| 1. Scalerica De Oro |
| 2. Daile A Cenar |
| 3. Novia Destrenza El Peolo |
| 4. No Me Puso Mi Madre Cosa |
| 5. Ashuar Nuevo |
| 6. Durme Mi Alma Donzeya |
| 7. Avre Tu Perta Cerrada |
| 8. Prima Vez |
| 9. Serena |
| 10. Mes De Mayo |
| 11. Buena Semana |
| 12. Ha Mavdil |
| 13. Kol Ha Neshama Tehalel'ya |
| 14. Ani Le Dodi Ve Dodi Li |
| 15. Chichi Bunichi |
| 16. Durme Durme |
| 17. Tres Hermanikas |
| 18. A La Una Yo Nasi |
| 19. Una Tarde De Verano |
| 20. Ken Supiesse Y Entendiess |
La Prima Vez,Fortuna,Fortu,Rock/Pop,World Music
Average customer rating:
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The Antiphonal Music of Gabrieli
Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000029PE Release Date: 1996-10-01 |
Tracks:
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon Septimi Toni No. 2
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon Duodecimi Toni
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon A 12
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Sonata Octavi Toni
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon Per Sonare No. 27
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon Quarti Toni
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon A 12
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon Per Sonare No. 28
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Sonate Pian'e Forte
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon Primi Toni
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon Septimi Toni No. 1
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon Noni Toni
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon Per Sonare No. 2
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Primo Tono
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Secondo Tono
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Terzo E Quarto Tono
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon Per Sonare No. 1 La Spiritata
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Ottavo Tono
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Nono Tono
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Decimo Tono
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon Per Sonare No. 3 Intonazioni D'organo
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Undicesimo Tono
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Duodecimo Tono
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon Per Sonare No. 4
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Fantasia In The Sixth Tone
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Tocata In D Minor
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon Prima In G Major
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon Seconda In C Major
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon Terza In A Minor
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon Quarta In G Minor
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon Quinta In G Minor
- Giovanni Gabrieli: Toccata In G Major
Amazon.com
Venice was a good place to be in the 17th century if you liked to hang out in church--not that you had much choice in those days. Gabrieli's reputation rests on his "polychoral" compositions: works for several choirs, a choir being any size group of voices or instruments. For example, a sacred composition for three choirs might have two brass groups and one chorus, or two choruses and one brass ensemble. The idea was to keep things flexible to allow for changing local conditions. The result, in any case, was a magnificent "question and answer" style of writing, in which great blocks of harmony challenged each other from opposite sides of San Marco Cathedral. If this sort of thing intrigues you, then you owe it to yourself to hear this terrific collection. It's a cosmic experience. --David HurwitzCustomer Reviews:
Antiphonal Masterpiece.......2007-05-16
The different groups played directed off the vocal and instrumental parts written by Gabrieli making any adjustment for transposition in their head on sight, thus allowing them all to be as much focused on the music as possible as they were not looking at 3rd generation arrangements which always tend to leave out markings. These possibly were the best brass performers in America at the time and their interpretations are unified through exceptional listening across the ensemble for intonation, style, and tempo. A slightly non-justifiable reason that I hold for this album's excellence is the raw energy and beauty of this unprepared collaboration. In the time of Gabrieli, rehearsals were rare, and musicians would, on a daily basis, sit down and perform music that they hadn't studied, and while these are not the original instruments for which Gabrieli wrote, the quick pacing of this production (one weekend) to me lends more on the positive side for the enjoyment of the listener.
In short, this is a remarkable collaboration of some of the best performers on fantastic Renaissance literature and worthy of owning merely for that fact, and when combined with live and engaging performances where the music is played expertly from one section to the next off of each individual, this album becomes a gem for anyone with an interest in the brass ensemble sound.
All-star brass.......2007-01-17
Instant playing.......2006-07-11
A VERY special album.......2005-08-03
My only complaint is with the web site sound samples being MONO !
This album is in STEREO and really portrays the placement of the 3 major antiphonal quintets! You won't be disapointed.
I think Gabrieli would like this album.......2005-04-28
If you love quality brass music read the five star reviews and buy this album!
Average customer rating:
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Mob Hits - Music From and a Tribute to the Great Mob Movies
Various , Dean Martin , Jerry Vale , Louis Prima , Al Martino , Julius La Rosa , Rosemary Clooney , and Lou Monte ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00000IGQI |
Amazon.com
As you may already know from seeing it hawked incessantly on late-night TV by Jerry Vale, Mob Hits is a compilation CD that attempts to capture the ambience of the modern gangster pic by assembling songs heard in key scenes of such films as The Godfather, GoodFellas, Donnie Brasco, and Casino. While licensing restrictions keep the music of Frank Sinatra from being part of this collection (odd, as the address on this package is the address for his long-time label Capitol Records), the selection and sequencing of well-known Italian "hits" by Vale, Dean Martin, Louis Prima, Lou Monte, Al Martino, and Julius LaRosa gets the job done with discretion and honor. And the liner notes even offer a toll-free number for homemade pasta sauce. --Gregg TurkingtonAlbum Description
The ultimate collection of songs from the best mob movie soundtracks. Includes hits from legendary crooners like Dean Martin, Jerry Vale, Louis Prima & Al Martino. Featuring the most memorable & loved songs from classic mob movies such as 'The Godfather', 'Goodfellas', 'Casino' & 'Donnie Brasco'. 22 tracks in all. 1998 release. Standard jewel case.Customer Reviews:
How can people fall for this? Would never play at my wedding.......2007-04-13
Fun songs.......2006-11-06
What a rip..........2006-09-01
Fun listening..........2006-08-13
"Blast From The Past".......2006-06-01
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Music Of The Crusades
Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000041XJ Release Date: 1991-04-05 |
Tracks:
- Music Of The Crusades: La quinte estampie real
- Music Of The Crusades: Pax in nomine Domini!
- Music Of The Crusades: Parti de mal - Third Crusade
- Music Of The Crusades: Chevalier, mult estes guariz - Second Crusade
- Music Of The Crusades: Chanterai por mon corage - Third Crusade
- Music Of The Crusades: Danse real
- Music Of The Crusades: Sede, Syon, in pulvere
- Music Of The Crusades: Palastinalied - Sixth Crusade
- Music Of The Crusades: Condicio - O nacio - Mane prima
- Music Of The Crusades: O tocius Asie - Crusade of 1248
- Music Of The Crusades: La uitime estampie real
- Music Of The Crusades: Cum sint difficilia - Crusade of 1248
- Music Of The Crusades: Li noviaus tens - Le Chatelain de Coucy - Third Crusade
- Music Of The Crusades: Fortz chausa es (Gaucelm Faidit) - Lament On The Death Of Richard Coeur - de - Lion
- Music Of The Crusades: Je ne puis - Amors me tienent - Veritatem
- Music Of The Crusades: Ahi! Amours - Third Crusade
- Music Of The Crusades: La tierche estampie real
- Music Of The Crusades: Ja nus hons pris - Song Of Captivity
- Music Of The Crusades: Au tens plain do felonnie - Crusade fo 1239
Customer Reviews:
This one'll get ya going........2007-05-19
TIME TRAVEL.......2006-08-15
Interesting variety.......2006-03-28
As a sampler, it is excellent, though the vocal pieces tend to be somewhat slow--not all the lyrics seem consistent with that delivery, so this is probably an artist's choice. It would be interesting to hear the same pieces performed now, 30 years later, with 30 years of new scholarship. Ah well, nothing is perfect!
A trip through history.......2005-09-29
In this collection, the texts of the songs are primarily contemporary with the Crusades, although a few come from later troubadour and folk songs. Some songs here directly relate to the Crusades in content (for example, Pax in nomine Domini!), whereas others are songs contemporary with and popular among the Crusaders, but have no direct relation to the Crusades. 'Ja nus hons pris' is one such song, which has origins attributed to one of the most famous of the Crusaders, Richard the Lionhearted.
One of the problems with music from this time period is that very little written material exists. What music notation there is often is reminiscent of Gregorian chant - there are markers for pitch, but nothing for rhythmic values, melodies, etc. Similarly, the types of instruments are often not listed for particular songs, so it becomes educated guesswork as to the instruments used - lutes, rebec, wind instruments, percussion, etc.
The performances here are wonderful and full. The Early Music Consort of London recorded this first for vinyl in 1970; this CD is a reissue, well engineered. David Munrow was the director as well as performer on recorder, fluet, shawm, crumhorn and bagpipes. Munrow's talents are well suited to this kind of medieval music. Among the other performers are soprano Christina Clarke, counter tenors James Bowman and Charles Brett, tenor Nigel Rogers and baritone Geoffrey Shaw. Musicians include Eleanor Sloan on treble rebec, Oliver Brookes on bass rebec, James Tyler on lute and citole, Gillian Reid on the bells, Christopher Hogwood on harp, organ, nakers and tabor, and James Blades on nakers and tabor.
This recording is superb, a great addition to an early music library, and a joy to have as a CD - I had the vinyl of this, but over time it warped in storage, and I was very sad to have lost such a brilliant collection of music. Here it is again, restored and full of power and life.
Overrated.......2005-03-03
It is certainly interesting music and it does have historical value, but it is by no means unique.
Here are my criticisms:
1)
All of the 19 tracks are short. They range from 1-4 minutes with an average of around 2 1/2 minutes per track.
2)
This wouldn't be all that bad, except that none of those 19 tracks really stood out. They are all slow-paced and generic with little feeling of variety. Essentially, despite being a fan of the genre, I just couldn't get 'into' any of the music. It was not at all inspiring.
3)
One of my favorite things about medieval/renaissance music is the excellent balance and combination of voice talent and instruments.
This CD did not come through at all in that area, however.
The majority of this CD was the mellow, slow-paced singing that many people associate with the genre.
However, whenever the singers got going, the relatively few instruments all disappeared entirely, leaving you with just the singers (who weren't powerful enough to carry the show alone).
If you are a fan of the genre, then you might want to add this to your collection just because it isn't very expensive.
However, if you are merely interested in trying out the archaic music genre, then I defintely would recommend:
"Sinners & Saints - The Ultimate Medieval and Renaissance Music Collection"
*instead* of this one.
I gave Sinners & Saints a 5/5 - It was the CD that this one should've been.
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Luciano Pavarotti - Nessun dorma (Arias & Duets)
Luciano Pavarotti , Mirella Freni , and Katia Ricciarelli Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00004Z32N Release Date: 2001-03-27 |
Tracks:
- La Traviata: Libiamo ne' lieti calici (Brindisi)
- Werther: Pourquoi me reveiller
- L'Elisir d'Amore: Una parola ... Chiedi all'aura
- La Gioconda: Cielo e mar
- La Traviata: Parigi, o cara
- L'africana: Mi batte il cor ... O paradiso
- Turandot: Nessun dorma
- Petite Messe solennelle: Domine Deus
- Requiem: Ingemisco
- La Traviata: Lungi da lei ... De' miei bollenti spiriti
- Macbeth: Ah, la paterna mano
- I lombardi: La mia letizia infondere
- Otello: Gia nella notte densa
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Andrea Bocelli: Verdi
Zubin Mehta , Israel Philharmonic Orchestra , and Zubin Mehta Manufacturer: Philips ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00004X16D Release Date: 2000-09-12 |
Tracks:
- Il Trovatore: Di quella pira (Il Trovatore)
- Il Trovatore: Ah si, ben mio (Il trovatore)
- Rigoletto: La donna e mobile (Rigoletto)
- Un Ballo in Maschera: Di'tu se fedele (Un ballo in maschera)
- Un Ballo in Maschera: Ma se m'e forza perditi (Un ballo in maschera)
- Rigoletto: Ella mi fu rapita (Rigoletto)
- Rigoletto: Possente amor mi chiama (Rigoletto)
- Aida: Celeste Aida (Aida)
- La Traviata: De' miei bollenti spiriti (La traviata)
- La Traviata: oh mio rimorso (La traviata)
- I lombardi: La mia letizia infondere vorrei (I lombardi)
- Ernani: Merce, diletti amici (Ernani)
- Don Carlo: Io la vidi e il suo sorriso (Don Carlo)
- Luisa Miller: Quando le sere al placido (Luisa Miller)
- La forza del destino: La vita e inferno all'infelice (La forza del destino)
Amazon.com Classical Music Reviews
With this CD devoted solely to operatic arias--by none less than Giuseppe Verdi, the greatest Italian opera composer of all time--pop crossover phenomenon Andrea Bocelli throws his hat into the operatic ring with the big boys. The hat occasionally fits, and occasionally it doesn't. The beauty of the voice is undeniable, as is the relative ease in all registers. But, regardless of what the engineers do, it is clearly a small voice. For "Celeste Aïda"--Radames's great aria from Aïda--Bocelli opens with fine, as-big-as-possible exclamation and sounds confident; the long diminuendo on the aria's final high B-flat is stunning (whether or not the engineers were twiddling with the knobs, we'll never know). The tenor is more at home with Alfredo's Act Two music from La Traviata; he sings with grace and charm, ending the rarely performed cabaletta (a brief and showy piece that usually follows an aria) with one of the longest, most solid high Cs ever recorded. Elsewhere, there are mixed results: "Di' tu se fedele" from Un ballo in maschera is so free of feeling that it seems digitally produced. A big, unnecessary high D at the close of the Duke's cabaletta "Possente amor" from Rigoletto is screamed, and Bocelli sounds at times as if he's about to collapse from exhaustion during a heavy aria from Ernani. But "Ah si, ben mio" from Il Trovatore is beautiful, as is the Luisa Miller aria; Don Carlo also seems to fit Bocelli well. Needless to say, the singer's fans will certainly want to have this--and it might encourage them to try other recordings of music by Verdi. Newcomers and the curious will find plenty to admire, too. The sound itself remains alluring, and Bocelli has taken steps also towards improving his technique. In short, some nice surprises for the opera lover, and many for the Bocelli fan. --Robert LevineCustomer Reviews:
Not as good as Amore.......2007-03-24
a voice teacher and early music fan.......2007-02-14
Lets face it; Bocelli is no Pavoratti, and perhaps it was not wise to choose some of the arias associated with tenors of his ilk, but Bocelli makes the best of his talents, which are considerable. And he has done a lot to create interest among young voice students,(male) and as a voice teacher I make use of his appearance and his youthfulness to engage their interest, and he does that!!!!I think his record sales tell the tale.
Verdi.......2007-01-03
The triumph of mediocrity.......2006-02-04
His tessitura is nowere near adequate for singing any of the arias from Rigoletto, "La donna è mobile" sounds much like a kid would sing it. "Celeste Aida" is one of the worst selections, and one of the most electronically enhanced, as it requires a precise voice placement (which Bocelli doesn't posses) since much of it lies very high in the register, and a heavier, rounder voice; if the role is not adequate for many REAL tenors, it is much less adequate for a pop singer. The "feeling" raving reviewers talk about is nothing more than a voice coming (incorrectly) from the throat, and the "beautiful" high D in "Possente amor" is a beautifully screamed falsetto, the same could be said about "Di quella pira"'s C; what's amazing about all this is the fact that electronic enhancement doesn't make his voice sound better. Some have ludicrously compared him to the likes of Vargas, Domingo, and Corelli, even saying he's better; this is nothing more than ignorance and bad taste.
Maybe his fans are tired of detractors bringing out the big names in their defense, so let's be honest: he's one of the WORST opera interpreters out there, I wish great singers like Mariusz Kwiecen, Matthew Polenzani, and René Pape received the publicity he gets, though it won't happen; at least some consolation lies in the fact that these people are true artists willingly and GLADLY offering their art to the people in order to make a living; I'm sure if Andrea didn't make so much $$$$ with his opera experiment, he would've dropped this travesty long ago.
no expert.......2005-12-17
So, obviously, I'm not in the position to compare Bocelli's arias to those of the tenors considered the greats. I can hear that his voice lacks the robustness of the Pavarottis of this world. BUT - I like many of the famous arias, and to my ear, Bocelli's performances, electronically enhanced or not, are melodic and pleasant to the ear. As a result of listening to Bocelli, I've become familiar with some great music that I would otherwise be likely to ignore.
So I listen and enjoy and really don't care about all the criticism.
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Essential Verdi
Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000056JSW Release Date: 2001-02-13 |
Tracks:
- Rigoletto: La donna e mobile - Luciano Pavarotti
- Nabucco: Va pesiero - Chicago Symphony Orchestra
- La forza del destino: Overture - Kirov Orchestra
- La Traviata: Un di felice - Joan Sutherland
- I Vespri Siciliani: Merce dilette amiche - Maria Chiara
- La Traviata: Libiamo ne' lieti calici - Joan Sutherland
- Il Trovatore: Di quella pira - Jose Carreras
- Il Trovatore: Vedi! le fosche notturne spoglie - Chicago Symphony Orchestra And Chorus
- Il Trovatore: Stride la vampa! - Stefania Toczyska
- Aida: Ritorna vincitor! - Leontyne Price
- Don Carlo: Dio che nell'alma infondere - Carlo Bergonzi
- La Traviata: Prelude - Orchestra E Coro Del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
- Rigoletto: Caro nome - Joan Sutherland
- Don Carlo: O don fatale - Olga Borodina
- Aida: Se quel guerrier io fossi! Celeste Aida - Carlo Bergonzi
- Emani: Ernani! Ernani involami - Joan Sutherland
- Un Ballo in Maschera: Di tu se fedele - Jussi Bjorling
- Un Ballo in Maschera: Morro ma prima in grazia - Margaret Price
- Luisa Miller: Quando le sere al placido - Luciano Pavarotti
- Aida: Gloria all'Egitto - Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Tracks:
- Requiem: Dies irae - Wiener Philharmoniker
- La forza del destino: Pace pace mio Dio - Angela Gheorghiu
- Rigoletto: Questa o quella - Carlo Bergonzi
- Rigoletto: Bella figlia dell'amore - Luciano Pavarotti
- Otello: Ave Maria - Renee Fleming
- La Traviata: Parigi o cara - Frank Lopardo
- Macbeth: Ah la paterna mano - Luciano Pavarotti
- Il Trovatore: Squilli echeggi la tromba guerriera - Chicago Symphony Orchestra And Chorus
- Don Carlo: O Carlo ascolta - Dmitri Hvorostovsky
- Requiem: Ingemisco - Luciano Pavarotti
- Simon Baccanegra: Come in quest'ora bruna - Kiri Te Kanawa
- Macbeth: Salve o Re! Si colmi il calice - Lucia Aliberti
- Aida: O patria mia - Leontyne Price
- I lombardi: La mia letizia infondere - Placido Domingo
- Aida: Lo sguardo avea degli angeli - Montserrat Caballe
- La forza del destino: Solenne in quest'ora - Nikolai Putilin
- Macbeth: Patria opressa - Chicago Symphony Orchestra And Chorus
- Il Trovatore: Tacea la notte - Katia Ricciarelli
- I due Foscari: Dal piu remoto esilio - Odio solo ed odio atroce - Jose Carreras
- Don Carlo: Spuntato ecco il di esultanza - Orchestra E Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano
Customer Reviews:
OKAY, TAKE ME AWAY........2006-01-20
Last summer we had an incredible 20th anniversary trip to Italy. As a side trip from Venice, we planned a night in Verona. Neither my wife or I had been to an opera.
Is this how its supposed to be...
...an incredible star filled night with a three quarter moon, the largest stage and outdoor theatrical production on the planet, all taking place in a roman colleseum (arena) built in 180 a.d., an incredible colorful set and production with a full symphony orchestra and voices that don't come easy. Aida.
Now I know what all the hpye is as you opera fans sure are lucky to have such a beautiful setting for all your productions.
Okay, we got spoiled. But I also found myself getting spoiled on the Italian composer Verdi.
For me, this set is not only a "take me back to Verona" trip, but a great introduction to Verdi's other works. With some of the biggest names in the opera world in starring roles, I listened to both discs twice the first night they arrived.
And, of course, we are planning a return trip to Verona in the very near future to see some more Verdi...perhaps Nabucco or Otello or Macbeth...I'll even settle for Aida again. It was such a magical experience and a superb introduction to opera and Verdi.
This set continues that magical moment for us and provides a great introduction to a master of the opera...Verdi.
Great music...stunning recording quality.......2002-11-01
Incredible.......2002-06-05
Just Stunning!.......2002-01-26
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Italian Renaissance Dances
Manufacturer: Hmf Classical Exp. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000059WLF Release Date: 2001-05-08 |
Tracks:
- Galliard III Based on "La Mantoana"
- Galliard
- Non Ha'l Ciel Cotanti Lumi - David Douglass, Ellen Hargis, Andrew Lawrence-King
- Qual Cadavero Spirante - David Douglass, Ellen Hargis, Andrew Lawrence-King
- Pavane II
- Se Pur Ver
- Dances from il Scolaro:Aria del Gran Duca
- Dances from il Scolaro:Gagliarda Di Santino Detto la Muzza
- Dances from il Scolaro:la Bergamesca
- Dances from il Scolaro: Basso Delle Ninfe
- Dances from il Scolaro: Bassa Gioiosa
- Dances from il Scolaro: Il Ceferino
- Gagliarda Falsa
- Lagrime d'Erminia - David Douglass, Ellen Hargis, Andrew Lawrence-King
- Sonatae Concertate, Book 2:Sonata XVI a 4
- O Durezza Di Ferro - David Douglass, Ellen Hargis, Andrew Lawrence-King
- Galliard
- DSoletto
- Galliard I, Known as "The Gallant One"
- Consonanze Stravaganti
Customer Reviews:
Thoroughly enjoyable.......2005-01-28
So give these performances a chance, because this disc is bursting with life and musicianship: The King's Noyse play like a group of old friends together; Andrew Lawrence-King's harp playing is enchanting, and Ellen Hargis produces richly nuanced, beautifully coloured and poignant performances of the laments. The whole mixture is delighful.
It's also superbly engineered: the sound is detailed, rich, vibrant and delicate. (It's set in a fairly warm acoustic, which may partly account for vvic's feeling of 'churchiness'.) A pity there are no sound samples here on Amazon.
I presume this is a re-release of an earlier disc. The budget savings come from corners cut in packaging - the booklet is fairly perfunctory, but as my Dad says, 'you pays your money. you takes your choice'!
ps. I'm a really terrible dancer!
Disappointed.......2003-05-04
Gratzi for the Italian Renaissance.......2002-03-24
I don't know if I should feel guilty for having spent so little on this CD or irritated that more CDs of this quality are not available at this price. The other releases I have heard from the Classical Express label have been as good. (e.g. Mozart Horn Concertos, French Love Songs)
refreshing, sprightly and fun.......2001-07-12
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Leontyne Price: The Ultimate Collection
Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00000J912 Release Date: 1999-05-25 |
Tracks:
- Aida: Ritorna vincitor
- Turandot: Signore, ascolta
- Le nozze di Figaro: Porgi amor
- Madama Butterfly: Un Bel Di
- Manon: Adieu, notre petite table
- Manon Lescaut: In quelle trine morbide
- Dido & Aeneas: Thy hand...when I am laid
- Il Trovatore: Che piu... Tacea la notte ...Di tale amor
- Les Nuits D'ete: Sur les lagunes
- Porgy & Bess: Summertime
- La rondine: Chi il bel sogno
- Carmen: Habanera
- La forza del destino: Son giunta...Madre.
- Vier letzte Lieder: Im Abendrot
- Ariadne auf Naxos: Es gibt ein Reich
Tracks:
- Aida: O Patria Mia
- TOSCA: Vissi d'arte
- Turandot: Tu che di gel cinta
- Le nozze di Figaro: Susanna
- Il Trovatore: Siam giunti
- Un Ballo in Maschera: Morro ma prima in grazia
- Carmen: Sequidille
- Il re pastore: L'amero
- Don Carlo: Tu che la vanita
- Suor Angelica: Senza Mama
- Anthony and Cleopatra: Give me my robe
- Madame Butterfly: Tu? tu?
- La forza del destino: Pace, pace mio Dio
Customer Reviews:
The Incomparable LEONTYNE PRICE: "The Stradivarius of Singers"!!.......2006-08-14
For those Opera-lovers who first encountered Ms. Price's magical vocalism from the recording studio, this collection includes the the entire legendary "Blue Album" which many operaphile consider to be one of the finest recordings ever. The selections gathered here vividly demonstrate the reason why Leontyne Price is regarded as the supreme VERDI soprano of her generation (30 years to date) a renowned PUCCINI specialist, and one of the greatest artists of all time. Recorded in the early 60's, Ms. Price's instrument was, in her own words "a juicy lyric". The intrinsic lyricism of her voice was aligned to warm, lustrous tone that pulsated in the middle voice, yielded a dark, uniquely sensuous sound in the lower regions, and gleamed with a distinctive, fast, liquid vibrato in the upper voice. That unique vibrato was elemental to this diva's ability to infuse Verdi and Puccini's most dramatic phrases with surging power (without pushing), and still produce lovely pianos in alt - soaring there with an ease that was singular to her, and that continued to her retirement in the 2002. Elsewhere the listener is treated to the rewards of Ms. Price's natural vocal evolution, wherein her voice developed into a full spinto with the middle throbbing, creamy, and lush, the low voice alternately chesty or breathy, slightly weaker -but retaining its smoky quality. It is in her upper voice, already superb, however, that Ms. Price revealed the rewards of maturation. The upper voice became rounder, less vibrant perhaps but refulgent with greater strength at the top, meeting the out-sized demands of STRAUSS and WAGNER (missing in this compilation) amongst others, while spinning out soft, exquisite pianos, and luxuriating in the long phrases of any number of composers, not the least of which were MOZART, VERDI and PUCCINI.
Leontyne Price recorded arias and scenas from every standard repertory VERDI opera with few exceptions (Nabucco/Luisa Miller/Vespri/Falstaff) in superlative fashion. Her onstage roles included the "Il Trovatore" Leonora, the role of her sensational MET debut (that resulted in a record 42 minute ovation), thrice recorded by her, and a signature role throughout her career. The selections on this recording were culled from her first complete recording of the opera. Here Ms. Price soars effortlessly to the heights repeatedly in "Tacea la notte", and sings the cabaletta fluently. "D'amor sull ali rosee" (once the sole property of Ms. Price's Verdian predecessor Zinka Milanov) is enhanced by the soprano's expert trills, musical nuances, and the glorious vibrato that carries her gossamer tones to the floated high C in alt. She was also the leading interpreter of Verdi's other Leonora -di Vargas- in "La Forza del Destino" which the diva recorded twice. There is also a Live MET performance available on DVD, recorded when the diva was nearing her retirement from Opera. (The two selections here also hail from her first complete recording of this work) "Son giunta!...Madre pietosa Vergine" is one of Verdi's most demanding scenas for soprano, but THIS soprano was a mistress of Verdian sweep, and supplies a wealth of dynamic shadings that illustrate the desperation of the hapless Leonora. Ms. Price produces silvery, vibrant, pulsing tone with amplitude that rises to the forte climaxes, riding them without overpowering the orchestra. This role was one of her most riveting potrayals from a dramatic viewpoint. The second "Forza" aria is the great lament "Pace, pace mio Dio" and is synonymous with Leontyne Price to this day. The diva sang this aria onstage more often than any other Verdi aria throughout her long career. Here she infuses the music with sorrow and despair, her voice in service to the text, and caps the aria with her stirring cries of "Maledizione!!" on a sustained forte high Bflat. Ms. Price's successful outings as Amelia are represented by the Act II aria "Morro, ma prima in grazia" from her stellar complete recording of "Un Ballo in Maschera". She sings the aria in a hushed, somber manner, climaxing on a brilliant high C, and with a lovely diminuendo at its end. One of the several operatic roles Ms. Price sadly did not assume onstage was Queen Elisabetta from "Don Carlo". We must be grateful for her warm, glowing, majesterial account of "Tu che le vanita", replete with burnished, opulent tone throughout. The leading newspaper of Italy said of Ms. Price that "..our great Verdi would have her the ideal Aida" and that sentiment has been adopted the world over. The "Aida" selections here are the first ones recorded by the American diva, and remains a revelation. In "Ritorna vincitor" the soprano's lyric instrument is indeed "juicy", declaiming her fierce opposition to the Egyptian invaders of her Ethiopian homeland with energetic and powerful vocalism. She then masterfully delineates the young princess' dilemma with fervent and youthful passion, ending with a prayerful "Numi pieta" suffused by warm, sable-colored tone. "O Patria mia" is another of Ms. Price's most revered performances, indeed the aria that garnered her a (5) five minute ovation on live television at her "farewell to Opera" performance in the same opera. The soprano injects Aida's farewell to her homeland with rich, smoky, plangent tones that rise effortlessly to a shining high C that bedeviled some of her most illustrous rivals, and would be bettered in the future only by the wonderful Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballe - and Ms. Price herself!!
Leontyne Price performed the veristic music of PUCCINI onstage in a number of his operas that included "Manon Lescaut"/"Tosca"/Madama Butterfly"/"La Faniculla del West"/"Il Tabarro"/ and "Turandot", albeit with less frequency than with Verdi. She brought a luminous, womanly quality to all of the composer's music. Here, she sings with particular intensity and emotion as the geisha girl Cio-Cio San (her favorite Puccini role)and offers limpid, melting tone as the fiery Roman prima donna Floria Tosca -the complete opera twice-recorded and highly-acclaimed. Puccini's music for the doomed Chinese slave-girl Liu are exquisitely sung, while "In quelle trine morbide" and "Senza mamma" benefit from the voluptuous, sensuous vocalism of the more mature Price. The most outstanding qualities of this diva in Puccini's music was a femininity and humanity, inherent in all of her singing, but most pronounced with this composer. She also fearlessly sang his highest phrases with a vocal splendor and freedom unrivalled by anyone, nowhere more than as the tragic Butterfly. However, until she retired from public singing, one aria remained a trademark for this diva: Chi bel sogno di Doretta" from Puccini's rarely performed operetta "La Rondine". The performance here was her first recording of it, and is a classic in its own right. Ms. Price's voice shimmers throughout, singing the high C with astonishing purity, and caressing, velvety tone elsewhere.
MOZART's operas also brought deserved glory to Ms. Price. Her plush-toned voice was considered to be almost too rich for some early in her career. This was amply belied by the rapturous reception her onstage performances brought her, most notably as Donna Anna, the leading lady of "Don Giovanni", ironically not included in this collection. Another aria Ms. Price enjoyed singing in concert, "Come scoglio" ("Cosi Fan Tutte") is missing here as well, though she performed the role of Fiordiligi at the MET. The soprano never performed in "Le Nozze di Figaro", but sang the scena "Dove sono" often in her live concerts, understandably, because of the smooth, elegant vocalism she lavished on this music. It is truly a pity that she didn't either record or perform the entire role. "Porgi amor" (also from Le Nozze) and "L'amero" (Il Re Pastore) were extracted from a Mozart aria recording, and are well-sung, if not as memorably as other Mozarteans.
It is good that RCA included several French selections, for Ms. Price's talents were marvellously well-suited to the Gallic idiom. Leontyne Price sang the leading role of Madame Lidoine in the American premiere of POULENC's "Dialogues des Carmelites", a few performances of MASSENET's "Thais" onstage (both sadly missing from this compilation) in addition to her celebrated recordings of BIZET's "Carmen" and BERLIOZ's song cycle "Nuits D'ete". She lent a deliciously silken tone to the more nuanced passions of the French repertoire. The "Carmen" excerpts are exceptionally vivid in Price's hands, successfully capturing the earthy, sultry qualities of one of Opera's more mercurial creatures. Ms. Price's lower register is richly displayed in the Berlioz song, while Manon's wistful, poignant "farewell" is sung with delicacy and shimmery tone.
The German wing is represented by music that Ms. Price sang onstage, and recorded as well. While the diva recorded Richard STRAUSS' entire "Four Last Songs" song cycle as well as the title heroine in a complete opera recording of "Ariadne auf Naxos" , the listener gets a good sampling of the potency, range, and the "dunkel" qualities she brought to this music. Fortunately, there is a CD of Richard Strauss arias sung by Ms. Price mid-career that is impressive in its breadth, and vocally sumptuous.
Versatility was a Price by-word. In the recording studio she stylishly performed the music of composers that ranged from the early music of PURCELL's "Dido & Aneas" to the 20th Century musings of Samuel BARBER, who wrote the opera "ANTONY & CLEOPATRA" for Ms. Price to open the New MET in 1966 - another historic milestone. Both selections included here are superbly rendered by the artist. The "Dido" aria is sung with a fuller, richer tone than is usually associated with this period (though it should be noted that two great Wagnerian sopranos Kirsten Flagstad and more recently Jessye Norman have been much admired in this music), but with no loss of style, her vibrato evoking pathos and beauty in this plaintive music. The "Antony" scena is sung with all of the majesty, seductive guile, and courage of Cleopatra, one of history's most storied women - and Ms. Price shines in this music written expressly for her voice. RCA also includes the diva's inimitable performance of "Summertime" the opening aria of GERSHWIN's American opera "Porgy and Bess".
This compilation is a superb introduction to the glories of this magnificent artist for a neophyte...and a treasure trove of musical excellence for the connoisseur of great voices, and they come no greater than America's diva assoluta soprano LEONTYNE PRICE.
Leontyne Price: The Ultimate Collection.......2005-07-20
Rolande M. Collins
The true prima donna asoluta.......2002-05-23
Fabulous singing, Overblown orchestras.......2002-04-10
But then I heard a remastering of the famous 1961 "Aida" with Vickers, Gorr and Merrill, and I realized how great a singer she was. That's when I started listening more seriously, and discovered a soprano who had a thorough command of her voice from the late '50s to the late '60s, not only in terms of vocal color but also in terms of phrasing. Listening to Price in her prime is incredible...she almost sounds as if she never breathed, her phrasing is so beautifully bound and poised. At the same time, however, I was disappointed by RCA's choice of partners for her on recordings. ...
This set goes a long way towards restoring the legend. Stripped of her sub-par partners (with the exception of Corelli's belting in the "Seguidilla" from "Carmen"), one can listen to Price's voice uncompromised, and it is a thrill. Even when the orchestra sounds detached and uninteresting, as it often does, Price seems to be on an entirely different wavelength, giving out with passion and great musicality. As for the selections chosen, they represent an excellent cross-section of Price's best work, even though the Purcell and Berlioz sound awfully heavy by today's standards and I can live without the "Anthony and Cleopatra" selection or the Strauss song.
One caveat I have is the lack of discographical information. No dates, orchestras or conductors are given. This is a grave injustice, even though the backup does not always meet expectations. On the plus side, all of the legendary "blue album" (her first recital discs for RCA in 1961) is presented complete, including the two selections from the July 1959 "Il Trovatore" that were on that LP...and in MUCH better, more focused sound. For this, and the heavy orchestral sound, I give the set only 4 stars...but for the singing alone I would give it eight!!
Fabulous!.......2002-01-19
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Prima Donna in Paris
Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000KLRUKM Release Date: 2007-05-08 |
Customer Reviews:
IN MEMORIUM - REGINE CRESPIN.......2007-06-19
These recordings were made during a transitional point in Madame Crespin's career. According to her autobiography she was rethinking and revising her repertoire (dramatic soprano to mezzo) while dealing with health and personal problems. It's no surprise that much of the singing finds her in less than her best voice. The Marguerite aria from Damnation of Faust pales in comparison with the earlier one she made for EMI (and Madame Crespin has admitted that the Decca engineers pieced this performance together from problematic individual takes). The operetta selections luckily are in a more sympathetic part of her voice and she sings them with style and humor. The selections from Carmen and Werther are still in the blueprint stage. She would later make a stronger mark on these roles when she fleshed them out in the theatre. The best of her "mature" singing career was yet to come, such as her success as Old Prioress in "Dialogues of the Carmelites", the title roles in "Pique Dame" and "The Medium".
Perhaps Decca will consider a two-CD retrospective set for her as they had for Sutherland, Horne, Lorengar, Resnik and Nilsson. The prime Decca recordings could be excerpted from recitals and complete operas. The selections would include the blue-ribbon Anserment-led Berlioz/Ravel set, the Poulenc songs and German lieder with Wustman, some of the excellent Italian opera arias from her first Decca aria recital, and selections from Walkure (Sieglinde) with Solti, Rosenkavalier (with Varviso from the out of print highlights disc rather than the complete Solti), and maybe even from the Karajan Walkure (Brunhilde). Get this one for the operetta selections alone.
P.S.: That proposed album will now have to be a tribute set. Madame Crespin sadly passed on July 5 in Paris. Rest in peace, cher Madame, et merci pour le musique.
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Italian Opera Arias
Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00018TIOA Release Date: 2004-02-10 |
Tracks:
- Lamento: E La Solita Storia
- Recitativo E Romanza: Inosservato...Angelo Casto E Bel
- Aria: Quanto E Bella
- Aria: Una Furtiva Lagrima
- Recitativo Ed Aria: Tombe Degli Avi Miei...Fra Poco
- Aria: Il L'ho Perduta...Io La Vidi
- Aria: Io L'ho Perduta...Io La Vidi
- Aria: O Figli...Ah! La Paterna Mano
- Scena Ed Aria: Ella Mi Fu Rapita...Parmi Veder
- Canzone: La Donna E Mobile
- Scena, Aria E Cabaletta: Lunge De Iei...De' Miei Bollenti...O Mio Rimorso
- Aria: Che Gelida Manina
- Aria: E Lucevan Le Stelle
- Aria: Anche Tu Beppe Giungi...O Amore
- Aria: Vergini, Muse...Quando Al Soave Anelito
Amazon.com
This is a glorious debut recital by a tenor, from whom, if he sings the right roles and keeps way from jet-setting and too much singing, might just be the lyrico-spinto tenor we've been waiting for. He has the class of Carlo Bergonzi and a ringing tone which is somewhere between Domingo's big, dark sound and Pavarotti's brightness; he sings with a true mezza voce (not a falsetto); he always obeys the composer's markings and delineates character. He seems incapable of vulgarity, refusing to gulp or sob when a musically expressive gesture will do. The opening aria here--from L'Arlesiana--is so beautifully, touchingly sung that it's a heartbreaker; he doesn't take the usually opted-for high note near the end, but never fear: in the Traviata and Bohème excerpts, Villazon offers big, whopping high Cs. This CD is a knockout; let's hope it's only the beginning of an illustrious career, both recorded and live. --Robert LevineCustomer Reviews:
Another supeb tenor........2007-05-13
The one........2006-06-24
A New Star voice.......2005-09-25
I don't really want to ruin the magic of his singing, with caddy comparisons, but it is sufficient to say that he excellent. Many compare his to Domingo, to that I would say that Villazon has an ease to his top that Domingo never had, but perhaps lacks the focus and thickness of Domingo's lower registers.
Overall what hits you most about Villazons performance, is the induviduality of his interpretations and voice. The top of his voice has a ring and tone that sets his apart from the pack.
To my ear, he sounds at his best in the Mid Period verdi, where the cut of voice come through in the long high-lying passage, (expecially the cut from Traviata,
Enjoy this incredible singer
Quite Good.......2005-05-26
Promising debut by new lyric tenor.......2005-05-05
This recital of Italian opera arias presents Villazon near the alpha of his career (one appearance as the Steersman on the Barenboim Flying Dutchman before, for Teldec) and the conductor at his omega - the just deceased Marcello Viotti, at the age of 52, who suddenly replaced Sinopoli in Berlin for the second of two performances of Verdi's Aida in 2001. Sinopoli had passed away at 54 the night of the first performance that weekend in Berlin.
On first impression, Federico's lament from Cilea's L'Arlesiana is taken too slowly, and yet from repeated listening to this disc, it is one of nearly half a dozen selections that contribute the most to making this an interesting recital. The lachrymose manner and delivery here, though, sets a little too much of an overall tone for the rest of the recital, including its several or so lighter numbers. Said to also be a Caruso favorite, the aria from Donizetti's Duca d'Alba is a real highlight as close to being Schubertian in feeling as some Verdi - as late into Verdi's work as Forza and Don Carlo. Villazon's singing here is as warmly ardent as you'll find anywhere on this disc, and his personal identification with the character of Don Carlo, several tracks later, is as complete as that of its best interpreters of the recent past, Placido Domingo especially.
The two Elisir d'amore selections are pleasant vocally, but too dark, especially the start to so many phrases of "Una furtiva." The remorse felt during the opening aria of the Tomb Scene from Lucia, after a slightly uncertain start, is entirely felt. Oronte's brief aria from Verdi's Lombardi is handled with an easy, pleasant swagger from both Villazon and Viotti, leading one to expect similar lightness in selections that soon follow, and which is not entirely forthcoming; the beginning of the recitative to "Parmi veder" from Rigoletto shows a palpable anxiety in this peculiar moment for the Duke in which he finds himself. Intonation falters momentarily at the end of this aria. "Ah! la paterna mano", after good recitative, gets pushed a little too forward, robbing the crest of several lines in it their full expressive potential. Contrast of expression between Alfredo's aria and cabaletta from Traviata is so minimal, almost to have been erased altogether; Viotti here, so deft and highly musical an accompanist he is for most of the rest of this disc, is similarly disengaged. Connecting music between aria and cabaletta and repeat of the latter both get awkwardly cut.
That leaves four verismo tracks for the remainder of this disc. Most distinctively sung is "E lucevan le stelle" from Tosca, but frequently quite close to sounding a copy of Domingo's interpretation. The honeyed placement for the top of the staff, once the voice takes on the melodic line, could hardly remind you of anyone else. "Che gelida manina" is also given a fine performance here, but begins to lose all consonants on a couple of words right before the ascent to the high C in the aria. After hearing Dino Borgioli and Cesare Valletti as Fritz, each more of a benchmark than Pavarotti, it is hard to identify the villager Fritz, from how disinteresed Villazon sounds. A slight cut is taken between two portions of recitative before Fritz's Act III aria. "Quando al soave anelito" from Mascagni's Nerone, obviously a rarity, is one for which I can only find a Domingo recital before. Here, the singing is fine, but the youthful sense of wonderment for Nero, in his vision of Venus, as wordly-wise a fellow he is, gets understated. Accompaniments to these four arias are mostly as fine as the others, but all come to abrupt endings, the endings of Boheme and Amico Fritz which lose all their shimmer here.
Much criticism here, but there is also much hope felt from listening to this disc, for a bright future for Mr. Villazon still. He is only seldom a conscientious and musical performer, but as opposed to what the liner notes might say, part of being musical in singing such selections or opera in general, is being specific for each character being portrayed here. Villazon should also take note that his singing is most interesting and also most easy to distinguish from his widely celebrated mentor, when he sings lightly. First impressions are strong - I first anticipated awarding this disc five stars - but unfortunately it just barely deserves four. Sound quality, if a bit heavily miked for climaxes and a bit recessed for the orchestra, especially at closings to arias, is warm and full.
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