredi Ponz De Leon, Edmea Limberti
Conducted by Fernando Previtali

Tracks:

La Boheme: Che gelida manina
TOSCA: Recondita armonia
TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai
Turandot: Nessun dorma
L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
Un Ballo in Maschera: Forse la soglia attinse
Rigoletto: Parmi veder le lagrime
Ernani: Come rugiada al cespite
II Trovatore: Di quella pira
La Battaglia di Legnano: La pia materna mano
Pagliacci: Vesti la giubba
Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee
Werther: Je ne sais si je veille
Das Land des Lachelns: Dein ist mein ganzes Herz
II Tedesco: Plaisir d'amour
Serse: Ombra mai fu
Rinaldo: Lascia ch'io pianga
Caro mio ben

Tracks:

Misa Criolla: Kyrie
A vucchella
La Serenata
Marechiare
Malia
L'ultima canzone
Ideale
Non t'amo piu
Good-bye
Mattinata
O sole mio
Core 'ngrato
Funiculi, funicula
Torna a Surriento
Granada
La Danza
You Belong To My Heart
Because
West Side Story: Tonight
Be My Love
Because You're Mine
Cats: Memory

Customer Reviews:

A Collector's Item.......2007-03-09

This is a different voice than you hear on recordings of "The Three Tenors." Of course, it's his earlier years, but the light, lyrical quality of his voice is amazing. Thank goodness for recordings, and digital remastering. I love this CD.

STUPENDOUS!!!!.......2005-06-20

I have a Carreras-recording of Tosca from 1980 and up till now I thought it was the ultimate recording of "Recondita armonia" and "E lucevan le stelle". I honestly thought that no one could sing these arias better. And in a way I'm right. The only one that did it was himself - a few years earlier.....(The two arias in this "golden years cd" are taken from a -76 recording of Tosca). And after listening to these songs I can't imagine that anyone dare say that he is/was the weakest of the three tenors. In my opinion he possesses something that the others don't. (I won't tell you what it is - listen and find out yourself). Even if his voice has changed over the years (and I mean changed, not declined..) something remains unchangeable and that is his ability to evoke emotions. No one can deliver a line like him. And that's something that's going to stay with him forever, because what makes his singing so special comes from within. It's not dependent on the quality of the voice. But in the songs on this cd his voice is pure gold.

Even though I like the whole album, some of the songs on the first cd (which consists of operatic arias) stand out to me - like "Una furtiva lagrima", "donna non vidi mai", "vesti la giubba" and "nessun dorma" (Sorry Pavarotti - José is way ahead of you interpreting this song. It's not enough to sing it on full blast....) Here's also the loveliest rendition of "Forse la soglio attinse". In 1975 the audience at La Scala in Milan went absolutely crazy after he had sung this aria. I have a recording from that night and it sounds as if they are standing on their seats, cheering and applauding. And it's almost like I want to do the same myself after listening to his singing on this album. And in the song "dein ist mein ganzes hertz" he makes me believe that his whole heart really is mine......In my opinion Carreras has the best rendition of this song ever. No one else comes even close to this one. And I mustn't forget his "che gelida manina" from La Bohême. I have the -79 recording it's taken from and it's the ultimate Bohême ever.

The second cd has a "lighter" repertoire with songs from composers like Tosti, Cardillo, Lara and others. My personal favourites here are "Core n'grato", "Ideale" and "Granada". In my opinion no one sings these songs like Carreras. Or rather - no one sings like Carreras. Period!

His singing will no doubt give you goosebumps all over and make your hair stand on end. If not, I bet you're either a Pavarotti or Domingo-fan....

a great partial overview of an extraordinary career.......2005-04-09

Now a household name by being one of the Three Tenors alongside Pavarotti and Domingo, Carreras' finest recordings were actually done in the 1970s, when his voice had a brilliance and luster that few singers have equaled. Born in Spain in '46, Carreras was a child prodigy, and by his late 20s was a shining star in all the major opera houses. Tragically, in '87, he learned he had leukemia, a disease he battled and won, going on to greater fame than ever before.
Though his voice is powerful and full of beauty, those with keen ears will detect his voice losing a tiny bit of its magnificence starting in the early 80s, and one wonders if the stress and exhaustion of stardom contributed to this as well as to the illness, or whether it was because the seeds of leukemia were taking root.

CD One is the operatic disc, and the two most sublime cuts are both from '76, Puccini's "E lucevan le stelle" (Tosca), and Verdi's "Forse la scoglia attinse" (Un Ballo in Maschera). Another track I adore is the heavenly Lehar "Dein ist mein ganzes Herz" (Das Land des Lachelns), from 1978, and few have performed this popular piece with more loveliness.
CD Two is in a lighter vein, and starts with a stupendous rendition of Ariel Ramirez' "Kirie" (Misa Criolla), sung softly and with extraordinary tenderness and artistry.
There are lots of heavenly melodic Italian songs, like "O Sole Mio", and a few in English like the song made famous by Lanza (who according to the liner notes, inspired Carreras to be a singer when he saw "The Great Caruso" at the age of six) "Be My Love " (Brodszky/Cahn).
The foldout insert has complete track list info and liner notes, and mention must be made of the incredible, sensitive sepia portrait of this handsome singer on the cover. Total playing time for CD One is 75'32, and for CD Two 75'47.
A must for Carreras fans, and anyone who appreciates the finest in operatic voices.

What a beauty!.......2005-01-13

This great double CD set shows us the true Carreras. All the great songs and arias are on this(although I would've liked to hear pourquoi me reveiller) and in pure Carreras style.
Some of the opera recordings are live, and that adds a lot to them. Both sides of the CDs have fantastic repetoire.
Definately a worthy buy!

He answered my SOS - with his soul.......2004-02-07

I came upon the genius of Mr. Carrera quite accidentally. I was in Warsovie (Warsaw), Poland. My purse was stolen, so I lay miserable and penniless and alone in the home of my Ex, with a copy of the Vampire Chronicles and Dostoevsky's Notes from the Underground (only books in English). The maddening drone of the hydro-dam nearby moved me to turn on the radio to my favorite college station. I was no opera buff, so when they announced that they would cover some Enrique Caruso songs, I was panicked to find a station that I could relate to.

Jose Carrera covered the full gambit of Caruso's classics. They must've played him for 2 hours straight. I was mesmerized. I could have touched him and put his hand to my face, his voice was so close. He sang with such emotion and outcry that I wanted to take him into my arms and console him. "Damn" is all that I could verbalize, when the program ended.

Tracks:

Overture To Oberto, conte Di San Bonifacio
Overture To Un Giorno Di Regno
Overture To Nabucco
Prelude to Ernani
Prelude To I Due Foscari
Overture To Giovanna D'arco
Overture To Alzira
Prelude To Attila
Prelude To Macbeth
Ballo I
Ballo II
Ballo III
Prelude to I Masnadieri
Prelude To Il Corsaro
Overture To La Battaglia Di Legnano

Tracks:

Prelude To Jerusalem
1. Pas De Quatre
2. Pas De Deux
3. Pas Solo
4. Pas D'ensemble
Overture To Luisa Miller
Overture To Stiffelio
Prelude To Rigoletto
1. Pas De Bohemiens
2. Seviliana
3. La bohemienne
4. Galop

Tracks:

Prelude To La Traviata, Act I
Prelude To La Traviata, Act III
Overture To Les Vepres Siciliennes
I. L'Hiver
II. Le Printemps
III. L'Ete
IV. L'Automne
Prelude To Simon Boccanegra
Prelude To Un Ballo In Maschera

Tracks:

Prelude To La Forza Del Destino
Prelude To Don Carlo, Act II
I. Andante/Tempo Di Valzer/Allegro Vivo
II. Finale. Prestissimo
Overture To La Forza Del Destino
Prelude To Aida
I. Danza Sacra Delle Sacerdotesse, Act I
II. Danza Di Piccoli Schiavi Mori, Act II
Ballet Music From Aida, Act II
Overture To Aida
Ballet Music From Otello, Act III

Average customer rating:

Great compilation testifying to a great talent
All the best by the best

The Great Carreras

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Von Stade, Frederica | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

The Romantic Carreras: Great Love Duets

ASIN: B0000041AJ
Release Date: 1994-06-14

Tracks:

Il Trovatore: Di quella pira
La Boheme: Che gelida manina
Ave Maria
TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
TOSCA: Recondita armonia
Panis Angelicus
Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai
La Boheme: Testa adorata
Otello: Notte per me funesta
Turandot: Nessun dorma
Der Rosenkavalier: Di rigori armato il seno
L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
La Battaglia di Legnano: La pia materna mano
La Battaglia di Legnano: E ver? Sei d'altri
Un Ballo in Maschera: Forse la soglia attinse - Ma se m'e forza perderti
Pagliacci: Vesta la giubba
'O sole mio
La danza

Customer Reviews:

Great compilation testifying to a great talent.......2003-04-25

I bought this CD in 1994 right after hearing the 2nd Three Tenors concert (in LA). The concert itself had a bombastic quality to it, but I was immediately impressed by sincerity and humanity of a slight but elegant man in the center. Domingo and Pavarotti were household names prior to the concert, but an average person had heard very little of José Carreras. Well, for me personally, he was the single force that drew me into the world of opera and kept me there. I've collected over 5,000 CDs and complete operas of various artists since then, and what started it all was this single CD with a very proper title, showcasing Carreras at his greatest (1970s-80s). Philips has done a splendid job of capturing his electrifying tenor on record. The CD starts with an aria that has been long considered a measuring staff for tenors - Di Quella Pira. The very first time I heard Carreras's version of it I was simply blown away. His voice had a very unique quality (since then I've found that young Di Stefano had it in the early 50s) - his high notes (above middle E) are like bursts of fire, easily carrying above large orchestras and booming choruses. By the way, those thinking it's just Philips's engineering, check out a CD of live performances entitled "Bravissimi Tenori" (just 3 bucks) and you will see that Carreras was even more thrilling live on stage. The disc further has morsels not currently available anywhere, such as a white-hot final duet from Rossini's "Otello", a great scene from Verdi's "La Battaglia di Legnano", and "La Danza", a rousing Italian tarantella. What will strike even a seasoned fan are the two selections from "Tosca". This particular version was recorded under baton of Sir Colin Davis in 1976 and immediately became the best "Tosca" on record. It featured a star-studded cast of Caballé, Wixell, and even young Samuel Ramey in a secondary role, but Carreras's rendition of Cavaradossi stood out as the freshest and most insightful of all. "Recognita armonia" is youthful and triumphant (for some reason, we get the continuation of the scene with the sacristan here), but "E lucevan de stelle" will send chills down your spine for sure. Two sacred songs, Bach (arr. Gounod) "Ave Maria" and Franck's "Panis Angelicus", sound very much like opera arias, and such tenor repertoire staples as "Una furtiva lagrima" and "Vesti la giubba" testify to phenomenal acting abilities of Carreras. While he could sound young and romantic as Rodolfo, or even swaggering (tenor aria from Rosenkavalier), he could also become a deranged murderous Canio or a brooding Riccardo. The voice rings brilliantly and effortlessly on all selections, providing over 70 minutes of pure delight.
Of many compilation CD's this one had the most thought invested into it. For instance, it includes both Puccini's and Leoncavallo's versions of "La Boheme", and most fascinating early Verdi (Carreras has recorded a complete series with Lamberto Gardelli). Hearing this CD will prompt you to do more research on the man and his art, read about his overcoming leukemia and his charitable efforts, about his taking risks with the heaviest tenor roles, and his commitment to the art of opera. And just maybe it will inspire you with courage to take singing lessons and just see if you can sing your own "Vincero!"

All the best by the best.......2000-04-24

This CD has all the most famous arias as well as other great music, sung by one of the best tenors ever. If you're new to opera, this is a great way to start your collection.

Viva Verdi! A 100th Anniversary Celebration

Average customer rating:

Not bad at all ... for what it is
An honor roll of Verdi recordings
Una compra obligada para todos los verdianos
An excellent little compilation
An incredible celebration! Viva Verdi!

Viva Verdi! A 100th Anniversary Celebration
Giuseppe Verdi , Hungarian State Opera Orchestra , New Philharmonia Orchestra , National Philharmonic Orchestra , Wiener Philharmoniker , Orchestra del Teatro all Scala , Munich Bavarian State Orchestra , Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra , Neville Marriner , Lamberto Gardelli , Nello Santi , Fabio Luisi , Claudio Abbado , Peter Maag , Carlo Maria Giulini , Tullio Serafin , Carlos Kleiber , Francesco Molinari-Pradelli , Herbert von Karajan , Plácido Domingo , Carlo Bergonzi , Fiorenza Cossotto , Lajos Miller , Sylvia Sass , Jose Carreras , Montserrat Aparici , Sherrill Milnes , Giovanni Foiani , Shirley Verrett , Ruggero Raimondi , Montserrat Caballe , Alexander Oliver , Luciano Pavarotti , Matteo Manuguerra , Thomas Moser , Maria Venuti , Piero Cappuccilli , Anthony Michaels-Moore , and Roberto Scandiuzzi
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004ZB9N
Release Date: 2000-11-14

Tracks:

Oberto: Sinfonia - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Un giorno di regno: Scena e cavatina: Ah non m'hanno ingannata!...Grave a core innamorato (Marchesa) - Fiorenza Cossotto
Nabucco: Coro: Va, pensiero, sull'ali dorate - Wiener Staatsopernchor
I lombardi: Scena E Cavatina: La Mia Letizia Infondere... Come Poteva Un Angelo (Oronte, Sofia) - Placido Domingo
Ernani: Duetto: Da qual di che t'ho veduta (Don Carlo, Elvira) - Lajos Miller
I due Foscari: Atto II, preludio - Scena: Notte! perpetua notte (Jacopo) - Jose Carreras
Giovanna d'Arco: Sotto una quercia parvemi (Carlo VII) - Carlo Bergonzi
Alzira: Scena a cavatina: Riposa. Tutte, in suo dolor vegliante...Da Gusman (Alzira, Chorus, Zuma) - Marina Mescheriakova
Attila: E' gettata la mia sorte (Ezio) - Sherrill Milnes
Macbeth: Scena e cavatina: Vieni! t'affretta!...Or tutti sorgette (Lady Macbeth) - Giovanni Foiani
I masnadieri: Racconto: Un ignoto (Massimiliano) - Ruggero Raimondi
Jerusalem: Je veux encore entendre ta voix - Marcello Giordani
Il corsaro: Cavatina: Ne sulla terra creatura alcuna (Gulnara) - Alexander Oliver
la battaglia di Lagnano: Coro: Viva Italia! - Chor und Synphonieorchester des ORF
Luisa Miller: Quando le sere al placido (Rodolfo) - Luciano Pavarotti
Stiffelio: Scena finale: Stiffelio! - Eccomi! - Sylvia Sass

Tracks:

Rigoletto: Quartetto: Bella figlia dell'amore - Piero Cappuccilli
Il Trovatore: Stride la vampa! (Azucena) - Fiorenza Cossotto
La Traviata: Atto I, preludio - Bayerisches Staatsorchester
La Traviata: Brindisi: Libiamo ne' lieti calici (Alfredo, Violetta) - Placido Domingo
La Traviata: Scena ed aria: Finale (Violetta): E' strano!...Ah, fors'e lui - Bayerisches Staatsorchester
La Traviata: Follie! Delirio vano e questo!...Sempre libera - Ileana Cotrubas
Les Vepres sicilliennes: Giorno di pianto (Arrigo) - Carlo Bergonzi
Simon Boccanegra: Atto I, preludio - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala
Aroldo: Scena e quartetto finale (excerpt): Allore che gl'anni - Neil Shicoff
Un ballo maschera: Di' tu se fedele (Riccardo) - Luciano Pavarotti
La forza del destino: Pace, pace mio Dio (Leonora) - Renata Tebaldi
Don Carlos: Dio, che nell'alma infondere (Don Carlos, Posa) - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Aida: Se quel guerrier io fossil...Celeste Aida (Radames) - Jon Vickers
Aida: Qui Radames verra...O patria mia (Aida) - Leontyne Price
Otello: Ave Maria (Desdemona) - Renata Tebaldi
Falstaff: Facciamo il parentado...Tutto nel mondo e burla - Renato Bruson
Requiem: Requiem aeternam, Kyrie - Luciano Pavarotti

Amazon.com

It's rare for sampler albums to demonstrate originality, but Decca's Giuseppe Verdi compilation honoring the 100th anniversary of the composer's death in 1901 goes beyond putting a smorgasbord of Verdiana on your plate. Its lavishly illustrated 100-page book includes a potted bio of the composer and sections on each of his operas, along with Universal's complete Verdi catalog (but no texts or translations). The discs contain samples from each opera, arranged in chronological order, featuring most of the top singers of the past 40 years. They're all here, from the Three Tenors to their betters, like Jon Vickers, whose powerfully sung "Celeste Aida" is a demonstration of individuality at the service of character portrayal, and Carlo Bergonzi, whose two selections (arias from Giovanna del Arco and Les Vêspres siciliennes) are magnificent demonstrations of the true Verdi style. And this is not just another Great Hits compilation, for many of the operas are represented by rarely heard arias and ensemble pieces. The result: a neat introduction to Verdi's glorious music for neophytes and a nice supplement for Verdians, who will discover new aspects to the Bard of romantic opera. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Not bad at all ... for what it is.......2007-05-03

This two-CD set purports to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of Giuseppe Verdi's death by highlighting the whole arc of his operatic career (including his Requiem) in thirty-three tracks. This is, of course, plainly an impossible task. In general, each opera gets a single selection taken from complete performances that happened to be issued by Decca, Phillips or Deutsche Grammaphon. Since none of the three organizations had recorded either "I vespri Siciliani" or "Giovanna D'Arco," appropriate tenor arias were taken from a concert selection by Carlo Bergonzi. As the previous reviewer, Mr. Listener, pointed out, exceptions were made for "La Traviata" with four selections (all from the same recording) and "Aida" with two (ditto). In addition to those, the much more obscure "Stefellio" sneaked in the back door with a second selection from the re-written and re-named "Aroldo." The same can be said for "I Lombardi alla prima Crociata," subsequently Frenchfied as "Jerusalem."

Ten operas, "Oberto," "I Lombardi," "Ernani," "Alzira," "Macbeth," "Jerusalem," "Simon Bocanegra," "Aroldo," "Un ballo in maschera," and "Falstaff," were recorded digitally, the most recent being "Alzira" from 1999. The remaining selections were taken from digitally re-mastered analogue recordings. The oldest of them, by far, is the fabulous 1955 Tebaldi recording of "La forza del destino." Each of these recordings was made with the leading-edge technology of its day. None has lost anything in this re-issue. Their sound should be more than satisfactory to anyone except the most narrow-minded audio purist.

Among the singers, Bergonzi, Caballe, Carreras, Cortrubas, Cosotto, Domingo, Horne, Ricciarelli, Sutherland, Tebaldi and Vickers are certainly on the A-list. The others, for the most part, are also good. The conductors are uniformly strong, although none of the others was as perfectly suited to this music as the venerable Tullio Serafin, heard here only in "Il trovatore."

The set comes with the two CDs tucked away in pockets on the front and back boards of a small, bound book. The book consista of 103 pages of historical commentary, illustrations of Verdi, his wife, his collaborators, premiere productions of the operas and, just by chance, advertisements touting opera recordings from Decca, Phillips and Deutsche Grammophon.

All the original recordings were good, but only the "Otello," "Aida" and "Forza" would have any great number of fans regarding them as the best of the best, although the curiously underrated and largely forgotten "Trovatore" under Serafin is very, very good, too. As a matter of purely personal taste, I would rank only the "Forza" as without peer.

No collection that ignores the catalogues of EMI and RCA--or even the old, rough and ready CETRA, can possibly be regarded as definitive. Nevertheless, on the whole, this is a respectable attempt at its self-imposed impossible task. As I write, "Viva Verdi!" is available from various Amazon sellers at prices ranging from $8.70 to $18.68. If you are interested in a Verdi sampler, this one is a bargain.

Four sampled stars.

An honor roll of Verdi recordings.......2005-10-28

This is a commercial sampler whose 100-page book is basically a promo for the Verdi operas made by Decca, Philips, and DG. Usually such products offer insubstantial snippets, and in a sense that's true here. Verdi's operatic output from Oberto to Falstaff is given one exceprt each except for La Traviata (4) and Aida (2). The Requiem also gets a piece of the action.

The second CD, beginning with the quartet from Rigoletto, carries us into completely familiar territory. And the book is only interesting as a reminder of an honor roll of recordings that Verdi has received. It was admirable for Philips to record so much early music with great singers like Carreras and Caballe in their absolute prime.

It's the exposure of these thrilling voices that ties this collection together. Every snippet is in good osund and displays some kind of vocal excellence, often in operas like Jerusalemma or Giovanna d'Arco that few of us are likely to buy. Azira, I Due Foscari, Atila? Without this sampler these would still just be names on a page to me. Now I have a vivid, living memory of them, which is all a composer could ask for.

Una compra obligada para todos los verdianos.......2005-02-09

Este doble cd acompañado de un libro de mas de 100 paginas con comentarios sobre Verdi, sus óperas una a una, y un catalogo de discografia verdiana recomendable incluye 33 fragmentos musicales de TODAS las operas de Verdi, ademas de uno de su Requiem.
Mas alla de los fragmentos de las obras realmente conocidas (todos aqui presentes en versiones de primera clase, con solistas como Domingo, Carreras, Tebaldi, Verrett, Millnes...) el principal punto de interes de este disco radica en encontrar autenticas rarezas, como una amplia escena (12') de "Alzira" a cargo de la prometedora Marina Mescheriakova, o el poder comparar el 'La mia letizia infondere' (de I Lombardi) con el 'Je veux encore entendere' (de Jerusalem, la revision francesa de I Lombardi). En la primera encontramos a un Placido Domingo pletorico y en la segunda (mas aguda) a un Marcello Giordani sin miedo al agudo. Dos operas (Alzira y Jerusalem) nunca antes grabadas en estudio.
Una fiesta verdiana obligada, tanto para los aficcionados que quieran iniciarse como para aquellos que ya son iniciados y quieren disfrutar una vez mas con Verdi en estado puro. ¡VIVA VERDI!

An excellent little compilation.......2003-05-29

This is a great little set, better in its breadth than its depth. I came to appreciate this collection when I was putting together a score for a show entitled: "Eat your greens; The complete operas of Verdi performed in 20 minutes by a cast of vegetables" Let me assure you, when you're trying to get every Verdi opera down to 20 or so seconds and score it with a pithy arrangement of a passage, you're going to need someone to narrow it down to about one number per opera for the bulk of the shows. If I wasn't able to reference this, I would have had to look much harder and spent a lot more money to get things like the complete Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio and Alzira. This collection provided me with stellar recordings of the cream of each Verdi opera, all well recorded by major artists. In addition to this admittedly obscure usage, the collection provides a splendid overview of Verdi's truly massive career, from his early beginnings, where he nearly out-Rossinis Rossini (if that were possible) to his colossal Requiem, Falstaff, and Otello, which are arguably Wagnerian in scope and ambition. Short of a college course, and the Budden book, I can't think of any better way to internalize his acheivement than to listen to this superbly compiled and elegantly packaged delight. I recommend it highly.

An incredible celebration! Viva Verdi!.......2000-12-05

This album which is celebrating Verdi's works, is wonderful. I could say these cds present the best singers of our times singing Verdi's operas. I also noticed that here we can hear many less known works. In fact, almost all the Verdi's operas are contained in this magnificent album. As the title says: " a great celebration"

Average customer rating:

Verdi: La Traviata; Rigoletto

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
ASIN: B000001GYB
Release Date: 1997-09-16

Tracks:

Overtures And Preludes: Overto, Conte di San Bonifacio - Sinfonia
Overtures And Preludes: Un giorno di regno (II finto Stanislao) - Sinfonia
Overtures And Preludes: Nabucco - Sinfonia
Overtures And Preludes: Ernani - Preludio
Overtures And Preludes: Giovanna d'Arco - Sinfonia
Overtures And Preludes: Alzira - Sinfonia
Overtures And Preludes: Attila - Preludio
Overtures And Preludes: I masnadieri - Prelude
Overtures And Preludes: Macbeth - Preludio
Overtures And Preludes: II corsaro - Sinfonia

Tracks:

Overtures And Preludes: La battaglia di Legnano - Sinfonia
Overtures And Preludes: Luisa Miller - Sinfonia
Overtures And Preludes: Rigoletto - Preludio
Overtures And Preludes: La traviata - Preludio
Overtures And Preludes: Les Vepres siciliennes - Overture
Overtures And Preludes: Aroldo - Sinfonia
Overtures And Preludes: Un ballo in maschera - Preludio
Overtures And Preludes: La forz del destino - Sinfonia
Overtures And Preludes: Aida - Preludio

Amazon.com essential recording

Early in his career, Karajan was an outstanding Verdi conductor, and his first recordings of Falstaff, Aida, and Otello, as well (later) as his Don Carlo, remain testaments to his Verdian credentials. As so often happens in the classical-music biz, however, the remakes were not nearly so convincing. Karajan quickly developed a preference for a smoothed-over, blended orchestral sonority that is really antithetical to Verdi's orchestral habits. This collection, however, was recorded before Karajan had eliminated all of the music's rough edges, and while there's lovely playing aplenty, he's also not afraid to make some noise when Verdi requires it. A fine collection, then, of the 19th century's most important Italian operatic/orchestral music. --David Hurwitz

Average customer rating:

Verdi: Overtures

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Tracks:

La Forza Del Destino (Die Macht Des Schicksals)
La Traviata (Act 1)
Nabucco
Rigoletto
Un Ballo In Maschera (Ein Maskenball) (Act 2)
Otello (Act 4)
I Vespri Siciliani (Die Sizilianische Vesper)
La Battaglia Di Legnano (Die Schlacht Von Legnano)
Aida
Macbeth
Aroldo

Average customer rating:

Best Conductor In The Country!
Excellent!
Excellent recording
Very Powerful

Verdi: Complete Opera Overtures

Manufacturer: Newport Classic
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000056OE5
Release Date: 2001-01-16

Tracks:

La Forza Del Destino
Oberto, Conte Di San Bonifacio
Nabucco
Luisa Miller
Giovanna D'Arco
Les Vepres Siciliennes
Un Giorno Di Regno
La Battaglia Di Legnano
Stiffelio
Alzira
Aida

Customer Reviews:

Best Conductor In The Country!.......2005-08-10

You will never hear anything as powerful and passionate as Maestro La Selva's conducting! You must own this CD!! He is simply the best conductor of Verdi in the world. You won't ever hear it done like this again and you won't be sorry to have this CD in your collection!

Excellent!.......2001-07-28

You will never find a better conductor than Maestro La Selva and you can hear it in the music! Vincent La Selva brings out the best in all music but especially Verdi! I recommend this highly to anyone who loves Verdi, you will not hear it done better anywhere!

Excellent recording.......2001-02-21

After listening to a friend's copy of this recently released recording, I was impressed with this gorgeous music and by LaSelva, a conductor who deserves recognition. Each overture is conducted with great feeling and zest, a must-have for your opera collection.

Very Powerful.......2001-01-22

I have heard many recordings of Verdi, but never one as powerful as this one! The music gave me chills at times. The conducting by Mr. La Selva is masterful. He is the best! Verdi I'm sure, would be very proud to have his beautiful music conducted by this man. This CD should be in everyone's classical collection.

Plácido Domingo - Verdi ~ The Tenor Arias

Average customer rating:

Verdi singing to set the standard for all tenors
The Greatest Verdi Tenor The Wonderful Mr. Domingo
Magnificent Achievement
VOICE
superb, exhilarating, outstanding!!!!!

Plácido Domingo - Verdi ~ The Tenor Arias
Giuseppe Verdi
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Verdi - Luisa Miller / Renata Scotto, Placido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Bonaldo Giaiotti, James Morris, James Levine, Metropolitan Opera
Leoncavallo - I Pagliacci / Mascagni - Cavalleria Rusticana / Domingo, Stratas, Pons, Bruson, Obraztsova, Pretre
Puccini - Manon Lescaut / Renata Scotto, Placido Domingo, Pablo Elvira, Renato Capecchi, Isola Jones, James Levine, Metropolitan Opera
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde [Includes Bonus DVD]
Russian Album

ASIN: B00005OC0F
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Tracks:

La Traviata: Lunge Da Lei... De' Miei Bollenti Spiriti - Verdi Domingo/Helena Jungwirth
La Traviata: Annina, Donde Vieni? ...O Mio Rimorso! - Verdi Domingo/Helena Jungwirth
Aida: Se Quel Guerrier Io Fossi! ... Celeste Aida - Verdi Domingo
Don Carlos: Io I'ho Perduta!.. Io La Vidi, E Il Suo Sorriso - Verdi Domingo
Don Carlos: Fontainebleau! Foret Immense Et Solitaire! - Verdi Domingo/Katia Ricciarelli/Ruggero Raimondi/Nicolai Ghiaurov/Nikita Storojev/Chor Del Teatro...
Don Carlos: Je I'ai Vue, Et Dans Son Sourire - Verdi Domingo/Katia Ricciarelli/Ruggero Raimondi/Nicolai Ghiaurov/Nikita Storojev/Chor Del Teatro...
Don Carlos: C'est Elle!... J'avais Fait Un Beau Reve!... Au Revoir Dans Un Monde - Verdi Domingo/Katia Ricciarelli/Ruggero Raimondi/Nicolai Ghiaurov/Nikita Storojev/Chor Del Teatro...
Don Carlos: Oui, Pour Toujours! - Verdi Domingo/Katia Ricciarelli/Ruggero Raimondi/Nicolai Ghiaurov/Nikita Storojev/Chor Del Teatro...
Un Ballo In Maschera: S'avanza Il Re... La Rivedra Nell'estasi - Verdi Domingo/Sumi Jo/Goran Simic/Kurt Rydl/Florence Quivar
Un Ballo In Maschera: Di' Tu Se Fedele - Verdi Domingo/Sumi Jo/Goran Simic/Kurt Rydl/Florence Quivar
Un Ballo In Maschera: E Scherzo Od E Follia - Verdi Domingo/Sumi Jo/Goran Simic/Kurt Rydl/Florence Quivar
Un Ballo In Maschera: Forse La Soglia Attinse... Ma Se M'e Forza Perderti - Verdi Domingo
Il Trovatore: Quale D'armi Fragor Poc'anzi Intesi? - Verdi Domingo/Leontyne Price/Ryland Davies/Ambrosian Opr Chor
Il Trovatore: Ah! Si, Ben Mio - Verdi Domingo/Leontyne Price/Ryland Davies/Ambrosian Opr Chor
Il Trovatore: L'onda De' Suoni Mistici - Verdi Domingo/Leontyne Price/Ryland Davies/Ambrosian Opr Chor
Il Trovatore: Di Quella Pira - Verdi Domingo/Leontyne Price/Ryland Davies/Ambrosian Opr Chor
Rigoletto: Questa O Quella Per Me Pari Sono - Verdi Domingo/Nicolai Ghiaurov/Piero Cappuccilli
Rigoletto: Ella Mi Fu Rapita!... Parmi Veder Le Lagrime - Verdi Domingo/Nicolai Ghiaurov/Piero Cappuccilli
Rigoletto: La Donna E Mobile - Verdi Domingo/Nicolai Ghiaurov/Piero Cappuccilli
La Forza Del Destino: La Vita E Inferno All'infelice - Verdi Domingo
La Forza Del Destino: Oh, Tu Che In Seno Agli Angeli - Verdi Domingo
La Forza Del Destino: Qual Sangue Sparsi!.. S'affronti La Morte - Verdi Domingo/Chor Of The Mariinsky Theatre

Tracks:

Ernani: Merce, Diletti Amici... Come Rugiada Al Cespite - Verdi Domingo/Roger Wagner Chor
Ernani: Dell'esilio Nel Dolore... O Tu, Che I'alma Adora - Verdi Domingo/Roger Wagner Chor
Ernani: D'Ernani I Fidi Chiedono... Odi Il Voto... Sprezzo La Vita (Alternative Aria) - Verdi Domingo/Alfred Walker/James Courtney/Chor Of The Mariinsky Theatre
I Lombardi Alla Prima Crociata: O Madre Mia, Che Fa Colei? - Verdi Domingo/Montserrat Aparici
I Lombardi Alla Prima Crociata: La Mia Letizia Infondere... Come Poteva Un Angelo - Verdi Domingo/Montserrat Aparici
I Lombardi Alla Prima Crociata: Come Poteva Un Angelo - Verdi Domingo/Marjorie Dix
I Lombardi Alla Prima Crociata: Componi, O Cara Vergine.. In Cielo Benedetto - Verdi Domingo/Christina Deutekom/Ambrosian Opr Chor
Jerusalem: L'Emir Aupres De Lui M'appelle... Je Veux Encore Entendre - Verdi Domingo
Luisa Miller: Il Foglio Dunque? - Verdi Domingo/Luigi De Corato/Wladimiro Ganzarolli/Gwynne Howell/Chor Of The ROHCG
Luisa Miller: Quando Le Sere Al Placido - Verdi Domingo/Luigi De Corato/Wladimiro Ganzarolli/Gwynne Howell/Chor Of The ROHCG
Luisa Miller: Di Me Chiedeste? - Verdi Domingo/Luigi De Corato/Wladimiro Ganzarolli/Gwynne Howell/Chor Of The ROHCG
Luisa Miller: L'ara, O L'avello Apprestami - Verdi Domingo/Luigi De Corato/Wladimiro Ganzarolli/Gwynne Howell/Chor Of The ROHCG
Giovanna D'Arco: Il Re! - Nel Suo Bel Volto - Verdi Domingo/Keith Erwen/Sherrill Milnes/Ambrosian Opr Chor
Giovanna D'Arco: Sotto Una Quercia Parvemi - Verdi Domingo/Keith Erwen/Sherrill Milnes/Ambrosian Opr Chor
Giovanna D'Arco: V'ha Dunque Un Loco Simile - Verdi Domingo/Keith Erwen/Sherrill Milnes/Ambrosian Opr Chor
Giovanna D'Arco: Pondo E Letal, Martiro - Verdi Domingo/Keith Erwen/Sherrill Milnes/Ambrosian Opr Chor
Giovanna D'Arco: Di Novel Prodigio - Verdi Domingo/Keith Erwen/Sherrill Milnes/Ambrosian Opr Chor
Giovanna D'Arco: Quale Piu Fido Amico - Verdi Domingo/Keith Erwen/Sherrill Milnes/Ambrosian Opr Chor
Les Vepres Siciliennes: E Di Monforte Il Cenno! - Verdi Domingo
Les Vepres Siciliennes: Giorno Di Pianto - Verdi Domingo
Les Vepres Siciliennes: Ah, Toi Que J'ai Cherie (Alternative Aria) - Verdi Domingo

Tracks:

Otello: Esultate! L'orgoglio Musulmano - Verdi Domingo/Sergei Leiferkus/Chor De L'Opr Bastille
Otello: Tu?! Indietro! Fuggi! - Verdi Domingo/Sergei Leiferkus/Chor De L'Opr Bastille
Otello: Ora E Per Sempre Addio - Verdi Domingo/Sergei Leiferkus/Chor De L'Opr Bastille
Otello: Pace, Signor... Era La Notte, Cassio Dormia - Verdi Domingo/Sergei Leiferkus/Chor De L'Opr Bastille
Otello: Oh! Mostruosa Colpa! - Verdi Domingo/Sergei Leiferkus/Chor De L'Opr Bastille
Otello: Si, Pel Ciel Marmoreo Giuro! - Verdi Domingo/Sergei Leiferkus/Chor De L'Opr Bastille
Otello: Dio! Mi Potevi Scagliar - Verdi Domingo/Sergei Leiferkus/Chor De L'Opr Bastille
Otello: Niun Mi Tema - Verdi Domingo/Robin Leggate/Mark Beesley/Roderick Earle
Macbeth: O Figli, O Figli Miei!... Ah, La Paterna Mano - Verdi Domingo/Antonio Savastano/Chor Del Teatro Alla Scala
Macbeth: Dove Siam? Che Bosco E Quello?... La Patria Tradita - Verdi Domingo/Antonio Savastano/Chor Del Teatro Alla Scala
Nabuco: Che Si Vuol?... Il Maledetto Non Ha Fratelli - Verdi Domingo/Chor Und Orch Der Deutschen Opr Berlin
Stiffelio: Non Ha Per Me Un Accento!... Vidi Dovunque Gemere... Ah! V'appare In Fronte Scritto - Verdi Domingo/Veronica Villaroel/Carlos Alvarez
Aroldo: Sotto Il Di Siria Ardente - Verdi Domingo/Marjorie Dix
Simon Boccanegra: O Inferno! Amelia Qui!... Sento Awampar Nell'anima... Cielo Pietoso - Verdi Domingo
La Battaglia Di Legnano: O Magnanima, E Prima Delle Citta Lombarde... La Pia Materna Mano - Verdi Domingo
Un Giorno Di Regno: Buoni Amici!... Pietoso Al Lungo Pianto - Verdi Domingo/Chor Of The Mariinsky Theatre
Un Giorno Di Regno: Deh, Lasciate A Un'alma Amante - Verdi Domingo/Chor Of The Mariinsky Theatre
Attila: Oh, Tutto Di Navicelle - Verdi Domingo/Ambrosian Opr Chor
Attila: Ella In Poter Del Barbaro!.... Cara Patria, Gia Madre E Reina - Verdi Domingo/Ambrosian Opr Chor
Attila: Qui Del Convegno E Il Loco - Verdi Domingo/Eric Cutler
Attila: Che Non Avrebbe Il Misero - Verdi Domingo/Eric Cutler
Attila: O Dolore! Ed Io Vivea (Alternative Aria) - Verdi Domingo/Eric Cutler

Tracks:

I Due Foscari: Qui Ti Rimani Alquanto - Verdi Domingo
I Due Foscari: Dal Piu Remoto Esilio - Verdi Domingo
I Due Foscari: Del Consiglio Alla Presenza Vieni Tosto... Odio Solo, Ed Odio Atroce - Verdi Domingo
I Due Foscari: Si, Io Sento, Iddio Mi Chiama (Alternative Cabaletta) - Verdi Domingo
I Due Foscari: Notte, Perpetua Notte - Verdi Domingo
I Due Foscari: Non Maledirmi, O Prode - Verdi Domingo
I Masnadieri: Quando Io Leggo In Plutarco - Verdi Domingo/Eduardo Valdes
I Masnadieri: O Mio Castel Paterno - Verdi Domingo/Eduardo Valdes
I Masnadieri: Ecco Un Foglio - Verdi Domingo/Eduardo Valdes
I Masnadieri: Nell'argilla Maledetta - Verdi Domingo/Eduardo Valdes
I Masnadieri: Come Splendido E Grande Il Sol Tramonta!... Di Ladroni Attorniato - Verdi Domingo/Eduardo Valdes
Il Corsaro: Come Liberi Volano I Venti... Tutto Parea Sorridere - Verdi Domingo/James Courtney/Chor Of The Mariinsky Theatre
Il Corsaro: Si: De' Corsari Il Fulmine - Verdi Domingo/James Courtney/Chor Of The Mariinsky Theatre
Il Corsaro: Eccomi Prigioniero! - Verdi Domingo/James Courtney/Chor Of The Mariinsky Theatre
Falstaff: Dal Labbro Il Canto Estasiato Vola - Verdi Domingo
Oberto, Conte Di San Bonifacio: Son Fra Voi!... Gia Parmi Udire Il Fremito - Verdi Domingo/Chor Of The Mariinsky Theatre
Oberto, Conte Di San Bonifacio: Ciel, Che Feci! Di Qual Sangue Ho Macchiato Il Brando Mio! - Verdi Domingo
Alzira: A Costoro Quel Nume Perdoni - Verdi Domingo/Alfred Walker/Eduardo Valdes/Chor Of The Mariinsky Theatre
Alzira: Un Inca... Eccesso Orribile!... Dio Della Guerra - Verdi Domingo/Alfred Walker/Eduardo Valdes/Chor Of The Mariinsky Theatre
Alzira: Amici! - Ebben? - Verdi Domingo/Thomas Hampson/Philharmonia Chor
Alzira: Irne Lungi Ancor Dovrei... Non Di Codarde Lagrime - Verdi Domingo/Thomas Hampson/Philharmonia Chor
Messa Da Requiem: Ingemisco Tamquam Reus - Verdi Domingo

Amazon.com

There is only one word for this four-CD set: glorious. Released to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Verdi's death, it presents arias from every one of his 28 operas, a comprehensive overview of his work. It is also a tribute to Placido Domingo, one of his foremost present-day interpreters. An extraordinarily versatile artist, Domingo is heard in selections from his signature roles, like Otello, Radames, and Don Carlo, taken from recordings made between the 1960s and the '90s. He's also heard in new recordings of arias from the earliest, unfamiliar operas he has not performed on stage, and alternate arias Verdi wrote for different versions of his operas. Thus, he sings I Lombardi in Italian, Jérusalem in French, and Don Carlo and I Vespri Siciliani in Italian and French.

There are also extended scenes with illustrious colleagues, including Leontyne Price, Katia Ricciarelli, Nicolai Ghiaurov, and Sergei Leiferkus, whose Iago is an exquisitely insidious villain. He is accompanied by the greatest orchestras and conductors. For the new recordings, his partners are Myung-Whun Chung and Valery Gergiev, whose Mariinsky Theater musicians contribute some beautiful string solos. The matchless beauty of Domingo's voice seems untouched by the years, and he can change and vary it to suit the musical and dramatic requirements. His top notes never lose their clarion ring, yet the final B-flat of "Celeste Aida" tapers off, as Verdi demands. Even more remarkable, he can create real characters. Even without the texts, the mood, emotion, and meaning always come through. In this incomparable treasure trove, all opera lovers will find their own favorites, and many new gems besides, all performed to utter perfection. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Verdi singing to set the standard for all tenors.......2007-03-03

Placido Domingo's magnificent voice scarcely needs any introduction or praise or comments, as it is a splendid vehicle that speaks for itself. Not only is the voice - a strong, wood-grained, ringing tenor of a richer and darker sound than a pure lyric tenor - an amazing thing, a gift of God, but Domingo is himself a master of the technical demands of music (in addition to being a master of the technical demands of singing - not the same thing at all!) and a truly great singing artist.

That is, he is never content to sing without becoming the character, without expressing the emotions of the character.

The size, colour and drama of the voice make him an ideal Verdi exponent. Who could ever forget his magnificent performances in "Un ballo", "Don Carlos", "La Traviata", "Il Trovatore", and a host of other Verdi tenor roles? And the consistency of Domingo's vocal quality is something of a phenomenon. This man has had an enviable career - and it's his superb vocal technique that has carried him through it.

I particularly love the way that he varies the outpourings of that golden tone. At one moment it's all fire and blazing intensity, and the next it's a thing of restraint and tenderness. Is there anything at which to cavil in Domingo as a Verdi tenor? I do not think so...

The world has been fortunate to be gifted with such a tenor. If music itself adds meaning to our life and to existence itself, it finds an ideal servant of itself in this man who is certainly one of the finest tenors in the world.

This collection of Verdi arias represents not only the recordings of Domingo in the roles he's tackled during his long career (with some of the finest fellow singers you could imagine), but also some earlier Verdi that he'd not performed, and which he recorded specially for this multi-CD set. The result is a triumph. One can see the difference instantly between various characters - not an easy thing to do.

I would also like to recommend another set - "Der junge Domingo" (The Young Domingo), a 5-CD set released by BMG. I cannot find it here on Amazon, so I can only suggest those who are interested try alternative sources. It's a quite stunning collection - admittedly it contains "Svegliatevi nel cor" which I think is a mistake, but then it was recorded before the Handel revival and was thus less historically informed than one might wish. But really... it doesn't matter. The great beauty and intelligence of Domingo's singing shines through even that, and it's followed by a lovely "Il mio tesoro" from Mozart's Don Giovanni. Things get even better - there's a Donizetti aria from Il Duca d'Alba, the famous tenor aria from La Juive, the "Quando le sere al placido" from Luisa Miller, Lenski's aria from Eugene Onegin, some Gounod (including arias from Faust and Roméo et Juliette), the love duet from Madama Butterfly with Leontyne Price, and much more...

The Greatest Verdi Tenor The Wonderful Mr. Domingo.......2005-09-28

This is Placido Domingo's best recording to date. His greatest and strongest repertoire was Verdi, as he himself claimed, and this recording is a lovely tribute to Verdi himself. A plethora of arias from such operas as La Traviata, Il Trovatore, Aida, Don Carlos, Otello and such earlier works like Il Foscari, Jersualem, Nabucco, Stiffelio and Ernani. In Placido Domingo, the opera scene found the heir to Enrico Caruso and successor to Franco Corelli. Originally trained as a baritone, Domingo had opera in his blood. His Spanish-born parents were Zarzuela singers. Placido's voice is dark, rich, full lyric, but dramatic and compelling, the perfect voice for Verdi and Puccini. Domingo mastered a number of operatic languages including French, German and Russian. His charisma, good looks and dramatic prowess was all to his credit and he appeared in Zefferelli movies (Traviata in 82 and Otello in 86. Many detractors and critics have taken a while to praise Domingo, and it wasnt until he sang Wagner that they came around. He has always been "outshined" by Pavoratti with whom he had a real rivalry with. But unlike Pavoratti, Domingo has more dramatic integrity in his characterizations and is the more cerebral singer. His voice is more beautiful, less brassy than the overweight showy Pavoratti. This is his best recording and I urge all fans to own it at once.

Magnificent Achievement.......2002-12-27

This set is a recorded testimony to both Verdi's genius and Placido Domingo's versatility. Through 70's, 80's, and 90's, Domingo recorded with three major labels -- DG, RCA, and EMI. Out of these three, DG captured the most Verdi recordings, so it only was right for it to combine what they already had with newly recorded material, mostly early Verdi arias (Chung & Gergiev conducting), plus some licensed material (e.g. Giovanna D'Arco) from EMI.
What impresses right away is how little has the voice changed over the years. Yes, some freshness heard on Ingemisco is lost now, but there is much greater insight gained, as displayed in such heroic pieces as "O magnanima, e prima delle città lombarde". Through numerous performances (Domingo has long ago broke Enrico Caruso's record for opening nights at the MET) and numerous recorded recitals, Domingo managed to keep the powerful, ringing spinto tenor mostly intact. What's most intriguing is HOW did he manage it. He did not pick and choose the roles (as Bergonzi, for instance), he sang Otello since the 70's, and recently has even recorded some of Wagner's extremely demanding roles (see EMI's catalog). Domingo's voice is not typical for an Italian tenor, e.g. he does not have the squillo (or the "ping") on top notes, but what's amazing is that it is able to produce bronze-like ring on all notes. During the mid-eighties, the voice had a fascinating baritonal quality; Domingo has even recorded Il Barbiere. On this CD, the selections with Guilini reflect that period the best.
Deutsche Grammophon chose to alternate the new-recorded material with old one. As a result, those who have been devoted fans of the tenor for, say fifteen-plus years, will notice some difference, but those relatively new to his art would not.
The set, albeit not a bargain, has many delights. In addition to featuring selections from out-of-print editions (e.g. Luisa Miller with Maazel) the newly recorded material is targeted at paying homage to early Verdi and his lesser-known works. For instance, "Ah, toi que j'ai chérie" from French version of I Vespri siciliani is a great aria, makes one wish for a complete opera to be recorded some time soon. The French selections in particular show how attentive Verdi was to highlighting the beauty of language with his music. This really explains why Italian translations done later did not fare as well as the originals, and vice versa.
The selections from complete operas impress with starry casts. We hear the voices of Price, Cappuccilli, Ghiaurov, Milnes, Jo, and most wonderful choruses. And most of world's greatest conductors are present here -- Karajan, Gergiev, Kleiber, Levine, Abbado, just to name a few. Each brings his own distinct style, some controversial, some debated, all exciting, but none simply conventional.
Many have noted Domingo's chameleon-like ability to "become" the character. I would just like to add a note that he is now added the ability to infuse his characters with subtle sensuality. Granted, a tenor aria is written to be appealing and engaging, but it takes a great artist to make it "glow."
We are indeed very lucky to share a time frame with Placido Domingo. For years to come, he will be the idol for aspiring singers and a source of wonder for the numerous fans of great vocal performances.

VOICE.......2002-09-10

What a voice and what a power. Here we have a combination of a beautiful music and a perfect voice. What else would you need to enjoy it.

superb, exhilarating, outstanding!!!!!.......2002-02-10

Pure,absolute satisfaction!That's the onlypossible feeling I could possible have after having listened and cherished this fabulous set of CD's. It is a tribute to this magnificent master of fine singing,as well as a monumental homage to the mythical Giuseppe Verdi!Placido Domingo is the perfect, harmonious combination of acting, passion and singing. He is always powerful and crystal clear in his high notes. Maestro Domingo knows every time where and when to adjust his divine voice in the appropriate tone and volume.He is never too loud(too forte!) or too low, and never croons. Although there are some trivial flaws as far as the sound quality of specific tracks is concerned e.g. the last high note from "O mio rimorso!", this CD-set is a real tresure and an excellent value for money for anyone who wishes to call oneself a "real VERDI - addict" as well as a fan of this glorious artist, a dramatic, a heroic,a lyric,a mature,a perfect singer. HAIL PLACIDO DOMINGO, TENOR OF THE TENORS!

Average customer rating:

VERDI AND VON KARAJAN
No reason to withhold the fifth star
Fine Verdi Orchestral Music Courtesy of Karajan and the BPO

Verdi: Overtures and Preludes

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Bizet: L'Arlesienne / Carmen Suites
John Strauss An Der Schonen,Blauen Donau
Famous Ballet Music ~ Gaîté Parisienne, The Sleeping Beauty, Coppélia, Les Sylphides / von Karajan, Berlin PO
Pan's Labyrinth (New Line Two-Disc Platinum Series)

ASIN: B000001G87
Release Date: 2005-03-21

Tracks:

Nabucco: Overture
Ernani: Prelude
The Robbers: Prelude
Macbeth: Prelude
The Corsair: Overture
The Battle of Legnano: Overture
Luisa Miller: Overture
Rigoletto: Prelude
La Traviata: Prelude
The Sicilian Vespers: Overture
A Masked Ball: Prelude
The Force of Destiny: Overture
Aida: Prelude

Customer Reviews:

VERDI AND VON KARAJAN.......2006-07-05

Is there no music conducted by Von Karajan where his genius does not shine through? Verdi's melodies are born anew beneath the steady and insightful hand of Von Karajan. Buy it for your collection and enjoy beautiful music as it should be enjoyed.

No reason to withhold the fifth star.......2005-09-25

This is a gem from the Karajan catalog. He was a very great Verdi conductor, his orchestra was the best in the world--there are no reservations aobut everything on this CD. It stands above similar compioations by Sinooli and Abbado, although they are very, very good also.

Fine Verdi Orchestral Music Courtesy of Karajan and the BPO.......2002-12-08

Fans of Giuseppe Verdi's operatic orchestral music should rejoice in this fine two CD collection assembled from Karajan's 1970's recordings with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Karajan leads the Berliners in warm, vibrant performances of Verdi's famous and lesser known orchestral overtures and preludes. The sound quality is fine, thanks to Deutsche Grammophon's state of the art 24 bit digital remastering.