L' Air de Rien [Import]

1. Meilleur des Mondes

2. Passage Brady

3. Love Love Love

4. Me Ressourcer

5. Magicien

6. Dodeline

7. Bonheur

8. Cousin Willy

9. Air de Rien

10. Abominable Hyde

11. Honni Soit

12. Envies

13. Aisé

14. Eleanor Rigby

L' Air de Rien,Tete,Sony Int'l,Adult Alternative Pop/Rock,France,French,Int'l & World Music,Jam Bands,Pop,World Music

Average customer rating: Essential for the chansom junkie. Buy It. Almost completely wonderful Indisputable Gallic flair Idiomatic, fresh, cleanly recorded the best songs ever ruined by uneven performing

Poulenc - Melodies / Ameling · Gedda · W. Parker · Sénéchal · Souzay · Baldwin Francis Poulenc , Dalton Baldwin , Elly Ameling , Gérard Souzay , Nicolai Gedda , Michel Sénéchal , and William Parker Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Poulenc | Poulenc, Francis | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tartini | Tartini, Giuseppe | ( T ) | 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 Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: Debussy - Mélodies / Ameling · Mesplé · Command · Souzay · von Stade · Baldwin Fauré - Mélodies / Souzay · Ameling · Baldwin A French Song Companion Véronique Gens - Nuit d'étoiles (Mélodies Française) / Vignoles The Songs of Henri Duparc ASIN: B000002S31 Release Date: 1992-01-23

Tracks:

1. LE BESTIAIRE OU CORTEGE D'ORPHEE: I - Le Dromadaire
2. LE BESTIAIRE OU CORTEGE D'ORPHEE: II - La Chevre Du Tibet
3. LE BESTIAIRE OU CORTEGE D'ORPHEE: III - La Sauterelle
4. LE BESTIAIRE OU CORTEGE D'ORPHEE: IV - Le Dauphin
5. LE BESTIAIRE OU CORTEGE D'ORPHEE: V - L'ecrevisse
6. LE BESTIAIRE OU CORTEGE D'ORPHEE: VI - La Carpe
7. COCARDES: I - Miel De Narbonne
8. COCARDES: II - Bonne D'enfant
9. COCARDES: III - Enfant De Troupe
10. 5 POEMES DE RONSARD: I - Attributs
11. 5 POEMES DE RONSARD: II - Le Tombeau
12. 5 POEMES DE RONSARD: III - Ballet
13. 5 POEMES DE RONSARD: IV - Je N'ai Plus Les Os
14. 5 POEMES DE RONSARD: V - A Son Page
15. CHANSONS GAILLARDES: I - La Maitresse Volage
16. CHANSONS GAILLARDES: II - Chanson A Boire
17. CHANSONS GAILLARDES: III - Madrigal
18. CHANSONS GAILLARDES: IV - Invocation Aux Parques
19. CHANSONS GAILLARDES: V - Couplets Bachiques
20. CHANSONS GAILLARDES: VI - L'offrande
21. CHANSONS GAILLARDES: VII - La Belle Jeunesse
22. CHANSONS GAILLARDES: VIII - Serenade
23. AIRS CHANTES: I - Air Romantique
24. AIRS CHANTES: II - Air Champetre
25. AIRS CHANTES: III - Air Grave
26. AIRS CHANTES: IV - Air Vif
27. Epitaphe
28. 3 POEMES DE LOUISE LALANNE: I - Le Present
29. 3 POEMES DE LOUISE LALANNE: II - Chanson
30. 3 POEMES DE LOUISE LALANNE: III - Hier
31. 4 POEMES DE GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE: I - L'anguille
32. 4 POEMES DE GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE: II - Carte Postale
33. 4 POEMES DE GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE: III - Avant Le Cinema
34. 4 POEMES DE GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE: IV - 1904
35. 5 POEMES DE MAX JACOB: I - Chanson Bretonne
36. 5 POEMES DE MAX JACOB: II - Cimetiere
37. 5 POEMES DE MAX JACOB: III - La Petite Servante
38. 5 POEMES DE MAX JACOB: IV - Berceuse
39. 5 POEMES DE MAX JACOB: V - Souric Et Mouric
40. 8 CHANSONS POLONAISES: I - La Couronne
41. 8 CHANSONS POLONAISES: II - Le Depart
42. 8 CHANSONS POLONAISES: III - Les Gars Polonais
43. 8 CHANSONS POLONAISES: IV - Le Dernier Mazour
44. 8 CHANSONS POLONAISES: V - L'adieu
45. 8 CHANSONS POLONAISES: VI - Le Drapeau Blanc
46. 8 CHANSONS POLONAISES: VII - La Vistule
47. 8 CHANSONS POLONAISES: VIII - Le Lac

Tracks:

1. 5 POEMES DE PAUL ELUARD: I - Peut - Il Se Reposer?
2. 5 POEMES DE PAUL ELUARD: II - Il La Prend Dans Ses Bras
3. 5 POEMES DE PAUL ELUARD: III - Plume D'eau Claire
4. 5 POEMES DE PAUL ELUARD: IV - Rodeuse Au Front De Verre
5. 5 POEMES DE PAUL ELUARD: V - Amoureuses
6. A Sa Guitare
7. TEL JOUR, TELLE NUIT: I - Bonne Journee
8. TEL JOUR, TELLE NUIT: II - Une Ruine Coquille Vide
9. TEL JOUR, TELLE NUIT: III - Le Front Comme Un Drapeau Perdu
10. TEL JOUR, TELLE NUIT: IV - Une Roulotte Couverte En Tuiles
11. TEL JOUR, TELLE NUIT: V - A Toutes Brides
12. TEL JOUR, TELLE NUIT: VI - Une Herbe Pauvre
13. TEL JOUR, TELLE NUIT: VII - Je N'ai Envie Que De T'aimer
14. TEL JOUR, TELLE NUIT: VIII - Figure De Force Brulante Et Farouche
15. TEL JOUR, TELLE NUIT: IX - Nous Avons Fait La Nuit
16. 3 POEMES DE LOUISE DE VILMORIN: I - Le Garcon De Liege
17. 3 POEMES DE LOUISE DE VILMORIN: II - Au-Dela
18. 3 POEMES DE LOUISE DE VILMORIN: III - Aux Officiers De La Garde Blanche
19. 2 POEMES DE GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE: I - Dans Le Jardin D'anna
20. 2 POEMES DE GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE: II - Allons Plus Vite
21. MIROIRS BRULANTS: I - Tu Vois Le Feu Du Soir
22. MIROIRS BRULANTS: II - Je Nommerai Ton Front
23. Le Portrait
24. La Grenouillere
25. Priez Pour Paix
26. Ce Doux Petit Visage
27. Bleuet
28. FIANCAILLES POUR RIRE: I - La Dame D'andre
29. FIANCAILLES POUR RIRE: II - Dans L'herbe
30. FIANCAILLES POUR RIRE: III - Il Vole
31. FIANCAILLES POUR RIRE: IV - Mon Cadavre Est Doux Comme Un Gant
32. FIANCAILLES POUR RIRE: V - Violon
33. FIANCAILLES POUR RIRE: VI - Fleurs

Tracks:

1. BANALITES: I - Chanson D'orkenise
2. BANALITES: II - Hotel
3. BANALITES: III - Fagnes De Wallonie
4. BANALITES: IV - Voyage A Paris
5. BANALITES: V - Sanglots
6. CHANSONS VILLAGEOISES: I - Chanson Du Clair Tamis
7. CHANSONS VILLAGEOISES: II - Les Gars Qui Vont A La Fete
8. CHANSONS VILLAGEOISES: III - C'est Le Joli Printemps
9. CHANSONS VILLAGEOISES: IV - Le Mendiant
10. CHANSONS VILLAGEOISES: V - Chanson De La Fille Frivole
11. CHANSONS VILLAGEOISES: VI - Le Retour Du Sergent
12. METAMORPHOSES: I - Reine Des Mouettes
13. METAMORPHOSES: II - C'est Ainsi Que Tu Es
14. METAMORPHOSES: III - Paganini
15. 2 POEMES DE LOUIS ARAGON: I - C
16. 2 POEMES DE LOUIS ARAGON: II - Fetes Galantes
17. 2 POEMES DE GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE: I - Montparnasse
18. 2 POEMES DE GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE: II - Hyde Park
19. 2 POEMES DE GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE: I - Le Pont
20. 2 POEMES DE GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE: II - Un Poeme
21. Paul Et Virginie
22. Mais Mourir
23. Hymne
24. 3 CHANSONS DE FEDERICO GARCIA LORCA: I - L'enfant Muet
25. 3 CHANSONS DE FEDERICO GARCIA LORCA: II - Adelina A La Promenade
26. 3 CHANSONS DE FEDERICO GARCIA LORCA: III - Chanson A L'oranger Sec
27. Le Disparu
28. Main Dominee Par Le Coeur
29. CALLIGRAMMES: I - L'espionne
30. CALLIGRAMMES: II - Mutation
31. CALLIGRAMMES: III - Vers Le Sud
32. CALLIGRAMMES: IV - Il Pleut
33. CALLIGRAMMES: V - La Grace Exilee
34. CALLIGRAMMES: VI - Aussi Bien Que Les Cigales
35. CALLIGRAMMES: VII - Voyage

Tracks:

1. Mazurka
2. LA FRAICHEUR ET LE FEU: I - Rayon Des Yeux...
3. LA FRAICHEUR ET LE FEU: II - Le Matin Les Branches Attisent...
4. LA FRAICHEUR ET LE FEU: III - Tout Disparut...
5. LA FRAICHEUR ET LE FEU: IV - Dans Les Tenebres Du Jardin...
6. LA FRAICHEUR ET LE FEU: V - Unis La Fraicheur Et Le Feu...
7. LA FRAICHEUR ET LE FEU: VI - Homme Au Sourire Tendre...
8. LA FRAICHEUR ET LE FEU: VII - La Grande Riviere Qui VA...
9. PARISIANA: Le Joueur De Bugle
10. PARISIANA: Vous N'ecrivez Plus?
11. Rosemonde
12. LE TRAVAIL DU PEINTRE: I - Pablo Picasso
13. LE TRAVAIL DU PEINTRE: II - Marc Chagall
14. LE TRAVAIL DU PEINTRE: III - Georges Braque
15. LE TRAVAIL DU PEINTRE: IV - Juan Gris
16. LE TRAVAIL DU PEINTRE: V - Paul Klee
17. LE TRAVAIL DU PEINTRE: VI - Joan Miro
18. LE TRAVAIL DU PEINTRE: VII - Jacques Villon
19. La Souris
20. Nuage
21. Dernier Poeme
22. Une Chanson De Porcelaine
23. LA COURTE PAILLE: I - Le Sommeil
24. LA COURTE PAILLE: II - Quelle Aventure!
25. LA COURTE PAILLE: III - La Reine De Coeur
26. LA COURTE PAILLE: IV - Ba, Be, Bi, Bo, Bu
27. LA COURTE PAILLE: V - Les Anges Musiciens
28. LA COURTE PAILLE: VI - Le Carafon
29. LA COURTE PAILLE: VII - Lune D'avril
30. Toreador
31. 4 CHANSONS POUR ENFANTS: I - La Tragique Histoire Du Petit Rene
32. 4 CHANSONS POUR ENFANTS: II - Nous Voulons Une Petite Soeur
33. 4 CHANSONS POUR ENFANTS: III - Le Petit Garcon Trop Bien Portant
34. 4 CHANSONS POUR ENFANTS: IV - Monsieur Sans-Souci
35. Fancy
36. Colloque

Customer Reviews:

Essential for the chansom junkie. Buy It........2006-10-25

'Poulenc Melodies' performed by a really impressive lineup of vocal talent including Elly Ameling and Nicolai Gedda is exactly the kind of recording you need if you are compulsive about having 'complete' collections of things. This shows a range of composition which smaller releases such as single CD 'Voyage a Paris' (Hyperion, with Felicity Lott and Graham Johnson)can give us. For starters, many of these chansom showed a lot more evidence of more modern stylings and a far greater range of interpretation. In fact, I even had to check the lyrics in the included booklet to verify that on some songs, the performers were singing in French. Even though I have a smattering of knowledge of French, I would have sworn that the singers were performing songs in Russian.

I am happy that all four discs run for more than 60 minutes. No cheap short changing here. If you don't want to spring for the large set, the Hyperion release is great, but this is worth every penny.

Almost completely wonderful.......2005-04-29

Its very considerable advantage lies in its completeness. Poulenc was one of the very greatest songwriters of any era. If you have no Poulenc songs in your collection, start here. The recommendation of Kruysen is a fine one, but only after you have heard this as a basis of comparison. Of Ameling, Senechal, Souzay, Gedda, and Parker, the only disappointment is Parker, who - I'll just say it - sings with his usual bleat. Souzay is a shade past it in vocal quality, but he still understands these songs as well as anybody, with great declamation (and that, after all, is what most of French singing is about). The dryness of the voice is nowhere close to disastrous, as it might have been in Italian opera. Indeed, it lends an air of life lived, without excuses. Gedda is okay. The standouts are Souzay, Ameling, and Senechal. Baldwin accompanies superbly.

Indisputable Gallic flair.......2004-06-06

These performances are piquant and stylistically right on target. Even if Souzay is past his best here, he brings a lifetime of experience to bear and the other performers are wonderful. Ignore the curmudgeon who blasted this set. You will enjoy this tremendously if you love Poulenc.

Idiomatic, fresh, cleanly recorded.......2001-05-12

This is a fine set. Dalton Baldwin accompanies each singer with clarity and zest. And who can resist the affectionate singing of the likes of Nicolai Gedda and Elly Ameling? The "melodies" themselves are magnificent--among Poulenc's finest creations. Whether you have other performances of these works or not, I think you'd be pleased with this beautifully recorded set. Certainly the 70's-vintage performances are more individual in profile, more "romantic," if you will, than those conjured by most of the "anonymous" singers of our own age. Recommended with enthusiasm.

the best songs ever ruined by uneven performing.......2001-05-05

This is a warning for all Poulenc fans NOT to take the bargain route and purchase this immense collection -- you might think you're getting a great deal but: the singing and pianism is substandard and doesn't do the music justice (remotely). Songs like Bonne Journe'e or Ho^tel are all but ruined... Here's what to buy: Bernard Kruysen's CD of selected Poulenc masterpieces (favoring the Elouard settings)... nobody will ever come close to Kruysen in interpreting Poulenc. Avoid THIS CD. They still get 2 stars for (1) being encyclical and (2) delivering clear and even sound quality.

Average customer rating: black comedy rossinian style

Auber: Fra Diavolo Manufacturer: Angel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Auber: La Muette de Portici Massenet: Le Jongleur de Notre Dame Adolphe Adam: Le Postillon de Lonjumeau Grétry: Richard Coeur de Lion; Rousseau: Le Devin du village Boieldieu - La Dame blanche / Blake, Massis, Delunsch, Fouchécourt, Naouri, Brunet, Minkowski ASIN: B000063XQB Release Date: 2002-10-21

Tracks:

1. Ouverture - Orchestre Philharmonique De Monte-Carlo
2. En Bons Militaires - Jules Bastin
3. Je Voudrais Bien - Jane Berbie
4. Un Landau Qui S'arrete - Jules Bastin
5. Voyez Sur Cette Roche - Mady Mesple
6. Oui, Je Vais Commander Le Punch - Nicolai Gedda
7. Ecoutez! Ecoutez! Quelle Est Donc Cette Marche - Nicolai Gedda

Tracks:

1. Ne Craignez Rien Milord... Quel Bonheur, Je Respire - Mady Mesple
2. Allons Ma Femme, Allons Dormir - Jane Berbie
3. Agnes La Jouvencelle - Nicolai Gedda
4. Oui, C'est Demain Qu'enfin L'on Nous Marie - Nicolai Gedda
5. N'etait-il Pas Prudent De Reonnaitre Ce Qui Se Passe La-bas - Nicolai Gedda
6. Entracte - Orchestre Philharmonique De Monte-Carlo
7. J'ai Revu Nos Amis - Nicolai Gedda
8. C'est Grande Fete - Jules Bastin
9. Pour Toujours, Disait-elle - Thierry Dran
10. Allons, Allons, Mon Capitaine - Jules Bastin

Customer Reviews:

black comedy rossinian style.......2003-03-30

Fra Diavolo is based on a true character although the plot of
this opera is totally ficticious - it is a black comedy about
a highway robber - the music is rossinian in style with florid
arias and many group ensembles with every singer pattering at
the same time but recitatives are replaced by spoken-dialogues
as is the custom in french opéra-comique. It takes a first-class
cast to pull it off and that is what we get here although most
soloists are in their twillight years. Nicolai Gedda at 58 re-
mains amazingly suave and dexterous as Diavolo - Mady Mesplé
(52) is charmingly girlish and very agile - Jane Berbié (52)
and Rémy Corazza (50) are delighfully funny as an english cou-
ple recently robbed - the rest of the cast is excellent. It is
well conducted and recorded - it comes on two super-bargain CDs
with a synopsis but no libretto which may be a drawback for non
french-speaking people - otherwise it is highly recommandable.

Average customer rating: Not a flawless version, but one to be REALLY loved The best of a mediocre-to-bad lot Hoffman contines to elude the recording world Excellent but not definitive O Dieu, de quelle ivresse embrasse-tu mon âme?

Offenbach - Les Contes d'Hoffmann / Alagna, van Dam, Dessay, Vaduva, Jo, Lascarro, Dubosc, Ragon, Sénéchal, Bacquier, Lamprecht, Nagano Jacques Offenbach , Roberto Alagna , Natalie Dessay , Kent Nagano , Choeur et Orchestre de l'Opéra National de Lyon , Leontina Vaduva , Sumi Jo , José van Dam , Catherine Dubosc , Gilles Ragon , Gabriel Bacquier , Doris Lamprecht , and Juanita Lascarro Manufacturer: Erato ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Alagna, Roberto | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Donizetti: Lucie de Lammermoor; Natalie Dessay, Roberto Alagna Russian Album ASIN: B000005E4D Release Date: 1996-10-29

Tracks:

1. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Prelude - Kent Nagano
2. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Act 1, Scene 1: Glou! Glou! - Kent Nagano
3. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Couplets de la muse: La verite, dit-on, sortait d'un puits - Kent Nagano
4. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Elle est sur la scene, un peuple l'acclame - La Muse - Kent Nagano
5. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 2: Le conseiller Lindorf, morbleu! - Lindorf, Andres - Kent Nagano
6. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 3: Vayons? Pour Hoffmann! - Kent Nagano
7. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Couplets: Dans les roles d'amoureux - Kent Nagano
8. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Deux heures devant moi - Scene 4: Vite, vite, qu'on se remue! - Lindorf, Luther - Kent Nagano
9. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 5: Choeur des Etudiants - Drig, drig - Kent Nagano
10. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Vrai Dieu! Mes amis - Kent Nagano
11. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Eh! Luther! Ma grosse tonne - Lindorf, Luther, Nathanael, Hermann, Wolfram, Wilhelm - Kent Nagano
12. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 6: Bonjour, amis! - Kent Nagano
13. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Couplets and Andante: Va pour Kleinzach! - Kent Nagano
14. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Peuh! Cette biere est detestable! - Kent Nagano
15. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Duo: Et par ou votre Diablerie - Kent Nagano
16. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Simple echange de politesse - Kent Nagano
17. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Je vous dis, moi - Kent Nagano
18. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Ma maitresse? - Kent Nagano
19. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Final: Messieurs, on va lever le rideau! - Hoffmann, Nicklausse, Lindorf, Luther, Nathanael, Hermann, Wolfram, Wilhelm - Kent Nagano
20. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Act 2: Entracte - Kent Nagano
21. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 1: La! Dors en paix - Spalanzani - Scene 2: Ah! Bonjour! Enchacte! - Spalanzani, Hoffmann - Scene 3: Fais allumer partout! - Spalanzani, Cochenille - Kent Nagano
22. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 4: Allons! Courage et confiance! - Kent Nagano
23. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Pardieu! J'etais bien sur - Kent Nagano
24. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Couplets: Une poupee aux yeux d'email - Nicklausse, Hoffmann - Kent Nagano
25. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 5: C'est moi, Coppelius! - Kent Nagano
26. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Je me nomme Coppelius - Kent Nagano
27. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: J'ai deux jeux, de beaux yeux - Kent Nagano
28. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Serviteur - Kent Nagano
29. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Ah! Ange du ciel, est-ce bien toi? - Nicklausse, Hoffmann, Coppelius - Kent Nagano
30. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 6: Hein! Vous! - Hoffmann, Coppelius, Spalanzani - Kent Nagano
31. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 7: Choeur des Invites: Non aucun hote vraiment - Kent Nagano
32. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Vous serez satisfaits, messieurs - Hoffmann, Spalanzani, Nicklausse - Kent Nagano
33. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 8: Mesdames et Messieurs - Kent Nagano
34. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Mesdames et Meisseurs, fiere de vos bravos - Kent Nagano
35. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Air: Les oiseaux dans la charmille - Kent Nagano
36. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Ah! Mon ami! Quel accent! - Hoffmann, Spalanzani, Nicklausse, Olympia, Cochenille - Kent Nagano
37. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 9: Ils se sont eloignes! Enfin! - Kent Nagano
38. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Ah! Vivre deux! - Kent Nagano
39. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Tu me fuis? - Hoffmann, Olympia - Scene 10: Eh! morbleu! modere ton zele! - Hoffmann, Nicklausse - Kent Nagano
40. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 11: Voleur! Brigand! Quelle deroute! - Coppelius - Kent Nagano
41. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Scene 12: En place les danseurs - Kent Nagano
42. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Voila! Assez, assez, ma fille - Kent Nagano
43. Les Contes D' Hoffmann: Ah! Quoi? L'homme aux lunettes, la! - Spalanzani, Cochenille, Hoffmann, Olympia, Nicklausse, Coppelius - Kent Nagano

Tracks:

1. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Act 3: Entracte - Jacques Offenbach
2. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 1: Elle a fui, la tourterelle - Antonia - Jacques Offenbach
3. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 2: Malheureuse enfant! - Crespel, Antonia - Scene 3: Desespoir! Tout a l'heure, encore! - Crespel - Scene 4: Frantz! n'ouvre a personne! - Crespel, Frantz - Jacques Offenbach
4. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 5: Jour et nuit je me mets en quatre - Frantz - Jacques Offenbach
5. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 6: Frantz, c'est ici! - Hoffmann, Frantz - Jacques Offenbach
6. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 7: Enfin je vais savoir pourquoi - Jacques Offenbach
7. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Romance: Vois sous l'archet fremissant - Jacques Offenbach
8. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: C'est une chanson d'amour - Hoffmann, Antonia, Nicklausse - Jacques Offenbach
9. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 8: Ah! Je le savais bien - Jacques Offenbach
10. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Ah! J'ai le bonheur dans l'ame - Jacques Offenbach
11. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Pourtant, o ma fiancee - Jacques Offenbach
12. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Viens la comme autrefois - Jacques Offenbach
13. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Qu'as-tu donc? - Antonia, Hoffmann - Scene 9: Rien! J'ai cru qu'Hoffmann etait ici! - Hoffmann, Crespel, Frantz, Miracle - Jacques Offenbach
14. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 10: Pour conjurer la danger - Jacques Offenbach
15. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Allons, parle! et sois bref! - Jacques Offenbach
16. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: J'ai la certains flacons - Miracle, Crespel, Hoffmann, Antonia - Jacques Offenbach
17. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 11: Ne plus chanter - Hoffmann, Antonia - Jacques Offenbach
18. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 12: Tu ne chanteras plus? - Jacques Offenbach
19. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Ah! Quelle est cette voix? - Jacques Offenbach
20. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Ta mere, oses-tu l'interroger? - Jacques Offenbach
21. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Non! Assez! - Jacques Offenbach
22. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Ja cede au transport qui m'enivre! - Miracle, Antonia, La Voix - Jacques Offenbach
23. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 13: Mon enfant, ma fille! - Crespel, Antonia, Hoffmann, Nicklausse, Miracle - Jacques Offenbach

Tracks:

1. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Act IV: Entracte - Jacques Offenbach
2. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 1: Messieurs, silence! - Jacques Offenbach
3. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Recit et Chant bachique: Et moi, ce n'est pas la - Jacques Offenbach
4. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Amis, l'amour tendre et reveur - Hoffmann, Nicklausse, Giulietta - Jacques Offenbach
5. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 2: Je vois qu'on est en fete! - Schlemil, Giulietta, Pitchinaccio, Hoffmann - Scene 3: Au premier reve je t'enleve - Nicklausse, Hoffmann - Jacques Offenbach
6. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 4: Tourne, tourne, miroir - Dapertutto - Jacques Offenbach
7. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 5: Cher ange! - Dapertutto, Giulietta - Jacques Offenbach
8. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 6: Melodrame: Vivat! J'ai tout gagne! - Giulietta, Schlemil, Dapertutto - Jacques Offenbach
9. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 7: Giulietta, palsembleu! - Jacques Offenbach
10. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Air de Giulietta: Vous ne jouez pas? - Jacques Offenbach
11. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Que dit-elle? - Jacques Offenbach
12. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Giulietta, je vous jure! - Jacques Offenbach
13. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Oui, fut-ce au prix de ma vie - Jacques Offenbach
14. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Sextuor and Choeur: Helas! Je vais encore la suivre - Jacques Offenbach
15. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Morbleu! - Jacques Offenbach
16. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Il a ma cle - Jacques Offenbach
17. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 1: Ton ami dit vrai! - Jacques Offenbach
18. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Romance: O Dieu, de quelle ivresse - Jacques Offenbach
19. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Jusque-la, cependant - Jacques Offenbach
20. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Si ta presence m'est ravie - Jacques Offenbach
21. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Ah! Tu m'as defiee - Giulietta, Hoffmann, Dapertutto, Pitchinaccio - Jacques Offenbach
22. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 2: Alerte, Hoffmann! - Jacques Offenbach
23. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Voyez! Il n'a plus le moindre reflet! - Jacques Offenbach
24. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Je n'aime pas qu'on me defie! - Jacques Offenbach
25. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Ainsi, tu mentais! - Nicklausse, Hoffmann, Dapertutto, Pitchinaccio, Giulietta - Jacques Offenbach
26. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Act V: Entracte - Jacques Offenbach
27. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 1: Choeur: Folie! Oublie tes douleurs - Jacques Offenbach
28. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Voila quelle fut l'histoire - Jacques Offenbach
29. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Choeur des Esprits et des Etudiants: Glou! Glou! - Hoffmann, Luther, Lindorf, Nathanael, Nicklausse - Jacques Offenbach
30. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Scene 2: Stella, Stella! - Jacques Offenbach
31. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Couplet: Pour le coeur de Phrygne - Jacques Offenbach
32. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Denouement: Hola! Quelqu'un de fort pour emporter Hoffmann! - Jacques Offenbach
33. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Ingrat! Et moi? - Jacques Offenbach
34. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Adieu! Je t'abandonne - Andres, Hoffmann, Nicklausse, Stella, La Muse, Lindorf - Jacques Offenbach

Amazon.com

Of all the revisionist Hoffmanns, this one is the best, using the latest (and one trusts) last version of Michael Kaye's edition, based on sketches recently discovered for the unfinished opera. Most of the changes are in the Giulietta act; it now tracks better dramatically, and unlike some restoration attempts, its length is sensible. In the title role, Roberto Alagna is full of imaginative touches of characterization, singing the famous Kleinzach song with an intentional vocal roughness in a worthy effort to convey the Hoffmann's debauched state. As the mechanical doll Olympia, Natalie Dessay proves she's not only a phenomenal singer but a great comedienne. Kent Nagano deploys his Lyon Opera forces with great stylistic authority. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews:

Not a flawless version, but one to be REALLY loved.......2006-05-09

This is a recording with significant highs and lows. But in overall it is an excellent account of this wonderfully tuneful and beloved opera.
First, about the edition. The Kaye edition restores a lot of music including recitatives written by Offenbach and a number of musical numbers. It also goes for the Guiraud recitatives which some versions totally omit and replace by the dialogues which Offenbach likely might have intended. Compared to, say, the historical Sutherland/Domingo/Bonynge version, this version is significantly longer and more substantial, musically speaking. With more than 30 minutes of music compared to the Bonynge edition, it is understandable why the Kaye version needs up to 3 CDs to bear the substantial amount of music.
While fans of Contes d'Hoffmann would likely be grateful at the ressurrection of so much musical material, I personally find this version sometimes just too painfully long. The Guiraud recitatives sometimes simply are bland and cause the opera to just drag along. Yes, Guiraud obviously has a lot of skills and bright ideas in these recitatives, mostly shown by the quoting of music by Offenbach in these recitatives to give the opera a better sense of unison. But compared to the simpler recitatives that Offenbach himself wrote, the Guiraud sometimes just seems aloof. Unless you really have a lot of time, you might want to stick to the more important musical numbers. Also, the new ending, with Hoffmann facing the Muse in the apotheose is a wonderful ensemble, with sounds from the church organ that gives the scene its necessary "holy" feel.
Now to the singers. Alagna has a masculine voice and is dramatically very effective. He also has a perfect French diction-crisp, idiomatic and a real joy to listen to. His instrument naturally is not very beautiful; and I personally find his Hoffmann a bit beefy and hysterical; but his good understanding of the role still helps him come across as a better Hoffmann. The best Hoffmann is in my opinion either Domingo or Schicoff.
The ladies are provided with quite a luxury cast. Natalie Dessay's Olympia is perhaps second only to Sutherland and Sills. To everyone who honors La Stupenda's E flats, listen: Dessay presents the role of the mechanical doll with FOUR Gs, yes 4 full-voiced, stunning, jaw-dropping Gs!!! Musically speaking, Dessay is not as comedic as Sutherland; her tone is a little thin and nasal but her coloratura and lovely portrayal of the role is simply untterly convincing.
Vaduva's Antonia is excellent: excellent diction, girly tone and very successfully portrays the youngsinger's vulnerability and sensibility. She however lacks power in the trio and that C sharp falls flat. Her "Elle a fui la tourterelle" is however wonderfully touching and moving. The best Antonia, in my opinion, is Victoria de Los Angeles. To one of the reviewers here, Vaduva is not a Slavic singer. She is a French singer of Romanian origin. A totally Latin singer!
Sumi Jo portrays a very convincing Giulietta with very believable spinto qualities, which she provides effectively with chaning in tone. The rediscovered coloratura, with a couple of E flats and spellbinding runs, well, brings the wonderful Korean coloratura soprano to her prime best. Her French is surprisingly idiomatic.
Lascarro's got a small role as Stella. I personally don't like her tone; but she is good enough in the beautiful apotheose ensemble.
Jose Van Dam's quartet villain almost matches Bacquier's famous portrayal. His voice is not as dark or evil-sounding as Bacquier's but still gives a top-notch interpretation. His doctor Miracle might have been the best on record if he took some of those melodramatic laughs in the Trio. His reluctance, combined with Vaduva's small voice, creates a flat Trio. This being said, the French bass's quartet of villains stills ranks among the undisputed best. My favorite villain quartet, Gabriel Bacquier has a cameo role here as Crespel, which he does a great job.
Gilles Ragon's a good tenor and his stuttering in the portrayal of Cochenille is very convincing. I however find him a bit too serious and heavy for these tenore buffo roles. The same can be said for Senechal's Spalanzani. Compared to Charon's Spalanzani on the Bonynge recording, he is very unfunny. The "brigand! Bandit!" quarrel after the destruction of the doll is bland and lifeless.
Catherine's Dubosc has a lovely voice and does great job as Nicklausse. There is nothing to criticize about her singing qualities. My only objection is that the casting of this trouser role for a soprano harms the overall balance of the opera: 5 soprano roles and 1 mezzo role (the voice of the mother): this is not a good balance. The Barcarolle duet, in particular, suffers from both a misbalance and a ridiculous fast tempo.
Kent Nagano's conducting does not have the solid tempos of Bonynge and sometimes overwhelms the singers: most notably in that C sharp of the Trio. But he has really interesting ideas and provides invaluable support.
With the exception of a bland Spalanzani, some strange tempos and the unusual length of the edition, this is a very good Hoffmann. Together with the Bonynge version, this is another very good all-around recording. The set is a tad expensive, but given the substantial amount of music and a very informative booklet, this is a recording to really consider. It will provide a lot of listening pleasures. You will not be disappointed.

The best of a mediocre-to-bad lot.......2003-10-30

I have heard six recordings of "Hoffmann," an opera that is particularly dear to me for sentimental reasons. None of them are perfect, all have flaws, but on balance this is the best of the lot.

Now that musicologists have finished playing with the Mahler 10th Symphony (which ended rather well) and the Beethoven 10th (which ended rather badly), they have been taking a whack at "Hoffmann," rushing to revise music the composer never sanctioned and adding music found in buckets and boxes long after his death. My personal feeling was, if it ain't broke, don't fix it: you're not Offenbach, and to speak for him requires a tremendous amount of chutzpah. And a lot of the revisions, to my ear, simply do not work well, such as turning Giulietta into a coloratura soprano, spinning out an aria that ends much like Olympia's doll song as on this recording.

I'm also not fond of switching the Antonia and Giulietta acts from their traditional positions for both dramatic and musical reasons. To begin with, having the "tales" end with Antonia gives Hoffmann's character a certain sense of redemption that simply isn't there the other way. Also, the Giulietta act is musically the weakest: as primiarily an operetta composer, Offenbach simply had a hard time creating music for this act which is darker and more tensely dramatic than anything else in the work. The superp trio that climaxes the Antonia act, on the other hand, is one of the most brilliant and transcendent things he wrote.

That being said, there is much to admire in this set. Kent Nagano conducts briskly, which is his wont, thereby tying together the music in a cohesive and satisfying way where others (particularly Cluytens and Cambreling) sound slow and rambling. On the other hand, his chorus of the spirits, though light and brisk, just misses the rapt, enchanting sound achieved by Bonynge; and though it was probably Offenbach's intent to have only a few strings play the violin motif in the Antonia trio, they sound too thin, not sweeping or driven enough, for the dramatic situation. Nagano also conducts the famed "Barcarolle" at a shade-too-fast tempo, thus robbing the music of its mysterious charm (even Arthur Fiedler made a better recording of the instrumental version). These moments point to a lack of "theatricality" in Nagano's conducting style that Bonynge, Rudel and even Beecham managed to capture.

Alagna is not as suavely beautiful or haunting in the role as Robert Rounseville or Stuart Burrows were. This is something of an abrupt, nervous reading, though if one knows something about E.T.A. Hoffmann and his tales it is perfectly in keeping with his character. (I have yet, however, to see ANY tenor perform the role made up to LOOK like Hoffmann, a scrawny little man with a square jaw, popping eyes and a shock of unruly, frizzy hair. I guess no tenor really wants to look like that!)

This is unquestionably the finest performance Dessay has ever recorded: her voice is brilliant, in focus, on pitch and wonderfully secure. Only Bond in the Beecham performance and Sutherland come close, though I personally feel that Sutherland was funnier in the role. She had a real flair for comedy, whereas she did not possess enough personal warmth for Antonia or Giulietta.

The Sutherland recording also had the best "villains" in Gabriel Bacquier in his prime, but to my ears Van Dam is an excellent second. (Treigle, in the Sills set, was good but not great, his somewhat gruff voice rather overwhelimg the roles with too much histrionics.)

Vaduva has a pretty tone but your typical "Slavic wobble," more noticeable in the early and late parts of her act. For some reason, the voice is better focused in the middle sections, but she does not efface memories of de los Angeles who was the best Antonia ever.

Jo is surprisingly good as Giulietta: though her voice is even smaller than Dessay's, it had a fuller lyric sound in the mid-range which captured well on records. (I have beel told that her "live" career is just about over on stage as the voice is too small to carry in most modern theaters.) I liked Margherita Grandi in the old Beecham film, but a chesty, spinto Giulietta is apparently persona non grata in the new Michael Kaye edition of the work.

Dubosc is a good Nicklausse, though I preferred Tourangeau and the singer (I forget her name) from the Beecham film. Bacquier, with far less voice, is still predictably good as Crespel; the timeless Senechal is a classic Spalanzani; Ragon is an excellent Cochenille, not so memorable as Franz. (I miss Andrea Velis, the old Met comp, who was brilliant in these roles but was never recorded in them.) The other small roles range from excellent (Tezier as Schlemil) to poor (Juanita Lascarre as Stella).

An ideal modern "Hoffmann" would have Elisabeth Vidal as Olympia, Hong as Antonia, Fleming as Giulietta, Alvarez as Hoffmann, Rene Pape as the three villains, and someone like Pappano or Plasson conducting.....but we can dream all we want. The era of complete opera recordings, according to many inside sources, is over as we know it--even the Bobby & Angela act is being shelved--so we must pick from what we have, and this is simply the finest over all "Hoffmann" on record, with Bonynge's being a good second choice, though I do not like Domingo's hard-voiced, beefy Hoffmann.

Hoffman contines to elude the recording world.......2001-10-03

This is a very good Hoffman, with the new edition of the score and a lot more music than in earlier editions. There is MUCH here to be admired and enjoyed as there is in the classic Domingo/Sutherland recording.

I prefer Domingo's more passionate Hoffman to Alagna's workmanlike effort, which is still quite fine.

On the other hand, having different female vocalists, as this recording does is preferable to my ear than having the same throughout as the Domingo/Sutherland recording does. The three female leads here range from good (Dessay) to excellent (Jo). Having heard Sumi Jo sing Olympia on record and in person, I find it hard to enjoy Dessay's quite as much. Jo is here as Antonia however.

No single recording of Hoffman is clearly preferable and listening to each is recommended. In the meanwhile, there is still an opening here for a more fully satisying Hoffman.

Excellent but not definitive.......2001-04-20

This recording has given me many hours of listening pleasure. Pretty much every artist featured in it gives an excellent performance, and the greatness of Offenbach's opera is conveyed more fully than can be done by other performances that contain less of what he composed for "Hoffmann" before his untimely death. However, the recording has several specific faults that result in my giving it only 4 stars, even though it is among my favorite operatic recordings.

First, the good points. Listening to this recording one definitely thinks of the opera's characters rather than the artists portraying them.... I find Alagna's voice quite beautiful on this recording and feel that he portrays the character of Hoffmann with spectacular success....

Van Dam is one of the recording's great assets as the villains. The three main heroines are each memorable(.).......(Jo's) interpretation of Giulietta's long-lost coloratura aria is spectacular and features a spine-chilling moment in her climactic cadenza ...she sings a rising series of notes almost identical to one sung by Dessay as Olympia in Act II, emphasizing the connection of the heroines. ...Lascarro does a very good job in the small role of Stella (....Dubosc is excellent as the Muse and Nicklausse, giving a truly memorable performance of nearly the entire role. Unfortunately, Nicklausse's Antonia-act aria, arguably the artistic and emotional heart of the entire opera ...,seems somehow disappointing on this recording. Dubosc's voice does not cut through the orchestra as it should when she sings in her lower register, and as a result the aria fails to have the cathartic impact on me that it has when I have heard it in Metropolitan Opera broadcasts. .... Ragon gives an excellent, highly memorable performance in the four "grotesque" roles.

Now I may turn to the disappointing features of this recording. ....(T)his recording contains no extra-musical sound effects whatsoever. To a certain extent this is a valid approach to recording an opera. The problem is that "Hoffmann" contains an unusually high number of passages which were composed with the extra-musical sounds that would be heard from the stage in mind and which lack some of their intended impact without sound effects. The effectiveness of the students' drinking song is reduced when we don't hear them banging their glasses together and on the tables, and without the winding-up sound the pauses in Olympia's song when she runs down make less sense. We also should hear Coppelius smashing Olympia, Hoffmann and Schlemil moving around heavily as they duel, the death-gasp of another character who dies in the new ending of the Giulietta act (I won't spoil the unfamiliar twists of plot here), and various other sound effects which would add to the drama of the story. Moreover, Van Dam's villains never laugh except when their laughter is notated in the score, even though the libretto specifies some additional evil laughs, notably the one as Dr. Miracle disappears and Antonia falls dying at the end of the trio for Miracle, Antonia and the voice of Antonia's mother.

One of the main problems with the recording is that Van Dam, Ragon and Dubosc are the only performers to play multiple roles. Not only are the heroines played by four different sopranos, but none of the artists who play Luther and the students reappear in other roles in the acts devoted to Hoffmann's three stories. All of this goes against what are presumed to be Offenbach's wishes for his opera, despite the fact that this is a recording of Kaye's critical edition (in its "grand opera" version). Moreover, this recording was, unfortunately, made before Offenbach's own finished finale for the Giulietta act, written very shortly before his death, became available for inclusion in Kaye's edition. ....

Finally, it seems bizarre that the aria "Scintille, diamant," which has been one of the most popular numbers in the opera for a long time, is not included on this recording. ....

Despite these flaws, this recording is recommended. It is extremely enjoyable and represents the totality of Offenbach's intentions for "Hoffmann" more fully than any other recording currently available. One hopes that a new recording of Kaye's edition, with the definitive ending for the Giulietta act and with a single soprano playing all four heroines, will be made in the not-too-distant future.

O Dieu, de quelle ivresse embrasse-tu mon âme?.......1999-11-21

Comme un concert divin ta voix m'a pénétré!....

This recording is undoubtedly one of the two benchmark recordings of this opera, the other one being the classic Sutherland/Domingo/Bonynge set. It is the most complete set with the "newly-discovered" Giuletta ending, and even includes the terrific but apocryphal sextet that is missing in the Bonynge recording. Alagna is the true star here, reflecting the spirit of Hoffmann throughout the opera, and singing in a very ideomatic French (unlike Domingo). The four heroines are marvellous, even though I prefer a single soprano singing all the four roles. Van Dam is great as the four villians, but he could have been more sinister in the trio in the Antonia act. Nagano is fine, but has some problems with the tempi at times.

Average customer rating: A brilliant collection from a great soprano If I could have only one collection...... Yes this is great! The Grandest Collection of Leontyne Price Arias The Greatest Soprano Ever Recorded

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Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Opera Arias Ed Sullivan Show 2: Great Moments in Opera Voices of Firestone: The Great Sopranos / Steber, Price, Tebaldi, Sayao, Nilsson, Moffo, Albanese, Peters, Munsel, Traubel, Sutherland The Great Recordings Handel: Arias ASIN: B000003FAF Release Date: 1992-08-11

Tracks:

1. Dido and Aeneas: Act 3: Thy Hand, Belinda!
2. Dido and Aeneas: Act 3: When I Am Laid In Earth
3. Le nozze di Figaro: Act 3: E Susanna non vien!
4. Le nozze di Figaro: Act 3: Dove sono
5. La traviata: Act 3: Teneste la promessa
6. La traviata: Act 3: Addio del passato
7. L'africaine: Act 2: Sur mes genoux, fils du soleil
8. Manon: Act 2: Allons! il le faut!
9. Manon: Act 2: Adieu, notre petite table
10. Otello: Act 4: Era piu calma?
11. Otello: Act 4: Mia madre aveva una povera ancella (Willow Song)
12. Otello: Act 4: Ave Maria
13. Adriana Lecouvreur: Act 1: Ecco: respiro appena
14. Adriana Lecouvreur: Act 1: Io son l'umile ancella
15. Louise: Act 3: Depuis le jour
16. Turandot: Act 2: In questa reggia
17. Die tote Stadt: Act 1: Marietta's Lied
18. Vanessa: Act 1: He Has Come, He Has Come!
19. Vanessa: Act 1: Do Not Utter A Word

Tracks:

1. Atalanta: Act 1: Care Selve
2. Don Giovanni: Act 1: Don, Ottavio, son morta!
3. Don Giovanni: Act 1: Or sai chi l'onore
4. Der Freischuetz: Act 2: Wie nahte mir der Schlummer
5. Der Freischuetz: Act 2: Liese, leise
6. Tannhaeuser: Act 2: Dich, teure Halle
7. Macbeth: Act 2: La luce langue
8. Macbeth: Act 4: Vegliammo invan due notti (Sleepwalking Scene)
9. Macbeth: Act 4: Una macchia e qui tuttora
10. Mefistofele: Act 3: L'altra notte in fondo al mare
11. Rusalka: Act 1: Song To The Moon
12. L'Enfant Prodigue: Air de Lia: L'annee en vain
13. Andrea Chenier: Act 3: La mamma morta
14. Francesca da Ramini: Act 3: Paolo, datemi pace
15. Suor Angelica: Senza mammo, o bimbo, tu sei morto!
16. Amelia Goes To The Ball: While I Waste These Precious Hours

Tracks:

1. Alceste: Act 1: Divinites du Styx
2. Don Giovanni: Act 2: Crudele? Ah, no, mio bene
3. Don Giovanni: Act 2: Non mi dir
4. I lombardi: Act 2: O madre, dal cielo
5. I lombardi: Act 2: Se vano e il pregare
6. Martha: Act 2: The Last Rose Of Summer
7. Simon Boccanegra: Act 1: Come in quest'ora bruna
8. La Perichole: Act 3: Tu n'es pas beau
9. Die Walkuere: Act 1: Du bist der Lenz
10. Die Fledermaus: Act 2: Czardas: Klange der Heimat
11. Carmen: Act 3: Ces des contrebandiers
12. Carmen: Act 3: Je dis que rien ne m'epouvante
13. Cavalleria Rusticana: Voi lo sapete
14. Thais: Act 2: Ah! je suis seule
15. Thais: Act 2: Dis-moi que je suis belle
16. Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro
17. Les dialogues des Carmelites: Act 3: Mes filles, voila s'acheve

Tracks:

1. Semele: Act 2: Where 'er You Walk
2. Idomeneo: Act 3: O smania! O Furie!
3. Idomeneo: Act 3: D 'Oreste, d' Ajace!
4. La damnation de Faust: Part 4: D'amour l'ardente flamme
5. Oberon: Act 2: Ozean, du Ungeheuer!
6. Norma: Act 1: Sediziose voci, voci di guerra
7. Norma: Act 1: Casta diva
8. Norma: Act 1: Ah! bello a me ritorna
9. Rigoletto: Act 1: Gualtier Malde
10. Rigoletto: Act 1: Caro Nome
11. Tristan und Isolde: Act 3: Liebestod: Mild und leise
12. Pagliacci: Act 1: Ballatella: Qual fiamma avea nel guardo
13. Adriana Lecouvreur: Act 4: Poveri fiori
14. Gloriana: Act 1, Scene 2: Soliloquy & Prayer: On Rivalries 'tis Safe For Kings
15. Gloriana: Act 1, Scene 2: Soliloquy & Prayer: O God, My King, Sole Ruler Of The World

Customer Reviews:

A brilliant collection from a great soprano.......2007-04-30

Leontyne Price was much admired and this 4CD collection shows her outstanding vocal gifts to the best advantage. Numerous reviewers have commented on the wide-ranging styles present and I can agree wholeheartedly with them. You would be hard-pressed to find a greater compilation of Ms Price, showcasing her amazing gifts as a great singer!

If I could have only one collection.............2006-11-12

....it would be this. Such fine singing in so many periods, languages, and styles. She is truley a great artist and this set helps you see just HOW GREAT she is. I won't go thru all the tracks but will say Cara Selve drives me wild. "When I am Laid in Earth..." comes across very nicely. There are some rare exerpts too like Gloriana, Menotti's Amelia goes to the Ball. Overall most tracks are inspired. The musicianship is to the highest standards. I JUST lOVE IT!

Yes this is great!.......2006-10-14

But "When I am Laid in Earth" was written by PURCELL! Handel's "Care Selve", however, is also on this set, and it is GORGEOUS!!! I love just about everything on here. A few items from the fourth CD are a bit telling of her age (D'oreste d'ajace!")- but even they are fabulous. THe price of this set is unfortunate - however, it has dropped a little! :) I originally purchased it from BMG in 1994, for next-to-nothing, then "gave" it to my best friend! Two years ago, she lost hers to Hurricane Ivan, and paid a LOT for a new set!

The Grandest Collection of Leontyne Price Arias.......2005-08-08

If you're a fan of Leontyne Price, this should be at the top of your list of her recording albums. I don't know when this was issued, but it's from the RCA Label which was her best promotional record company. It's a box set featuring dozens of arias from magnificent grand operas (some of which Leontyne Price never sang on stage in full and instead sang some bits in concert). Leontyne Price sings in fresh, beautiful and strong voice in dramatic and versatile roles, mastering each music from each composer. She masters such strikingly different masters's works as Samuel Barber (Vannessa) Webber (Der Freischutz) Wagner (Tristan and Isolde, Tannhauser) Falla (Atalanta) Mozart (Le Nozze Di Figaro). She sings the title roles of Massenet's Manon, Bizet's Carmen, Bellini's Norma, Verdi's Lady Macbeth, Amelia in Un Ballo Di Maschera, Nedda in I Pagliacci, Turandot and Suor Angelica, Flotow's Martha, and even oratorio such as Handel's Semele and Benjamin Britten's Gloriana. This is a vast repertoire, far grander in variety than I have ever known any one soprano sang. While critics will indeed compare Leontyne Price to Maria Callas (as another review critic brought up) these two sopranos could not have been any more different. It's not even a matter of their different racial backgrounds- Callas was born in Greece and became an American citizen then gave it up for French citizenship..and Price was born in Mississippi and was African-American) it's a matter of how different their approach at opera was and their vocal category. Callas was a dramatic soprano sforzando (literally "forced dramatic soprano")who would prefer to produce a choking, ugly, harsh sound merely for the dramatic effect and the integrity of the text in her lines. Leontyne Price was the definition of a soprano lyrico-spinto ("pushed" lyric-dramatic singing)which meant above all, to sound beautiful and to fill up those dramatic lines with as much vocal and tonal beauty as possible. Price had a more thrilling mezzo di voce and high soaring top register and a cleaner, smoother sound than the wobbly Callas, no offense to Callas fanatics of which there are many. It is true that Price did lose her touch in a sense in her older years (the 1970's and 80's) when her voice lacked the vibrant lyricism and attention to diction. Her 1970's Toscas and Aidas are therefore a sloppier than her 1950's and 60's Toscas and the same went for her Leonoras in both Trovatore and Forza Del Destino. Nevertheless, Price is an ageless singer. Her voice, dark, messy or bright and smooth, is still what was said of her in her debut at the Met as Leonora in Trovatore - a "bright, unfurling banner". She was goddess of the opera and paved the way for the new generation of black sopranos of today.

This collection does not showcase the more famous roles that were in fact her signature ones - Leonora from Trovatore and Forza, Aida is'nt even in here and that one even she considered her greatest role, we don't find her Madame Butterfly here. Instead we find rare pieces that she sings beautifully and dramatically, making us wish she had sung the entire operas in full on stage. She never sang a full-length Norma and that's a pity- even Grace Bumbry and Shirley Verrett did in their careers. Price seemed to enjoy singing Samuel Barber's vocal works - she opened the 1965-1966 Met season with Barber's Antony and Cleopatra (a bad production by the way but not through any fault of Miss Price but the overblown spectacle of the design of the opera itself) and here she sings his Vanessa. Benjamin Britten's Gloriana sounds lovely in her hands. Her Norma and Dona Anna in Mozart are dramatic and fiery, her Lady Macbeth darkly mysterious, her Suor Angelica peaceful with powerful inner fire and her Dialogue Des Carmelites are also sensational. Yes, many of these arias are beautiful to hear, and thank God she doesn't have any of the flaws critics keep hearing in her later recordings. Without a doubt, this is her finest album. I think you should listen via audio samples here the following to make you get this recording: the Countess aria from Nozze Di Figaro, her Manon (Adieu Petit Table) La Mamma Morta, her version of Sediziose Voce/Casta Diva from Norma, the excerpt from Carmen, "Don Ottavio son Morta...Or Sai Chi L'Onore" from Don Giovanni, Care Salve, the Dido and Aeneas excerpts, the La Traviata excerpts (Addio Del Passato) and the beautifull, mystic, haunting and well-executed Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde, which I even feel surpasses Birgit Nilsson's version. Just listen to how heart-felt that Liebestod is! I have not heard the likes of it anywhere else.

The Greatest Soprano Ever Recorded.......2005-03-20

O.K. So that is only my opinion. But Leontyne Price was one of the most dedicated singers of the 20th century. Her vast repertoire is showcased in this extensive collection of arias. While to many Maria Callas will forever be the ultimate and the greatest of them all, Leontyne Price had the same poswerful, high dramatic voice, in addition a more generous chest register and a regial presence. Moreover, she overcame so much to get to the top. In her day, African-American women in opera was new. Marian Anderson was the first to get into the mainstream opera world, with much difficulty and intervention, such as Eleanor Roosevelt's support. After Marian Anderson finally landed her first role at the Met in the 50's, a new generation of black women in opera began. The 60's and 70's would see the rise of mezzo sopranos later turned to dramatic sopranos such as Grace Bumbry, Shirley Verrett and it would follow into the 80's with Jessie Norman and Kathleen Battle. Today, black women have made opera one of their highest achievements. Leontyne Price began singing in the 50's. A televised production of Tosca was not shown in some Southern states that were racistad opposed the idea of seeing a black woman in a "white" role. Leontyne Price would master the role of Tosca as successfully as Maria Callas. I think that while she is at her best in the Puccini and Verdi operas she recorded and performed (not showcased here)- Trovatore, Aida, Forza Del Destino, Madame Butterfly, Tosca, Suor Angelica. However, there is so much that she is absolutely remarkable in. I love her as Violetta in Traviata (few black women sing the traditionally white role of Violetta), Massenet's Manon, Verdi's Lady Macbeth (which was another of Shirley Verrett's great roles)Dido from Dido and Aneas, Dona Ana and Elvira in Don Giovanni, The Countess in Figaro, Bellini's Norma (she is outstanding in that powerful druid diva role). I think if we narrow it down to a few roles that she really made her own it would be 1: Aida....2:Tosca...3Dona Ana/Dona Elvira 4 Desdemona from Otello and 5..Leonoras from Trovatore and Forza.

This collection is pretty impressive. I didn't know a soprano could be that versatile. Leontyne Price is remarkable. Her rich, lyric voice, capable of plaintive and melancholy lines as well as powerful high C's and dramatic whoops, was always clean, smooth and intense. Of course, like most sopranos, she had her bad days. Her later Toscas (in the mid or late 70's) became too melodramatic and sloppy, when she used to be more mannered and poised with the role, her Cleopatra in Samuel Barber's opera was a fiaco because the production was too bizarre and messy, etc. But for the most part, mostly in Verdi, Puccini, Mozart and as Norma, she was radiant, glorious and perfect. Her background in Church music made her incredibly suited to singing Requiems, such as Verdi's Requiem. There will never be another Leontyne Price. She was a one woman Golden Age of Opera, and sang with the best of the best- Bjussi Bjorling, Giuseppe Di Stefano, Franco Corelli, Placido Domingo.

Average customer rating: A relative success AN ALMOST GREAT CARMEN Leontyne Price a Great Carmen A Gloriously Sung Carmen Maybe I'm a little partial...

Bizet: Carmen / Price, Corelli, Merrill, Freni; Karajan Georges Bizet , Wiener Philharmoniker , Herbert von Karajan , Leontyne Price , Franco Corelli , Vienna State Opera Choir , Mirella Freni , and Robert Merrill Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Freni, Mirella | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Price, Leontyne | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Price, Leontyne | ( P ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Puccini: Madama Butterfly Tristan Und Isolde Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera Mozart: Così fan tutte Verdi - Rigoletto / Sutherland, Pavarotti, Milnes, LSO, Bonynge ASIN: B000009W7K Release Date: 1997-02-03

Tracks:

1. Carmen: Overture - G. Bizet
2. Carmen: Sur la place, chacun passe - G. Bizet
3. Carmen: Regardez donc cette petite (Micaela) - G. Bizet
4. Carmen: Avec la garde montante (Don Jose) - G. Bizet
5. Carmen: C'est bien la (Don Jose) - G. Bizet
6. Carmen: La cloche a sonne - G. Bizet
7. Carmen: La voila, la voila (Carmen) - G. Bizet
8. Carmen: L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Carmen) - G. Bizet
9. Carmen: Carmen! sur tes pas - G. Bizet
10. Carmen: Quels regards! Quelle effronterie (Don Jose) (Micaela) - G. Bizet
11. Carmen: Parle-moi de ma mere (Don Jose) (Micaela) - G. Bizet
12. Carmen: Reste la maintenant, pendant que je lirai (Don Jose) (Micaela) - G. Bizet
13. Carmen: Que se passe-t-il donc la-bas? - G. Bizet
14. Carmen: Mon officier, c'etait une querelle (Don Jose) - G. Bizet
15. Carmen: Tralalalala, coupe-moi, brule-moi (Carmen) (Don Jose) - G. Bizet
16. Carmen: Pres des ramparts de Seville (Carmen) (Don Jose) - G. Bizet
17. Carmen: Voici l'ordre; partez (Carmen) - G. Bizet

Tracks:

1. Carmen: Entr'acte - G. Bizet
2. Carmen: Act 2 - Les tringles des sistres tintaint (Gypsy Song) (Carmen) - G. Bizet
3. Carmen: Act 2 - Messieurs, Pastia me dit (Carmen) - G. Bizet
4. Carmen: Act 2 - Vivat! vivat le Tor - G. Bizet
5. Carmen: Act 2 - Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre (Toreador Song) (Escamillo) - G. Bizet
6. Carmen: Act 2 - La belle, un mot (Escamillo) - G. Bizet
7. Carmen: Act 2 - Eh bien, vite, quelles nouvelles? (Carmen) - G. Bizet
8. Carmen: Act 2 - Nous avons en t une affaire (Quintet) (Carmen) - G. Bizet
9. Carmen: Act 2 - Mais qui donc attends-tu? (Carmen) - G. Bizet
10. Carmen: Act 2 - Halte lQui va l(Don Jose) (Carmen) - G. Bizet
11. Carmen: Act 2 - Enfin c'est toi! (Carmen) (Don Jose) - G. Bizet
12. Carmen: Act 2 - Lalalala - Attends un peu, Carmen (Don Jose) (Carmen) - G. Bizet
13. Carmen: Act 2 - La fleur que tu m'avais jet(Flower Song) (Don Jose) - G. Bizet
14. Carmen: Act 2 - Non! tu ne m'aimes pas (Carmen) (Don Jose) - G. Bizet
15. Carmen: Act 2 - HolCarmen! HolHol(Don Jose) (Carmen) - G. Bizet
16. Carmen: Act 2 - Bel officier, bel officier (Carmen) (Don Jose) - G. Bizet

Tracks:

1. Carmen: Entr'acte - Georges Bizet
2. Carmen: Act 3 - Ecoute, ecoute, compagnon, ecoute (Carmen) (Don Jose) - Georges Bizet
3. Carmen: Act 3 - Reposons-nous une heure ici (Carmen) (Don Jose) - Georges Bizet
4. Carmen: Act 3 - Melons! Coupons! (Card Scene) (Carmen) - Georges Bizet
5. Carmen: Act 3 - Eh bien? - Eh bien (Carmen) - Georges Bizet
6. Carmen: Act 3 - Quant au douanier, c'est notre affaire (Carmen) - Georges Bizet
7. Carmen: Act 3 - C'est des contrebandiers (Micaela) - Georges Bizet
8. Carmen: Act 3 - Je dis que rien ne m'epouvante (Micaela's Air) (Micaela) - Georges Bizet
9. Carmen: Act 3 - Je ne me trompe pas (Micaela) (Don Jose) - Georges Bizet
10. Carmen: Act 3 - Je suis Escamillo, Torero de Grenade! (Escamillo) (Don Jose) - Georges Bizet
11. Carmen: Act 3 - Hola, hola Jose! (Carmen) (Escamillo) (Don Jose) - Georges Bizet
12. Carmen: Act 3 - Moi, je viens te chercher! (Micaela) (Don Jose) (Carmen) - Georges Bizet
13. Carmen: Act 3 - Helas, Jose! (Micaela) (Don Jose) (Escamillo) - Georges Bizet
14. Carmen: Entr'acte - Georges Bizet
15. Carmen: Act 4 - A deux cuartos ! - Georges Bizet
16. Carmen: Act 4 - Les voici! Voici la quadrille! - Georges Bizet
17. Carmen: Act 4 - Si tu m'aimes, Carmen (Escamillo) (Carmen) - Georges Bizet
18. Carmen: Act 4 - C'est toi! - C'est moi! (Carmen) (Don Jose) - Georges Bizet
19. Carmen: Act 4 - Ou-vas-tu? - Laisse-moi! (Don Jose) (Carmen) - Georges Bizet

Customer Reviews:

A relative success.......2007-07-11

From his multiple readings of the nine Beethoven symphonies, to his controversial, unconventional production of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, to his individual achievements in the realms of Mozart, Verdi, Wagner, Puccini, Sibelius, Mahler, Strauss, and Schoenberg, the Austrian conductor-legend Herbert von Karajan left his irreplaceable fingerprint on the world of music. However, in spite of all his brilliance in the aforementioned and unmentioned spheres, Georges Bizet's relentlessly celebrated opera Carmen was as musical tapestry Karajan never fully understood.

While Karajan aficionados plot their revenge for this seemingly gratuitous attack, it should be noted that he was not alone among conductors in this fault; in fact, when one considers than Carmen is the "C" in any beginner's guide to opera ("A" being Verdi's Aïda and "B" being Puccini's La Bohème), it is almost laughable to discover how many disregarded the proper form in which Carmen should be played. Carmen was not a grand opera, despite what Sir Thomas Beecham, Georges Prêtre, Thomas Schippers, and the like wished so ardently to believe. Bizet composed Carmen in the tradition of the opéra-comique, a parallel of the modern musical, with musical sections coupled with spoken melodramas or dialogues. The most superb recorded example of the properly performed Carmen is the Sir Georg Solti recording with Tatiana Troyanos, Plácido Domingo, José van Dam, and Dame Kiri te Kanawa. (Karajan did make a similar recording later in his career, with Agnes Baltsa, José Carreras, van Dam, and Katia Ricciarelli, but his interpretation was regrettably slow and vapid, and the melodramas were spoken (one must wonder why) by actors, rather than the singers.)

In spite of all this, the stars of this recording are superb. Leontyne Price injects a little bit of Bess into her Carmen, which results in a soulful, lyrically beautiful, and dramatically venomous gypsy vamp. Her Habanera ("L'amour est un oiseau rebelle") and Seguidilla ("Près de remparts de Séville") are bewitching. Franco Corelli, who, in 1963, embodied the entire institution of opera with his sultry, sheik-like physique and his hot-blooded, titanic tenor register, is a full-fledged madman as the obsessed Don José. Robert Merrill is a bit too American as the swaggering toreador Escamillo, but his rendition of "Votre toast je peux vous le rendre" is nonetheless suave and debonair. Mirella Freni had not yet reached her silkiest prime in 1963, but she glides through Micaëla's Act III aria ("Je dis que rien ne m'épouvante") like a songbird. (It should be noted that the diction of the four stars is poor, particularly Corelli and Freni; the two of them coupled in Alain Lombard's 1968 recording of Gounod's Roméo et Juliette with similar overall success, hampered only by their abysmal pronunciation.)

The high water mark of this recording is the final track, featuring the opera's cataclysmic finale ("Où vas-tu?"..."Laisse-moi!"). Corelli is so venomously fanatical ("Ainsi, le salut de mon âme"), Price is so inanely noxious and cruel ("Eh bien! Frappe-moi donc, ou laisse-moi passer!"), and the Wiener Philharmoniker is in such tempestuous voice, the following three lines deserve special recognition:

- Don José: "Pour la dernière fois, démon, veux-tu me suivre?"

- Carmen: "Non! Non! Cette bague, autrefois, tu me l'avais donnée. Tiens!"

- Don José: "Eh bien! damnée!"

The above excerpt is literally worth the entire recording; Corelli and Price are unmatched in bravado.

AN ALMOST GREAT CARMEN.......2007-04-13

This Carmen could have been a great one without the role of Don Jose held by Corelli who butchered the french text , which makes me think by the way that unfortunately there is no french opera singers able to deliver an acceptable Opera Comique version ( with the dialogue). (Corelli had also made a mess of the Faust role -with a splendid Ghiaurov-with his
dreadful french accent)..Sorry to say that of deceased great singer but the Carmen libretto is not a text to be only sung but deeply felt which french language does not allow to a singer who does not rehearse enough.
Robert Merrill marvelous dark tone and Mirella Freni, almost a debutante at that time saved the day.

Leontyne Price a Great Carmen.......2007-03-26

Having several Carmen cds, I bought this one on the advice of a great opera expert, Ron Shaheen of San Diego fame. Glad I did. Miss Price is a dramatic on-fire Carmen. Sings with passion and panache. My favorite of all the ones I've heard. Unless you can find one with Milena Kitic singing Carmen, I recommend this version. Corelli, Merrill and Freni, of course, are automatic harbingers of a great cd purchase. All this from an avid opera buffoon. Viva L'Opera!

A Gloriously Sung Carmen.......2006-08-09

One of the sad ironies of opera history is that Bizet never lived to see Carmen become the smash hit of the opera world. Described as the world's first musical, with one hit song after another, the opera is packed with great music and memorable melodies such as the Seguidilla, the Habanera and the Toreador Song. It is one of the first operas set in real time in a real place with ordinary people. Today it is arguably the most popular opera in production.
While there are many wonderful recordings, here it's the voices that make this recording so memorable. Leontyne Price is simply in sumptuous form, with the richness of a mezzo in the lower register plus her ringing top notes. Franco Corelli is a clarion and passionate Don Jose, Mirela Freni a sweet voiced Micaela, and Robert Merrill a rich and robust Escamillo. In some respects this is the "Italian" Carmen, (Corelli and Freni don't have the best French accents and Price was never known for her diction), but the quality of the voices make up for any linguistic deficiency.
As is his wont, Herbert von Karajan emphasizes his orchestra, which becomes almost another member of the cast in his hands--this can sometimes be at the expense of his singers, but Price, Corelli, Freni and Merrill But a von Karajan performance is always thrilling, whether it is this album or his Salzburg Festival DVD with Grace Bumbry, Jon Vickers, Mirela Freni and a very young Justino Diaz.
For a fan of Leontyne Price this is a MUST HAVE, and a worthy addition to any opera collection.

Maybe I'm a little partial..........2006-04-23

I first heard this version of Carmen many years ago, and for two main reasons, I can not give up listening to it. Reason #1: Leontyne Price's voice is so rich and spot-on, and reason #2: the Vienna Boys Choir add the necessary youthful element to the opera. I feel that this is a good, solid recording, well worth the five stars I gave it and far, far better than the versions of Carmen that make me cringe (and which shall remain nameless). The voices were cast well, and as usual, Herbert von Karajan conducts superbly.

Average customer rating:

Songs by Camille Saint-Saëns Manufacturer: Hyperion UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Songs by Bizet Songs By Charles Gounod The Songs of Chausson / Lott · Murray · McGreevy · Trakas · Chilingirian Quartet · G. Johnson Songs by Reynaldo Hahn / Lott, Bostridge, Bickley; Johnson Fauré: The Complete Songs, Vol. 2: Un paysage choisi ASIN: B000002ZXI Release Date: 1997-02-10

Tracks:

1. Chanson (Nouvelle chanson sur un vieil air)
2. Guitare
3. Reverie
4. L'Attente
5. Le Chant de ceux qui s'en vont sur la mer
6. Le pas d'armes du Roi Jean: Ballade douzieme
7. La Coccinelle
8. A quoi bon entendre les oiseaux
9. Si vous n'avez rien a me dire
10. Dans ton coeur
11. Danse macabre
12. Melodies Persanes: No. 1 - La Brise
13. Melodies Persanes: No. 4 - Sabre en main
14. Melodies Persanes: No. 5 - Au cimetiere
15. Melodies Persanes: No. 6 - Tournoiement
16. Marquise, vous souvenez-vous?
17. La Cigale et la Fourmi
18. Chanson a boire du vieux temps
19. Nocturne
20. Violons dans le soir
21. Guitares et mandolines
22. Une flute invisible
23. Suzette et Suzon
24. Aimons-nous
25. Temps nouveau
26. Le vent dans la plaine
27. Grasselette et Maigrelette

Average customer rating: American? Mostly... Opera Singers, Mostly American America Ben Heppner is Canadian.

American Opera Singer Lawrence Tibbett , Leonard Warren , Robert Merrill , Sherrill Milnes , Ferruccio Mazzoli , Franco Calabrese , Samuel Ramey , Ludwig van Beethoven , Vincenzo Bellini , Georges Bizet , Arrigo Boito , Gustave Charpentier , Leo Delibes , Friedrich von Flotow , Christoph Willibald Gluck , George Frideric Handel , Pietro Mascagni , Jules Massenet , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Jacques Offenbach , Giacomo Puccini , Gioachino Rossini , Camille Saint-Saens , Ambroise Thomas , Giuseppe Verdi , Richard Wagner , Antonio de Almeida , Arturo Basile , Bruno Reibold , Dimitri Mitropoulos , Erich Leinsdorf , Fernando Previtali , Fritz Reiner , Georges Prêtre , and James Levine Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Boito, Arrigo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Delibes, Léo | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Flotow | Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gluck | Gluck, Christoph W. | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Thomas | Thomas, Ambroise | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Hadley, Jerry | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music New York Philharmonic Orchestra | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Horne, Marilyn | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Ponselle, Rosa | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Price, Leontyne | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Troyanos, Tatiana | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Upshaw, Dawn | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Von Stade, Frederica | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music ASIN: B000003GB7 Release Date: 1997-11-11

Tracks:

1. Cavalleria Rusticana: Voi lo sapete
2. Orfeo ed Euridice: Che faro senza Euridice
3. Louise: Depuis le jour
4. Madama Butterfly: Un po' di vero c'e; Oh quanti occhi fisi
5. Aida: Ritorna vincitor!
6. Falstaff: E sogno, o realta?
7. Un ballo in maschera: Re dell'abisso affrettati
8. La Boheme: Si, mi chiamano Mimi
9. Lakme: Air de clochettes (Bell Song): Ou va la jeune hindoue?
10. Lakme: Air de clochettes (Bell Song): La-bas, dans la foret
11. La Fanciulla del West: Una parola sola; Or son sei mesi
12. Manon: Je suis seul!: Ah! fuyez, douce image
13. Lohengrin: Einsam in truben Tagen (Elsa's Dream)
14. Carmen: Habanera
15. Manon Lescaut: L'ho abbandonato senza un saluto; In quelle trine morbide
16. Mignon: Oui, pour ce soir; je suis Titania
17. Le nozze di Figaro: Dove sono
18. Rigoletto: La donna 'e mobile
19. Rigoletto: Cortigiani, vil razza dannata
20. La Sonnambula: Ah, non giunge

Tracks:

1. La Boheme: Che gelida manina
2. Il Barbiere di Siviglia: Largo al factotum
3. La Traviata: Addio del passato
4. Giulio Cesare: Se pieta' di me mon senti
5. Il Trovatore: Siam giunti
6. Il Trovatore: D'Amor sull'ali rosee
7. Rodelinda: Vivi, tiranno
8. Otello: Niun mi tema
9. La Traviata: Di Provenza il mar
10. Samson et Dalila: Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix
11. Fidelio: O namenlose Freude
12. Idomeneo: O smania; D'Oreste, d'Ajace
13. Cosi fan tutte: E amore un ladroncello
14. Martha: Ach, so fromm, ach, so traut
15. Mefistofele: Son lo spirito che nega
16. La Belle Helene: Amours divins
17. Cherubin: Lorsque vous n'aurez rien a faire

Customer Reviews:

American? Mostly..........2002-08-20

Hmm...the conundrum of what constitutes an "American". The book that this CD accompanies devotes an entire chapter to Caruso, though this collection only slips him in with Geraldine Farrar. I agree, too, that Callas should most definitely be included, as she was born in New York. As far as squeezing in Pons, I believe that although she was native to France, she took American citizenship after her US film career took off. I could be wrong here. Please correct me if I am! And the comments about Heppner being Canadian, he is slipped in on a track with Voigt, so this is more excuseable. My question is, should Saskatchewan-born Jon Vickers be included?

But this is just squabble...this collection is a wonderful sampling of the rich history American singers have had to offer. My only regrets would be to replace the Aida track of Ponselle's with her wonderful "Tu che invoco" from Spontini's La Vestale, and how unfortunate it is that such a dynamic artist as Marian Anderson did not record operatic arias until so late in her career. Her Ulrica is thrilling, but it is undeniable that her technique was beginning to show age by the time this track was recorded.

All in all, a wonderful collection, especially Pons's wonderful Bell Song, and Vaness's seething anger via Elettra.

Opera Singers, Mostly American.......2002-04-07

The performances are highly variable both in recorded sound and quality of performances. The album is mis-titled. Ben Heppner is Canadian and Lily Pons was French!

America.......2001-06-22

I believe that Canada is still part of America. This set then could have included Leopold Simoneau, Maureen Forrester etc.etc. More importantly, this very fine collection could have included Cornell MacNeil and my favorite, Maria Callas.I shouldn't harp on what's not included. This is a very fine collection.

Ben Heppner is Canadian........2001-02-26

That's all I wanted to say about this recording - it's wonderful, but Heppner is Canadian.

Average customer rating:

The World of Early Music Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Minuets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Byrd, William | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Charpentier | Charpentier, Marc-Antoine | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Corelli | Corelli, Arcangelo | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Louis Couperin | Couperin, Louis | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Dowland | Dowland, John | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Dufay | Dufay, Guillaume | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Gabrieli, Giovanni | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gesualdo | Gesualdo, Carlo | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Gibbons, Orlando | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Hildegard of Bingen | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Lassus | Lassus, Orlando di(Lasso) | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Lully | Lully, Jean-Baptiste | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Machaut | Machaut, Guillaume de | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Monteverdi | Monteverdi, Claudio | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Obrecht | Obrecht, Jacob | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Pachelbel | Pachelbel, Johann | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Michael Praetorius | Praetorius, Michael | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Purcell, Henry | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Stradella | Stradella, Alessandro | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Sweelinck | Sweelinck, JanPieterszoon | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Walther v. der Vogelweide | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Purcell, Henry | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Sacred & Religious | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems Vocal & Song | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems General | Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Sacred & Religious | Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Anthems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Chants | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Partsongs | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: Discover Early Music Discover Music of the Baroque Era Masterpieces of Music Before 1750 A Treasury of Early Music: Masterworks of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Baroque Era Discover Music of the Classical Era ASIN: B00004HYNJ Release Date: 2000-02-22

Tracks:

1. Ambrosian Chant: Kyrie - Manuela Schenale/Alberto Turco
2. Ego Sum Resurrectio: In Paradisum - Aurora Surgit/Alessio Randon
3. O Pastor Animarum - Oxford Camerata/Jeremy Summerly
4. Ja Nuls Homs Pris - Estampie/Graham Derrick
5. Palastinalied - Estampie/Graham Derrick
6. Entre Av'e Eva - Belinda Sykes/Bernhard Landauer/Michael Posch
7. Saltarello - Ens Unicorn
8. Puis Qu'en Oubli - Oxford Camerata/Jeremy Summerly
9. Jay Grant Espor - Ens Unicorn/Michael Posch
10. Ce Jour De L'an - Bernhard Landauer
11. Ay Je Rien Fet - Ens Unicorn/Michael Posch
12. L'homme Arme/Kyrie - Oxford Camerata/Jeremy Summerly
13. Absalon, Fili MI - Oxford Camerata/Jeremy Summerly
14. Sanctus - Musica Ficta/Bo Holten
15. A La Nana - Carmen Cano
16. La Traditora - Shirley Rumsey
17. Fant Sexta - Christopher Wilson/Shirley Rumsey
18. Todos Los Bienes Del Mundo - Ens Accentus/Thomas Wimmer
19. Super Flumina Babylonis - Soloists Of Capella Musicale Di S. Petronio Di Bologna/Sergio Vartolo
20. Kyrie - Schola Cantorum Of Oxford/Jeremy Summerly
21. Gloria - Oxford Camerata/Jeremy Summerly
22. Peccantem Me Quotidie - Oxford Camerata/Jeremy Summerly
23. Bienheureux Est Quiconque - Ens Claude Goudimel/Christine Morel
24. Flow My Tears - Steven Rickards/Dorothy Linell
25. I Care Not For These Ladies - Steen Rickards/Dorothy Linell
26. La Zia Bernadina - Chor Of Radio Svizzera/Sonatori De La Gioiosa Marca/Diego Fasolis
27. Pavan - Rose Consort Of Viols/Red Byrd
28. A Mask: The Fairest Nymph - Rose Consort Of Viols/Red Byrd

Tracks:

1. Ahi Caso Acerbo - Soloists Of Cappella Musicale Di S. Petronio Di Bologna/Sergio Vartolo
2. Possente Spirto (Excerpt) - Soloists Of Cappella Musicale Di S. Petronio Di Bologna/Sergio Vartolo
3. Lament (Excerpt) - Soloists Of Cappella Musicale Di S. Petronio Di Bologna/Sergio Vartolo
4. Nigra Sum - The Scholars Baroque Ens
5. Erhore Mich, Wenn Ich Rufe - Oxford Camerata/Jeremy Summerly/Laurence Cummings
6. Son Pian'e Forte - LSO Brass/Eric Crees
7. Ballet Des Baccanales/Ballet Des Feus/Ballet Des Matelotz - Westra Aros Pijpare
8. Echo Fant - James David Christie
9. The Spirit Of Gambo: The Lord Dewys Of Favoret - Les Voix Humaines/Stephen Stubbs/Paul Audet/Rejean Poirier/Francis Colpron/Daniel Taylor
10. Lamento Della Madre Ebrea (Excerpt) - Soloists Of Cappella Musicale Di S. Petronio/Sergio Vartolo
11. Ballet D'Alcidiane Et Polexandre: Air - Aradia Baroque Ens/Kevin Mallon
12. When I Am Laid In Earth - The Scholars Baroque Ens
13. Agnus Dei - Le Con Spirituel
14. Kyrie - Le Con Spirituel/Herve Niquet
15. I Will Sing Unto The Lord - Oxford Camerata/Jeremy Summerly
16. Fant Upon One Note - Rose Consort Of Vls
17. Menuet De Poitou Et Son Double - Laurence Cummings
18. Les Abeilles - Laurence Cummings
19. Fuge: Magnificat (Secundi Toni) - Joseph Payne
20. Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland - Joseph Payne
21. Trio Son: Allemanda - Anna Holbling/Quido Holbling/Jan Slavik/Daniela Ruso/Vladimir Ruso
22. Canzona - Aria - Niklas Eklud/Susanne Ryden/London Baroque/Charles Medlam/Edward H. Tarr
23. Pastorale - Anna Hobling/Quido Hobling/Ludovit Kanta/Daniela Ruso/Capella Istropolitana/Jaroslav Kr(e)chek

Average customer rating: listen to #4 French ambassador

L' Air de Rien Tété Manufacturer: Sony International ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD France | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Rock Jam Bands | Jam Bands | Rock | Styles | Music World Dance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000051TLV Release Date: 2001-01-22

Tracks:

1. Meilleur des Mondes
2. Passage Brady
3. Love Love Love
4. Me Ressourcer
5. Magicien
6. Dodeline
7. Bonheur
8. Cousin Willy
9. Air de Rien
10. Abominable Hyde
11. Honni Soit
12. Envies
13. Ais
14. Eleanor Rigby

Album Description

Hit 2001 debut album for France's answer to Ben Harper, combines elements of African, West Indian, U.S. folk and English pop music. Standard jewel case.

Customer Reviews:

listen to #4.......2004-04-29

His voice will grow on you once you listen.

French ambassador.......2003-11-13

I decide to write about tete for two reasons basically. First of all he's my favorite french artist, and second of all, he's from where I am from: Nacy, France. He's a brilliant guitar player as well as an extraordinary poet. For once, there's no cheesy/meaningless lyrics. This guy is gifted. He has an incredible voice and his music is really original. He can write funny lyrics, as well as sad songs. He also covered "Eleonor Rigby" by the Beatles...and even though his french accent can be spotted right away...it does a pretty good job. This album sometimes remind me of Ben Harper, even if he TeTe has his own style...Trust me and hit that one up!!!!!!!

Average customer rating: An Interesting Rarity

Cherubini - Lodoïska / Devia, T. Moser, Shimell, Pedaci, Corbelli, Teatro alla Scala, Muti Coro e Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala , Thomas Moser , Francesca Pedaci , Alessandro Corbelli , Bernard Lombardo , and Mario Luperi Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cherubini, Luigi | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | 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 French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Zemlinsky: Der Zwerg ASIN: B0000027JN Release Date: 1991-09-26

Tracks:

1. Lodoiska: Ouverture
2. Lodoiska: Approchez sans defiance
3. Lodoiska: Vous voyez, mes amis
4. Lodoiska: Triomphons avec noblesse
5. Lodoiska: Le soleil se leve
6. Lodoiska: Voyez la belle besogne
7. Lodoiska: Que pouvais-je faire
8. Lodoiska: Etrangers, n'avez point d'alarmes
9. Lodoiska: Je te demande la vie
10. Lodoiska: Jurons, quoiqu'il faille entreprendre
11. Lodoiska: Quel etonnant langage!
12. Lodoiska: Souvent pres d'une belle
13. Lodoiska: Perdre ma belle?
14. Lodoiska: Qu'un tendron a ma guise - Qua'amour me conduise
15. Lodoiska: Eh! voici une pierre
16. Lodoiska: Floreski! Floreski!
17. Lodoiska: Eh bien, qu'allons nous entreprendre?
18. Lodoiska: Etrangers, pourrait-on s'instruire

Tracks:

1. Lodoiska: Quel nouveau crime medite ton maitre
2. Lodoiska: Que dis-je, o Ciel!
3. Lodoiska: Helas! dans ce cruel asile
4. Lodoiska: Mais pour moi s'il s'expose
5. Lodoiska: Lysinka, sortez et laissez-nous seuls
6. Lodoiska: A ces traits je connais ta rage
7. Lodoiska: Mon serment est de te vouer
8. Lodoiska: Non, non, perdez cette esperance
9. Lodoiska: Tu n'appartiendras jamais a ce Floreski
10. Lodoiska: Ciel, ce que je lui propose
11. Lodoiska: J'adopte ton projet
12. Lodoiska: Rien n'egale sa barbarie
13. Lodoiska: Viens, mon cher Varbel!
14. Lodoiska: Helas! qu'allons-nous entreprendre?
15. Lodoiska: Amis, que ce divin breuvage
16. Lodoiska: Bon, les voila qu'ils y viennent
17. Lodoiska: Traitres!
18. Lodoiska: Il faut tenter ce dernier moyen
19. Lodoiska: Oui, pour mon heureuse adresse
20. Lodoiska: Cruel! que me voulez-vous encore?
21. Lodoiska: Tournez sur moi votre colere
22. Lodoiska: Soyez mon epouse et Floreski est libre
23. Lodoiska: Quoi! t'unir a ce barbare!
24. Lodoiska: Seigneur, la chateau est attaque
25. Lodoiska: Mais que signifie cette alarme?
26. Lodoiska: Eh! Quoi! brave jeune homme!
27. Lodoiska: Tyran, au nombre de tes crimes
28. Lodoiska: Jeune homme, que l'amour t'unisse
29. Lodoiska: Votre fureur est legitime

Customer Reviews:

An Interesting Rarity.......2003-10-24

When it comes to popular operas, Cherubini's LODOISKA is probably not at the top of too many lists. As a matter of fact, even the most well versed opera lovers have probably never heard of the piece, let alone whistle its memorable arias and duets. Some music lovers may be familiar with the opera's powerful overture, but that's about it. All of this is probably rather sad when you consider that in his day, Luigi Cherubini was a very well loved and highly regarded composer. In his younger years he was a contemporary of Mozart, Beethoven, Hadyn, and Schubert, and in his later years Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini, and rivaled some of these composers in popularity. Sadly he is virtually unknown today.

LODOISKA is a period piece and its plot is the rather familiar "rescue opera" of which Beethoven's FIDELIO is probably the best example. The lovely Princess Lodoiska is in love with the handsome and dashing Prince Floreski. The only person who stands in the way of the lovers' happiness is the evil Baron Dourlinski. Fortunately Floreski has made a pact with the Tartars who help him save his love just before she will be forced to marry Dourlinski. The opera ends with the two love birds living happily ever after.

This set of disks is from a live recording from La Scala in Milan. Riccardo Muti is the conductor. Since this is the only recording of the opera available today (at least I do not see any others listed), it is also the greatest since it has no competition. Mariella Devia and Bernard Lombardo do well as Lodoiska and Floreski respectively. The second act of this recording is the strongest and probably has the most musical appeal. Unfortunately the first act is not all that gripping, but this is due more to the blandness of some of the music and not the performance. This opera will probably not be in the disk player all that often, but it is an enjoyable set to listen to for a change.

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