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The #1 Opera Album

by: Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi, Léo Delibes, Georges Bizet, Umberto Giordano, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Richard Wagner, Gioachino Rossini, Alfredo Catalani, Jacques Offenbach, Ruggiero Leoncavallo, Charles Gounod, Gaetano Donizetti, Pietro Mascagni, Antonin Dvorak, Richard Bonynge, Herbert von Karajan, Alberto Erede, Lamberto Gardelli, Giuseppe Patane, John Mauceri, Zubin Mehta, Charles Dutoit, Gyorgy Fischer, Riccardo Chailly, Istvan Kertesz, Leone Magiera, Evelino Pido, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Renée Fleming, Cecilia Bartoli, Luciano Pavarotti, Jussi Bjorling, Renata Tebaldi

February 27, 2001
I heard this CD on a PBS pledge drive (it was a premium) and found myself loving every cut on it! I was in my car and just wanted to keep on driving and listening. This is by far my most-played CD - I've had to make it a weekend only listen to prevent getting burned out on it. HIGHLY recommend it. Even if you are unfamiliar with some of the pieces, you will quickly learn to love them. . . . I must end this review - I'm off to listen to the "flower duet" for the 100th time. . .

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Sogno

by: B. / Cogliati, D. Zambrini, Tullio / Servillo, Giuseppe Ferro, Patrick / Servillo, Giuseppe Abrial, Ennio / Bardotti, S. Morricone, Ennio / Quarantotto, Lucio Morricone, Mauro / Bocelli, Andrea Malavasi, Guido Corti, Eros Ramazzotti, Cecilia Chailly

March 30, 1999
Great to listen to when trying to relax. I listen to it at work and after work too. It eases the tension. He is an amazing artist, singer. My wife enjoys this as well.

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The Ultimate Puccini Collection

by: Giacomo Puccini, Herbert von Karajan, Riccardo Chailly, Stephen Barlow, Tullio Serafin, Lorin Maazel, Sir Edward Downes, Giuseppe Patane, Zubin Mehta, Alberto Erede, John Mauceri, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Kiri Te Kanawa, John Alldis Choir, Luciano Pavarotti, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bologna Community Theater Orchestra, Ettore Bastianini, Carlo Bergonzi, Renato Cesari, Fernando Corena, Cesare Siepi, Renata Tebaldi, Gianna D'Angelo, Saint Cecilia Academy Orchestra, Franco Corelli, Alfredo Mariotti, Regine Crespin, Royal Opera House Orchestra Covent Garden, London Symphony Orchestra, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra, Rome Opera House Orchestra, Pilar Lorengar, Berlin Philharmonic Brass Ensemble, Mirella Freni, Rolando Panerai, Jussi Bjorling, Leontyne Price, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

June 09, 1998
"Quando m'en vo" is not omitted from this CD; it is just called "Musetta's waltz song." It is the same aria.

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Pavarotti: Greatest Hits

from: Decca

September 30, 1997
I love this music. Great for long drives when stations fade in and out. Pavarotti's best!!!

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Cecilia Bartoli - A Portrait

by: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Gioachino Rossini, Giulio Caccini, Guiseppe Giordani, Alessandro Parisotti, Ion Marin, Christopher Hogwood, Riccardo Chailly, György Fischer, Lesley Schatzberger, Cecilia Bartoli, The Academy of Ancient Music

September 19, 1995
The greatness in art lies in its flexibility and Bartoli exemplifies this greatness in everything she sings! Bartoli reveals different things at different times. In the world of opera Bartoli stands at the summit of achievement, her work is so perfect, so inspired and heartfelt, so gloriously engaging that it is almost impossible to do it violence. She is, of course, frequently staged and as a result has been at the mercy of numerous operatic fads. Yet Bartoli has faced such slings and arrows bravely. Bartoli's effusive Susanna forced audiences to consider the opera with her at its center. Her chemistry as Susanna is explosive. Bartoli's roles and characterizations must never be minimized. Thanks to her unusual exuberance, Bartoli is reveling ... Read More:

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Rossini - La Cenerentola / Bartoli, Dara, Matteuzzi, Corbelli, Pertusi, Chailly

by: Gioachino Rossini, Riccardo Chailly, Cecilia Bartoli, William Matteuzzi, Michele Pertusi, Gloria Banditelli

October 12, 1993
Even though this is probably the most famous and easiest-to-find "Cenerentola" recording, it was one of the later ones I heard. I'm glad I finally did get around to hearing it, though. Apart from a few flaws, it completely lives up to its great reputation.

Cecilia Bartoli proves why she's the most famous Cenerentola of today. Her rich and warm yet youthful mezzo and effortless coloratura are perfect for the role; she's probably just the kind of singer Rossini had in mind. On the same level are Alessandro Corbelli's rich voiced, exuberant Dandini and Michele Pertusi's magnificent Alidoro. Enzo Dara may be slightly past his vocal prime as Don Magnifico, but his bass is still resonant and agile and he makes the most of the role. As for ... Read More:

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Midnight Adagios

from: Decca

May 13, 2003
"Midnight Adagios" advertises itself as featuring "over two-and-a-half hours of the world's most relaxing music" and while it is beautiful music it is not particularly relaxing. The dynamic changes from track to track--something I find in all musical compilations from disparate sources--are too great. I constantly have to fiddle with the volume control when going from track to track. For instance, on CD 2 of this two-CD set, if I get the volume just right for track 1, Bach's "Air on a G String," then track 2 (Debussy's "Clair de Lune") is almost completely inaudible.

'Adagio' means 'at ease' or 'slow'--somewhere in between 'largo' and 'andante'--but it doesn't necessarily mean 'soft.' There are a few forte movements on both CDs that ... Read More:

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The Greatest Opera Show on Earth

from: Polygram Records

September 16, 1997
I just bought my second copy of this excellent CD because I literally wore the first one out. No matter how I feel before I play this music, I feel joy whenever I listen to it. Highly recommended to beginners and the more experienced opera listeners as well.

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The #1 Soprano Album

from: Decca

April 09, 2002
I bought that 2-CD set only for the extraordinary performance of Adele's "Laughing Song" ("Mein Herr Marquis") by Edita Gruberova. It is highly surprising (and inexcusable IMO) that a great label as Universal/Decca wrongly gives it to Kiri Te Kanawa, and that another great company (amazon) relays that big error on this site; the recording is quite recognizable (Gruberova can't be confused with anyone; and at her final, you can't confuse the particular audience of that live performance unable to refrain from blowing their stunning and applause before end), and you can check J. Strauss - Die Fledermaus / Te Kanawa, Gruberova, Fassbaender, Bär, Wiener Philharmoniker, Previn and search it, 1st for "Gruberova", 2nd for "Kanawa".

Another track is, ... Read More:

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Operamania (Box Set)

from: Mca Import

October 29, 2002
First rate selections, performed by first rate musicians.
Here are some of the most haunting melodies ever created.