Passion Flower

Editorial Reviews
From Jazziz
A few years ago, I went down to the Village Vanguard to check out pianist Fred Hersch. Sitting next to me in the crowded club was one of today's most popular jazz singers - also a pianist. After the first set, said jazz celeb commented that Hersch was in a different league and that she really needed to take some lessons from him. What strikes us all in Hersch's playing is his perfect blend of technique, style, and sensitivity. His version of Billy Strayhorn's "Daydream," from Hersch's 1996 Strayhorn-tribute album, Passion Flower, illustrates just how good a trio and string orchestra (arranged and orchestrated by Hersch and conducted by Eric Stern) can sound. A lot of players (and arrangers) could use lessons from Hersch.

Tracks:

Carmen: Quand Je Vous Aimerai?...L'Amour
I Pagliacci: Recitar!...Vesti La Giubba
Madama Butterfly: Un Bel Di Vedremo
L'Elisir D'Amore: Una Furtiva Lagrima
Nabucco: Va Pensiero From Nabucco
Gianni Schicchi: O Mio Babbino Caro
Rigoletto: La Dona E Mobile
Il Barbiere Di Siviglia: Largo Al Factotum
Louise: Depuis Le Jour
Lakme: Flower Duet
Turandot: Nessun Dorma
Norma: Casta Diva
Gianni Schicchi: A Vete Torto!
Tosca: Vissi D'Arte
Tosca: E Lucevan Le Stelle
La rondine: Chi Il Bel Sogno
Il Trovatore: Di Quella Pira

Amazon.com

If you've ever heard an opera excerpt in a film or TV commercial and wondered from whence it came, this compilation will probably provide your answer. The disk is an extensive superstar sampling of opera's greatest arias, featuring beloved stars from 1958-1987. Newbies will delight in hearing the young Freni's developing, but not yet perfected, artistry; Corelli's soaring tenor emoting in "Vesti la guibba" and "Nessun Dorma"; and Callas being Callas in "Habanera" and "Casta Diva." Megatalents Caballé, Gobbi, Di Stefano, and Domingo round out the mix. It even includes the Lakme duet and the chorus from Nabucco, in case arias aren't enough. An enjoyable variety. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Customer Reviews:

Always on my CD changer.......2005-08-31

I bought this CD long ago as a neophyte in opera appreciation. I had just seen Turandot and wanted the recording primarily for "Nessun Dorma", which I also love because of its use in the film, "The Killing Fields". But I have also appreciated the exquisite renderings of the other songs on the album. Callas. Caballe. Freni. Often, when a compilation like this comes out, one senses that the interpretations are second rate. In this case, it is just the opposite, or at least it seems that way to me.

The CD contains well known songs like "Vesti la Giubba" from Pagliacci, and "Un bel Di" from Madame Butterfly, but there are lesser known, and beautiful songs as well, such as "Viens, Malilika...sous Dome Epais" from Lakme', an absolutely gorgeous duet for two sopranos. I would highly reccomend this CD if you want to learn more about opera, or if you simply want some beautiful vocal music to listen to.

Wonderful compilation - Great intro!.......2004-11-09

This compilation features operatic legends like Domingo, Caballe, Freni, Corelli, Callas etc. at their very best. Wonderful for those who want to start to get aquainted with the magic that is opera. TOP NOTCH!!!! A+++++++++++

loved it.......2002-05-08

Callas singing Harbanera backed by the chorus is majestic and sublime. Heard it one day at work on public radio and had to have it.

NEW LOVER OF OPERA.......1999-12-10

I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS CD TO ALL TYPES OF MUSIC LOVERS.

I FELL IN LOVE WITH SOME BACKGROUND MUSIC FROM THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT AND SEARCHED FOR THE SONG - FLOWER DUET - AND PURCHASED THIS CD.

I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY ALL THE SONGS. ANYONE WHO DOESN'T LIKE OPERA , HAS PROBABLY HEARD MANY OF THESE SONGS AS BACKGROUND MUSIC FROM THEIR FAVORITE MOVIES. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION.

Music to Wed By.......1999-08-11

Corelli's "Nessun Dorma" makes the overplayed Pavarotti version pale by comparison. We (a pair of newlyweds) heard it while sampling this album for wedding reception music and were so blown away that we used this piece for our recessional, earning the following wisecrack from our Cantor, "Oy! You followed me with Corelli? Thanks for nuthin'." We dare you to listen to this track without getting a shiver.

The Ultimate Aria Collection ~ A Passion for Opera

Average customer rating:

OPERA HEAVEN
Incredibly Beautiful . . .
Ultimate Aria
Ultimate indeed

The Ultimate Aria Collection ~ A Passion for Opera
Georges Bizet , Giuseppe Verdi , Giacomo Puccini , Gaetano Donizetti , Ruggero Leoncavallo , Gioachino Rossini , Gustave Charpentier , Leo Delibes , Vincenzo Bellini , Christoph Willibald Gluck , Pietro Mascagni , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Francesco Cilea , Edouard Lalo , Camille Saint-Saens , Arrigo Boito , George Frideric Handel , Alfredo Catalani , Amilcare Ponchielli , Charles Gounod , Jules Massenet , Ambroise Thomas , Fritz Wunderlich , Rome Opera Theater Orchestra & Chorus , Maria Callas , Elisabeth Schwarzkopf , Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala , Wiener Philharmoniker , Orchestre de Paris , Carlo Maria Giulini , Tullio Serafin , Sir Charles Mackerras , Francesco Molinari-Pradelli , Riccardo Muti , and Leone Magiera
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000009OQL
Release Date: 1998-08-11

Tracks:

Carmen: Quand je vous aimerai? ...L'amour (Habanera)
I Pagliacci: Recitar!... Vesti la giubba
Madama Butterfly: Un bel di vedremo
L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
Nabucco: Va pensiero (Chorus Of The Hebrew Slaves)
Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro
Rigoletto: La dona e mobile
The Barber Of Seville: Largo al factotum
Louise: Depuis le jour
Lakme: Flower Duet
Turandot: Nessun dorma
Norma: Casta diva
Gianni Schicchi: A vete torto!
TOSCA: Vissi d'arte
TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
La rondine: Chi il bel sogno di Doretta
Il Trovatore: Di quella pira

Tracks:

L'Elisir d'Amore: Quanto e bella, quanto e cara!
Orphee et Eurydice: J'ai perdu mon Eurydice
La Boheme: Che gelida manina
La Boheme: Si, mi chimano Mimi
La Traviata: Di Provenza il mar
L'amico Fritz: O amore, o bella luce del core
Le nozze di Figaro: Voi che sapete
TOSCA: Recondita armonia
Adriana Lecouvreur: Ecco, respiro appena...lo son l'umile ancella
Le Roi d'Ys: Puisqu'on ne peut... Vainement, ma bien-aimee
Samson et Dalila: Mon coeur s'ouvre a'ta voix
Mefistofele: Dai campi, dai prati
Manon Lescaut: In quelle trine morbide
Serse: Ombra mai fu
Turandot: Signore, ascolta
Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai
La Wally: Ebben? ne ando lontana
La Gioconda: Cielo e mar

Tracks:

Aida: Se quel guerriero io fossi...Celeste Aida
Romeo Et Juliet: L'amour, l'amour...Ah, leve-toi soleil
Mefistofele: L'altra notte in fondo al mare
Werther: Toute mon ame est la...Pourqui me reveiller
Barber Of Seville: Una voce poco fa
Cosi Fan Tutti: Un aura amorosa
Le Villi: Se como voi piccina
Un Balle en Maschera: `Se come voi piccina`
Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jette
La forza del destino: Pace, pace mio Dio
Adriana Lecouvreur: L'anima ho stanca
La Gioconda: Suicidio
Don Giovanni: Dalla sua pace
La Traviata: De' miei bolenti spiriti
La nozzi di Figaro: Porgi amor
Turandot: Non piangere, Liu
Mignon: Elle ne croyait pas dans sa candeur naive

Amazon.com

Put together in evident haste, this collection is nevertheless a surefire, appetite-whetting starter kit both for the budding operaphile and for the simply intimidated. The samplings include some of the greatest voices from EMI's vaults: here you'll find the polar opposites Callas and Caballe, the golden wonder of Wunderlich and early Carreras, and a host of other singers who've made their stamp on this century. Emphasis is on the soprano and tenor range, while the lower voices are given short shrift, and the selections cleave predictably to standard Italian and French repertory (with an occasional surprise, such as an aria from Lalo's Le Roi d'Ys). Still, the nearly three and a half hours of music represented will make a ready convert of anyone who hasn't experienced the specially heightened, time-stopping expressivity--beyond the power of mere song--that is the aria's function and will likely spark a desire to explore the larger operatic context in several cases. And though the lack of a booklet with texts or at least bios of the artists is frustrating, this is a good place to begin for an overview of the mesmeric power extraordinary voices can wield. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

OPERA HEAVEN.......2002-12-13

Probely this is a good buy for someone who is gest getting into the world of OPERA.Still a very good purchaes with fimiluar songs.

Incredibly Beautiful . . ........2001-10-27

If you love opera - this collection of some of the lovliest arias ever sung by artists from Caballe to Freni, from Delibes to Puccini - will inspire you. It is a wonderful gift for friends or for yourself.

Ultimate Aria.......2001-08-03

In my small operetic mind, this set of Cd's has completely captured me for the Opera. I was a young and upcoming musician in my youth. I'v been around the block "as it were" with the Classics. This collection is indeed, the benchmark upon which all others would hope to aspire.

Congradulations EMI for an incredible vision of the greatest opeatic moments recorded.

Gosh what's next?

Ralph Hassman

Ultimate indeed.......2000-08-02

If you don't like the idea of buying whole operas, or if you're a newcomer to opera - this is an extremely good collection / introduction, worth every single cent. The collection features many of the worlds greatest singers, giving their interpretations of some of the world's greatest arias. The compilation itself is very tasteful and covers a wide range from Handel to early 20th century composers. You won't miss any important stuff from the history of opera, except maybe Wagner and the most modern operas - I'll come back to that fact later. The compilers have actually put some lesser known, although no less beautiful, arias here, that oftenly are neglected on ordinary opera-collections, why the name `ultimate collection' is more than correct in that aspect.

EMI have a enormous archive to pick their recordings from, and that of course makes it easy to find first rate interpretations of all the arias included in this collection, and I do think that almost all of the arias are wonderfully sung here. It may be possible to find better performances of single numbers here and there, but I've not yet heard a more complete, wellmatched, and so thrillingly sung collection.

Well then, is there nothing wrong with this compilation? You might find it a little odd that there are so many soloarias and so few duets, terzettos a.s.o, especially since the drama in operas oftenly is greater in numbers with more than one singer. You might also wish that some of the recordings had been a little more modern (most of these recordings were made during the 50's, 60's & 70's) giving place to younger performers that still are singing on the stages, but those are minor objections when the over all quality is so high.

The maybe strongest objection to this collection is that there is not one single part from any of Wagner's operas, and not any number sung in german, nor is there any parts from modern or russian operas. That may be a miss if you're interested in Wagner, russian and modern opera - on the other hand I think you should watch Wagners, russian and modern operas before listening to recordings of them - and if you've seen them and liked them you will probably buy the whole opera anyway. Therefor I still think that this is a extremely strong and complete compilation - the best I've run into so far. Easy to listen to, yet never banal.

Passion Flower
Average customer rating:

Fred is terrific!

Gorgeous!

Beautiful

Passion Flower
Fred Hersch
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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In Amsterdam: Live at the Bimhuis

Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Vol. 31

ASIN: B000005J3W
Release Date: 1996-01-23

Tracks:

Lotus Blossom
Day Dream
U.M.M.G. (Upper Manhattan Medical Group)
Pretty Girl (The Star Crossed Lovers)
Rain Check
Something To Live for
Lament For An Orchid (Absinthe
Elf (Isfahan)
Ballad For Very Tired And Very Sad Lotus-Eaters
Tonk
Passion Flower
Lush Life

Customer Reviews:

Fred is terrific!.......2006-09-09

Back when this album was just being released, I happened to walk into the Virgin Megastore on Sunset Blvd. to kill some time before a movie. Over by the stairs, they'd set up a grand piano and Fred Hersch was sitting there playing some tracks from this CD. He was amazing. His playing was fresh, vital and sublime. I bought the CD right then (I should have waited around to have him sign it!) and became a fan. I've bought many other of his CDs over the years and he never disappoints.

Gorgeous!.......2004-08-29

This recording makes for wonderful background music, but it is not background music. It is a very inventive musician exploring the music of a great composer and it deserves close listening. Fred Hersch is an impeccable pianist and Billy Strayhorn's often lush compositions are perfect vehicles for him. The string orchestra under the direction of Eric Stern provides accent and accompaniment without ever becoming instrusive or overwhelming. Everything fits together nicely and every cut is worthwhile. If I had to choose a favorite it would be the beautiful "Lament for an Orchid."

Beautiful.......1999-10-03

Fred puts some very nice touches on this CD. This is one of the better Billy Strayhorn tributes I have listened to. A couple of songs have strings that after several listenings work very well. This is one of those disks to put on for that romantic candelight dinner.

Average customer rating:

Sophisticated Lady
Duke Ellington
Manufacturer: Music Trax
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000MTUQ44

Magnificathy: The Many Voices of Cathy Berberian

Average customer rating:

Perfect album not to play in cafes
ABSOLUTELY THE GREATEST SOPRANO OF THE 20TH CENTURY
Greatest Soprano of the 20th Century(?)

Magnificathy: The Many Voices of Cathy Berberian

Manufacturer: Wergo Germany
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000025QZS
Release Date: 1993-12-08

Tracks:

Claudio Monteverdi: La Lettera Amorosa
Chansons De Bilitis: La Flute De Pan
Chansons De Bilitis: La Chevelure
Chansons De Bilitis: Le Tombeau Des Naiades
A Flower
The Wonderful Widow Of Eighteen Springs
O, Atti Vocali (Aus La Passion Selon Sade)
Surabaya-Johnny (Aus Happy End)
A Ticket To Ride
Summertime (Aus Porgy And Bess)
Stripsody

Customer Reviews:

Perfect album not to play in cafes.......2004-09-30

this (...) totally rocks the mic. especially enjoyable are the monteverdi selections. i mean, if you're a dumbass little punk you're probably not gonna like it... but hey! why can't dumbass little punks be more like alex de large? you know... with some class... why do they all have to be like dim?

ABSOLUTELY THE GREATEST SOPRANO OF THE 20TH CENTURY.......2003-12-02

I had the great good fortune to hear Ms Berberian live in the early seventies perform most of the music included on this disk.
The event was one of the high points of my childhood.

As at home singing avant-garde as she was singing pop and classical music, many composers wrote for Ms. Berberian simply because there were no other singers accomplished enough to bring their musical visions alive.

This disk offers up a wonderful cross-section of all of the
kinds of music in Cathy's vast repertoire. I recommend it most highly

Greatest Soprano of the 20th Century(?).......2002-06-22

It's incredible to me that the name Cathy Berberian is so unknown today. Listen to the performance of Debussy's Chansons de Bilitis; it's the greatest recorded vocal performance I've ever heard. Throughout the disk, she lives up to the title. Rather than sing in big soprano mode, she is a vocal chameleon who adapts to the subject matter, from Monteverdi to Lennon & McCartney to John Cage. You will not be disappointed.

Average customer rating:

What a Singer!!!
Incredible discovery!

Passion Flower
Jackie Ryan
Manufacturer: Openart
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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This Heart of Mine
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ASIN: B000066C3J
Release Date: 2002-06-25

Tracks:

Now Or Never
I Don't Want To Cry Anymore
Luiza
Lullaby Of The Leaves
The Kicker
Some Other Spring
O Silencio Das Estrelas
A Bouquet For Billy
Please Send Me Someone To Love
Serenade In Blue
Historia De Un Amor
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Customer Reviews:

What a Singer!!!.......2004-03-17

By accident I stumbled upon 2003's "This Heart of Mine," and it blew me away (as my review elsewhere explains). So, I ordered this release from 2002, with the question in mind: "Is this woman for real?!"

She is. And then some.

Whereas "This Heart of Mine" concentrates on Spanish and Italian art songs, this one is a polyglot. A very impressive one at that. Most singers can't pull off cabaret, art songs, vocalese, and blues in one set. But Jackie Ryan isn't "most singers." She sings the cool blues of "Now or Never" (evoking images of Lady Day, but really more of Jimmy Witherspoon), the hot blues of Percy Mayfield's "Please Send Me Someone to Love," the cabaret of "Serenade in Blue," and the Spanish art songs of "O Silencio Das Estrelas" and "Historia de un Amor" with equal aplomb. The surprise in this one is "The Kicker", a Joe Henderson tune with original Jackie Ryan lyrics. Considering the richness and "almost operatic" quality of Ms. Ryan's voice, the last thing I'd expect from her is a light, straight-toned piece of vocalese; but she pulls it off in a manner that would make Annie Ross proud.

I wouldn't say that this was the best vocal jazz album of 2002; you just cannot top Tierney Sutton's "Something Cool." I would say, however, that Tierney and Jackie by all rights are the "it girls" of today's glut of women vocal jazz artists. If only they had the marketing power of Blue Note or Impulse! behind them, I suspect that a lot more people would agree with me. For now, all I can say is, Buy This Album, and when she breaks out, don't say I never told you so.

Incredible discovery!.......2003-05-31

Everything conjures up to an excellent recording, the kind that I constantly look for and very rarely find.... With Carmen, Sarah and Ella gone, so few of the truly great ones remain, and what's worse, even fewer from the new generations have what it takes to continue and improve the tradition.
But there's hope. Songs, arrangements and, most of all, voice - whoa, what a great one! I love those low notes of hers and her timbre, her musicality, her intonation - in this cd come together to produce a first rate session. And, no doubt, we're in the presence of a gifted interpreter, a reader of lyrics, a true storyteller.
All I can say is that "Passion Flower" made me buy the other one she's recorded so far, the live one, which I also enjoyed thoroughly.
I think Jackie Ryan is an incredible discovery. Can't wait for her next delivery.