Voleur de Feu [Import]

1. Tango

2. La Frontiere

3. Voleur De Feu

4. East Side Story

5. Midnight Shadows

6. Noir Et Blanc

7. Exterieur Nuit

8. Funambule

9. Gentilshommes De Fortune

10. Borinqueno

11. La Haine

12. Seigneur De Guerre

Voleur de Feu,Bernard Lavilliers,Universal/Polygram,France,French Pop,World Music

Average customer rating: The End of the Big Voice? Fla Gator Lady 20 Great Tenor Arias Plesantly surprised... Absolutely Agree About Corelli

Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco... Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Flotow | Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: The Most Famous Opera Duets The Most Famous Opera Arias The #1 Opera Album The Best of Italian Opera The Ultimate Puccini Collection ASIN: B000007OTX Release Date: 1998-06-09

Tracks:

1. La Boheme: Che gelida manina
2. Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai
3. Carmen Bizet: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee (Flower Song)
4. Luisa Miller: O! fede negar potessi .. Quando le sere al placido
5. La Traviata: Lunge da lei ... De' miei bollenti spiriti
6. Martha: M'appari
7. Giordano: Amor ti vieta
8. L'Africaine: Mi batte il cuor .. O paradiso
9. La Favorita: Favorita del re . . . Spirto gentil
10. Werther: 'Pourquoi me reveiller'
11. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: 'Morgenlich leuchtend in rosigem Schein'
12. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: O Dieu! De quelle ivresse
13. TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
14. Pagliacci: Recitar! ... Vesti la giubba
15. Il Trovatore: Di quella pira
16. Aida: Se quel guerrier .. Celeste Aida
17. TOSCA: Recondita armonia
18. L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
19. La Gioconda: Cielo e mar!
20. Turandot: Nessun dorma

Customer Reviews:

The End of the Big Voice?.......2007-04-16

This CD, which is truly fine overall, reminds me of Marilyn Horne's lament that we have probably seen the end of the big voice and it makes me sad. I agree with the reviewer who refers to "microphonies". And more justice could be done to Bjorling's voice with a better transfer. But at some point, music becomes a matter of taste and I prefers singers who have the instrument and the support and the training, whether formal or not, to just let fly and take a chance on making a mistake. Domingo can be wonderful and so can his musicianship but he tends to be so stiff. I have to wonder at the virulence and asperity with which some people go after Pavarotti. It's true that late in his career he made some questionable recordings but the answer to that is simple: don't buy them. At his best, he belongs for all time in the top echelon of tenors. I love this CD and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys great (big) voices.

Fla Gator Lady.......2007-01-12

Highly recommend this CD with these beloved arias of the greatest tenors in opera. I have owned this CD for a couple of years and purchased another for a friend who always requests that I play it ... perfect for listening in the car, dinner, bridge games, relaxation ... just so perfect. You won't be disappointed in this one.

20 Great Tenor Arias.......2007-01-09

A great disc,combination of the greatest tenors of the 20th century and some of the most beautiful music ever written in any century,a must addition to any opera lovers collection.

Plesantly surprised..........2006-01-14

I don't remember how I found this CD the other day surfing through the "Amazon" such as it is, but I did. I listened to a few clips provided & on the strength of that, I purchased this CD.

First it is a great buy. A booklet with pictures of each tenor, a small bio, the year recorded and TRANSLATIONS of each aria are provided. This is really nice. It seems more & more that translations are being left out. Being a former opera singer, I may know most of the words, but sometimes it's just nice to read along (sometimes it's just nice to listen too).

Being on the Decca label, there is admittedly quite a few Pavarotti selections. Out of 20 selections, he has 6 of them. But I love Pavarotti, so this is no problem for me. These are all early recordings & his voice is magnificent! Being a singer, I still marvel at his ability to sing "All'armi!" on a high D and still say the 2nd syllable "mi" on such a note! WOW. There is also of course his very sweet, impassioned and lyrical turn as Rodolfo in "La Boheme" as well as the lesser known (although I still have it on casette) "La Favorita" which has a particularly high tessitura.

Also featured are a young Plácido Domingo singing a VERY nice "Flower song/ La fleur que tu m'avais jetée" from Carmen. He usually sounds too pushed for me on the top notes (as one might expect from a Pavarotti fan, I like free top notes) but in this recording he is pretty darn fabulous. He also sings an aria from "Tales of Hoffman/Les Contes d'Hoffman" and I have always felt that he, like Neil Schicoff, were well suited to this role.

Lamentably there are only one selection each from Carreras, Correlli, Monaco, Aragall & Kollo. Especial kudos to the young recording they feature for Aragall. He had a very free and nice high tenor well suited to Verdi. Of course as his career went forward with the natural darkening of his voice and the "heavier" roles, he did start to develop a wobble. But this recording is before that. His top, his phrasing are all beautifully done in his featured aria from "La Traviata."
Mario del Monaco's "E lucevan le stelle" is hauntingly beautiful and has such a wonderful pianissimo in it that it makes you just want to gasp for beauty's sake. I now know every tenor I've heard sing this aria was trying to emulate what he did.

This is a great CD because it does bring together on one CD some of the greatest singers of the 20th/21st century. Bergonzi, di Stefano, Björling, in addition to the previously mentioned artists is quite an impressive collection. I'm sure there's only one of each for Carreras, Aragall (I believe they are formerly EMI/Angel artists) and perhaps some of the others because they are "imported" from another label. There's so much Pavarotti on this CD because he IS a Decca artist.

A highly recommended CD, affordable, not the usually obscure and unpolished artists that are sometimes found on compilations. Plus acutal linear notes and translations. Nicely done, Decca!!!

Absolutely Agree About Corelli.......2005-05-27

Franco Corelli's "Nessun Dorma" is still the best of them all - clear, passionate, and exciting. (And those final two notes...! Gives me chills just to think of it.) I was fortunate enough to see him live in both "Turandot" and "Romeo and Juliet" a year before his retirement, and he was still a Calaf and a Romeo to die for... as, of course, Liu and Juliet did! As it is, I tend to buy compilations depending on how much Corelli they include - though Bjorling is a strong second, and I have happy memories of Domingo. Long live the Golden Age of Operatic Tenors!

Average customer rating: Latter-day also-rans A well-sung compilation This cant be the best TRUE OPERA LOVERS CANNOT POSSIBLY LIKE THIS! Even if you Hate Complilations, Get This One

The Best Opera Album in the World...Ever! Manufacturer: Angel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Delibes, Léo | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Dvorák, Antonín | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Flotow | Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Allen, Thomas | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Paris Symphony Orchestra | ( P ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Czech | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Most Famous Opera Arias The #1 Opera Album The Most Famous Opera Duets The Best of Italian Opera Rapture: Opera's Most Heavenly Moments ASIN: B0000084JD Release Date: 1999-07-27

Tracks:

1. La Traviata: Libiamo Ne'lieti Calici (Brindisi) (Atto I) - Alfredo Kraus
2. Il Barbiere Di Siviglia: Largo Al Factotum (Atto I) - Thomas Hampton
3. La Boheme: Che Gelida Manina (Atto I) - Roberto Alagna
4. La Boheme: Si. Mi Chiamano Mimi (Atto I) - Mirella Freni
5. L'amico Fritz: Suzel, Bon Di (Cherry Duet) (First Part) (Atto II) - Bernard Haitink
6. Nabucco: Va, Pensiero (Chorus Of Hebrew Slaves) (Atto III) - Bernard Haitink
7. Rigoletto: La Donna E Mobile (Atto III) - Roberto Alagna
8. Lakme: Viens, Mallika (Flower Duet) (Acte I) - Mady Mesple
9. Gianni Schicchi: O Mio Babbino Caro - Victoria De Los Angeles
10. Tosca: Recondita Armonia (Atto I) - Placido Domingo
11. Tosca: Vissi D'arte (Atto II) - Maria Callas
12. Tosca: E Lucevan Le Stelle (Atto III) - Placido Domingo
13. Adriana Lecouvreur: Ecco: Respiro Appena ... Lo Son L'umile Ancella (Atto I) - Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
14. Les Pecheurs De Perles: Au Fond Du Temple Saint (Acte I) - Nicolai Gedda
15. Le Nozze Di Figaro: Non Piu Andrai (Atto I) - Thomas Allen
16. Le Nozze Di Figaro: Voi Che Sapete (Atto II) - Ann Murray
17. Le Nozze Di Figaro: E Susanna Non Vien!...Dove Sono (Atto III) - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
18. Martha: M'appari (Ach So Fromm) (Akt III) - Roberto Alagna
19. Tristan Und Isolde: Mild Und Leise (Liebestod) (Akt III) - Helga Dernesch

Tracks:

1. Aida: Se Quel Guerrier Io Fossi!...Celeste Aida (Atto I) - Placido Domingo
2. Il Trovatore: Vedi! Le Fosche Notturne Spoglie (Anvil Chorus) (Atto II) - Bernard Haitink
3. Samson Et Dalila: Mon Coeur S'ouvre A Ta Voix (Acte II) - Maria Callas
4. Carmen: L'amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle (Habanera) - Victoria De Los Angeles
5. Carmen: Votre Toast (Toreador's Song) (Acte II) - Maria Callas
6. Carmen: La Fleur Que Tu M'avais Jetee (Acte III) - Roberto Alagna
7. Les Contes D'Hoffman: Belle Nuit, O Nuit D'amour (Barcarolle) (Acte II) - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
8. Andrea Chenier: La Mamma Morta (Atto III) - Maria Callas
9. Pagliacci: Recitar!...Vesti La Giubba (Atto I) - Jose Carreras
10. Madama Butterfly: Un Bel Di Vedremo (Atto II) - Renata Scotto
11. Cosi Fan Tutte: Soave Sia Il Vento (Atto I) - Margaret Marshall
12. La Rondine: Chi Il Bel Sogno Di Doretta (Atto I) - Montserrat Caballe
13. Die Zauberflote: Der Vogelfanger Bin Ich Ja (Akt I) - Walter Berry
14. Die Zauberflote: Der Holle Rache (Akt II) - Edita Gruberova
15. Rusalka: Song To The Moon (Act I) - Lucia Popp
16. La Wally: Ebben? Ne Andro Iontana (Atto I) - Maria Callas
17. Werther: Toute Mon Ame Est La!...Pourquoi Me Reveiller? (Acte III) - Roberto Alagna
18. Turandot: Signore, Ascolta! (Atto I) - Montserrat Caballe
19. Turandot: Nessun Dorma (Atto III) - Jose Carreras

Customer Reviews:

Latter-day also-rans.......2007-05-28

There will always be arguments for this or that singer, but this title is absurd. I didn't see a single Jussi Bjoerling, George London, Leonard Warren, or Zinka Milanov, and only one mention of Del Monaco. These were singers. Bjoerling and London were in a class by themselves. I saw all of these folks live on stage. London and Del Monaco had stage presence you don't get now. Di Stefano, Kirsten, de los Angeles should be on any best list. Play any tenor aria by any tenor; then play Bjoerling's. Play any bass/baritone aria by any singer; then play London's. Jussi and George will knock your socks off. They sang everything in every language. Tebaldi and Pavarotti sang only Italian, much easier.

A well-sung compilation.......2003-09-15

Compilations usually receive negative feedback from experienced opera listeners. However, this compilation by no means should be only welcomed by opera listeners, it should be welcomed by all music listeners. This CD is a great one to own for a first time opera listener. Also, for the person who wants to listen to opera once in a while and who does not want to buy a myriad of CD's in order to have the same amount of arias as this CD has. Eighty-percent of the singers are high-quality singers in this CD and the orchestras along with their respective conductors, do justice to the songs. All of the arias in this CD are what we in the field call, standard repertoire, and therefore are a good source for a beginning musician to help him or her listen to phrasing, colour, dynamics, language etc. I certainly recommend it, without a doubt.

This cant be the best.......2003-04-20

Elisa from Italy is absolutely right--well, the present generation may not be able to listen the golden oldies and the grand masters in person but it is still true that the past masters far surpassed the new. De Stefano had a magnetic voice, but listen to Gigli singing Puccini's La boheme and you will melt away, though it is v v v difficult to get hold of his mono recordings, even in CD. I disagree with Elisa only on one point: Tebaldi is good, but Victoria de Los angeles' Mimi is better. And the indulgent Thomas Beecham is my favourite conductor of this opera, way ahead of Toscannini, but De Stefano's Boheme is worth keeping and listening to again and again....

TRUE OPERA LOVERS CANNOT POSSIBLY LIKE THIS!.......2002-11-27

True opera lovers (I won't say "experts" 'cos I dislike the word) cannot possibly like this ... ! Apart from Callas, here there is none of the greatest artists! Callas may be great in Carmen but nobody can beat RENATA TEBALDI and her angel-like voice in all of Puccini's operas or in GIORDANO's Andrea Chénier. No Carreras can beat MARIO DEL MONACO in Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, or Verdi's Otello. And finally, NO ALAGNA, or PAVAROTTI, or LICITRA, or whatever CHEAP TENOR or CROOK can ever beat the greatest tenor of all times: GIUSEPPE DI STEFANO!
Come on! You can't like crook Pavarotti once you have heard Giuseppe Di Stefano!! You can't like ... connductor Riccardo Muti if you have listened to Arturo Toscanini!!
True opera lovers, especially lovers of Puccini, go for the Immortal, the Sublime, the Beautiful in opera: GO FOR GIUSEPPE DI STEFANO!
Go hear his performance of "E lucevan le stelle" as in EMI Callas/Di Stefano "Tosca" or "Che Gelida manina" always as in EMI Callas/Di Stefano "La Boéme" and you'll know what I mean.

Even if you Hate Complilations, Get This One.......2002-06-21

This is a marvelous collection of better known arias and duets in Opera. The singers are those famous for setting, and raising, the bar in their field and for their times: Renata Scotto, Maria Callas, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti. If you are only somewhat familiar with opera, these recordings give you the highest feeling of what an aria or duet can sound like when sung and interpreted at its best. If you are already familiar with these songs, then you will appreciate this collection all the more for having gathered them in one place. I play both discs all the time. I've especially appreciated being able to compare vocal qualities side by side, so to speak, as Maria Callas can be heard next to Mirella Freni and Victoria de los Angeles. Even if you are not familiar with these singers, this is the way to meet them. Maria Callas has a much darker, back of the throat tone. Mirella Freni is pure, clear and light floating up in the higher notes. You can almost visualize the singers as they place the notes in their throats and set them out in the air to vibrate.

Average customer rating: Great to hear the Great Tenor A childhood memory Great collection.

The Legendary Enrico Caruso: 21 Favorite Arias Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Flotow | Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Caruso, Enrico | ( C ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Donizetti, Gaetano | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Giordano, Umberto | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Gounod, Charles | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Flotow, Friedrich von | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Handel, George Frideric | H to L | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Halevy, Fromental | H to L | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Meyerbeer, Giacomo | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Ponchielli, Amilcare | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Puccini, Giacomo | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music $7.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Caruso, Enrico | ( C ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Match Point Italian Songs: The Digital Recordings The Very Best of Beniamino Gigli Great Caruso The Very Best Of Maria Callas ASIN: B000003EOH Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Pagliacci: Vesti la giubba
2. TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
3. Rigoletto: Questa o quella
4. Rigoletto: La donna e mobile
5. L'africana: O paradiso
6. La Juive: Rachel, quand du Seigneur
7. La Boheme: Che gelida manina
8. Aida: Se quel guerrier io fossi; Celeste Aida
9. Andrea Chenier: Come un bel di di maggio
10. La Favorita: Romanza: Spirto gentil, ne' sogni miei
11. La forza del destino: O tu che in seno agli angeli
12. Otello: Ora e per sempre addio
13. Les pecheurs de perles: Je crois entendre encore
14. La Gioconda: Cielo e mar!
15. Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee (Flower Song)
16. TOSCA: Recondita armonia
17. Faust: Salut, demeure chaste et pure
18. L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
19. Martha: M'appari tutt'amor
20. Serse: Ombra mai fu (Largo)
21. Il Trovatore: Di quella pira

Amazon.com

There's a plethora of single-disc Caruso collections, but this one's the preferred choice for opera fans who treasure this golden- voiced epitome of Golden Age singing. It's a Greatest Hits collection to beat all Greatest Hits collections. Selections span Caruso's career, from the lyric effusions of 1906-7 to the darker-voiced later recordings, including one of his last records, the 1920 La Juive aria, "Rachel, quand du Seigneur," which he invests with a heartbreaking poignancy that hasn't been bettered. Caruso shines brightest in the Italian repertory, capturing the pathos of Vesti la Giubba, the insouciance of the Duke's Rigoletto arias, and the hero's dilemma in Celeste Aida, among much else. But everything here is wonderful--great music, great singing. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Great to hear the Great Tenor.......2007-04-11

I am impressed how well these almost 100 year old recordings have been transfered to CD. Of course they aren't perfect but considering their age it is still a miracle. It is nice to hear Caruso in his prime and not on a scratchy vinyl. I would recommend this to any lover of Caruso's singing.

A childhood memory.......2006-05-28

I do not really know Opera. I am writing this review because I remember hearing Caruso's voice coming from a seventy- eight on an old Victor gramophone in my paternal grandparents house. The power and lyric quality of the voice struck me so strongly especially in 'Pagliacci'. The phrase has been with me, and comes back occasionally through all the years.
Caruso was then, and I believe still is considered at the very top of operatic singers. And it is a remarkable experience to hear so many years later , and in a stronger and clearer way sounds which one heard long ago in childhood, and have for years only lived in the mind.

Great collection........2000-11-04

This CD is an older RCA release, but still one of the best! A great introduction to Caruso.

Average customer rating: listening to this cd If you are unsure about opera, this is where to begin The Perfect Opera CD Romantic

Amor--Opera's Great Love Songs Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Donizetti, Gaetano | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Giordano, Umberto | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Massenet, Jules | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Ponchielli, Amilcare | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Puccini, Giacomo | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Saint-Saens, Camille | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Caballe, Montserrat | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Freni, Mirella | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Horne, Marilyn | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Sutherland, Joan | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Te Kanawa, Kiri | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Troyanos, Tatiana | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Von Stade, Frederica | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: The Most Famous Opera Arias Amore II ~ Great Italian Love Arias The Most Famous Opera Duets The Best of Italian Opera The #1 Opera Album ASIN: B000009OU8 Release Date: 1998-08-11

Tracks:

1. Celeste Aida
2. O mio babbino caro
3. Donna non vidi mai
4. Quando le sere al placido
5. Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix
6. Una furtiva lagrima
7. Signore, ascolta!
8. Recondita armonia
9. Vissi d'arte
10. E lucevan le stelle
11. Habanera: L'amour est un oiseau rebelle
12. Amor ti vieta
13. Gualtier Malde...Caro nome
14. Cielo e mar
15. Quando m'en vo
16. La fleur que tu m'avais jetee
17. O mio Fernando
18. Pourquoi me reveiller
19. Voi che sapete
20. Un bel di (One fine day)
21. Nessun dorma

Customer Reviews:

listening to this cd.......2007-02-19

this is a wonderful cd. i have it in my car and listen to it all the time. you wont go wrong buying this cd if you love the operah and great voices.

If you are unsure about opera, this is where to begin.......2004-06-22

Many people are turned off of opera because of the nature of the beast - unknown tongue, the continual singing and particularly the sopranos whose voices are as piercing as they are diffdicult to understand. These selections are ravishing in their beauty. It has been estimated that 2/3 of all classical effort was put into opera. Thus it is not surprising that some of the best music ever penned can be found here, particularly those that deal with that most human of emotion - love.

The orchestration is wonderful, the voices emotional and quite sincere, the authenticity is present. It is difficult to surpass Verdi or Puccini in plumbing the emotional depths. All in all a good experience.

The Perfect Opera CD.......2002-08-08

I'm so in love with this CD, I'm giving it to as many ppl as I can. It's a great introduction to opera for ppl who don't listen to it very often. It has all the great hits with all the great singers, who can make shivers go down your spine. My friends who don't know opera as much as I do love it too.

Romantic.......2000-05-12

If you have just got to be interested in Opera, this is a good start. You can listen to the best pieces of the most famous (an romantic) Operas performed by the best singers. If you are a long-time Opera lover, this CD will remind you of all the performances that you went with your loved one and romantic moments after the concerts.

Average customer rating: Lovely An unexpected glimpse of happiness. Enchanting recital of French Melodies Nuit d'toiles - Melodies Francaises/ Gens, Vignoles An Outstanding Vocal Performance

Véronique Gens - Nuit d'étoiles (Mélodies Française) / Vignoles Gabriel Fauré , Claude Debussy , Francis Poulenc , Véronique Gens , and Roger Vignoles Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Fauré, Gabriel | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Poulenc | Poulenc, Francis | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Fauré, Gabriel | ( F ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Poulenc, Francis | ( P ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Véronique Gens ~ Berlioz - Les Nuits d'été · La mort de Cléopatre Poulenc - Melodies / Ameling · Gedda · W. Parker · Sénéchal · Souzay · Baldwin Reneé Fleming & Jean-Yves Thibaudet - Night Songs (Fauré, Debussy, Marx, Strauss, Rachmaninov) Tragédiennes Joseph Canteloube: Chants d'Auvergne ASIN: B00003ZKR9 Release Date: 2000-04-11

Tracks:

1. Apres un reve, Op. 7 No. 1
2. Sylvie, Op. 7 No. 3
3. Au bord de l'eau, Op. 8 No. 1
4. Lydia, Op. 4 No. 2
5. Le papillon et la fleur, Op. 1 No.1
6. Mandoline, Op. 58 No. 1: 5 Melodies de Venise
7. Clair de lune, Op. 46, No. 2
8. Les berceaux, Op. 23 No. 1
9. 3 Chansons de Bilitis: I. La flute de Pan
10. 3 Chansons de Bilitis: II. La chevelure
11. 3 Chansons de Bilitis: III. Le tombeau des Naiades
12. Fetes galantes: I. En sourdine
13. Fetes galantes: II. Fantoches
14. Fetes galantes: III. Clair de lune
15. Nuit d'etoiles
16. Beau soir
17. Fleur des bles
18. La Belle au bois dormant
19. Noel des enfants qui n'ont plus de maison
20. BANALITES: I. Chanson d'Orkenise
21. BANALITES: II. Hotel
22. BANALITES: III. Fagnes de Wallonie
23. BANALITES: IV. Voyage a Paris
24. BANALITES: V. Sanglots
25. 2 Melodies de Guillaume Apollinaire: I. Montparnasse
26. 2 Melodies de Guillaume Apollinaire: II. Hyde Park
27. Les chemins de l'amour - valse chantee

Customer Reviews:

Lovely.......2005-08-30

I recommend this to any art-song lover, and really, anybody at all. Gens does an excellent performance of a great collection of beautiful French songs. Her voice is enjoyable all the way, she has great expression, and a convincing mastery of the genre.

An unexpected glimpse of happiness........2001-07-21

Stendhal wrote that "the sight of anything extremely beautiful, in nature or in art, brings back the memory of what one loves, with the speed of lightning. That is, ... all that is beautiful and sublime in the world takes part in the beauty of what one loves, and this unexpected glimpse of happiness immediately fills the eyes with tears. This is how love of the beautiful and love give each other life." This is what Ms. Gens will do to you when you listen to this CD.

Enchanting recital of French Melodies.......2000-07-07

This is a most enjoyable release, all the more so because Veronique Gens, who is generally considered a baroque specialist on the lyric stage, may well be a torch-bearer of the elusive art of the French song in the coming decades. The voice of Gens, which is solid and well-integrated with an alluring dash of vibrancy embedded therein, is eminently suited to the repertoire represented in this new Virgin Classics release. Her secure technique (just a hint of strain in one or two high notes) also renders it possible for her to fine down her voice in the ending of phrases to a charming effect. Being a native French speaker certainly helps, too. Although hers is perhaps not the most strongly-etched of readings, she is able to inflect the text intelligently, and her subtle but heart-felt stresses on particular words not only serve to illuminate the poetic prose, but also meld beautifully with the notes that she sing.

The CD opens with songs by Faure, and while Gens may not possess the charm and naturalness of utterance of Maggie Teyte, whose recordings of Faure's songs are, in the opinion of this reviewer, unsurpassable, she can conjure up the right kind of feeling for every song as no one can. Her tempo for the popular "Apres un reve" is a trifle too laid back. Yet, she conveys to perfection the dream-like quality of the song, as well as the sense of confusion and regret at awakening. Her singing of "Le papillon et la fleur" is delightfully vivid, and her evocation of the feeling of sadness being kept in restraint in "Les berceaux" makes the performance both intimate and touching.

The Debussy group is no less impressive. Despite the innovative idiom in which most of these songs are composed, Gens is able bring them off effortlessly and stylishly. She is in total command whether in the serenity of "Beau soir", the romanticism of "Nuit d'etoiles", the rustic charm of "Fleur des bles", or the harrowing grimness of "Noel des enfants qui n'ont plus de maison", the last one composed when Debussy was being haunted by the atrocities of the Great War. In "Fetes galantes I", although the vocal and piano parts are often independent of each other, Gens's remarkable interpretation succeeds in unifying the two strands into a picturesque and colourful whole. The "3 Chansons de Bilitis", which are composed very much in the style of PELLEAS ET MELISANDE, also find an ideal interpreter in Gens where, blessed with a keen sense of rhythm, she succeeds in propelling the texts forward with musical grace and dramatic import. She would surely make a wonderful Melisande.

The Poulenc is equally fine. The young soprano is able to do full justice to the diverse moods in "Banalites", which, according to Olivier Opdebeeck, who penned the CD notes, is composed in a "part-melancholy, part-joyful tone with a barb of irony which the composer identified in the poet". The "2 Melodies de Guillaume Apollinaire" are sharply contrasted, one (Montparnasse) languid and brooding and the other (Hyde Park) gusty and piquant. Gens's singing of "Les chemins de l'amour", a cross between a Viennese waltz and a cabaret song, is loveliness itself and provides a delicious end to an enchanting recital.

The major reservation that this reviewer has involves the accompaniment of Roger Vignoles. While he is able to provide secure support for the singer, his playing is uncharacterful and even bland. Besides, the piano tone seems to be rather thin at times. Nonetheless, this should not detract one from the sensuous beauty of Gens's performance. This reviewer hopes that Virgin Classics would be encouraged by the success of this release so that they can present this most promising singer in further volumes of French songs by, say, Chausson, Ravel and Duparc.

Nuit d'toiles - Melodies Francaises/ Gens, Vignoles.......2000-06-13

Not being a professional, but loving the genre of French melodies I'll avoid technical commentary; I have become a collector of these in recent years and find this one extremely satifying and appreciate the variety this CD presents.

An Outstanding Vocal Performance.......2000-05-01

This ranks as one of the very best recordings of French 'melodies' that I have yet heard. Unlike most other singers, Gens gives the words drama and meaning. Too many singers perform these works in a detached 'artistic' manner that often makes them all sound almost alike. I say this not to belittle Gens' voice (which is superb), but to indicate that this disk will take you beyond the 'standard' interpretations of these works. I had a chance to compare one of the melodies with another recent recording by Schafer, another singer whom I respect Both were being featured in a local record store. It was hard to realize they were actually singing the same piece. I recently saw Gens perform much of the same program at a recital in NYC. This was the best recital I had heard in a very long time (I go to many). The disk is almost as good. It suffers a bit from a very unnatural recorded sound: the microphone is much too close to the singer and the piano is much too forward. Also the accompaniest in NYC was clearly better. Nevertheless, it would be hard to find a better recorded performance. The more I listen to the disk, the less I notice these drawbacks. The choice of repetoire is also well done. I particularly liked the Debussy 'Trois chansons de Bilitis.' She ends with 'Les chemins de l'amour' which Poulenc wrote for Jean Anouilh's play 'Leaocadia'. This has become very popular outside the normal recital circuit. If you get only one disk of French melodies, this is the one to get.

Average customer rating: Nice music, nice voices

Bizet: Carmen (Highlights) / Solti, Troyanos, Domingo Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Te Kanawa, Kiri | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Troyanos, Tatiana | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Troyanos, Tatiana | ( T ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Verdi: Rigoletto (Highlights) / Sutherland, Pavarotti Puccini - La Bohème / Freni, Pavarotti, Harwood, Berlin Phil., Karajan [Highlights] Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro / Te Kanawa, Popp, Ramey, Solti [Highlights] Puccini: Tosca (Highlights) / Freni, Pavarotti Carmen / Troyanos, Domingo, van Dam, Te Kanawa; Sir Georg Solti ASIN: B000006P4O Release Date: 1998-05-12

Tracks:

1. Carmen: Act I: Prelude
2. Carmen: Act I: Mais nous ne voyons pas la Carmencita! ... - L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera)
3. Carmen: Act I: Parle-moi de ma mere
4. Carmen: Act I: Pres des remparts de Seville (Seguidilla)
5. Carmen: Act II: Les tringles des sistres tintaientI
6. Carmen: Act II: Vivat, vivat le torero! ... Votre toast (Toreador song)
7. Carmen: Act II: Nous avons en tete une affaire
8. Carmen: Act II: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee (Flower song)
9. Carmen: Act II: Non! tu ne m'aimes pas!
10. Carmen: Act III: Melons! Coupons!
11. Carmen: Act III: Je dis que rien ne m'epouvante
12. Carmen: Act IV: Les voici, les voici
13. Carmen: Act IV: C'est toi! - C'est moi!

Customer Reviews:

Nice music, nice voices.......2000-06-15

This is Georges Bizet! He doesn't need any special advertising!

Average customer rating: Mario Lanza Opera Outstanding Unsurpassed! BMG Needs to hire Folks in the Know Mario Lanza WAS a trained opera singer

Mario Lanza ~ Opera Arias & Duets, from Andréa Chenier · La Bohème · I Pagliacci · Madama Butterfly · Otello Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Flotow | Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Lanza, Mario | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Giordano, Umberto | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Flotow, Friedrich von | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cilea, Francesco | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Meyerbeer, Giacomo | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Puccini, Giacomo | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music $7.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Traditional | ( T ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Lanza, Mario | ( L ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Mario Lanza: At His Best! The MARIO LANZA Collection Lanza: Greatest Hits Mario Lanza Sings Songs From The Student Prince & The Desert Song / Romberg Live at Hollywood Bowl: Historical Recordings (1947 & 1951) ASIN: B00000JMH3 Release Date: 2001-10-08

Tracks:

1. Celeste Aida
2. Amor Ti Vieta
3. Di All'azzurro Spazio [From "Andrea Chenier]
4. O Soave Fanciulla
5. Fleur Que Tu M'Avais Jetee
6. O Paradiso
7. Tal Giocco/Vesti la Giubba
8. Stolta Paura l'Amor - Mario Lanza,
9. Donna E Mobile
10. Vesti la Giubba
11. M'Appari
12. Nessun Dorma
13. Testa Adorata
14. Come un Bel Di Maggio
15. Lamento Di Federico
16. Dio Ti Giocondi - Licia Albanese, Mario Lanza

Customer Reviews:

Mario Lanza Opera.......2007-05-12

This CD of mario is absolutely fabulous. It is the only recording I have managed to find of him singing Nessum Dorma. It is not to be missed. One of operas greatest.

Outstanding.......2006-11-06

Hey, this is Mario Lanza, it can't get any better. A great collection of the best Arias!

Unsurpassed!.......2005-12-13

I am sick and tired of all these technical reviews and critical remarks leveled against everything Mario Lanza did in his short life!

True, musically Mario made some mistakes....but so has every other great tenor in history....from Caruso to Pavarotti and beyond!
And perhaps he sang some arias with too much fortissimo....so what?
Every single song on here, be it among his best or worst work, is a masterpiece when compared to renditions of the same arias by other, more legit and operatically acclaimed tenors.

In order to "get" Lanza one must discard all notions of "finesse", "grace" and " elegance" for Lanza operated, and sang on raw, unadulterated, gut wrenching emotion.
THAT was the genious of Mario Lanza.

We can argue for another 40 years as to his operatic legitimacy...for nought!
Lanza was a VOCAL master and his approach to song was as unconventional and idiosyncratic as was his life.
That's what makes these songs so special and unique.

No one other than perhaps Corelli had the voice and the balls to sing with such uninhibited emotion and that's what this CD is all about.
It is a testament of a great voice.
The fact that Lanza did not have the benefit of a great conductor or teacher guiding him through most of his career, makes these recordings all the more great.

He sang the music as he felt it and that's a big no-no in the stuffy, overbearing and self-righteous world of opera.
Lanza earned millions of dollars because his voice touched all who heard it. His art brought more people to opera than all the leading tenors of his day combined....and this during the golden age of tenors and opera as a whole!

The only word of lesser praise I can offer is the inclusion of the duets. Mario did not have the temprament for duet singing, and subsequently he ended up drowning his partners out, or engaging in a sort of vocal warfare which was the case with much of what he and Grayson recorded during his MGM days.
The arias are great....the duets are medicore on all accounts.

In closing, I apologize for not having spen time on the actual songs. It's been done to death.
All I can say is that, if you wish to hear opera arias sung in a way such as will never be heard again in our lifetime, then this is a CD for you.
If you want proper, technically proficient opera, sung by some big name opera jerk, then stick to that....you'll only end up feeling like all the other good people who have so much negative to say about this CD.

BMG Needs to hire Folks in the Know.......2004-06-15

There are several cuts on this CD that Lnaza did in fact record much better at other times. I have all his records LPs, 78s and movies and I wish BMG would consult a Lanza fan,or me,for the cuts would make the perfect CD. I think its great that we have such a wonderful collection of recordings of Lanza and this one warts and all is still one of the best. The best Lanza set was the RCA LP 2 record set put out in the 70s with Lanza on the cover in M. Butterfly. Where oh where can it be??? Long live Mario Lanza!

Mario Lanza WAS a trained opera singer.......2003-11-13

To the reviewer from Michigan who said Mario never performed an opera on stage, you are wrong. He did two performances as Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly before going off to Hollywood.

Mario had extensive operatic training from some top teachers. He was sought after by many opera companies, including the Met in New York.

It is true that some of Mario's recordings are not as good as others. He did various versions of much of his material, both live and studio, so of course you will find some you prefer to others. But the beauty, power and expressiveness of his voice is unmatched by any tenor I have ever heard.

Average customer rating: Fabulous Intro! A Great Introduction To The World's Greatest Tenor

Great Caruso Manufacturer: Asv Living Era ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Flotow | Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Caruso, Enrico | ( C ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Donizetti, Gaetano | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Capua, Eduardo di | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Flotow, Friedrich von | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Mascagni, Pietro | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Massenet, Jules | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Ponchielli, Amilcare | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Puccini, Giacomo | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Ladino | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italy | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Legendary Enrico Caruso: 21 Favorite Arias Artists Of The Century - Caruso, The Greatest Tenor In The World Italian Songs: The Digital Recordings Caruso 2000 Prima Voce - Caruso ASIN: B000001HK8 Release Date: 1997-11-18

Tracks:

1. Vesti La Giubba
2. Una Furtiva Lagrima
3. Chiudo Gli Occhi (Dream Song)
4. Cielo E Mar!
5. M'Appari Tutt' Amor
6. Solenne In Quest'Ora
7. Che Gelida Manina
8. O Soave Fanciulla (Love Duet )
9. Del Tempoi Al Limitar
10. Celeste Aida
11. Se M'Ami Ancor...Al Nostri Monti Ritorneremo
12. Recondita Armonia
13. La Fleur Que Tu M'Avais Jetee
14. Mamma! Quel Vino E Generoso!
15. Oh! Mostruosa Colpa!...Si, Pel Ciel
16. Libiamo Ne'Leiti Calici
17. O Figli...Ah, La Paterna Mano
18. Mia Piccirella
19. Pimpinella
20. For You Alone
21. Trusting Eyes
22. Luna D'Estate
23. 'O Sole Mio

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous Intro!.......2004-05-04

You just gotta buy this one! It's fabulous! Made me a fan!!!

A Great Introduction To The World's Greatest Tenor.......2003-05-31

The transfers of the original accoutic 78's are very good and the selection gives you a great slice of the arias and songs that made him the benchmark for all tenors that have followed. This is a great introduction to his art and will make you want to get one of the complete sets.

Average customer rating:

20th Century Masters: The Best of the Three Tenors (Millenium Collection) Karl-Heinz Loges , Leone Magiera , Sir Edward Downes , Berliner Philharmoniker , English Chamber Orchestra , London Symphony Orchestra , Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra , Philharmonic Orchestra , Wiener Philharmoniker , Wiener Staatsopernorchester , and Wiener Volksopernorchester Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Opera & Vocal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Carreras · Domingo · Pavarotti ~ the three tenors in concert / Mehta The 3 Tenors in Concert 1994 Paris 1998 The Best of Luciano Pavarotti: 20th Century Masters/The Millennium Collection Christmas with The Three Tenors ASIN: B0007LLPVK Release Date: 2005-02-15

Tracks:

1. O Sole Mio
2. Mamma
3. Non ti scordar di me
4. Passione
5. L'ultima canzone - Arr. Peter Hope
6. "Che gelida manina"
7. "La fleur que tu m'avais jetae"
8. La Danza - Arranged by Juan Alfonso
9. "Questa o quella" (Ballata) (Duca)
10. Donna non vidi mai (Des Grieux)
11. Spirto gentil
12. "Una furtiva lagrima"
13. Core 'Ngrato
14. Chitarra Romana
15. "Nessun dorma"

Average customer rating:

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6. Zauber Der Panflöte [Import]
7. 10 Jahre Stimmung Us Koel [Import]
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