Great Opera Highlights

On this CD:

1. Aida, opera Triumphant March
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Carl-August Bunte

2. Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620 Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Miki Sahashi
Conducted by Klaus-Peter Modest

3. Orphée aux enfers (Orpheus in the Underworld), operetta Overture
Composed by Jacques Offenbach

Conducted by Norman Sattler

4. Il barbière di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), opera Una voce poco fa
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by Miki Sahashi
Conducted by Klaus-Peter Modest

5. Overture to Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville)
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by Symphonic Festival Orchestra
Conducted by Alfred Scholz

6. Der fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman), opera, WWV 63 Summ und Brumm Chorus
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by Temisvar Orchestra & Chorus
Conducted by Nicolae Boboc

7. Prodaná nevesta (The Bartered Bride), overture to the opera
Composed by Bedrich Smetana
Performed by Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Libor Pesek

8. Carmen, opéra-comique in 4 acts Habañera
Composed by Georges Bizet
Performed by Danube Philharmonic Orchestra with Rita Noel
Conducted by Alberto Lizzio

9. Les Contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts Barcarole
Composed by Jacques Offenbach

Conducted by Frank Shipway

10. Guillaume Tell (William Tell), opera Oui vous l'arrachez à mon âme
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by Irene Janmillot, Tony Poncet
Conducted by Marcel Couraud

11. La Gioconda, opera in 4 acts Dance of the Hours
Composed by Amilcare Ponchielli
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Francesco Macci

12. La Gioconda, opera in 4 acts Final
Composed by Amilcare Ponchielli
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Francesco Macci

13. Tosca, opera E lucevan le stelle
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
Performed by Wurttemberg Philharmonic with Riccardo Casinelli
Conducted by Alexander von Pitanic

Great Opera Highlights, Music, Georges Bizet, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Jacques Offenbach, Amilcare Ponchielli, Giacomo Puccini, Gioachino Rossini, Bedrich Smetana, Giuseppe Verdi, Richard Wagner, Alberto Lizzio, Alexander von Pitanic, Alfred Scholz, Carl-August Bunte, Francesco Macci, Frank Shipway, Klaus-Peter Modest, Libor Pesek, Marcel Couraud, Nicolae Boboc, Norman Sattler, Rita Noel, Berliner Philharmoniker, Capella Istropolitana, Danube Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, National Chapell Baden, Orchestr Ceská Filharmonie, Orchestra Temesvar, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphonic Festival Orchestra, Temesvar Orchestra & Chorus, Württembergisches Philharmoniker, Irene Janmillot, Irene Jaumillot, Miki Sahashi, Riccardo Casinelli, Tony Poncer, Tony Poncet, Classical, Classical Music, Czech Romantic Opera, French Operetta, French Romantic Opera, German/Austrian Classical Period Opera, German/Austrian Romantic Opera, Italian Romantic Opera, Opera

Offenbach: La Belle Hélène; Orpheus in the Underworld; La Vie Parisienne (Highlights)
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Champagne Music!

Offenbach: La Belle Hélène; Orpheus in the Underworld; La Vie Parisienne (Highlights)

Manufacturer: Class. for Pleas. Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:

Johann Strauss II: Die Fledermaus; The Gypsy Baron (Highlights)

Léhar: The Land of Smiles; The Merry Widow; The Count of Luxembourg (Highlights)

Offenbach: Orpheus in the Underworld / Burgess, Watson, etc (Highlights)

ASIN: B00009KHY3
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Tracks:

Overture
The Happy Bride Never Stumbles
You've Gone Too Far!
May I Make Myself Known?
My Death Appears Divinely Smiling
When Diana Leaves The Mountains
To Arms!
When Jupy Feels The Inclination
Here Comes Orpheus
When I Was King Of The Boeotians
I Thought That I Felt On My Shoulder
What Heavenly Joy Is Mine
Minuet And Galop
Overture
How Sad We've Made The Marchioness
Well Isn't That Just Life All Over?
I'm The Guide For Every Tourist
I Am A Native Of Brazil
In This Enchanting Queen Of Cities
I Am A Dab At Carving Pork
We Have Seen Sights Since Eleven... I'm A Colonel's Widow
Dinner Is Served

Tracks:

Oh, Little Cloud
When She Goes Out... Her Petticoats Go Frou, Frou, Frou
Does He Know He's Splitting Down The Back
Nobody Would Call Me A Rover
I'll Have So Much To Say
It's Most Important You Should Show
Here You See The Place
My Friends, I'm Most Delighted To See You
In Songs And Shouts... Paris Blooms Like A Flower
Introduction
To Bow To Jupiter We Gather At The Shrine
We've Had A Night Out
On Mount Ida Three Great Ladies (The Judgement Of Paris)
March And Entry Of The Kings
Entr'acte
We All Begin By Truly Trying
It Is Her That Has Sent This Sweet Love Dream
Come Here, You Kings Of Greece
When All Of Greece Has Been Ravaged
Do You See?

Customer Reviews:

Champagne Music!.......2006-07-09

Thank goodness that these well filled CDs of selections from three of Offenbach's most entertaining and tuneful operettas are available. Exactly the thing to provide some hearty nourishment for Winter nights. Ideal also for a Summer barbecue. In both cases, a glass of champagne, or at least some other bubbly beverage, would be good to have at hand - everything here no doubt will call for a toast or several.

It is so nice to be able to hear in these translations the witty words, sung with welcome clarity and meaning by these admirable artists. As I recall, there were no microphones in sight, and perhaps not even used, when this production of Orpheus In The Underworld was brought to Australia, with a few cast changes but the same sparkle as shown here. Crisp diction and lively, often lovely, singing - a great recipe for enjoyable listening indeed.

The recording sounds a bit shrill here and there, but what a churlish quibble; to Hades with such curmudgeonly qualifications! This is music to raise the spirits, and not just those from Hades.

Great Orchestral Highlights from The Ring of the Nibelungs / Szell, Cleveland Orchestra (SACD)

Average customer rating:

Conversion
Not to be missed
Greatly improved sound, excellent performances
Szell and Karajan were freinds!!!
A classic Szell recording beautifully restored

Great Orchestral Highlights from The Ring of the Nibelungs / Szell, Cleveland Orchestra (SACD)
Wagner , Cleveland Orchestra , and George Szell
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Dvorák: The Slavonic Dances [SACD]
Dvorak Symphony No. 7 & Carnival Overture & Smetana Die Moldau / Szell, Cleveland Orchestra (SACD)
Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 39 & 40; Exsultate, Jubilate [SACD]
Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 ("Eroica"); Overtures [SACD]
Bach: The Four Great Toccatas and Fugues [SACD]

ASIN: B000044U19
Release Date: 2000-01-11

Customer Reviews:

Conversion .......2005-03-07

This is a very good recording of these works - all from Wagner's Nibelungen operas. Prior to purchasing this SACD, I did not totally agree with Szell's approach to Wagner. His approach, I thought, was too clear, too lacking on the bass line, and the accoustic at Severance Hall didn't help much. This SACD clarifies Szell in a very favorable way. Severance Hall doesn't sound nearly as bad of a place to record as I previously thought (though it's still debatable whether Szell's modifications to the hall in the late 50's were an improvement...) and the listener hears a much more balanced orchestral sonority, one which is without any congestion, clear as a bell, so to speak.

The performances themselves are top-flight - no question, by the late 1960's, the Cleveland Orchestra was the best orchestra in the U.S., outgunning everyone else. Szell lets the music speak for itself - no indulging in one's own self-centered interpretations here. Tempi are as specified and there are no orchestral rearrangements as there were in his Schumann recordings.

Now, if only Sony would release the rest of Szell's Wagner recordings on SACD, I'd be really happy to buy it.

Not to be missed.......2004-12-02

Hard to believe that these old Columbia/Epic LPs had this kind of sound in them. The sound stage is deep and wide and the string sound truly analogue. I find some of the ring excerpts not particularly to my liking musically, but the Tristan Prelude? A great recording by any measure. I was mesmerized by Szell's performance and have listened many, many times. SACD is so phenomenal. No ear fatigue and musically so involving. I haven't enjoyed listening so much since my LP days. This is the full measure of digital sound.

Greatly improved sound, excellent performances.......2004-09-17

I have been comparing this (non-hybrid, stereo-only) Sony SACD with the old Sony/CBS CD set - the 2 discs Maestro series from 1990, I've never heard a more recent Essential Classics CD incarnation coupled with some Ormandy Wagner. I suspect that was the same remastering.

The SACD replicates the second CD from that set (Ring excerpts plus the Tristan Prelude and Liebestod) and adds the Meistersinger Prelude, giving a total timing of 76'47.

I compared the tracks I know very well: the two Gotterdammerung excerpts. Unlike the other Szell SACD I have compared (Schumann Symphonies No 2 & 4, where the difference was discernible but slight), here the new disc sounds clearly different, and I think better.

On CD I always felt it was perhaps the slight aural 'edge' and hint of constriction that made these performances so thrilling (even though the sounds was rather flat in terms of front to back perspective), but this SACD removes that acerbity to some extent, to advantage I feel. There is much more depth to the sound and it is richer - and the orchestra sounds closer (perhaps even a tad smaller?) with greater detail. Strings sound more in focus. Maybe some of the ambience has changed, but perhaps this more realistically conveys the true acoustic of Severance Hall. Hearing the brief fanfare at 5'13ff in the Rhine Journey, here it is more rounded and realistic.

Tape hiss is absent from the SACD. In the Funeral March the advantage is clearer: the detail is much finer (the timpani strokes sound clearly at 2'55ff, whereas on CD they were blurred and the lighter ones inaudible).

For Wagnerians and Szell fans I think this SACD is worth getting as a supplement to the normal CD - I will of course retain the CDs as the SACD cannot be played elsewhere like the car changer.

Szell and Karajan were freinds!!!.......2004-06-07

In a recent bio on Karajan I was surprised to read the two were very good freinds and shared a alot in common. They also had similar approaches to orchestral sonority...

Suprisingly enough the approach to the Wagner here is very alike Herbert in some regards...I like the way Szell approaches the music in a more intense approach.

Karajan did get to do the Ring...but alas we may get to hear Szell with the Met from the 40s which some believe does exist in archive. As to the playing this is the finest Wagner record of exerpts out there.

It surpasses Herbert's any day!!!

The wonderful thing is how Cleveland is so transparent in it's textures...not as unlike Klemperer as one would think!!!

A classic Szell recording beautifully restored.......2002-01-25

There is very little to add to the excellent preceding review on this recording. I would just add an observation that the DSD transfer onto SACD brings a far greater level of realism and transparency as compared to the original LP or any subsequent CD transfer. We get as close as we likely ever will to hearing Szell's original intentions in the studio, which were obscured by Columbia's notoriously poor transfers of the original reel-to-reel master tape onto LP. In those days Columbia would artificially boost the mid-range on a recording to make it sound better on mediocre equipment -- not exactly an audiophile technique! This DSD transfer, by contrast, is untampered electronically, not even by noise reduction, which is also notorious for robbing analogue recordings from this vintage of their ambience and warmth. The result is a small amount of tape hiss, which I will gladly accept to be given the chance to hear what Szell and his fabulous Clevelanders actually recorded.

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Cerquetti's Abigaille
Good soloists, mediocre chorus, mono recording
Blistering Vocalism
Glorious Cerquetti in very good Nabucco
Verdi at the most exciting way!

Nabucco [Highlights]

Manufacturer: Gala
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Cherubini: Gli Abencerragi
Verdi: La Traviata (complete opera live 1955) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Carlo Maria Giulini, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan

ASIN: B000001XMU
Release Date: 2000-06-06

Tracks:

Nabucco: Part One - Introduzione
Nabucco: Part One - Recitativo e cavatina
Nabucco: Part One - 'D'Egitto la sui lidi'
Nabucco: Part One - 'Qual rumore?'
Nabucco: Part One - 'Come notte a sol fulgente'
Nabucco: Part One - 'Guerrieri e presto il Tempio'
Nabucco: Part One - 'Io t'amava!'
Nabucco: Part One - Corco - 'Lo vedeste?'
Nabucco: Part One - 'Finale ''Viva Nabucco!'
Nabucco: Part One - 'Che tenti?'
Nabucco: Part One - 'Tremin gl'insani del mio furore'
Nabucco: Part One - O vinti'
Nabucco: Part One - 'Mio furore'
Nabucco: Part Two, Scene One - Scena ed aria
Nabucco: Part Two, Scene One - Anch'io dischiuso un giorno'
Nabucco: Part Two, Scene One - 'Chi s'avanza'
Nabucco: Part Two, Scene One - 'Salgo gia deltrono aurato'
Nabucco: Part Three, Scene One - 'Donna,chi sei?'
Nabucco: Part Three, Scene One - 'Oh,Di qual'onta aggravasi'
Nabucco: Part Three, Scene One - 'Ah, qual suon!'
Nabucco: Part Three, Scene One - 'Deh, Perdona'
Nabucco: Part Three, Scene Two - Coro e profezia (Introduczione - Introduction)
Nabucco: Part Four, Scene One - 'Dio Di Giuda'
Nabucco: Part Four, Scene One - 'Porta fatale, or t'apriral!'
Nabucco: Part Four, Scene One - 'Cadran, cadranno i perfidi'
Nabucco: Part Four, Scene Two - Finale ultimo 'Oh,dischiuso e il firmento'
Nabucco: Part Four, Scene Two - 'Ah, torna Ieraello'
Nabucco: Part Four, Scene Two - 'Immenso jeovha

Customer Reviews:

Cerquetti's Abigaille.......2003-09-06

First off, it should be known to the potential buyer that these are HIGHLIGHTS only. The mono sound is acceptable. Orchestra and chorus are average at best. The focus clearly is on Anita Cerquetti and her rendition of Abigaille. Even though in the booklet listing of tracks her name is omitted on the last cue point. I never heard this singer live. My first encounter with her voice was the studio GIOCONDA with del Monaco and Simionato and I liked it very much. As Abigaille I find her less convincing. The voice is beautiful and even. But she cannot convey Abigaille's high flying ambitions. She sounds noble most of the time. Never aggressive or infuriated or spiteful or menacing. Her repentance/dying scene is superficial. Which makes me wonder how often Miss Cerquetti may have had the chance to sing this role during her brief career and develop a feeling for it. At times she unexpectedly breaks a phrase to catch her breath, which I find somewhat irritating. And some climax seem "rushed". It's also a bit disappointing to me that the "Salgo gia" cabaletta gets no repeat. Guess such were the customs in those years, even for concert performances. I am pleased with Messrs. Dondi (in the title role) and Trama. Aside from their vocal qualities I find them very much in character. Also the singers of Fenena and Ismaele made me prick up my ears. Taken all in all, it's worthwhile to have this document. It will nicely supplement your studio NABUCCO. It's been a guilty pleasure of mine to compare Anita Cerquetti to Elena Suliotis and Dino Dondi to Tito Gobbi. And I wish that one day the Metropolitan Opera's NABUCCO with Leonie Rysanek under the baton of Thomas Schippers will appear on CD.

Good soloists, mediocre chorus, mono recording.......2002-10-24

The soloists are very good, but the chorus (key in this opera) is not on the same level. "Va Pensiero", the famous chorus piece, is very weakly done. The mono recording is only just adequate, OK for the soloists but flat and dull for stage presence and orchestration.

Blistering Vocalism.......2001-02-23

I first heard this rare pearl over 20 years ago on some faded third-generation cassette. Despite the dim sonics, I was thrilled to hear a diva who could actually negotiate the scorching roulades of Abigaille's music while still sounding like a singer and not some wounded forest creature howling in pain. Apart from Callas' live performance, we've had precious little to celebrate in recorded Abigailles. Sure, Scotto lit a few fires with her EMI pressing, but who wouldn't with a microphone clenched betweeen her teeth and the volume control nailed in place at the top of the control panel? For Heaven's sake, most of the current generation of half-wit dimpled divettes and "sound-enhanced" melody muffins could come off like an Abigaille with the right studio wizards calling the shots.

Cerquetti was the REAL thing. Like Margharita Roberti (listen to her in Christoff's ATTILA recording), Caterina Mancini and Fedora Barbieri, she came from a school of barnstormers who could shake the foundations of San Carlo or La Scala with truly schooled, crafted voices that emanated from the viscera and not the top of the larynx. Cerquetti was one of the Queens of Can Belto, and this new release in great sound is one of the treasures among re-releases of the past decade. I cast aside all conservatory terminology and call this type of performance a ripsnorter for the ages. With Callas, Cerquetti, and Dimitrova on disc, and the rare likes of Linda Roark-Strummer performing the role onstage, the other studio bunnies can turn their attention to gentler repertoire and give the rest of us a break.

Glorious Cerquetti in very good Nabucco.......2000-07-19

With the exception of the famous Hebrew's choir 'Va pensiero', the number of recordings of 'Nabucco' is notably low. One possible reason is the extraordinary vocal demand of the female leading role, King Nabucco's daughter Abigaille. Very few sopranos have succeeded with this difficult role: Maria Callas, Elena Suliotis, Renata Scotto, Ghena Dimitrova (arguably the best). Now we have a live recording of the great Italian soprano Anita Cerquetti, and she is probably so good as Dimitrova. Cerquetti was one of the greatest sopranos of the century, although she had an astonishingly short carreer (she retired at the age of 30!). Most of her (scarce) recordings are live performances, so having any single piece of recording of her extraordinary voice is a real must. This Nabucco was one of the last documents of her operatic carreer, and here she sounds so splendid that it remains a mystery why she decided to give up singing so soon afterwards. The rest of the cast is very good, especially the bass Ugo Trama as the High Priest Zaccaria. Dino Dondi is a good Nabucco, but his interpretation of the title role is not a reference. The orchestra sounds well, and the choir efficiently provides the necessary support. The quality of sound is good for the time (1960). To Summarize: This incredibly low priced recording has an adequate combination of the elements needed for a good Nabucco: A very good choir, an excellent bass (Trama), a good baritone (Dondi) and a star of stars as princess Abigail: the great soprano Anita Cerquetti. Enjoy it!

Verdi at the most exciting way!.......2000-01-05

You have to buy this recording! Cerquetti is our and Verdi's dreams Abigaille! If you really are an opera fan or have any concern about Verdi you need this recording. Go for it!

Northern Highlights: The Ultimate Finnish Orchestral Favourites

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Northern Highlights: The Ultimate Finnish Orchestral Favourites

Manufacturer: Ondine
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00005MIXZ
Release Date: 2001-09-25

Tracks:

Prld, Op.7 - Helsinki PO/Leif Segerstam
Festive March - Helsinki PO/Leif Segerstam
Ste Mignonne, Op.98a: I Petite Scene - Tapiola Sinf/Tuomas Ollila
Ste Mignonne, Op.98a: II Polka - Tapiola Sinf/Tuomas Ollila
Ste Mignonne, Op.98a: III Epilogue - Tapiola Sinf/Tuomas Ollila
Presto - Tapiola Sinf/Tuomas Ollila
Valse Triste - Tampere PO/Tuomas Ollila
Finlandia, Op.26/7 - Finnish Nat Opr Chor
Ste: I Presto - Ostrobothnian CO/Juha Kangas
Ste: II Andante - Ostrobothnian CO/Juha Kangas
Ste: III Vivace Assai (Alla Giga) - Ostrobothnian CO/Juha Kangas
Ov - Tampere PO/Eri Klas
Masquerade In A Chinese Garden - Tampere PO/Eri Klas
Rumba - Tampere PO/Eri Klas
The Great Wall Of China: March A La Shostakovich - Tampere PO/Eri Klas
Karelian Rhap, Op.15 - Finnish RSO/Sakari Oramo

Opera Highlights : Great Recordings of the Century

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Opera Highlights : Great Recordings of the Century

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B0007OC03O

Product Description

Recordings: 1. Mozart: Cosi Fan Tutte, Act 1: Finale: Dove son? Che loco e questo?...Dammi un bacio, o mio tesoro (6:21) 2. Mozart: Die Zauberflote, Act 1: Quintet: Hm!hm!hm!hm! (6:43) 3. Beethoven: Fidelio, Act 1: Quartet: Mir ist so wunderbar (4:39) 4. Wagner: Der Fliegende Hollander, Act 2: Senta's Ballad: Johohohe! Johohohe! (8:30) 5. Wagner: Lohengrin, Act 3: Lohengrin's narration: In fernem Land (6:14) 6. Bizet: Carmen, Act 1: Seguedille et Duo: Pres des ramparts de Seville (5:01) 7. Verdi: Don Carlo, Act 3: Gran finale: Spuntato ecco il di d'esultanza (8:10) 8. Mascagni: L'Amico Fritz, Act 2: Cherry Duet: Suzel, buon di!...Tutto tace (8:40) 9. Lehar: Die Lustige Witwe, Act 2: Nun laBt uns aber wie daheim...Es lebt' eine Vilja (5:14) 10. Strauss: Capriccio, Conclusion: Morgen mittag um elf! (15:38)

Tchaikovsky: Queen of Spades (Highlights)

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Magnificent performance...Russian singing at its best !

Tchaikovsky: Queen of Spades (Highlights)

Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000067UNY
Release Date: 2002-06-25

Tracks:

The Queen Of Spades: Prelude - Philharmonia Of Russia
The Queen Of Spades: I Do Not Know Her Name - Sergej Larin
The Queen Of Spades: One Day At Versailles (Tri Karty) - Vassily Gerello
The Queen Of Spades: I'll Sing For You - Marina Domashenko
The Queen Of Spades: Why These Tears - Sergej Larin
The Queen Of Spades: Forgive Me, Heavenly Creature - Sergej Larin
The Queen Of Spades: You Are So Sad... I Love You - Dmitri Hvorostovsky
The Queen Of Spades: Oh, How I Detest Today's World - Elena Obraztsova
The Queen Of Spades: Do Not Be Frightened - Sergej Larin
The Queen Of Spades: Poor Thing! What An Abyss - Sergej Larin
The Queen Of Spades: I Am So Frightened - Elena Obraztsova
The Queen Of Spades: Midnight Is Near - Elena Prokina
The Queen Of Spades: What If The Clock Chimes - Sergej Larin
The Queen Of Spades: We Will Drink And Be Happy - Spiritual Revival Choir Of Russia
The Queen Of Spades: If Sweet Maidens - Vassily Gerello
The Queen Of Spades: What Is Our Life? - Dmitri Hvorostovsky

Customer Reviews:

Magnificent performance...Russian singing at its best !.......2004-05-14

When looking for a highlights cd of Tchaikovsky's second most popular opera, I came across this excellent performance. The singing is the main draw here with Larin, Hvorostovsky, and Prokina setting the standard for their roles. Obratsova too delivers a fine performance in her big aria, and Tomsky and Domashenko round out an unequaled team. These wonderful voices are slightly forward balanced but this is a minor complaint when the singing is so magnificent. Orbelian conducts with sensitivity and the chorus is excellent. My only regret is not buying to complete performance, but this cd packs a full 78 minutes of pure pleasure...highly recommended

The Mikado: Highlights From The English National Opera Production

Average customer rating:

Slight disputation here
Eric Idle is a Great Ko-Ko
Ah..
This is NOT faithful to the original

The Mikado: Highlights From The English National Opera Production
Arthur Sullivan
Manufacturer: Madacy Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tracks:

If You Want To Know Who We Are - Richard Angas/Bonaventura Bottone/Eric Idle/Richard Van Allen/Mark Richardson
A Wandering Minstrel, I - Bonaventura Bottone/Richard Angas/Eric Idle/Richard Van Allen/Mark Richardson
Our Great Mikado - Mark Richardson/Richard Angas/Bonaventura Bottone/Eric Idle/Richard Van Allen
Young Man, Despair - Richard Van Allan/Bonaventura Bottone/Mark Richardson
Behold The Lord, High Executioner! - Richard Angas/Bonaventura Bottone/Eric Idle/Richard Van Allen/Mark Richardson
I've Got A Little List - Eric Idle/Richard Angas/Bonaventura Bottone/Richard Van Allen/Mark Richardson
Three Little Maids - Lesley Garrett/Jean Rigby/Susan Bullock
Braid The Raven Hair - Jean Rigby/Felicity Palmer/Susan Bullock
The Sun, Whose Rays - Lesley Garrett
The Flowers That Bloom In The Spring - Bonaventura Bottone/Eric Idle/Lesley Garrett/Jean Rigby/Richard Van Allan
On a Tree By A River ('Tit Willow') - Eric Idle/Felicity Palmer
There Is Beauty In The Bellow Of The Blast - Eric Idle/Felicity Palmer

Customer Reviews:

Slight disputation here.......2000-11-25

I liked this production, though I like a traditional one better. And as far as "how the opera was meant to be performed", the comic patter role was generally not performed by an opera singer in the old days, but by a comic actor who could sing. Idle sings well enough (barely).

Personally, I didn't care for some aspects of the 1982 PBS/BBC Mikado. The Nanki-Poo sang well, but was badly made up and being a full head taller than anyone else came off rather Karlovian, in my not so humble opinion.

I have not yet seen nor heard a perfect Mikado.

Eric Idle is a Great Ko-Ko.......2000-04-15

While Eric Idle does not have an operatic voice, he is a perfectly capable singer. As for "ad-libbing," believe me, he did not. He re-wrote "I've got a little list" to be topical for the time (I lived in England at the time, the and song was hilarious when taken in context.) As I understand it, the "patter song" ("I've got a little list," "The Major-General's song" "Love Unrequited Robs Me Of My Rest" etc.) in each Gilbert and Sullivan song was frequently rewritten to make it topical for the time. The production was directed by Miller, and was set in the roaring 20's. It worked.

Ah.........2000-01-19

Steve- this Operetta can be found almost anywhere. You need to look in the classical music/opera section of your local music store- under Sullivan...get a recording done by an opera company with opera singers- that is the way this piece was ment to be performed.

This is NOT faithful to the original.......2000-01-03

I became interested in "The Mikado" around age 12 when I viewed an excellent production on PBS. I had a poor taped copy of the music for many years. I purchased this CD with much anticipation as I had been unable to find this music elsewhere on CD. My first listen was so dissappointing! First, Eric Idle is great as a Python, but not as the Lord High Executioner. He does not have a singing voice and he lent entirely too much unprofessionalism to this production. Most distressing was the ad lib on "I've Got a Little List". There were too many references to modern situations rather than those which were written by Gilbert and Sullivan. Additionally, there is some use of vulgar language in this production which was totally unnecessary. IF you are interested in more modern interpretations of Gilbert and Sullivan, then this may interest you. But this particular production is not for the purist. There is really no need to make changes to Gilbert and Sullivan; their wit and melodies stand the test of time and offer us a window into the society and politics of Victorian England.

La Scala di Toscanini: Great Singers in Original Roles

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La Scala di Toscanini: Great Singers in Original Roles

Manufacturer: Grammofono 2000
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B0007XOTTI

Product Description

1. Donizetti: Don Pasquale, Overture - Arturo Toscanini ~~~ 2. Verdi: Falstaff - Mariano Stabile ~~~ 3. Verdi: Rigoletto - Giacomo Lauri-Volpi ~~~ 4. Verdi: Rigoletto - Carlo Galeffi ~~~ 5. Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor - Toti Dal Monte ~~~ 6. Boito: Mefistofele - Nazzareno De Angelis ~~~ 7. Boito: Nerone - Marcel Journet ~~~ 8. Verdi: Aida - Ezio Pinza ~~~ 9. Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor - Riccardo Stracciari ~~~ 10. Verdi: Aida - Aureliano Pertile ~~~ 11. Verdi: Rigoletto - Miguel Fleta ~~~ 12. Puccini: Madama Butterfly - Rosetta Pampanini ~~~ 13. Verdi: La Traviata - Claudia Muzio ~~~ 14. Verdi: Don Carlo - Tancredi Pasero ~~~ 15. Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana - Francesco Merli ~~~ 16. Verdi: La Forza del Destino - Scacciati, Merli, Pasero ~~~

The Essential Collection: Great Classical Highlights

Average customer rating:

The Essential Collection: Great Classical Highlights

Manufacturer: West End
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | 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

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000N4SM5I
Release Date: 2007-04-17

Tracks:

Overture - Emil Tchakarov
Traumerai - Martin Jones
Pizzicati - The European Philharmonic Orchestra
Adagio In G Minor For Organ And Strings - Jose Serebrier
Waltz Of The Flowers - The USSR State Symphony Orchestra
Clair De Lune No.3 - Richard Tilling
Hungarian Dance No.5 In G Minor - Georg Fischer
Andante - John Lubbock
The Ride Of The Valkyries - The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Sonata In G Major, L.79 (Kk.391) - Alice Artzt
Largo - Sir John Barbirolli
Allegro Molto Moderato (1st Movement) - The European Philharmonic Orchestra
Va Pensiero (Chorus Of The Hebrew Slaves) - Rouslan Raichev
Toccata And Fugue In D Minor For Organ, BWV.565 - Alain Herist
Mars, The Bringer Of War No.1 - The London Philharmonic Orchestra
Moment Musical No.3 In F Minor, D.780 - Richard Tilling
Overture - The USSR State Symphony Orchestra
Italian Polka (Polka Italienne) - Martin Jones
Andante Molto Mosso (2nd Movement) - Hans Swarowsky
Pomp And Circumstance March No.1 In D Major, Op.39 - The Marine Concert Band

Tracks:

The Hebrides Overture, Op.26 - The Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring No.10 - Richard Tilling
Allegro (1st Movement) - Vassil Kazandjiev
18th Variation - Vassil Stefanov
Blue Danube, Waltz, Op.314 ('An Der Schonen, Blauen Donau') - The Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Pavane, Op.50 - Nicolas Flagello
Allegro Non Troppo E Molto Maestoso (1st Movement) - Vassil Stefanov
Bolero - The New Philharmonia Orchestra
Minute Waltz - Martin Jones
Allegro Con Brio (1st Movement) - The South Western German Symphony Orchestra
Adagio (2nd Movement) - Alexander Greigorov
Che Gelida Manina ('Your Tiny Hand Is Frozen') - Ivan Marinov
William Tell Overture - Rouslan Raichev
Fantasy Overture 'Romeo & Juliet' (Love Theme) - The London Philharmonic Orchestra
Largo Ma Non Tanto (2nd Movement) - Vassil Kazandjiev
Polovtsian Dances - Dobrin Petkov
Adagio Sostenuto (1st Movement) - Robert Matthew-Walker
Spring - Vassil Kazandjiev

Purcell - King Arthur / Les Arts Florissants · Christie [Highlights]

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Sheer and utter beauty
One of the best baroque performances on disc

Purcell - King Arthur / Les Arts Florissants · Christie [Highlights]
Henry Purcell , Les Arts Florissants , William Christie , Claron McFadden , Véronique Gens , Sandrine Piau , Susannah Waters , Mark Padmore , Iain Paton , Jonathan Best , Petteri Salomaa , and François Bazola
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000005E53
Release Date: 1997-08-19

Tracks:

Ov - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
Air - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
Act One: 'Woden, First To Thee' - Petteri Salomaa/Anha Bolkow/Anne Cambier/Mhairi Lawson/Violaine Lucas/Anne Mopin...
Act One: 'Come If You Dare' - Lain Paton/Anha Bolkow/Anne Cambier/Mhairi Lawson/Violaine Lucas/Anne Mopin/Brigitt Pelote...
Act Two: 'Hither, This Way, This Way Bend' - Claron McFadden/Chor Of The Spirits Of Philidel And Grimbald)
Act Two: 'How Blest Are Shepherds' - Lain Paton/Anha Bolkow/Anne Cambier/Mhairi Lawson/Violaine Lucas/Anne Mopin/Brigitt Pelote...
Act Two: 'Shepherd, Shepherd, Leave Decoying' - Sandrine Piau, Veronique Gens
Act Two: 'Come, Shepherds, Lead Up A Lively Measure' - Anha Bolkow/Anne Cambier/Mhairi Lawson/Violaine Lucas/Anne Mopin/Brigitt Pelote/Valerie Picard...
Act Three: Prld - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
Act Three: 'What Ho! Thou Genius Of This Isle' - Susannah Waters
Act Three: 'Prld: While The Cold Genius Rises'/'What Power Art Thou' - Petteri Salomaa
Act Three: 'Thou Doting Fool' - Susannah Waters
Act Three: 'Great Love, I Know Thee Now' - Petteri Salomaa
Act Three: 'No Part Of My Dominon' - Susannah Waters
Act Three: Prld - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
Act Three: 'See, See, We Assemble' - Anha Bolkow/Anne Cambier/Mhairi Lawson/Violaine Lucas/Anne Mopin/Brigitt Pelote/Valerie Picard...
Act Three: 'Tis I That Have Warm'd Ye' - Susannah Waters
Act Three: 'Sound A Parley' - Susannah Waters/Petteri Salomaa
Act Three: 'Third Act Tune: Hornpipe' - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
Act Four: 'Two Daughters Of This Aged Stream Are We' - Sandrine Piau/Claron McFadden
Act Four: Passacaglia 'How Happy The Lover'/Ritornello 'For Love Every Creature'/'In Vain...'... - Mark Padmore/Anha Bolkow/Anne Cambier/Mhairi Lawson/Violaine Lucas/Anne Mopin/Brigitt Pelote...
Act Five: 'Tpt Tune' - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
Act Five: 'Ye Blust' Ring Brethren Of The Skies' - Petteri Salomaa
Act Five: Sym - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
Act Five: 'Your Hay It Is Mow'd' - Petteri Salomaa And Chor Of Basses Including Gentlemen Of The Orch)
Act Five: 'Fairest Isle' - Veronique Gens
Act Five: 'Our Natives Not Alone Appear' - Anha Bolkow/Anne Cambier/Mhairi Lawson/Violaine Lucas/Anne Mopin/Brigitt Pelote/Valerie Picard...
Act Five: Chaconne - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie

Customer Reviews:

Sheer and utter beauty.......2002-07-09

As I always state, I am a Purcell worshipper. His harmonies, counterpoint, and text underlay are absolutely unique and wonderful. I second what was said in another review. Get the complete work if you can. However, this highlights disk is awfully fine listening.

Track 4 "Come if You Dare" is stunning in its energy and fun. It is almost unfair to single out any track because the excitement is everywhere in this performance.

Track 6 "How Blest Are Shepherds" is especially nice Purcell style lyric beauty.

Well, I could say something nice about every track. The point is - this is a treasure and should be in your collection (but go for the complete version of this same performance if you can).

One of the best baroque performances on disc.......1999-03-11

I guess, if you're unsure whether you will like this kind of music you may decide to try a "highlights" recording. I'd encourage you, however, to buy the entire thing. When it comes to Les Arts Florissants, you can't go wrong. As with many other Les Arts Florissants recordings, this one followed a live production, and it shows: the vocal and orchestral characterization of the music is all the more expressive and meaningful. King Arthur, like most other Purcell's "operas," is a combination of spoken drama and "incidental music" to accompany it. Les Arts Florissants presented the entire four-hour spectacle on stage, but committed to disc only the musical part. Yet, even without the spoken word, every scene feels complete. Especially memorable are the scene of sacrifice in the first act, the famous scene of the Cold Genius (wonderfully sung by Petteri Salomaa); and the succession of vocal numbers in the fifth act, including "The Fairest Isle" (in which Veronique Gens simply shines) and the incredible ATB trio "For Folded Flocks" (Padmore, Paton, Best). Incidentally, here as elsewhere, Christie adopts a lower pitch of a' 392 Hz in order to enable high tenors (hautes-contre) to sing alto parts. This has become Christie's signature practice, and it is perfectly borne out by the latest scientific research into authentic baroque performance methods. This recording won a major Gramophone award in 1995, a very deserved recognition of excellence!

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