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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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Mascagni - Cavalleria rusticana / de Los Angeles · Corelli · Santini ~ Leoncavallo - Pagliacci / Corelli · Gobbi · Amara · von Matacic

by: Angelo Mercuriali, Franco Piva, Mario Spina, Mario Zanasi, Rome Opera Orchestra, La Scala Theater Orchestra

November 05, 2002
This set of Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci has been assembled for Franco Corelli, as he stars in both. The set is recommended to listen to Corelli in controlled studio conditions, without background noise or the like, in two of his major roles. As it is well known by everyone who knows his singing, where other tenors struggle to solve the technical problems, he has taken a huge leap forward, using his technique for nuanced, meaningful interpretation. These recordings are very typical of his masterful art.

The conducting, choruses, orchestras, and the other singers are excellent: much care has obviously been taken to create two exquisite big pictures.

Victoria de Los Angeles is a very light lyric soprano, but the ... Read More:

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Sentimento: Andrea Bocelli with Lorin Maazel and the London Symphony Orchestra [Limited Edition w/ Bonus Track]

by: Andrea Bocelli, Joaquin Rodrigo, Ruggiero Leoncavallo, Jacques Offenbach, Francesco Paolo Tosti, Gioachino Rossini, Johann Paul Aegidius Martini, Stanislao Gastaldon, Luigi Denza, Stefano Donaudy, Lorin Maazel

November 05, 2002
"What I crave most, what I hope to achieve is to communicate with the listeners, to touch them in the same way that I was touched as a child by my favorite singers who made me cry and made me dream." ~ Andrea Bocelli ~

"May the pleasure we all have had in embarking on this new venture be shared by those who listen." ~ Lorin Maazel, Conductor ~

I classify the CDs from my collection into three major categories:
1. Closest to my heart
2. Closer to my heart
3. Close to my heart

This CD, "Sentimento," definitely falls into the number one category for its many musical qualities. I'm particularly drawn to it because of three of my all-time classical favorites: Franz Liszt's "Liebestraum" (Sogno D'Amore), ... Read More:

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Carlo Bergonzi - The Sublime Voice ~ 40 Tracks from the Legendary Tenor

by: Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, Ruggiero Leoncavallo, Pietro Mascagni, Amilcare Ponchielli, Tullio Serafin, Herbert von Karajan, Georg Solti, Rafael Kubelik, Nello Santi, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Lamberto Gardelli, Sir John Pritchard, Carlo Bergonzi, Renata Tebaldi, Ettore Bastianini, Fiorenza Cossotto, Enzo Sordello, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Tugomir Franc, Renata Scotto, Libero Arbace, Fernando Corena, Birgit Nilsson, Giulietta Simionato, Sylvia Stahlman, Joan Sutherland, Dora Carral, Piero de Palma

June 12, 2001
Wow! What a voice! This 2 CD set features 40 of Carlo Bergonzi's works. It represents a remarkable portrait of his body of work. The "liner notes" observe that he had a reputation "as a singer of rare refinement, exemplary style, and impeccable taste. . . ."

Some examples of his work:

"Che gelida manina": This exquisite work from Puccini's "La Boheme" is superbly sung. There is, to be sure, an occasional affectation, but his rich, smooth voice renders this a trifling concern. Listen to the power and richness of his voice on such words as "millionaria," "forziere," and "la speranza" (hope I came close to spelling the words right!). What a lustrous voice. . . .

"O soave fanciulla": This duet with Renata Tebaldi ... Read More:

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Maria Callas: La Divina 3

by: Tito Gobbi, Giuseppe di Stefano, Nicolai Gedda, London Philharmonic Orchestra, La Scala Theatre Orchestra, Conservatory Concert Society Orchestra, Paris National Opera Theatre Orchestra

January 17, 1995
Maria Callas is an important singer in opera at mid-20th century. She helped fuel a renewed interest in bel canto, through her efforts in the works of Donizetti and Bellini--even thought she really had little of the classic coloratura soprano skills. But her personality, ability to create characters, and sheer will power made these operas work. Callas was not a great vocal technician; her singing, especially later on, had some ugly sounds. But her distinct voice was important in operatic history. Want a beautiful voice? Go for Mirella Freni or Anna Moffo. Want grit, character, and magic? Callas does nicely there. And until the latter part of her career, her voice was quite good.

Some illustrative cuts. The "Seguidilla" from "Carmen." She did ... Read More:

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Carreras · Domingo · Pavarotti ~ Favorite Arias by the World's Favorite Tenors

by: Giacomo Puccini, Gaetano Donizetti, Giuseppe Verdi, Umberto Giordano, Ruggiero Leoncavallo, Jules Massenet, Richard Strauss, Pietro Mascagni, Francesco Cilea, Eve Queler, Lorin Maazel, Emerson Buckley, Michael Tilson Thomas, Sir John Pritchard, Giuseppe Patane, Zubin Mehta, Leonard Bernstein, James Levine, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Ingvar Wixell

July 02, 1991
This album has got to be one of the best compilations in its genre. If you are into male opera singers, specifically tenors, then you should definitely buy this CD. Imagine their hearty expressive voices coming out of your home stereo system. It might make you cry! (in a good way)

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Leoncavallo - Pagliacci / Pavarotti · Dessì · Coni · Gavazzi · Muti

by: Ruggiero Leoncavallo, Riccardo Muti, Philharmonia Orchestra, Luciano Pavarotti, Daniela Dessì, Paolo Coni, Ernesto Gavazzi, Jonathon Boyd

April 13, 1993
This performance is great in every way apart from Dessi's Nedda. Her voice is strained in the upper registers, and this is really apparent in "Stridono lassu" where she has problems hitting the high notes clearly. The result is a rather rough performance all around. Pavarotti of course is in fine voice and sings "Vesti la giubba" beautifully. The supporting cast is excellent with some great work from the chorus. The orchestra under Muti plays well and the sound is excellent. It's a shame this recording doesn't have a stronger Nedda or it would definitely get 5 stars.

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Popular Songs - Beniamino Gigli (2 CDs) (EMI)

from: EMI

November 05, 2002
Beniamino Gigli (1890 - 1957) was one of the greatest all times tenors. He can be compared with Enrico Caruso, Tito Schipa or more recent late Luciano Pavarotti.
My grandmother told me of the commotion this tenor produced in Buenos Aires when performing in 1919. For her he was the greatest of all the tenors that sang at the Colon Opera Theater.

He was a major opera singer, but what Italian tenor could resist singing Neapolitan popular songs? No one. Least of all Mr. Gigli (even if he was born in a different province).
Here we are able to hear a complete selection of "canzzonetas", 46 of them nothing less!
Beniamino's open heart is here, in each song we can feel his soul flowing from his extraordinary voice.

I was looking ... Read More:

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Jussi Bjoerling: Opera Arias Great Recordings of the Centrury

by: Umberto Giordano

November 05, 2002
Björling tops most polls as "singer of the 20th century", and justly so. Whether one prefers his velvety,lyrically smooth voice of the 30s and 40s, or his more full-bodied, darker power-tenor of the late 50s (he was ready to take on Lohengrin and Otello just before his death), no other human voice has left a legacy of Björling's caliber in recording history.

This collection is a wonderful presentation of the young Björling. His voice was said to have a direct appeal to emotions. Listen to "Ch'ella mi creda libero" with its almost extraterrestial "lift" and try to keep the lump in your throat from growing!

The-37 "O Paradiso" is a fantastic display of power blended with beauty - which is also the case with the Tosca arias presented here.
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Leoncavallo: I Pagliacci / Muti, Tucker, Lorenzi

by: Ricardo Muti, Richard Tucker, Ermanno Lorenzi

November 17, 1998
SOURCE: Live performance from the Florence May Festival, May 1971.

SOUND: Opera d'Oro, as usual, is economical with details, but my guess is that this is a recorded broadcast, since the voices and orchestra are in even balance while the audience is fairly distant. The mono sound is hardly up to digital studio standards, but good enough to afford pleasure to anyone willing to listen sympathetically.

CAST: Canio, the chief player of a ragtag touring company - Richard Tucker (dramatic tenor); Nedda, the leading lady and a wife who strongly feels the urge to soar away - Mietta Sighele (soprano); Canio, a professional buffoon with a dark and cynical heart - Kari Nurmela (baritone); Beppe, the light-hearted harlequin who actually exhibits some common sense - Ermanno ... Read More: