C'mon, C'mon

Amazon.com
Sheryl Crow's first studio album in four years shows a woman if not on the verge of a nervous breakdown, then one who has gone a little off the rails and is in the process of pulling herself back on track again. For her past three studio albums, Crow has been known as the quintessential party girl who liked a beer buzz in the morning, but C'mon, C'mon shows her to be much more than that. Breakup, illness, and loss have tempered her good-time persona, and like other life-altering events, both her character and lyrics are stronger for it. This latest offering might not break any new musical ground--again relying on her retooling of '70s country rock--but she displays an honesty and naked vulnerability not witnessed in her earlier work, honing her pain to a fine, lyrical edge. The brooding "Weather Channel" shows a rawboned Crow unafraid to display her emotional bruising, but without losing any of her sly wit: "Just a pill to make me happy / I know it may not fix the hinges, but at least the door has stopped its creaking." Besides songs reflecting her newfound poignancy are a couple of swaggering rockers that recall middle-period Stones, including "You're an Original," featuring Lenny Kravitz, the whimsical and insouciant "Steve McQueen," which finds Crow boasting "I ain't taking shit off of no one," and the deceptively frothy "Soak Up the Sun," which features the long missing-in-action Liz Phair on background vocals. In addition to resurrecting Phair, Crow also has compiled a paparazzo's dream, soliciting the vocal talents of pals Stevie Nicks, Natalie Maines , Emmylou Harris, Don Henley, and inexplicably, the actress Gwyneth Paltrow. --Jaan Uhelszki

C'Mon C'Mon,Sheryl Crow,Interscope Records,Pop,Rock

Average customer rating: the most sensetive music ever Cool Camille Astounding!!! Great Selections, So-So Collection Classical is the best

Saint-Saëns: Greatest Hits Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Tone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music French Horn | Brass | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Flute | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music New York Philharmonic Orchestra | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | 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 CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Concertos | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Concertos | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music $6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music New York Philharmonic Orchestra | ( N ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Classical Instrumental 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: Rimsky-Korsakov: Greatest Hits Debussy's Greatest Hits Sergei Rachmaninoff: Greatest Hits Grieg: Greatest Hits Mendelssohn: Greatest Hits ASIN: B000002C61 Release Date: 1995-11-14

Tracks:

1. Samson et Dalila: Bacchanale
2. Carnival Of The Animals (Chamber Version): No. 13. The Swan
3. Carnival Of The Animals (Chamber Version): No. 14: Finale
4. Dance Macabre, Op.40
5. Suite algerienne, Op. 60: Marche militaire francaise
6. Introduction and Rondo capriccioso, Op.28
7. Samson et Dalila: 'Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix'
8. Concert Piece For Horn & Orchestra, Op.94
9. Romance, Op.37
10. Piano Concerto No.2 In G Minor, Op.22: III. Presto
11. Symphony No.3 In C Minor, Op.78 'Organ': II. Allegro moderato - Presto - Maestoso - Allegro

Customer Reviews:

the most sensetive music ever.......2005-10-26

This music take me away from every day troubles and brings my soul to a beutiful world of music.Saint-Saent's vision of music is different, his creations are sensitive and intence. He is agreat talent.

Cool Camille.......2003-03-06

I think that the sound of Saint Saens Music is very unique. I think that anyone out there wanting to listen to some excellent writing I assure you that Saint Saens has written it. On behalf of Amazon I would definitely rate this music 5 stars. I thank Amazon for a perfect portrayal of his works. You shoppers out there might want to take a look at buying this.

RIGHT AWAY!!!
-Nick

Astounding!!!.......2000-10-06

I have come accross very few CD's that have 74 minutes of music that I enjoy. This CD is one of those. Mason Jones does a great job on Morceau, everyone likes danse bachannalle, the piano concerto is great, it's just a really enjoyable CD to own. I recommend it highly, it's one of my favorites.

Great Selections, So-So Collection.......2000-06-23

As all good elementary school music teachers know, Saint-Saëns could evoke emotions from a rock. I don't know if it's his masterful command (or creation) of the idioms of music, or whether it's the formal structure of his compositions, but there's never any confusion about how one feels when listening to this Apollo.

This Sony recording supposedly collects his best. It does and it doesn't. The "Danse Macabre"--a perennial Saint Saëns fave--is definitely better than any others on the market--crisper, livelier, and ... er... creepier. And the Bacchanale is also superbly done. (Don't take my word for it though--you can compare these yourself from the various samples.) But as great as these individual pieces are, Sony failed to bring to the "Swan" the rest of the zoo from "Carnivale des Animaux," and, worse, they forgot the "Aquarium," too! Plus, the "Organ Symphony" *must* be heard in its entirety to sound like the serious piece of music that it is.

I haven't found the noumenal Saint-Saëns collection yet. But this one surely isn't phenomenal.

Classical is the best.......2000-06-22

It's composition very good. Thanks Sony for this great album.

Average customer rating: Very happy with our purchase! A mixed bag of candy. C'mon! "I'm waiting for the storm..." easily her weakest album

C'mon, C'mon Sheryl Crow Manufacturer: Interscope Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Sheryl Crow Tuesday Night Music Club The Globe Sessions Wildflower The Very Best of Sheryl Crow ASIN: B0000636UN Release Date: 2002-04-16

Tracks:

1. Steve McQueen
2. Soak Up The Sun
3. You're An Original
4. Diamond Road
5. It's So Easy
6. C'Mon, C'Mon
7. Safe & Sound
8. Over You
9. Hole In My Pocket
10. Abilene
11. Lucky Kid
12. It's Only Love
13. Weather Channel

Amazon.com

Sheryl Crow's first studio album in four years shows a woman if not on the verge of a nervous breakdown, then one who has gone a little off the rails and is in the process of pulling herself back on track again. For her past three studio albums, Crow has been known as the quintessential party girl who liked a beer buzz in the morning, but C'mon, C'mon shows her to be much more than that. Breakup, illness, and loss have tempered her good-time persona, and like other life-altering events, both her character and lyrics are stronger for it. This latest offering might not break any new musical ground--again relying on her retooling of '70s country rock--but she displays an honesty and naked vulnerability not witnessed in her earlier work, honing her pain to a fine, lyrical edge. The brooding "Weather Channel" shows a rawboned Crow unafraid to display her emotional bruising, but without losing any of her sly wit: "Just a pill to make me happy / I know it may not fix the hinges, but at least the door has stopped its creaking." Besides songs reflecting her newfound poignancy are a couple of swaggering rockers that recall middle-period Stones, including "You're an Original," featuring Lenny Kravitz, the whimsical and insouciant "Steve McQueen," which finds Crow boasting "I ain't taking shit off of no one," and the deceptively frothy "Soak Up the Sun," which features the long missing-in-action Liz Phair on background vocals. In addition to resurrecting Phair, Crow also has compiled a paparazzo's dream, soliciting the vocal talents of pals Stevie Nicks, Natalie Maines , Emmylou Harris, Don Henley, and inexplicably, the actress Gwyneth Paltrow. --Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews:

Very happy with our purchase!.......2007-04-11

Cd was in perfect condition and came fast. Thank you!!

A mixed bag of candy........2006-09-12

C'mon C'mon is really not a very good album - it's far too uneven to be listened to from one end to the other, and some of these songs are downright horrible. That being said, there is a bunch of excellent songs amongst them, and if you're into Sheryl's music, buy it cheeply for what it is, and rip the good songs onto a compilation.

A short song-review goes like this:

1. Steve McQueen - 8/10 - A good rock anthem, made even better live on the C'mon America DVD.

2. Soak Up The Sun - 8/10 - Shouldn't need introduction. A well-crafted pop-tune.

3. You're An Original - 6/10 - An ok song, but it's not helping for me that I *detest* Lenny Kravitz, who's backing her on this one. The live version is more heavy and is actually much more satisfying.

4. Safe And Sound - 8/10 - Very beautiful and emotional, but overproduced. Once again, go for the live version on the C'mon America DVD, which is ten times better!

5. C'mon C'mon - 10/10 - The best song off the album. Fantastic melody tand great lyrics makes this a standout. Favorite line: "You say you need me, but you can't tell me no / When I ask you to stop me baby, you just let me go // C'mon, C'mon, C'mon, and break my heart again, for old times sake."

--
Up to this, the album has been an excellent experience. Not as deep as her previous album, but an excellent pop-record. From here, the film starts to break.
--

6. It's So Easy - 4/10 - The song itself is not so bad, but Don Henley's vocal is downright horrible. And I love the Eagles, but this is a mistake. There is a German version featuring a singer called Wolfgang Niedecken that's actually very good, but the album version as it is doesn't work at all.

7. Over You - 3/10 - And then it gets even worse! This ballad is so over-produced that any attempt at charm (which it has in the first few lines) are instantly killed when you reach the chorus.

8. Lucky Kid - 5/10 - Actually a pretty bad song, but almost a relief to hear this gritty rocker compared to the two former tracks. There is even a live version in circulation that's not too bad (but it is not on the former mentioned DVD).

9. Diamond Road - 8/10 - Ok now we're back on track again, it would seem. Don't think about the lyrics (which are pretty crappy) and just enjoy the absolutely gorgeous tune.

10. It's Only Love - 8/10 - Yes, another track that's not bad. Actually, this one is really good, it's very low key and the production isn't off the mark. There's even a very nice guitar solo in the end. Bonus info: Gwyneth Palthrow is credited for backing vocals, but you can't hear here.

--
Ok, if the album kept the standard from this point with a strong closing section, I'd actually have given it two thumps up and forgiven her the mis-step of Over You. But then ...
--

11. Abilene - 2/10 - This song is so horrible I can't even find words to describe it. This is the worst thing she's ever released on an album bar none. Those who know an odd song she did called Volvo Cowgirl knows what saves me from rating this track 1/10, but it's close. Abysmal is a good word.

12. Hole In My Pocket - 7/10 - Phew. That's the only thing to say after hearing the former track. Not impressive this, but a nice pop song, kinda sticks in your head for a while.

13. Weather Channel - 9/10 - well, now what is this? It sounds very much like a left-over from the Globe Sessions (which means brilliant in this collection). Brilliant lyrics!

14. Missing (European Bonus Track) - 9/10 - oddly, this is one of the best songs on the record. A very gentle track that slowly creeps under your skin, and a real grower. Also fits perfectly after Weather Channel, where the former is like a rainy storm, this track is like the sun emerging after the rain has stopped, lighting up everything again. Favorite line: "These times are temporary / Someday the wind will carry you home / And you'll be free / And you'll be free / No one will pull you down / You'll wake up and look around / And never again / Think of all, all that you've been missing."

15. I Want You (UK Bonus Track) - 6/10 - A simple rocker, not a brilliant track, but substantially better than much of what is on the album.

_____________


On the bottom line: Well, keep the keepers, and throw the rest to h*ll.

Keepers: C'mon, C'mon, Weather Channel, Missing, Soak Up The Sun, Steve McQueen, Safe And Sound, Diamond Road, It's Only Love, Hole In My Pocket, I Want You, You're An Original (that's actually 11 tracks - why didn't she just make a record of these 11 tracks?).

Throw away: Abilene, Over You, Abilene, It's So Easy, Abilene, Lucky Kid, Abilene ... wait - did I mention Abilene?


Also get: The Soak Up The Sun single features two brilliant B-sides, Chances Are (8/10) and You're Not The One (7/10). Including these songs, you can actually make an excellent CD with the keepers. If you wan't to play with you CD-burner, try to compile this CD, I'm sure you'll love it on a sunny day:

Steve McQueen - Soak Up The Sun - You're An Original - C'mon, C'mon - Safe And Sound - Chances Are - It's So Easy (feat. Wolfgang Niedecken) - You're Not The One - I Want You - Hole In My Pocket - Diamond Road - It's Only Love - Weather Channel - Missing

C'mon!.......2006-05-16

Sheryl Crow set a very high standard for herself with her previous CDs. Even if C'mon, C'mon doesn't quite live up to that lofty standard, it is still a 5-star, excellent album. She sings with tons of energy. The songs provide a nice range from slow country-like ballad to the quick, driven opening track. The songs at both ends of the spectrum are well written, well sung and highly enjoyable.

"I'm waiting for the storm...".......2006-05-09

Sheryl Crow's fourth release, C'mon, C'mon is a disapponintment after the best album in my opinion to date, The Globe Sessions. There is a only handful of tracks that are good, and those songs include:Steve McQueen, You're an Original, Safe and Sound, Hole in my Pocket, and the haunting closer, The Weather Channel. The rest of the tracks are mediocre and too poppy for my taste. There's guests apparances by Stevie Nicks, Lenny Kravitz, and even Gywneth Paltrow who sings background vocals on It's only Love. It's not her best or that creative, it's a little too happy and not a well-rounded array of songs, I recommend her prevoius albums before this one. C'mon, C'mon is anything but spectacular.

easily her weakest album.......2006-04-12

I love Sheryl Crow, really I do. However, I feel like this is the weakest album of her catalog so far. Not to say it's a bad album, but it runs out of steam quickly. The first five tracks are easily five of the six best (she does save a gem for us at the end with Weather Channel). Here is more of a fun album instead of a labor of love. Sheryl brings her famous friends to guest, such as Lenny Kravitz, Don Henley and Stevie Nicks. However, Sheryl seems to do her best work on her own, just listen to the self-titled album and The Globe Sessions.

From a sales standpoint, this album thrusted Sheryl back onto the A-list after middling sales for Globe Sessions, but if you listen to the two albums, you'll notice that this album doesn't have half the heart the predecessor does. Luckily, she has redeemed herself with Wildflower in my book, although some might consider that album too mellow.

Sheryl has some great tracks here, and a few that are the most commercial she's ever done, but if you just want one Sheryl CD that isn't a compilation, this is the last one I'd recommend, it's way too mediocre for her talents.

Average customer rating: Quite Happy with it, and he is a funny Sum'Bitch! Laugh Out Loud Not his best, but still good.

Live: C'mon Laugh You Bastards Rodney Carrington Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Country Comedy | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Contemporary Comedy | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: Hangin' with Rodney Nut Sack Morning Wood Greatest Hits King of the Mountains ASIN: B00005QD8B Release Date: 2001-10-23

Tracks:

1. Ed's Airport And Hotel - Hicks In Mississippi
2. Reasons To Call In Sick
3. Country Bar - Mechanical Sheep
4. Ed's Jail
5. Going To Heaven Drunk
6. Bad Credit
7. Depends On The Golf Course
8. Good Woman - 'Lucky'
9. Wife At Garage Sales
10. Kids - Birthing Process
11. Going To Church
12. Shopping For Caskets
13. Going To Heaven - People That Pissed Me Off
14. Growing Up Poor - Toughskins Jeans
15. Deer Hunting - Snake Hunting
16. Tastes Like Chicken - Oral Sex
17. Sexual Acts During Marriage
18. Buying A Fake Weenie
19. Beer And Wine Cooler Commercials
20. Rodney Gets Drunk And Goes To Jail
21. Rodney Gets Drunk And Finds Ugly Women
22. Impromptu Bathroom Song
23. C'mon, Sing You Bastards - Burning Sensation
24. Chicken Song
25. Grandpa
26. Masturbation
27. Yard Sale - Underwear Song

Customer Reviews:

Quite Happy with it, and he is a funny Sum'Bitch!.......2007-02-08

Why he is not on the Blue Collar tour I don't know, maybe because he's too busy with his own schedule. If you like the old Good Ol' Boys from the BC tour, you'll find Rodney to fit right in, and maybe even Blue'r!!

Like a good bowl of 5 Alarm Chili and a cold one....

Laugh Out Loud.......2005-09-24

This is the first Rodney CD I owned and if it isn't his best, it is a close second (to "Hanging With Rodney" his first CD). Great to listen to on road trips or anytime you are in the mood to really laugh. This is the same guy on the TV show "Rodney" where you can see some of his tamer material on network TV. One of the best comedy CDs ever.

Not his best, but still good........2001-12-20

Unlike his first CD, which was great, this one seems rushed. The material wasn't quite complete. Still though a good effort, and a good listen.

Average customer rating: New listening i love mirah Look up! c'mon and buy this album heart-wrenching indeed...

C'mon Miracle Mirah Manufacturer: K. Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Lo-Fi | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Let It Die Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone? Sung Tongs The Milk-Eyed Mender Feels ASIN: B0001ZMX1S Release Date: 2004-05-04

Tracks:

1. Nobody Has To Stay
2. Jerusalem
3. The Light
4. Don't Die In Me
5. Look Up!
6. We're both So Sorry
7. The Dogs Of B.A.
8. The Struggle
9. You've Gone Away Enough
10. Promise
11. (Exactly Where We're From)

Customer Reviews:

New listening.......2007-03-23

This is the first album I've purchased of Mirah's after hearing a song played in the food co-op on campus. I'm very taken by the entire CD, but am now curious to buy an earlier album for comparative purposes. Her music strikes me as folkie-alternative and borderline experimental; and amazing, it's just amazing. The production is interesting in a good way. I love every song on this album, I would absolutely recommend it to anyway, but especially if your taste in music is even a little eclectic and you generally like female singer-songwriters.

i love mirah.......2005-11-19

so i JUST got the cd finally, and therefore cannot make a complete analysis of the cd. that said, "jerusalem" was the first song i had heard off the album, which was enough to convince me to buy the cd. "the light" is a wonderful song, when she sings "raaaaiin" and "complaaaaiiin"!!! oh, her voice is just amazing! "the struggle" is a great song as well, but really, they are all good. i think the cd opens with a great song as well, and just takes you on a nice journey. i wish she hadn't decided to go on a year-long hiatus...i can only imagine how great it must be to see her live.

Look up!.......2005-08-01

It's sort of surprising for me to see that other people rate C'MON MIRACLE as a relatively weak effort, not because I think it isn't true, but because this is the only one of her albums that I've heard, and I think it's fantastic.

From what I understand, the music on this album was influenced by the time that she spent in Buenos Aires, Argentina; this does across in several songs (not only "The Dogs of B.A."), as the songs are generally acoustic and unaccompanied by especially prominent percussion. It's decidedly pleasant.

What's really impressive about this CD, though, is the variety and innovativeness. In "We're both so sorry," for example, two voices (at least one is Mirah's, although they could conceivably both be hers) recite the same monologue simultaneously; in "The Dogs of B.A.," an Argentinian woman talks in spanish about a storm. Both songs are among the best on the album.

Mirah's voice is impressive as well, and her lyrics are generally very good (although she waxes a little preachy on "Jerusalem").

All in all, C'MON MIRACLE is absolutely worth buying, and I absolutely look forward to listening to more of her CDs.

c'mon and buy this album.......2005-02-12

At first, I was wary of liking this album and buying into the quasi- cult following of Mirah, but unbeknownst to me, i pretty much had no choice. The brief couple of days I was left without this album, (a friend was burning it) was like going cold turkey from a highly addicitive drug.

i'll grant you that some of these songs are a bit bumpy, but the good ones more than make up for the lapses. The gentle strumming of 'Nobody has to Stay' sets the stage for the album, Mirah's voice is at its best when its vulnerable. 'Jerusalem' is my personal favorite, and probably the most catchy song on the album. Along with its catchiness comes actual substance, a rare delicacy with today's current mode of music.

'Light' is a bit darker and more experimental. 'Dogs of B.A.' takes the culture of Buenos Aires and puts it into song. Some of the other songs may be a bit weak; such as 'We're Both so Sorry', which makes a valiant, if not flawed use of unconventional instruments.

the album as a whole is strong. buy it. now.

heart-wrenching indeed..........2005-02-02

I know many would probably disagree, but I would have to say this is my favorite of Mirah's albums. C'Mon Miracle has a sort of natural flow to it as if all of this was pent up inside of her head for years and this was the product of her relieving her brain of all of the genious creativity. I also like that it's lacking in some of those backround noises from previous albums that I always felt to be so quirky they were almost obnoxious. As if some of them were put in to make the music more "abstract" or "experimental", but mostly took away from the music as opposed to adding to it. This album is beautiful because it's so honest. And perfect for those of us that live in Seattle.

Average customer rating: Not worth buying! Don't waste your money Perfect for "drop the needle" style tests A CD with Attention Deficit Disorder This sucks...

Only Opera CD You'll Ever Need Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Barber | Barber, Samuel | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music 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 All Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( 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 Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Flotow | Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Herrmann | Herrmann, Bernard | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Humperdinck, Engelbert | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by 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 Mussorgsky | Mussorgsky, Modest | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Purcell, Henry | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Smetana | Smetana, Bedrich | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music 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 | Purcell, Henry | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | 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 General | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | 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 London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music San Francisco Symphony Orchestra | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Czech | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Most Famous Opera Arias The Most Famous Opera Duets The Best of Italian Opera The #1 Opera Album The Best Opera Album in the World...Ever! ASIN: B000003GA0 Release Date: 1997-10-14

Tracks:

1. Antony & Cleopatra: 'Give Me My Robe' - Leontyne Price
2. Fidelio: 'In des Lebens Fruhlingstagen...' - Ben Heppner
3. Fidelio: Act II Quartet: 'Ach, du bist gerettet...' - Deborah Voigt
4. Norma: 'Casta Diva' - Rosa Ponselle
5. Candide: 'Glitter And Be Gay' - Harolyn Blackwell
6. Candide: 'Make Our Garden Grow' - Jerry Hadley
7. Carmen: Flower Song - Placido Domingo
8. Carmen: Habanera - Rise Stevens
9. Carmen: Toreador Song - Robert Merrill
10. Les pecheurs de perles: Duet: 'Oui, c'est elle, c'est la deesse...' - Robert Merrill
11. Mefistofele: 'Ecco il mondo' - Samuel Ramey
12. La Wally: 'Eben, ne andro lontana' - ONLY OPERA CD YOU'LL EVER NEED
13. Lakme: Bell Song - Lily Pons
14. L'Elisir d'Amore: 'Una furtiva lagrima' - Tito Schipa
15. Lucia di Lammermoor: 'Chi mi frena in tal momento...' - Carlo Bergonzi
16. Lucia di Lammermoor: 'Spargi d'amaro pianto' - Anna Moffo
17. Martha: 'M'appari tutto amor' - Jussi Bjoerling
18. Porgy & Bess: 'Summertime' - Leontyne Price
19. Porgy & Bess: 'Bess, You Is My Woman' - William Warfield
20. Andrea Chenier: 'Come un bel di di maggio' - Ben Heppner
21. Romeo et Juliette: Juliette's Waltz; 'Je veux vivre' - Ruth Ann Swenson
22. Salammbo: Aria - Kiri Te Kanawa
23. Hansel & Gretel: 'Suuse, liebe Susse - Helen Donath
24. I Pagliacci: 'Vesti la giubba' - Enrico Caruso
25. Cavalleria Rusticana: 'Viva il vino' - Jussi Bjoerling
26. Cherubin: 'Lorsque vous n'aurez rien' - Dawn Upshaw
27. Manon: 'Ah! Fuyez, douce image' - Richard Crooks
28. Cosi fan tutte: 'Come scoglio immoto resta' - Leontyne Price
29. Don Giovanni: 'La ci darem la mano' - Edith Mathis
30. Don Giovanni: 'Deh! vieni alla finestra' - Ezio Pinza
31. Don Giovanni: 'Non mi dir' - Carol Vaness
32. Le nozze di Figaro: 'Non piu andrai...' - Alan Titus
33. Le nozze di Figaro: 'Porgi, amor' - Carol Vaness
34. Le nozze di Figaro: 'Deh vieni, non tardar' - Bidu Sayao
35. Die Zauberflote: 'Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schon' - Fritz Wunderlich
36. Die Zauberflote: Der Holle Rache - Zdislawa Donat
37. Die Zauberflote: Papageno - Papageno Duet - Christian Boesch
38. Boris Godunov: 'I v ljutomgore, nisposlannom Bogom...' - Alexander Kipnis
39. Tales Of Hoffmann: Barcarolle - Montserrat Caballe
40. La Gioconda: 'Cielo e mar' - Beniamino Gigli
41. La Boheme: 'Che gelida manina' - Giuseppe Di Stefano
42. La Boheme: 'Mi piaccion quelle cose...' - Licia Albanese
43. La Boheme: 'Fremon gia nell'anima' - Luciano Pavarotti
44. La Boheme: Musetta's Waltz Song - Judith Blegen
45. Gianni Schicchi: 'O mio babbino caro' - Angela Gheorghiu
46. Madama Butterfly: 'Ah, ti serro palpitante' - Placido Domingo
47. Madama Butterfly: 'Un bel di' - Leontyne Price
48. Manon Lescaut: 'Donna non vidi mai' - Jussi Bjoerling
49. La rondine: 'Chi il bel sogno di Doretta - Anna Moffo
50. TOSCA: 'Recondita armonia' - Placido Domingo
51. TOSCA: 'Vissi d'arte' - Irina Oudalova
52. TOSCA: 'E avanti a lui...' - Zinka Milanov
53. TOSCA: 'E lucevan le stelle' - Mario Lanza
54. Turandot: 'Signore, ascolta' - Renata Tebaldi
55. Turandot: 'In questa reggia' - Birgit Nilsson
56. Turandot: 'Nessun dorma' - Jussi Bjoerling
57. Dido & Aeneas: 'When I Am Laid In Earth' - Leontyne Price
58. Il Barbiere di Siviglia: 'Largo al factotum' - Robert Merrill
59. Il Barbiere di Siviglia: 'Una voce poco fa' - Roberta Peters
60. Samson et Dalila: 'Mon coeur s'ouvre' - Christa Ludwig
61. The Bartered Bride: 'Wenn ich das einmal erfahre' - Teresa Stratas
62. Elektra: 'Agamemnon' - Inge Borkh
63. Der Rosenkavalier: 'Ist ein Traum' - Erna Berger
64. Salome: 'Nicht in der Welt...' - Inge Borkh
65. Eugene Onegin: Lenski's Aria - Placido Domingo
66. Eugene Onegin: Tatiana's Letter Scene - Leontyne Price
67. Aida: 'Celeste Aida' - Jussi Bjoerling
68. Aida: 'Ritorna vincitor!' - Leontyne Price
69. Aida: 'Gloria all'Egitto' - John Alldis Choir
70. Aida: 'O patria mia' - Leontyne Price
71. Un Ballo in Maschera: 'O docezze perdute! O memorie...' - Robert Merrill
72. Don Carlo: 'Dio, che nell'anima infondere' - Placido Domingo
73. Ernani: 'Emani, involami' - Leontyne Price
74. La forza del destino: 'Or muoio tranquillo...' - Robert Merrill
75. La forza del destino: 'Pace, pace mio dio' - Zinka Milanov
76. Nabucco: 'Va, pensiero' - Oleg Reshetkin
77. Otello: 'Credo' - Tito Gobbi
78. Otello: Willow Song - Leonie Rysanek
79. Otello: 'Niun mi tema' - Jon Vickers
80. Rigoletto: 'Qesta o quella' - Alfredo Kraus
81. Rigoletto: 'Caro nome' - Anna Moffo
82. Rigoletto: 'La donna e mobile' - Jan Peerce
83. Rigoletto: 'Bella figlia dell'amore' - Alfredo Kraus
84. La Traviata: Brindisi - Montserrat Caballe
85. La Traviata: 'Di provenza' - Sherrill Milnes
86. La Traviata: 'Sempre libera' - Eleanor Steber
87. La Traviata: 'Addio del passato' - Anna Moffo
88. Il Trovatore: Anvil Chorus - Moscow Classical Chorus & Ensemble
89. Il Trovatore: 'Di quella pira' - Placido Domingo
90. Il Trovatore: 'Tacea la notte placido - Leontyne Price
91. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: 'Morgenlicht leuchtend' - Set Svanholm
92. Die Walkure: Ride Of The Valkyries - Staatskapelle Dresden
93. Die Walkure: Wotan's Farewell - Lawrence Tibbett
94. Siegfried: Song Of The Forest Bird - Norma Sharp
95. Gotterdammerung: 'Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort' - Kirsten Flagstad
96. Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus - Robert Shaw Chorale
97. Lohengrin: 'In fernem Land' - Lauritz Melchior
98. Tannhauser: 'Dich teure Halle' - Waltraud Meler

Customer Reviews:

Not worth buying!.......2007-05-29

I found this recording basically worthless. It contains only very short excerpts of the song. Not enough to get into and enjoy!

Don't waste your money.......2007-01-18

This is the worst purchase I have ever made. It is a truly dreadful piece of work.I was so disgusted with it that I threw it into the trash can.

Perfect for "drop the needle" style tests.......2006-11-19

If you want to hear full recordings of arias, then this disc is not for you. It plays only tidbits of 99 arias. Contrary to the title, this is definitely not the only opera disc you'll ever need. You shouldn't take it seriously. This disc has next to no value for an opera neophyte. But for opera fanatics, there has never been a better test of your knowledge of operatic repertoire and singers. It's a great challenge for opera buffs. Sit down with your opera loving friends for an hour, play this disc, and try to be the first to identify the singer, composer, opera, and piece. If you're a music professor, this disc would make for an awesome pop quiz. Find out how well your students really know their opera repertoire.

A CD with Attention Deficit Disorder.......2006-10-02

I don't know anyone who would enjoy this CD. It will drive opera fans nuts with a hundred exerpts that run about 30 seconds each, then fade out without the singers even finishing a single verse. It's more like an index of arias, or a volume of teasers that hucksters might use to sell opera CDs.

I never realized how much Bernstein's "Glitter and be gay" sounded like Delibes' "Bell Song" until I heard 35 seconds of one, followed 23 seconds of the other.

Maybe the TV show 'Jeopardy' could use this CD. 'What is "Hush little baby don't you..."??'

What a waste of beautiful voices and great music. 38 seconds of Enrico Caruso, followed by 31 seconds of Jussi Bjoerling, followed by 38 seconds of Dawn Upshaw.

My copy is going to go sailing into the wastebasket as soon as I finish this review.

This sucks..........2006-03-31

I should only blame myself for not checking out more reviews... this is a CD filled with short, little snippets of great operas songs... and I mean SHORT, LITTLE snippets of 30 seconds or so, each. Don't buy this CD... it is a complete rip off... and that is saying ALOT since it is only $4.00... Again, my fault for not reading the reviews but I trusted that something called a "Music CD" would actually have complete songs... What else does this company offer? A "Music CD" that only has the intros or applause tracks to great songs...?

Move on to something else... Amazon has a great selection... just not this one.

Average customer rating: Classic Art Songs Sung with Brilliance and Artistry Pretty, but not memorable Returning to the Recital Hall: A Soiree Pretty sound spoiled by a bad vocal habit Excellent!

Forgotten Songs: Dawn Upshaw Sings Debussy Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Debussy, Claude | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Upshaw, Dawn | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | 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 Similar Items: Angels Hide Their Faces: Dawn Upshaw Sings Bach and Purcell Knoxville Summer of 1915 Voices of Light I Wish It So Dawn Upshaw Sings Rodgers & Hart ASIN: B000002B6P Release Date: 1997-03-18

Tracks:

1. Vasnier Songbook: I. Pantomime
2. Vasnier Songbook: II. Calmes dans le demi-jour (En sourdine)
3. Vasnier Songbook: III. Mandoline
4. Vasnier Songbook: IV. Clair de lune
5. Vasnier Songbook: Fantoches
6. Vasnier Songbook: VI. Coquetterie posthume
7. Vasnier Songbook: VII. Romance - Silence ineffable
8. Vasnier Songbook: VIII. Musique
9. Vasnier Songbook: X. Paysage sentimental
10. Vasnier Songbook: X. Romance - Voici que le printemps
11. Vasnier Songbook: XI. La Romance d'Ariel
12. Vasnier Songbook: XII. Regret
13. Forgotten Melodies: I. C'est l'extase langoureuse
14. Forgotten Melodies: II. Il pleure dans mon coeur
15. Forgotten Melodies: III. L'ombre des arbres
16. Forgotten Melodies: IV. Chevaux de bois
17. Forgotten Melodies: V. Green (Aquarelle)
18. Forgotten Melodies: VI. Spleen (Aquarelle)
19. Five Poems Of Charles Baudelaire: I. Le Balcon
20. Five Poems Of Charles Baudelaire: II. Harmonie du soir
21. Five Poems Of Charles Baudelaire: III. Le Jet d'eau
22. Five Poems Of Charles Baudelaire: IV. Recueillement
23. Five Poems Of Charles Baudelaire: V. La Mort des amants

Customer Reviews:

Classic Art Songs Sung with Brilliance and Artistry.......2006-11-10

Dawn Upshaw possesses a voice with beautiful bell canto tonal quality and uses the glissando technique, only when effective, rendering this collection of uncommon art songs superbly sung. The entire album is a joy to listen to...

Pretty, but not memorable.......2006-04-29

'Forgotton Songs, Dawn Upshaw sings Debussy' with James Levine at the piano is, to my layman's ear, very pretty to listen to, but not a whole lot to get excited about. If you are especially fond of Upshaw, you must have this recording. If you are especially fond of Debussy, other vocalists may have just a little more to offer. Everything about this recording is 'nice', just not a whole lot to get excited about.

Returning to the Recital Hall: A Soiree.......2005-04-09

Dawn Upshaw is one of the most intelligent and creative and adventuresome singers on the concert stage today. Just reviewing the list of her recordings available and it is obvious that she has paid attention to both contemporary and established composers in a way that is truly refreshing.

Here the program is devoted to the works of Claude Debussy, a composer for whom Upshaw has a particular penchant. Her voice is crystal clear, perfectly focused and yet not afraid to animate when the lyrics demand. She covers three cycles here: 'Ariettes oubliees' (for this listener the most successful on the album), 'Racueil Vasnier', and 'Cinq Poemes de Charles Baudelaire' (contrast these with the recently released Susan Graham version and see what interpretation is all about!).

The collaboration between Upshaw and James Levine is sensitive (if not always the pianism of others..). But the entire recital is uplifting and satisfying for the variation in the songs, recorded sound, the generosity of the disc, and most of all for the musical intelligence in which these songs are performed! Grady Harp, April 05

Pretty sound spoiled by a bad vocal habit.......2004-05-07

Every voice teacher I have ever had, and I have had many, were unanimous in their advice that sliding into notes is something that must be done with great moderation. Dawn Upshaw does it all the time and to the ears of a trained singer it becomes extremely annoying extremely quickly. Constant sliding into notes is less objectionable if one actually reaches the right pitch in the process. Miss Upshaw frequently does NOT, resulting in numerous instances where she is simply not in tune at all on some notes. Her sliding also creates constant dissonances with the piano which are entirely undebussyesque. If it were Webern or Berg she were singing she might get away with it. Here she does not. NOT RECOMMENDED.

P.S. Since writing this review (quite some time ago), I was fortunate to hear a recording of Ms. Upshaw in a production at the Metropolitan Opera where she didn't do any of her annoying sliding at all - not once - (probably because it was music from a much earlier time) The difference was astounding. It was a glorious performance. It was hard to believe it was the same person. This, more than ever, confirms my opinion that she ruined this recording with a bad singing habit.

Excellent!.......2003-11-26

This recording of Debussy's Melodies are really excellent. Dawn Upshaw's voice is exactly right for this kind of music - light, charming, and lyrical, with real sensitivity to the text. The Ariettes Oubliees are the best I've heard, with the exception of Frederica von Stade. In addition, her interpretation of Mandoline from the Vasnier Songbook is perfect - the tempo, piano, voice, and interpretation are exactly right. My only criticism is that the diction, while perfectly clear, has an "American" accent that is sometimes distracting.

Average customer rating: the way teens are to Britney or Madonna.... Villazon finds his niche...go French Bad diction, engineering gimmicks besot otherwise noble effort Bean sings? A fine romantic interpreter

Rolando Villazon - Gounod · Massenet Arias Rolando Villazon , Natalie Dessay , and Evelino Pido Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Italian Opera Arias Rolando Villazon: Opera Recital Opera Recital [Includes Bonus DVD] Verdi: La Traviata Gitano ASIN: B0006IQM5I Release Date: 2005-01-25

Tracks:

1. Ah! Tout Est Bien Fini... O Souverain
2. Enfin, Manon... En Fermant Les Yeux
3. Oui, Ce Qu'elle M'ordonne... Lorsque L'enfant Revient
4. L'amour! L'amour!... Ah! Leve-toi, Soleil
5. Source Dcieuse
6. Faiblesse De La Race Humaine!... Inspirez-moi, Race Divine
7. Voix Qui Me Remplissez D'une Ineffable Ivresse
8. Je Suis L'oiseau
9. Traduire... Pourquoi Me Riller
10. Anges Du Paradis
11. Salut, Tombeau
12. Salut, Demeure Chaste Et Pure
13. Je Suis Seul!... Ah! Fuyez, Douce Image
14. Je Vais La Voir!
15. Ah! Parais!

Amazon.com

Rolando Villazon's follow-up CD to his sensational debut recital of Italian arias is devoted to music by Gounod and Massenet: some as familiar as Faust's, Romeo's and Des Grieux's arias, some as rare as pieces from Gounod's Polyeucte and La Reine de Saba and Massenet's Roma and Le Mage. But almost more important than the interesting repertoire, familiar or otherwise, is Villazon's handling of the music. In Werther's passionate Act II outburst to God about suicide, which is almost never excerpted, Villazon manages, in four minutes, to create a complete character, with all his neuroses, mania, and desperation--and he caps it with a ringing high B natural which is as beautiful as it is heartfelt. He sings both of Des Grieux's arias with feeling and tenderness (aided in "Le reve" by Natalie Dessay!). An aria from La Reine de Saba turns out to bequite a showpiece, with a drop-dead high C at its close. As singing and as interpreting, this CD is a must-have. Villazon's dark-hued, expressive tone is always used in the service of the music, and following his career will be a joy for all lovers of great tenorizing. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

the way teens are to Britney or Madonna...........2007-01-04

Villazon brings out the teenybopper in me. I could wear the grooves out!~just as I did with my early heros at 12 and 13 years of age. Seriously, his sound, phrasing and timbre are transcendent and ethereal. May the music never end.

Villazon finds his niche...go French.......2006-02-25

Rather than beefing up his voice for the big (money-paying) Italian roles that are one size too large for him, Rolando Villazon naturally excels in these roles from Gounod and Massenet. The narrow French vowels add a needed edge and vibrancy to his voice, the placement of the music in the head tones brings out Villazon's best timbre, and he seems temperamentally suited to refined heros. In fact, it's remarkable to hear the transformaiton here when comparing him in the recent DG La Traviata, where his Alfredo was convincing but hard work. French opera is rhtorical and poetic rather than visceral and passionate. I think Villazon fits that mold, as nearly eery aria here domonstrates.

Bad diction, engineering gimmicks besot otherwise noble effort.......2006-02-02

A tenor very quickly on the rise, this is Villazon's second recital disc, one devoted to arias by Gounod and Massenet, all in sets of three, three for Massenet, and two for Gounod. While still showing great promise, some concerns that were mildly serious with the first disc are even more so, in the French repertoire, in part because diction comes up so short here.

"O souverain" from Le Cid continues to show Villazon's command of line and squeezed but adequately forceful upper register, so that the volume boosts from the control room are really unnecessary. Diction here is already an issue, as many `u' vowels get dipthonged, especially when Villazon's sound is placed back for added weight and volume. `La reve' from Massenet's Manon is comfortably floated, with support from Natalie Dessay as Manon enhancing the intimacy of feeling to this number. Would Villazon been able to sing the short aria by Alain (who appears to the heroine at first to perhaps be little more than an apparition - shades of Frau ohne schatten perhaps? - in almost a chamber opera), from Massenet's Griselidis (track 8), at least as softly and lightly, as both the music and dramatic situation require, this could have also been very successful. He instead turns the ABA shape of this mere chanson inside out and makes a wreck of it.

The less often excerpted "Lorsque enfant" from Werther closes out the first Massenet set, as does "Pourquoi me reveiller" the second. Villazon's identification with the distraught main character of this opera is abundantly clear in both. He capitalizes well on the quixotic emotions and dreamy tendencies of the distraught main character especially well in the first selection, and he is also less intruded upon by the producers or sound engineers there as well.

It is quite curious how the control room follows the tenor up a crescendo on a line that closes out the first section of the excerpt here from Massenet's Roi de Lahore, featuring a hero (from Hindu myth) that bound to certain stipulations, has literally returned from the dead. Not quite as ostentatious as Massenet's near remake of Lohengrin, Esclarmonde (but with female protagonist instead), it is one of Massenet's most colorful scores. It has only been recorded complete once commercially, with Joan Sutherland, Luis Lima, and appearing only ten minutes apart, James Morris, and for the part of General unfortunately eliminated from this scene here, John Tomlinson, along with one other cut to Villazon's part. It would've been more valuable to have all this complete instead of one or two other arias. He captures the incipiently worried tone of Alim well, but his coloring up the vowel sounds makes it seem that he has come from a place as remote from French culture as where the opera takes place.

Most successful of the Gounod selections are two of the three rarities. The first is Source delicieuse from Polyeucte, based on the Corneille play. It opens very well with a minute of orchestral cortege. It perhaps has only been recorded once before and well, by Roberto Alagna ten years ago; Villazon conveys the heroism of the piece somewhat well, if not as securely as Alagna. Anges du paradis from Mireille (which Mirella Freni championed and recorded complete for EMI), is third, perhaps a study for Ah leve toi, soleil (Romeo), several years down the road. The second Gounod rarity on this disc is "Inspirez-moi, race divine," said to be a Caruso favorite, from Reine de Saba. Its text indicates King Solomon's prize hired builder, Adoniram, to be a very confident, if mildly haughty chap. Villazon's interpretation seems to portray a hero that constantly has to look behind his back, with all the incipiently yet controllably vibrato ridden throb and backphrasing Villazon engages in here. The high C at the end, however, is convincing. Such device as in the above, also accents and colors most phrasing in the tomb scene from Romeo et Juliette.

"Ah! leve toi soleil" opens the first Gounod set, and is sung with the right ardor, conventionally marked by tiny captured scoops, coming off phrases. Villazon's entrance and two later lines catch for having placed so far back in the throat, and intonation gets momentarily derailed. "Salut, demeure" from Gounod's Faust quickly becomes expressively leaden and monochrome.

Recitative and the beginning of the aria, "Ah! fuyez" from Manon begin well nuanced enough, and for the aria, truly softly as a change from so much else on this disc, but all-purpose bench pressing and volume boosts intrude before long. That leaves two truly atmospheric selections from two Massenet rarities, to close this recital - first, an aria from Roma, Massenet's swan song for the lyric theater and "Ah! parais" from Le Mage, opera with plot line similar to that of Verdi's Aida, following. The melody, introduced by the cellos at the outset for the latter, somewhat takes after "Pays merveilleux" from Meyerbeer's Africaine, but in more voluptuous color, such as in Thais, and Villazon and Pido both capitalize well on its opulence. Pido's work, on numerous other numbers on this disc, seems heavy, lumbering, cloying, or just simply out of his idiom, so to speak.

Word has it that Villazon, while not having a big voice, is dramatically exciting on stage and probably more immediately engaged with the content of what he is singing. How this picked up a major award from Gramophone, for the specific problems this disc has, and over two more qualified nominations (Ciofi/Di Donato Handel Duets and a Florez album) is mystifying. So much digression here is over the very specific demands that French opera makes on singers. There's much reason for hope for this tenor, but this disc, for two-thirds of it, does little to help fulfill it.

Bean sings?.......2006-01-05

A friend lent me Villazon's debut album as an introduction to the man. I loved it - but this is the one I have bought. If, like me, you have tired of the comparisons between Villazon and others (esp Domingo) fear not, this artist is an original. I must confess that on seeing the cover I wondered if Brit comedian Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean / Black Adder - now there's a new comarison!) had strayed into the wrong studio, but a few tracks into either disc and you'll know you're listening to the real thing. True, he has baritonish notes in the lower register, and an easy reach for the upper notes but I honestly have not heard anyone quite like him before. His is a warm voice with an early maturity that should ensure he has a long career ahead of him. His diction is excellent, without the staccato enunciation or lack of French interpretation abilities that mar lesser singers' performances. Such vocal ease makes the sung word seem as natural as the spoken word is to us lesser mortals. That his song selection moves away from the 'usual suspects' of the tenor repertoire is to his great advantage; he knows what suits him and he brings each piece to new life. The overly familiar tracks of which there are thankfully few serve only to highlight through comparison to those we know Villazon's unique timbre and interpretation. This collection includes inspired music choices, incomparable renditions, marvellous orchestration and leaves the listener keenly anticipating his next release. The recording and production are impeccable (worth ***** in their category). It does not get much better than that. Atkinson may make you laugh (or not) - Villazon will make you smile and keep you feeling that way.

A fine romantic interpreter.......2005-12-20

If not quite a poet in the manner of, say, Edmond Clément, Rolando Villazón is a first rate romantic interpreter. His French is surprisingly good and he really understands how this school of writing needs to be lived and phrased, so that he doesn't summarily yell through all phrases like some "Italian" second-rater: he shades and molds the music in the elegant style of great French tenors of a bygone era: Clément, Franz, Dalmorès, Beyle, Vaguet, Scaremberg, D' Arkor, Thill...

Just like the damned record companies to give us a mere CD of Rolando Villazón's lovely art, whilst recording the above "Italian" second-rater in every complete French rôle under the sun!

Villazón's voice itself is more like a Spanish tenor's in timbre, none too pellucid, but a manly, resonant instrument of middle weight, which he never forces.

I don't know who Evelino Pido is, or how he got through school with that name, but he is a damned sight better than the much-touted Pappano (as in EMI's horrible latest Manon.) There are no metronomic run-throughs [RUIN-throughs!] on this disk.

If you adore Gounod and Massenet as I do, this CD will be very good news indeed to you.

Average customer rating: Definitive? WELL worth getting. A Great Remastering! Exceptional Pianist/Inspirational Composer

Alkan: Piano Works; Ronald Smith Charles Alkan , and Ronald Smith Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Character Pieces | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Nocturnes | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Alkan: 12 Études, Op. 39 Alkan: Grande sonate 'Les quatre âges', Sonatine, Le festin d'Esope Alkan: Symphony for solo piano Alkan: Piano Music, Volume 1: 12 Etudes, Op. 35 Alkan: Sonate de Concert; Grand Duo Concertant; Piano Trio ASIN: B0000CE7FF Release Date: 2004-06-01

Tracks:

1. Petit Conte
2. Nocturne No.1, Op.22
3. Gigue, Op.24
4. Marche, Op.37 No.1
5. Le Tambour Bat Aux Champs, Op.50 No.2
6. XXIX: Delire
7. XI: Morituri Te Salutant
8. XX: Le Premier Billet Doux
9. IV: Les Cloches
10. XLI: Les Enharmoniques
11. X: Increpatio
12. XI: Les Soupirs
13. XLVIII: En Songe
14. Toccatina, Op.75
15. IV: Allegro
16. V: Marche Funebre (Andantino)
17. VI: Menuet
18. VII: Finale (Presto)
19. I: Assez Gravement
20. II: Andantino
21. III: Menuet

Tracks:

1. VIII: Allegro Assai
2. IX: Adagio
3. X: Allegretto Alla Barbaresca
4. Maestoso -
5. Allegro
6. XIII: (Cantique Des Cantiques)
7. XV
8. XVI
9. XI
10. XII

Customer Reviews:

Definitive?.......2006-07-17

This version of the underappreciated work of Alkan should, in deference to Marc Andre Hamelin's amazing versions, should probably be the standard by which others are judged... in addition the album includes a great collection in one purchase.

WELL worth getting........2006-05-19

This CD has what is still my favorite interpretation of Alkan's Concerto out of the three I've heard (although regrettably I haven't heard Jack Gibbons' version). Ogdon and Hamelin seem to kind of rush parts in order to impart a greater sense of technical bravura whereas Smith lets the power and majesty of the piece come through.
Also a great recording of the Alkan Symphonie. Hamelin's playing of the piece seems to have gotten all the attention but I find this one just right.
The prior two pieces would be reason enough to get any Alkan CD but this one is also loaded with a number of smaller gems, some of which it's probably going to be, what, twenty years before someone else makes a recording of any of them. The Petit Conte and Nocturne show Alkan's similarities to Chopin. The Toccatina is a delightful little piece with an awesome ending. Five great preludes, eight esquisses, etc. etc. - probably the best Alkan CD out there.

A Great Remastering!.......2005-07-15

I own the original LP recordings of some of these works and the CD version. In a previous review I remarked how the CD sound quality was not the best, but adequate.

This remastering brings back much of the original vitality and great sound quality that was in the LP version but lacking in the CD version. And all at a bargain price too!

All Alkan (and Ronald Smith fans),don't hesitate to get this 2CD set. To have the symphony for piano and concerto in such fine quality sound again is a real treat for the ears.

Most highly recommended!

Exceptional Pianist/Inspirational Composer.......2004-09-03

Ronald Smith died on the 27 May 2004 a week before I was due to hear him perform in concert at the age of 82. Obviously I was incredibly upset by his death and not having ever heard him play - especially ALKAN.

Ronald Smith was the man who re-established Charles-Valentin Alkan as one of the greatest composers of piano music. Busoni claimed "Alkan, alongside Chopin, Liszt, Schumann and Brahms, was one of the five greatest composers for the piano since Beethoven".

Of particular interest here is Ronald Smiths recordings of the Solo Piano Concerto and Symphony for Solo Piano. These are some of the most extraordinary compositions in musical literature.

Ronald Smith's recordings are exceptional and in my mind can only be equalled technically by Marc-André Hamelin performances of Alkan. Yet with this said Ronald Smith was the only virtuoso pianist who truly understood Alkans philosophy of music - hence smith's book on Alkan - The Man The Music.

This album is highly recommended to all music and piano playing enthusiasts.
The music is innovative, passionate; but not sentimental and incredibly interesting in structure, colouring and philosophy.

Average customer rating: Superlative collection Great value for the money Great for the money and a good starter on opera.... Amazing Value

100 Best Opera Classics Manufacturer: EMI Int'l 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 All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Delibes, Léo | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | 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 Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Lalo, Edouard | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mussorgsky | Mussorgsky, Modest | ( 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 Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( 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 Weber | Weber, Carl Maria von | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Allen, Thomas | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Paris Symphony Orchestra | ( P ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Most Famous Opera Arias Best Classics 100 The Most Famous Opera Duets The Best of Italian Opera The #1 Opera Album ASIN: B0007QOERC Release Date: 2007-05-14

Tracks:

1. Voi Che Sepate - Teresa Berganza
2. Porgi Amor - Heather Harper
3. Deh, Vieni Alla Finestra - Thomas Allen
4. Batti, Batti, O Bel Masetto - Elizabeth Gale
5. Der Holle Rache - Edda Moser
6. O Isis Und Osiris - Cornelius Hauptmann
7. Temerari...Come Scoglio - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
8. La Calunnia E Un Venticello - Ruggero Raimondi
9. Nei Giardin Del Bello - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
10. Casta Diva - Maria Callas
11. Se Quel Guerrier...Celeste Aida - Franco Corelli
12. Tenesta La Promessa...Addio Del Passato - Beverly Sills
13. Niun Mi Tema - Jon Vickers
14. Un Bel Di Vedremo - Renata Scotto
15. E Lucevan Le Stelle - Placido Domingo
16. Si, Mi Chiamano Mimi - Mirella Freni
17. In Quelle Trine Morbide - Montserrat Caballe
18. Signore, Ascolta - Kiri Te Kanawa
19. Recitar...Vesti La Giubba - Jose Carreras
20. Amor Ti Vieta Di Non Amor - Roberto Alagna

Tracks:

1. Le Veau D'Or Est Toujours Debout - Boris Christoff
2. Ou Va La Jeune Hindoue? - Mady Mesple
3. L'Amour, L'Amour...Ah! Leve-Toi, Soleil - Alfredo Kraus
4. Allons! Le Faut...Adieu Notre Petite Table - Ileana Cotrubas
5. Toute Mon Ame Est La Pourquoi Me Reveiller - Nicolai Gedda
6. Quand La Flamme De L'Amour - Jose Van Dam
7. L'Amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle - Victoria De Los Angeles
8. A Cette Voix...Je Crois Entendre Encore - Alain Vanzo
9. Une Puce Gentille - Gabriel Bacquier
10. Je Vais Mourir...Adieu, Fiere Cite - Regine Crespin
11. Mon Coeur S'Ouvre A Ta Voix - Rita Gorr
12. Wie Todesahnung...O Du Mein Holder Abenstern - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
13. Johohoe! Traft Ihr Das Schiff Im Meere An? - Anja Silja
14. In Fernem Land - Chor Der Wiener Staatsoper
15. Heil Dir, Sonne! - Siegfried Jerusalem
16. Mild Und Leise - Helga Dernesch

Tracks:

1. Che Faro Senza Euridice? - Agnes Baltsa
2. Der Vogelfanger Bin Ich Ja - Walter Berry
3. Finch'Han Dal Vino - Nicolai Ghiaurov
4. E Susanna Non Vien!...Dove Sono - Barbara Hendricks
5. Abscheulicher! - Christa Ludwig
6. Ne M'Abandonne Pas, Espoir De La Vengeance...Asile Hereditaire - Nicolai Gedda
7. Largo Al Factotum - Tito Gobbi
8. Ella Giammai M'Amo! - Ruggero Raimondi
9. La Donna E Mobile - Alfredo Kraus
10. Di Quella Pira - Franco Corelli
11. Esultate! - James McCracken
12. Dio! Mi Potevi Scagliar - Placido Domingo
13. Vissi D'Arte, Vissi D'Amore - Maria Callas
14. In Questa Reggia - Ghena Dimitrova
15. Tanto Amore - Janine Micheau
16. O Mio Babbino Caro - Montserrat Caballe
17. Ed Anche Beppe Amo - Luciano Pavarotti
18. Poveri Fiori - Maria Callas
19. Come Un Bel Di Di Maggio - Roberto Alagna

Tracks:

1. Les Grands Seigneurs...Ah! Je Ris De Me Voir Si Belle - Victoria De Los Angeles
2. Marie, Avec L'Enfant Jesus - Jules Bastin
3. Heureux Petit Berger - Janine Micheau
4. Connais-Tu Le Pays - Jane Rhodes
5. Elle Ne Croyait Pas Dans Sa Candeur - Nicolai Gedda
6. Votre Toast, Je Peux Vous Le Rendre...Toreador - Victoria De Los Angeles
7. Les Oiseaux Dans La Charmille - Mady Mesple
8. Maintenant, Chantons...Devant La Maison De Celui Qui D'Adore - Gerard Souzay
9. Depuis Le Jour - Beverly Sills
10. Da Geht Er Hin - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
11. Einsam In Truben Tagen - Regine Crespin
12. Dich, Teure Halle - Hildegard Behrens
13. Leb Wohl, Du Kuhnes, Herrliches Kind - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
14. Hojotoho! Hojotoho! - Ute Walther

Tracks:

1. Non Piu Andrai - Thomas Allen
2. La Ci Darem La Mano - Graziella Sciutti
3. Duo: Pa-Pa-Pa - Andreas Schmidt
4. Soave Sia Il Vento - Delores Ziegler
5. Mira, O Norma - Maria Callas
6. Il Dolce Suono - Edita Gruberova
7. Com'e Gentil - Alfredo Kraus
8. Una Voce Poco Fa - Maria Callas
9. Libiamo Ne' Lieti Calici - Alfredo Kraus
10. Gualtier Malde!...Caro Nome - Michele Pertusi
11. Ritorna Vincitor - Birgit Nilsson
12. Ave Maria - Katia Ricciarelli
13. Nessun Dorma - Franco Corelli
14. Che Gelida Manina - Nicolai Gedda
15. Ebben? Ne Andro Lontana - Barbara Hendricks

Tracks:

1. Mes Amis, Ecoutez L'Histoire - Nicolai Gedda
2. Mieux Vaut Mourir...Amour Sacre De La Patrie - Alfredo Kraus
3. Ah! Je Veux Vivre Dans Ce Reve - Mady Mesple
4. Puisqu'on Ne Peut Flechir...Vainement, Ma Bien-Aimee - Henry Legay
5. Suis-Je Gentille Ainsi?...Je Marche Sur Tous Les Chemins - June Anderson
6. Belle Nuit, O Nuit D'Amour - Jessye Norman
7. La Fleur Que Tu M'Avais Jetee - Jose Carreras
8. C'est Toi!...Au Fond Du Temple Saint - John Aler
9. Werther, Werther, Qui M'Aurait Dit...Ces Lettres! - Tatiana Troyanos
10. Viens, Mallika - Mady Mesple
11. Ah! Je Suis Seule Enfin...Dis-Moi Que Je Suis Belle - Beverly Sills
12. Alerte, Alerte!...Anges Purs, Anges Radieux - Nicolai Ghiaurov
13. Boris's Farewell - Boris Christoff
14. Schreckensschwur! - Gary Lakes
15. Die 'Selige Morgentraum-Deutweise'...Selig, Wie Die Sonne - Peter Schreier
16. Was Am Besten er Kann...Nothung! Nothung! - Siegfried Jerusalem

Customer Reviews:

Superlative collection.......2006-10-11

A collection of 100 individual arias and ensembles from the EMI catalogue of complete works recorded between 1955 and 2003. It includes selections from operas by Italian, Austrian, German, Russian and French composers. The French composers are especially well represented unlike most such anthologies. And there are several more obscure contributions, such as an aria from Catalani's La Wally. A well-judged balance of musical periods and styles, and the very best singers of the last half of the last century. And remarkably, the whole collection of 6 CDS, over 7 hours of music, is being sold for the cost of only 1 CD !

Great value for the money.......2006-04-23

This is simply the best collection of opera arias that I have seen. It's not 100% in that there are a few well-known arias that are not here, but what is here is simply a treasure. The organization is a bit strange, but there's some logic. For example, Disk 6 is mostly from French operas. A seemingly endless amount of glorious music. Just fabulous. You won't be disappointed.

Great for the money and a good starter on opera...........2006-01-07

This cd is a splendid collection of songs, and the price is unbeatable; I have but a few minor complaints about the overall product. The cd would have been much more enjoyable if they had put the music in some sort of order, rather than jumping around from artist to artist sporatically. My only other complaint would be that they could have chosen some better vocalists to play some of the songs. For example, in CD 6, track 3: Romeo et Juliette, the singer was not nearly as strong and definative as she should have been and I've definately heard in various other versions that were way better than this. This disappointed me greatly. But even with these few small complaints, this collection is still great and the price is amazing. It includes MOST of the famous opera pieces, as well some great songs that are often overlooked such as the beautiful song from Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg (CD 6, track 16) along with others.

Amazing Value.......2005-08-23

I am so impressed by this collection that I must share my joy at getting so many beautiful arias, duets, et al in one collection. It captures many of the great operatic voices in stellar performances spanning the last 50 years. If you are enchanted by beautiful operatic highlights, removed from their operatic storylines, this set is for you. Hours of gorgeous music for practically pennies!

Average customer rating:

The Complete Caruso Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Boito, Arrigo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Flotow | Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Franck, César | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Godard, Benjamin | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Goldmark | Goldmark, Karl | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Lully | Lully, Jean-Baptiste | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rubinstein | Rubinstein, Anton | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Sullivan | Sullivan, Arthur | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Szulc, Josef Zygmunt | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | 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 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 Caruso, Enrico | ( C ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Adam, Adolphe-Charles | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Ladino | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Boito, Arrigo | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music