Bella Italia

1. Gloria

2. Funiculì, Funiculà

3. Rosetta

4. Bella Ciao - Italian Street Singers

5. Italiano

6. Danza (Tarantella)

7. Cacciator del Bosco

8. Braghe Bianche - Italian Street Singers

9. Serenata - Italian Street Singers

10. 'O Marenariello

11. Santa Lucia

12. Vinassa Vinassa

13. Donna È Mobile - Italian Street Singers

14. Mamma Petename - Italian Street Singers

15. Moretto Moretto

16. Parlami d'Amore, Mari×

Bella Italia,Various Artists,Premium Music Coll.,Int'l & World Music,Italy,Pop,World Beat Collections

Average customer rating: Ballate con formaggio!

Bella Italia Various Artists Manufacturer: Br Music Holland ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Italy | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Italian | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00005UCFH Release Date: 2002-07-18

Tracks:

1. Ma Quale Idea - Pino d'Angio
2. Far l'Amore Comincia Tu
3. Su Di Noi - Pupo
4. Storie de Tutti Giorni - Riccardo Fogli
5. Silenzio - Nino Rosso
6. Mama Maria
7. Mama Leone - Bino
8. Felicita - Al Bano, Romina Power
9. Tornero - I Santo California
10. Cogli la Prima Mela - Angelo Branduardi
11. Tu Cosa Fai Stasera - Dario Baldan Bembo
12. I Trenti Di Tozeur - Franco Battiato
13. Lontananza - Frank Michael
14. Mauela - Rocco Granata
15. Mama - Robertino
16. Chitarra Romana (Roman Guitar) - Connie Francis
17. Torna a Surriento - Demis Roussos
18. Y Solo Tu - Christian Bacchellier
19. Pazza Idea - Patty Pravo
20. Sharazan - Al Bano, Romina Power

Tracks:

1. Italiano - Toto Cutugno
2. Una Lacrima Sul Viso
3. Bambola - Patty Pravo
4. Liberta - Romina Power
5. Via Con Me - Paolo Conte
6. Roberta - Peppino Di Capri
7. Uakado, Uakadi
8. Solo Tu - Matia Bazar
9. Ti Amo - Umberto Tozzi
10. Non Ho l'Eta - Gigliola Cinquetti
11. Maledetta Primavera - Loretta Goggi
12. Mondo - Jimmy Fontana
13. Caruso - Lucio Dalla
14. Santa Maria - Oliver Onions
15. Senza Una Donna - Zucchero
16. Vado Via - Drupi
17. M'Innamoro Di Te - Ricchi e Poveri
18. Ti Sento - Matia Bazar
19. Lu Maritiello
20. Era - Dori Ghezzi, Wess Ghezzi

Customer Reviews:

Ballate con formaggio! .......2005-12-08

This first 2-CD BELLA ITALIA collection has lots of catchy corny songs. Patty Pravo's LA BAMBOLA, whose tune Spanish speakers may recognize from their madrelingua version, is featured in the beautiful film RESPIRO, starring Valeria Golino as a free-spirited mamma on the isle of Lampedusa. Drupi's melanchonic VADO VIA, Toto Cugino's anthem, L'ITALIANO, Pino D'Angio's macho-aggressive disco-beat classic MA QUALE IDEA... tanto formaggio, tanto amore, tanto tanto tanto (no Jovanotti: too hip). If you like corny pop that must also be catchy pop, there's a lot to enjoy here. Mangiate bene, cheeselovers!
P.S.: BELLA ITALIA 2, the second 2-CD collection (sold separately) isn't as satisfying as this first collection.

Average customer rating: A Funny side we dont hear often Delightful and surprising Callas So funny Deliciously funny! Only for Callas lovers

Rossini: Il Turco In Italia (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Nicolai Gedda, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan Gioachino Rossini , Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala , Gianandrea Gavazzeni , Maria Callas , Nicola Rossi-Lemeni , Nicolai Gedda , Mariano Stabile , Piero de Palma , and Franco Calabrese Manufacturer: EMI Records [All429] ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Callas, Maria | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Rossini: The Barber Of Seville with Maria Callas, Tito Gobbi, Alceo Galliera, Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus Verdi: Rigoletto (Complete Opera); Maria Callas; Tito Gobbi; Giuseppe di Stefano Bizet: Carmen (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Nicolai Gedda, Georges Pretre, Paris Opera Orchestra Verdi: La Forza Del Destino (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Richard Tucker, Tullio Serafin, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan Puccini: Turandot (Complete Opera) Maria Callas; Elisabeth Schwarzkopf: Eugenio Fernandi; Tullio Serafin ASIN: B000002RY2 Release Date: 1997-08-19

Tracks:

1. Il Turco In Italia: Sinfonia
2. Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene 1- Nostra patria (Zaida, Albazar)
3. Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Ho da fare un dramma buffo (Poeta, Coro)
4. Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Ah! se di questi zingari l'arrivo (Poeta)
5. Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Vado in traccia di una zingara (Geronio)
6. Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Chi vuol farsi astrologar? (Geronio, Zaida, Coro)
7. Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Ah, mia moglie, san chi sono (Geronio, Zaida, Coro)
8. Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Non si da follia maggiore (Fiorilla)
9. Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Voga, voga, a terra, a terra (Coro, Fiorilla)
10. Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Bella Italia, alfin ti miro
11. Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Serva...Servo... (Selim, Fiorilla)
12. Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Amici...soccorretemi
13. Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Un marito-scimunito!
14. Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene II: Ola tosto il caffe (Fiorilla, Selim)
15. Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene II: Siete turchi, non vi credo
16. Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene II: Io stupisco, mi sorprende
17. Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene II: Come! si grave scorno soffrir potete in pace? (Fiorilla, Selim, Geronio, Narciso)
18. Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene II: Un vecchio far non puo maggior follia (Geronio, Poeta, Fiorilla)
19. Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene II: Per piacere alla signora
20. Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene II: No, mia vita, mio tesoro (Geronio, Fiorilla)
21. Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene III: Gran meraviglie (Coro, Zaida)
22. Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene III: Per la fuga e tutto lesto (Selim, Poeta, Zaida)
23. Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene III: Perche mai se son tradito (Norciso)
24. Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene III: Evviva d'amore il foco vitale (Coro)
25. Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene III: Chi servir non brama Amor s'allontani (Fiorilla, Selim)
26. Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene III: Qui mia moglie ha da venire
27. Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene III: Ah! che il cor non mi'ingannava (Geronio, Fiorilla, Selim, Narciso, Poeta, Zaida)
28. Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene III: Vada via, si guardi bene di cercar l'amante mio (Zaida, Fiorilla, Selim, Narciso, Geronio, Albazar, Poeta)

Tracks:

1. Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: A proposito, amico (Selim, Poeta, Geronio)
2. Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: D'un bell'uso di Turchia
3. Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: Se Fiorilla di vender bramate (Selim, Geronio)
4. Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: Non v'e piacer perfetto se nol procura amor (Coro, Fiorilla)
5. Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: Che turca impertinente! (Fiorilla, Zaida, Selim)
6. Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: Credete alle femmine che dicon d'amarvi!
7. Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: In Italia certamente non si fa l'amor cosi (Selim, Fiorilla)
8. Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: Fermate...Cosa c'e? (Poeta, Geronio, Narciso)
9. Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: E Selim non si vede!
10. Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: Oh! guardate che accidente! (Fiorilla, Narciso, Selim, Zaida, Geronio)
11. Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene II: Dunque seguitemi
12. Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene II: Questo vecchio maledetto (Selim, Narciso, Selim, Zaida, Geronio)
13. Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene III: Si mi e forza partir
14. Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene III: Son la vite sul campo appassita (Fiorilla, Poeta, Geronio)
15. Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene III: Rida a voi sereno il cielo
16. Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene III: Restate contenti (coro, Selim, Zaida, Poeta, Fiorilla, Geronio, Narciso)

Customer Reviews:

A Funny side we dont hear often.......2005-11-07

Callas is so associated with her roles of tragic women such as Norma, Lucia ,Violeta and Tosca that her talent for other roles are overshadowed. The La Divina is so versatile and talented that people almost forget that she is equally good in tragic and light comedy roles. The light and comic side of Callas is not often revealed. This recording proves that the charming and witty music that suites the character of Fiorilla is suited for the great talent of Maria Callas .The other performers in this recording did a superb job in their performances. Selim is a charm, Nicolai Gedda shows youth, and Stabile creates an impression in his role as Prosdocimo. Overall this is the Best Il turco in Italia among the three versions I have heard. So for Callas fans who want to hear the other side of Callas purchase this recording its worth every penny.

Delightful and surprising Callas.......2005-08-13

I have been looking for this CD for a long time. I had an old set in tape format. When EMI first remastered this performance in CD, it was very expensive for me at the time. This performance goes in and out of production, I guess it does not sell well, which it is a shame, because these are superb performances from all the principals and supporting cast.

This recording is a joy to listen to. Who knew that all these singers known for their powerful dramatic performances in heavy hitters such as Bellini's "Norma" could be such great comedians. Their performances are a feast for the ears.

My most favorite scene is from Disc 1 tracks 18 to 21. It is hilarious to hear Callas singing the crafty Fiorilla, playing the "offended" wife to her husband's attempts to rein in her roving eye!. When she sings "No mia vita...mio tesoro" (No my darling... my treasure) with such fake sticky-honeyed-tongue,you can HEAR her fake tears. Callas subtly overplays her singing from such roles as Elvira and Medea in this very small scene alone. She does it with such mastery, you can hear the musical threads of Elvira from "Qui la voce" in Fiorilla's "voi crudele!... mi fatte oltraggio! mi offendete!" (you cruel one!, you humilliate me!, you offend me!) in such pitiable tones that her husband bids good-bye to his courage after listening to such demonstrations of wounded dignity and pride.

She sings her fake tears in such a way, that, for a moment you feel sorry for this wronged woman! then, through a subtle change in the shading of the notes,you realize, she's faking them! thorough the music, you can picture Fiorilla, looking thorough her fingers at her husband, pouring it on, laying it on thick, watching the effect her "tears" are having on the poor chap.

When he kneels at her feet defeated, begging forgiveness, she rounds on him with such a Medea-esque fury in "ed ossate minnaciarmi! maltratarmi, spaventarmi! (and you dare to threaten me, mistreat me, scare me!) that the unhappy, innocent, unsuspecting, antler-addled man has no idea how he lost the argument!!. When Fiorilla knows she's won, you can hear again on her music, how blythely, happily and carefree, she goes out enjoying her power. I replay this scene over and over. And along with her husband, I am caught unaware and became dumbstruck by her tears and her fury.

My other favorite scene is on track 28, when Fiorilla and Zaida have a fight. The have such a row, you cannot help but to picture these two women in an Italian open-air market, among the produce and fish stalls with those typical italian gestures, being dragged away from each other by their embarrased lovers hurling abuse at each other trying to have the last word.

If you want a more musical critique regarding this opera, John Ardoin's "The Callas Legacy" book is a superb source explaining Callas' musical genius. Ardoin will give you greater details on the music execution of the entire cast and interesting tidbits on one of the cast members, Aureliano Pertile.

The booklet that accompanies this set is very informative and in various languages. I love this set and hope that whoever listens to it will enjoy as much as I do. I wonder how Cecilia Bartoli's Turco would measure against Callas'. Although I love and admire Cecilia's ability to sing bel canto roles and her deft handling of Rossini's music,but, I'm afraid I know and love Callas's singing skills even more.

So funny.......2004-06-13

This is proof that those who say that Callas couldn't sing happy or funny parts. Her Fiorilla is deliciously funny. Absolutely exquisite, a must!

Deliciously funny!.......2004-01-28

I saw her live in this role... She was the funniest Fiorilla ever! An enchanting must for every operalover!

Only for Callas lovers.......2001-06-15

Yes, this recording is only for Callas lovers, because she do so well her part in this ultra-cut recording. Rossi-Lemeni doesn't reach the power of Ramey, but Stabile print his personal and arcaic way of singing and doing comedy. But for Rossini lovers, this recording seems a "demo" or "sample" one, because there are parts in pieces or complete pieces which has been cut (it must be because there was not a critic edition of this opera). I'm disapointed of Rossini when I listened Il Turco (i didnt never heard this opera) but when i heard the Marriner and Chailly recording, I disapointed from Gavazzeni and La Scala. If this was recorded in the critical and complete edition, it was the definitive recording (the same appreciation applies for the Puritani, Barbiere, Sonnambula, Lucia, Norma, etc)

Average customer rating: Disappointing A Must Have Wunderlich CD More Wunderlich - Gott sei dankt!

Fritz Wunderlich: Historical Recordings 1954-1965 Manufacturer: Hanssler Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Gluck | Gluck, Christoph W. | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Lehár, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Alessandro Scarlatti | Scarlatti, Alessandro | ( S ) | 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 | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Cantatas | Romances Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | 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 Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music | Cantatas | Romances Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: Fritz Wunderlich: Great German Tenor Very Best of Schumann: Dichterliebe / Wunderlich, Giesen The Art of Fritz Wunderlich The Magic of Wunderlich [Includes Bonus DVD] ASIN: B00004Z3YL Release Date: 2000-09-26

Tracks:

1. Rigoletto: La Donna E Mobile
2. Tosca: Und Es Blitzten Die Sterne
3. Der Zarewitsch: Allein, Wieder Allein
4. Sprich Mir Von Der Liebe, Marlu
5. Wenn Der Mund Schweigt
6. Gunther Von Schwarzburg: Shonster Sohn Des Himmels! Holder Frieden!
7. Rosaura: Quel Povero Core
8. Die Gerechtfertigte Unschuld: Alte Eiche An Schwindelnden Hangen
9. Prinzessin Ti-Ti-Pa: Einmal Hat Mir Zur Fruhlingszeit Das Gluck Gelacht
10. Wir Reisen Um Die Welt: Wann Kommt Die Eine, Die Ich Liebe
11. Extrablatter: Wie Tanzen Dort Die Paare
12. Signorina: Arrivederci, Bella Italia
13. Die rose Von Stambul: O Rose Von Stambul
14. Estrellita
15. Wolken Geh'n Am Himmel
16. Giuditta: Freunde, Das Leben Ist Lebenswert
17. Ein Lied Geht Um Die Welt
18. Ich Kusse Ihre Hand Madame
19. Tiritomba
20. Granada

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2003-07-29

I bought this disc based on my love of Wunderlich's Dichterliebe, which is one of my favorite CDs of all time. Well, I could hardly have been more disappointed. This is a collection of sappy old tunes, sung in a very sentimental and overdramatic way. If you're a fan of Bocelli and his ilk, go for it. Otherwise, stay clear!

A Must Have Wunderlich CD.......2000-12-19

This is a "must have" for any Wunderlich fan. I have a large Wunderlich collection full of many duplicate songs. I have heard none of these recordings before, however. A very positve plus is that many of the selections were recorded during the last year of his life - and in stereo! The collection opens with a stereo recording of "La donna mobile" in Italian! This is the first I have heard Wunderlich sing this in the original language. It then includes the same Tosca aria that is included in the 5 CD Deutsch Grammophone collection sung in German - however this recording is in stereo. Actually, I hesitated to buy this CD since it was called a "Historical Recording." I was sure that it would all be mono recordings. I was pleasantly surprised to hear the many stereo renditions. Many of the songs are different interpretations of pieces released by a major label. Some are songs that he recorded for a label, but have not been released yet - like "Tiritombe." Also, "Ich kusse ihre hand..." has only been released on casette. The CD ends with "Granada." This is the same arrangement as the DG release - but a different, and still very thrilling, interpretation!

The CD also has many previously unreleased recordings of his earlier singing years. It is fascinating to chronical the vocal maturity of such a wonderful artist. The singing fare is decidedly light - but like everything else he sang, Wunderlich does it right. This is singing at its highest!

More Wunderlich - Gott sei dankt!.......2000-10-17

I was thrilled to get this cd with some Wunderlich arias I had never heard before. I have loved his voice since I first heard it (on LP) in 1966. The fascinating thing about this cd is that there are selections recorded as early as 1954 (when he was only 23) back-to back with arias recorded in 1965 and 1966, just before he died at the age of 35. The voice was beautiful at 23 but what a tremendous amount of growth in sound and interpretation just 11 years later. The booklet also provides some biographical information I had not seen before; e.g. in his early days, Wunderlich had a heavy Pfalz accent (the region in which he was born). He had to overcome this -- which obviously he did. His diction and enunciation are among the purest ever recorded. I visited his hometown in Kusel, Germany as few years ago. You can see where he was born; there is a library with costumes, pictures and recordings and a concert hall named after him. (Even the local furniture company is called "Moebil Fritz"! Buy this album -- it's a treasure!

Average customer rating: Not bad at all ... for what it is An honor roll of Verdi recordings Una compra obligada para todos los verdianos An excellent little compilation An incredible celebration! Viva Verdi!

Viva Verdi! A 100th Anniversary Celebration Giuseppe Verdi , Hungarian State Opera Orchestra , New Philharmonia Orchestra , National Philharmonic Orchestra , Wiener Philharmoniker , Orchestra del Teatro all Scala , Munich Bavarian State Orchestra , Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra , Neville Marriner , Lamberto Gardelli , Nello Santi , Fabio Luisi , Claudio Abbado , Peter Maag , Carlo Maria Giulini , Tullio Serafin , Carlos Kleiber , Francesco Molinari-Pradelli , Herbert von Karajan , Plácido Domingo , Carlo Bergonzi , Fiorenza Cossotto , Lajos Miller , Sylvia Sass , Jose Carreras , Montserrat Aparici , Sherrill Milnes , Giovanni Foiani , Shirley Verrett , Ruggero Raimondi , Montserrat Caballe , Alexander Oliver , Luciano Pavarotti , Matteo Manuguerra , Thomas Moser , Maria Venuti , Piero Cappuccilli , Anthony Michaels-Moore , and Roberto Scandiuzzi Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music ASIN: B00004ZB9N Release Date: 2000-11-14

Tracks:

1. Oberto: Sinfonia - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
2. Un giorno di regno: Scena e cavatina: Ah non m'hanno ingannata!...Grave a core innamorato (Marchesa) - Fiorenza Cossotto
3. Nabucco: Coro: Va, pensiero, sull'ali dorate - Wiener Staatsopernchor
4. I lombardi: Scena E Cavatina: La Mia Letizia Infondere... Come Poteva Un Angelo (Oronte, Sofia) - Placido Domingo
5. Ernani: Duetto: Da qual di che t'ho veduta (Don Carlo, Elvira) - Lajos Miller
6. I due Foscari: Atto II, preludio - Scena: Notte! perpetua notte (Jacopo) - Jose Carreras
7. Giovanna d'Arco: Sotto una quercia parvemi (Carlo VII) - Carlo Bergonzi
8. Alzira: Scena a cavatina: Riposa. Tutte, in suo dolor vegliante...Da Gusman (Alzira, Chorus, Zuma) - Marina Mescheriakova
9. Attila: E' gettata la mia sorte (Ezio) - Sherrill Milnes
10. Macbeth: Scena e cavatina: Vieni! t'affretta!...Or tutti sorgette (Lady Macbeth) - Giovanni Foiani
11. I masnadieri: Racconto: Un ignoto (Massimiliano) - Ruggero Raimondi
12. Jerusalem: Je veux encore entendre ta voix - Marcello Giordani
13. Il corsaro: Cavatina: Ne sulla terra creatura alcuna (Gulnara) - Alexander Oliver
14. la battaglia di Lagnano: Coro: Viva Italia! - Chor und Synphonieorchester des ORF
15. Luisa Miller: Quando le sere al placido (Rodolfo) - Luciano Pavarotti
16. Stiffelio: Scena finale: Stiffelio! - Eccomi! - Sylvia Sass

Tracks:

1. Rigoletto: Quartetto: Bella figlia dell'amore - Piero Cappuccilli
2. Il Trovatore: Stride la vampa! (Azucena) - Fiorenza Cossotto
3. La Traviata: Atto I, preludio - Bayerisches Staatsorchester
4. La Traviata: Brindisi: Libiamo ne' lieti calici (Alfredo, Violetta) - Placido Domingo
5. La Traviata: Scena ed aria: Finale (Violetta): E' strano!...Ah, fors'e lui - Bayerisches Staatsorchester
6. La Traviata: Follie! Delirio vano e questo!...Sempre libera - Ileana Cotrubas
7. Les Vepres sicilliennes: Giorno di pianto (Arrigo) - Carlo Bergonzi
8. Simon Boccanegra: Atto I, preludio - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala
9. Aroldo: Scena e quartetto finale (excerpt): Allore che gl'anni - Neil Shicoff
10. Un ballo maschera: Di' tu se fedele (Riccardo) - Luciano Pavarotti
11. La forza del destino: Pace, pace mio Dio (Leonora) - Renata Tebaldi
12. Don Carlos: Dio, che nell'alma infondere (Don Carlos, Posa) - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
13. Aida: Se quel guerrier io fossil...Celeste Aida (Radames) - Jon Vickers
14. Aida: Qui Radames verra...O patria mia (Aida) - Leontyne Price
15. Otello: Ave Maria (Desdemona) - Renata Tebaldi
16. Falstaff: Facciamo il parentado...Tutto nel mondo e burla - Renato Bruson
17. Requiem: Requiem aeternam, Kyrie - Luciano Pavarotti

Amazon.com

It's rare for sampler albums to demonstrate originality, but Decca's Giuseppe Verdi compilation honoring the 100th anniversary of the composer's death in 1901 goes beyond putting a smorgasbord of Verdiana on your plate. Its lavishly illustrated 100-page book includes a potted bio of the composer and sections on each of his operas, along with Universal's complete Verdi catalog (but no texts or translations). The discs contain samples from each opera, arranged in chronological order, featuring most of the top singers of the past 40 years. They're all here, from the Three Tenors to their betters, like Jon Vickers, whose powerfully sung "Celeste Aida" is a demonstration of individuality at the service of character portrayal, and Carlo Bergonzi, whose two selections (arias from Giovanna del Arco and Les Vêspres siciliennes) are magnificent demonstrations of the true Verdi style. And this is not just another Great Hits compilation, for many of the operas are represented by rarely heard arias and ensemble pieces. The result: a neat introduction to Verdi's glorious music for neophytes and a nice supplement for Verdians, who will discover new aspects to the Bard of romantic opera. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Not bad at all ... for what it is.......2007-05-03

This two-CD set purports to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of Giuseppe Verdi's death by highlighting the whole arc of his operatic career (including his Requiem) in thirty-three tracks. This is, of course, plainly an impossible task. In general, each opera gets a single selection taken from complete performances that happened to be issued by Decca, Phillips or Deutsche Grammaphon. Since none of the three organizations had recorded either "I vespri Siciliani" or "Giovanna D'Arco," appropriate tenor arias were taken from a concert selection by Carlo Bergonzi. As the previous reviewer, Mr. Listener, pointed out, exceptions were made for "La Traviata" with four selections (all from the same recording) and "Aida" with two (ditto). In addition to those, the much more obscure "Stefellio" sneaked in the back door with a second selection from the re-written and re-named "Aroldo." The same can be said for "I Lombardi alla prima Crociata," subsequently Frenchfied as "Jerusalem."

Ten operas, "Oberto," "I Lombardi," "Ernani," "Alzira," "Macbeth," "Jerusalem," "Simon Bocanegra," "Aroldo," "Un ballo in maschera," and "Falstaff," were recorded digitally, the most recent being "Alzira" from 1999. The remaining selections were taken from digitally re-mastered analogue recordings. The oldest of them, by far, is the fabulous 1955 Tebaldi recording of "La forza del destino." Each of these recordings was made with the leading-edge technology of its day. None has lost anything in this re-issue. Their sound should be more than satisfactory to anyone except the most narrow-minded audio purist.

Among the singers, Bergonzi, Caballe, Carreras, Cortrubas, Cosotto, Domingo, Horne, Ricciarelli, Sutherland, Tebaldi and Vickers are certainly on the A-list. The others, for the most part, are also good. The conductors are uniformly strong, although none of the others was as perfectly suited to this music as the venerable Tullio Serafin, heard here only in "Il trovatore."

The set comes with the two CDs tucked away in pockets on the front and back boards of a small, bound book. The book consista of 103 pages of historical commentary, illustrations of Verdi, his wife, his collaborators, premiere productions of the operas and, just by chance, advertisements touting opera recordings from Decca, Phillips and Deutsche Grammophon.

All the original recordings were good, but only the "Otello," "Aida" and "Forza" would have any great number of fans regarding them as the best of the best, although the curiously underrated and largely forgotten "Trovatore" under Serafin is very, very good, too. As a matter of purely personal taste, I would rank only the "Forza" as without peer.

No collection that ignores the catalogues of EMI and RCA--or even the old, rough and ready CETRA, can possibly be regarded as definitive. Nevertheless, on the whole, this is a respectable attempt at its self-imposed impossible task. As I write, "Viva Verdi!" is available from various Amazon sellers at prices ranging from $8.70 to $18.68. If you are interested in a Verdi sampler, this one is a bargain.

Four sampled stars.

An honor roll of Verdi recordings.......2005-10-28

This is a commercial sampler whose 100-page book is basically a promo for the Verdi operas made by Decca, Philips, and DG. Usually such products offer insubstantial snippets, and in a sense that's true here. Verdi's operatic output from Oberto to Falstaff is given one exceprt each except for La Traviata (4) and Aida (2). The Requiem also gets a piece of the action.

The second CD, beginning with the quartet from Rigoletto, carries us into completely familiar territory. And the book is only interesting as a reminder of an honor roll of recordings that Verdi has received. It was admirable for Philips to record so much early music with great singers like Carreras and Caballe in their absolute prime.

It's the exposure of these thrilling voices that ties this collection together. Every snippet is in good osund and displays some kind of vocal excellence, often in operas like Jerusalemma or Giovanna d'Arco that few of us are likely to buy. Azira, I Due Foscari, Atila? Without this sampler these would still just be names on a page to me. Now I have a vivid, living memory of them, which is all a composer could ask for.

Una compra obligada para todos los verdianos.......2005-02-09

Este doble cd acompañado de un libro de mas de 100 paginas con comentarios sobre Verdi, sus óperas una a una, y un catalogo de discografia verdiana recomendable incluye 33 fragmentos musicales de TODAS las operas de Verdi, ademas de uno de su Requiem.
Mas alla de los fragmentos de las obras realmente conocidas (todos aqui presentes en versiones de primera clase, con solistas como Domingo, Carreras, Tebaldi, Verrett, Millnes...) el principal punto de interes de este disco radica en encontrar autenticas rarezas, como una amplia escena (12') de "Alzira" a cargo de la prometedora Marina Mescheriakova, o el poder comparar el 'La mia letizia infondere' (de I Lombardi) con el 'Je veux encore entendere' (de Jerusalem, la revision francesa de I Lombardi). En la primera encontramos a un Placido Domingo pletorico y en la segunda (mas aguda) a un Marcello Giordani sin miedo al agudo. Dos operas (Alzira y Jerusalem) nunca antes grabadas en estudio.
Una fiesta verdiana obligada, tanto para los aficcionados que quieran iniciarse como para aquellos que ya son iniciados y quieren disfrutar una vez mas con Verdi en estado puro. ¡VIVA VERDI!

An excellent little compilation.......2003-05-29

This is a great little set, better in its breadth than its depth. I came to appreciate this collection when I was putting together a score for a show entitled: "Eat your greens; The complete operas of Verdi performed in 20 minutes by a cast of vegetables" Let me assure you, when you're trying to get every Verdi opera down to 20 or so seconds and score it with a pithy arrangement of a passage, you're going to need someone to narrow it down to about one number per opera for the bulk of the shows. If I wasn't able to reference this, I would have had to look much harder and spent a lot more money to get things like the complete Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio and Alzira. This collection provided me with stellar recordings of the cream of each Verdi opera, all well recorded by major artists. In addition to this admittedly obscure usage, the collection provides a splendid overview of Verdi's truly massive career, from his early beginnings, where he nearly out-Rossinis Rossini (if that were possible) to his colossal Requiem, Falstaff, and Otello, which are arguably Wagnerian in scope and ambition. Short of a college course, and the Budden book, I can't think of any better way to internalize his acheivement than to listen to this superbly compiled and elegantly packaged delight. I recommend it highly.

An incredible celebration! Viva Verdi!.......2000-12-05

This album which is celebrating Verdi's works, is wonderful. I could say these cds present the best singers of our times singing Verdi's operas. I also noticed that here we can hear many less known works. In fact, almost all the Verdi's operas are contained in this magnificent album. As the title says: " a great celebration"

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Bella Italia: From the Aspen Music Festival Hugo Wolf , Tchaikovsky Souvenirs of Florence , Mats (b. 1959) Lidstrom , Niccolo Paganini , Alison Ames , Masao Kawasaki , Benny Kim , Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg , Ryo Sasaki , and Lynn Harrell Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Sextets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Paganini, Niccolò | ( 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 Wolf | Wolf, Hugo | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Salerno-Sonnenberg, Nadja | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Brahms: Violin Concerto in D/Bruch: Concerto #1 in G Minor; Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg Humoresque Barber: Violin Concerto; Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 Speaking in Strings Tchaikovsky & Assad: Concertos in D major ASIN: B000002RWQ Release Date: 1997-04-15

Tracks:

1. Italian Serenade
2. Souvenir de Florence Op.70: l. Allegro con spirito
3. Souvenir de Florence Op.70: ll.Adagio cantabile e con moto
4. Souvenir de Florence Op.70: lll. Allegretto moderato
5. Souvenir de Florence Op.70: lV. Allegro vivace
6. Carnival of Venice: l. Waltz
7. Carnival of Venice: ll. March
8. Carnival of Venice: lll. Theme
9. Carnival of Venice: lllb. Theme Alternative Moderne
10. Carnival of Venice: lV. Scene d'amour
11. Carnival of Venice: V. Rumba
12. Moto perpetuo

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Italia Bella The Mantovani Orchestra Manufacturer: Madacy Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Easy Listening | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Easy Listening | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: The Best of the Mantovani Orchestra Many Moods of the Mantovani Orchestra Golden Hits The Incomparable Mantovani Mantovani's Golden Hits ASIN: B000000KNR Release Date: 1995-04-16

Tracks:

1. Italian Fantasia
2. More
3. Carnival In Venice
4. Nessun Dorma
5. La Danza
6. Three Coins In The Fountain
7. Summertime In Venice
8. Arrivederci Roma
9. Catari (Cor'ngrato)
10. Overture/Barber Of Seville

Average customer rating: A GOOD VERSION OF A GREAT OPERA

Rossini: L'Italiana in Algeri Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Rossini: L'Assedio di Corinto ASIN: B00000E3DI Release Date: 1989-05-23

Customer Reviews:

A GOOD VERSION OF A GREAT OPERA.......2004-03-09

This recording has been around for a while, and, in fact, was the first stereo version of this opera to be recorded. It's very well presented here, with first class playing by the Maggio Fiorentina under the peppy direction of Silvio Varviso. The cast is a good one, with tenor Luigi Alva negotiating the difficult tenor role of Lindoro with relative ease. Fernando Corena is a first class basso buffa, and he presents a blustery and fun portrait of Mustafa. His singing is excellent, if his coloratura passagework is not. Rolando Panerai is a lyrical and flowing Taddeo, possibly the best sung account of this role on records. This very fine supporting cast is centered around the Isabella of Teresa Berganza, certainly one of the greatest Rossini mezzos of the post World War II period. Berganza's voice is lovely, and very youthful. She negotiates the Rossini coloratura with mastery, but in the final analysis she is somewhat bland and colorless. She lacks the bravura steamroller style of Marilyn Horne style of Marilyn Horne (who in turn lacked the charm of Berganza!), who herself made a memorable recording of this opera many years later. As far as "Italiana" itself is concerned, this is a perfectly acceptable presentation of the opera, and one which still stands up reasonably well against subsequent competition. To my ears, the best recording of this wonderful opera remains the old mono EMI version with Gulietta Simionato from La Scala, under the baton of Carlo Maria Guilini. Simionato did not have anywhere near the fluency for this music that Berganza or Horne had, but she certainly had style and character, and she made every comical moment count. Guilini, very simply, reincarnates the very spirit of Rossini. But in the absence of this classic version, the London/Berganza account is certainly a valid substitute ---- and of course, there's always Marilyn Horne's spectacular account on RCA ---- though as a performance, I prefer this one.

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Bella Italia/Nicola Di Bari/Toto Cotugno/Al Bano ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Italy | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | International General | International | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music 4-for-3 International | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Greatest Hits ASIN: B000A2GYX0 Release Date: 2005-03-29

Average customer rating:

Bella Italia Various Artists Manufacturer: Musicrama/Koch ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Italy | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | International General | International | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | International General | International | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music ASIN: B0000DEMG0 Release Date: 1998-05-28

Tracks:

1. Quanto Ti Amo - Collage
2. Quella Carezza Della Sera - New Trolls
3. Ridera' - Little Tony
4. Ciao - Pupo
5. Napoletano
6. Il Mondo - Jimmy Fontana
7. Innamorata
8. Donna Felicit
9. Il Vagabondo
10. Tornerai Tornero' - Homo Sapiens
11. 'A Canzuncella - Alunni del Sole
12. I Like Chopin - Gazebo
13. I Tuoi Occhi Verdi - Franco Tozzi
14. C'Era Una Volta il West

Average customer rating:

Bella Italia Various Artists Manufacturer: Discom Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Italy | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | International General | International | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | International General | International | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00000DAU7 Release Date: 1998-11-03

Tracks:

1. Napolitan Tarantella
2. Santa Lucia
3. Sorrentina
4. Fenesta Che Lucive
5. FuniculFunicul
6. Te Voglio Bene Assaje
7. Molisana
8. Abruzzesina
9. Cefalu
10. Festa Siciliana
11. Aria de Roma
12. Trasteverina
13. Notte Fiorentina
14. Gita Sull'arno
15. Monferina
16. Fie 'D Carmagnola
17. Tarantella Della Gelosia
18. O Sole Mio

International Music:

1. Best of Greece
2. Best of the Tango
3. Black Seed
4. Bulgarian Custom Songs
5. Bulgarian Gypsy Music
6. Canta Portugues [Import]
7. Celtic Gypsy [Import]
8. Cuando Yo Muera [Import]
9. Cubanos y Famosos [Import]
10. ECHOES

International Music

International Music